TUESDAY TIDBITS: "I Have Battles to Fight"

By TJ Troup

The title for today's saga comes from Kenny Easley! He was not only a warrior on the field, but he also dealt with health issues after his early retirement for years. Living in Southern California was able to see UCLA & USC play often on television and watching Easley play so well for his last three years with the Bruins, there was no doubt he would contribute in the NFL. 

How many saw him become one of the best safeties in the '80's at a time when there were so many outstanding ball hawks, hitters & tacklers? RIP Kenny, you were a true leader & warrior! Not only is it possible, but a team can have 302 passes thrown against them without intercepting a pass! A deflection, a missed timed errant throw, or "breaking" on the ball in cutting in front of the receiver, someone on the Jets should have been able to intercept a ball so far this season? Possibly, Aaron Glenn might entertain his defenders with a story about how he once upon a time intercepted a pass. 

The 1943 Green Bay Packers intercepted 42 of the 193 passes attempted against them (17.4%)! Yeah, yeah, the game is played differently since Sherwood Fries was a Packer. The last NFL team to intercept at least 10% of opponent passes was the '73 Steelers! Will there be a celebration when a Jet finally pilfers a pass? 

Bud Grant's NFL career lasted only two seasons, ending in 1952, and Chuck Noll was a rookie in '53 thus, they never played against each other.

November 23rd, 1969, the Steelers are on the road to take on the Vikings! Pittsburgh won opening day in '69 while Minnesota lost. Since then, the Steelers have not won a game, and the Vikings have won every week, many in dominating fashion. Weather report for all of you, at times in the land of 1,000 lakes, it gets cold and there is snow! 

Bet most of you knew that. The weather in the Twin Cities has been so brutal leading up to the game the Vikings have not practiced all week. Paul Krause does what he does best, and his interception at the Viking twenty-three is returned 77 yards for a score. Second quarter and after Cox delivers a field goal, McCall of the Steelers goes 101 yards with the ensuing kickoff to score (longest play in Steeler history at this point)! Bill Brown punches over from the one, and at the half Minnesota leads 17-7. 

Joe Kapp is replaced at quarterback by Cuozzo and he rolls right to deliver a strike to Henderson for 28 yards and a touchdown. Pittsburgh's Jon Henderson scores on a 10-yard reception to narrow the lead to 24-14. Charlie West returns the kick-off up the left sideline and when he is hit the ball pops into the air goes forward to a hustling teammate in John Beasley. The big man strides down the field following Clint Jones' block until Brian Stenger tackles him from behind, but Beasley's momentum gets him to the promised land! Minnesota 31, Pittsburgh 14 as we enter the 4th quarter. 

John Beasley

Oscar Reed scores twice in the 4th quarter on an easy 6-yard reception from Cuozzo, and a 1-yard run! Bob Lee enters the fray to put the finishing touches on Pittsburgh with a 7-yard toss to Henderson. Unless you are Gale Sayers, you are not going to gain yards rushing against the "Purple Gang" in '69 as Pittsburgh gains just 48 yards on 25 attempts. Six quarterbacks play in this game and there are nine turnovers! When a team returns interceptions over 100 yards, they win 91% of the time (the Vikings returned errant Steelers passes 130 yards in this game). 

When the 1970 season began with a 26-team NFL the Vikings were considered strong contenders to return to the Super Bowl, while Pittsburgh continued to upgrade the roster each year until 1972, when the next time they played was Game of the Week at NFL Films and Pittsburgh handled Minnesota 23-10. Did anyone believe that five years after the 52-14 loss in Minnesota in '69, they would meet at Tulane Stadium for the right to be crowned World Champions?