Here are three games to forever remember–NFL football at its best.
#1 December 25, 1971, Miami Dolphins 27. KC Chiefs 24 (Municipal Stadium, Kansas City): In a contest that lasted nearly 83 minutes, the Dolphins and Chiefs went into double-overtime in an epic battle in KC. The Chiefs jumped out to an early 10–0 lead, but Miami evened the score before halftime. Kansas City regained control in the third quarter with a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took ten minutes off the clock. But, again, Miami came back to tie the score. The two teams exchanged turnovers before the Chiefs scored another touchdown on a 91-yard drive, including a 63-yard hook-up between Lenny Dawson and Elmo Wright. Then, the Dolphins tied the game at 24 after a 71-yard drive. With only 1:25 left on the clock, Ed Podolak returned the ensuing kick-off 78 yards, and that run set up a 32-yard field goal attempt by Jan Stenerud. But the usually reliable Stenerud was wide right, and that was it for regulation time. In OT, Kansas City took the opening kickoff, and another great return by Podolak put the ball at the 46. KC got into field goal range, but the Dolphins blocked the 42-yard attempt. When it was their turn, Miami attempted a 52-yard field goal that fell short. The two teams exchanged punts before Dolphins fullback Larry Csonka rambled 29 yards to put Miami into field goal range. Miami kicker Garo Yepremian booted a 37 field goal to give the Dolphins the 27–24 victory. Ed Podolak has an amazing game–eight receptions for 110 yards, 17 carries for 85 yards, and three kickoff returns for 154 yards. His 350 all-purpose yards remain an NFL playoff record. Paul Warfield hauled in seven passes for 140 yards for Miami while middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti had 20 tackles. Bottom line? What a game!
#2 December 24, 1977 , Oakland Raiders 37, Baltimore Colts 31 (Memorial Stadium, Baltimore): It was a defensive battle early until Oakland’s Clarence Davis scored on a 30-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, Colts’ DB Bruce Laird intercepted a Ken Stabler pass, returning it 61-yards for a TD to tie the score. But Baltimore took a 10–7 halftime lead on a 36-yard field goal. Stabler reversed that score early in the 3rd when he connected with receiver Cliff Branch for a 41-yard gain and then hit Dave Casper for an eight-yard score. It was a short-lived lead. Really short. Marshall Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a Baltimore touchdown. The Raiders committed their fourth turnover of the day on their next possession, and things looked bleak. But Oakland’s defense came up big twice–forcing a punt and, then, blocking the punt courtesy of the great Ted Hendricks. Two plays later, Dave Casper caught a 10-yard touchdown pass, and the Raiders took the lead, 21–17. Baltimore came right back, scoring on their first drive of the fourth quarter–80 yards worth–to go ahead again, this time, 24–21. Oakland would not be denied. Carl Garrett returned the ensuing kickoff to the 47-yard line, and then Stabler connected with fullback Mark Van Eeghen for a 25 yard gain. A pass interference penalty on Baltimore set up a touchdown run by Pete Banaszak. But the game was far from over. The see-saw battle continued as the Colts drove 73 yards for another touchdown to take a 31–28 lead. That’s when the defenses stiffened, and the teams exchanged punts. Oakland got the ball back with 2:55 left in regulation, and a 42-yard completion to Dave Casper brought the Raiders to the Baltimore 14-yard line. From there, a 22-yard field goal sent the game into OT. Baltimore got the ball first but was forced to punt. Then, Oakland drove 41 yards in nine plays to set up a field goal attempt, but Mike Barnes blocked the kick. The Colts’ offense stalled again, and Oakland drove to the Colts’ 35-yard line. There, DE Fred Cook’s sack took the Raiders out of field goal range. But Stabler kept the drive alive with a 19-yard completion to Cliff Branch. That play set up a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dave Casper less than a minute into the second overtime period. It was the deciding score, 37–31. Casper scored three TDs on the day. Stabler threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall Johnson had a solid game for the Colts, gaining 134 yards on three kickoff returns and sixteen yards on a punt return.
#3 December 21, 1974, Oakland Raiders 28, Miami Dolphins 26 (Oakland Alameda County Coliseum ). Nat Moore got the game off on the right foot for the Dolphins, returning the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. Oakland tied the score in the second quarter when Ken Stabler connected with Charlie Smith on a 31-yard touchdown pass. But Miami retook the lead before halftime on a 33-yard field goal. The Raiders took their first lead of the game with a touchdown on their opening drive of the third quarter, but Miami came right back with a touchdown of its own. A blocked extra point made the score 16–14. A 46-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian at the start of the fourth quarter increased the Dolphins’ lead to 19–14. Later in the quarter, Oakland took the lead 21–19 when Stabler and receiver Cliff Branch hooked up for a 72-yard touchdown. After a 68-yard, four-play drive, Miami retook the lead that ended in a 23-yard touchdown run by Benny Malone. With just 2:00 left in the game, Oakland drove the ball from their own 32-yard line to the Dolphins’ eight. The play of the game came next. Dolphins’ defensive end Vern Den Herder was dragging down Stabler from behind, but ‘The Snake’ was able to slither away to throw a desperation pass to RB Clarence Davis, who fought his way through three Miami defenders to make the catch and then hold on for a touchdown. That winning touchdown would become known as “The Sea of Hands.” Stabler completed 20 of 30 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns that day (only one INT). Fred Biletnikoff caught eight of those passes for 122 yards and a TD.
