NFL playoffs, 1970-71
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
following the 1970 NFL season
led up to Super Bowl V
.
This was the first playoff tournament after the AFL-NFL Merger
. An eight-team playoff tournament was designed, with four clubs from each conference qualifying. Along with the three division winners in each conference, one wild card team, the second place team with the best record from each conference, was added to the tournament. The first round was named the Divisional Playoffs, while the Conference Championship games were moved to the second playoff round and the Super Bowl became the league's championship game.
However, the home teams in the playoffs were still decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams, who would always play on the road. Also, a rule was made that two teams from the same division could not meet in the Divisional Playoffs.
AFC
The Bengals started out their first season as an NFL team 1-6, but stormed into the playoffs by winning their last seven games. However, Baltimore paid them little respect. The Colts' defense limited the Bengals to 7 first downs and 139 total yards of offense. The closest Cincinnati came to scoring was Horst Muhlmann
's 50-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked by Colts linebacker Ray May
. Meanwhile, Baltimore quarterback Johnny Unitas
threw two touchdown passes: a 45-yard completion to Roy Jefferson
in the first quarter and a 53-yard reception to Eddie Hinton
in the fourth period. Jim O'Brien
added a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter. Rookie running back Norm Bulaich
rushed for 116 yards.
NFC
Although they recorded 209 rushing yards, the Cowboys could only manage a field goal and a safety. But they still managed to shut out the Lions. The Cowboy defense held Lions QB Greg Landry to 48 passing yards. In addition, they contained his running as Landry was an excellent running QB; he averaged 10 yards per carry and gained 350 yards. However, in this game he was held to 15 yards rushing. In the first quarter, Detroit quarterback Greg Landry
's fumble set up Dallas kicker Mike Clark
's 26-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 3-0 lead. Then in the final period, Dallas marched 76 yards in 15 plays to advance to the Detroit one-yard line. Rather than kick a field goal on fourth down, the Cowboys elected to give the ball to running back Duane Thomas
, and was stopped short of the goal line. But three plays later, Dallas defensive end George Andrie
sacked Landry for a safety. Bill Munson
replaced Landry and led the Lions down field in the waning moments, but the Cowboys clinched the victory in the final moments with defensive back Mel Renfro
's interception at their own 29-yard line. The contest remains the lowest-scoring postseason game in NFL history.
AFC: Oakland Raiders
Quarterback Daryle Lamonica
threw two touchdown passes and the Raiders scored 14-points in the second half to defeat the Dolphins, 21-14. In the second quarter, Oakland running back Charlie Smith
's fumble set up Miami quarterback Bob Griese
's 16-yard touchdown pass to Paul Warfield
. The Raiders then tied the game later in the period with Fred Biletnikoff
's 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Daryle Lamonica
. In the third quarter, Oakland cornerback Willie Brown
intercepted a Griese pass and returned it 50-yards to the end zone. Later in the final period, Oakland receiver Rod Sherman
made an 82-yard touchdown reception to seal the victory.
NFC: San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback John Brodie
lead the 49ers to their first NFL playoff victory by throwing for 201 yards and touchdown and rushing for another. The Vikings scored first when Minnesota defensive back Paul Krause picked San Francisco running back Ken Willard
's fumble in midair and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. But the 49ers scored 17 unanswered points, first with Brodie's 24-yard touchdown pass to Dick Witcher
. Then in the second quarter, San Francisco converted a Vikings fumble into Bruce Gossett
's 40-yard field goal. Brodie scored the clinching touchdown, a 1-yard run, with 1:20 left. Minnesota's 24-yard touchdown pass was snapped with only seven seconds left in the game, and ended with just one second remaining on the clock.
's 16-yard field goal and Norm Bulaich
's 2-yard touchdown run. Oakland's starting quarterback Daryle Lamonica was knocked out of the game after suffering a thigh injury in the second quarter. The Raiders tied the game in the third quarter with Fred Biletnikoff
's 38-yard touchdown reception from George Blanda
. The Colts then took the lead again with another O'Brien field goal and another Bulaich touchdown. Early in the fourth period, Blanda threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Warren Wells
, but Unitas came back with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Perkins that made the score 27-17. Blanda drove the Raiders twice deep into Baltimore territory, but both drives ended with interceptions.
Blanda finished the game completing 17 of 32 passes for 217 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. At 43 years old, he was the oldest quarterback ever to play in a championship game.
This would turn out to be the final home playoff win for the Colts in Baltimore before they moved to Indianapolis
in 1984.
only completed 7 out of 22 passes for 101 yards, rookie halfback Duane Thomas
rushed for 143 yards and Dallas converted two third quarter interceptions into 14 points to defeat the 49ers. After a 3-3 halftime score, Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan
's interception led to Thomas' 13-yard touchdown run. Then Dallas converted Mel Renfro
's interception into fullback Walt Garrison
's 5-yard touchdown reception. The 49ers cut the lead to 17-10 with quarterback John Brodie's 26-yard touchdown pass to Dick Witcher
, but were shut out for the rest of the game.
This was the last 49ers home game played at Kezar Stadium. Johnny Mathis
sang the National Anthem.
NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...
following the 1970 NFL season
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
led up to Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
.
This was the first playoff tournament after the AFL-NFL Merger
AFL-NFL Merger
The AFL–NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League and the American Football League...
. An eight-team playoff tournament was designed, with four clubs from each conference qualifying. Along with the three division winners in each conference, one wild card team, the second place team with the best record from each conference, was added to the tournament. The first round was named the Divisional Playoffs, while the Conference Championship games were moved to the second playoff round and the Super Bowl became the league's championship game.
However, the home teams in the playoffs were still decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams, who would always play on the road. Also, a rule was made that two teams from the same division could not meet in the Divisional Playoffs.
Bracket
- Note: Prior to the 1975 season1975 NFL seasonThe 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly rotation. Coincidentally in 1970, the home team happened to be the one with the better record in every game. Had the playoffs been seeded, the only difference would have been the Lions would have played the 49ers and Cowboys would have played the Vikings in the divisional playoffs in the NFC.
AFCAmerican Football ConferenceThe American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
: Baltimore ColtsHistory of the Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
17, Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
0
The Bengals started out their first season as an NFL team 1-6, but stormed into the playoffs by winning their last seven games. However, Baltimore paid them little respect. The Colts' defense limited the Bengals to 7 first downs and 139 total yards of offense. The closest Cincinnati came to scoring was Horst MuhlmannHorst Muhlmann
Horst Herbert Erich Muhlmann was a former professional American football player. He was a placekicker in the American Football League and the National Football League for nine seasons...
's 50-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked by Colts linebacker Ray May
Ray May
-College career:May played college football at the University of Southern California after playing at Los Angeles City College.-High school career:May prepped at Los Angeles High School....
. Meanwhile, Baltimore quarterback Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas
John Constantine Unitas , known as Johnny Unitas or "Johnny U", and nicknamed "The Golden Arm", was a professional American football player in the 1950s through the 1970s, spending the majority of his career with the Baltimore Colts. He was a record-setting quarterback, and the National Football...
threw two touchdown passes: a 45-yard completion to Roy Jefferson
Roy Jefferson
Roy Lee Jefferson is a former American football wide receiver who played twelve seasons in the National Football League...
in the first quarter and a 53-yard reception to Eddie Hinton
Eddie Hinton (American football)
Eddie Hinton is a former professional American football wide receiver who played six seasons in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts, the Houston Oilers, and the New England Patriots....
in the fourth period. Jim O'Brien
Jim O'Brien (American football)
Jim O'Brien is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He played for the Baltimore Colts from 1970 to 1972 and the Detroit Lions in 1973. He also played wide receiver, catching the bulk of his career passes during the 1972 season while still performing his kicking...
added a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter. Rookie running back Norm Bulaich
Norm Bulaich
Norman Batton Bulaich is a former American football running back in the National Football League.-Professional Career:...
rushed for 116 yards.
NFCNational Football ConferenceThe National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
: Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
5, Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
0
Although they recorded 209 rushing yards, the Cowboys could only manage a field goal and a safety. But they still managed to shut out the Lions. The Cowboy defense held Lions QB Greg Landry to 48 passing yards. In addition, they contained his running as Landry was an excellent running QB; he averaged 10 yards per carry and gained 350 yards. However, in this game he was held to 15 yards rushing. In the first quarter, Detroit quarterback Greg LandryGreg Landry
Gregory Paul Landry is a former American football player and coach who played quarterback in the National Football League from 1968 to 1981 and again in 1984...
's fumble set up Dallas kicker Mike Clark
Mike Clark (placekicker)
Michael Vincent Clark was an American football placekicker in the National Football League from . He was a part of the Dallas Cowboys' Super Bowl VI winning team. Clark died of a heart attack at Baylor University Medical Center. He was diagnosed with advanced melanoma in 1998....
's 26-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 3-0 lead. Then in the final period, Dallas marched 76 yards in 15 plays to advance to the Detroit one-yard line. Rather than kick a field goal on fourth down, the Cowboys elected to give the ball to running back Duane Thomas
Duane Thomas
Duane Julius Thomas is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played four seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins from 1970 to 1974....
, and was stopped short of the goal line. But three plays later, Dallas defensive end George Andrie
George Andrie
George Joseph Andrie is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Andrie prepped at Catholic Central High School.-College career:...
sacked Landry for a safety. Bill Munson
Bill Munson
William Alan Munson was a professional American football quarterback who played in 16 NFL seasons from 1964 through 1979 for five different teams. He was 6'2" and weighed 203 lbs. He was best known for his years as a starter for the Detroit Lions in the mid-1970s...
replaced Landry and led the Lions down field in the waning moments, but the Cowboys clinched the victory in the final moments with defensive back Mel Renfro
Mel Renfro
Melvin Lacy "Mel" Renfro is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who spent his entire fourteen-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.-High school:...
's interception at their own 29-yard line. The contest remains the lowest-scoring postseason game in NFL history.
AFC: Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
21, Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
14
Quarterback Daryle LamonicaDaryle Lamonica
Daryle Pat Lamonica is a former American collegiate and professional football quarterback who played in the American Football League, and later in the NFL....
threw two touchdown passes and the Raiders scored 14-points in the second half to defeat the Dolphins, 21-14. In the second quarter, Oakland running back Charlie Smith
Charlie Smith (running back)
Charles Henry Smith is a former American football running back. He played two seasons for the American Football League's Oakland Raiders , and 5 for the National Football League's Raiders . He also played for the NFL's San Diego Chargers in 1975...
's fumble set up Miami quarterback Bob Griese
Bob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
's 16-yard touchdown pass to Paul Warfield
Paul Warfield
Paul Dryden Warfield is a former professional American football wide receiver in the 1960s and 1970s known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, jumping ability and hands.- Football career :...
. The Raiders then tied the game later in the period with Fred Biletnikoff
Fred Biletnikoff
Frederick S. "Fred" Biletnikoff is a former American football wide receiver and coach. He spent the majority of his professional playing and coaching days with the Oakland Raiders...
's 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Daryle Lamonica
Daryle Lamonica
Daryle Pat Lamonica is a former American collegiate and professional football quarterback who played in the American Football League, and later in the NFL....
. In the third quarter, Oakland cornerback Willie Brown
Willie Brown (football player)
William Ferdie Brown is a former American Football cornerback. He is currently on the coaching staff of the Oakland Raiders.-Playing career:...
intercepted a Griese pass and returned it 50-yards to the end zone. Later in the final period, Oakland receiver Rod Sherman
Rod Sherman
Rodney Jarvis "Rod" Sherman is a former American football wide receiver who played professionally in the American Football League and the National Football League .-High school career:...
made an 82-yard touchdown reception to seal the victory.
NFC: San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
17, Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
14
Quarterback John BrodieJohn Brodie
John Riley Brodie is a former professional American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, and had a second career as a Senior PGA Tour professional golfer.-Early years and education:...
lead the 49ers to their first NFL playoff victory by throwing for 201 yards and touchdown and rushing for another. The Vikings scored first when Minnesota defensive back Paul Krause picked San Francisco running back Ken Willard
Ken Willard
Kenneth Henderson Willard is a former American football running back/fullback in the National Football League. Willard was drafted with the second pick of the 1965 NFL Draft, by the San Francisco 49ers ahead of future NFL Hall of Famers Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. He played nine seasons with the...
's fumble in midair and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. But the 49ers scored 17 unanswered points, first with Brodie's 24-yard touchdown pass to Dick Witcher
Dick Witcher
Dick Vernon Witcher was a former professional American football player. Witcher was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 8th round of the 1966 NFL Draft. At 6'3" Witcher was a wide receiver who first played two years at Bakersfield College, then graduated from UCLA...
. Then in the second quarter, San Francisco converted a Vikings fumble into Bruce Gossett
Bruce Gossett
Bruce Gossett is a former National Football League placekicker from 1964-1974....
's 40-yard field goal. Brodie scored the clinching touchdown, a 1-yard run, with 1:20 left. Minnesota's 24-yard touchdown pass was snapped with only seven seconds left in the game, and ended with just one second remaining on the clock.
AFC Championship: Baltimore Colts 27, Oakland Raiders 17
The Colts jumped out to a 10-0 lead with kicker Jim O'BrienJim O'Brien (American football)
Jim O'Brien is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He played for the Baltimore Colts from 1970 to 1972 and the Detroit Lions in 1973. He also played wide receiver, catching the bulk of his career passes during the 1972 season while still performing his kicking...
's 16-yard field goal and Norm Bulaich
Norm Bulaich
Norman Batton Bulaich is a former American football running back in the National Football League.-Professional Career:...
's 2-yard touchdown run. Oakland's starting quarterback Daryle Lamonica was knocked out of the game after suffering a thigh injury in the second quarter. The Raiders tied the game in the third quarter with Fred Biletnikoff
Fred Biletnikoff
Frederick S. "Fred" Biletnikoff is a former American football wide receiver and coach. He spent the majority of his professional playing and coaching days with the Oakland Raiders...
's 38-yard touchdown reception from George Blanda
George Blanda
George Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...
. The Colts then took the lead again with another O'Brien field goal and another Bulaich touchdown. Early in the fourth period, Blanda threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Warren Wells
Warren Wells
Warren Wells is a former American college and Professional Football player, who played wide receiver for five seasons, one for the NFL's Detroit Lions and, after spending two years in the U.S...
, but Unitas came back with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Perkins that made the score 27-17. Blanda drove the Raiders twice deep into Baltimore territory, but both drives ended with interceptions.
Blanda finished the game completing 17 of 32 passes for 217 yards with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. At 43 years old, he was the oldest quarterback ever to play in a championship game.
This would turn out to be the final home playoff win for the Colts in Baltimore before they moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
in 1984.
NFC Championship: Dallas Cowboys 17, San Francisco 49ers 10
Although Dallas quarterback Craig MortonCraig Morton
Larry Craig Morton is a former professional football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82...
only completed 7 out of 22 passes for 101 yards, rookie halfback Duane Thomas
Duane Thomas
Duane Julius Thomas is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played four seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins from 1970 to 1974....
rushed for 143 yards and Dallas converted two third quarter interceptions into 14 points to defeat the 49ers. After a 3-3 halftime score, Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan
Lee Roy Jordan
Lee Roy Jordan is a retired American football linebacker. After attending the University of Alabama, playing under head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, he spent 14 years in the National Football League playing for the Dallas Cowboys between 1963–1976...
's interception led to Thomas' 13-yard touchdown run. Then Dallas converted Mel Renfro
Mel Renfro
Melvin Lacy "Mel" Renfro is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League who spent his entire fourteen-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.-High school:...
's interception into fullback Walt Garrison
Walt Garrison
Walter Benton Garrison is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys...
's 5-yard touchdown reception. The 49ers cut the lead to 17-10 with quarterback John Brodie's 26-yard touchdown pass to Dick Witcher
Dick Witcher
Dick Vernon Witcher was a former professional American football player. Witcher was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 8th round of the 1966 NFL Draft. At 6'3" Witcher was a wide receiver who first played two years at Bakersfield College, then graduated from UCLA...
, but were shut out for the rest of the game.
This was the last 49ers home game played at Kezar Stadium. Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
sang the National Anthem.