Remembering Two Great NFL Playoff Games of the 1970s

There were a couple of very competitive playoff games in the NFL during the 1970s, and many people have largely forgotten them…if they really paid much attention to them at all. One occurred in 1973, and the other took place in 1975. Let’s tackle the 1973 playoff game first.

LISTEN AND FOLLOW ON YOUR PHONE FOR FREE

1973: Washington at Minnesota

On December 22, 1973, the 10-4 Washington Redskins traveled to Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, to take on the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. Washington came into this contest with a very strong defense, particularly their pass rush.

The Redskins registered a league-leading 53 quarterback sacks in 1973. The Vikings were the favored team, mostly because of the way they dominated teams during the regular season.

But the playoffs are a different animal altogether. Washington managed to take a 7-3 lead over Minnesota by the time that halftime rolled around. The Vikings made their share of mistakes during the first two-quarters of that playoff game. In their locker room at halftime, Minnesota All-Pro defensive end Carl Eller had had enough of it.

He launched into a tirade directed at all his teammates. He threw his helmet. He kicked some chairs. Then legend has it that he put his first all the way through a blackboard. Eller’s teammate, quarterback Fran Tarkenton, would later say that he “…felt like crawling into his locker and hiding” in the midst of watching Eller destroy a blackboard in the locker room at halftime.

The rest of the Vikings got the message. Minnesota responded in the second half with 24 points, thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Fran Tarkenton to wide receiver John Gilliam. The Vikings defense could not keep the Redskins from scoring again in the second half, but they only permitted 13 more points from Washington head coach George Allen’s team. Minnesota held on for a clutch 27-20 victory, and a ticket to the 1973 NFC Championship Game.

When discussing his verbal (and physical) halftime outburst, Carl Eller was a little less hyped up in postgame interviews. He said that “…it’s not good practice for a player to do that. It’s the coach’s place to talk in the locker room – and no one else. But there were things that needed to be said.”


$39.95	$29.95	$42.44	$17.33
Buy Now on Amazon	Buy Now on Amazon	Buy Now on Amazon	Buy Now on Amazon

The NFL in the 1970s: Pro Football's Most Important Decade

$39.95

$29.95

$42.44

$17.33

06/28/2024 11:49 pm GMT

1975: Cincinnati at Oakland

There were no visible outbursts a couple of years later in the 1975 AFC Divisional Playoff Game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Oakland Raiders. But like the Redskins-Vikings playoff game in 1973, this Bengals-Raiders matchup showcased a highly competitive meeting between two very strong teams.

Both teams came into the contest at the Oakland Coliseum sporting impressive 11-3 records. But for the first three quarters, Oakland appeared to have strong control of their playoff meeting with Cincinnati. The Raiders owned a 24-14 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Oakland also had a strong edge in virtually every statistical category. Oakland quarterback Kenny Stabler would go on to complete 17 of his 23 passing attempts, worth 199 yards and three touchdowns. Practically everyone felt that this game was over.

But they were wrong. The Raiders committed enough mistakes and turnovers in the fourth quarter to spur a Bengals comeback. Cincinnati responded in the final frame with two clutch scoring drives, resulting in a pair of touchdowns.

Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes, one to Charlie Joiner, and one to Isaac Curtis. Before you knew it, Cincinnati was just three points behind Oakland.

The Raiders managed to hold onto the ball the rest of the way, however, as they preserved a tough 31-28 victory. This game proved how important it was – and still is – to play a full 60 minutes. The Bengals came awfully close to proving that relaxing for even a moment can cost a team like Oakland a crucial win.

Trivia Question:

Who were the leading rushers in the 1973 Redskins-Vikings playoff game, and in the 1975 Bengals-Raiders playoff game?

Please Share If You Liked This Article

Host of Pro Football in the 1970s - Joe Zagorski

Throughout his days, Joe spent some time as a sportswriter and has been a member of the Pro Football Researchers Association since the mid-1980s. Joe is also a proud member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

“JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER” WEBSITE

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE