The Super 70's (1980), Part 3

No copyright infringement is intended with this, or any other video I upload.The Purpose of uploading this video is for the viewing pleasure for those that watch it.

Having finished the "Best Ever" series, this presentation, the sixth in the NFL Legacy Series, takes a look back at the entire decade of the 1970's in the NFL, and it's moments, players, and teams.

This video, the third of five parts on the decade of the 70's in the NFL, mostly takes a look back at the NFC's frustrations during the decade. First, we take a look back on the 1972 Redskins, one of the most surprising teams to make it to the Super Bowl. Led by George Allen, they were able to dethrone the Dallas Cowboys and make it to Super Bowl VII. Their loss to the Dolphins was typical of the NFC's frustration during the decade, as NFC teams only won the Super Bowl twice [both by the Dallas Cowboys, as we'll see in the next part, and even they lost the Super Bowl more times than they won it during the 70's].

Then we see the Los Angeles Rams, who set a record that still stands today by winning seven consecutive NFC West titles from 1973-'79 [that division was just as bad then as it is now], but didn't reach the Super Bowl until the final year of that streak, when they had their weakest team in that stretch. Most of their frustration came at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings. Reaching the Super Bowl wasn't a problem for the Vikings, but winning it was a different story, as they lost it four times, and were never really close in any of them.

But the AFC had a team that fit this category, as well. The Oakland Raiders won division titles every year from 1967-'76, except 1971, but their biggest problem was beating the Pitsburgh Steelers in the playoffs, losing three out of four times from 1972-'75 [their only post-season win against the Steelers had been in 1973, when the Miami Dolphins reigned supreme], including both of their AFC Championship Game matchups.

But in 1976, no doubt aided by Steeler injuries [both Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier were injured the week before in a blowout win in Baltimore], the Raiders finally got over the Steeler hump and reached their second Super Bowl [they had gotten to Super Bowl II nine years earlier and got destroyed by Vicne Lombardi's Packers 33-14], and finally got their much deserved Super Bowl win, manhandling the Vikings 32-14 for their only championship of the decade. [They did win Super Bowls in 1980 and '83.]

That was to be the Vikings' final chance, as well, as their team was soon ravaged by age, and have, to this day, not returned to the Super Bowl.

All credits go to NFL Films and ESPN Classic, as well as APM Music. Two airings from ESPN Classic were used to create this one presentation.

By the way, if you want to see a higher quality presentation of this program, check out ryanbrandy08's channel. You'll see a higher quality version of this program there, as my version comes originally from old VHS tapes, while his is of digital quality.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• NFL
• Films
• super
• 70s
• Washington
• Redskins
• Los
• Angeles
• Rams
• Minnesota
• Vikings
• Oakland
• Raiders

[JaydeeinCali]

@cjs3872

A good list.

Kramer (I recuse myself, I have a bias toward him because of where I/he grew up).

Dalby and Branch? A VERY respecful no HOL IMHO.

Guy? Interesting debate about a punter. FWIW, probably NO for me.

Marshall? Very tough call! Could go either way, but I give a YES.

Pearson? Very similiar career to Branch, Respectful N0

Kuechenberg? Yes HOL from me.

Again, I don't see LC as close, but whatever (he'll probably get in someday). Thanks for your reply!

[cjs3872]

@JaydeeinCali

As I mentioned in a comments page on another one of my videos, L.C. Greenwood is, in my estimation, one of the 10-12 best players not in the Hall of Fame, and should've been in a long time ago, along with Jerry Kramer (G/GB), Dave Dalby (C/Raiders), Cliff Branch (WR/Raiders), Ray Guy (P/Raiders), Jim Marshall (DE/MIN), Drew Pearson (WR/DAL), Bob Kuechenberg (G-T/MIA). The biggest problem for both Greenwood and Kramer is the amount of teammates both have in the Hall.

[JaydeeinCali]

@cjs3872

Cold enough!

Hey dude, I want to get your opinion about football in the 70s.

LC Greenwood Hall of Fame?

I say HECK YEA! Why is he not in it? No brainer!

Made the Pro Bowl every year 1973-1979. AP All 1970s team. A pillar of four Super Bowl champs. "Hollywood Bags!" But no HOF?

Do you agree withe me?

Yeah, football 1970s-early 1980s. Larger then life figures for a grade school boy in the Pacific Northwest. Love your videos.

[cjs3872]

@JaydeeinCali

Actually, from what I heard, the wind chill factor for that game in Cleveland was -36 degrees. Still, that wasn't anything compared to what the Chargers faced the following year in the AFC Championship Game across the state of Ohio in Cincinnati, where the wind chill was -59 degrees for a game that I still think should never have been played, considering it was a conference championship game. The same is true regarding the '67 NFL Championship Game in Gren Bay.

[JaydeeinCali]

@cjs3872

Windchill for the Raiders/Cleveland playoff game that season? Negative 20. Brrrrrr!!

[plntntvzn]

@cjs3872 ...not to mention Cleveland's kicker not having a good day that day anyway. As it turned out, Mad Stork helped pressure Brian Sipe into that INT. Of course, the next week late in the 3rd quarter when the Chargers had cut the lead to 28-24, Mad Stork grabbed Plunkett and told him,"You guys gotta score, we can't stop them". From there, Raiders slowly regained control.

[cjs3872]

@plntntvzn

Well, that's true, but that's the ONLY one of those four post-season games that the Raiders had any trouble at all in, and the weather may have been a big reason why. They completely dominated the other three games, scoring at least 27 points in each one, and allowed more than 14 points only against the Chargers, and they led 28-7 in that game at one point. The Browns only called that play because they were afraid that Ted Hendricks would block the winning FG attempt.

[plntntvzn]

@cjs3872 I hope no Cleveland Browns Cardiac Kids fans from 1980 read that about Raiders dominating 1980 postseason (actually I do hope, that's why I am bringing special attention to it; Ha-Ha). The mistake by the Lake and the Red Right 88 still lives in infamy.

[cjs3872]

@plntntvzn

That's especially true considering he was one of the holdovers from the 1970s Raider teams that was on the 1980 squad that dominated the post-season, incliding their win over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XV. Along with guys like Ted Hendricks and Lester Hayes, who was drafted the year after their first Super Bowl win, Matuzak was one of the key defensive holdovers from the 70s team to the 80s teams with guys like Howie Long, Rod Martin, and Matt Millen.

[plntntvzn]

@JaydeeinCali Yes, in 1976 the Raiders had FIVE different bonafide linebackers (including Floyd Rice) to go along with devastating run defender John Matuzak (who was a devastating run defender even in his twilight years and 1976 was on of Matuzak's in-his-prime years). I think that might sill be one part of the 1976 Raiders team that has still been overlooked.