Packers Stand Tall in Blanking Saints, 34-0

By Eric Goska

Carolers sing "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful"
as football fanatics arrive at Lambeau Field.
(photos by Eric Goska)

“When you throw a pass, three things can happen, and two of them are bad.”

That’s a quote attributed to Woody Hayes who coached at Ohio State for 28 years. Presumably he was talking about completions, incompletions and interceptions.

What Hayes neglected to mention is the bad that can occur prior to a pass being thrown: namely, a quarterback sack.

Credit the Packers with limiting that third bad. In fact, Green Bay has kept its passers clean at a rate seldom seen in the NFL’s least populous city.

The Packers did not give up a sack in blanking the Saints 34-0 Monday night. The playoff-clinching win marked the sixth time this season that Green Bay passers have avoided being deposited on their backsides when attempting to pass.

NFL passers have been sacked 1,178 times in 2024 for losses totaling 7,689 yards. On average, that’s 36.8 bad plays resulting in 240.3 lost yards for each of the 32 teams.

Packers passers have been sacked 16 times for 93 yards. They, and the Bills (14-63), are the only two clubs to have yielded fewer than 20.

Yes, Green Bay has become more run oriented. Only the Eagles (388) have attempted fewer passes than the Packers (424).

But even on a percentage basis, Green Bay ranks second having allowed a sack on 3.64 percent of its dropbacks. Buffalo is first at 2.95.

The league average is 6.99.

Chris Roth and Dave Schroeder ready for a remote broadcast.

Let’s put Mr. Jordan Love under the microscope. He’s launched 383 passes and has been sacked just 11 times for a percentage of 2.79.

Who has been better? Not Josh Allen (2.98) of the Bills. Not Jared Goff (5.41) of the Lions. Not Patrick Mahomes (6.22) of the Chiefs. Not Sam Darnold (8.89) of the Vikings.

Only Derek Carr (2.79) of the Saints is ahead of Love, and he leads by the slimmest of margins. Carr, who likely will not play again this season, was sacked just eight times despite dropping back 287 times.

Love tossed 28 passes at Lambeau Field Monday night without incident. Eight days earlier, he threw 27 in Seattle while staying clean.

Love has not been sacked since Za’Darius Smith got to him on Green Bay’s first offensive play in the Lions’ 34-31 win on Dec. 5. He has not been sacked in his last 75 dropbacks.

That’s far from the franchise record (175 by Brett Favre in 2004), but the accomplishment is worth noting.

Favre, by the way, is the only Green Bay passer who can compete with Love when it comes to avoiding sacks. His rate of 2.17 in 2004 is the team record, and his rate of 2.73 in 2007 is second.

Yards lost attempting to pass were first recorded in 1947. Since then, there have been 117 instances of a Packers quarterback throwing 50 or more passes in a season. Only Favre, Love and Bart Starr (2.90) in 1959 posted rates below three percent.

How has Love been so elusive? First, he has operated behind a line that has had the same starters in 14 of 15 games this season. Second, he possesses an uncanny knack to stay out of trouble, one that must have frustrated the Saints.

Case in point: New Orleans sent seven on third-and-goal from the two on Green Bay’s opening possession, but Love didn’t flinch. He flipped a scoring pass to Dontayvion Wicks with linebacker Demario Davis in his face and the Packers went up 7-0.

Near the end of the first quarter, Chase Young had hands on Love, but No. 10 dropped off a pass to Josh Jacob before the defensive end could wrap him up. The play gained eight, and Green Bay scored eight plays later for a 14-0 lead.

“You know, this is what doesn’t really show up on the stat sheet,” game analyst Troy Aikman said of the play. “Watch Jordan Love. You see this time after time. He’s just a quarterback who refuses to take sacks. He’s got really an unblocked guy who’s right in his face and he always knows where to go with the football.”

Further, Love knows when to give up on a play. Afforded plenty of time, he threw into the dirt when no one was open on the play prior to his toss to Jacobs. Then, in the second quarter, he did the same when safety Ugo Amadi blanketed his intended target tight end Tucker Kraft.

While throws like that lower a player’s completion percentage, they also prevent sacks. And Love, with games remaining against the Vikings and Bears, could become the first Packers player to lead the league in terms of lowest sack percentage (minimum 50 pass attempts) since Favre in 2004.

Standing Tall
Since 1947, Packers passers who were sacked at a rate less than 3.5 percent (minimum 50 pass attempts)

Rate     Player                 Season     Pass Attempts    Sacks      Dropbacks
2.17        Brett Favre             2004                    540                  12                    552
2.73        Brett Favre             2007                    535                  15                    550
2.79        Jordan Love           2024                    383                  11                    394
2.90       Bart Starr                1959                    134                    4                     138
3.23        Scott Tolzien          2013                     90                    3                       93
3.31        Jerry Tagge            1974                    146                     5                     151
3.31        Brett Favre             2006                   613                   21                    634

Why Calais Campbell 'Defines' a Pro Football Hall of Famer

By John Turney 

If there were a Hall of Fame for NFL players who did great things for their community and were all-around good men, Calais Campbell would be a first-ballot selection.

The 2008 second-round draft pick was the recipient of the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. That same year, Athletes in Action, an organization that mentors coaches and athletes. gave him the Bart Starr Award. In 2022, the NFL named him its winner of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, and this year the NFL Players Association chose him for its Alan Page Award for community service. 

Few NFL players have been recognized so widely for their philanthropy.

But the Pro Football Hall of Fame is not about what is done off the field -- good or bad. It's what is done on it, and Campbell has done that effectively and consistently as he nears the end of his 17th season. But has it been a Hall-of-Fame career? If 2024 is his final season, would he eventually have his 6-foot-8, 307-pound frame fitted for a Gold Jacket?

Hard to say.

That's because defensive linemen who often play inside don't always gain the attention from Hall voters as the outside stars -- i.e., the sack meisters. Heck, Kevin Williams was a five-time consensus All-Pro, and he can't even make a semifinalists' list. 

But Campbell may be different. 

For openers, he may not be finished, recently telling The Athletic's Zak Keefer that he may play "until the wheels fall off" ... and the wheels are still rolling, thank you very much. Campbell takes extraordinary care of his body, spending around a quarter of a million dollars a year on body specialists, a nutritionist and chef to get the most from his aging body.

And it's worked.

He's still playing like a Pro Bowler. So much so that at this year's trade deadline, the Baltimore Ravens tried to acquire him to bolster their defensive front. Campbell played there from 2020-22, so they were familiar with his skill set. But Miami coach Mike McDaniel refused. to let him go.

At that time, the Dolphins were trying to dig out of a hole and felt that, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returning from concussion protocol, they not only had a shot to be successful; but would have a better chance with a solid defense that included Campbell.

"He's like the LeBron James of the NFL right now," teammate Jonnu Smith said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "As far as his age and the production that he brings to the game, (he's) still playing at a high level. I mean, the guy is 1,000 years old and playing like he's 21."

Exaggerations aside, Smith is right.

For example, last Sunday he took down Texans' running back Joe Mixon two yards behind the line of scrimmage for his 105th career stuff (a tackle for loss on a run or pass play other than a sack ... and that's a lot. According to researcher/historian Nick Webster, few players ever reach triple digits. But, when combined with 109-1/2 sacks, they bring Campbell's career numbers to 214-1/2 plays behind the line scrimmage.

But that is not all.

Having 100 sacks and 100 stuffs puts Campbell in rarefied air. Webster's figures show he's one of five defensive linemen to achieve it -- that is if you include outside linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs as a lineman. And the others? Deacon Jones, Bruce Smith, J.J. Watt and Alan Page.

That sounds like a career worthy of the Hall of Fame.

If you don't like that, then go by the official tackles for loss (TFL) stat that was introduced in 1999. It's not as comprehensive and is scored in an odd way -- let's just say I don't love it -- but it's useful. And it's official. So some like it.

In that statistic, Campbell is third all-time with 185 (and counting) TFLs. Only Suggs and J.J. Watt have more. He tops Aaron Donald, Julius Peppers, Jared Allen and everybody else who played this century.

That also sounds like the stuff of a Hall-of-Famer.

Football analytics site Pro Football Focus (PFF) this year ranks him sixth in the NFL at his position. Sixth. At the age of 38. It's the ninth time Campbell has been in PFF's top 10 in his 17 years, with a handful of others when he was close. In 2018, for instance, he ranked first. In 2016 and 2017, he was second. And in 2019, he was third.

Perhaps not now but in six, eight or 10 years -- when Campbell's case is presented to the Hall's board of selectors -- voters may pay more attention to analytics sites like PFF or NextGen Stats as the group gets younger and is receptive to more than just counting stats. If they do, Campbell's grades and ranking will sound Hall-of-Fame worthy.

One group the current board is receptive to is Proscout, Inc. (PSI), an independent scouting firm that several NFL teams use for personnel evaluations and other insights. PSI's work has been a consistent resource for voters since 1994 when former Sports Illustrated writer and Hall voter Paul Zimmerman utilized the expertise of PSI's founder, the late Mike Giddings, to strengthen the Hall-of-Fame case for cornerback Jimmy Johnson.

It helped. Johnson was enshrined in 1994. And it helped the cases of other players who now own Gold Jackets.

The ratings by PSI on Campbell are similar to PFF's. Seven times it has him in what are called "single digits," which means among the top nine, and another five where it evaluates him as "blue," its highest ranking.

Again, that sounds like the stuff of the Hall of Fame.

A few years ago Giddings said that Campbell "defines a Hall of Famer. Tall, fast, strong, moving all downs. (He's) blue vs. TE, T, G, C." That last sentence is telling. It says that Campbell excels vs. all those positions -- tight end, tackle, etc. -- which means he's elite on the inside or out, over whomever a coach wants to play him.

But that's what Campbell has done throughout his career -- play multiple positions and play them well.

With the Cardinals, he was an end in a 3-4 defense. But when he would move inside for passing situations, it was over a guard or even a center. Later, after he signed a free-agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was a 4-3 end. But, again, on passing downs, he slid inside to defensive tackle.

In the last five years with the Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins, you could find him lining up everywhere, without the structure of his early years. With the Falcons last year, he played 63 percent of the time on the edge, with the rest more to the middle. This year, it's more inside than out. 

With Campbell, you just don't know where he'll line up ... and that uniqueness is part of his greatness.

"In the run game," he told the Palm Beach Post, "I am more dominant at the defensive end position. In the pass game, I am more dominant in the interior position ... but I also feel like I am pretty good in all space."

None of that was lost on Hall-of-Fame voters when they chose him to the all-decade of the 2010s, along with J.J. Watt, Julius Peppers and Cameron Jordan. The AP voted him first-team All-Pro in 2017 and second-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2016, while the Pro Football Writers voted him Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, a year when he was just six votes shy of winning the AP award.

Additionally, he was a Pro Bowler five times and an alternate once.

That also sounds like the stuff of the Hall of Fame.

The University of Miami product currently has over 900 combined tackles and is credited with 63 passed defensed. He's also blocked nine place kicks and defensively scored five times, with three touchdowns and twice on safeties. Those kinds of numbers, plus the sacks, are rare -- and Hall-worthy

By the end of the year, he will have played over 260 games, with over 240 starts, and that's third all-time in both. Plus, his 17 seasons are exceeded by only three defensive linemen. 

His longevity is certainly the stuff of a Hall-of-Famer, too.

But will it be? It should. 

Calais Campbell is one of those players who can stop the run and rush the passer ... who can knock down a pass or a field goal ... and who is tough, durable and a leader. Guys like that deserve to have their careers recognized with a bronze bust in Canton. 

"With his passion leadership and toughness," said Ravens' GM Eric DeCosta, "Calais has undoubtedly produced a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career.

Now you know why.

Career stats through Week 15, 2024—

Among Rookie Tight Ends, Bears' Mike Ditka Still Reigns as 'The Man'

By John Turney

When it comes to NFL tight ends Mike Ditka is still The Man. For 64 years, all tight ends who entered the NFL failed to top two records he set back in 1961. 

It doesn't matter that the length of the NFL schedule increased from 14 to 16 games in 1978 and then to 17 in 2021. It doesn't matter that the NFL has become more and more pass-oriented with each year, either. Nor does it matter that the passing game is more complex, with quarterbacks more accurate than ever. Tight ends entering the NFL cannot break Ditka's rookie receiving records.

He still holds the league's rookie benchmarks for most receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. And he did it in 1961. 

That year, the future Hall-of-Famer caught 56 passes for 1,076 yards and 12  touchdowns. He also had a hefty 19.2-yard average per catch -- not a small thing in and of itself. All were the most for what was then a recently created position in pro football. 

His receptions record held until 1988 when Keith Jackson, then a rookie tight end for the Eagles, broke it with 81 catches. That record lasted until last season when Lions' rookie Sam LaPorta topped it with 86 receptions. Then it was broken again this year by Raiders' rookie phenom Brock Bowers. 

He has 90 catches with three games to go and is on pace to finish with 109. However, even with 34 more receptions than Ditka in 1961, Bowers still trails Ditka by 108 receiving yards. That's because Bowers averages fewer than 11 yards a catch; Ditka was a hair over 19 per grab.

Big difference.

Yep, Ditka is still The Man.

Bowers will eclipse Ditka's record this weekend or next, and surely by the end of the season ... but he won't have done it in 14 games. Over a 17-game schedule, Ditka's average per game would translate to just over 1,300 yards. 

Bowers won't be close to 12 touchdown receptions, either, unless he scores nine times in the next three games (he has four now), which is next to impossible. 

Thus, Ditka will remain The Man.

The TD reception record is so noteworthy that only two rookie tight ends have come close to challenging it -- Sam LaPorta last year and Rob Gronkowski in 2010. Each had 10. In fact, Ditka's 12 TD catches are surpassed by only four rookie players in NFL history ... regardless of position. 

Randy Moss had 17 in 1998 and Ja'Mar Chase (2021), John Jefferson (1978) and Billy Howton (1953) are tied for second with 13. All are outside receivers. The only one who occasionally would've played close to the line of scrimmage would've been Howton.

When records are challenged -- especially when they go way back into history -- they can teach us about how the game's evolved and give us reason to reflect on what and how it happened. But they do more than that. They make us remember that Mike Ditka was more than the coach of the Super Bowl XX champion Chicago Bears.

In this case, history highlights how significant a player Mike Ditka was when he emerged from the University of Pittsburgh as Chicago's first-round draft pick. There were tight ends before Ditka, including the guy he replaced -- Willard Dewveall -- who was pretty good. Even so, tight end was a relatively new position in pro football, with some teams not using one. 

In the 1950s, teams began flanking halfbacks outside the ends and splitting out one end as a basic formation instead of motioning a back outside the ends, who were "tight" ... or on the line of scrimmage. It was effective, and teams added it to their offensive schemes.

Eventually, it became permanent.

This explains why Ditka was not an AP All-Pro in 1961. The AP ballot didn't have a slot for a tight end, so voters had to pick two ends, a flanker, fullback and halfback. Ends voted as All-Pro outside receivers were the kind voters were used to -- pass catchers streaking downfield, not those close to the line of scrimmage, working the middle and spending much of his time blocking.  

However, the NEA All-Pro poll was more reflective of how football was played. In its polling of NFL players, Ditka was a first-team All-Pro. That's because there was a slot for him in a poll structured by astute writer Murray Olderman, who recognized the changes in NFL positions. "Mike (Ditka) is the tight end," he wrote, and, for the first time, ends were designated as "tight" and "split."

That's how Ditka became the first All-Pro "tight end." He was so far ahead of the curve that a position on a major "all" team had to be created for him. Talk about changing the game.

Now, let's jump to this year.

Bowers has a legitimate shot of becoming an AP first-team All-Pro, but he's no lock. He must contend with San Francisco's George Kittle, who -- having made it twice (including last year) -- is more entrenched. However, if Bowers does, he becomes just the fourth rookie tight end to make the team, following Charle (spelled Charlie at the time) Young in 1973, Keith Jackson in 1988 and Jeremy Shockey in 2002

Nevertheless, I count the NEA All-Pro team, as it's recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and "Total Football: Official Encyclopedia of the NFL." It includes Ditka in the list of rookie tight ends who were first-team All-Pros, and it should.

Because Mike Ditka was The Man.

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Free Four Seconds"

By TJ Troup 

How many coaches like and enjoy being around officials? Yes, that is a loaded question; and would relish any and all of you responding. Receiver catches the ball in play and is tackled, why does the clock stop? 

The Saints got the gift of the year, and with those four free seconds, spiked the ball, then scored. Imagine if the game went to overtime, and Washington lost? Sammy Baugh would be turning over in his grave. 

As a former longtime coach you might think that I hate all officials, and you would be wrong. Worked a summer football camp with and for Laird Hayes. We got along well, and in conversation we even discussed some of the sideline banter between coaches and officials. Lots of laughter, then we had a beer. 

Yesterday was Don Hultz birthday, and this past Sunday is the anniversary of his legendary game for the Vikings. Halfway through the '61 campaign Jim Marshall was moved from left to right defensive end, and Mr. Marshall managed to stay at right defensive end for Minnesota for a few seasons. 

Bet you knew that? Marshall was replaced at left end by Jim Leo, and Leo held the position for all of '62. He never played another down of pro football after '62. Replacing him is an undrafted rangy defensive end named Don Hultz, and his rookie season of '63 is one for the ages. 

Watching film of him he is learning on the job, and he is adequate shedding blocks and defending off tackle plays, and helping on sweeps. 

Hultz is excellent at pressuring the quarterback and even takes them down at times. Those days in the play by play is listed as "times tackling the passer", and we all know the Deacon coined the term "sack". Fortunately, the Minnesota Vikings had a researcher named Scott Grams who compiled individual sacks for their record books so we know learned Hultz had 10-1/2 sacks in 1963. 

Though Minnesota is still not considered a strong defense due to lack of talent at some positions, the Vikings hustle and hit for the Dutchman, and knock the ball loose during the season. 

Hultz breaks Joe Schmidt's record for most opponent fumble recoveries in a season with NINE! The odds of anyone breaking this record—well, just not gonna happen. 

Five times Don Hultz records a sack and recovers an opponent fumble in the same game! Imagine the contract for a defender in this era who breaks or even ties Hultz record? 

December the 15th of '63 and the Norsemen defeat the Eagles, as Hultz records 2-1/2 sacks, recovers an opponent fumble, and returns an interception 35 yards for a touchdown. As stated a game for the ages. Hultz reward for his superb season is to be traded to Philadelphia. 

He is replaced at left defensive end by a moose! Mr. Carl Eller. 

Many times have shared the failures of the Elias Sports Bureau, and their inability to be accurate historically, yet that is not my goal today. 

This is a time to celebrate an achievement; Don Hultz your place in history will remain forever.

Cruising in First, the Pack Scores Big Differential

 By Eric Goska

Coach Matt LaFleur's Packers are the best of the best in the first quarter.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Every journey begins with a first step.

More often than not, the Packers have been getting off on the right foot.

Green Bay returned to its first-quarter dominance Sunday night in Seattle. The Green and Gold outgained and outpointed the Seahawks in the opening 15 minutes, cruising to a 30-13 win in which they never trailed.

As he often does, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur chose to go on offense after winning the coin toss. Most teams would have deferred.

LaFleur wanted to make a statement: Get a touchdown and play with a lead.

Quarterback Jordan Love and his offensive mates obliged. They counted TDs on each of their first two possessions, going up 14-0 before the Seahawks could get beyond midfield.

The Packers drove 63 yards in 10 plays on their first outing. Josh Jacobs crashed in from a yard out.

The Packers moved 80 yards in 8 plays on their second outing. Romeo Doubs cashed in on a 13-yard pass from Love.

Not until Geno Smith connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 25 on the second-to-last play of the opening period did Seattle cross into Packers territory.

Green Bay (128 yards) more than doubled Seattle’s first-quarter output (60). It amassed 10 first downs to 3 for the Seahawks and controlled the ball for 10 minutes, 30 seconds.

That was quite a bounce back from their effort in Detroit. At Ford Field, Green Bay managed just 17 first-quarter yards and held the ball for a meager 4:29.

Sunday’s game marked the 12th time the Pack has outgained their opponent in the first quarter this season. Only the Chargers and 49ers (10 times each) are in the same ballpark.

Jack Jacobs has rushed for 421 yards
in the first quarter.

If the season consisted solely of first quarters, Green Bay would be world champs. What follows are the categories in which they rank first followed by the club in second place.

• Most offensive plays: 227 (Tampa Bay 220)
• Most yards gained: 1,367 (New Orleans 1,336)
• Most rushing attempts: 130 (New Orleans 114)
• Most rushing yards: 713 (Washington 573).
• Fewest offensive plays allowed: 145 (Tampa Bay 164)
• Fewest yards allowed: 773 (Miami 845)
• Fewest rushing attempts allowed: 63 (Tampa Bay 71)
• Fewest pass plays allowed: 82 (Miami 85)

In gaining a league-high 1,367 yards and allowing a league-low 773, the Packers own the greatest positive differential in first-quarter production at plus-594. Tampa Bay is second at plus-421.

Not since 2014 (plus-874) has Green Bay been so top heavy in the early going after 14 games. That team and the clubs of 1995 (plus-680) and 1993 (plus-609) are the only other aggregations in Packers history to have been better than plus-594 since the league expanded to 14 games in 1961.

Ball control has been a factor in this gaping disparity. On average, the Packers have held the ball for 9:17 versus 5:43 for their opponents. Eleven times has Green Bay held the ball longer than the competition in the first quarter.

One benefit to putting in the work early has meant the Pack has been out front for the last 50 minutes-plus in six of its 10 wins: Colts (55:30), Titans (51:15), Cardinals (53:55), 49ers (52:35), Dolphins (57:00) and the Seahawks (54:19). Surely, the club has gained experience protecting a lead.

Next up for Green Bay: the Saints (5-9) owners of the third largest first-quarter yardage differential (plus-381) this season. New Orleans’ outlay of 1,336 first-quarter yards is second only to the Packers and it has controlled the first-quarter clock in five of its last six games.

Jump Start
The six teams that have outgained their opponents by more than 250 yards in the first quarter.

                                     Offense            Defense
Team                    Plays-Yards      Plays-Yards       Difference
Packers                       227-1367               145-773                   +594
Buccaneers                220-1327               164-906                   +421
Saints                          217-1336               181-955                    +381
49ers                           198-1224               180-854                   +370
Chargers                    189-1157                181-854                    +303
Vikings                       170-1192                195-915                    +277

PIGSKIN PREVIEW: The Eagles Take on the Steelers

By TJ Troup 

Once upon a time—no, this is not the beginning of a fairy tale—the Eagles and Steelers merged for one season (1943). The story for today will begin in 1947. These two teams tied for the Eastern Conference title and had a special play-off game. Since 1947, the Eagles and Steelers have met 59 times. Philadelphia has won 36, lost 21 times, and tied twice. 

Since the merger, the Eagles have won nine of fourteen games, and this is during an era when the Steelers have had some of the best teams in the league. Starting in 1979, both teams have earned a play-off berth 13 times in the same year, including last year. 

The last time Pittsburgh won in Philadelphia was 1965, and no doubt all of you remember that game? Right? Oh, some of you were not around in those days? 

Why was only 59 years ago? 

The Steelers are winless, and the Eagles have won twice as they enter Franklin Field. Philadelphia leads 7-0, and have the ball deep in their own territory. The best player on the Eagles, halfback Timmy Brown starts on a sweep to the right, and left linebacker John Campbell knocks the ball loose. 

The pigskin is quickly picked up by left corner Willie Daniel and he scoots 17 yards for a touchdown. King Hill has driven the Eagles into Steeler territory and throws to Brown, but safety Jim Bradshaw not only intercepts he returns the theft 82 yards for a touchdown (one of three interceptions by Bradshaw that October afternoon). 

Bill Nelsen adds to the Pittsburgh lead in the second half as he flips to fullback Mike Lind in the end zone. The worst team in Steeler history is ahead by 13 points in the 4th quarter? 

Final score: Pittsburgh 20 Philadelphia 14. 

The Steelers gained but 132 yards in total offense, while the Eagles amassed 388, but when you turn the ball over five times and two of the turnovers are defensive scores—well you just are not gonna win very often. An aspect of that game that we all hope for tomorrow is the damn zebras controlling the tempo of the game. In that game in '65 just one penalty for five yards! 

How refreshing; let the warriors battle and keep the hankies in your pocket. 

During tomorrow's telecast, we will hear all about the quarterbacks and how both teams are winning. Blah, blah, blah ... how about something insightful? 

Does the Steeler defense adjust their alignments to limit Saquon Barkley? Are combination coverages the plan for the improved Steeler secondary since the Eagles have talented and productive receivers. 

T.J. Watt

Does Vic Fangio continue to build the confidence of his young defenders who are also playing strong team pass defense by playing more man coverage on Steeler receivers? 

Vic Fangio, Eagles Defensive Coordinator 

Finally, my last question for all of you—Ready? Do you have plenty of Smokehouse Almonds and Dr. Pepper for the game?

Looking Back at the 1971 Topps All-Star Team

 by Jeffrey J. Miller

Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., preeminent manufacturer of football (and other sports and entertainment) trading cards, had been including special cards of star players (known as inserts) in their sets for several years, but it wasn't until 1971 that the company produced its first All-Pro (actually designated "All-Star") subset. The cards of the players selected were included in the regular set but distinguished from rank-and-file cards by the two-tone color scheme featuring a blue border on the top half of the cards and red on the bottom half, and the designation “ALL-STAR” at the bottom right-hand corner. Within the set, players from AFC teams featured red borders while the NFC featured blue. The complete 1971 set featured 263 standard cards, 35 of which were marked as All-Stars. Of those 35, 20 were from the NFC and 15 from the AFC.

So how exactly did Topps choose its All-Star team, and how did they arrive at the odd total of 35? Well, it appears the company used the All-Conference selections named by The Sporting News magazine at the end of the 1970 season. The one common thread tying all 35 members of Topps' team together is that they all appeared on The Sporting News' team that year. No other publication or service naming honor teams that year (Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly, United Press International, Pro Football Writers of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association) included every player ultimately selected to Topps' team.         

Oddly, not every player selected to The Sporting News All-Pro team in 1970 was featured on a Topps card in 1971, which is how the All-Star subset wound up totaling just 35 cards. The set included two quarterbacks (Bob Griese and John Brodie), three running backs (Floyd Little, MacArthur Lane and Larry Brown), three wide receivers (Paul Warfield, Dick Gordon and the 49ers' Gene Washington), one tight end (Charlie Sanders), two offensive tackles (Jim Tyrer and Ernie McMillan) two guards (Tom Mack and Gale Gillingham), one center (Jim Otto), four outside linebackers (Andy Russell, Bobby Bell, Chuck Howley and Chris Hanburger), two middle linebackers (Dick Butkus and Willie Lanier), two defensive ends (Deacon Jones and Bubba Smith), four defensive tackles (Rich Jackson, Joe Greene, Alan Page and Merlin Olsen), Four cornerbacks (Jimmy Johnson, Willie Brown, Rick Volk and Roger Wehrli), three safeties Johnny Robinson, Larry Wilson and Willie Wood), and two placekickers (Fred Cox and Jan Stenarud).  No punters were included.

The players from The Sporting News All-Conference teams who were not honored with the inclusion of an All-Star card in the Topps set were somehow not even afforded the dignity of having even a regular card in the set. Those players included Marlin Briscoe, Warren Wells, Bob Trumpy, Winston Hill, Ron Yary, Ed Budde, Gene Upshaw, Ed Flanagan, Jess Phillips, Carl Eller, Tom Keating, Jim Marsalis, and punters Julian Fagan and David Lee.   

Surely Topps could have made room to include the other Sporting News All Pros by applying just a little creativity. For example, Topps saw fit to include a card of Buffalo wide receiver Haven Moses but not Marlin Briscoe, the Bills' only All-Pro selection from 1970! Wouldn't it have made more sense to include Briscoe before Moses? How about swapping Jets guard Dave Herman for tackle Winston Hill?  We could go on ....

Overall, the Topps' All-Star card concept of 1971 was a fun one though put together in a slapdash fashion. The company shelved the idea for a couple of years but returned with its own All-Pro Team cards in 1974. How would they do? That is a column for another day.   

Here is the rest of the 1971 Topps All Star subset ... 

Images of Topps cards courtesy of our good friends at the Vintage Football Card Gallery (https://www.footballcardgallery.com)

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "Keep Tradition Alive, by Breaking With Tradition"

By TJ Troup 

There are times when the struggle to find a title for my stories is challenging. Quoting men that are respected is always an option, thus the title for Part II of the saga of the 1953 Rams comes from Steve Sabol. Part I is HERE.

Since the Rams have beaten the Lions in the Coliseum they are in first place at the halfway mark of the season, and will begin the second half of the campaign at home against San Francisco. 

The high-powered Los Angeles offense is coordinated by the head coach Hampton Pool and the Rams align in the standard formations of this era. Slot, pro, and double tight, while the backs are aligned left, right, full house, and all of these have subtle adjustments that the Dutchman will use as he takes his boys with horns on their helmets up and down the field. 

Since he was mentioned let's begin with the offensive backfield; though rookie Rudy Bukich plays some, this is the first time Norm Van Brocklin has a team of his own (Waterfield is retired). The Dutchman's ability to quickly read a defense on his drops, his precision accuracy, and very quick release is a daunting task for opponents pass rush, and pass defenders. He has one of his best seasons, yet would not be chosen first-team All-Pro since Otto Graham has the best year of his career. 

Norm Van Brocklin

Page 53 of the Rams media guide from 1964 lists that Van Brocklin had a streak of 85 consecutive passes without an interception in 1953—oops! This is not accurate (shame on the Rams historians), and Jim Hardy's record of 114 remained intact. T

om McCormick and Brad Myers get some carries, but the balanced Los Angeles offense has a very talented trio in halfback Skeets Quinlan, Tank Younger, and defending rushing champion Dan Towler. After five games all three men are in the top ten in rushing in the league! Quinlan is lightning-quick, very adept at using his blockers on sweeps, and is a capable receiver. Younger has power and speed and is a punishing blocker.

 Early in the year the Tank proves to be a viable option as a receiver. Towler is not much of a factor as a receiver, but he is without a doubt a force to be reckoned with when he lugs the leather. Running between the tackles, oh yeah....he hits the hole hard, and off-tackle bursts, and sweeps, he has surprising speed for a big man. Van Brocklin, Younger, and Towler are all chosen for the Pro Bowl. 

Tom Fears has been virtually unstoppable as a possession receiver for the last five years, but he deals with injury during '53, and during an eight-game stretch catches only two passes. Fears when healthy remains a constant in that he always finds a way to get open, and finishes the season strongly. 

Bob "Seabiscuit" Boyd moves into the starting line-up at right end, and this thoroughbred gets open deep often. Boyd is still learning thus his other routes are a work in progress. Not only does he play defensive back at times, late in the game against the Cardinals he comes in at left defensive end to attempt to pressure Charlie Trippi. 

Bob Boyd catches a 70-yard touchdown pass against the Beats

in am October game in Los Angeles

Elroy Hirsch moves from starting right end to left end with Fears injury, and this gifted athlete can run every route. His speed, moves, and cutting ability have him amongst the league leaders in receiving all year. 

Hirsch latches onto at least one pass every game, and he also is a long-distance weapon. He is chosen for the Pro Bowl, and is first-team All-Pro. Verda Smith—Vitamin T., to all of you, is in his last year, and he is still a viable option as a receiver coming out of the backfield or aligned at flanker. Though overlooked, an in-depth film study shows the Los Angeles Rams offensive line is the strength of this team. 

Starting at left offensive tackle is Bob Fry and he moves his feet well on pass blocking, and has the quickness to pull and lead sweeps to his side. Fry may not be the best drive blocker, but he more than gets the job done. 

The left offensive guard is Duane Putnam, and he has future stardom written all over him. He may not have gotten all-pro votes, but he is outstanding at pulling on sweeps, and he is also adept at positioning himself when the Rams run counter plays. He battles bigger men as a pass blocker and is usually successful.

 Late in the year, John Hock starts a game at left guard, and the final two games of the year Dick Daugherty starts at left guard. Daugherty starts often at right guard, and the lean tough guy is athletic, quick, and when asked plays left linebacker on defense. 

Every team needs men who earn the respect of their teammates for their versatility, and passion for playing. Los Angeles has such a man in Harry Thompson. He starts at right guard opening day, overcomes injury during the season, is valuable in the kicking game covering punts and kick-offs, and is a combative warrior when he plays defensive end. 

Bud McFadin had an outstanding year as a combination middle guard/linebacker, and he starts the final two games of the year at right offensive guard. He even receives votes for all-pro, yet not quite sure what dumbass writer would vote for a man who played so little on offense? T

Tom Dahms starts all twelve games at right offensive tackle, and he is the best drive blocker on the team, and is adequate as a pass blocker. Finally, at center is Leon McLaughlin. The book "Los Angeles Rams" by Bob Oates lists a section for awards; the team voted Hirsch offensive lineman of the year, but Ye Old Rams voted McLaughlin Most Valuable Player! Leon handles middle guards with aplomb as a pass blocker, and is able to cut off and block linebackers and lineman both with his quickness. 

Coaching this group is Bill Battles, and while he is never mentioned since he was with Los Angeles such a short time, he really proved his acumen as an offensive line coach. Los Angeles allows the least amount of sack yardage in the league with just 107 yards. Combine that with the impressive amount of yards gained rushing—just one helluva year for the Rams offensive line. 

 Ben Agajanian struggled all year with his consistency kicking field goals, but Van Brocklin was excellent as a punter, and the return game belonged to record-setting Woodley Lewis. He led the league in number of returns and yards on kickoffs and also yards on punt returns. 

As mentioned in closing last week's saga the exciting conclusion of the Rams '53 begins in the Coliseum against the hated San Francisco 49ers. 

Los Angeles scores first with a Ben Agajanian field goal, but the Niners respond with Tittle rolling right and finding flexed tight end right Billy Wilson open in the endzone. San Francisco 7 Los Angeles 3.  Tittle screens to Perry, and the Jet motors 60 yards up the right sideline to score. San Francisco 14 Los Angeles 3. 

Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch

The long pass to Boyd results in a pass interference penalty, and Hirsch beats Powers easily to take Van Brocklin's toss in the corner, and the Rams are back in the game. Both teams kick field goals, but the Rams high powered run game is in full force today and Towler punches it in. Los Angeles takes the lead back 20-17. 

The 49ers come right back and score as Tittle sneaks in, and the lead changes once again. When the Niners get the ball back Tittle again rolls right and throws back over the middle—but the Night Train pilfers his pass, and the Rams start towards the 49er goal line. The San Francisco coaching staff made the decision to attempt to limit Van Brocklin and his effective and productive passing game. Repeated viewing of the film shows very deep drops by the 49ers defensive backs and linebackers. 

Though Jack Manley is listed as a linebacker; for this game he is basically the right corner when on the field, when he is replaced by Powers, same alignment, and even Hal Ledyard the backup quarterback fills in. 

You see a deep triangle of Bruney Arenas and Ledyard taking away Hirsch deep to the offensive left side, with Hardy Brown walked off to take the back out of the backfield. This leaves Rex Berry alone in man coverage on the as the left corner on defense. We see Big Bob St. Clair come in at left defensive end to rush the passer in a game where neither team records a sack. 

Back to the saga—Tank Younger sweeps right and goes 39 yards for the go-ahead score. Los Angeles 27 San Francisco 24. 

Can the first-place Rams hold on? Well, if the Ram defense is going to do their job they must stop royalty. Hugh McElhenny has done very little today as a runner, but late in the game he is flanked right as a receiver, and beats Dwyer to catch the lofted spiral by Tittle for 31 yards. Perry swings out of the backfield and as he is assigned the Night Train comes up to take him, thus Soltau running his corner pattern is wide open to catch the winning 19-yard touchdown pass. Niners 31 Rams 27. 

Quinlan, Younger and Towler gain 268 rushing, but Tittle passes for 301. Los Angeles begins a three-game road trip, yet this is not going to be difficult since the three teams they face are among the worst in the league. The Rams can return home for their final two games at the Coliseum if they can just win on the road, and as Vin Tanner states in "The Magnificent Seven" "If brother, if". 

 The Chicago Cardinals have been outscored 210 to 109, and are 2-12 in their last fourteen home games. Before a crowd of 26,674 at Comiskey on a cold Chicago day the Cardinals jump out to a 17-0 lead. How in the hell did the Cardinals achieve this? Well, gonna tell ya! Root flips to Johnny O. and he sprints down the sideline for 62 yards. 

Pat Summerall kicks a short field goal, and when the Ram receiver slips and falls—the Dutchman's pass sails right to lean Ray Ramsey. The Cardinal safety dashes down the sideline and dives into the end zone. 

Can Los Angeles come back? You betcha. Second quarter and Agajanian kicks a 27-yard field goal, and later Quinlan scores on a dive left from two yards out. Lewis kicks off and Billy Cross on the return has his armed hooked by Dick Daugherty and the ball pops loose. Well, by this time you all know who will be Johnny-on-the-Spot to grab the pigskin—why none other than the Night Train. Lane returns 26 yards and folks we are tied at 17. 

The Cardinals move the ball but Summerall misses two field goal. When you watch enough historical film you see plays that originated from this forgotten era. Example you ask? Van Brocklin tosses out to Quinlan for what looks like the beginning of a sweep left. Quinlan stops and throws back to Van Brocklin who calmly locates his receiver and pitches downfield to Hecker for a completion. 

During the '60s and early '70s you see this play done by the Baltimore Colts. The Rams drive goalward and score as Towler out of a fullhouse backfield goes off right tackle to score. 

Time for the Ram defense to earn their paycheck, but this Cardinal team is now piloted by a new quarterback. Earlier in the game Charlie Trippi was at halfback, but with nothing to lose the Cardinals align in a spread formation with huge line splits to spread out the Los Angeles defensive line and linebackers. Trippi moves very well, and either runs or passes. Trippi gains 96 rushing on 15 carries, and completes 11 passes for another 117 yards. 

Charlie T. is not only entertaining to watch, he is in complete control of the situation, and the Rams cannot stop him or his receivers. Chicago is on the Ram seventeen-yard line, and Trippi whistles a pass to halfback Don Paul in the end zone. While a tie is not a loss, Los Angeles's margin for error is now razor-thin. Next stop Baltimore on a foggy almost hound of the Baskervilles afternoon before 27, 268 rabid Colt fans. 

Baltimore scores first on a Huzvar run. Bob Boyd gains 57 on a long completion, but Agajanian misses the field goal. Colts in spread formation with George Taliaferro at the controls. Did Baltimore decide to do this after watching Trippi the week before? 

At one point in the game on an incompletion right corner Don Shula confronts Tom Fears out of bounds, this game even has combative theater. Los Angeles aligned in a full house t-formation and Towler sweeps right and goes 73 to pay dirt. Baltimore 7 Los Angeles 7. 

Dan Towler's 73-yard touchdown run in Baltimore in heavy fog

To take the lead the Colts' George Taliaferro escapes the pocket and dashes down the sideline 43 yards to score. Baltimore 13 Los Angeles 7. Colts make a goal-line stand but fumble the ball back to the Rams. The Colts stop'em again. 

Now in the 4th quarter, Van Brocklin finds a wide-open Vitamin T. Smith who is flanked right for 26 yards and the lead. This will be Smith's last touchdown as a pro. Taliaferro's underthrown pass in highjacked by Herb Rich, and the former Colt gets a convoy down the sideline for 53 yards and the score. The remainder of the game is filled with turnovers, and Towler setting a new Rams record for yards gained rushing with 205. 

The Ram defense allowed only one man to gain over 100 yards rushing in a game in '53, and George Taliaferro gained 136. Back to the Windy City and the Bears. This is a team in transition, and lacks the talent to be contenders, but Clark Shaughnessy is a master of mystical defensive alignments, and he knows that he must limit Towler. 

Deacon Dan gained 163 yards on 51 carries in the first four games of the year, but his last five games? The Deacon has powered, plowed, and hammered his way for 569 yards on just 77 carries (7.38 a carry). 

Los Angeles breaks on top as Fears aligned at tight end left gains 31 yards on a crossing route. Smith gains 21 on a sweep, and from the five-yard line; fullback Tank Younger out of a fullhouse t-formation scores. Bears punt, Rams lose the first of four fumbles, but Blanda misses a field goal. 

Rams punt, and George Blanda with superb pass protection all afternoon completes to Dooley for 13, and then finds Billy Stone wide damn open on a well-thrown pass for 29 yards and the tying score. 2nd quarter, and the Night Train is human after all, he misses the pass and Dooley latches onto the ball and scores. 

Rams have lost another fumble and Leon Campbell pounds up the middle for 31 yards, only to fumble, and the ball rolls over the goal line. Bill McColl recovers in the end zone. Bears 21 Rams 7. Van Brocklin attacks the suspect Bear secondary with 17 completions out of 31 attempts and gains 223 yards. 

Chicago in a gap-control defense allows the Rams 141 yards rushing. Towler carries only twice all afternoon. Now it's the 3rd quarter and Van Brocklin tosses to Younger for 15 yards and the touchdown. Chicago 21 Los Angeles 14. Blanda has had success throwing to Billy Stone all afternoon (99 yards on 5 catches), and Blanda finishes off the drive with a 15-yard field goal. 

Can the Rams score twice and pull this game out of the fire? Not today. Fears scores on a 7-yard reception, but the Lions now have a commanding lead in the Western Conference. Detroit is 8-2, San Francisco 7-3, and Los Angeles is 6-3-1. 

Winning just once on the road is going to cost Los Angeles dearly. They need help from other teams to win the West. Saturday afternoon and the Rams destroyed the Colts in the Coliseum 45-2. Since the Lions have won, they have clinched a spot in the playoffs. 

A Detroit victory over the Giants on the season's final day clinches the conference title, as the 49ers must win and hope for a New York upset to force a tie and a special conference showdown. Los Angeles is playing for pride, but here come the Packers. 

Los Angeles has beaten Green Bay five consecutive times in the Coliseum. Before a small crowd of just 23,069 the Rams score four times in the first quarter, and lead 26-7. First play of the second quarter Rote launches an a bomb to Billy Howton for 80 yards and a touchdown. 

The Rams are not going to let the lowly Packers beat them? Right? 

The rest of the second quarter is chock full of turnovers. During the third quarter, Green Bay drives 71 yards in 12 plays, all on the ground, and now Fred Cone attempts a 34-yard field goal. BLOCKED! And the ball is bouncing back towards the Packer goal, and of course sprinting to the ball grabbing it at the Green Bay thirty-yard line is Night Train Lane and he scores in his last game as a Ram. 

The fourth quarter is also turnover-filled. Los Angeles gains 463 yards in total offense, but turns the ball over nine times! Hirsch and Fears are kickers in this game. 

There is a side note to this game that is a once-in-a-lifetime game?  Ready? 

Hirsch had three different passers get the ball to him for at least 18 yards in the game. Quinlan, Smith, and Van Brocklin all completed passes to Crazy Legs as he gained 196 yards on 9 receptions. 

The denouement you ask? 

Every team has twists and turns during a season, yet this is a team that is never talked about. It came so close to being the first team in league history to earn a playoff berth in five consecutive years since divisional play began in 1933.