WEEK #2 - Vikes and Jints settle for a 17-17 tie

In a battle of halves, Minnesota traveled to New York to meet the Giants. The Giants took the

opening Kickoff 62 yards for an early 7-0 lead as Tittle hit TE Aaron Thomas for the score. The Vikings then took their opening kickoff 101 yards but the TD was called back due to a holding call. The Giants jumped out to a 17-0 lead and held Minnesota to only 66 yards total offense until late in the 1st half when Joe Kapp drove the Vikings 51 yards down the field capped off by a Cox FG to go into half time trailing 17-3. Minnesota took the 2nd half KO 87 yards for the TD to bring the score to 17-10. Minnesota added another TD in the 4th to tie the game at 17. The Vikings defense held Tittle and the Giants to 60 yards and scoreless in the 2nd half. Minnesota was able to put together another late drive in the 4th. Moving the ball to the NY 8 yard line setting up Cox for a 15 yard FG with 0:03 left in the game. Unable to match the performance of last week, he missed the chip shot as time expired as the game ended in a 17-17 tie.

Week # 1 In Review

WEEK #1 - Completed 2/26/16

61 Oakland 10 69 Buffalo 38 - Blog Post
65 Denver 24 69 Miami 28  - Blog Post
64 New York (N) 12 69 Chicago 7 - Blog Post
61 Los Angeles 26 64 San Fran 21 - Blog Post
66 Houston 21 69 Boston 41 - Blog Post
63 Dallas 10 67 Minnesota 13 - Blog Post

WEEK #1 - Leaders

  AFL                W  L  T   Pct Pts  Ave Opp  Ave  Diff     Home      Div      Conf    Internet
  69 Buffalo         1  0  0 1.000  38 38.0  10 10.0  28.0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0
  69 Miami           1  0  0 1.000  28 28.0  24 24.0   4.0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0
  69 Boston          1  0  0 1.000  41 41.0  21 21.0  20.0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0
  61 Oakland         0  1  0  .000  10 10.0  38 38.0 -28.0   0  0  0   0  1  0   0  1  0   0  1  0
  65 Denver          0  1  0  .000  24 24.0  28 28.0  -4.0   0  0  0   0  1  0   0  1  0   0  1  0
  66 Houston         0  1  0  .000  21 21.0  41 41.0 -20.0   0  0  0   0  1  0   0  1  0   0  1  0

  NFL                W  L  T   Pct Pts  Ave Opp  Ave  Diff     Home      Div      Conf    Internet
  61 Los Angeles     1  0  0 1.000  26 26.0  21 21.0   5.0   0  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0
  64 New York (N)    1  0  0 1.000  12 12.0   7  7.0   5.0   0  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0
  67 Minnesota       1  0  0 1.000  13 13.0  10 10.0   3.0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0   1  0  0
  63 Dallas          0  1  0  .000  10 10.0  13 13.0  -3.0   0  0  0   0  1  0   0  1  0   0  1  0
  64 San Fran        0  1  0  .000  21 21.0  26 26.0  -5.0   0  1  0   0  1  0   0  1  0   0  1  0
  69 Chicago         0  1  0  .000   7  7.0  12 12.0  -5.0   0  1  0   0  1  0   0  1  0   0  1  0

FINAL WEEK #1 GAME - '69 BUF 38, '61 OAK 10

Friday Night Football was on tap at War Memorial Stadium as the Buffalo Bills opened up their season with a 38-10 pounding of the Oakland Raiders. The Bills offense opened up early and often, scoring on each of their drives in the first half of the game. Big plays and penalties hurt a Raiders defense that was kept constantly off-balance. To their credit, the Raiders fought until the very end and their defense held the Bills scoreless in the second half of the game. However, the Bills defense remained stingy throughout, sacking Tom Flores 5 times and giving up only a dime and no quarter to the Raiders offensive efforts. The two teams will meet again later in the year and it is certain that Coach Pryweller will have the Candlestick on fire for the rematch at home.

Stat Note:  Wayne Patrick was an incredible 7-124 (17.7ypc) with 2 TD's and a big 79 yard ramble.

--submitted by Mohammad Hadi-Abdullah--

WEEK #1 - '69 MIA 28, '65 DEN 24

It was a warm, muggy, rainy night in South Florida as the Broncos came to town.  Denver opened the scoring near the end of the 1st quarter with a 10 play 67 yard drive culminating in a 5 yard Cookie Gilchrist scamper for 6.  Miami stormed right back down the field with Bob Griese hitting Larry Seiple from 21 yards out to tie the score at 7-7.  Denver scored a TD from Jacky Lee to Lionel Taylor but Miami struck right back again with Griese finding Jack Clancy for a 43 yard score.  14-14 at the Half.  Denver would strike first in the 2nd half with Gilchrist going in again from 4 yards.  Near the end of the 3rd quarter with Denver up 21-14, the Denver defense forces a punt by Miami on 4th down and 4.  The punt is caught by Odell Barry and taken back for a TD........but wait there is a flag down.  Denver was offside, not only costing the Broncos 6 but giving Miami a first down.  Miami cannot capitalize however because of a missed FG.   Denver drives down the field and makes it two score game with a 20 yard FG.  Miami will not lay down though and Griese hits Seiple for the 2nd time, this one from 24 yards, to cut the lead to 24-21.  The Dolphins are able to force a quick 3 and out and get the ball back with 2:14 left on the clock.  The Dolphins get a Pass Interference call to give them a first down and on the next play Griese hits Clancy for a 43 yard score to put the Fins up 28-24.  There is still 1:34 left on the clock though.  Denver quickly drives to the Miami 15 with passes to Taylor and Haynes.  Lee hits Haynes on 3rd down taking the Broncos to the 8 yard line with 24 seconds left but he is a couple yards short of the 1st.  4th and 2 from the 8 Lee drops back and throws a slant to Taylor but it falls incomplete and the Dolphins win. Griese ends the game with 280 yards and 4 TD passes to get the MVP.  Great game called by Cela.

--submitted by Andy Sexton--

WEEK #1 - '64-NYG 12, '69-CHI 7

Defensive battle as the teams combine for just 438 yards.  The Bears score the only TD on a short 1 yard pass from Concannon to Gordon, but the Giants kick four short FGs  (15,27,11, and 19). Frank Gifford snagged 5 passes for 105 yards and Andy Stynchula recorded 5 sacks for the Giants!  Not much went right for the Bears as Sayers was held to just 32 yards on 12 carriers; Concannon went 14 of 22 for 110 yards with one TD and on defense Joe Taylor picked Tittle off twice.

WEEK # 1 - '61 Rams 26, '64 49ers 21

"I think San Francisco has the worst kicker in the history of professional Football" - (Charlie Pester).  That about sums up the performance, if you can call it that, by Tommy Davis the 49ers K/P guy.  He was a perfect 30-30 on XP's, but he only hit 32% of this FG's, which can really affect the team in a close game like this one.  San Fran had a early 14-6 lead, but the Rams dominated the '9ers in the second half (20-7).  The '9ers scored late on a 66 yard TD strike from John Brodie to Stickles with :19 left on the clock.  Brodie (20-30, 323, 3TD, 1INT) had the numbers of a game winning QB, but that was not to be the case.  Zeke Bratkowski (13-25, 229, 1TD) was the efficient winner.  181 of those yards were thrown to Carroll Dale, who caught 6 passes (1TD) for an average of over 30 a grab.

WEEK #1 - '69 Patriots 41, '66 Oilers 21

'69 Patriots 41, '66 Oilers 21
Alumni Stadium - Boston

Don't let the final score fool you one bit.  This was a back and forth see saw battle until late in the fourth quarter when the Pats got all the breaks including a fumble recovery and a near pick 6.  Mike Taliaferro (9-10, 225) tossed 3 TD's and only threw one pick as the Pats were content to grind the ball out on the ground.  Carl Garrett (12-89) averaged 7.4 yards per carry.  The Pats ran the ball 39 times for 171 yards.  Sellers, Frazier and Whalen each had a TD grab.  Rademacher caught 4 for 112.  The Oilers started 'ole George Blanda (13-30, 198, 2TD, 2INT), but replaced him with Trull.  They were very effective running the ball, but only ran it 28 times.

WEEK #1 - MIN 13, DAL 10

In a divisional match-up the Dallas Cowboys travel to face the Minnesota Vikings. The game started out with a series of errors as Dallas fumbled the opening kickoff on their own 37. Minnesota drove to the 20 but Fred Cox missed a 20 yd. attempt. Dallas got the ball back only to fumble again on their own 37. The officials asked Minnesota to remove the trip wire from the 37 yard line. Minnesota then drove down only to throw a pick in the end zone. Dallas moved the ball down field and added a 23 yd. Baker FG to take an early 3-0 lead. Late in the 2nd quarter Minn. added a 31 yd FG to tie the game a 3-3. Dallas was not done yet as Dandy Don hit Billy Howton with 26 seconds left in the half to pull ahead 10-3. The 2nd half saw Minnesota take the opening KO and hold the ball for almost 8 minutes driving 63 yards and Dave Osborn punching it through from the 2 to tie the game at 10. The score remained tied until late in the 4th. The Viking Defense held Dallas scoreless in the 2nd half and stopped Dallas on their last drive forcing them to punt. Minnesota took over on their own 14 with 1:02 on the clock. Most of the fans began to leave expecting a tie but Joe Kapp hit Gene Washington for 81 yards before finally being stopped at the Dallas 5. Minnesota called a time out with 39 seconds left. They ran one more play before calling a timeout with 3 seconds left. Fred Cox hit the 12 FG with no time left for the win. Thanks to Douglas for a well coached, great game.

--submitted by Marvin Sik--

PRESEASON GAME - 64-SF 28, 69-BOS 24

San Fran 28, Boston 24

Keezar Stadium

The ‘9ers drove 78 yard in 4 plays to score the go ahead touchdown with 1:16 left to play.  Most of the yardage was eaten up with a 56 yard TD strike from John Brodie to Bernie Casey.  Brodie hit Parks for a 47 yard strike to start the scoring and a 21 yarder to Les Stickles as well.  At one point the 9ers were up 14-0 when Alexander returned a punt 85 yards to paydirt.  Boston rallied back as Mike Taliaferro hit Sellers and Nance for TD strikes.  Gino Cappelletti's 26 yard FG looked to be the game winner, until Casey caught the 56 yarder.

PRESEASON GAME - Boston 31, Dallas 19

Boston 31, Dallas 19

Alumni Stadium

Dallas go on the board first with a 15 yard FG from Baker to culminate a 10 play / 52 yard drive.  The Pats posted the next 3 scores with a pair of TD runs from Carl Garrett (7yd) and Jim Nance (1yd) plus a 18 yard TD toss from Taliaferro to Bill Rademacher.  Just before the end of the half Dallas made it 21-10 with a 5 yard run from Marsh.  The Cowboys added 10 more points to make it 21-19 midway through the 4th.  A missed 2 point conversion prevented the tie.  The Pats, who enjoyed good field position all day, went up 28-19 on a 22 yard aerial strike to Ron Sellers.  Needing two scores Dandy Don Meredith was forced to the air and a pick by John Charles with 4:50 left in the game pretty much sealed Dallas' fate.  A Geno Cappelletti 25 yard FG made it 31-19, which is how it ended.

STATS: Dandy Don threw for more yards (266 to 127) than Mike Taliaferro, but the latter had 2 TD tosses with no picks, while the former had 1 TD and 2 picks.  Dallas TE Lee Folkins (6-105-TD) had a great day.  Boston's two headed rushing attack combined for 160 yards and 2 scores.  Car Garrett (14-87) and Jim Nance (14-73) were virtually unstoppable.  Houston Antwine had 2 sacks of Merredith.

PRESEASON GAME - Purple People Eaters defeat Broncs

Minnesota jumped out to an early 14-0 lead but Denver comes back before the end of the half to cut the lead to 14-7. 3rd Qtr. was scoreless but a couple FG's in the 4th sealed the win. Thanks to Cela for a hard fought game.  The star of the game was the Defense, 5 sacks and 2 interceptions kept the Denver offense in check. Joe Kapp was the game MVP but Alan Page registered 3 of the 5 sacks including two late game sacks.

PRESEASON - 1961 Rams 21, 1961 Raiders 14

The Rams took full advantage of Tom Flores' INT's (2) to jump out to a 21-0 lead, which they held until the 4th quarter.  Flores found his touch and threw a pair of 30+ yard TD passes late in the 4th quarter to make the game look much closer than it truly was.  Dick Bass scored LA's first two TD's with a pair of nice red zone runs (8 and 7 yards).  LA's swarming defense sacked Flores 8 times and hurried him into INT's all day.  Bob Coolbaugh caught 4 passes for 118 yards.  Bass had 47 yards (2 TD's) on just 4 carries.  Rookie David "Deacon" Jones had 3 sacks and 2 near sacks of Flores.  The Raiders never found an answer for the 23 year old pass rushing phenom.

Worst of the 1960's NFL

If a picture tells a thousand words, this iconic photo of Y.A. Tittle sums up the true essence of bad football.  After dominating the NFL for almost a decade the New York Football Giants became ancient overnight.  After narrowly losing the championship game by 4 points the previous year the Giants bottomed out in 1964.  Tittle, who was the NFL's MVP the previous season was battered and bruised the following year.  Both he and future HOF pal Frank Gifford hung up their cleats and retired from the game rather than endure more pain and embarrassment.

The KOG will feature many teams with similar stories.  Some will be young teams trying to find their way, like the '63 Cowboys or the '68 Dolphins.  Others will feature teams mirered in a long spell of mediocrity like the '69 Bears or the '69 Patriots.

Along the way we'll see Al-Pro players and future HOF'ers at various stages of their careers.  We'll see the great Gayle Sayers in his prime fully recovered from a knee injury...not knowing another injury was going to come his way and end his meteoric career.  The '69 Bills feature a 22 year old O.J. Simpson trying to live up to his Heismann reputation with a Bills team that was destined to lose double digits and 3 years away from their hey day.

Whatever the case, these teams were flat out awful...but against each other a handful of them just might be pretty darn good.  In any case it will be a lot of fun trying to see how each coach can maximize each team's strength and minimize their weaknesses.

Let the games begin !!!