Bradley Ruzicka

Headline: Green Bay Packers’ QB Lynn Dickey and WR James Lofton help ratchet up the passing game, but Packers still finish as lowest scoring team in NFL.

Regular Season Record: 5 – 10 – 1 (Fifth Place NFC Central Division)

Offseason Highlights: After a season that saw the Green Bay Packers regress from the brink of the playoffs to the most regular season losses in their history, change was inevitable. Head Coach and General Manager Bart Starr began to clean house as soon as the 1979 season ended, starting with Defensive Coordinator Dave Hanner, who served with the team as a player or coach for 28 years. As difficult as it was for Starr to let go of his long time associate, a person who some say served as Starr’s mentor during his first five seasons, the Packers’ defense had lagged, grappling tentatively with the new 3-4 and nickel defenses.

Though Starr said little about the departure of Hanner over the years, according to Stanton Greene in his book, Falling Starr – Bart Starr As Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers 1975-83, “it seems to have marked a sea change as he moved away from his conservative offensive approach and the tutelage of his former teammate.” Greene argues that the dismissals were in line with the need for a younger approach, setting the stage for the Packers brief resurgence in the early 1980s, as Starr evolved from an aloof figure to more of a player’s coach.

Linebacker Coach John Meyer was picked to fill Hanner’s position, remaining in the job through the rest of Starr’s tenure. Defensive Backfield Coach Dick LeBeau subsequently left after Hanner was fired and Meyer was promoted. LeBeau would ultimately become one of the NFL’s top defensive coaches, leaving fans and media alike to wonder, long after Starr’s departure, what if he had hired LeBeau instead of Meyer. Ross Fichtner, although short on experience, was hired to replace LeBeau and, like Meyer, would remain with the Packers for as long as Starr was the team’s coach. Offensive Line Coach Bill Curry also left to become Georgia Tech’s Head Coach, replaced by Ernie McMillian and Tom Lovat. Fred Von Appen was also moved from special teams coach to defensive line coach. In all, Starr had now hired 16 assistant coaches in five years.

Last, but certainly not least according the local press corps, popular PR man Chuck Lane was fired. Lane would vent his unhappiness with the decision by publicly criticizing Starr, at one point saying, “I feel I had a great deal to do with getting Bart Starr his job. He knows it. I know it and the Executive Committee knows it.” Lane was also critical of star WR James Lofton and Starr’s defense of Lofton, saying he “got away with murder. You wouldn’t believe some of the things that guy did. When an inmate finds out he can run the institution, he’ll do just that.” Regarding Hanner’s release, Lane commented, “Bart used to rely on Dave for everything. Bart didn’t change his socks without checking with Hanner.”

The 1980 NFL Draft yielded three future Pro Football Hall of Famers, including the 3rd selection, USC OT Anthony Munoz (Cincinnati Bengals), the 18th selection, Syracuse WR Art Monk (Washington Redskins), and the 48th selection, Alabama C Dwight Stephenson (Miami Dolphins).

While Green Bay’s draft did yield a couple of future starters, their 1st round pick, DE Bruce Clark from Penn State University, refused to play for them after contract negotiations fell apart, instead joining the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). According to Stanton Greene, there was speculation that Clark, a classic defensive end, had been told by the Packers he’d be moved to nose tackle in the team’s proposed switch to a 3-4 defense, a position Clark had no desire to play. After two years in Canada, Clark decided to return to the NFL, again spurning Green Bay, and ultimately forcing them to trade his rights to the New Orleans Saints, who gave up their first round pick in 1983, the 11th overall pick in that draft. Clark played for seven seasons with the Saints before joining the Kansas City Chiefs for his final year in 1989.

In addition to Clark, Green Bay selected LB George Cumby (26th overall) out of Oklahoma with their second 1st round pick, acquired in the 1979 trade with the San Diego Chargers for CB Willie Buchanon. They also drafted CB Mark Lee (34th overall) out of Washington University with their 2nd round pick and OT Karl Swanke with their 6th round selection. George Cumby would start two games at linebacker as a rookie in 1980, moving into a full time starting role in 1981, intercepting a career high three passes that season. In 1982 Cumby would be a second team All-Pro selection. He remained a starter through 1984, and was then relegated to backup duty beginning in 1985.

It was during the 1985 season that Cumby gained national attention, but in a negative way. When rookie DT William Perry was put in the offensive lineup for the Chicago Bears, it was Cumby who was twice “flattened” by Perry on lead blocks for Walter Payton. Later in that season, Cumby was beaten on a short pass route by Perry, a pass that the “Fridge” carried into the end zone, again an embarrassment for Cumby. After six years with Green Bay, Cumby was released prior to the 1986 season. He would play two more seasons for the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles respectively before retiring after the 1987 season.

Mark Lee played 11 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Packers before finishing his career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1991. Lee started 139 out of 157 games with Green Bay, recording 31 interceptions during that time. Karl Swanke played his entire seven year career with the Packers, starting 61 out of 84 games. While Cumby, Lee, and Swanke were solid picks, they were not blue chip caliber players. The loss of Clark, the 4th overall selection in 1980 and a potential difference maker coming out of college, was another huge blow to Starr’s efforts to rebuild the team through the draft. Prior to the draft, Starr explored a possible trade with the Bills, acquiring All-Pro OG Joe DeLamielleure in exchange for swapping first round picks (Green Bay’s 4th overall selection for Buffalo’s 16th overall selection).

DeLamielleure had been named All-Pro the previous five years and would be again in 1980. However, in the end, Starr passed, expressing concern about his age and the associated wear and tear. DeLamielleure would go on to play at a high level for Buffalo through the 1985 season. In two offseason moves that did ultimately pay large dividends, Starr added free agent rookie S Mark Murphy and RB Gerry Ellis. Murphy would play 12 seasons for the Packers, starting 122 games and intercepting 20 passes. Ellis, a 7th round pick released by the Los Angeles Rams prior to the regular season, would play seven seasons for Green Bay, starting 81 out of 103 games, rushing for 3,826 yards on 836 carries (4.6 yards per attempt) and scoring 25 touchdowns.

Of note, after two consecutive 9-7 seasons in which the Oakland Raiders failed to make the playoffs, primarily due to the departure of key contributors such as Head Coach John Madden, DB George Atkinson, RB Clarence Davis, RB Marv Hubbard, and WR Fred Bilentnikoff, 34 year old All-Pro QB Ken Stabler, after a lengthy holdout, was traded to the Houston Oilers for their starter, 30 year old QB Dan Pastorini, on March 15. Stabler left Oakland as their all-time leader in completions (1,486), passing yards (19,078), and touchdown passes (150) while Pastorini was Houston’s second all-time passing leader at the time he was traded, with 16,864 yards.

After 10 years with the Raiders, the last seven as their starter, the Oilers saw Stabler as the missing ingredient that could finally get them past the rival Pittsburgh Steelers and into the Super Bowl, after close encounters in the 1978 and 1979 AFC Championship games. However, Houston lacked the exceptional talent on offense that Stabler had surrounding him in Oakland during the majority of the 1970s. RB Earl Campbell and TE Dave Casper, acquired from the Raiders on October 14 for a 1981 1st and 2nd round pick as well as a 1982 2nd round selection, were the few potent weapons the Oilers had.

After starting in Houston for nine years, Pastorini lost the starting job in Oakland to QB Jim Plunkett, Stabler’s backup the previous two seasons, after breaking his leg in a Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Both Plunkett (1st overall) and Pastorini (3rd overall) had been selected in the 1971 draft, dubbed “The Year of the Quarterback”. It would be Pastorini’s last game as a Raider. With Plunkett’s success, Pastorini was released at season’s end and subsequently joined the Rams prior to Week 9 of the 1981 campaign, starting five games. But he was again let go at the end of 1981 after throwing 14 interceptions and only 2 touchdowns, finishing his career with Philadelphia in 1982.

After Plunkett led Oakland over Stabler and Houston in the first round of the 1980 playoffs, Oilers’ Head Coach Bum Phillips was fired. Without the popular head coach that had rejuvenated an otherwise woeful Houston franchise during much of the 1970s, Stabler had a mediocre season in 1981. He subsequently rejoined Phillips in New Orleans when the Saints traded 11 year starting QB Archie Manning to the Oilers for Stabler and OT Leon Gray at the beginning of the strike shortened 1982 season. By this time, however, the 37 year old Stabler was well past his prime, and the Saints were still a fairly dismal franchise, finishing 4-5 in 1982.

The 1983 season was Stabler’s best as a Saint. He started 14 games and, while the team’s record in those games was only 7-7, Stabler was the starter for the final game of the season against division rival Los Angeles. Had New Orleans won that game, they would have finished 9-7 and achieved their first trip ever to the playoffs. But the Rams pulled out a victory late in the fourth quarter, 26-24. The Saints went on to acquire eight year veteran QB Richard Todd from the New York Jets before the 1984 season. Having been replaced as the starting quarterback, Stabler retired midway through the season.

Finally, 1980 also marked the beginning of Owner Al Davis’ legal battles with the NFL. After the league declined to approve the proposed move of the Raiders from Oakland to Los Angeles, the team, along with the Los Angeles Coliseum, sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws. A verdict in the trial would not be decided until shortly before the 1982 season, at which time the Raiders would move to Los Angeles, despite the NFL’s objections.

DB Herb Adderley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 1980. In his 12 NFL seasons, nine with Green Bay between 1961 and 1969 and three with the Dallas Cowboys, Adderley recorded 48 interceptions, which he returned for 1,046 yards and 7 touchdowns, an average of 21.8 yards per return. A first round draft pick by the Packers in 1961, Adderley went on to become an all-NFL selection five times in the 1960s and is one of only four players in pro football history to play on six world championship teams (five with Green Bay and one with Dallas). He also recovered 14 fumbles and returned 120 kickoffs for 3,080 yards and 2 scores.

Regular Season Highlights: Green Bay started the regular season strong by outlasting the Chicago Bears, 12-6, in an overtime thriller. But with 27 players on injured reserve over the course of the year, including starting OT Mark Koncar following a torn achilles tendon on October 5, the second time in three years Koncar missed a majority of the season, and star LB John Anderson on October 26, with a third broken arm in three seasons, the Packers were unable to replenish their roster. Injuries alone didn’t produce a 5-10-1 record and a last place finish in the NFC Central Division, but it certainly was a contributing factor in Green Bay’s seventh losing season in eight years.

The 9-7 Minnesota Vikings, 9-7 Detroit Lions, 7-9 Chicago, and 5-10-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers all finished ahead of the Packers, with Tampa Bay besting Green Bay based on a better head-to-head record (1-0-1 to the Packers’ 0-1-1). An 0-4-1 pre-season, the Packers first winless pre-season since 1946, was an ominous precursor to the 1980 season, with the offense scoring only 17 points total, an average of 3.4 points per game. After their opening day victory, Green Bay slumped to a 1-3 start, during which the Packers were outscored 114-47. Rumors surfaced that Starr would soon be replaced by former Los Angeles Rams’ and Washington Redskins’ Head Coach George Allen. For the second time in the 1980 season, the Executive Committee was forced to state that Starr’s status had not changed.

Yet, despite all the turmoil, Green Bay clawed its way back, beginning with a 14-9 Week 5 home win over the Cincinnati Bengals and their head coach, former Packers’ great Forrest Gregg. Week 6 against Tampa Bay saw QB Lynn Dickey set team records with 418 yards passing and 35 completions, with three of his receivers topping 100 yards, the first and only such occurrence in Green Bay history. Unfortunately, mistakes and three missed field goals by newly signed K Tom Birney left Green Bay with a disappointing 14-14 overtime tie. Still, over the next six weeks, the Packers went 3-3, including two decisive wins against division rival Minnesota, 16-3 in Week 8 and 25-13 in Week 12.

Even in losses during this stretch, Green Bay was playing competitive football, and a winning record as well as a division title was surprisingly within reach. The same man who was seemingly on the verge of being fired after four games was now being touted by none other than Larry King for NFL Coach of the Year. The Packers had moved to a mark of 5-6-1, just a game and a half behind the division leading Lions. But a disheartening home loss to the Buccaneers in Week 13, 20-17, started a four game losing streak to finish the season, ending any hope for Starr and the Packers in 1980. In each of their last three games, Green Bay couldn’t score more than seven points, losing by double digits.

For the first time in his five year Packers’ career, Dickey was healthy enough to start every game, and played well despite being bothered by tendonitis in his throwing shoulder, completing 278 of 478 attempts (58.2%) for 3,529 yards and 15 touchdowns, finishing 8th overall in the NFL in attempts, 6th in both completions and yardage, and 7th in passing yards per game with 220.6. These were by far the best numbers for a Green Bay quarterback in a single season, surpassing Tobin Rote, Starr, and John Hadl in passing yards, attempts, and completions. However, Dickey also finished a disturbingly high 3rd overall in interceptions (25) and 7th in sacks (37), earning a QB Rating of 70.0. Backup QB David Whitehurst strained ligaments in his knee during Green Bay’s first pre-season game, a 0-0 tie with the San Diego Chargers in the annual Hall of Fame Game, the first game in NFL history to be cancelled due to weather.

Whitehurst would subsequently be sidelined for 10 weeks, elevating former Baltimore Colts’ QB Bill Troup to be Dickey’s backup. On August 4, in what would turn out to be a questionable trade, Starr acquired New York Giants’ QB Randy Dean, who had only 65 total pass attempts over four seasons, for a 1981 6th round draft choice, to be the Packers’ third quarterback. When Troup suffered a severe concussion in Green Bay’s Week 3 loss to Los Angeles, Starr signed veteran QB Steve Pisarkiewicz, a former St. Louis Cardinals’ first round draft pick, on September 24 to back-up Dickey until Whitehurst returned in Week 11. Dean did not throw a regular season pass for the Packers while Troup would not play another NFL game.

Dickey was greatly aided in his comeback by talented WR James Lofton, who caught 71 passes for 1,226 yards (17.3 yards per catch) and 4 touchdowns, despite being double and tripled teamed throughout the season. Lofton finished 5th overall in the NFL in receptions as well as 3rd in both receiving yards and receiving yards per game with 76.6. The next closest Green Bay receiver in terms of yardage was fourth year veteran Aundra Thompson, with 609 yards on 40 catches and 2 touchdowns, his highest totals to date. RB Eddie Lee Ivory finished second in receptions with 50 catches for 481 yards and 1 touchdown, followed closely by RB Gerry Ellis (48 catches, 496 yards) and TE Paul Coffman (42 catches, 496 yards, 3 touchdowns).

Like Dickey, Ivory, in his second year, started all 16 games, rushing for a team high 831 yards on 202 attempts (4.1 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns despite a variety of nagging injuries. Unfortunately, the 1979 first round draft pick would never again approach his 1980 single season rushing yardage total. Free agent find Ellis finished second in rushing behind Ivory, with 545 yards on 126 carries (4.3 yards per attempt) and 8 total touchdowns to lead Green Bay in scoring with 48 points. 1978 sensation, RB Terdell Middleton, continued his downward slide, rushing for only 155 yards on 56 attempts and 2 total touchdowns. Overall, the Packers finished 22nd in rushing (1,806), 8th in passing (3,291), and last (28th) in scoring, with only 231 points.

In addition to their scoring woes, Green Bay struggled on defense, allowing 371 points and suffering some losses by ego depressing margins, such as the 51-21 loss to the Rams, their worst since 1956, and a 61-7 loss to Chicago in Week 14, the most points ever given up in a game in franchise history. This was possibly the weakest defense of the Starr era, though there were a couple of solid efforts too, such as the victory over the Bears in the season opener and their win over the Vikings in Week 8. Controversy surrounded star DE Ezra Johnson, after he was caught eating a pair of hot dogs during an embarrassing 38-0 pre-season rout at the hands of the Denver Broncos. Ultimately, Johnson was fined $1,000, though his position coach, Fred Von Appen, wanted him suspended or traded. After Starr’s decision, Von Appen resigned in protest. Overall, the Packers finished 24th against the run (2,399), 23rd against the pass (3,383), and 22nd in points allowed.

Special teams had their issues too. 1980 would be the last for one of the best kickers in Green Bay history, nine year veteran Chester Marcol. Ironically, Marcol may best be known for his winning touchdown against Chicago in Week 1. With the Packers and Bears tied 6-6 in overtime at Lambeau Field, Marcol’s field goal attempt was blocked and deflected straight back to him. He caught the ball and ran 25 yards around the startled Bears into the end zone for the victory. Unfortunately, Marcol later acknowledged he was high on cocaine during the second half of that game. He was cut by Starr on October 8, following a rough game against Cincinnati. Starr said Marcol was cut because of poor kickoffs, but the kicker felt it was because of his cocaine use.

Marcol subsequently signed with the Houston Oilers when they came to Green Bay for a game on December 14. It was determined very late in the week that Houston K Toni Fritsch would be unable to play. Marcol was in town, so the Oilers claimed him off waivers. He kicked one field goal and made 1 of 3 PATs in a 22-3 Week 15 Houston win. Marcol remained with the Oilers for the season finale, but did not play due to Fritsch’s return. Marcol suffered from drug and alcohol abuse during the majority of his Packers’ career. After retiring from football prior to the 1981 season, Marcol continued to wrestle with his addictions until a failed suicide attempt in 1986 led him into rehab. Marcol was deservedly inducted into the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame in 1987, having scored 521 points during his Green Bay career, 4th in Packers’ history at the time of his retirement.

With Marcol’s release, the Packers again brought in Tom Birney, as they had during the 1979 season when Marcol was injured, for the next seven games. However, after missing 6 out of 12 field goals and four extra point attempts, he too was released following Green Bay’s Week 12 win over the Vikings. The Packers finally brought in former Kansas City Chiefs’ K Jan Stenerud, a 13 year veteran, for the remainder of the season. Starr had worked out Stenerud earlier in the year after he was released by Kansas City at the end of 1979 but decided against signing him at the time. Stenerud would play for Green Bay through the 1984 season, before finishing his career with Minnesota in 1985.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Atlanta Falcons tied for the NFL’s best record at 12-4. Atlanta won the NFC West title and the NFC’s top playoff seed based on a head-to-head victory over Philadelphia. The Eagles won the NFC East title over the Cowboys based on better net points in division games (plus 84 net points to Dallas’ plus 50). Minnesota tied Detroit at 9-7, but won the NFC Central title and the NFC’s third playoff seed based on a better conference record (8-4 to Lions’ 9-5). Dallas (fourth seed) and 11-5 Los Angeles (fifth seed) were the NFC’s wild card teams. For Philadelphia, it was their first division title in 20 years, and their third consecutive playoff appearance under Head Coach Dick Vermeil.

Meanwhile, all of the AFC playoff teams finished with a record of 11-5. San Diego was the AFC’s top seed based on a better conference record than either the Cleveland Browns or Buffalo Bills (9-3 to Browns’ and Bills’ 8-4), while finishing ahead of the Oakland Raiders for the AFC West title based on better net points in division games (plus 60 net points to Raiders’ plus 37). Cleveland was the second seed based on a better record against common opponents (5-2 to the Bills’ 5-3), while finishing ahead of Houston for the AFC Central title based on a better conference record (8-4 to the Oilers’ 7-5). Buffalo won the AFC East title and was the third seed, while Oakland was the first AFC Wild Card team and fourth seed based on a better conference record than the fifth seed Oilers (9-3 to Houston’s 7-5).

For Cleveland, 1980 was their first division title in nine years, and the first time the team had qualified for the post season since 1972. All season long, the Browns had been known as the “Kardiac Kids” after having several games decided in the final moments. Rallying from a 10-0 first half deficit against Cincinnati in the season’s final game, Cleveland came back to beat the Bengals, 27-24, to capture the AFC Central title. Don Cockroft kicked the game winning 22 yard field goal with 1:25 left, with Cincinnati getting as far as Cleveland’s 14 yard line before time ran out.

Also, 1980 became the first season in which the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers did not qualify for the playoffs since 1971, finishing with a record of 9-7. The aging defense was not as effective as it had been in previous seasons, falling from 2nd to 15th in yards allowed. The Steelers also surrendered 313 points, 15th in the league, compared to 262 points, 5th in the league, the previous season. The Pittsburgh defense only garnered 18 quarterback sacks in 1980, compared to 49 the year before. The offense was plagued by turnovers (42), but did rank 6th in points scored with 352.

Despite the team’s troubles, the Steelers had a chance to obtain home field advantage throughout the playoffs had they not dropped several close contests over the course of the season, including games against Cincinnati and Cleveland, which they lost despite having large leads in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh remained in the playoff hunt until a 28-13 loss to Buffalo in Week 12. A 6-0 loss to Houston in Week 14 effectively eliminated the Steelers from the post-season. To many, these two losses marked the end of the 1970’s Steeler Dynasty. Several key players retired after the 1980 season, and the team was never the same again.

For the 8-8 Miami Dolphins, the end of the 1980 season would see the end of an era, when the last of their marque players from the 1970s, QB Bob Griese, retired. Robert Allen Griese was the fourth player selected in the 1967 NFL draft, and became an instant starter for Miami, after first string QB John Stofa broke his ankle in the first quarter of the first game of the 1967 season. Griese would go on to record 2,005 yards and 15 touchdowns in his rookie year, and would be an AFL All-Star in his first two years. Yet, wins were difficult to come by for the expansion franchise until 1970, when the Dolphins hired former Baltimore Head Coach Don Shula.

Shula quickly molded a team that dominated the early 1970s, appearing in three consecutive Super Bowls (1971-73), winning two back-to-back, in 1972 (Super Bowl VII) after an undefeated season, and in 1973 (Super Bowl VIII), the first team to accomplish such a feat since Green Bay in 1966 and 1967. However, just as quickly, Miami’s fortunes changed again in 1974, when the fledgling World Football League (WFL) robbed the team of three of its stars, after which the Dolphins would make the playoffs in only three of Griese’s final seven seasons, losing each time in the first round. Despite his team’s setbacks and a string of injuries, Griese continued his stellar play throughout the decade, appearing in a total of four Pro Bowls, while leading Miami to the highest winning percentage of any team in professional sports during the 1970s.

The beginning of the 1980 season would see Griese loss his starting job to QBs Don Strock and rookie David Woodley. But he subsequently came off the bench for several games in a row to lead the Dolphins to comeback wins, regaining his starting position in the season’s fifth game. However, a tackle by Mike Ozdowski of the Colts in that same game tore up his shoulder, and he was done for the rest of the year. The injury eventually led to Griese’s decision to retire on June 25 1981, at the age of 35. In his 14 pro seasons, Griese attempted 3,429 passes, completing 1,926 (56.2%), for 25,092 yards, 192 touchdowns, 172 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 77.1. Griese also rushed for 994 yards and 7 scores. He would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

Lastly, Cleveland QB Brian Sipe won the 1980 NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Houston RB Earl Campbell won Offensive Player of the Year, while Oakland CB Lester Hayes won Defensive Player of the Year. 1980’s first overall draft pick, Detroit RB Billy Sims, was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Atlanta LBs Buddy Curry and Al Richardson won Defensive Rookie of the Year. Buffalo Head Coach Chuck Knox won Coach of the Year.

Post Season Highlights: In the NFC Wild Card Playoffs, the Los Angeles Rams traveled to Texas Stadium to play the Dallas Cowboys while, in the AFC, the Oakland Raiders hosted the Houston Oilers in the Oakland Coliseum. The winners would advance to their respective Divisional Playoffs.

On December 28, the Dallas Cowboys avenged a 38-14 loss to the 1979 NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams two weeks earlier as Dallas RB Tony Dorsett rushed for 160 yards and scored 2 touchdowns to lead his team to victory.

After Dallas K Rafael Septien opened up the scoring with a 28 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead, Los Angeles marched 73 yards to take the lead, 6-3, on RB Jewerl Thomas’ 1 yard score. However, Frank Corral’s extra point was blocked. Septien later made a 29 yard field goal to tie the game at 6-6. In the second period, Rams’ QB Vince Ferragamo completed a 21 yard touchdown pass to WR Preston Dennard for a 13-6 lead. However, Dallas tied the game before halftime at 13-13 on Dorsett’s 12 yard rushing touchdown. In the second half, Cowboys’ Head Coach Tom Landry went to a five man defensive front and various combinations of seven and eight man coverage to confuse Los Angeles’ potent passing game. The result was three Ferragamo interceptions.

Meanwhile, Dallas QB Danny White, who had the unenviable task of replacing retired legend Roger Staubach at the start of the 1980 season, threw touchdown passes on the Cowboys’ first three drives of the second half; a 10 yarder to Dorsett, a 35 yarder to WR Butch Johnson, and an 11 yarder to WR Drew Pearson, for a 34-13 advantage. Dallas then turned to its potent rushing attack to chew up time and keep the Rams’ offense off the field. The Cowboys rushed 46 times for 338 yards and Los Angeles was unable to score in the second half. Dallas secured a 34-13 victory and another trip to the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

Meanwhile, even though the Houston Oilers recorded more yards, more first downs, and more time of possession, the Oakland Raiders scored on big plays to win the game.

Houston RB Earl Campbell lost a fumble on the first play of the game, setting up Oakland K Chris Bahr’s 47 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. The Oilers responded with a 55 yard drive, to score on Campbell’s 1 yard touchdown, and a 7-3 lead. In the second quarter, Raiders’ QB Jim Plunkett completed a 37 yard pass to former Houston RB Kenny King, before throwing a 1 yard touchdown pass to TE Todd Christensen, for a 10-7 halftime lead. Oakland did not score again until the fourth quarter, when Plunkett threw a 44 yard touchdown to RB Arthur Whittington, and a 17-7 lead. Later on, his 21 yard completion to RB Mark van Eeghan set up Bahr’s 37 yard field goal, extending the Raiders’ lead to 20-7. With about six minutes left in the game, CB Lester Hayes returned former Oakland QB Ken Stabler’s pass 20 yards to the end zone, to clinch the Raiders’ victory, 27-7.

In the Divisional Playoffs, the NFC West Champion and top seed Atlanta Falcons hosted the NFC Wild Card winner Dallas Cowboys in Fulton County Stadium, while the AFC Wild Card winner, the Oakland Raiders, traveled to Cleveland Stadium to play the AFC Central Champion Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, the AFC West Champion and top seed San Diego Chargers hosted the AFC East Champion Buffalo Bills, while the NFC Central Champion Minnesota Vikings traveled to Veterans Stadium to play the NFC East Champion Philadelphia Eagles. The winners would advance to their respective Conference Championship games.

On January 3 1981, the Philadelphia Eagles forced eight turnovers, seven in the second half, en route to victory, while also holding the Minnesota Vikings to just 215 total yards, and a mere 36 yards on the ground. The game marked a bitter repeat for Minnesota, who had lost to Philadelphia, 42-7, during the regular season.

Minnesota scored 14 unanswered points in the first half, starting with WR Sammy White’s 30 yard touchdown reception from QB Tommy Kramer, who had replaced another retired legend, Fran Tarkenton, at the beginning of the 1979 season. Then, after a punt, the Vikings drove 69 yards in 10 plays, to score on RB Ted Brown’s 1 yard touchdown. However, Philadelphia scored before halftime by finishing off an 85 yard drive, with QB Ron Jaworski’s 9 yard touchdown completion to WR Harold Carmichael, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 14-7. The Eagles tied the game, 14-14, on the opening possession of the second half, on RB Wilbert Montgomery’s 8 yard touchdown.

Then, the wave of turnovers began. When it was over, the two teams had turned the ball over a combined 11 times.

First, Kramer threw a pass that was intercepted by CB Roynell Young on the Eagles 7 yard line. Minnesota subsequently scored a safety, when Jaworski was sacked in the end zone by LB Matt Blair and DT Doug Martin, to take a brief 16-14 lead. However, Eagles’ LB Reggie Wilkes recovered a fumbled Vikings’ punt on the Minnesota 18 yard line, setting up Montgomery’s 5 yard rushing touchdown, putting Philadelphia up 21-16. With 16 seconds left in the third quarter, Eagles DE Carl Hairston recovered a fumble from Kramer on the Vikings 44 yard line. But this opportunity was wasted as Montgomery fumbled the ball back to Minnesota on the next play.

Early in the fourth quarter, Eagles’ DT Ken Clarke recovered a fumble by Vikings’ RB Doug Paschal, which was soon countered by a Jaworski interception to DB John Turner. A few plays later, DB Herm Edwards intercepted a Kramer pass, only to see this later nullified by another Jaworski interception. With 9:16 left in regulation, Eagles LB Frank LeMaster returned a Kramer interception 7 yards to the Vikings 15 yard line, leading to K Tony Franklin’s 33 yard field goal, increasing the Eagles lead to 24-16. Then, on the Vikings next drive, Edwards intercepted another Kramer pass, and returned it 14 yards to the Minnesota 31 yard line, leading to RB Perry Harrington’s 1 yard touchdown, making the final score 31-16. On the last play of the game, Young intercepted a final Kramer pass, his fifth, in the end zone.

Later that day, although the San Diego Chargers outgained the Buffalo Bills in total yards, 397 to 244, San Diego still found themselves trailing for most of the game. With 2:08 left in the fourth quarter, Chargers’ QB Dan Fouts threw a 50 yard touchdown pass to WR Ron Smith to defeat the Bills. This was San Diego’s first post-season win since 1963 and their first playoff win as an NFL team.

Buffalo jumped to a 14-3 halftime lead with RB Roosevelt Leaks’ 1 yard touchdown and QB Joe Ferguson’s 9 yard pass to WR Frank Lewis. San Diego could only manage a first quarter 22 yard Rolf Benirschke field goal. However, the Chargers took the second half kickoff and quickly racked up yardage, with an 18 yard run by RB Chuck Muncie and a 45 yard completion from Fouts to WR Charlie Joiner. Fouts eventually finished the 70 yard drive with a 9 yard touchdown pass to Joiner, making the score 14-10. Late in the third quarter, San Diego forced the Bills to punt from their own 8 yard line, and got the ball with great field position on Buffalo’s 49 yard line.

Fouts then led the team to the Bills’ 1 yard line, but a penalty pushed them back, and they had to settle for a second 22 yard Benirschke field goal, to narrow the Bills lead to 14-13. Buffalo had a chance to put the game away when they blocked a Chargers punt, giving them the ball with great field position. But S Glen Edwards intercepted a Ferguson pass on the San Diego 9 yard line to keep the Bills from scoring. With 6:17 left in regulation, Buffalo got another chance to make a decisive score when they recovered a fumbled punt return. But, two plays later, DT Fred Dean dropped RB Joe Cribbs for a 1 yard loss on 3rd and 1. K Nick Mike-Mayer missed a 49 yard field goal attempt, giving the ball back to San Diego with 3:59 left.

After driving to midfield, the Chargers faced 3rd and 10 with 2:08 remaining. Buffalo sent S Steve Freeman on a blitz, leaving Ron Smith, San Diego’s third receiver, one on one with DB Bill Simpson. Earlier in the game, Simpson had knocked the ball out of Smith’s hands during a catch attempt, and then picked it off in mid air. But this time, Smith managed to get a step on Simpson, make the catch, and evaded his desperate diving tackle attempt, racing 50 yards for a touchdown. Edwards sealed the victory for the Chargers after the ensuing kickoff by recording his second interception of Ferguson with 1:16 left in the game, making the final score 20-14.

On January 4, in a play that has become known as Red Right 88, Cleveland Browns’ QB Brian Sipe’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Oakland Raiders’ S Mike Davis with 41 seconds left in the game, to preserve an Oakland victory. Instead of opting for a game winning field goal, Cleveland decided to attempt a passing play, because Browns’ K Don Cockroft had previously missed two of four field goal attempts, had another aborted following a bad snap, and had one extra point blocked.

With a game time temperature of 4 degrees, the coldest NFL game since the iconic Ice Bowl on December 31 1967, the first quarter contained nothing but punts and interceptions, with Cleveland’s DB Ron Bolton and Oakland’s DB Lester Hayes each recording a pick. Near the end of the quarter, Sipe’s 20 yard completion to WR Reggie Rucker sparked a drive inside the Raiders’ 30 yard line, but it ended with no points early in the second quarter, when Cockroft missed a field goal attempt from 47 yards. On Oakland’s ensuing drive, QB Jim Plunkett lost a fumble while being sacked, but their defense kept the Browns in check, and Cockroft missed another field goal try, this one from 30 yards out.

Finally, with 6:02 left in the second quarter, Bolton scored the first points of the day, by recording his second interception of Plunkett, and returning it 42 yards to the end zone, for a 6-0 lead. However, Cockroft’s ensuing extra point was blocked. After an exchange of punts, Oakland managed to get on the board, with Plunkett completing passes to WR Bob Chandler and TE Raymond Chester, for gains of 15 and 26 yards, on a 64 yard scoring drive. RB Mark Van Eeghen finished it off with a 1 yard touchdown, with 18 seconds left in the half, making the score 7-6. On Cleveland’s opening drive of the second half, a 28 yard kickoff return to the 40 yard line started off a 48 yard drive that ended with Cockroft’s 30 yard field goal, retaking the lead for the Browns at 9-7.

Then, after forcing a punt, Cleveland drove to the Raiders’ 24 yard line but, on a field goal attempt, holder Paul McDonald was unable to handle a bad snap, and was downed for an 11 yard loss. Starting out their next drive on the Oakland 44 yard line after a punt, Cleveland drove to the 9 yard line, featuring a 21 yard reception by WR Dave Logan from Sipe, to score on another 30 yard field goal from Cockroft, making the score 12-7 going into the fourth quarter. Early in the final period, the Raiders took a 14-12 lead at the end of an 80 yard drive, highlighted by Chester’s 27 yard catch from Plunkett and van Eeghen’s second 1 yard touchdown of the day.

The Raiders had a chance to put the game away when they recovered a Sipe fumble on the Browns’ 24 yard line with 4:19 left in the game. But, with 3rd and 1 on the 15 yard line, van Eeghen was stuffed for no gain on two consecutive plays. On the second play of their subsequent drive, Sipe completed a 29 yard pass to TE Ozzie Newsome and later a 23 yarder to RB Greg Pruitt. Then, RB Mike Pruitt ran the ball 14 yards to the Oakland 14 yard line. Pruitt gained another yard on the next play, and the team called a timeout from the 13 yard line with 49 seconds left.

Cleveland Head Coach Sam Rutigliano called for a pass play, Red Right 88, instructing Sipe that, if no one was open, “throw it to the blond in the first row”. His intention was to give the team one last chance to score a touchdown before running the ball on third down to set up a Cockroft field goal. But, on the pass play, Sipe was picked off by Davis while trying to connect with Newsome in the back of the end zone, allowing the Raiders to escape with a 14-12 win.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to come from behind and defeat the top seed Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta jumped to a 10-0 lead, aided by QB Steve Bartkowski’s 60 yard touchdown pass to WR Alfred Jenkins and a 38 yard Tim Mazzetti field goal. Dallas cut the lead to 10-3 before the end of the first quarter, on a 38 yard Rafael Septien field goal. In the second quarter, the Cowboys recovered a fumble in Falcons’ territory, and tied the game, 10-10, on QB Danny White’s 5 yard touchdown completion to TE Billy Joe Dupree. However, Atlanta responded with a 1 yard touchdown by RB Lynn Cain to take a 17-10 lead. Then, after forcing a punt, the Falcons mounted another drive into Dallas territory, but DB Steve Wilson intercepted a Bartkowski pass, and the score remained 17-10 at halftime.

Dallas started out the second half with a drive to midfield, but lost the ball on a play that initially appeared to go in their favor. RB Preston Pearson caught a short pass from White and took off for a big gain, but LB Joel Williams managed to chase Pearson down and force a fumble on the 15 yard line. After recovering the fumble, Atlanta stormed down the field and increased their lead to 24-10, with Bartkowski’s 12 yard touchdown pass to RB William Andrews. Starting a drive with 3:38 left in the third quarter, the Cowboys mounted an 85 yard drive, ending with RB Robert Newhouse’s 1 yard touchdown with 13:50 left in the game, cutting the Falcon lead to 24-17. Dallas then forced a punt, but Atlanta S Tom Pridemore intercepted a White pass, returning it 22 yards to the Cowboy 37 yard line, setting up a 34 yard Mazzetti field goal, to increase their lead to 27-17.

Dallas subsequently marched 62 yards, to score on WR Drew Pearson’s 14 yard touchdown reception from White with 3:04 left in the game, cutting the Falcon lead to 27-24. Then, two plays after ensuing the kickoff, Cowboy DE Ed “Too Tall” Jones made a key tackle to end Atlanta’s drive and force a punt. Following the punt, Dallas advanced 70 yards to score on Pearson’s 23 yard touchdown catch from White, with 47 seconds left, for the Cowboys first lead of the game, 30-27. Charlie Waters fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt, giving Atlanta a chance for a tying field goal. But the Falcons turned the ball over on downs before they could move it out of their own territory, and Dallas had an exciting, come from behind, 30-27 victory.

On January 11, the AFC Championship Game pitted the San Diego Chargers against the Oakland Raiders in San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys played the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC Championship in Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium.

In the NFC, although Philadelphia Eagles’ QB Ron Jaworski completed only 9 of 29 passes for 91 yards and was intercepted twice, RB Wilbert Montgomery led the Eagles to victory by rushing for 194 yards and a touchdown. Dallas had been the highest scoring team in the NFL during the regular season but, against the Eagles’ defense, could only gain 206 yards and score a single touchdown. The Cowboys also fumbled five times, losing three of them.

Dallas was forced to a three and out on their opening drive. QB Danny White, also the Cowboys’ punter, kicked the ball just 26 yards with Philadelphia returning it to the Dallas 42 yard line. One play later, Montgomery scored on a 42 yard rushing touchdown for a 7-0 lead. The Eagles had chances to score on their next two drives, however, they were stopped both times, and their special teams unit failed to capitalize. First, they drove to the Cowboys’ 23 yard line, only to have K Tony Franklin’s field goal attempt blocked by Dallas. Then they drove to the Cowboys’ 16 yard line, where DE Harvey Martin sacked Jaworski on third down, and a high snap on the field goal try sailed right through Jaworski’s hands as he attempted to hold the ball for Franklin.

Midway through the second quarter, White, who had been held to negative passing yardage thus far in the game, finally got the Cowboys going on a 10 play, 68 yard drive, completing an 18 yard screen pass to RB Tony Dorsett and a 12 yarder to WR Drew Pearson, before Dorsett wrapped it up with a 3 yard touchdown to tie the game. The score would remain 7-7 at halftime due to another blown scoring chance by Philadelphia, when Jaworski’s touchdown pass to WR Harold Carmichael was canceled out by a 15 yard personal foul penalty. In the third quarter, the first turnover of the game occurred when the Eagles recovered a fumbled Cowboy punt return.

Dallas quickly took the ball back with LB Anthony Dickerson’s interception of a Jaworski pass, but the Cowboys only held on to the ball for only a few plays before White lost a fumble, which DE Dennis Harrison recovered on the Dallas 11 yard, setting up Franklin’s 26 yard field goal, for a 10-7 lead. Dallas seemed to be in position to respond when TE Jay Saldi made a leaping catch on the Eagles’ 40 yard line for a 28 yard gain, White’s longest completion of the day. On the next play, rookie CB Ronyell Young stripped the ball from Dorsett, and LB Jerry Robinson returned it 22 yards to the Dallas 38 yard line. Six plays later, RB Leroy Harris scored a 9 yard touchdown to give Philadelphia a 17-7 lead.

Later on, Montgomery’s 55 yard carry put the Eagles in position to put the game away, but DB Aaron Mitchell kept the Cowboys’ chances alive by intercepting a Jaworski pass in the end zone. Still, the Dallas offense was unable to move the ball. For the rest of the game, the Cowboys never made it into Philadelphia territory and, after the Eagles put together a 62 yard drive to score the final points of the game on Franklin’s 20 yard field goal with 2:10 remaining, Young intercepted a White pass on the final play of the game to preserve a 20-7 victory.

Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders built a 28-7 first half lead, but had to hold off a furious comeback attempt by the San Diego Chargers, to become only the second wild card team in NFL history to make it to the Super Bowl.

On the third play of the game, Oakland QB Jim Plunkett threw a pass that bounced off the hands of RB Kenny King and into the arms of TE Raymond Chester, who took off to the end zone for a 65 yard touchdown reception, and a 7-0 lead. San Diego seemed primed to respond as QB Dan Fouts completed a 55 yard pass to WR Ron Smith on their first play of the next drive, but Raider DB Lester Hayes, who had already recorded 13 interceptions in the regular season and four interceptions in the previous two post-season games, picked off a Fouts’ pass and returned it 16 yards to the Oakland 25 yard line. However, the Chargers defense forced a punt, and Fouts made up for his mistake on the next drive, hooking up with WR Charlie Joiner for a 48 yard touchdown, to tie the game at 7-7.

Oakland then stormed back with 21 unanswered points. First, Plunkett’s 48 yard completion to WR Cliff Branch on 3rd and 20 set off a 7 play, 76 yard drive, ending with Plunkett’s 5 yard touchdown run, for a 14-7 lead. Then, the Raiders defense forced a punt, and returned it 14 yards to the Charger 49 yard line. Four plays later, Plunkett’s 21 yard touchdown pass to King made the score 21-7 with 1:35 left in the first quarter. San Diego took the ball back and drove to the Oakland 21 yard line, featuring a 28 yard completion from TE Kellen Winslow to WR John Jefferson on a trick play. However, S Burgess Owens ended the Charger drive with an interception of a Fouts’ pass. Following a punt, San Diego RB Mike Thomas lost a fumble on the Chargers 29 yard line, and the Raiders capitalized with Plunkett’s 23 yard completion to Branch, leading to another touchdown, this one on a 3 yard run by RB Mark van Eeghen, to build a 28-7 advantage.

Finally, San Diego responded, driving 64 yards in 13 plays, including a 24 yard reception by Thomas, to score on Fouts’ 8 yard touchdown to Joiner, cutting the deficit to 28-14 with 1:05 left in the first half. The Chargers continued to cut away at the Raiders lead in the second half, driving 68 yards in 12 plays on their opening drive. Two dropped passes by Jefferson in the end zone spoiled their chances for a touchdown, but K Rolf Benischke made a 26 yard field goal, bringing San Diego within 11 points, 28-17. The Charger defense then forced a punt, returning it 28 yards to the Oakland 41 yard line. From there, San Diego took the ball all the way to end zone, scoring on a 7 play drive that ended with RB Chuck Muncie’s 6 yard touchdown, knocking the score down to 28-24.

Oakland responded with a 68 yard drive, including a 22 yard completion from Plunkett to King, resulting in Chris Bahr’s 27 yard field goal, to retake their seven point lead, 31-24. After a three and out, the Raiders returned San Diego’s next punt to the Oakland 49 yard line, where their subsequent drive resulted in a 33 yard field goal from Bahr, to make their lead 34-24 with 9:46 left in the game. The Chargers countered with a 72 yard drive, scoring on Benirschke’s 27 yard field goal, to again cut the Raider lead to 34-27. But Oakland held onto the ball for the last 6:52 of the game with a 15 play drive, with Plunkett scrambling twice on third down to pick up key first downs, clinching the victory, 34-27.

Super Bowl XV would thus match the Wild Card Oakland Raiders against the first time NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. For Oakland, this would be their third Super Bowl appearance, having previously lost Super Bowl II to the Green Bay Packers and won Super Bowl XI against the Minnesota Vikings.

Super Bowl Highlights: On January 25 1981, in the Louisiana Superdome, the AFC Champion Oakland Raiders, led by second year Head Coach Tom Flores, played the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles, led by fifth year Head Coach Dick Vermeil, in Super Bowl XV.

This game would be the climax of QB Jim Plunkett’s revival as an NFL starting quarterback. The 1970 Heisman Trophy winner was drafted by the New England Patriots with the first overall pick in 1971, and was later named the NFL Rookie of the Year. But Plunkett would suffer through five losing seasons with New England and was eventually traded to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for QB Tom Owen, two first round picks in 1976, and a first and second round pick in 1977. After two uneven seasons with San Francisco, he was released prior to the 1978 season. Plunkett subsequently signed with Oakland to be their backup quarterback, and did not see much playing time, throwing no passes in 1978 and just 15 in 1979.

But, when the Raiders began 1980 with a 2-2 record and newly acquired QB Dan Pastorini was lost for the season with a broken leg in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Plunkett was thrust into the starting role. After relieving Pastorini against the Chiefs, the 33 year old got off to a bad start, throwing five interceptions in a 31-17 loss. However, he recovered, leading the Raiders to victory in their next six games and nine of their last 11 contests, earning a playoff spot. Plunkett completed 165 out of 320 attempts (51.6%) for 2,299 yards, 18 touchdown, 15 interceptions, a QB Rating of 72.9, and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Oakland’s main offensive deep threat was WR Cliff Branch (44 receptions, 858 yards, 7 touchdowns), while WR Bob Chandler led the Raiders in receptions with 49 for 786 yards and 10 touchdowns. RB Mark van Eeghen was the team’s top rusher, with 838 yards on 222 attempts and 5 touchdowns, while also catching 29 passes for 259 yards. Second year RB Kenny King, acquired prior to the season from the Houston Oilers for DB Jack Tatum and two draft picks, rushed for 761 yards (4.4 yards per carry), caught 22 passes for 145 yards, and scored 4 touchdowns. Oakland had an outstanding offensive line, led by two future Hall of Famers, OT Art Shell and OG Gene Upshaw.

Overall, the Raiders’ offense finished 10th in rushing yards (2,146), 7th in points scored (364), and a below average 19th in passing yardage (2,899). Oakland’s defense, anchored by DE John Matuszak, was punishing. All-Pro DB Lester Hayes led the league in interceptions (13) and was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in only his fourth season. The Raiders also had a trio of great linebackers; fellow All-Pro and future Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks, now in his 11th season, Pro Bowler Rod Martin, and standout rookie Matt Millen. As a team, Oakland finished 5th in rushing yards allowed (1,726) and 10th in points allowed (306), but only 19th in passing yards allowed (3,312).

The Eagles were established in 1933 as a replacement for the bankrupt Frankford Yellow Jackets, when a group led by Bert Bell secured the rights to an NFL franchise in Philadelphia. As an expansion team, the Eagles struggled during their first 10 years in existence, finally achieving a winning season in 1943 as the “Steagles”, a combination of the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia franchises resulting from manpower shortages during WWII. Both franchises returned to their original cities in 1944, and the team had its first winning season as the Eagles, finishing in second place in the NFL East. Over the next two years, Philadelphia again finished in second place before subsequently appearing in three straight NFL Championship games, winning back-to-back championships in 1948 and 1949 under long time Head Coach Greasy Neale and star RB Steve Van Buren.

After Neale retired in 1950, Philadelphia reverted to their losing ways during much of the decade, with only four winning seasons. But in 1960, the Eagles roared back to win their third NFL title, this time under third year Head Coach Buck Shaw. Shaw’s win came against Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, the only championship game loss during the legendary coach’s career. However, it would take another 20 years for Philadelphia to get their next opportunity at a championship, with only two winning seasons between 1961 and 1978.

The hiring of former UCLA Head Coach Dick Vermeil in 1976 saw a rejuvenation of the morbid Eagles’ franchise. Philadelphia finally returned to the playoffs in 1978 and made it to the Super Bowl just two years later. In 1980, the Eagles were led by seven year veteran QB Ron Jaworski, acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in 1977 for All-Pro TE Charlie Young. Jaworski completed 257 out of 451 passes (57.0%) for 3,529 yards, 27 touchdowns, only 12 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 91.0. Another key player on Philadelphia’s offense was RB Wilbert Montgomery, who was widely considered one of the top running backs in the NFL, and had rushed for over 1,200 yards in each of the previous two seasons.

Injuries during the 1980 season limited Montgomery to just 778 yards on 193 carries, but he did score 8 touchdowns, and proved he was fully recovered in the post-season by rushing for 194 yards in the NFC title game. Montgomery was also a superb receiver out of the backfield, recording 50 receptions for 407 yards and an additional 2 touchdowns. The main deep threats, WRs Harold Carmichael and Charlie Smith, along with TE Keith Krepfle, combined for 125 receptions, 2,090 yards, and 16 touchdowns. Overall, the offense finished 6th in points scored (384), 7th in passing yards (3,524), and 14th in rushing yards (1,995).

The Eagles’ defense led the league in fewest points allowed (222) while finishing 2nd in rushing yards allowed (1,618) and 5th in passing yards allowed (2,825). All-Pro NT Charlie Johnson anchored the line. DE Claude Humphrey led the team in sacks with 14.5. LBs Jerry Robinson and Bill Bergey excelled at both stopping the run and pass coverage. Philadelphia also had a fine secondary, led by veteran DBs Herman Edwards (3 interceptions) and Brenard Wilson (6 interceptions), along with rookie Ronyell Young (4 interceptions). The Eagles’ defense was a major factor in their hard fought 10-7 home victory over Oakland in Week 12, when they sacked Plunkett eight times and forced three turnovers.

The Raiders’ Rod Martin intercepted Ron Jaworski’s first pass of the game, and returned it 17 yards to Philadelphia’s 30 yard line, setting up Jim Plunkett’s 2 yard touchdown pass to Cliff Branch for a quick 7-0 lead. After each team punted once, Jaworski threw a 40 yard touchdown pass to Rodney Parker. But the score was nullified by an illegal motion penalty, and the Eagles were forced to punt. Oakland later scored their second touchdown with about a minute left in the quarter, increasing their lead to 14-0. On third down from the Raider 20 yard line, Plunkett threw the ball to Kenny King at the 39 yard line. King caught the pass just over the outstretched arms of Herman Edwards, and took off to the end zone, for a Super Bowl record 80 yard touchdown reception.

Philadelphia responded on their next drive, with Jaworski completing passes to John Spagnola and Wilbert Montgomery for gains of 22 and 25 yards, on a 61 yard drive that ended with a 30 yard Tony Franklin field goal, making the score 14-3 just under five minutes into the second quarter. With less than four minutes left in the period, Oakland reached the Eagles’ 27 yard line, only to have K Chris Bahr miss a 45 yard field goal attempt. Philadelphia then drove 62 yards to the Raiders’ 11 yard line. With just 54 seconds left in the half, Franklin attempted a 28 yard field goal, but Oakland blocked the kick, preserving their 14-3 lead at halftime.

The Raiders took the opening kickoff of the second half and again scored quickly. Plunkett completed a 13 yard pass to King and a 32 yard completion to Bob Chandler to move the ball to Philadelphia’s 33 yard line. After a 4 yard run by Mark van Eeghen, Plunkett threw a 29 yard touchdown pass to Branch, increasing Oakland’s lead to 21-3. The Eagles responded by driving 56 yards to the Raider 34 yard line but, on 3rd and 3, Jaworski threw his second interception of the game to Martin. Oakland subsequently drove 40 yards and scored on Bahr’s 46 yard field goal, further increasing their lead to 24-3.

Philadelphia finally managed to score a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 24-10. Starting from their own 12 yard line, a 43 yard reception by Charlie Smith sparked an 88 yard, 12 play drive, that was capped by Jaworski’s 8 yard touchdown pass to Keith Krepfle. But, on their ensuing drive, Oakland marched from their own 11 to the Eagles’ 17 yard line. Philadelphia kept the Raiders out of the end zone, but Bahr kicked his second field goal of the game, increasing their lead to 27-10. Oakland’s defense then dominated the remainder of the game, forcing two turnovers on the Eagles last two possessions, to prevent any chance of a comeback. First, Jaworski lost a fumble. Then, Martin recorded a Super Bowl record third interception of a Jaworski pass, and the Raiders ran out the clock for a 27-10 victory.

Plunkett was named the Super Bowl MVP after completing 13 of 21 passes for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. He became the second Heisman Trophy winner to be named Super Bowl MVP, after Roger Staubach in Super Bowl VI. Oakland became the first wild card team to win a Super Bowl, as well as the first team to appear in a Super Bowl in three different decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s). In the days before the game, most sports writers were speculating over whether, if the Raiders won, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle would present the Vince Lombardi Trophy to team owner Al Davis, due to Davis’ pending lawsuit against the NFL. However, after the game, the expected confrontation was actually very civil, with both parties thanking each other, and praising the participants.

Conclusion: Green Bay fans had once again endured an up and down season that ended with a losing record. The Packers had twice been blown out by a combined score of 112-28, but had also lost four games by a touchdown or less. In addition to a tie with Tampa Bay, all of those games very well could have been won. According to Stanton Greene, if the Packers had flipped only three of them, they would have ended up in first place. Even after a crushing four game losing streak at the end of the season, Starr’s players stood by him, announcing after the last game their wish to have him back in 1981.

However, Starr’s 31-57-1 record after six years was not acceptable to the franchise’s Board of Directors, who relieved him of his General Manager’s position on December 23, after an unprecedented three hour meeting. According to Green Bay historian Cliff Christl in 2017, Robert Parins, then a member of the board, described the meeting as contentious, with several participants wanting Starr fired. After much discussion, Parins suggested that, rather than fire him, the Board strip Starr of his general manager’s job, and retain him as head coach. The rest of the members agreed, and Starr was called in to receive the news.

His initial reaction was “It would have been easy to tell them to take [the job] and shove it.” However, Starr subsequently cooled down, and told the press he had no problem with splitting the two jobs, but rather had a problem with how the decision was handled. Board members went on to publicly state that their decision had not been meant in any way as a demotion, but rather was made with the goal of adding another “football mind” to the organization, and that Starr would continue to have the final word over trades and the draft. Player reaction was mostly negative, the general feeling being that the move was a vote of “no confidence” in their coach. Like most compromises, no one was ultimately happy with the decision.

Although opinions differed as to whether or not Starr was the primary reason for Green Bay’s inability to field a winning team, the reality was that the Packers and the Eagles had been on par in 1978. Two years later, Philadelphia would be in the Super Bowl and Green Bay would win only five games. According to Greene, “Starr had seemed so close, but in the course of two years that followed [Green Bay’s 8-7-1 season], the Packers had backslid nearly into oblivion, despite a smattering of good players. Bart’s temper was frayed and he was suddenly a lame duck coach with only one year left on his contract coming off his fifth losing season in six tries.”

All eyes now turned to 1981. The show must go on!

To end this post, I’ve attached the NFL Films Super Bowl XV Highlight video, narrated once again by the great John Facenda.

Enjoy!

As always, your feedback is appreciated!