1971 NFL season tidbits
Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2022 12:19 pm
Some weird/interesting items from 1971 that I found while reading up on that season:
*Norm Bulaich broke his helmet in Week 1 game against Jets, used backup OG Cornelius Johnson's helmet the rest of the game, and set a franchise record with 198 yards rushing.
*The rookie class for the Atlanta Falcons wore a small "X" in adhesive tape on their helmets to represent them being called the "Brand X" draft...a group of unknowns that produced Tom Hayes, Wes Chesson & Ken Burrow.
*In a big Week 7 game, the Raiders were trailing 20-17 late in the game facing a 4th and goal from Kansas City's 1 yard line. Madden elected to kick an 8-yard FG and take a 20-20 tie...the Raiders could have eventually won the division with a win in Week 7 but finished 1.5 games back from KC.
*Toni Fritsch arrived in Dallas for a week 8 game, kicked 3 FGs including the game winner, didn't wear a facemask, continued kicking more FGs in Week 9 before getting injured and being done for the year. Fritsch produced 17 points in a game and a half.
*In possibly the biggest upset of the season, the Jets were missing multiple starters on defense, Bob Davis was the QB, yet New York defeated Kansas City 13-10. Bob Davis completed 3 passes for 19 yards...Buddy Ryan concocted a 4-4-3 defensive alignment that befuddled Len Dawson and the Chiefs offense.
*Going in to week 10, the leading WR in the NFL was rookie Billy Parks of San Diego. Parks had 41 catches for 609 yards, broke his arm in week 10, and was done for the year.
*Midway through the year, Tom Dempsey replaced Happy Feller as the kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he only played in 5 games, the Eagles went 4-1 with Dempsey, who kicked 13 XPs, 12 FGs (with a league leading 70.6%) and set the franchise record with a 54 yarder.
*The Vikings gave up only 9.9 ppg, yet in a Week 12 game the 4-7 Chargers scored 20 points in the 4th period to earn a come-from-behind win, 30-14.
*In a pivotal Week 14 game with playoff implications, the Lions led Niners 27-24 late in the game. Late in the game, Lions HC Joe Schmidt elected to go for it on 4th and 1 from his own 40. Greg Landry was stopped short on a QB sneak, and the Niners went on to score the winning TD (10 yard run by John Brodie) to also earn a playoff spot.
*The Saints won only 4 games, but three of them were upsets over the Rams, Cowboys & Niners.
*The Rams defeated the Niners twice in 1971, yet still finished 0.5 games back in the division. The first game was a 20-13 Rams win, featuring -18 net passing yards from Rams QB Jerry Rhome on two completed passes. The second game was a 17-6 Rams victory, with the Rams being outgained 3 to 1 (382 to 173) but benefiting from 4 SF turnovers (including an INT return TD).
*Norm Bulaich broke his helmet in Week 1 game against Jets, used backup OG Cornelius Johnson's helmet the rest of the game, and set a franchise record with 198 yards rushing.
*The rookie class for the Atlanta Falcons wore a small "X" in adhesive tape on their helmets to represent them being called the "Brand X" draft...a group of unknowns that produced Tom Hayes, Wes Chesson & Ken Burrow.
*In a big Week 7 game, the Raiders were trailing 20-17 late in the game facing a 4th and goal from Kansas City's 1 yard line. Madden elected to kick an 8-yard FG and take a 20-20 tie...the Raiders could have eventually won the division with a win in Week 7 but finished 1.5 games back from KC.
*Toni Fritsch arrived in Dallas for a week 8 game, kicked 3 FGs including the game winner, didn't wear a facemask, continued kicking more FGs in Week 9 before getting injured and being done for the year. Fritsch produced 17 points in a game and a half.
*In possibly the biggest upset of the season, the Jets were missing multiple starters on defense, Bob Davis was the QB, yet New York defeated Kansas City 13-10. Bob Davis completed 3 passes for 19 yards...Buddy Ryan concocted a 4-4-3 defensive alignment that befuddled Len Dawson and the Chiefs offense.
*Going in to week 10, the leading WR in the NFL was rookie Billy Parks of San Diego. Parks had 41 catches for 609 yards, broke his arm in week 10, and was done for the year.
*Midway through the year, Tom Dempsey replaced Happy Feller as the kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles. Although he only played in 5 games, the Eagles went 4-1 with Dempsey, who kicked 13 XPs, 12 FGs (with a league leading 70.6%) and set the franchise record with a 54 yarder.
*The Vikings gave up only 9.9 ppg, yet in a Week 12 game the 4-7 Chargers scored 20 points in the 4th period to earn a come-from-behind win, 30-14.
*In a pivotal Week 14 game with playoff implications, the Lions led Niners 27-24 late in the game. Late in the game, Lions HC Joe Schmidt elected to go for it on 4th and 1 from his own 40. Greg Landry was stopped short on a QB sneak, and the Niners went on to score the winning TD (10 yard run by John Brodie) to also earn a playoff spot.
*The Saints won only 4 games, but three of them were upsets over the Rams, Cowboys & Niners.
*The Rams defeated the Niners twice in 1971, yet still finished 0.5 games back in the division. The first game was a 20-13 Rams win, featuring -18 net passing yards from Rams QB Jerry Rhome on two completed passes. The second game was a 17-6 Rams victory, with the Rams being outgained 3 to 1 (382 to 173) but benefiting from 4 SF turnovers (including an INT return TD).