Miami, Jan. 14, 1968 – Nine seasons ago, a nationally televised NFL Championship Game carried into overtime and lifted professional football into the national spotlight. The championship game between the NFL Champion Dallas Cowboys and AFL Champion Oakland Raiders has similarly [...]]]> Read along with the #1 hit from the second week of January, 1968 – Green Tambourine.

Miami, Jan. 14, 1968 – Nine seasons ago, a nationally televised NFL Championship Game carried into overtime and lifted professional football into the national spotlight. The championship game between the NFL Champion Dallas Cowboys and AFL Champion Oakland Raiders has similarly lifted this “Super Bowl” into equal prominence overnight. The Cowboys defeated the Raiders, 16-10, in sudden death overtime for the World’s Championship. The clubs played like freshman at the senior prom. Each had opportunities to seize control of the game, but instead the game played out as a marathon walk on a tightrope.

Oakland made the first mistake as Cowboy LB Lee Roy Jordan intercepted Daryle Lamonica’s pass intended for Fred Biletnikoff. Jordan rumbled 31 yards down the sideline to set up Don Meredith’s troops at the Oakland 41. After two ineffective gadget plays, Meredith found Lance Rentzel downfield for a completion to the Oakland 9. The Raider defense pushed the Cowboys backward from there, and forced Dallas to settle for a 23 yard field goal attempt by Danny Villanueva. The butterflies were evident as Villanueva missed the attempt. However, Mike Johnson picked off another Lamonica pass on the subsequent drive, and Villanueva converted a 27 yard attempt for the game’s initial score.

As the first quarter drew to a close, Lamonica settled down and drove the Raiders into Cowboy territory. An offensive  pass interference penalty stalled the drive, and George Blanda came on the field for a 37 yard field goal attempt. The attempt was blocked, and the ball recovered by Willie Townes of the Cowboys. Meredith sought a quick strike and launched a bomb in the direction of Rentzel. However, Warren Powers battled Rentzel for the ball, and came down with the interception at the Oakland 19 with Cowboys’ first turnover. Lamonica drove the Raiders again within field goal range, but LB Dave Edwards stepped in front of a pass intended for Biletnikoff at the 19. Lamonica again guided the Raiders down field on their next possession, but Cornell Green grabbed Lamonica’s fourth interception of the half at the Cowboy 6 to halt the Raiders’ advance. In the half’s final minute, Lee Roy Jordan recovered a fumble by Lamonica after a sack to set Dallas up with another scoring chance. But clock mismanagement allowed time to slip pass Tom Landry, and the half ended on an incomplete pass instead of a Villanueva field goal attempt. With four interceptions, a fumble and blocked field goal under their belt in the half, Dallas managed only a mere 3-0 lead.

Lamonica and the Raiders exited the locker room for the second half with a renewed spirit. Disaster had been averted in the first half, and the game was still theirs for the taking. On their first possession, the Raiders marched down field with a mix of rushes by Hewritt Dixon and Clem Daniels. Dixon bulled through the middle for a two-yard touchdown run, and Oakland led 7-3. The teams traded possessions for the remainder of the quarter. As the fourth quarter began, the Cowboys maintained possession at the Oakland 36. Landry reached again into his bag of tricks, but this time the gadgets worked. TE Frank Clarke sprung free for a 39 yard run on an end-around play into Oakland territory. Meredith followed with a pass to Hayes running a post pattern, and Oakland was called for pass interference. FB Don Perkins plunged ahead from a yard out to retake the lead, 10-7.

Midway through the quarter, the Raiders broke through on the ground. Pete Banaszak broke free for a 24 yard gain which set up Blanda for a game-tying 25 yard field goal attempt. Blanda’s kick was true, and the game was tied at ten with five and a half minutes remaining. The Cowboys were unable to gain a first down on their possession, and were forced to punt. Villanueva drilled a 54 yard punt that pushed Lamonica and the Raiders deep to their own 16 yard line. with 4:21 on the clock. Lamonica hit Dixon for a 25 yard pass, and with two minutes left, he found speedster Warren Wells for a 27 yard pass to the Dallas 25. Lamonica completed a seven yard out pattern to TE Billy Cannon. With Blanda warming up his leg on the sidelines for the championship-winning field goal attempt, A false start penalty pushed Oakland back. Lamonica dumped the ball off to Clem Daniels for a seven yard gain, but the Cowboys pushed Daniels out of bounds to stop the clock. Lamonica ran a quarter back sneak for a yard, forcing Dallas to call their first timeout. The strategy was clear. This game would be decided on Blanda’s foot. Lamonica handed the ball off to FB Hewitt Dixon. Bob Lilly was ready and stuffed Dixon at the line, and the ball squirted free. Lee Roy Jordan fell on the ball first, and the Cowboy prayers were answered. The 1967 championship would not be decided in four quarters.

Oakland won the toss for overtime, and started their first possession at their own 20 after a touchback. On third down, Mel Renfro blitzed and blindsided Lamonica who dropped the ball. The fumble was recovered by Jethro Pugh at the 9 yard line. An offensive pass interference penalty pushed Dallas back, and Villanueva was brought in for a 20-yard chip shot for the victory. Villanueva pushed the ball too much, and it sailed wide right. Oakland prayers were answered, but it appeared to a neutral party that neither team was capable of victory. Lamonica failed to advance the Raiders, but a 67 yard punt by Mike Eischeid pushed return man Bob Hayes to the 9. Hayes worked his way to the 20, but Meredith and the Cowboys could not convert a first down. Villanueva’s punt sailed 46 yards, and Warren Powers signaled for a fair catch. Lamonica found Dixon across the middle, and the Raider fullback  found the sideline for 35 yards before being pushed out of bounds. Raider coach John Rauch went to Dixon again with a counter trap. Dixon sprung free up the middle, but Johnson reach in to strip the ball free. Johnson recovered for Dallas, and the Raiders were denied again. Dixon was the game’s leading rusher and receiver with 88 rushing yards and 102 receiving yards. But his legacy will be the two fumbles, one under two minutes in the fourth quarter and the other in overtime.

It appeared Meredith would be unable to convert another Raider miscue after a sack put the Cowboys in a third and thirteen situation. But, Meredith finally found Hayes for a key completion, a 38 yard fly pattern to the Oakland 37.  Rentzel caught a 14 yard pass to the Oakland 23. Dan Reeves gained five to the 18. Suddenly, Don Perkins busted up the middle and ran into the end zone to end the game. It seems unlikely a team with eight turnovers would believe they had a chance to win again, but that was precisely the belief in the Oakland locker room after this game. The Dallas Cowboys breathed a sigh of relief as they were champions of the world after 70 minutes of football, 16-10.

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 [...]]]>

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 the most [...]]]>

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.

p.s. – not safe listening for work.

Gamechangers Ep 3: A Legend in the Booth with Hank Azaria from [...]]]> For everyone who loves to listen to baseball on the radio:

p.s. – not safe listening for work.

I wanted to take a moment to explain the “Which [...]]]> The WordPress format of this web site passed the two-month milestone on Saturday. The 1967 football replay is complete, and the final standings and stats can be found at the links on the left. Reports of the playoffs “a second time through the order” will soon follow.

I wanted to take a moment to explain the “Which baseball season would you like to see a Second Time through the Order?” poll question. Thanks to all who have voted, and please continue to do so while the poll is still up. Baseball is the replay sport of choice here. As the opening month of this baseball season has unfolded, the itch to replay baseball grows. I do not want to mislead anyone with the question.  The poll question is not meant to be for the next replay season. I plan to stay the course with my current project which is building an encyclopedia of replayed baseball seasons starting from my birth year. A 1968 replay is on deck, and a 1968 web site is in the works.

The poll question originated from my research on transactions for an upcoming upgrade to the 1920 home-brewed season for Diamond Mind Baseball. Simultaneously, I read The Pitch That Killed about Ray Chapman, Carl Mays and the 1920 AL pennant chase. As I was immersed in that season, the thought was to start, perhaps, a second replay project: 1920 and forward. 1920, in my opinion, is a good starting point for another project. It is the first season of Babe Ruth as a Yankee, and for that and many other reasons, the dawn of a new age in baseball. Another thought for a second replay project was to work backward from 1965. The baseball seasons of the early 1960′s hold as equal intrigue to a replayer as the late 1960′s. To date, 2/3 of you agree with that sentiment as 1964 is an overwhelming choice in the poll question.

The other seasons listed in the poll are 1940, 1949 and 1960. I started a 1940 replay with Action PC Baseball 2007, and did not make it through the first week of May. My hiatus stemmed more from my dissatisfaction of the reports that version of the game generated and to some extent the game itself. The season itself is interesting and serves as a prologue to 1941. Read Robert Creamer’s book, Baseball and Other Matters in 1941, and you will find yourself wanting to replay that season. If you are reading this, you likely share my sentiments. Heck, I can’t watch The Sandlot without thinking about a 1962 baseball replay.  1949 was an option because it is where my Baseball for Windows replays stopped seven years ago. Unfortunately, the statistical database for my 1946-1948 replay project no longer exists. 1960 was a choice because it was the last sixteen team season, the first season of Mad Men, the last season of Ted Williams and one heck of a World Series.

As a frequent visitor to this site can attest, I am incapable of doing a simple baseball replay. A replay project is a year plus in the making as I encompass the news, the music, the life and times of a particular season. Accordingly, my replay web sites grow in complexity. As I mentioned earlier, a 1968 site is in the works as I am updating the code of previous sites line by line. I’m currently in somewhat of a recluse programmer mode. I would guess it will probably be a few weeks before the site is complete and the games begin. I’ve got some additions in mind. Some of which I may add on the fly during the season. If there’s any bells and whistles you would like to see in the site, please let me know. The start date for the 1968 baseball season will be announced on the Diamond Mind forums that are linked here, and of course, on this same Bat Channel. Subscribe to the RSS Posts feed (top right corner of this site) to receive notification of new posts. Time permitting (but right now it’s not) a second replay may happen. So many seasons, so little time.

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 [...]]]> 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 AFL champion [...]]]>

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. 26 – New [...]]]>

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