TUESDAY TIDBITS: "This Was a Victory for Pro Football"

By TJ Troup 

The NFL in 1972 changed the hash marks, and as the season progressed the running game became even more prominent than in years past. While there are teams in the league this year that will actually run the ball successfully; we all know that the completed forward pass is the key to success in the NFL in 2023. 

This begs the question:  Did anyone throw the ball well in 1972? 

John Unitas and Joe Namath combined to gain 872 yards passing on September 24, 1972. Watching "This Week in Pro Football" with Summerall & Brookshier we see long completion after long completion on the highlights. 

Will we ever see a passer average over 30 yards a completion again? 

Namath gained 496 on his 15 completions, many of them splitting the Colts cover-2 zone, or roll coverage zone. Six touchdown passes by Joe Willie led the Jets to victory 44-34.  

The Baltimore Colts allowed only 9 touchdown passes during the entire '71 season. Summerall remarks at the completion of the highlights of this game "This was a victory for pro football". Amen Pat, amen. 

Let's shift from the arm to the foot, shall we? Gay of the Colts had a game for the ages Sunday as he boomed 4 field goals of 50 yards or longer in the win over the Ravens. 

During the 1943 season only 16 field goals were kicked out of 68 attempted. The game of pro football lacked men who could use their foot to score points, but in the game today we see men who are amazingly accurate from long distances. 

Jim Bakken made the Cardinals football team in 1962 and did not play much, yet did see him at right safety for a few plays in my film study—he was not going to replace Larry Wilson and not sure even the Cardinals knew what position he would play in the future. 

Bakken earned a Pro Bowl berth in 1965, but down the stretch in '66 he had one of those games a kicker would just as soon forget. Jim made just one of seven in the loss to the expansion Falcons. September 24th, 1967 Bakken attempted nine field goals in Pittsburgh and MADE SEVEN to establish a new record. Bakken attempted 79 field goals over the course of '66 & '67 and got to see him play in the Pro Bowl game in January of '68.

Having been in the coaching profession at both the high school and community college level learned that teams must have talent to win, and men who can teach and motivate their players. Talent and motivation are two words that are very foreign to the Chicago Bears in 2023. 

We can all go online and read how sad the situation is for the cuddly little Bears these days. Last year after the victory over the Patriots the Bears were 3-4, while the Lions were 1-5, look at the records of these two teams from that point on. 

Dan Campbell (left), Matt Eberflus (right)

Dan Campbell is a fire eater who understands the game, and his players have responded, while Matt Eberflus will soon be unemployed. Never ever thought the Bears could sink lower than the last two years of Abe Gibron, yet here we are. In closing, how many games will the Bears win this year, and which team will lose to this team in hibernation?