NFL Game of the Week

Jim Plunkett and Archie Manning had competed for the Heisman Trophy in 1970 and were high picks in the '71 draft (Plunkett earned both). This doubleheader shows the pro debuts of both QBs. Plunkett, leading the renamed New England Patriots in Foxboro's new Schafer Stadium, surprises Oakland with an overwhelming victory. Archie Manning of the Saints finds it more difficult, but he rallies New Orleans in the last minutes for the first-ever Opening Day win in Saints history.

New quarterback Archie Manning had but one win under his pro belt prior to October 17 (Game of the Week covered it

George Allen's Redskins had become the last undefeated team in the NFL. Visiting Kansas City on October 24, injuries would take the Redskins down. It was to be Kansas City's first-ever regular-season win over an NFC team.

During the 1970s, big days for New York football were hard to come by. Thus November 7 was to be cherished for a long time. Both the Giants and Jets, suffering through mediocrity, pulled off upsets.

There was always a little extra tension in games between the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins. Don Shula was riding what would be a very long Orange Bowl winning streak, which Baltimore threatened to break. But the strength the Dolphins had amassed by now, would lead them to a late 17-14 win.

After nearly fourteen months on the bench nursing two injuries, Joe Namath made his return to the gridiron November 28, 1971. His presence was all the Jets could hope for if they wanted to avoid a losing season. And the 49ers knew it.

Two division crowns were awarded in Week 13 of the 1971 season. First the NFC Central, between an unshakable Minnesota squad and the luckless Lions. Fluke plays aided and abeted the Vikings to a 29-10 conquest. Not as easy to win was the AFC West, but Kansas City beat out their archrivals from Oakland 16-14.

The longest NFL game ever played, between the Chiefs and Dolphins, took up 82:40 on Christmas Day 1971. It sent a message to the League and to the Dolphins, who were to realize they could compete with anyone. They stayed step-for-step with Kansas City and prevailed, 27-24.