NFL playoffs, 1977-78
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
following the 1977 NFL season
led up to Super Bowl XII
.
Due to Christmas
, the Divisional playoff games were held in a span of three days. The AFC playoff games were played on December 24 while the NFC games were held on December 26. It also marked the only year since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 that one conference held both of its divisional playoff games on one day and the other conference held both of its games on the other day. In every other season since 1970, the conferences have split their playoff games over the two days.
This was also the last season that the NFL used an eight-team playoff tournament.
Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season
(notwithstanding the strike-shortened 1982 season
), the Denver Broncos (the AFC 1 seed) did not play the Oakland Raiders (the 4 seed) in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.
, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler
threw a 42-yard completion to tight end Dave Casper
on a post route to set up the game-tying field goal with 29 seconds left in regulation. Casper, nicknamed "The Ghost" by his teammates, also caught a 10-yard touchdown pass 43 seconds into the second overtime period to win the game. The game featured nine lead changes before it was over
Oakland's Carl Garrett
started off the game with a 40-yard kick return to the Colts 41-yard line. But they could not take advantage and lost the ball when Mark Van Eeghen
's fumble was recovered by defensive back Lyle Blackwood
. The rest of the quarter was a defensive struggle, but with less than a minute left, Oakland scored first with running back Clarence Davis
's 30-yard touchdown run. Oakland then forced a three and out deep in Baltimore territory and got the ball back with great field position at the Colts 48. They seemed to be in prime position to increase their lead, but Baltimore's Bruce Laird intercepted Stabler's pass and returned it 61-yards for a touchdown. Later in the quarter, Baltimore mounted their first sustained drive, moving the ball from their 20 to the Raiders 19-yard line. Following a dropped interception by Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum
, Toni Linhart
's 36-yard field goal gave them their first lead of the game. Oakland responded with a drive to the Colts 23-yard line, but with less than a minute left, Baltimore lineman John Dutton
recovered a fumble from Davis to preserve the 10-7 score going into halftime.
The Raiders scored on their first drive of the second half with Stabler's 41-yard completion to Cliff Branch
setting up his 8-yard touchdown pass to Casper. To make matters worse for the Colts, Blackwood was injured on the drive and had to miss the rest of the game. But Baltimore's Marshall Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards to the end zone. On Oakland's next possession, they lost their fourth turnover of the day when Laird picked off another Stabler pass, this one on the Raiders 40. But the Raiders defense rose to the occasion, forcing a punt that was blocked by Ted Hendricks
and recovered by linebacker Jeff Barnes
, who returned it to the Colts 16-yard line. Two player later, Casper caught a 10-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-17.
Baltimore scored on their first drive of the fourth quarter, driving 80 yards to a fourth down 1-yard touchdown run by Ron Lee. But Oakland quickly struck back, starting with Garrett's 43-yard kickoff return to his own 47. After two incompletions, Stabler kept the drive going with a 25-yard pass to Van Eagan. Then Colts defensive back Nelson Munsey
was hit with a 24-yard pass interference penalty while trying to cover Branch in the end zone, and Pete Banaszak
ran the ball into the end zone on the next play. Baltimore stormed right back with a touchdown on their own on a 73-yard drive, started off with Bert Jones
' 30-yard completion to Raymond Chester
and followed up with a 16-yard swing pass to Lee. Lee then moved the ball to the 14-yard line with a 13-yard run, and scored from there on the next play, giving the Colts a 31-28 lead. Baltimore's defense quickly forced a punt, giving the offense the ball in good field position with a chance to put the game away. But the Raiders stopped them on three consecutive runs, all on tackles from lineman John Matuszak
.
After both teams punted once more, Oakland got the ball back with 2:55 left in regulation on their own 30. After a 14-yard reception by Davis and an incompletion, the "Ghost to the Post" to Casper advanced the Raiders to the Baltimore 14-yard line. A few plays later, they faced fourth down and 1 from the 6. Rather than risk the game on a fourth down conversion attempt, Oakland decided to kick the field goal, and Errol Mann
sent it through the uprights from 22 yards, tying the game and sending it into overtime.
After forcing Baltimore to punt on the opening drive of overtime, Oakland drove 41 yards in nine plays to set up a field goal attempt for Mann, but the kick was blocked by Mike Barnes. After another punt, Oakland drove to the Colts 35-yard line. On second down, Stabler was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Fred Cook, pushing his team out of field goal range. But then he kept the drive alive with a 19-yard completion to Branch, setting up Casper's 10-yard touchdown catch less than a minute into the second overtime period to win the game.
Casper finished with 4 receptions for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Oakland linebacker Monte Johnson
had 20 tackles and finished the game with a broken Vertebrae in his neck.
's 2 interceptions and a fumble return set up 17 Denver points as the Broncos defeated the Steelers. Denver scored first after John Schultz's blocked punt set up running back Rob Lytle
's 7-yard rushing touchdown. Pittsburgh responded with quarterback Terry Bradshaw
's 1-yard rushing touchdown. But in the second quarter, Jackson picked up a fumble by Steelers running back Franco Harris
and returned it 35 yards to the Pittsburgh 10-yard line. On play later, running back Otis Armstrong
ran the ball into the end zone to give the Broncos a 14-7 lead. Harris later tied the game before halftime with a 1-yard touchdown run. After the teams exchanged touchdowns in the second half, Denver kicker Jim Turner made a 44-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 24-21 lead. Then on the Steelers ensuing possession, Jackson intercepted a pass from Bradshaw to set up another Turner field goal. Jackson later recorded his second interception of the game, leading to wide receiver Jack Dolbin
's 34-yard touchdown reception to put the game away. Harris finished the game with 92 rushing yards, 4 receptions for 20 yards, and a touchdown.
led the Cowboys to a 37-7 victory by setting an NFL playoff record of 3 interceptions. Dallas built a 17-0 halftime lead, with the aid of running back Doug Dennison
's 2-yard touchdown run and quarterback Roger Staubach
's 28-yard scoring pass to tight end Billy Joe Dupree
. In the second half, running back Tony Dorsett
recorded two rushing touchdowns and Efren Herrera
added two more field goals. The Bears were limited to 224 total yards and did not score until the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach.
In the game known as the "Mud Bowl", running back Chuck Foreman
led the Vikings to a victory by recording 101 rushing yards in a torrential rainstorm. Minnesota Head Coach Bud Grant
's strategy was to have quarterback Bob Lee
throw early before the field lost traction. The Vikings scored first on Foreman's 5-yard touchdown run which capped a 70-yard drive. From that point on until the fourth quarter, both teams remained scoreless while the field turned into a quagmire
. The Rams had two chances to score, but quarterback Pat Haden
threw an interception in the end zone and kicker Rafael Septien
missed a field goal. Then early in the final period, Sammy Johnson scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown. With less than a minute left in the game, Haden threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Harold Jackson
to cut the score 14-7. The Rams then recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Haden threw another interception to end the game.
's 20-yard field goal. But on the Broncos' second play, quarterback Craig Morton
threw a 74-yard touchdown to wide receiver Haven Moses
.
The score remained 7-3 until the third period. The Broncos recovered a fumble at the Oakland 17-yard line and then advanced the ball to the 2-yard line. On the next play, running back Rob Lytle
was hit in mid-air by Raiders safety Jack Tatum
, and lost the ball. Oakland nose tackle Mike McCoy
picked up the loose ball and began returning it for an easy touchdown, but the play was prematurely blown dead by an official on the opposite side of the field. The officials ruled that Lytle was stopped before the fumble, even though replays clearly showed the ball was knocked free at the moment of contact. With no instant replay challenge rules available to Oakland at the time, Denver retained possession. The Raiders were then penalized half the distance to the goal for arguing the call, and Jon Keyworth
scored a Denver touchdown on the next play to give Denver a commanding 14-3 lead. The officials made another erroneous call in the game, replays showed, in favor of Oakland when they ruled an acrobatic touchdown catch by Broncos wide receiver Jack Dolbin as incomplete.
Early in the fourth quarter, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dave Casper, cutting the Broncos' lead to 14-10. However, linebacker Bob Swenson
intercepted Stabler on Oakland's next drive, and three plays later, Moses caught a 12-yard touchdown pass. With 3:16 left in the game, Casper scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut the score, 20-17, but the Broncos' held the ball for the rest of the game and ran out the clock.
's fumble recovery set up wide receiver Golden Richards
' 32-yard touchdown reception. In the second quarter, another fumble recovery by Martin led to a 46 yard drive, which featured Danny White
's 22-yard run on a fake punt and running back Robert Newhouse
's 5-yard rushing touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Cowboys linebacker Thomas Henderson forced Vikings punt returner Manfred Moore
to fumble and it was recovered by Dallas tight end Jay Saldi
. Five plays later, running back Tony Dorsett
rushed for an 11-yard touchdown to put the game away.
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 1977 NFL season
1977 NFL season
The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
led up to Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
.
Due to Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, the Divisional playoff games were held in a span of three days. The AFC playoff games were played on December 24 while the NFC games were held on December 26. It also marked the only year since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 that one conference held both of its divisional playoff games on one day and the other conference held both of its games on the other day. In every other season since 1970, the conferences have split their playoff games over the two days.
This was also the last season that the NFL used an eight-team playoff tournament.
Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
(notwithstanding the strike-shortened 1982 season
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
), the Denver Broncos (the AFC 1 seed) did not play the Oakland Raiders (the 4 seed) in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.
Bracket
* Note: Two teams from the same division were not allowed to play against each other in the Divisional playoff round.
AFC: Oakland Raiders 37, Baltimore Colts 31 (2OT)
On a play known as the Ghost to the PostGhost to the Post
Ghost to the Post is a significant play in NFL history. It refers specifically to a 42-yard pass from Ken Stabler to Dave Casper, nicknamed "The Ghost" after the cartoon character, that set up a game tying field goal in the final seconds of a double-overtime playoff game played between Casper's...
, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler
Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
threw a 42-yard completion to tight end Dave Casper
Dave Casper
David John Casper , nicknamed "The Ghost." is a former American football player. He was an offensive lineman and tight end.-High school:...
on a post route to set up the game-tying field goal with 29 seconds left in regulation. Casper, nicknamed "The Ghost" by his teammates, also caught a 10-yard touchdown pass 43 seconds into the second overtime period to win the game. The game featured nine lead changes before it was over
Oakland's Carl Garrett
Carl Garrett
Carl L. Garrett is a former American football halfback who began his professional career with the American Football League's Boston Patriots....
started off the game with a 40-yard kick return to the Colts 41-yard line. But they could not take advantage and lost the ball when Mark Van Eeghen
Mark van Eeghen
Mark van Eeghen ,is an American football player, who played ten years in the National Football League, including making two Super Bowl appearances. He was a member of the Oakland Raiders and for two seasons, the New England Patriots...
's fumble was recovered by defensive back Lyle Blackwood
Lyle Blackwood
Lyle Vernon Blackwood played safety position in the National Football League and is best known for teaming alongside his brother, Glenn Blackwood with the Miami Dolphins as part of the notorious "Killer B's" defense...
. The rest of the quarter was a defensive struggle, but with less than a minute left, Oakland scored first with running back Clarence Davis
Clarence Davis
Clarence Eugene Davis is a former American football running back who played with the National Football League's Oakland Raiders from 1971 to 1978.-College career:...
's 30-yard touchdown run. Oakland then forced a three and out deep in Baltimore territory and got the ball back with great field position at the Colts 48. They seemed to be in prime position to increase their lead, but Baltimore's Bruce Laird intercepted Stabler's pass and returned it 61-yards for a touchdown. Later in the quarter, Baltimore mounted their first sustained drive, moving the ball from their 20 to the Raiders 19-yard line. Following a dropped interception by Oakland defensive back Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum
John David Tatum was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League...
, Toni Linhart
Toni Linhart
Anton Hansjog Linhart is a former Austrian football player who later started a successful career in American football in the U.S..-Career:...
's 36-yard field goal gave them their first lead of the game. Oakland responded with a drive to the Colts 23-yard line, but with less than a minute left, Baltimore lineman John Dutton
John Dutton (defensive lineman)
John Owen Dutton is a former professional football player, a defensive lineman in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts and Dallas Cowboys...
recovered a fumble from Davis to preserve the 10-7 score going into halftime.
The Raiders scored on their first drive of the second half with Stabler's 41-yard completion to Cliff Branch
Cliff Branch
Cliff Branch is a retired American football wide receiver who spent his entire 14-year NFL career with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, winning three Super Bowl rings in Super Bowl XI, Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII...
setting up his 8-yard touchdown pass to Casper. To make matters worse for the Colts, Blackwood was injured on the drive and had to miss the rest of the game. But Baltimore's Marshall Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards to the end zone. On Oakland's next possession, they lost their fourth turnover of the day when Laird picked off another Stabler pass, this one on the Raiders 40. But the Raiders defense rose to the occasion, forcing a punt that was blocked by Ted Hendricks
Ted Hendricks
Theodore Paul Hendricks is a Hall of Fame former American football linebacker who logged 15 seasons for the Baltimore Colts , the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders in the National Football League...
and recovered by linebacker Jeff Barnes
Jeff Barnes
Jeff Barnes is a retired National Football League linebacker who played for the Los Angeles and Oakland Raiders from 1977 to 1987. He wore #56....
, who returned it to the Colts 16-yard line. Two player later, Casper caught a 10-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-17.
Baltimore scored on their first drive of the fourth quarter, driving 80 yards to a fourth down 1-yard touchdown run by Ron Lee. But Oakland quickly struck back, starting with Garrett's 43-yard kickoff return to his own 47. After two incompletions, Stabler kept the drive going with a 25-yard pass to Van Eagan. Then Colts defensive back Nelson Munsey
Nelson Munsey
Nelson Emory Munsey was an American football cornerback in the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1972...
was hit with a 24-yard pass interference penalty while trying to cover Branch in the end zone, and Pete Banaszak
Pete Banaszak
Pete Banaszak is a former player of college and professional American football. A running back, he played college football at the University of Miami, and played professionally in the American Football League for the Oakland Raiders from 1966 through 1969, and for the NFL Raiders through...
ran the ball into the end zone on the next play. Baltimore stormed right back with a touchdown on their own on a 73-yard drive, started off with Bert Jones
Bert Jones
Bertram Hays "Bert" Jones is a former LSU and NFL quarterback who played for the then Baltimore Colts and, briefly, the Los Angeles Rams. At Ruston High School, he was given the nickname, "The Ruston Rifle"...
' 30-yard completion to Raymond Chester
Raymond Chester
Raymond Tucker Chester was an American football tight end.Chester was drafted in the first round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played twelve years in the NFL for the Raiders and Colts, and made four Pro Bowl squads...
and followed up with a 16-yard swing pass to Lee. Lee then moved the ball to the 14-yard line with a 13-yard run, and scored from there on the next play, giving the Colts a 31-28 lead. Baltimore's defense quickly forced a punt, giving the offense the ball in good field position with a chance to put the game away. But the Raiders stopped them on three consecutive runs, all on tackles from lineman John Matuszak
John Matuszak
John Daniel "Tooz" Matuszak was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League who later became an actor. He was the first draft pick of 1973 and played most of his career with the Oakland Raiders until he retired after winning his second Super Bowl in 1981...
.
After both teams punted once more, Oakland got the ball back with 2:55 left in regulation on their own 30. After a 14-yard reception by Davis and an incompletion, the "Ghost to the Post" to Casper advanced the Raiders to the Baltimore 14-yard line. A few plays later, they faced fourth down and 1 from the 6. Rather than risk the game on a fourth down conversion attempt, Oakland decided to kick the field goal, and Errol Mann
Errol Mann
Errol Denis Mann is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League from 1968-1978. He was a member of the Oakland Raiders' Super Bowl XI winning team...
sent it through the uprights from 22 yards, tying the game and sending it into overtime.
After forcing Baltimore to punt on the opening drive of overtime, Oakland drove 41 yards in nine plays to set up a field goal attempt for Mann, but the kick was blocked by Mike Barnes. After another punt, Oakland drove to the Colts 35-yard line. On second down, Stabler was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Fred Cook, pushing his team out of field goal range. But then he kept the drive alive with a 19-yard completion to Branch, setting up Casper's 10-yard touchdown catch less than a minute into the second overtime period to win the game.
Casper finished with 4 receptions for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Oakland linebacker Monte Johnson
Monte Johnson
Monte Johnson is a retired American football player. Johnson was selected by The Oakland Raiders during the second round of the 1973 NFL Draft as the 49th player selected overall. Johnson attended the University of Nebraska and went on to win two National Championships with Nebraska, and one...
had 20 tackles and finished the game with a broken Vertebrae in his neck.
AFC: Denver Broncos 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 21
Broncos linebacker Tom JacksonTom Jackson (American football)
Thomas Louie "Tom" Jackson, also referred to as "TJ" or "Tommy", is an NFL analyst for ESPN and a former Pro Bowl linebacker for the Denver Broncos.-College:...
's 2 interceptions and a fumble return set up 17 Denver points as the Broncos defeated the Steelers. Denver scored first after John Schultz's blocked punt set up running back Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle was an American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of NFL. He attended the University of Michigan . Lytle was drafted in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft by Denver with the 45th overall pick.Lytle was born in Fremont, Ohio...
's 7-yard rushing touchdown. Pittsburgh responded with quarterback Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw
Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League . He played 14 seasons. He is a football analyst and co-host of Fox NFL Sunday...
's 1-yard rushing touchdown. But in the second quarter, Jackson picked up a fumble by Steelers running back Franco Harris
Franco Harris
Franco Harris is a former American football player. He played his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.In the 1972 NFL Draft he was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, the 13th selection overall...
and returned it 35 yards to the Pittsburgh 10-yard line. On play later, running back Otis Armstrong
Otis Armstrong
Otis Armstrong was a running back in the NFL. He played for the Denver Broncos for his entire career from 1973-1980. Before his NFL career, Armstrong played for Purdue University becoming the school's all-time leading rusher...
ran the ball into the end zone to give the Broncos a 14-7 lead. Harris later tied the game before halftime with a 1-yard touchdown run. After the teams exchanged touchdowns in the second half, Denver kicker Jim Turner made a 44-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 24-21 lead. Then on the Steelers ensuing possession, Jackson intercepted a pass from Bradshaw to set up another Turner field goal. Jackson later recorded his second interception of the game, leading to wide receiver Jack Dolbin
Jack Dolbin
John Tice "Jack" Dolbin is a former professional American football wide receiver who played five seasons for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He started for the Broncos in Super Bowl XII . He is considered one of the most successful players that surged from the World Football...
's 34-yard touchdown reception to put the game away. Harris finished the game with 92 rushing yards, 4 receptions for 20 yards, and a touchdown.
NFC: Dallas Cowboys 37, Chicago Bears 7
Safety Charlie WatersCharlie Waters
Charlie Tutan Waters is a former American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys from 1970-1981 in the National Football League...
led the Cowboys to a 37-7 victory by setting an NFL playoff record of 3 interceptions. Dallas built a 17-0 halftime lead, with the aid of running back Doug Dennison
Doug Dennison
William Douglas Dennison is a former American football running back who played six seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He later played for the Arizona Wranglers of the United States Football League.Dennison played college football at Kutztown...
's 2-yard touchdown run and quarterback Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
's 28-yard scoring pass to tight end Billy Joe Dupree
Billy Joe Dupree
Billy Joe DuPree is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League who played his entire career for the Dallas Cowboys.-Early years:DuPree was born and reared in Monroe, Louisiana...
. In the second half, running back Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
recorded two rushing touchdowns and Efren Herrera
Efren Herrera
Efren Herrera is a former placekicker in the National Football League from 1974–1982. After a college career at the University of California, Los Angeles, Herrera kicked for the Dallas Cowboys in 1974 and 1976–1977. Herrera was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1977 season. He was a part of...
added two more field goals. The Bears were limited to 224 total yards and did not score until the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach.
NFC: Minnesota Vikings 14, Los Angeles Rams 7
The Rams had easily defeated an aging Vikings team in the regular season, and after years of frustrating playoff losses in the cold of Green Bay and Minnesota, the Rams finally had a home playoff game against a cold weather team. In addition, Viking quarterback Fran Tarkenton was injured. But as luck would have it, Los Angeles was engulfed in a torrential rainstorm.In the game known as the "Mud Bowl", running back Chuck Foreman
Chuck Foreman
Chuck Foreman is a retired NFL football player.He was a running back during his NFL career, although he often caught passes out of the backfield.-Early career:...
led the Vikings to a victory by recording 101 rushing yards in a torrential rainstorm. Minnesota Head Coach Bud Grant
Bud Grant
Harry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr is the former longtime American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. Grant was the second and fourth head coach of the team...
's strategy was to have quarterback Bob Lee
Bob Lee (American football)
Robert Melville Lee is a former professional American football player. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1963. Nicknamed "General" Bob Lee during a brief period of success with the Atlanta Falcons, Lee was selected in the 17th round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1968 NFL Draft...
throw early before the field lost traction. The Vikings scored first on Foreman's 5-yard touchdown run which capped a 70-yard drive. From that point on until the fourth quarter, both teams remained scoreless while the field turned into a quagmire
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
. The Rams had two chances to score, but quarterback Pat Haden
Pat Haden
Patrick Capper "Pat" Haden is the athletic director at the University of Southern California. He played quarterback for the USC Trojans before playing professionally in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams from 1976 to 1981...
threw an interception in the end zone and kicker Rafael Septien
Rafael Septien
Jose Rafael Septien was a Mexican placekicker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys from 1978 through 1986. He was the leading scorer for the Cowboys those nine years...
missed a field goal. Then early in the final period, Sammy Johnson scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown. With less than a minute left in the game, Haden threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Harold Jackson
Harold Jackson (American football)
Harold Leon Jackson is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League from 1968 through 1983. Jackson was drafted in the 12th round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams...
to cut the score 14-7. The Rams then recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Haden threw another interception to end the game.
AFC Championship: Denver Broncos 20, Oakland Raiders 17
Oakland scored first on the opening drive of the contest with Errol MannErrol Mann
Errol Denis Mann is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League from 1968-1978. He was a member of the Oakland Raiders' Super Bowl XI winning team...
's 20-yard field goal. But on the Broncos' second play, quarterback Craig Morton
Craig Morton
Larry Craig Morton is a former professional football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82...
threw a 74-yard touchdown to wide receiver Haven Moses
Haven Moses
Haven Christopher Moses is a former American football wide receiver. Haven played collegiately for Los Angeles Harbor College and San Diego State University. He was drafted by the American Football League's Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1968 Draft and played for the Bills from 1968 to...
.
The score remained 7-3 until the third period. The Broncos recovered a fumble at the Oakland 17-yard line and then advanced the ball to the 2-yard line. On the next play, running back Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle
Rob Lytle was an American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of NFL. He attended the University of Michigan . Lytle was drafted in the second round of the 1977 NFL Draft by Denver with the 45th overall pick.Lytle was born in Fremont, Ohio...
was hit in mid-air by Raiders safety Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum
John David Tatum was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League...
, and lost the ball. Oakland nose tackle Mike McCoy
Mike McCoy (defensive tackle)
Michael Patrick McCoy played for the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders, the New York Giants, and the Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame, where he was a unanimous first-team All-American and Heisman Trophy candidate in 1969...
picked up the loose ball and began returning it for an easy touchdown, but the play was prematurely blown dead by an official on the opposite side of the field. The officials ruled that Lytle was stopped before the fumble, even though replays clearly showed the ball was knocked free at the moment of contact. With no instant replay challenge rules available to Oakland at the time, Denver retained possession. The Raiders were then penalized half the distance to the goal for arguing the call, and Jon Keyworth
Jon Keyworth
Jonathan Kimball Keyworth is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos for his entire career from 1974-1980. He played college football at the University of Colorado and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1974 NFL Draft....
scored a Denver touchdown on the next play to give Denver a commanding 14-3 lead. The officials made another erroneous call in the game, replays showed, in favor of Oakland when they ruled an acrobatic touchdown catch by Broncos wide receiver Jack Dolbin as incomplete.
Early in the fourth quarter, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dave Casper, cutting the Broncos' lead to 14-10. However, linebacker Bob Swenson
Bob Swenson
Robert Charles Swenson played college football for the University of California. He joined the National Football League in 1975 as an undrafted free agent and played professional football as a linebacker for the Denver Broncos. Commenting on the draft for Sports Illustrated in 1978, Swenson said...
intercepted Stabler on Oakland's next drive, and three plays later, Moses caught a 12-yard touchdown pass. With 3:16 left in the game, Casper scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut the score, 20-17, but the Broncos' held the ball for the rest of the game and ran out the clock.
NFC Championship: Dallas Cowboys 23, Minnesota Vikings 6
The Cowboys defense held the Vikings to 66 rushing yards and 6 points. Minnesota again started quarterback Bob Lee, who was playing for the injured Fran Tarkenton. Dallas took the early lead after defensive end Harvey MartinHarvey Martin
Harvey Banks Martin was an American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 until 1983. He started playing football in high school, only because he overheard his father tell his mother that he was ashamed that his son did not play like his friends'...
's fumble recovery set up wide receiver Golden Richards
Golden Richards
John Golden Richards is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears. Richards was a starter for the Cowboys in Super Bowl X against the Pittsburgh Steelers...
' 32-yard touchdown reception. In the second quarter, another fumble recovery by Martin led to a 46 yard drive, which featured Danny White
Danny White
Wilford Daniel "Danny" White is a former quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys, an American football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. He was named the head coach of the Arena Football League expansion...
's 22-yard run on a fake punt and running back Robert Newhouse
Robert Newhouse
Robert Fulton Newhouse is a former professional American football player in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys .-College career:...
's 5-yard rushing touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Cowboys linebacker Thomas Henderson forced Vikings punt returner Manfred Moore
Manfred Moore
Manfred Moore is a former professional American football running back and, briefly, rugby league football player of the 1970s.-Early years:...
to fumble and it was recovered by Dallas tight end Jay Saldi
Jay Saldi
John Jay Saldi, IV is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League. Saldi played for nine seasons from 1976-1984 for the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears...
. Five plays later, running back Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
rushed for an 11-yard touchdown to put the game away.
Super Bowl
Trivia
- The Denver Broncos were making their first trip to the postseason. Denver was the last of the old AFL teams to make it to the playoffs.
- Denver was the first team to win a conference championship in their first playoff appearance. The only team to accomplish that feat since were the 2000 Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, who were officially considered a new team even though they inherited their original roster from the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1996. - This was the only time that both conference champions defeated their conference's defending champion in the playoffs, with Denver beating Oakland and Dallas downing Minnesota.
- The Raiders-Colts divisional round game was the third playoff game to go into double overtime. The two previous ones were the 1962 AFL Championship1962 American Football League Championship GameThe 1962 American Football League Championship Game was played at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, Texas on December 23, 1962.-Background:The day saw the Eastern Division's 11-3 Houston Oilers in the title game for their third straight year, against the West's Dallas Texans, also at 11-3...
(Dallas Texans vs. Houston Oilers) and the 1971 AFC divisional round gameNFL playoffs, 1971-72The NFL playoffs following the 1971 NFL season led up to Super Bowl VI. Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road...
(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...
vs. Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
.)