Bradley Ruzicka

Headline: The Green Bay Packers open and close another losing season with shutout losses to the Detroit Lions, ending Head Coach Phil Bengston’s tenure

Regular Season Record: 6 – 8 (Third Place National Football Conference Central Division)

Offseason Highlights: At 7:12am on September 3, seventeen days before the start of the 1970 season, the National Football League lost one of its most iconic personalities as well as the man who had made the Green Bay Packers relevant again after years of decline. At just 57 years old, Vincent Thomas Lombardi, now head coach and general manager of the Washington Redskins, passed away from cancer. The long-time high school, college, and pro coach had suffered from digestive tract problems as early as 1967. On June 24, he was admitted to Georgetown University Hospital. Tests revealed anaplastic carcinoma in the rectal area of his colon, a fast-growing malignant cancer.

According to David Maraniss in his great book When Pride Still Mattered, after being readmitted to GUH and having a second surgery on July 27, Lombardi got the bad news. The cancer was terminal, and his health was rapidly deteriorating. But, like his earlier hospitalization, there was no public announcement of Lombardi’s illness. “His fatal condition was an open secret among journalists in Washington, yet it was never reported.” For the next month, he received family, friends, and clergy at his bedside, including active and former players. One was his new quarterback, Sonny Jurgensen. Sharing his idea for a pass play, Lombardi was determined to be a coach to the last.

At one point, he received a phone call from President Nixon telling him all of America was behind him, to which he replied he would never give up the fight against his illness. But this was a fight Lombardi would not be able to win. On his deathbed, he told Father Tim Moore he was not afraid to die, but regretted he couldn’t have accomplished more in his life. “There’s so much left to be done in the world.” On the morning of his death, former Packer and one of Lombardi’s favorite players, All-Pro halfback Paul Hornung, happened to be in nearby College Park. “He was jolted awake with an odd sensation. ‘It was freaky’ he later recalled. ‘I woke up and said to myself, We lost him. We lost him.'”

Lombardi was survived by his parents, wife Marie, children Susan and Vincent, and six grandchildren. On September 7, the funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. About 1,500 people lined Fifth Avenue. In attendance were Commissioner Pete Rozelle and team owners as well as past and present members of the Packers, Giants, and Redskins. Also in attendance were colleagues and players from St. Cecilia High School, Fordham University, and West Point, institutions where Lombardi both played and coached. Included were the remaining Seven Blocks of Granite, a nickname given to Fordham’s offensive line, for which Lombardi played both the tackle and guard spots.

Terence Cardinal Cooke delivered the eulogy, basing his homily on the Epistles of St. Paul, who tended to talk about life and death in terms of an athletic engagement. Said Maraniss, “It was St. Paul … who had given Lombardi his favorite quote from Scripture, the one he kept repeating to his Packers during their final drive to football greatness in 1967, the saying that hung, framed and illuminated, on the wall of his den back home. ‘Brethren: Don’t you know that while all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, only one wins the prize. Run to win.'” He was laid to rest in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Middletown Township, New Jersey, not far from the Lombardis’ old home in Fair Haven.

Given Lombardi’s notoriety, there are surprisingly no roadside markers pointing to his childhood home in Sheepshead Bay, nor to his gravesite at Mount Olivet. However, three days after Lombardi’s funeral, Commissioner Rozelle announced that the trophy given annually to the league champion would be renamed the Vince Lombardi Trophy, ensuring his memory would live on as part of the game to which he’d dedicated his life. Also, in this first Super Bowl after Lombardi’s death, the trophy would be presented to the owner of the winning team by his widow Marie. To date, Super Bowl V remains the only championship game where the trophy was not presented by the commissioner.

Lombardi’s death overshadowed the biggest change in the league’s composition since its inception, the incorporation of the American Football League and the creation of a new 26 team, 25 city National Football League. The 1966 NFL-AFL merger agreement required a realignment between the combined league’s clubs, beginning with the 1970 season. Because there were 16 NFL and 10 AFL franchises, three needed to transfer in order to balance the two new conferences at thirteen each. In May 1969, the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers were each paid a $3M relocation fee to sign on with the former AFL teams, constituting the American Football Conference.

The remaining NFL teams formed the National Football Conference. Each conference would be divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West. The East Division would have five teams while the other four divisions would have four each. Although the AFC teams were able to quickly decide on a divisional alignment, mostly along geographic lines, NFC alignment discussions were contentious as teams jockeyed for competitive advantage. Eventually, five options were put forward. The final divisional composition ultimately had to be selected from a vase by Rozelle’s secretary. However, once agreed upon, this NFC-AFC divisional alignment would remain in place for the next 32 years.

The final format was as follows:

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Redskins

NFC Central: Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings

NFC West: Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers

AFC East: Baltimore Colts, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Boston Patriots, New York Jets

AFC Central: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Oilers

AFC West: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs

The league would use an eight-team playoff format, including the three division winners and the second-place team with the best record in each conference. The first round of the playoffs would be the Divisional Playoffs. Home teams would be determined based on a yearly divisional rotation rather than regular season record. Thus, it was possible for a team to host another division winner with a better record. The second-place clubs would always play on the road. Also, two teams from the same division couldn’t meet in the first round. The four divisional round winners would then play for their respective conference title. The NFL champion would subsequently be decided in the Super Bowl.

The new playoff format was an attempt to address recent problems experienced by each league. For example, in 1967 the Colts tied the Rams for the NFL’s best record. But because Baltimore lost the tiebreaker to Los Angeles, the Colts missed the playoffs as opposed to playing a tiebreaker game as in previous years. In the AFL’s final year, the second place Oilers claimed a playoff berth despite a 6-6-2 record, the first time a non-winning team made the postseason. To minimize the chance of a recurrence, only the “Best Second Place Team”, as it was called, would reach the postseason. Fans and media dubbed this team the “wild card” and the league soon made the name official.

To televise their games, the combined league retained the services of CBS and NBC. Each were previously the primary broadcasters of the NFL and the AFL respectively. It was decided that CBS would televise all NFC teams while NBC would televise all AFC teams. For interconference games, CBS would broadcast them if the visiting team was from the NFC and NBC would air them when the visitors were from the AFC. The new decade also saw the debut of one of the most popular primetime sports programs of its time, Monday Night Football, on ABC. The NFL thus became the first sports league to have a regular series of nationally televised games on all three over the air networks.

With its first five choices, two in the first round, the 1970 NFL Draft produced five future starters for the Packers, their best draft in years. Included was the second overall pick, Defensive Tackle Mike McCoy from Notre Dame, acquired on January 21 when Green Bay traded ninth year running back Elijah Pitts, sixth year linebacker and former All-Pro Lee Roy Caffey, and third year guard Bob Hyland to the Chicago Bears. Tight End Rich McGeorge from Elon college was their second first round pick (16th overall). Defensive Back Al Matthews (Texas A&M), Linebacker Jim Carter (Minnesota), and Cornerback Ken Ellis (Southern) were selected in the second, third, and fourth rounds respectively.

During his seven seasons with the Packers, McCoy would be named the team’s Rookie of the Year as well as lead Green Bay in quarterback sacks in both 1973 and 1976. He left for Oakland in 1977 after his Packers contract expired. Green Bay received a 1978 first round draft pick as compensation. McCoy finished his 11-year career in 1980 after two seasons each with the Raiders and Giants. McGeorge started 101 games during his nine-year career, all with Green Bay. This included every game between 1971 and 1978 except for twelve in 1972 and one in 1977 due to injury. In total, the sure handed receiver caught 175 passes for 2,370 yards (13 yards per catch) and 13 touchdowns.

Matthews started 53 games during his six seasons with the Packers before finishing his eight-year career with San Francisco in 1977 after a single season with the expansion Seattle Seahawks in 1976. Carter, who played his high school and collegiate football in the Twin Cities area, also spent his entire nine-year career with Green Bay, starting 77 games. Ellis played six of his nine years with the Packers, during which he was voted All-Pro in 1972 and 1973. He intercepted 20 passes for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns before being traded to Houston in 1976 as part of the deal to acquire quarterback Lynn Dickey. Ellis ended his career with Los Angeles after their 1979 Super Bowl season.

After he was traded to the Bears, Pitts was released, playing instead for New Orleans and Los Angeles in 1970. He returned to Green Bay in 1971 but did not play, retiring after the season. Pitts finished his 11-year career with 1,788 yards on 514 carries, 104 catches for 1,245 yards, and 34 total touchdowns. Caffey played one season for both Chicago and Dallas, winning a third Super Bowl ring with the Cowboys in 1971, before finishing his career with San Diego in 1972. Hyland also spent just a single season with the Bears, playing the next five years for the Giants. He returned to the Packers in 1976 before ending his career with the former Boston, now New England, Patriots in 1977.

The 1970 draft yielded two future Pro Football Hall of Famers while two others would enter that fabled institution as undrafted free agents. Included was the first overall pick, Louisiana Tech Quarterback Terry Bradshaw, as well as the 53rd selection, Southern Cornerback Mel Blount, both chosen by Pittsburgh. Both Bradshaw and Blount spent 14 years with the Steelers, winning four Super Bowls during the 1970s. The third was South Dakota State Center Jim Langer, a three time All-Pro who competed 10 seasons with Miami before ending his 12-year career with Minnesota. The last, Ouachita Baptist Safety Cliff Harris, was also a three time All-Pro who played 10 years for the Cowboys.

Finally, 1970 saw the second labor action between owners and players in three years. First, NFL and AFL players came together to form a single union, led by Baltimore tight end John Mackey. They then struck on July 3 after filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board the previous month. The work stoppage lasted until August 3, just before the beginning of the preseason, when the owners threatened to cancel the season. The resulting Collective Bargaining Agreement gave the new NFL four years of labor peace. Players gained the right to bargain through their own agents. Minimum salaries were also increased to $12,500 for rookies and $13,000 for veterans.

In addition, pensions were improved and dental care was added to players’ insurance plans. Players gained the right to select representation on the NFL’s retirement board as well as the right to impartial arbitration for injury grievances. However, following the 1970 agreement, many union representatives were released by their teams. Unfazed, players were determined to create a stronger union. Attorney Ed Garvey was hired by the players association in 1971 to act as their first executive director and the NFLPA became officially certified as a union the same year. Headquarters were established in Washington, D.C. and a campaign was launched to help inform players of their rights.

A most eventful offseason indeed!

Regular Season Highlights: The Green Bay Packers finished with a 6-8 record, six games behind the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings and four behind the 10-4 Detroit Lions in the NFC Central Division. Six of their defeats were by more than a touchdown, including two embarrassing shutout losses to the Lions. They barely escaped last place in the division thanks to a better division record than the 6-8 Chicago Bears (2-4 vs. 1-5). It was both the third year Green Bay finished in third place as well as the third time they’d missed the playoffs. Minnesota took over first place at mid-season and remained there the rest of the way. Detroit, meanwhile, made the playoffs for the first time since 1957.

The Packers roster continued to change, with more key veterans from the Lombardi era exiting after the 1969 season. Five-time All-Pros Willie Davis, Henry Jordan, and Herb Adderley as well as wide receiver Boyd Dowler all retired. Davis played for 12 seasons, a starter at defensive end for the Packers over the last ten. Similarly, Jordan played 13 years, the last 11 as Green Bay’s starting defensive tackle. After nine seasons as the team’s left cornerback, Adderley retired rather than remain a Packer after a falling out with Head Coach Phil Bengston. On September 1, his rights were traded to the Dallas Cowboys for offensive lineman Malcolm Walker and defensive end Clarence Williams.

During his Green Bay career, Adderley intercepted 39 passes, returning them for a total of 795 yards and 7 touchdowns. The future Hall of Famer went on to play another three years before retiring after the 1972 season. Dowler played 11 years with the Packers, returning to action for a single season in 1971 after the team traded his rights to the Washington Redskins for a fifth-round draft pick. The two-time Pro Bowler finished his Green Bay career with 448 catches for 6,918 yards (15.4 yards per reception) and 40 touchdowns. Six-time All-Pro Offensive Tackle Forrest Gregg also retired during the off season for a second straight year but came back to play one final time for the Packers.

In 1971, Gregg returned to his home state of Texas to play his 15th and final season. He joined former teammates Adderley and Caffey in helping the Cowboys win their first championship before finally retiring for good. It was the sixth for Gregg and Adderley. Lastly, tight end Marv Fleming was traded to the Miami Dolphins for third year wideout Jack Clancy on May 18. Fleming’s contract had expired and he chose not to return to the Packers. Instead, he played five seasons in Miami, winning two more Super Bowls before retiring in 1975 having won five NFL titles. During his seven years in Green Bay, Fleming caught 109 passes for 1,300 yards (11.9 yards per catch) and 12 touchdowns.

Unfortunately, the tone of the 1970 season was set in the opener when Detroit walloped the Packers 40-0 in Lambeau Field. The Lions held Bart Starr’s offense to just five first downs and 114 total yards while forcing three turnovers. Although reeling, the team did briefly recover, winning their next three games. Down 24-20 in fourth period after giving up a 20-3 halftime lead, it took a last minute 89-yard touchdown pass from reserve Don Horn to wide receiver Carroll Dale to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 27-24. Green Bay next upset 1969 NFL Champion Minnesota, 13-10, in Milwaukee County Stadium. The game was a typical Packer-Viking defensive battle, with Green Bay forcing three turnovers.

The Packers had a 6-0 edge at the end of three quarters after 28- and 33-yard Dale Livingston field goals. Their only touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Dave Hampton returned a kickoff 101 yards after Minnesota had cut Green Bay’s lead to 6-3 with a 24-yard Fred Cox field goal. A 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Gary Cuozzo to wide receiver Gene Washington again cut the lead to three points late in the game, but the Vikings could get no closer and the Packers escaped with a victory. But their third win, 22-20 over the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football, proved costly when Green Bay lost two-time All-Pro linebacker Dave Robinson for the season.

The future Hall of Famer, now in his eighth year and making his 74th consecutive start, suffered a torn achilleas tendon. The Packers split their next two games in Lambeau, a 31-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and a 30-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, for a 4-2 record. Approaching the season’s midway point, Green Bay was only one game behind the Vikings and Lions in the battle for first place. However, this was the closest the team would get to a division title. The Packers dropped their next game on the road to the San Francisco 49ers, 26-10, after Starr left the game early with an injury. Then, back home, they lost again in the season’s eighth week to the Baltimore Colts, 13-10.

In their second Monday Night Football appearance of the season and with Starr still out due to injury, Horn was the starter. Unfortunately, the fourth-year quarterback posted a dismal 10 of 23 for 96 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions. Starr did return the next week to lead Green Bay to a dramatic 20-19 win over the Bears in Lambeau. The Packers grabbed a 10-0 halftime lead only to see Chicago roar back in the second half to take a 19-13 fourth quarter advantage with just 1:19 left in the game. In what would be the last great comeback of his storied career, Starr drove the offense down the field, scoring the winning touchdown himself on a three-yard run with just seconds remaining.

A 5-4 record left Green Bay three games behind the first place Vikings and tied with the Lions for second place, still in contention for at least a wild card berth. But with the rest of their games on the road, the team collapsed, losing four out of five. With Starr injured on and off over the rest of the season, the offense was almost non-existent, scoring 23 total points in their four defeats including 17 of those in a single loss to Chicago. The Packers lost 10-3 to the Vikings in a game where the defenses again dominated. Two Green Bay turnovers proved to be the difference despite their 282-202-yard advantage. A week later, the Packers once more scored a single field goal in a 16-3 loss to Dallas.

The offense rallied in the twelfth week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, tallying 14 points in a 20-12 victory. Green Bay then scored 17 points the next week versus the Bears. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Starr was forced to exit the game early with an injury, leaving the offense to flounder for three quarters. Chicago raced to a 28-3 third period advantage for an easy 35-17 victory. In the finale, the season ended as it began, with a humbling 20-0 loss to Detroit. Although the defense forced four turnovers, the Packer offense gave up five, including three interceptions. As he did in the opener, cornerback Lem Barney returned a Starr pass 49 yards for a touchdown to seal the Lions victory.

Starr started 13 out of 14 games but, after 15 years, the former league MVP had been reduced to a shell of his former self. He was again hampered by injuries throughout the season, including problems with his throwing arm first suffered four years earlier. The four-time Pro Bowler completed 140 of 255 (54.9%) for 1,645 yards, 8 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 63.9 QBR. At times, Starr still flashed his old brilliance. In a victory over San Diego, he was 16 of 20 for 158 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a 132.9 QBR. In a comeback victory over the Bears, he was 23 of 35 for 220 yards, scoring the winning touchdown. Unfortunately, those moments were becoming fewer and farther between.

But Starr’s accomplishments and his special status within the Green Bay organization could not be diminished. Prior to the start of the season, the Packers decided to honor the future Hall of Famer by declaring October 18 “Bart Starr Day” including a ceremony attended by President Richard Nixon the day before. Unfortunately, the day itself turned bittersweet when Starr threw two interceptions in a loss to the Rams. But it didn’t matter to the crowd of 56,263 who gave the two-time Super Bowl MVP a standing ovation as part of the halftime commemoration. Starr returned the affection, telling fans, “These 15 years in Green Bay have been the most memorable ones that a man could ever want.”

Despite his struggles, Starr’s backups played sparingly. Horn, in his final year with the Packers, started a single game, a dreary performance against the Colts. The promise demonstrated by the former first rounder at the end of last season seemed to suddenly disappear. For the year, Horn completed 28 of 76 (36.8%) for 428 yards, 2 touchdowns, a staggering 10 interceptions, and a QBR of only 25.4. Out of desperation, Green Bay added two quarterbacks to their roster before season’s end. But rookie Frank Patrick and former Dolphin Rick Norton, in the final season of his five-year career, combined for just 19 attempts, 9 completions, 123 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

Three-time Pro Bowler Dale led the team in receiving for the fourth straight year. His 49 catches for 814 yards (16.6 yards per reception) and 2 touchdowns were good for 8th overall in receptions and 10th in receiving yards. Fifth year halfback Donny Anderson, in his best season to date, led Green Bay in rushing after an off year in 1969. The 1965 first round pick gained 853 yards on 222 attempts (3.8 yards per carry) while scoring 5 touchdowns. Anderson finished 4th overall in rushing attempts and 7th in rushing yards. He was also second among all Packer receivers with 36 receptions for 414 yards. In total, Anderson collected 1,267 yards from scrimmage, fourth highest in the league.

Behind Anderson, Green Bay used a committee of running backs. The team’s leading rushers from the previous season, fourth year veteran Travis Williams and second year halfback Dave Hampton, ran for 276 yards on 74 carries in five starts and 115 yards on 48 attempts in two starts respectively. Jim Grabowski, in his fifth year, finished with 210 yards on 67 carries and just a single touchdown in seven starts. The former 1966 first round selection, one half of the “The Gold Dust Twins” along with Anderson, had been expected to replace future Hall of Famer Jim Taylor after his departure in 1967. Sadly, Grabowski, along with Williams, would be gone by the beginning of the 1971 season.

Livingston, acquired on waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals on August 18, became the Packers sixth placekicker in just three years. Despite providing the most stability at the position since Don Chandler in 1967, the kicking game was still inconsistent. The third-year veteran, in the final season of his career, converted 15 of 28 field goals (53.6%) and 19 of 21 extra points (90.5%). His 64 total points led the team in scoring. Anderson, in addition to being Green Bay’s leading rusher, doubled as their punter for the third consecutive season, averaging 40.8 yards per kick. Overall, the offense finished 16th in rushing (1,595) and second to last in both passing (1,814) and scoring with 196 points.

Meanwhile, the defense was being transformed from a top ranked veteran unit during the 1960s to a young group with a lot of promise entering the 1970s. Legends such as Willie Davis, Henry Jordan, and Herb Adderley had been replaced by rookies Clarence Williams, Mike McCoy, and Ken Ellis. By the end of the season, four starters were in their first year and one was in his second year. Only Ray Nitschke and four-time All-Pro Willie Wood remained from Lombardi’s first championship team in 1961. Overall, the defense ranked 19th against the run (1,829), 13th against the pass (2,226), and 20th in points allowed (298). Collectively, it was the Packers worst performance in 12 years.

Generally speaking, Green Bay was a victim of age, injuries, and transition as a new decade began. Unfortunately for the 57-year-old Bengston, the 1970 season would be his last as the head coach and general manager. The day after the Packers were shut out in their season finale, the utterly frustrated third year coach, Lombardi’s handpicked successor, resigned effective February 1, 1971, saying, “[I’m] hoping that a change will improve the [Packers] won-lost record.” In 1994, Milwaukee Journal reporter Bud Lea stated, “How could Bengtson, who had never been a head coach, follow in [Lombardi’s] footsteps? How could anyone? He was the whip who drove [them] to five NFL [titles].”

However, in his book The Green Bay Packers The Dan Devine Years 1971-74, Stanton Greene states, “With the 20/20 hindsight of 40 years, you start to realize that [perhaps] Phil Bengston wasn’t such a bad coach after all.” He continues, “Bengston had already rebuilt the nucleus of a solid defense that would be one of the NFL’s top rated in 1972 and 1974. … When [he] had a full year on his own to prepare, [Bengston] came up with one of Green Bay’s strongest drafts of the decade. The truth is that Phil Bengston and [Personnel Director] Pat Peppler were rapidly overcoming the legacy of aging players that Lombardi left behind. [Sadly], they ran out of time before they could right the ship.”

Greene goes on, “They had assembled the core of a team that would propel [Green Bay] to a division title in 1972. It must have been a bittersweet sight as Bengston [saw] his team storming to the Central Division Championship only two years after he left on the strength of the defense he’d built.” For Greene, the bottom line was that, “Basically, Bengston fell prey to over developed expectations of Green Bay which can be defined as, he wasn’t Lombardi.” Bengston was hired as San Diego’s defensive coordinator in 1971. He was named the New England Patriots interim head coach for the final five games of 1972 before becoming their scouting director, retiring from the NFL in 1975.

Minnesota again finished with the league’s best record, winning their third consecutive Central Division title. Baltimore finished with the AFC’s best record, 11-2-1, winning the East Division. San Francisco won the NFC West with a record of 10-3-1, Dallas won the NFC East with a record of 10-4, and the Oakland Raiders won the AFC West with an 8-4-2 record. Lastly, the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC Central with a record of 8-6, finishing with seven straight wins. The final AFL expansion team, Cincinnati became the first franchise to win a division title in just their third season. Detroit and Miami, both with a 10-4 record, claimed the inaugural NFC and AFC Wild Card berths respectively.

Under former Baltimore Head Coach Don Shula, the Dolphins made the NFL’s biggest turnaround, going from 3-10-1 in 1969 to ten wins and a playoff berth, finishing second to the Colts in the AFC East. Another pre-merger NFL franchise, the Cleveland Browns, were expected to dominate the AFC Central. But, after winning three previous Century titles, the Browns struggled to a 7-7 record in 1970, losing out to the surging Bengals in the next to last week after leading their division all season. Similarly, Los Angeles was favored to prevail in the NFC West after winning 10 or more games the last three years. However, they were surprised by the 49ers, a team that won only four games in 1969.

Had the New York Giants won their regular season finale, they would have tied for first place with the Cowboys in the NFC East and won the division based on a tiebreaker. That tiebreaker would have then led to a coin toss between Dallas and Detroit for the NFC Wild Card. Because of this close call regarding possible use of a coin toss, future tie breakers would be expanded to include more competitive aspects. Meanwhile, the 1969 World Champion Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs with a disappointing 7-5-2 record. Two straight season ending division losses to Oakland and San Diego cost Kansas City the chance to win either the AFC West title or the AFC Wild Card berth.

Perhaps the year’s most exciting moment took place on November 8. New Orleans Saints’ Kicker Tom Dempsey, in his second year, made a record 63-yard game winning field goal in the final seconds, giving the Saints a 19-17 victory over the playoff bound Lions for just their second win of the season. Dempsey’s record stood for 43 years until the Denver Broncos’ Matt Prater made a 64 yarder in 2013. San Francisco Quarterback John Brodie, Cornerback Bruce Taylor, and Head Coach Dick Nolan won Most Valuable Player, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year respectively. Buffalo Bills Quarterback Dennis Shaw, the 30th overall pick, won Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Nolan, a former Dallas defensive coordinator in his third season as head coach, led the 49ers’ resurgence. A revived Brodie had his best year since his 1965 Pro Bowl season, leading the league in completions (223), passing yards (2,941), touchdowns (24), and QBR (93.8). The 14-year veteran also finished among the leaders in passes attempted (378) and completion percentage (57.0). Taylor, the 17th player chosen in the draft from Boston University, intercepted 3 passes for 70 yards and was force on special teams, leading the league in punt return yards (516). Shaw, out of San Diego State, completed 178 of 321 (55.5%) for 2,507 yards, 10 touchdowns, 20 interceptions, and a 65.3 QBR.

Post Season Highlights: The Divisional Playoffs began in the AFC with the Central Champion Cincinnati Bengals playing the East Champion Baltimore Colts at Memorial Stadium. In the NFC, the East Champion Dallas Cowboys hosted the Wild Card entrant Detroit Lions in the Cotton Bowl. Meanwhile, the West Champion San Francisco 49ers traveled to Metropolitan Stadium to play the Central Champion Minnesota Vikings. The first round of the 1970 playoffs ended as it began, in the AFC, with the West Champion Oakland Raiders hosting the Miami Dolphins, the Wild Card winner, in the Coliseum. The four victors would advance to their respective Conference Championship games.

On December 26, Cincinnati’s comeback season came to a screeching halt against the Colts. Baltimore’s defense limited the Bengals to just seven first downs and 139 yards of total offense on the cold, hard turf of Memorial Stadium. Despite coming in with a seven-game winning streak, Cincinnati was hurting. In particular, starting quarterback Virgil Carter was suffering from a broken hip, busted lip, and gashed tongue. However, the fact they were in the playoffs at all was a tribute to their legendary head coach Paul Brown. The former 17-year Cleveland Browns head man had predicted a year prior to the Bengals inaugural season that the team would be in the playoffs within five years.

After a total of seven wins the previous two years, Cincinnati stormed into the playoffs despite starting the season with six losses in their first seven games. But the closest the Bengals came to scoring in this contest was Horst Muhlmann’s 50-yard field goal attempt, blocked by linebacker Ray May, one of only two times their offense crossed midfield. Carter, in his initial season with Cincinnati after spending his first two as a part time starter with the Chicago Bears, completed just 7 of 20 for 64 yards, 1 interception, and a dismal 23.7 QBR. The Bengals leading rushers during the season, Jess Philips and Paul Robinson, were held to a total of 15 carries for 37 yards (2.5-yard average).

Meanwhile, Baltimore quarterback Johnny Unitas threw two long touchdown passes, completing 6 of 17 for 145 yards and a QBR of 106.2. One was a 45 yarder to wideout Roy Jefferson in the first quarter and the second a 53-yard completion to fellow receiver Eddie Hinton in the fourth period. The running game was dominant, powered by rookie fullback Norm Bulaich. The 18th overall pick gained 116 yards on 25 carries for a 4.6 yard per rush average. Another rookie, kicker Jim O’Brien, added a 44-yard field goal in the second period and the Colts advanced to the conference title game with a 17-0 win, their fifth straight. For Baltimore’s defense, it was their second shutout of the season.

Later in the day, Dallas rushed for 209 yards, led by rookie halfback Duane Thomas’s 135 yards on 30 carries. However, with quarterback Craig Morton completing just 4 of 18 for 38 yards and an interception, the Cowboys could manage only a single field goal and a safety against Detroit. Fortunately, Dallas’s defense bailed them out, completely shutting down the Lions’ offense. The key was holding quarterback Greg Landry, in his third season, to 48 passing and 15 rushing yards. In total, Detroit gained just 76 rushing and 80 passing yards, turning the ball over three times. Unfortunately for Lions fans, it would be their team’s first and last playoff appearance during the decade of the 1970s.

Defense was the theme of the day. In the first quarter, Cowboys rookie safety Charlie Waters recovered Landry’s fumble, advancing the ball to the Dallas 45-yard line. A 14-yard Morton completion to fullback Walt Garrison and a pair of 6-yard runs by Thomas got the team close enough for a Mike Clark 26-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. Early in the second period, Detroit drove into scoring range, down to the Cowboy 29-yard line. But a crushing tackle by third year defensive end Larry Cole separated the ball from halfback Altie Taylor. Watters recovered his second fumble to keep the Lions scoreless. Detroit would not advance into Cowboy territory again until just 59 seconds remained.

In the final period, Dallas marched 76 yards in 15 plays. Thomas gained 51 of those yards, advancing to the Detroit 1 yard line. Rather than kick a field goal on fourth down, the Cowboys elected once more to give the ball to Thomas. But he was stopped short of the goal line and the Lions took over. However, three plays later, defensive lineman George Andrie sacked Landry for a safety. Veteran backup Bill Munson then replaced the ineffective Landry, leading Detroit down field in the waning moments. But future Hall of Famer Mel Renfro’s interception of Munson’s pass at Dallas’s 11-yard line clinched a 5-0 victory. The contest remains the lowest scoring post-season game in NFL history.

On December 27, San Francisco stunned heavily favored Minnesota in spite of both teams turning the ball over a total of seven times during the course of the game, with the 49ers losing three of five fumbles. San Francisco won the NFC West title in the last week of the regular season when they beat Oakland, 38-7, to finish a game ahead of the Los Angeles Rams. Playing their first postseason game in thirteen years and only the second in their history, league MVP John Brodie led the 49ers to their first playoff victory, completing 16 of 32 for 201 yards and one touchdown (80.3 QBR). Sixth year running back Ken Willard was the game’s leading rusher with 27 carries for 85 yards.

The Vikings drove deep into San Francisco territory on their first possession but turned the ball over on eighth year quarterback Gary Cuozzo’s first interception. However, just a few plays later, safety Paul Krause picked up Willard’s fumble in midair and returned it 22 yards for a 7-0 Minnesota lead. The 49ers eventually tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brodie to fifth year wideout Dick Witcher, the first of 17 unanswered points. A second quarter drive put Minnesota in scoring position, but Fred Cox missed a 33-yard field goal. Rookie Bruce Taylor’s return of a Viking punt to the 50-yard line led to a 40-yard Bruce Gossett field goal and a 10-7 halftime lead.

Minnesota subsequently failed to convert another San Francisco fumble into points when Cox missed again from 43 yards out in a scoreless third quarter. Finally, another punt return by Taylor after a short Vikings kick, this time for 23 yards, gave the 49ers the ball at Minnesota’s 14-yard line. Brodie subsequently put the game away with a 1-yard touchdown run and a 17-7 lead with just 1:20 left in the contest. Minnesota scored on a 24-yard pass to wideout Gene Washington from Cuozzo, in his third season as a Viking and the first as their starter. But, with only a second left on the clock, it was too little, too late. San Francisco advanced to their first ever conference title game, 17-14.

Meanwhile, in the last game of the divisional round, the Raiders scored 14 second half points to defeat the upstart Dolphins on an extremely muddy field in Oakland. Despite two turnovers, an opportunistic defense and a big play offense gave the Raiders the win. Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Daryle Lamonica, in his eighth season, completed 8 of 16 for 187 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a 132.0 QBR. Second year fullback Marv Hubbard led Oakland with 58 yards on 18 carries while Miami halfback Jim Kiick led all rushers with 64 yards on 14 carries. Although it was the franchise’s first postseason trip in just their fifth year, the Dolphins would go on to dominate the first half of the decade.

After both teams missed field goals on their initial drives, Miami scored first on a 16-yard touchdown pass from three-time Pro Bowler Bob Griese to newly acquired wide receiver Paul Warfield in the second period after recovering a fumble on the Oakland 19-yard line. With less than five minutes left in the half, Lamonica, in his fourth season with the Raiders, led his team on a 62-yard scoring drive. The two time All-Pro tied the game at 7-7 with a 22-yard touchdown pass to sixth year wideout Fred Biletnikoff. In the third quarter, corner Willie Brown, also in his fourth season in Oakland, intercepted a Griese pass and scored on a 50-yard return, increasing the Raiders lead to 14-7.

Miami then came up empty on their next drive after a second missed field goal attempt. Two plays later, Lamonica threw an 82-yard touchdown pass to Biletnikoff for a 21-7 advantage at the end of three quarters. But the Dolphins came back, responding with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Griese to former Colt wideout Willie Richardson early in the fourth quarter, cutting Oakland’s advantage to a single score. With 2:22 remaining, Miami got the ball back after a Raider punt, giving them a final chance to tie the game. However, Oakland’s defense forced the Dolphins to turn the ball over on downs. The Raiders ran out the clock to preserve a 21-14 victory, their first playoff win since 1967.

On January 3, 1971, the AFC Championship Game saw Baltimore hosting Oakland in Memorial Stadium. Both teams had dominated during the 1960s. The Raiders played in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers while the Colts played in Super Bowl III against the New York Jets. Each was eager to avenge their respective losses. Later in the day, San Francisco hosted Dallas for the NFC Championship, the last 49er game ever in 25-year-old Kezar Stadium. A sense of excitement permeated the city of San Francisco with this being by far their best team since the 1950s. For Dallas, the specter of losing big games in the playoffs over the last four years continued to haunt the team.

In the first game, Johnny Unitas threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to fourth year wide receiver Ray Perkins in the final period, giving the Colts a two score lead the Raiders couldn’t overcome. Although Unitas completed less than half of his passes, going 11 of 30, he threw for 245 yards and one touchdown. Oakland kept it close, gaining 336 total yards to Baltimore’s 363. But it was the Colt defense again leading the way, forcing four Raider turnovers. In the opinion of Oakland head coach John Madden, “[It was] like the [old] American Football League vs. the National Football League.” The game itself was played on a cold, bare field of frozen dirt and dust, kicked up from the swirling winds.

The Colts dominated the first quarter, holding the Raiders to six plays and one pass completion. Meanwhile, Unitas moved his team down to the 4-yard line before the drive stalled. Jim O’Brien’s 16-yard field goal gave Baltimore a 3-0 lead. Then, a massive hit by Bubba Smith in the second period knocked Daryle Lamonica out of the game. It was now up to 43-year-old George Blanda to spark Oakland’s attack. However, the offense remained stagnant. Late in the quarter, George Atkinson fumbled a punt and Baltimore recovered on the Raiders’ 45-yard line. Two plays later, Norm Bulaich scored on a 2-yard touchdown run after a 43-yard pass from Unitas to Eddie Hinton for a 10-0 lead.

Oakland finally got untracked after a roughing the kicker penalty, scoring on a 48-yard Blanda field goal to cut their deficit to seven points at the half. They next tied the score at 10-10 early in the third period on Blanda’s 38-yard touchdown pass to future Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff. The Colts then dominated the rest of the quarter with a second O’Brien field goal from 23 yards out and Buliach’s 11-yard touchdown run, upping the lead to 20-10. Again down by two scores, the 21-year veteran quarterback started the Raiders rolling with a long touchdown march at the beginning of the fourth period. It commenced with a 20-yard gain by halfback Charlie Smith, the longest run in the game.

Blanda then lofted a 37-yard pass to fifth year wideout Warren Wells, in his last season, moving the ball down to Baltimore’s 11-yard line. He finished the drive by going back to Wells with a 15-yard touchdown pass, cutting the score to 20-17. However, Baltimore recaptured the momentum for good on their next drive. Facing 3rd and 11 from their 32-yard line, Unitas threw a deep pass to a wide-open Perkins for a 68-yard touchdown. This time, there would be no comeback. The Colt defense shut down Oakland over the game’s final 12 minutes. Two-time Pro Bowl safeties Jerry Logan and Rick Volk each picked off a Blanda throw deep in Baltimore territory, giving the Colts a 27-17 victory.

The final game on Championship Sunday saw Craig Morton again struggle, completing only 7 of 22 for 101 yards and one touchdown. But Duane Thomas once more picked up the slack, rushing for 143 yards on 27 carries while also scoring a touchdown. This despite a defensive game plan designed to stop the talented halfback. Overall, Dallas’s offense gained 229 yards on the ground, possessing the ball almost ten minutes more than San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Cowboy defense shut down the NFL’s top ranked offense when it mattered most. Dallas edged the 49ers for the NFC title, converting two third quarter John Brodie interceptions into 14 points to break open a tight contest.

On the game’s second possession, Brodie’s 42-yard completion to All-Pro wide receiver Gene Washington moved San Francisco down to the Cowboy 10-yard line. However, after the MVP quarterback missed a wide-open Ken Willard for a sure touchdown, the drive stalled. Bruce Gossett’s 16-yard field goal gave the 49ers a 3-0 lead. It would be their only points of the first half. But Dallas’s offense also struggled as San Francisco’s “Gold Rush” defense kept them out of the end zone. Thomas finally put Dallas into field goal range late in the half. Mike Clark’s 21 yarder tied the contest 3-3 at halftime. Then, early in the third period, Cowboy linebacker Lee Roy Jordan made the game’s key play.

The three-time Pro Bowler intercepted a Brodie pass, returning it to the San Francisco 13-yard line. One play later, Thomas charged in for the go-ahead touchdown, making the score 10-3. The 49ers next series ended in a second Brodie pick by Mel Renfro on a long pass to Washington. The seven-time Pro Bowler returned the ball 19 yards to the Dallas 38-yard line. The Cowboys then drove 62 yards, aided by a crucial interference penalty, to score on Morton’s 5-yard touchdown pass to fullback Walt Garrison for a 17-3 lead. But San Francisco wasn’t giving up. They responded with an 8 play, 72-yard drive. Brodie hit Dick Witcher for a 26-yard touchdown, cutting Dallas’s lead to 17-10.

Each team failed to score on their next possession. Clark missed a 24-yard field goal after the Cowboys had advanced to the 49ers 17-yard line. Gossett then missed from 47 yards out when San Francisco’s drive stalled on Dallas’s 39-yard line after Brodie’s third down incompletion. With time running out, the 49ers had one last chance to tie the game after the Cowboys were forced to punt on their next possession. But it was not to be. Brodie’s fourth down pass fell incomplete with two minutes left on the clock. Dallas then ran the ball until the game was all but over. Time had expired on San Francisco’s cinderella season. For the Cowboys, it was their first chance to win a title since 1967.

Dallas would play Baltimore in the first Super Bowl after realignment. For the Cowboys, the game was another chance to lose the nickname of “next year’s champion” as well as their reputation for not being able to win the big games after defeating the favored 49ers. According to Ian Kahanowitz in his book NFL 1970: The Inaugural Season of the New NFL, “With the up and down season the Cowboys had, coach Tom Landry readily admitted he thought his team’s chances of reaching the big money game of the Super Bowl was a flat zero just six short weeks ago.” For the Colts, now an AFC team, this was a chance to redeem themselves after their humiliating loss to the old AFL in 1968.

Super Bowl Highlights: On January 17, 1971, in Miami’s Orange Bowl, the NFC Champion Dallas Cowboys, led by Tom Landry, played the AFC Champion Baltimore Colts, led by Don McCafferty, in Super Bowl V. The contest signified both an end and a beginning. It was the first for the new league but featured two teams from the old NFL. One team, Baltimore, had reached the pinnacle of their success, compiling a 121-50-5 record, four NFL title game appearances, and three league championships since 1958. The other team, Dallas, had failed to win an NFL title during the 1960s but would make it to five Super Bowls, winning two league championships, during the coming decade.

While this was Baltimore’s second trip to the Super Bowl in four years, it was the first for McCafferty. He replaced Head Coach Don Shula, who left the team in February after compiling a 71-23-4 record over seven years. The relationship between Shula and Colt Owner Carroll Rosenbloom soured after the team’s 1968 Super Bowl loss. Baltimore then missed the playoffs in 1969 with an 8-5-1 record. When Miami Dolphins Owner Joe Robbie offered the coach $70,000-a-year, the powers of general manager, and a 10% ownership stake, he jumped at the opportunity. As Shula was still under contract with the Colts, the team was awarded Miami’s 1971 first-round pick as compensation.

Meanwhile, McCafferty, an assistant for 12 years under both Shula and former Colts’ head man Weeb Ewbank, was promoted to head coach on April 6. Unlike Shula, he had an easy-going personality and was often referred to in the press and by players as “Easy Rider”. Under McCafferty, Baltimore was an unspectacular but well-balanced, veteran team. They were not the dominating Colts of 1968 but solid enough to win the AFC title with the second-best record in the league. Baltimore won seven of their first eight games, staying in first place the entire season. They closed with four straight victories, clinching the division title over Shula’s Dolphins in the second to last week.

The offense was led by 37-year-old Johnny Unitas. The five-time All-Pro quarterback, now in his 15th year, played inconsistently during the regular season. He completed 166 of 321 (51.7%) for 2,213 yards, throwing more interceptions (18) than touchdowns (14), for a QBR of only 65.1. Unitas also suffered from various injuries, causing him to miss one start and parts of other games throughout the year. As a result, 36-year-old Earl Morrall received significant playing time. Morrall, also in his 15th season and his third with the Colts, put up better statistics than Unitas. The 1968 NFL MVP completed 51 out of 93 (54.8%) for 792 yards, 9 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and a 97.6 QBR.

However, despite Unitas’ inconsistency, McCafferty stuck with the future Hall of Famer as his starter throughout the season although some critics and players felt Morrall was the better choice. Regardless, both Unitas and Morrall had two solid wideouts to throw to; Eddie Hinton, in his second season, and Roy Jefferson, in his sixth and only season with the Colts after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The pair far exceeded all Baltimore receivers with a total of 91 catches for 1,482 yards and 12 touchdowns. Tight ends John Mackey, a three time All-Pro in his eighth season, and Tom Mitchell, in his third year with the Colts, added 48 catches for 696 yards and 7 total touchdowns.

Baltimore’s weakness was their running game. The loss of two-time Pro Bowl running back Tom Matte, playing his tenth season, early in the year forced the Colts to turn to rookie first round draft pick Norm Bulaich. The 18th overall selection led the team with 426 yards on 139 attempts (3.1 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns in 12 starts. None of the five other Baltimore runners gained more than 250 yards, and none had over 100 carries or averaged better than 3.5 yards per carry. In total, the Colts scored just seven rushing touchdowns. Overall, the offense ranked a lowly 23 out of 26 teams in rushing yards (1,336) but did finish 3rd in passing yards (2,798) and 6th in points scored (321).

Once again, Baltimore’s defense was the backbone of the team. Fourth year Pro Bowl end Bubba Smith and three-time Pro Bowl tackle Fred Miller anchored the line. Behind him, the Colts had two outstanding linebackers, sixth year All-Pro Mike Curtis and Ted Hendricks, in his second year. Curtis finished second on the team with 5 interceptions, between safeties Jerry Logan, with 6 picks, and Rick Volk, with 4. Overall, the defense ranked 6th in rushing yards (1,439) and 7th in points allowed (234) but a disappointing 21st in passing yards allowed (2,406). Another rookie, 23-year-old Jim O’Brien, led the Colts in scoring with 93 points, making 19 of 34 field goals and 36 of 38 extra points.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys became the NFL’s first modern-era expansion team after AFL founder Lamar Hunt was rebuffed in his efforts to acquire a franchise in Dallas. In order not to cede the south to the AFL, the league finally awarded Dallas a team starting with the 1960 season, but not until after the annual draft. As a result, the Cowboys played that first season without the benefit of a college draft, limiting their success in the early years. However, owners Clint and John D. Murchison had built a brain trust that would soon elevate Dallas to that of an elite franchise; Tex Schramm (President and General Manager), Gil Brandt (Director of Player Personnel), and Tom Landry (Head Coach).

For their first six years, Dallas did not have a winning season. However, during those years, Schramm, Brandt, and Landry patiently built a contender, going from 0-11-1 in their inaugural season to 7-7 in 1965. Quarterback Don Meredith, the original Cowboy, was signed out of SMU in 1960. Running back Don Perkins, linebacker Chuck Howley, and defensive tackle Bob Lilly were added in 1961. Linebacker Lee Roy Jordan and cornerback Mel Renfro were drafted in 1963 and 1964 respectively. Lastly, wideout Bob Hayes and running back Dan Reeves were selected in 1965. As a consequence, over the next five seasons, Dallas won more games (55) than any other pro football team.

Yet, despite this success, the Cowboys had been unable to win a league title, losing the NFL Championship twice to the Green Bay Packers in 1966 and 1967. Dallas won their division each of the next two seasons but were eliminated both times by the Cleveland Browns in the divisional playoffs. Meanwhile, Meredith and Perkins both retired prior to the 1969 season. Quarterback Craig Morton, the fifth overall selection in 1965, became the starter. Halfback Calvin Hill, 1969’s first round pick, took over for Perkins. Offensive tackles Rayfield Wright and Forrest Gregg, quarterback Roger Staubach, cornerback Herb Adderley, and tight end Mike Ditka, all future Hall of Famers, filled out the roster.

However, the 1970 season started slowly, with the Cowboys hitting a low point during the ninth week. A 38-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday Night Football left the team at 5-4, two games behind the Cardinals and one behind the New York Giants. A five-game winning streak to end the season was just enough to edge out the Giants for the division title and boost them into the playoffs. Despite various injuries, the 27-year-old Morton was efficient during his 11 starts, completing 102 of 207 (49.3%) for 1,819 yards, 15 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and an 89.8 QBR. Staubach, in his second year, completed 44 of 82 (53.7%) for 542 yards, 2 touchdowns, 8 picks, and a 42.9 QBR.

Two-time All-Pro Bob Hayes was again the team’s leading receiver with 34 catches for 889 yards and 11 total touchdowns, tied for sixth overall. Hayes’s 26.1 yards per catch led the league. The future Hall of Famer, in his sixth year, added 116 yards on 15 punt returns (7.7 Y/R). On the other side of the field was Lance Rentzel, in his fourth and final year with the Cowboys. The sixth year wideout finished second on the team with 28 receptions for 556 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dallas’s four running backs were also effective receivers, totaling 56 catches for 513 yards and 2 touchdowns. But it was the running game that drove the offense, led by 1970 first round draft pick Duane Thomas.

In only eight starts, the 23rd overall selection rushed 151 times for 803 yards, scoring 5 touchdowns. Thomas averaged 5.3 yards per carry, first in the league. Behind him, the Cowboys had two very capable runners, 1969 Rookie of the Year and All-Pro halfback Calvin Hill, hampered by a leg injury late in his second season, and fifth year fullback Walt Garrison. Together, the pair rushed for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns. Eighth year placekicker Mike Clark led the team in scoring with 89 points, converting 18 of 27 field goals (66.7%) and all 35 of his extra points. Overall, Dallas led the NFL in rushing with 2,300 yards, finishing 10th in points scored (299) and 16th in passing yards (2,149).

Like Baltimore, the Cowboy’s strength was their “Doomsday Defense”. The line was anchored by six-time All-Pro Lilly, now in his 10th season. The linebacking corps was led by Howley, a five-time All-Pro also in his 10th year with Dallas. Howley, the seventh overall pick in the 1958 draft, was acquired from the Chicago Bears in 1961 despite a knee injury that sidelined him for the majority of 1959 and all of the 1960 seasons. The secondary was led by Renfro, a Pro Bowl selection each of his first seven seasons. All would ultimately be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Overall, the defense finished 10th in rushing yards (1,656), 3rd in passing yards (1,913), and 4th in points allowed (221).

The first break in the game came when Unitas’s pass was intercepted by Howley on Baltimore’s second possession. Although the Colts compelled a third Dallas punt, they fumbled the kick and the Cowboys recovered on Baltimore’s 9-yard line. Despite great field position, the Colts held, forcing Dallas to settle for Clark’s 14-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. After a second Baltimore three and out, the Cowboys took over on their own 20-yard line following a 56-yard punt. An eight-play drive took them as far as the Colt 6, but they once more settled for a Clark field goal, this time from 30 yards out. Dallas led 6-0 at the start of the second quarter but had wasted two first and goal opportunities.

The Colts took advantage on the ensuing drive, making the first big play of the game. It turned out to be one of the more bizarre and controversial plays in Super Bowl history. After two incompletions, Unitas threw a third down pass to Eddie Hinton that was both high and behind the receiver. The ball bounced off his hands, glanced off Mel Renfro’s finger, and ended up in John Mackey’s hands for a 75-yard catch and run touchdown. O’Brien’s extra point attempt was blocked but Baltimore had tied the score at 6-6. The Cowboys protested that Renfro never touched the football, making the play illegal as it was touched by two Colt receivers. The touchdown therefore should’ve been negated.

But the play stood, and the game was now deadlocked. Defensive tackle Jethro Pugh next recovered a Unitas fumble on Baltimore’s 28-yard line. Two plays later, Dallas’s third first and goal finally culminated in a touchdown on Morton’s 7-yard completion to Thomas. On the Colts next drive, their three-time league MVP quarterback was hit as he threw a first down pass from the Cowboy 37-yard line, resulting in his second pick of the game. More importantly, Unitas was knocked out of the game with a rib injury. But Dallas was unable to profit off the turnover and had to punt. From the Colt 48 with 2:48 left in the half, Morrall replaced the injured Unitas, completing two passes for 47 yards.

Trailing 13-6 with 1:57 left to play, Baltimore had a first and goal at the Cowboy 2. But the offense failed to score when Bulaich was held for no gain on three straight running plays and Morrall threw an incomplete pass on fourth down, passing up the chance for a field goal to end the half. The Colts then proceeded to fumble away the second half kickoff with Dallas recovering on Baltimore’s 31-yard line. They next marched 29 yards to the Colt 2 on the strength of five consecutive running plays. But Thomas gave the ball back when Curtis knocked it loose before he could cross the goal line. After an end zone scramble, Baltimore was awarded a touchback, taking over on their 20-yard line.

It proved to be another controversial call. When the pile up was sorted out, Cowboys center Dave Manders was holding the ball. But, once again, the play stood. Instead of being down by 14 points, Baltimore remained within striking distance. The Colts next drove to Dallas’s 44-yard line but came up empty when O’Brien’s 52-yard field goal fell short. However, instead of returning the kick, Renfro let it bounce inside the Cowboy 1 where it was downed by Baltimore. The defense then forced a punt after Dallas gained just three yards. Two plays later, Morrall completed a 45-yard pass to running back Tom Nowatzke, down to the Cowboy 15. Two runs advanced the Colts to the 11-yard line.

However, on the first play of the fourth period, Morrall’s third down pass was picked off by Chuck Howley in the end zone, his second of the game. Baltimore had again come up empty and the score remained 13-6 after three quarters. But a Dallas punt gave the Colts another opportunity. Aided by two interference penalties and a 23-yard completion from Morrall to Jefferson, Baltimore advanced to the Cowboy 30-yard line. On the tenth play of the drive, Morrall tried to fool Dallas with a flea-flicker play. Second year running back Sam Havrilak took a handoff from Morrall and was supposed to toss the ball back to him. But Pugh disrupted the play and Havrilak instead threw in Mackey’s direction.

Hinton unexpectedly cut in front of the eight-year veteran to make the catch and took off towards the goal line. But safety Cornell Green stripped the ball from Hinton at the 10. Several players from both teams tried to recover the ball as it rolled through and out of the end zone for a touchback. The Cowboys took over at their own 20-yard line with 9:11 left in the game, still hanging on to a one touchdown lead. The Colts desperately needed a momentum changing play, and their defense delivered. On 3rd and 7 from the 23, Volk intercepted a Morton pass intended for Garrison, returning it 30 yards to Dallas’s 3-yard line. Two plays later, Nowatzke’s 2-yard run tied the game at 13 a piece.

After the teams traded possessions, the Cowboys took over in excellent field position on Baltimore’s 48-yard line with 1:51 remaining. However, a 15-yard holding penalty left Dallas facing 2nd and 35 from their own 27. Once again, the Colts defense rose to the occasion. Morton’s pass slipped through the hands of reserve back Dan Reeves and into Mike Curtis’s arms. The six-year veteran returned the ball 13 yards to the Cowboy 28-yard line. Two plays later, with only nine seconds on the clock, O’Brien kicked the go ahead 32-yard field goal for a 16-13 lead. Morton’s desperation heave in the game’s final second was picked off by Logan, giving the Colts their fourth NFL title since 1958.

The enduring image of Super Bowl V came after O’Brien’s game winning field goal. Bob Lilly took off his helmet and hurled it through the air in disgust. Chuck Howley, with two interceptions, became the first and only member of a losing team named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl history as well as the first non-quarterback to win the award. But the 12-year veteran refused to accept the honor as it was meaningless to him after his team lost. In a similar vein, Bubba Smith refused to wear his Super Bowl ring because of the “sloppy” play. More than thirty years would pass before City of Baltimore would experience another NFL championship, this time as the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.

The game is sometimes referred to as the “Blunder Bowl” or the “Stupor Bowl” because it was filled with poor play including a missed PAT, penalties, turnovers, and officiating miscues. The two teams committed a Super Bowl record 11 turnovers, five in the fourth quarter alone. The Colts seven give aways are the most ever committed by a victorious team. The Cowboys also set a record with 10 penalties for 133 yards. Morrall, referring to the many penalties and turnovers, said, “It really was a physical game. People were flying into one another.” Landry agreed, stating, “It wasn’t just guys dropping the ball. They fumbled because they got the snot knocked out of them. … Most were forced.”

Conclusion: The culmination of the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 would ultimately be seen as the birth of modern professional football. Despite what was for gridiron purists a less than stellar championship game, Super Bowl V was a microcosm of the season. It was chaotic, messy, but, for many fans, more exciting than any to date and one of the more competitive in recent memory. Out of 26 teams, twelve had winning records, one broke even, and the rest had losing seasons in 1970. “Any Given Sunday” became a reality, where any team, old NFL or AFL, could best any other. The past year had provided a glimpse into the league’s future as well as brought a definitive end to its first 50 years.

Vince Lombardi’s death was symbolic not only of the old NFL’s end but, for many of his generation, the end of a simpler time. “It could be argued,” said David Maraniss, “that Lombardi was dying at the appropriate time. He was in danger of being reduced to a convenient symbol … his philosophy misused by all sides.” Maraniss continued, “The age of skepticism was coming with Watergate, combining with a long era of celebrating the self. Lombardi was meant for none of that, and leaving the scene was a way for him to survive in memory … the block of granite and coach of the glorious Packers, rather than staying around to become an increasingly frustrated coach fighting for relevance.”

Lombardi’s demise and the resignation of his heir apparent, Phil Bengston, signaled the unambiguous end of an era that the Green Bay Packers would never see again. Their future in the new decade meant a changing of the guard on and off the field, beginning with finding a second head coach and general manager who not only had to replace a true legend of the game but revitalize a roster increasingly depleted by age and injuries. The draft provided some hope, producing a core group of young defensive talent a new coach could build on. Although it would prove difficult, the franchise and their fans had no choice but to move on from the memories of winning five NFL titles in seven years.

Welcome to the future, the undiscovered country!

To end this post, I’ve attached two videos. One is a tribute to Vince Lombardi and his lasting impact on professional football. The second is the Super Bowl V highlight video. Both are produced by NFL Films and narrated by the “Voice of God”, John Facenda.

As always, your feedback is appreciated!