Who I rooted for when this game originally took place: Chiefs (I think)
Who I now wish had won: Not sure
What happened: Five interceptions, three fumbles, two missed field goals, and a whole bunch of penalties at the very end. In addition, the game's only touchdown would not have counted under current rules. Barry Word (Chiefs-- 130 yards rushing) and Nick Bell (Raiders-- 107 yards rushing) provided most of the offense.
Notable players who appeared in this game for Kansas City: Steve DeBerg, John Alt, Dave Szott, Tim Grunhard, Christian Okoye (briefly), Derrick Thomas, Dan Saleaumua, Neil Smith, Deron Cherry (see photos above)
Notable players who appeared in this game for Los Angeles: Todd Marinovich (see photo below), Marcus Allen, Willie Gault, Steve Wisniewski, Don Mosebar, Max Montoya, Howie Long, Bob Golic, Greg Townsend, Winston Moss, Lionel Washington, Ronnie Lott, Eddie Anderson
Controversial aspects of this game: The previous week the Raiders had benched starter Jay Schroeder in favor of rookie Todd Marinovich. Despite the Raiders' loss, Marinovich had played well and was given the starter's job in the rematch against the Chiefs. Marinovich was the second-youngest quarterback to ever start an NFL playoff game up to that time.
Raiders head coach: Art Shell
Chiefs head coach: Marty Shottenheimer
Chiefs assistant coaches who would go on to become head coaches: Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Herman Edwards
Connection between this game and Todd Marinovich: Marinovich played in this game.
Below: A post-game interview with Todd Marinovich
Playerswith enormous shoulder pads: Chiefs linebacker Tracy Simien (no photo available at this time)
Players who were 37 years old during this game: Steve DeBerg
Players who had won five consecutive games against the Raiders prior to this game: Steve DeBerg
Players with amazing play fakes on play-action passes: Steve DeBerg
Players who had to be rushed to the hospital with irregular heartbeats: Derrick Thomas (see photo below)
People associated with this game who resemble John Cleese: Kansas City place kicker Nick Lowery
Players who weighed 151 pounds during this game: Kansas City wide receiver J.J. Birden
Players who did not appear in this game but are nonetheless important to world history: Raiders third-string quarterback Vince Evans (see photo below)
Broadcasters: Mike Patrick, JoeTheismann, Paul Maguire
Who I rooted for when this game originally took place: Titans (I think)
Who I now wish had won: Titans
What happened: Tennessee led 12-0 at halftime. Buffalo came back to take a 13-12 lead early in the 4th quarter. Titan's kicker Al Del Greco kicked a 36 yard field goal with under two minutes left. Steve Christie kicked a 41 yard field goal with :20 left to give Buffalo the lead back. Tennessee returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to win the game. (Video below-- not the ABC announcers, however)
Notable players who appeared in this game for Buffalo: Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Steve Christie, Andre Reed, Peerless Price
Notable players who appeared in this game for Tennessee: Steve McNair, Eddie George, Jevon Kearse, Samari Rolle, Al Del Greco
Controversial aspects of this game: The final play; Bill's coach Wade Phillips's decision to start Rob Johnson (pictured below) at quarterback instead of Doug Flutie.
Connection between this game and Todd Marinovich: Prior to this game, there had been only three other occasions when a quarterback had started every game of the NFL season except the last game and then not started in the playoffs. One of the other times was in 1991, when Marinovich replaced Jay Schroeder as Raiders quarterback in back-to-back games against Kansas City.
People associated with this game who resemble Bob Newhart:Wade Phillips
Things I remembered incorrectly about this game: I thought that the game was played on astroturf, not grass. I also remembered there being a bit of snow on the field.
How this game would be remembered in an alternate universe: As the Rob Johnson shoe game, rather than as Music City Miracle. Johnson, who had been playing rather badly all game, led the Bills to a seemingly-victorious final drive as time wound down. At one point, Johnson had lost one of his shoes, but rather than spike the ball and stop the clock, he completed a crucial pass to bring Buffalo into easier field goal position.
What happened next: Tennessee won their nexttwo playoff games before losing in the Super Bowl. (Video below) Steve McNair was killed by his girlfriend in 2009. The Bills have only had one winning season since this game and have not made the playoffs once in that time.
A poem written around the time this game originally took place:
Six more teams qualified for the World Cup finals today. I believe that this means that all the spots have been filled. Here were the results over the two (or more) legs:
France defeated Ireland on a controversial goal by William Gallas that followed an uncalled handball by Thierry Henry. (See photo above of French coaches celebrating.)
Back in January 1982, my family and the Comfort family were busy driving one Saturday night from Colorado back to Missouri after a ski vacation in Breckenridge, Colorado. As we drove through Kansas that evening, we listened on the radio to what was surely the greatest NFL football game of all time and perhaps the greatest football game of any kind ever played. While I did get to see various highlights of the game, I never was able to see the whole thing, until recently when I purchased a DVD on-line of the entire game. I can now safely say that it was, without a doubt, the greatest ever. Here's just a few reasons why: 1. There were almost too many lead changes or ties in the game to count (I have it at seven), including Miami coming back from being down 24-0 in the first quarter. 2. The hook and lateral play (aka hook and ladder) play at the end of the first half pulled off by Miami's Don Strock, Duriel Harris, and Tony Nathan. If you haven't see this play, you're either fourteen years old, or you've been living in a cave on the far side of a mountain with your eyes closed and your fingers in your ears for the last 26+ years.
Warning: The above video is long and the play doesn't come until about the fourth minute, so be patient. For another take on the play, see below:
3. Between them, QBs Dan Fouts and Don Strock threw the ball for something like 85 times and over 750 yards.
4. San Diego tight end Kellen Winslow set an AFC playoff record for receptions in a single game- 13 caught for 166 yards. He also blocked a potential game-winning kick at the end of regulation, all while suffering from an injured shoulder and serious exhaustion. At the end of the game, he had to be carried off by his teammates.
5. The game featured three missed game-winning field goals, two by Miami's Uwe von Schamann and one by San Diego's Rolf Benirschke.
6. In the first quarter, San Diego's Wes Chandler returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Miami failed to field the ball and San Diego recovered the live ball.
7. The announcers were Don Crique and John Brodie, the beer commercials were by Schlitz, Budweiser, Stroh's, Miller, and Colt 45. 7-11's advertising slogan was, "Freedom's Waiting For You," (Freedom from Hassle and Delay, to be specific). The RCA SelectaVision Video Disc player was offered for "less than $500" and America's Driving Machinewas the 1982 Dodge Aries K Wagon, because, "On a night like this, you don't need a car, you need a driving machine."
8. The game also included Don Coryell, Don Shula, Jimmy Cefalo, the Orange Bowl, a wire that was hanging down from the stands that had to be cut down, thus delaying the game at a crucial point, and, one of my childhood favorites, Chuck Muncie.
"Hockey ought to be sternly forbidden, as it is not only annoying but dangerous." Halifax Morning Sun, quoted in Michael McKinley's Hockey - A People's History
