The Flashback League (FOF2k7 1960 - ?)

[Autumn]

Everything you remember about the NFL is wrong. In 1960 a group of forward looking owners decided to embrace the inevitable and leapfrog forward, creating one large 32 team professional football league. Teams were pulled in from the NFL, the AFL, minor regional leagues, or even created. Those teams were mixed together into a two conference format, to create the league of the future ... and our past.

In 1960, these teams were taken from the NFL, with their rosters intact:

Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns
New York Giants
St. Louis Cardinals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Redskins
Green Bay Packers
Detroit Lions
San Francisco 49ers
Baltimore Colts
Chicago Bears
Los Angeles Rams
Dallas Cowboys

From the AFL came the following teams, with their rosters intact:

Houston Oilers
New York Titans (changed to New Jersey Jets)
Buffalo Bills
Boston Patriots
Los Angeles Chargers (moved to San Diego)
Dallas Texans (changed to Kansas City Chiefs)
Oakland Raiders
Denver Broncos

And the following teams were created:

Cincinnati Bengals
Tennessee Titans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seattle Seahawks
Indianapolis Racers (with Colts and Baltimore already taken, one team needed to be invented, and given the divisional structure, Indy made sense).

Put into a modernized divisional structure, these 32 teams will forward as the new NFL. For the moment I am simply a bystander, an observer of history.

[Autumn]

Regular Season

The AFC has it easy with really only three top flight teams to fight it out. In the NFC, there are really 7 teams who belong in the playoffs, in only 3 divisions, so a big battle there. No one seems to be able to stop the balanced attack of the Giants, who reach 12-0 undefeated. Lionel Taylor of the Broncos gets over 200 yards receiving against them but still loses. It's Dallas which finally beats them.

Philly and New York go into Week 17 tied at 13-2. Winner takes the #1 seed, loser takes a wild card. San Francisco and Green Bay battle for the #2 seed. In the AFC Cleveland can take #1 with a win, or end up tying Baltimore if they lose. Pittsburgh and Houston are guaranteed the wild cards, while Buffalo and New England fight for their divisonal crown. Philly loses to Dallas, while the Giants crush the Vikings 55-7, and so New York takes the #1 seed. San Fran beats out Green Bay for the better record and the #2 seed.

The AFC East is a mess, with three 8-8 teams. The NFC South is even worse, their best record 7-9.

AFC Division Champions:
Cleveland 15-1
Baltimore 14-2
Buffalo 8-8
Denver 10-6

AFC Wild Card Teams:
Pittsburgh 12-4
Houston 11-5

(New Jersey and New England also go 8-8 but nobody else in the conference has a winning record).

NFC Division Champions:
Green Bay 12-4
Tampa Bay 7-9
New York 14-2
San Francisco 13-3

NFC Wild Card Teams:
Philadelphia 13-3
Detroit 11-4-1

(Dallas, St. Louis and Los Angeles all stay home with winning records).

Postseason

Wild Card Weekend
Detroit 10 at Green Bay 12
Houston 16 at Denver 17
Philadelphia 16 at Tampa Bay 17
Pittsburgh 17 at Buffalo 20

Every single game close, most decided on last second field goals. Tampa Bay the big surprise, scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half to take the win, while Philly missed two field goals. Big upset there, Van Brocklin throwing for 330 yards but 2 interceptions. Buffalo also a surprise winner.

Divisional Playoffs
Green Bay at San Francisco
Tampa Bay at New York
Denver at Baltimore
Buffalo at Cleveland

Conference Championships
Green Bay at New York
Baltimore at Cleveland

It's raining in New York where the Packers somehow outdo the Giants. The Giants running game never gets going, and while Shaw is an efficient passer, he can't keep up with Bart Starr, who throws for over 300 yards on the way to a 30-13 win on the road. Baltimore also is able to upset the home field Browns, with Johnny Unitas throwing a touchdown pass with less than a minute left to bring the Colts to victory, on the back of Lenny Moore's 141 yards. The Colts somehow kept Jim Brown to only 38 yards this game, and holding Len Dawson in check as well.

Superbowl
Green Bay at Baltimore

The game is tied after four quarters, each team with a rushing TD and a passing TD. It goes to overtime, the perfect ending to a superlative first season by these great teams. In overtime the Colts receive the ball, and proceed to march 92 yards for the winning touchdown, a 40 yard pass from Johnny Unitas to Pete Monds. Lenny Moore has 120 yards as well and the Colts are our first Superbowl champions.


Season Awards

Most Valuable Player: Jim Brown, Cleveland
Offensive Player of the Year: Jim Brown, Cleveland
Defensive Player of the Year: Doug Atkins, Chicago

Super Bowl MVP: Johnny Unitas, Baltimore

Rushing Title: Jim Brown, 2,249 yards
Passing Title: Johnny Unitas, 113.3 rating
Sack Title: Doug Atkins, 21.5 sacks
Interception Title: Bernie Parrish, Cleveland, 7 picks

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Al Hutson, Indianapolis
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Larry Grantham, New Jersey

Things That Happened This Season:
400 yard game by Norm Van Brocklin.
250 yard game by Jim Brown
247 yard game from Raymond Berry
Jack Kemp attempting 59 passes.
Buzz Nutter with 5 pancakes in a game
Dick Lynch with 2 punt return TDs in a game
Jim Brown with 300 yards from scrimmage in a game
2,249 yards in a season from Jim Brown
2,149 yards from John Henry Johnson
20 rushing TDs from John Henry Johnson
over 3000 all purpose yards from John David Crow

[Autumn]

Retirements
Unbelievable! Night Train Lane retires, after a sensational season

Amateur Draft
1.1 Jacksonville - Amos Marsh
1.2 Seattle - Larry Eisenhauer
1.3 Minnesota - Deacon Jones
1.4 Carolina - Jimmy Johnson
1.5 Atlanta - Glenn Bass WR
1.6 San Diego - Bob Lilly
1.7 Indianapolis - Chuck Allen ILB
1.8 Miami - Ernie Ladd

1.20 Los Angeles - Mike Ditka TE
1.21 St. Louis - Fran Tarkenton
1.24 Houston - Billy Kilmer

Free Agency
Chuck Bednarik goes to the Cardinals

Regular Season

Baltimore is 15-0, playing at home against the Oilers in Week 17. Houston is 11-4 and with a win could clinch a wildcard spot. Houston proves perfection is difficult, beating the colts 23-20 on the back of a 73 yard touchdown run in the fourth.

AFC Division Champions:
Cleveland 12-4
Baltimore 15-1
New England 9-7
San Diego 11-4-1

AFC Wild Card Teams:
Houston 12-4
Pittsburgh 11-5

(Kansas City goes 11-5 but loses out to Pittsburgh. They must hate the Patriots right now).

NFC Division Champions:
Green Bay 12-3-1
Philadelphia 11-5
Tampa Bay 6-10
San Francisco 14-2

NFC Wild Card Teams:
Detroit 10-5-1
Los Angeles 10-6

(All four teams in the NFC South were 6-10. Ugh. Dallas goes 10-6 but loses out to LA. They must hate the Buccs right now).

Postseason

Wild Card Weekend
Detroit at Tampa Bay
Houston at New England
LA at Philadelphia
Pittsburgh at San Diego

Tampa Bay only loses by one point in what should have been a blowout. New England shocks even more, actually beating Houston to show that the crappy divisions can't be ignored. Los Angeles surprises the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Divisional Playoffs
Detroit at Green Bay
LA at San Francisco
New England at Baltimore
San Diego at Cleveland

The surprises are over as all home teams win.

Conference Championships
Cleveland at Baltimore
Green Bay at San Francisco

Cleveland tries to win through the air, only giving Jim Brown 9 carries. Dawson throws 3 TDs but Baltimore adds two field goals in the fourth quarter, on the back of Lenny Moore's 172 yards, to get the win. Raymond Berry has a 122 yard day, while Bobby Mitchell pulls in 9 catches for 178 yards, 2 TDs for the Browns.

San Francisco pulls out the last second victory against Green Bay, John Brodie throwing a 28 yard TD pass with under a minute left, just 30 seconds after Green Bay kicked what they thought was the winning field goal. It was a shootout between Starr and Brodie, and Brodie won, Aaron Reed catching 10 of 12 for 133 yards and 2 TDs. Amazing considering Brodie was riding the bench until this game, Tittle having broken his collarbone in the playoffs.

Superbowl II
Baltimore at San Francisco

Baltimore's the favorite, with only one loss this year, and the reigning Champions. They get the first score, another Raymond Berry TD catch, but San Fran returns the kick 82 yards for the TD, and then goes on to score two more TD passes in the 1st quarter. Baltimore pulls ahead on the back of 4 field goals and a Lenny Moore TD to make it 26-21 going into the fourth. A Colts fumble gets turned into a 19 yard TD drive by San Francisco, Brodie's third TD pass, and the Colts go on to miss two field goals and lose the game, 26-24. Unitas has 397 yards, and Pete Monds has 177 yards receiving. It's another tight, tight finish in the Superbowl but we crown a new Champion, the 49ers! And a great story in Brodie, who only attempted 27 passes all year before stepping in to win three playoff games with a cumulative 124 QB rating.

Season Awards

Most Valuable Player: Johnny Unitas, Baltimore
Offensive Player of the Year: Bart Starr, Green Bay
Defensive Player of the Year: Doug Atkins, Chicago

Super Bowl MVP: John Brodie, San Francisco

Rushing Title: Jim Brown, 1,637 yards
Passing Title: Johnny Unitas, 110.2 rating
Sack Title: Doug Atkins, 16 sacks
Interception Title: Dick Harris, San Diego, 13 interceptions

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tom Matte, RB, Chicago
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Chuck Allen, ILB, Indianapolis

Things That Happened This Season:
Dick Harris destroys the INT records with 13 in a season
No one rushes over 1,700 yards a season after we had two 2K+ rushers
Bart Starr throws 35 TD passes
Bart Starr throws for over 4,000 yards

[Autumn]

Amateur Draft

1.1 Indianapolis - Roman Gabriel QB
1.2 Minnesota - Booker Edgerson CB
1.3 Miami - George Andrie DE
1.4 Seattle - Nick Buoniconti LB
1.5 Tennessee - John Hadl QB
1.6 Oakalnd - Galen Hall QB
1.7 Cincinnati - Lance Alworth WR
1.8 Carolina - Merlin Olsen DT

Regular Season

Browns have struggled, both with injuries and just seeming poor play from both Brown and Dawson. Jets have surprisingly come on strong, seemingly due to good play by Don Maynard.

The NFC East has fallen, all the teams in a muddle, while both the North and West host three strong teams each.

Cleveland beats Pittsburgh in Week 17 to claim the division, a real tight race there. San Francisco just edges Detroit out for the wild card in Week 17. Houston edges out Kansas City for the wild card in the last game as well.

AFC Division Champions:
Cleveland 13-3
Baltimore 15-1
New Jersey 11-5
San Diego 12-4

AFC Wild Card Teams:
Pittsburgh 13-3
Houston 11-5

NFC Division Champions:
Green Bay 15-1
Carolina 6-10
New York 10-6
Los Angeles 13-3

NFC Wild Card Teams:
St. Louis 12-4
San Francisco 10-6

Postseason

Wild Card Weekend
Houston at San Diego
Pittsburgh at New Jersey
San Francisco at New York
St. Louis at Carolina

Huge shocker as Carolina, 6-10 Carolina, beats the 12-4 Cardinals to move to the next round. In a rainy game, St. Louis just couldn't get any offense going and somehow the Panthers did it. Last year's champions bow out against the Giants.

Divisional Playoffs
Carolina at Green Bay
New York at Los Angeles
Pittsburgh at Baltimore
San Diego at Cleveland

Snow in Cleveland should favor the Browns, but the California boys pull out a win. Great defense, as the only ponts they give up are a safety, a field goal, and a long bomb to Jim Brown in the 4th. Carolina's fairy tale ends with a drubbing by the Packers. The Rams and Colts take advantage of home field.

Conference Championships
Los Angeles at Green Bay
San Diego at Baltimore

Can anyone stop a third Superbowl appearance by the Colts? Is LA to take the place of San Fran this year? If so they need to win at 12 degrees. The answers are no and no. Dick Bass picks up 100 yards against the Packers, but they can't stop Bart Starr. The Colts jump out to a 30 point lead at half time and ride it to a win, not making any mistakes.

Superbowl III
Green Bay at Baltimore

Two teams who have only lost once this season. Baltimore looking for their second win in three straight appearances, Green Bay looking for their first win in their second Superbowl. If I tell you this comes down to a 1 point win, with a field goal in the last four seconds winning it, wouild you believe it? Another great Superbowl. This time Unitas and Moore drive down the field for two fourth quarter field goals, drives of 58 and 62 yards in crunch time to pull out their second Superbowl victory, overcoming Bart Starr's 3 touchdown performance. Lenny Moore's 129 yards should probably give him MVP, but somehow Bart Starr receives it in defeat.

Season Awards

Most Valuable Player: Johnny Unitas
Offensive Player of the Year: Johnny Unitas
Defensive Player of the Year: Lamar Lundy, Los Angeles

Super Bowl MVP: Bart Starr, Packers QB* (in loss)

Rushing Title: Dick Bass, LA Rams, 1,883 yards
Passing Title: Johnny Unitas, 114.1
Sack Title: Lamar Lundy, 17 sacks
Interception Title: Dick Harris, 8 interceptions

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Bert Coan, Dallas
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Nick Buoniconti, Seattle

Things That Happened This Season:
Dick Bass comes up big in his second year, winning the rushing title and scoring 15 touchdowns.
George Blanda led the league in passing yards, and Bill Groman led in receiving yards, also catching 13 TDs
Raymond Berry though had an impressive 1045 yards on only 56 catches, for nearly 19 ypc, and 16 touchdowns. More than 25% of his catches were touchdowns!

[Autumn]

Retirements
John Henry Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers: John Henry made a splash in 1960 with a 2,149 yard season and 20 touchdowns, only eclipsed by Jim Brown's slightly higher yardage. He followed that with two seasons of only 14 games, though he still managed 13 TDs a season. He is #1 All-time in rushing touchdowns, and 3rd in rushing yardage, as he retires, nursing the leg injury which ended his season. He has three 200 yard games to his credit, more than any other player, and owns the record for single game yardage, having put up 259 yards against the Saints in '62. The Steelers owe a lot of their success to his impressive running.

Amateur Draft
1.1 New Orleans - Jerry Logan, S
1.2 Oakland - George Saimes, S
1.3 New England - Daryle Lamonica, QB
1.4 Minnesota - John Campbell, OlB
1.5 Jacksonville - Andy Russell, OLB
1.6 Miami - Don Trull, QB
1.7 Tampa Bay - Bobby Bell, OLB

1.13 Carolina - Homer Jones, WR
1.18 Philadelphia - Willie Brown, CB
1.25 Houston - Jackie Smith, TE

Free Agency
Al Dorow, NYJ QB goes to Oakland
Frank Gifford, NY RB goes to Baltimore

Regular Season

Baltimore and Green Bay are both 15-0 going into the last week. Johnny Unitas has thrown 33 touchdowns and not a single interception all season. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Fran Tarkenton has suddenly found his game, and making a lot of teams sorry they passed over him, just behind Unitas in QB rating. John David Crow has emerged as clearly the best rusher in the league, outshining Jim Brown in every respect, (Brown actually under 4.0 ypc this season). Groman and Hennigan continue to be a sick tandem for Houston and Blanda, combining for 213 catches so far, both with over 1000 yards with one more game to go ...

Will we have two, one or zero undefeated teams after this week? Will Unitas throw a perfect season, without a single interception?

[Autumn]

The answer is the NFL has two undefeated teams, both the first to reach this mark in its short history. Baltimore ran roughshod over the Titans to reach 16-0, with two runners (Moore and Jenkins) breaking 100 yards, while Unitas went 23/28 for 237 yards, 1 TD and .... 0 interceptions. Unitas completed his regular season with 34 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and the best QB rating in his, and NFL, history.

Green Bay, on the other hand, lets Detroit into the game, winning by only a 5 point margin, Hornung with 84 yards rushing and Starr throwing for less than 200. But a win is a win, and it seems our two giants are poised for another Superbowl battle.

AFC Division Champions:
Cleveland 11-4
Baltimore 16-0
Buffalo 7-9
Kansas City 12-4

AFC Wild Card Teams:
San Diego 11-5
Pittsburgh 10-5-1

(Houston just misses out on the playoffs, going 10-6)


NFC Division Champions:
Green Bay 16-0
Carolina 10-6
New York 9-7
San Francisco 14-2

NFC Wild Card Teams:
St. Louis 12-4
Detroit 9-7

(Los Angeles, at 9-7, gets bumped out)


Postseason

Wild Card Weekend
Detroit at Carolina
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
San Diego at Buffalo
St. Louis at New York

Detroit gets a kickoff return TD in the 4th quarter to put them over the top. Homer Jones has 108 yards receiving in the loss. Cleveland, despite Jim Brown's horrid 2.83 yards per carry, wins on Len Dawson's arm, who throws for 361 yards, racking up two 100 yard receivers.

Three turnovers by the Bills proves their undoing against San Diego, where Kemp throws for 224 yards and the win, and league leader Dick Harris picks off the Bills to ice the game. St. Louis manages 11 points in the fourth quarter, Tarkenton throwing a last second TD and 2 point conversion, but it's not enough to win in New York. The Giants recover two fumbles, one for a TD, and somehow manage to win despite an anemic offense, and despite Tarkenton's 371 yard game. He makes a statement, but next year will have to be his turn.

Divisional Playoffs
Cleveland at Kansas City
Detroit at Green Bay
New York at San Francisco
San Diego at Baltimore

Cleveland and KC should be the only game that's up for grabs, but you never know. It's a shootout in San Francisco, as both Tittle and Shaw throw for 315 yards. Shaw throws two picks though, and Tittle throws 3 TDs, and San Francisco is back in the conference championship. Jim Brown runs better in Kansas City, but Dawson plays worse. KC's rushing attack, with Clem Daniels and Tommy Mason, dominates, and Cotton Davidson throws an efficient game for the win.

Green Bay does its thing, Starr with 3 TDs, and Hornung with 129 yards, and Packers with another win. San Diego, however, makes the Colts sweat, picking Unitas off for the first time since Week 17 of 1962, and Kemp throwing a 73 yard TD in the fourth to pull within 2 points. They can't get it done in the two minute offense, however, and Baltimore stays undefeated.

Conference Championships
Kansas City at Baltimore
San Francisco at Green Bay

Baltimore gives the league what it wants, scoring 20 points in the fourth to put the Chiefs away. Davidson throws two picks, while Unitas is near perfect and Raymond Berry has 4 catches for 100 yards and 2 TDs.

The closer match-up is in the NFC, where an early fumble, and missed field goal by Green Bay keeps the 49ers in it. Tittle throws for 329 and 2 TDs, Starr for 302 and 3 TDs. The difference is Hornung, who adds 136 on the ground, to go with Max McGee's 118 yards receiving. The 49ers get a kickoff return in the 4th to put themselves ahead, but Starr drives the Packers to a winning field goal and an undefeated season, still.


Superbowl IV
Green Bay at Baltimore

These two teams meet for the third time. Baltimore has won twice, but only by a total of 7 points. And this year more is on the line. The first truly undefeated season in Flashback NFL history will occur. Who will claim it?

[Rawhide]

This is fantastic! Keep it up!

[Autumn]

Thanks, I shall!

[Autumn]

Superbowl IV
Green Bay at Baltimore

The biggest game in NFL history begins with Baltimore receiving the kickoff. A nice return, and Unitas proceeds to go 5/8, throwing a TD to Bake Turner for the first score of the game. The two teams trade punts for a bit until Unitas cracks things open, finding Pete Monds open for a 44 yard gain, 21 yards after the catch. Lenny Moore has an 18 yard run and soon they punch it in to go up 14-0 early. They add on another field goal and it's not looking good for the Packers.

Bart Starr pulls out a big of magic though, with five minutes left in the first half he hits Boyd Dowler for a short gain and the wide receiver turns it into an 84 yard touchdown. Unitas gets the Colts another field goal before the half, and they go to the locker room, Colts 20, Packers 7.

Teams look sloppy in the third, Starr throwing a pick, and Unitas fumbling the ball right back. The Packers take advantage, Hornung turning some short passes into big gains, taking one for 42 yards. Seconds later McGee catches a TD and it's 20-14.

Unitas gets sacked to stop their next drive, but they manage a field goal anyway. This is how the Colts win, their offense is relentless, always getting some yardage. They threaten to score again in the 4th, Berry picking up a 35 yard pass and adding on some unnecessary roughing. But Unitas goes to Berry too often, and Ray Nitschke picks off Unitas's next pass to him, giving the Packers the ball at their own 35. Hornung runs for 11, Shoftner catches for 32, and then Hornung turns another short pass into a touchdown to make it 23-21 Colts.

What happens next? Unitas gets sacked by Nitschke and coughs up the ball. These are two juggernauts and for once Unitas is getting pressure. Packers recover and turn it into a field goal, and take the lead. The Colts attempt a field goal of their own but it's blocked. They trade punts, Packers pinning the Colts inside the five and eventually winning the field position battle, getting the ball at midfield at the two minute warning. Jim Taylor busts a run for 38 yards, close enough for a field goal and Packers make it 27-23, with only 30 seconds left. Their running out the clock is key as they hand Unitas the ball with no time outs left. He hits Berry for 10 yards, but his last pass is blocked at the line and time runs out on the Colts and a perfect season.

The Green Bay Packers win 27-23, and have the first perfect season in NFL history. Perhaps even better for them, they finally beat the Colts in their third Superbowl matchup. Lenny Moore had a great game with 21 carries for 137 yards, but Unitas looked mortal for the first time, responsible for three turnovers that made a huge difference. Starr throws for 247 yards, 3 TDs and 1 int to take player of the game honors. Nitschke could easily take player of the game for his performance though with a key interception, and a sack causing a fumble.

[Izulde]

I meant to ask you this, but I forgot. Are you using the nerfed files? Tarkenton dropping that low surprises me.

[Autumn]

Season Awards

Most Valuable Player: Johnny Unitas, Baltimore
Offensive Player of the Year: Johnny Unitas, Baltimore
Defensive Player of the Year: Gino Marchetti, Baltimore

Super Bowl MVP: Bart Starr, Green Bay

Rushing Title: John David Crow, 1,862 yards (18 TDs)
Passing Title: Johnny Unitas, 128.7 rating
Sack Title: Lamar Lundy, 15.5 sacks
Interception Title: Fred Williamson, Pittsburgh, 8 interceptions (3 for TDs)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Joe Auer, Detroit, RB
Defensive Rookie of the Year: George Saimes, Oakland, S

Things That Happened This Season:
George Blanda breaks the passing yardage record with 4,282 yards
Charley Hennigan breaks the record with 1,715 receiving yards
Raymond Berry breaks the record with 17 receiving touchdowns
Willie Wood breaks the pass defense record with 89.4 on the season for the Packers
Unitas posted two perfect (158.3) games this season

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by Izulde

I meant to ask you this, but I forgot. Are you using the nerfed files? Tarkenton dropping that low surprises me.

No, I'm using the regular ones. I was really surprised too - I ran these same files once before and Fran was a stud. He's only rated 56/56 here, and played really poorly his first season, but I wonder if he'll keep developing as he really impressed this season.

[Autumn]

Retirements

George Blanda: After setting the NFL passing record, Blanda decides to leave on a high note. The Houston QB goes out #1 in all time passing yards, 1st in 300 yard passing games, 1st in attempts and completions, 5th in career QB rating, and having never missed a game in his four seasons. Blanda never won a playoff game though, going one and out the first three years and missing the playoffs entirely in his last season. Houston seemed to have perfected a deadly passing attack with two 1,000 year receivers in '63 and the team will likely be left reeling. They do have Billy Kilmer, a '61 draft pick, in the wings. It will be interesting to see if he can fill Blanda's shoes.

Frank Gifford: The former Giant retires after one season with the Colts where he only rushed 75 times. He notched seasons of 933, 1075 and 1122 yards with the Giants but only broke 4 yards per carry once.


Amateur Draft

1.1 Roger Staubach, QB - Jacksonville
1.2 Leroy Kelly, RB - Tampa Bay
1.3 Bob Brown, T - Seattle
1.4 Mel Renfro, CB - Indianapolis
1.5 Mack Lee Hill, RB - Minnesota
1.30 Charley Taylor, WR - San Francisco
1.32 Paul Warfield, WR - Green Bay

Free Agency

Max McGee - released by the Packers, signed by the New York Giants

Regular Season

Chicago and Green Bay meet in Week 17 to decide the division, both at 11-4. Cleveland and Baltimore are playing for home field advantage, both at 13 wins. However, Baltimore has to play 11-4 Houston, while Cleveland gets to beat up on the Bengals.

Cleveland and Green Bay win, and Baltimore beats Houston in a wild 45-42 shootout including two touchdown passes by Unitas in the last three minutes, a 76 yard Raymond Berry catch and run, and a 95 yard punt return by Bob Garner for the Colts. Unitas ends up with 418 yards, 4 TDs. Kilmer countered with 331 yards, 2 TDs, and a better running game, but the Colts pull out the win.

AFC Division Champions:
Cleveland 14-2
Baltimore 14-2
New England 8-8
San Diego 12-4

AFC Wild Card Teams:
Kansas City 12-4
Houston 11-5

NFC Division Champions:
Green Bay 12-4
Carolina 9-7
New York 11-5
Los Angeles 11-5

NFC Wild Card Teams:
Chicago 11-5
St. Louis 11-5

Postseason

Wild Card Weekend
Chicago at Carolina (20-6)
Houston at San Diego (29-28)
Kansas City at New England (13-15)
St. Louis at New York (12-31)

Divisional Playoffs
Chicago at Green Bay (26-9)
Houston at Cleveland (7-36)
New England at Baltimore (0-27)
New York at Los Angeles (10-27)

Starr throws for 331 yards in teh loss, Chicago's Tom Matte running while for 158 yards, and Chicago hitting 4/5 field goals, including a 50 yarder. Len Dawson throws for 238 yards in Cleveland's romp, while the Browns pick off Kilmer 4 times. Dick Bass has 94 yards and 2 TDs in Los Angeles's win. It will be someone new representing the NFC this year.

Conference Championships
Baltimore at Cleveland
Chicago at Los Angeles

I think we've seen this AFC match-up every year, nearly at least. Baltimore has never lost it, of course, going to the Superbowl four straight times. With Jim Brown waning a bit every year, Cleveland's time is ticking.

Chicago and Los Angeles are two hungry teams, finally coming out of Green Bay's shadow. They have a nearly identical game, all field goals, except for a 60+ yard run by Matte or Bass respectively. It goes to overtime, an interception and two punts before Chicago finally kicks the wining field goal. Tony Williams threw a mediocre game, it was Tom Matte and Mike Anderson on the ground that won it for them. Los Angeles has Dick Bass running for 180 yards, Mike Ditka catching 6/6 for 60 yards, and Lamar Lundy having a great game with 2 sacks, 4 hurries and 2 knockdowns. But Chicago got it done in the end and gets to their first Superbowl.

The game in Cleveland is all Lenny Moore to start things off, Lenny scoring three rushing touchdowns before half way through the second quarter. He outshines Jim Brown, rushing for 195 yards on 22 carries, while Brown only manages 56 yards on 18 carries. But the second half of the game is all Len Dawson, who throws three touchdowns to counter Moore, the Browns intercepting Unitas twice. In the end Dawson has 348 yards, 3 TDs, and the win as the Browns manage a field goal on the first possession in overtime. Two championship games, two overtime games, two winning field goals and two new teams in Superbowl V.

[Autumn]

Superbowl V
Chicago vs Cleveland

Cleveland are the favorites in their first Superbowl appearance. They continue to dominate their division, despite Jim Brown's decline. He had a better season than last, rushing for 1,526 yards and a 4.23 average, but only 5 touchdowns. He has never again matched his amazing first season however. Len Dawson however had his best season yet, throwing for 3,789 yards and a 96.0 QB rating. He had the highest completion percentage in the league, and the team was #1 in third down conversions. Most importantly, perhaps, they have the best defense in the league, in scoring, yards gained, and 3rd down conversions.

the Bears are not ranked at the top in anything. They are led by the completely pedestrian Tony Williams, a former backup for the Racers, who threw only 9 TDs (albeit in 12 games) taking the spot of Jerald Cortez. Tom Matte, a former rookie of the year, leads their rushing attack with an abysmal 3.74 yards per carry, Mike Anderson a slightly better #2 back. Doug Atkins is a star on defense, giving them the #2 pass rush in the game, and they are plus 13 in turnovers, but it's hard to say how exactly they got here.

But that's why they play the games. Superbowl V takes place in Montgomery, Alabama, and the first possession is a three and out. The game proves a defensive slug fest, with 12 punts, three interceptions and a fumble. Neither team manages more than 12 first downs and the leading passer has 178 yards.

A defensive battle is what Cleveland wants though, and they come out the winners in a 20-10 victory. They squelch the Chicago offense, the Bears's highest rusher getting 19 yards, and sacking Williams four times. Brown gets a game high 72 yards rushing on 21 carries, and Dawson only manages 143 yards himself, but Cleveland picks Williams off twice and force four fumbles.

Safety Ross Fichtner is the game MVP, logging 3 tackles, 3 assists, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 pass defended and only 1 catch allowed. A suitable choice for this kind of game. The Cleveland Browns become the four team to win an NFL title.


Season Awards

Most Valuable Player: Lenny Moore, RB, Baltimore
Offensive Player of the Year: Lenny Moore, RB, Baltimore
Defensive Player of the Year: Larry Grantham, LB, New Jersey (8 sacks, 4 interceptions, 95 tackles)

Super Bowl MVP: Ross Fitchtner, S, Cleveland

Rushing Title: Lenny Moore, Baltimore 1,632 yards (16 TDs)
Passing Title: Johnny Unitas, Baltimore, 105.5 rating (28 TDs, 7 INTs)
Receiving Title: Lionel Taylor, Denver, 1,529 yards (119 catches, 10 TDs)
Sack Title: Jim Katcavage, New York, 18.5 sacks (10.6 PR%)
Interception Title: Eddie Meador, Los Angeles, 12 interceptions (2 TDs)

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Leroy Kelly, RB, Tampa Bay
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Carl Eller, DE, Tennessee

Things That Happened This Season:
Gary Ballman set the NFL record with 283 yards receiving on 10 catches against San Fran for the Giants
Nick Buoniconti, Seattle, broke the record with 144 tackles
Eddie Meador, Los Angeles, broke the record with a 91.0 pass defense percentage
Billy Kilmer took right over for Blanda, throwing for 3,616 yards and 22 TDs
Moore gets the rushing title by only six yards over Dick Bass (but on 33 less carries)

[Autumn]

1965 Season

Retirements

Y.A. Tittle, QB - LEGEND OF THE GAME Tittle retires after five years with the Niners, his last year spent on the bench. He goes out as 3rd all time in QB rating, 2nd in completion percentage, 4th in YPA, 9th in passing yards, 5th in passing touchdowns, and 3rd in 300 yard games. He had four great seasons, his best was maybe 1960 in which he passed for 4,243 yards, 24 TDs and 6 interceptions. The Niners were in the playoffs every year under Tittle, but he is perhaps best known for the game he didn't play in. The Niners won the Super Bowl in 1961, but it was with Tittle on the bench with a broken collarbone, and John Brodie leading the team. The Niners never got back to the big game, so while Tittle has a ring, it has a bittersweet memory to it.

Norm Van Brocklin, QB Van Brocklin has a scintillating first season in the NFL, passing for 4,174 yards, 19 TDs and 5 interceptions in its inaugural year. He then amazingly rode the bench for Philadelphia for four more years until retiring. Sonny Jurgensen took the helm from Van Brocklin and while putting up decent numbers, many complain that Van Brocklin could have done better.

Amateur Draft
1.1 Joe Namath, QB - Jacksonville
1.2 Craig Morton, QB - Cincinnati
1.4 Dick Butkus, LB - New Orleans
1.7 Gale Sayers, RB - Tennessee
1.34 Fred Biletnikoff - Jacksonville

In true FOF fashion, the Jaguars draft Namath one year after drafting Roger Staubach. Hopefully they ship one of these poor guys out to have a career somewhere else.

Free Agency

It seems the cap crunch has finally hit the NFL as we see some big names released into free agency.

Gino Marchetti 1963's Defensive Player of the Year and 4th all time in sacks is released by Baltimore. The Washington Redskins snap him up.

Gene Linscomb a two time All-Pro, 6th all time in sacks, and the anchor of Baltimore's defensive line is released as well. Pittsburgh grabs him up.

Actually, it goes on on and on, Bobby Boyd, Jim Colvin, most of the Colts defense is let go as they try to find room to sign Raymond Berry to a new deal. They're left with a short roster though and will struggle this season I think.

Paul Hornung The Packers release their mainstay in the running game, and Hornung joins a quickly improving Steelers team. The fabled cap explosion is hitting the dynasties I believe.

Regular Season

Both Cleveland and St. Louis go into Week 17 with a perfect record. Five of the eight divisions are already locked up at this point, leaving Miami with their fate in their own hands, Denver, San Diego and Oakland all fighting it out with 10 wins, and the hapless NFC South looking to even have anyone at .500.

And St. Louis beats 3-13 Seattle to put together the second undefeated regular season in league history. Cleveland falls to 6-10 Pittsburgh.

AFC Division Champions:
Cleveland 15-1
Houston 9-7
Miami 9-7
San Diego 11-5

AFC Wild Card Teams:
Denver 11-5
Oakland 10-6

NFC Division Champions:
Green Bay 14-2
Carolina 7-9
Philadelphia 13-3
St. Louis 16-0

NFC Wild Card Teams:
New York 10-6
Los Angeles 10-6


Postseason

Wild Card Weekend
Denver at Miami (31-21)
Los Angeles at Philadelphia (15-3)
New York at Carolina (10-17)
Oakland at Houston (27-34)

A surprising upset by the Rams. Philadelphia had a monster offense this season, but the Rams shut it down. Sonny Jurgensen threw two picks and the Eagles also fumbled twice. Dick Bass and Red Phillips had big days for the Rams.

Divisional Playoffs
Carolina at Green Bay (7-22)
Denver at Cleveland (35-10)
Houston at San Diego (3-31)
Los Angeles at St. Louis (12-23)

All the home teams win, but for Cleveland. They always seem to have a great regular season and then struggle in the playoffs. Jim Brown had only 33 yards, and Len Dawson got picked off four times as Dean Look, Lionel Taylor, Cannonball Butler and the rest of the Broncos walk off with the win.

Conference Championships
Denver at San Diego (0-13)
Green Bay at St. Louis (21-16)

The Chargers just blanket the Broncos, holding Look to 109 yards passing and sacking him six times on their way to a solid victory. Meanwhile, St. Louis's perfect season comes to an end, Fran Tarkenton not able to get anywhere against the Green Bay defense, and John David Crow shut down as well. It's amazing they got any points really. Bart Starr throws for 325 yards, Paul Warfield catches 11 passes for 127 yards, Ray Nitschke has 10 tackles and 2 assists. More of the same from Green Bay.

Superbowl

San Diego at Green Bay

This is the first appearance for the Charges in the Super Bowl. They've been a consistently good team, but bounced from the playoffs by the Colts several times. With that dynasty seemingly on the wane the Chargers take advantage. This is the team of Jack Kemp, Al Hutson and Paul Lowe on offense, and Emil Karas and a great defensive line on defense.

Green Bay. This is their fourth Super Bowl appearance, but the only time their opponent hasn't been the Baltimore Colts. I thought they might drop a step after their free agent losses, but Starr has had an amazing year. The Packers are 1-2 in the big game.

You couldn't ask for a tighter game, the score is 9-6 San Diego going into the fourth quarter. San Diego tries to run but doesn't get much out of it. Green Bay hardly bothers, putting the game in Bart Starr's hands. The Packer pass rush is all over Kemp, sacking him five times and holding him to 161 yards passing. But it's turnovers which are the key to this game. Green Bay loses three fumbles, and then Charlie McNeil and Bob Zeman each pick off Bart Starr, giving San Diego a 5 turnover advantage. They score three field goals simply off of those turnovers, and then going into the fourth they finally pull off two long possessions, scoring touchdowns each time, to add 17points to the score and give themselves a 26-13 Super Bowl victory.

The officials are awed by Green Bay defensive tackle Henry Jordan's 3 sack performance, and give him the Bowl MVP. I'd say it should go to safety Charlie McNeil who not only picked Starr off, but forced a fumble as well, or to Zeman who recovered one. Definitely a team victory, and a sweet one for the Chargers. A tough loss for the Packers who are now 1-3 in the biggest game.


Season Awards

Most Valuable Player: John David Crow, RB, St. Louis
Offensive Player of the Year: John David Crow, RB, St. Louis
Defensive Player of the Year: Sam Huff, LB, New York (143 tackles, 49 assists, 5.5 sacks, 8 hurries, 4 interceptions, 10 passes defended)

Super Bowl MVP: Henry Jordan, DT, Green Bay

Rushing Title: John David Crow, St. Louis Cardinals, 1,756 yards (11 TDs)
Passing Title: Bart Starr, Green Bay, 4,577 yards (30 TDs)
Receiving Title: Paul Warfield, Green Bay, 1,426 yards (114 catches, 9 TDs)
Sack Title: Lamar Lundy, Los Angeles Rams, 15.5 sacks
Interception Title: Johnny Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs, Kermit Alexander, Miami Dolphins, Paul Krause, Cincinnati, 7 interceptions

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Gale Sayers, RB, Tennessee (1,193 yards, 3 TDs, 4.7 ypc)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Dick Butkus, LB, New Orleans (109 tackles, 35 assists, 2 interceptions)

Things That Happened This Season:
Bart Starr breaks George Blanda's passing record by quite a bit, Throwing for 4,577 yards on the season.
Earl Morrall breaks the single game passing record, throwing for 451 yards for Detroit.
The Green Bay Packers had the best passing attack in league history, but the St. Louis Cardinals showcased the best defense, setting a record by allowing only 9.4 points per game.