Read along with the #1 song from the last week of December, 1967 – Nobody But Me

Oakland, Dec. 31 – The Oakland Raiders won the AFL Championship with five [...]]]>

Oakland QB Daryle Lamonica peers over center Jim Otto in the Raiders' 29-14 defeat of the Houston Oilers to win the 1967 AFL Championship.

Read along with the #1 song from the last week of December, 1967 –
Nobody But Me

Oakland, Dec. 31 – The Oakland Raiders won the AFL Championship with five field goals from George Blanda and a pair of touchdown tosses by Daryle Lamonica. The Raiders overcame an interception return for a touchdown by Houston defensive back W.K. Hicks on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Oakland managed only a pair of Blanda field goals in the remainder of the first half, however the Raider defense was a stone wall to the meek Oiler attack.

In the second half, the Oilers denied the Raiders from reaching the end zone, and Blanda was called upon again for an 18 yard chip shot. The field goal finally gave the Raiders the lead, 9-7. Oakland broke through in the final moments of the third quarter after Lamonica found Clem Daniels in the end zone for an 11 yard score. However, the Oilers responded immediately as Zeke Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a Houston touchdown which cut the Oakland lead back to a slim two-point margin. The Raider defense dominated the game thusfar, but Lamonica and the Oakland offense were unable to put the Oilers away. The Oiler defense and special teams were keeping Houston in the game as the game reached its final quarter.

The fourth quarter maintained the theme of the entire game. Oakland drove downfield on its first two possessions, only to settle for a pair of Blanda field goals for a 22-14 lead. Houston was unable to convert a first down on its next two possessions. As the Raiders drove downfield for the final time, the clock ran out on the Oilers. Lamonica found Billy Cannon for a short touchdown toss with less than a minute remaining, and the celebration erupted in Oakland.  The Raiders will face the Dallas Cowboys in the second annual NFL-AFL Championship Game. The Cowboys are listed as prohibitive favorites with a thirteen-and-a half point spread.

1967A Playoffs – The AFL Championship Game

Green Bay, Dec. 31 – The Dallas Cowboys exacted revenge in [...]]]>

George Andrie (#66) pressures Green Bay QB Bart Starr amid frigid conditions at Lambeau Field. Andrie registered two of the nine Cowboy sacks on the day as the Dallas Cowboys stopped the Green Bay Packers, 22-0, to advance to the World Championship Game.

Green Bay, Dec. 31 – The Dallas Cowboys exacted revenge in the most unlikeliest of scenes – Lambeau Field amid the harshest playing conditions in professional sports – with a 22-0 blanking of the host Green Bay Packers to advance to the second annual NFL-AFL Championship Game. Green Bay defeated host Dallas last season, 24-13, to advance to the inaugural game en route to the World’s Championship. With the temperature at kickoff registering negative thirteen degrees and a wind chill of forty eight degrees below zero, the Cowboys stymied the Packers with a relentless defensive attack that equaled the brutal cold that swept across the playing surface. The Cowboys sacked Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr nine times, and suitably finished the game with a end zone sack of Starr which resulted in a safety.

Under a heavy rush, Starr threw three interceptions which led to two first-half touchdowns by Dallas and the other ended a Packer scoring threat. On the Packers first series, Starr’s first attempt was intercepted by Mel Renfro at the Packer 34. Dallas quarterback Don Meredith connected with wideout Lance Rentzel for 24 yards, and tight end Frank Clarke reached the Packer 1 with an end-around. Don Perkins plunged ahead for the game’s first score, however kicker Danny Villanueva missed the extra point. Starr threw another interception on the opening play of the second quarter. Chuck Howley intercepted and returned the ball thirty yards to the Packer 13.

The Packer defense stuffed Perkins for no gain on the first play after the Howley interception. Dallas coach Tom Landry surprised Green Bay with another trick play in the shadow of the Packers goal posts. Dan Reeves completed a 13 yard touchdown pass to Lance Rentzel on a halfback option pass. Villenueva converted and Dallas held a 13-0 lead. Midway through the second quarter, the Packers appeared to be uplifted by Dave Roberson’s recovery of a blocked punt. The Packers capitalized on these types of game changing turnovers all season, but on this bitterly cold day, a pair of sacks by Bob Lilly and Howley denied Starr & Company of any such opportunity. Bob Jeter intercepted Meredith on Dallas’ subsequent possession, but Green Bay hopes were stopped cold in their tracks when Dave Edwards intercepted Starr’s pass to Donny Anderson in the Cowboy end zone. The first half concluded with the Cowboys maintaining their thirteen point lead.

Green Bay blocked another Villanueva punt in the third quarter, and Starr was able to maintain possession to set up a field goal attempt. On this day, the kickers may have well attempted to kick a cinder block through the posts as Don Chandler’s 33 yard attempt fell short. The Packer hopes flickered with each second that ticked off the scoreboard clock. The flames were extinguished with ten minutes remaining when Boyd Dowler fumbled at the Packer 15 to again set up Dallas with a short field. Five rushing plays later, Perkins pushed across the goal line for another touchdown. Villanueva converted the extra point for an insurmountable twenty point lead. The next Packer possession was thwarted by another pair of Dallas sacks, and the next time Green Bay possessed the ball was at its own three yard line. Willie Townes burst through the Packer line for the ninth and final sack of Starr in the Green Bay end zone for a safety. The play encapsulated the afternoon for Starr and the Packers who were unable to gain any traction against the Cowboys defensive pressure. Dallas will face the AFL champions in Miami for the championship of professional football. The Cowboys appear to be a strong favorite against either the Raiders or the Oilers.

Cleveland, Dec. 3 – Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton threw a five yard touchdown pass to Aaron Thomas with no time remaining as the New York Giants defeated the Cleveland Browns, 30-27, for the NFL Century Division championship. The victory [...]]]> Read along with the #1 song from the first week of December, 1967 – Hello Goodbye

Cleveland, Dec. 3 – Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton threw a five yard touchdown pass to Aaron Thomas with no time remaining as the New York Giants defeated the Cleveland Browns, 30-27, for the NFL Century Division championship. The victory was controversial after the home town Browns were flagged for roughing the passer after a failed fourth down conversion by New York two plays earlier. Cleveland had taken a four point lead two and a half minutes earlier after Leroy Kelly raced in from five yards on a draw play. The touchdown capped a seventeen point rally by the Browns from a 23-10 fourth quarter deficit.

The Giants failed to convert on their first possession when Les Murdock, filling in for Pete Gogolak, missed a 20 yard field goal attempt. Lou Groza put the Browns on the board first with a 19 yard field goal on the Browns’ first possession. Cleveland settled for a field goal after two false start penalties halted the Browns initial drive. New York responded with a touchdown as Tarkenton found Joe Morrison for a 30 yard touchdown pass. A short punt by Cleveland’s Gary Collins set up the Giants for another scoring opportunity. Tarkenton capitalized and drove his team 34 yards for another touchdown, a 10 yard strike to Del Shofner. New York was prepared to take an eleven point lead into the half when the Browns defense stepped up. Ross Fichtner intercepted Tarkenton and returned the ball for a 24 yard touchdown.

However, the Giants were able to reply before the closing bell on the first half. Ernie Koy ripped through the Cleveland defense on a third-down conversion for a 70 yard romp to the Browns seven yard line. The run allowed Murdock another opportunity for a chip shot field goal which he converted as time ran out. Midway through the third quarter, the Giants added another touchdown as Tarkenton threw a five yard touchdown pass to Thomas to end an impressive 10 play, 84 yard drive. Groza kicked a Cleveland field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Finally ten minutes into the fourth quarter, it was Kelly who woke up the Browns with a 44 yard pass reception. On the next play, Frank Ryan threw a 26 yard touchdown pass to Paul Warfield to trim the Giants’ lead to three points. With five minutes remaining, the Giants need to merely run out the clock. Tucker Frederickson fumbled on a third-and-two run, and Cleveland defensive tackle Walter Johnson recovered the ball at the Giants 42. Ryan hit Warfield for 20 yards, and then Kelly and Ernie Green grounded the ball until Kelly busted through for a five yard score.

With 2:14 remaining, the Giants were 70 yards from a go-ahead touchdown. Tarkenton found Homer Jones and Thomas for two quick strikes of 20 and 24 yards to reach the Browns’ 23. Facing a 3rd and 5 at the Cleveland 18, Tarkenton saves the Giants with an elusive nine yard scramble for a first down. Following a Frank Parker sack of Tarkenton and an incomplete pass attempt, Tarkenton found Thomas, but the well-covered tight end was immediately tackled at the Cleveland 4. Tarkenton’s fourth-down pass to Homer Jones was incomplete, and Cleveland began to celebrate until the sight of a penalty flag behind the line of scrimmage ended the party. Cleveland was flagged for roughing the passer, and the visitors were given a second life. Tarkenton’s attempt to Morrison failed, and with five seconds remaining, the Giants had only one play to win their division. Tarkenton scrambled right and found Thomas for the winning touchdown.

The NFL playoffs will begin with the Dallas Cowboys hosting the Giants, and the Los Angeles Rams visiting defending champion Green Bay.

See NFL results from Sunday, December 3, 1967

Kansas City, Nov. 23 – A changing of the guard occurred on Thanksgiving Day as the Oakland Raiders defeated the defending [...]]]>

Pete Banaszak (40) with running interference from teammates Gene Upshaw (63) and Wayne Hawkins (65) of the Oakland Raiders, rambles around end in the game against Kansas City Chiefs. Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

Kansas City, Nov. 23 – A changing of the guard occurred on Thanksgiving Day as the Oakland Raiders defeated the defending AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs by a decisive margin of 35-14. The game was not really that close. The Raiders defense hounded Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson who threw four interceptions in the second half. Oakland ran out to a 21-0 lead as the Chiefs could not mount any type of threat against the Raider defense. Finally in the waning moments of the first half, Dawson marched the Chiefs 80 yards down field on 11 plays for a touchdown. Curtis McClinton scored on a 25 yard reception from Dawson.

The Chiefs received the opening kickoff of the second half, but could not seize on the momentum they gained going into the locker room. A holding penalty set the Chiefs back, and they failed to gain a first down. Wayne Walker’s punt was short, and Raider quarterback Daryle Lamonica was given a short field to work. After three rushes, Lamonica went to the air and finally connected with Fred Biletnikoff for a two yard score. It was Lamonica’s third touchdown pass, and Biletnikoff’s second touchdown reception. Oakland put the game out of reach on the Chiefs’ next possession as Warren Powers intercepted Dawson’s 3rd and 7 attempt to Otis Taylor. Powers raced 33 yards for a touchdown and a 35-7 Oakland lead.

Chiefs’ rookie kicker Jan Stenerud missed a 37 yard field goal, and the Chiefs seemingly panicked. Dawson was intercepted by Rodger Bird on the first play of the Chiefs’ subsequent possession as Dawson tried to force a long pass to Taylor. The Chiefs scored on their first possession of the fourth quarter, but a pair of Dawson interceptions choked off any remaining Kansas City hopes of returning to the AFL playoffs. Oakland defeated Kansas City 20-14 in week three, and this victory all but assures the AFL Western Division title for Coach John Rauch and the Raiders.

Read along with the #1 song from the last week of November, 1967 – Daydream Believer

New York, Nov. [...]]]>

Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton in action against the Philadelphia Eagles in yesterday's 35-17 Giants victory. The win coupled with the Browns' 17-7 loss to Washington gives New York the lead in the NFL Century Division.

Read along with the #1 song from the last week of November, 1967 – Daydream Believer

New York, Nov. 26 – New York Giants quarterback Fran Tarkenton passed for a season high 360 yards and threw three touchdown passes to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, 35-17. The victory marked the fifth consecutive win for the Giants who captured a one game advantage over the Cleveland Browns in the tightly contested Century Division. Tarkenton’s favorite mark on the afternoon was wideout Homer Jones who had seven receptions for 236 yards, a record high for any NFL receiver this season. Philadelphia quarterback Norm Snead passed the 3,000 yard mark for the season in the defeat. The Giants are now set to settle the division race with the Browns in Cleveland next week. New York’s current winning streak began October 29 with a 31-23 defeat of the Browns at Yankee Stadium.

The Eagles took an initial three point lead before Tarkenton could revive the Giants offense. The former Georgia Bulldog hit Jones for a 59 yard touchdown bomb midway through the second quarter for New York’s first score.  On the Giants next possession, Tarkenton found Jones again for 59 yards which set up Bill Triplett’s four yard scamper for a 14-3 halftime lead for the home club.

Tarkenton fumbled on the first possession of the second half after being sacked by Eagles linebacker Harold Wells. Tackle Floyd Peters recovered for Philadelphia, and Snead capitalized on the turnover with two strikes to Ben Hawkins; the second for a three yard touchdown. However, Tarkenton found Jones for 47 yards on the next play from scrimmage for the Giants. Tucker Frederickson gained 26 yards on a screen pass before being shoved out of bounds at the Eagle seven yard line. Two plays later, Tarkenton hit Jones for another touchdown. From there, the Eagles were unable to keep up with the Giants who scored touchdowns on their next two possessions to put the game out of reach. Snead threw a touchdown to Fred Hill in the waning moments to close the score to its 35-17 final.

See NFL results from Sunday, November 26, 1967

Green Bay, Nov. 12 – The Green Bay Packers committed five turnovers and lost the first game of their [...]]]>

Cleveland RB Leroy Kelly rushed for 102 yards as the Cleveland Browns won a critical game in Green Bay to stay in contention in the Century Divison. Kelly leads the NFL with 950 rushing yards.

Green Bay, Nov. 12 – The Green Bay Packers committed five turnovers and lost the first game of their season, a 28-20 defeat to the Cleveland Browns, on a brisk autumn afternoon at Lambeau Field. Cleveland returned two Bart Starr interceptions for touchdowns as the Browns won a crucial game as they are knotted in a tight division race.

The day started poorly for Cleveland QB Frank Ryan who threw an interception on the game’s opening play.  Bob Jeter returned the interception for a Packer touchdown. Twelve minutes later, Leroy Kelly fumbled at the Packer 30 and Starr attempted to cash in on the turnover with a strike to Boyd Dowler running an slant pattern. But, Jim Houston intercepted  and returned the ball 40 yards for his third touchdown this season to tie the game.  The teams traded touchdowns in the second quarter to enter halftime tied at 14-14.

On the Packers second possession of the second half, Dowler fumbled at the Packer 22, and Ross Fichtner recovered for Cleveland. The Browns took advantage of the turnover as Browns FB Ernie Green rushed up the middle seven yards for the score. Starr and the Packers responded with a drive to the Cleveland 5. The Browns defense stiffened and held Jim Grabowski on two rushing attempts, and Starr’s pass to Donny Anderson on third down fell incomplete. The Packers were forced to settle for an 11 yard field goal by Don Chandler.

The Cleveland defense held the Packers again in the shadow of their own goal posts in the fourth quarter, and Green Bay again was forced to settle for another Chandler chip shot from 15 yards to close within a point with seven minutes remaining. The Browns were able to run out five minutes off the clock before punting with two and a half minutes to go. Starr took over at the Packer 16, and was sacked by Bill Glass for a ten yard pass. Starr then attempted a post pattern to Dowler. But, Cleveland safety Ross Fichtner picked the pass off and sealed the victory with a 24 yard interception return for a touchdown. Browns RB Leroy Kelly gained 102 yards on the day. In addition to the two goal line stands, the Browns defense caused three second half fumbles, two by Dowler.

Baltimore, Nov. 5 – The Green Bay Packers stumbled out of the gate but regained their form with seventeen second quarter points to defeat [...]]]>

Willie Davis closes in on Colts running back Tom Matte as the Packers stuffed Baltimore 34-19. The victory was revenge the Packers whose last loss occurred in Baltimore last season.

Baltimore, Nov. 5 – The Green Bay Packers stumbled out of the gate but regained their form with seventeen second quarter points to defeat the Baltimore Colts, 34-19. The victory was Green Bay’s eleventh consecutive win. Their last defeat came here in Baltimore on December 10, 1966. An early interception by Bart Starr and a muffed punt by Willie Wood set the Colts up for two first quarter turnovers and an early 13-7 lead. Starr led the Packers on three consecutive scoring drives in the second quarter to take an eleven point halftime lead. Starr finished the game with an efficient 16 of 24 for 165 yards. His counterpart, Johnny Unitas, completed 17 of 37 attempts but managed a mere 104 aerial yards against the league leading Packer defense.

Green Bay running back Jim Grabowski gained a game-high 62 yards as the Packers outgained the Colts 335 to 198 yards. After a scoreless third quarter, Lou Michaels hit a pair of field goals to close the Packer lead to five points. However, Green Bay responded with a 20 yard chip shot by Don Chandler to push their lead to eight points with only five minutes remaining for Unitas to work any magic. On the Colts’ second play, it appeared Bob Jeter ended Baltimore dreams with an interception. However, Green Bay was flagged for pass interference on an underneath route, and Unitas was granted a second life. But even a second life is a difficult one against this Packer defense which held Unitas and the Colts on downs. Baltimore held Green Bay to three plays, but Donnie Anderson’s punt pinned the Colts deep at their own nine yard line. In the end, it was Jeter who cashed in on a second chance as the Packer cornerback jumped in front a pass intended for Tom Matte and raced nineteen yards for the final score. It was Jeter’s eighth interception of the season.

The Packers will return to Lambeau Field next week to host the Cleveland Browns. The loss was crucial to the Colts who dropped two games behind the Los Angeles Rams in the Coastal Division. The Rams will host the Colts on the final weekend of the season.

Washington, Oct. 29 – The Baltimore Colts, down fourteen points and riding a three game losing streak, bounced off the mat to rally past the Washington Redskins, 42-28. The Redskins proved to [...]]]>

Johnny Unitas threw four touchdown passes to snap the Colts' three game losing streak with a 42-28 defeat of the Washington Redskins.

Washington, Oct. 29 – The Baltimore Colts, down fourteen points and riding a three game losing streak, bounced off the mat to rally past the Washington Redskins, 42-28. The Redskins proved to be hospitable hosts with five turnovers that contributed to the Colts’ revival. Bob Boyd stepped in front of A.D. Whitfield and intercepted Redskin quarterback Sonny Jurgensen with a minute and twenty-six seconds left in the first half. Boyd raced down the sidelines 33 yards for a touchdown. The clubs entered their locker rooms at halftime tied at 21.

The teams exchanged turnovers to open the second half, and Lou Michaels missed a 53 yard attempt midway through the third quarter. On the Colts’ next possession, Jerry Hill plunged in from three yards to give Baltimore its first lead. The touchdown was set up by Unitas’ 33 yard pass to Tom Matte to the Redskins three yard line. However, the Redskins responded with a counterpunch of their own as Jurgensen found tight end Jerry Smith in the end zone for a 19 yard strike.

In the fourth quarter, Unitas led the Colts to the shadow of the Redskins’ goal posts, but Michaels shanked an 11 yard attempt. Jurgensen gaffed on the subsequent play by fumbling the snap, and Dennis Gaubatz recovered for the Colts. After Matte scampered for eight yards, Unitas found his tight end, John Mackey, for a 10 yard touchdown. The frustrated Redskins were flagged for an intentional face-masking penalty on the play, but Michaels failed to pin the Redskins deep by kicking the ball in the end zone for a touchback. However, Boyd intercepted Jurgensen a second time and set Unitas and the Colts up at the Washington 41. Unitas converted a pair of third downs. The second conversion went for another touchdown as Unitas hit Mackey again for an 18 yard score. Scrambling away from the persistent Colts pass rush, Jurgensen fumbled away the Redskins final opportunity and Ordell Braase recovered for Baltimore. Matte, Hill, Jerry Lorick and Lenny Moore took turns running out the clock as the crowd at D.C. Stadium filed out.

The loss dropped the Redskins into a first-place tie with the Dallas Cowboys who defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 13-3. The Colts return home to host the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

This game story is dedicated to the boys at the Fell’s Point Diner.