Post by TheShadow on Jun 3, 2008 4:27:46 GMT -5
www.realfootball365.com
by Os Davis
Call it “Monday Night Methadone”: In a bid to alleviate some of the suffering caused by National Football League deprivation, the folks at NFL Network have announced a new series titled “NFL Classic Games.”
“Classic Games” will be a 12-week series with a dozen matches selected from the 1975-2004 seasons known for their competitiveness, importance and/or a notable individual performance; heck, sometimes the choices are noted for the importance of a single play, i.e. as in the June 2 debut program which features a game titled “Marino’s Fake Spike.”
The Raiders snagged just one spot on the schedule, with a seemingly ho-hum July 14 showing of a 37-14 drubbing administered to the Seattle Seahawks back when these two were division mates in the old AFC West. Of course, that contest is today known for Bo Jackson’s insane 221-yard performance, a game Bo himself knows as his most memorable.
Fair enough, then; a decent selection for the classic Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in season one. Hopefully, as the prototype for the modern trash-talk backlash game, NFL Network will obligingly run some of Brian Bosworth’s pre-game self-promotion.
And already looking ahead, what might we see from the Raiders on “Classic Games”? How about some of the following?
“Shootout in Dallas”
Los Angeles Raiders 40, Dallas Cowboys 38 (Oct. 23, 1983). On the way to a Super Bowl victory over Washington came this thriller, a game that had it all. After having lost in another barnburner, 38-36, at Seattle in Week 7, the Raiders just came back firing as sub Marc Wilson tossed exactly 300 yards passing but also tossed a few ugly interceptions; nine turnovers and 838 total yards (Raiders 519, Cowboys 319) were registered for the game. And individuals? Let’s see, there’s Marcus Allen, Howie Long, Lyle Alzado, Ted Hendricks, Lester “The Molester” Hayes, and Cliff Branch versus Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Harvey Martin and Anthony Dickerson. Not too shabby ...
“Embarrassment avenged”
Oakland Raiders 24, New England Patriots 21 (divisional playoffs, Dec. 18, 1976). Sure, everyone knew the Raiders were a force to be reckoned with in 1976; after the ugly 48-17 pounding administered to the silver and black by the Pats in Week 4, though, the bicentennial Raiders would not be recognized as the all-time great squad they were until taking care of business in December. This was a back-and-forth battle that ultimately ended with Steve Grogan shut down by the Raider ‘D’ in the fourth quarter, while Kenny Stabler’s offense mounted a 14-point comeback. Oh, and there’s even a great phantom call in here, too, as Ben Drieth called a suspect roughing the passer penalty on third down to keep the Raiders’ final drive alive.
This potential episode naturally brings up a no-brainer for the network, namely:
“The Tuck Rule Game”
Imagine the irony of seeing this one today, with all that has happened since. Perhaps NFL Network can conjure up an alternate ending for Raider Nation via the magic of CGI, or it could broadcast the previous two games consecutively, nicely encapsulating 35 years or so of an old AFL/AFC rivalry.
“Gannon Goes Off”
Oakland Raiders 34, Denver Broncos 10 (Nov. 11, 2002). You want great individual performance in a blowout? In a season in which it felt as though the Raiders had no running backs at all and the shotgun was the standard formation, here’s the ultimate example of Rich Gannon’s Flying Circus. The QB’s 21 consecutive completions set a record and Gannon went for 347 yards in the game, but the level of play here was well beyond the numbers. Simply playing out of his mind, Gannon became unstoppable for a five-game winning streak, averaging 320-plus yards per contest. Plus you get a “Monday Night Football” broadcast featuring Al Michaels and John Madden in their first year together. Sweet!
by Os Davis
Call it “Monday Night Methadone”: In a bid to alleviate some of the suffering caused by National Football League deprivation, the folks at NFL Network have announced a new series titled “NFL Classic Games.”
“Classic Games” will be a 12-week series with a dozen matches selected from the 1975-2004 seasons known for their competitiveness, importance and/or a notable individual performance; heck, sometimes the choices are noted for the importance of a single play, i.e. as in the June 2 debut program which features a game titled “Marino’s Fake Spike.”
The Raiders snagged just one spot on the schedule, with a seemingly ho-hum July 14 showing of a 37-14 drubbing administered to the Seattle Seahawks back when these two were division mates in the old AFC West. Of course, that contest is today known for Bo Jackson’s insane 221-yard performance, a game Bo himself knows as his most memorable.
Fair enough, then; a decent selection for the classic Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders in season one. Hopefully, as the prototype for the modern trash-talk backlash game, NFL Network will obligingly run some of Brian Bosworth’s pre-game self-promotion.
And already looking ahead, what might we see from the Raiders on “Classic Games”? How about some of the following?
“Shootout in Dallas”
Los Angeles Raiders 40, Dallas Cowboys 38 (Oct. 23, 1983). On the way to a Super Bowl victory over Washington came this thriller, a game that had it all. After having lost in another barnburner, 38-36, at Seattle in Week 7, the Raiders just came back firing as sub Marc Wilson tossed exactly 300 yards passing but also tossed a few ugly interceptions; nine turnovers and 838 total yards (Raiders 519, Cowboys 319) were registered for the game. And individuals? Let’s see, there’s Marcus Allen, Howie Long, Lyle Alzado, Ted Hendricks, Lester “The Molester” Hayes, and Cliff Branch versus Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Harvey Martin and Anthony Dickerson. Not too shabby ...
“Embarrassment avenged”
Oakland Raiders 24, New England Patriots 21 (divisional playoffs, Dec. 18, 1976). Sure, everyone knew the Raiders were a force to be reckoned with in 1976; after the ugly 48-17 pounding administered to the silver and black by the Pats in Week 4, though, the bicentennial Raiders would not be recognized as the all-time great squad they were until taking care of business in December. This was a back-and-forth battle that ultimately ended with Steve Grogan shut down by the Raider ‘D’ in the fourth quarter, while Kenny Stabler’s offense mounted a 14-point comeback. Oh, and there’s even a great phantom call in here, too, as Ben Drieth called a suspect roughing the passer penalty on third down to keep the Raiders’ final drive alive.
This potential episode naturally brings up a no-brainer for the network, namely:
“The Tuck Rule Game”
Imagine the irony of seeing this one today, with all that has happened since. Perhaps NFL Network can conjure up an alternate ending for Raider Nation via the magic of CGI, or it could broadcast the previous two games consecutively, nicely encapsulating 35 years or so of an old AFL/AFC rivalry.
“Gannon Goes Off”
Oakland Raiders 34, Denver Broncos 10 (Nov. 11, 2002). You want great individual performance in a blowout? In a season in which it felt as though the Raiders had no running backs at all and the shotgun was the standard formation, here’s the ultimate example of Rich Gannon’s Flying Circus. The QB’s 21 consecutive completions set a record and Gannon went for 347 yards in the game, but the level of play here was well beyond the numbers. Simply playing out of his mind, Gannon became unstoppable for a five-game winning streak, averaging 320-plus yards per contest. Plus you get a “Monday Night Football” broadcast featuring Al Michaels and John Madden in their first year together. Sweet!