Today in History: SUPER BOWL I Jan 15, 1967 [Article a landslide of info]

MVP Bart Starr, Quarterback
Favorite Packers by 14
National anthem University of Arizona and University of Michigan Bands

TV in the United States
Network CBS and NBC
Announcers CBS: Ray Scott, Jack Whitaker and Frank Gifford
NBC: Curt Gowdy and Paul Christman
Nielsen Ratings CBS: 22.6
NBC: 18.5
Market share CBS: 43
NBC: 36

The first ever AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl I, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.

The National Football League (NFL) champion Green Bay Packers scored 3 second-half touchdowns en route to a 35–10 win over the American Football League (AFL) champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Green Bay quarterback Bart Starr earned the very first Super Bowl MVP in NFL history by throwing 16 of 23 for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

The first AFL-NFL World Championship Game was established as part of the June 8, 1966 merger agreement between the NFL and the AFL. But coming into this first game, there was considerable animosity between the two rival leagues, with both of them putting pressure on their respective champion teams to trounce the other to prove each league's dominance over professional football. Still, many sports writers and fans believed that the game was a mismatch, and that any team from the long-established NFL was far superior to the best team from the upstart AFL.

The Chiefs entered the game after recording an 11-2-1 regular season record by winning their last 8 games. They then went on to crush the Buffalo Bills, 31-7, in the AFL Championship Game.

Kansas City's high powered offense led the AFL in total points (448) and total rushing yards (2,274). Their trio of running backs, Mike Garrett (801 yards), Bert Coan (521 yards), and Curtis McClinton (540 yards) all ranked among the top ten rushers in the AFL. Quarterback Len Dawson was the top rated passer in the AFL, completing 159 out of 284 (56 percent) of his passes for 2,527 yards and 26 touchdowns. Wide receiver Otis Taylor provided the team with a great deep threat by recording 58 receptions of 1,297 yards and 8 touchdowns. And tight end Fred Arbanas, who had 22 catches for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns, was one of 6 Chiefs offensive players who were named to the All-AFL team.

The Chiefs also had a strong defense, with All-AFL players Jerry Mays and Buck Buchanan anchoring their line. Linebacker Bobby Bell, who was also named to the All-AFL team, was great at run stopping and pass coverage. But the strongest part of their defense was their secondary, led by All-AFL safeties Johnny Robinson and Bobby Hunt, who each recorded 10 interceptions, and defensive back Fred Williamson, who recorded 4.

The Packers were an NFL dynasty after being a losing team eight years earlier. Before head coach Vince Lombardi joined the team after the 1958 season, the team had posted an NFL-worst 1-10-1 record. But Lombardi was determined to build a winning team. During the offseason, he signed Fred Thurston, a player who had been cut from 3 other teams but ended up becoming an All-Pro left guard for Green Bay. Lombardi also made a big trade with the Cleveland Browns that brought 3 players to the team who would become cornerstones of the defense: defensive linemen Henry Jordan, Willie Davis and Bill Quinlan.

Lombardi's hard work paid off, and the Packers improved to a 7-5 regular season record in 1959. Then, they surprised the league during the following year by making it all the way to the NFL Championship Game. Although the Packers lost the game, 17-13, to the Philadelphia Eagles, they had sent a clear message that they were no longer losers. Green Bay went on to win NFL Championships in 1961, 1962, 1965, and 1966, earning them the nickname "Titletown, USA".

Packers veteran quarterback Bart Starr was the top rated quarterback in the NFL and won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award, completing 156 out of 251 (62.2 percent) passes for 2,257 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions. His top targets were wide receivers Boyd Dowler and Carroll Dale, who combined for 63 receptions for 1,336 yards. Fullback Jim Taylor was the team's top rusher with 705 yards, and also caught 41 passes for 331 yards. (Before the season, Taylor had informed the team that instead of returning to the Packers in 1967, he would become a free agent and sign with the expansion New Orleans Saints. Lombardi, infuriated at what he considered to be Taylor's disloyalty, refused to speak to Taylor the entire season.)[1] The team's starting halfback, future hall of famer Paul Hornung, was injured early in the season, but running back Elijah Pitts did a good job as a replacement, gaining 857 combined rushing and receiving yards. And the Packers offensive line was also big reason for the team's success, led by All-Pro guards Jerry Kramer and Thurston, along with future hall of famer Forrest Gregg.

Green Bay also had a superb defense, which displayed its talent on the final drive of the NFL Championship Game, stopping the Dallas Cowboys on 4 consecutive plays starting on the Packers 2-yard line to win the game. Lionel Aldridge had replaced Quinlan, but Jordan and Davis still anchored the defensive line, future hall of fame linebacker Ray Nitschke excelled at run stopping and pass coverage, while the secondary was led by future hall of fame defensive backs Herb Adderley and Willie Wood. Wood was another example of how Lombardi found talent in players that nobody else could see. Wood had been a quarterback in college and was not drafted by an NFL team. When Wood joined the Packers in 1960, he was converted to a free safety and he went on to make the All-Pro team 9 times in his 12 year career.

Super Bowl pregame news and notes

Many people considered it fitting that the Chiefs and the Packers would be the teams to play in the first ever AFL-NFL World Championship Game. Kansas City owner Lamar Hunt was the person who founded the AFL, while Green Bay was widely considered the best team in NFL history.

The game gave the Packers an opportunity to show that they were truly one of the best American football teams of all time. (CBS announcer Frank Gifford, who interviewed Lombardi prior to the game, said Lombardi was so nervous "he held onto my arm and he was shaking like a leaf. It was incredible.")

The Chiefs saw this game as an opportunity to show they were good enough to play against any NFL team. One player who was really looking forward to compete in this game was Dawson, who had spent 4 years as a backup in the NFL before joining the Chiefs. (The Chiefs were also nervous. Linebacker E. J. Holub said "the Chiefs were scared to death. Guys in the tunnel were throwing up and wetting their pants.)

In the week prior to the game, Chiefs cornerback Fred "The Hammer" Williamson garnered considerable publicity by boasting he would use his "hammer"--forearm blows to the head--to destroy the Packers' receivers.

Television and entertainment

This game is the only Super Bowl to have been broadcast in the United States by two television networks simultaneously. At the time, CBS held the rights to nationally televise NFL games while NBC had the rights to broadcast AFL games. It was decided to have both of them cover the game. The CBS telecast featured announcers Ray Scott, Jack Whitaker and Frank Gifford, while Curt Gowdy and Paul Christman provided commentary on NBC. Much to the dismay of television historians, the broadcast tapes were subsequently destroyed by both networks. This has prevented contrast and compare studies of how each network handled their respective coverage.

Super Bowl I was the only Super Bowl in history that was not a sellout in terms of attendance, despite the TV blackout in the Los Angeles area. Days before the game, local newspapers printed editorials about what they viewed as an then-exorbitant $12 USD price for tickets, and wrote stories about how to pirate the signal from TV stations outside the Los Angeles area.

The entertainment of Super Bowl I pales in comparison to the performances featured in the Super Bowls of today. Instead of performances by the top contemporary singers and musicians, the first Super Bowl featured American trumpeter Al Hirt, and the marching bands of University of Arizona and University of Michigan.

After both teams traded punts on their first possessions of the game, the Packers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead with Starr's 37-yard touchdown pass to reserve receiver Max McGee, who had been put into the game just a few plays earlier to fill in for injured starter Boyd Dowler. On their ensuing drive, the Chiefs moved the ball to Green Bay's 33-yard line, but kicker Mike Mercer missed a 40-yard field goal.

Early in the second quarter, Kansas City marched 66 yards in 6 plays to tie the game on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Len Dawson to Curtis McClinton. But the Packers responded on their next drive, advancing 73 yards down the field and scoring on fullback Jim Taylor's 14-yard touchdown run with the team's famed "Power Sweep" play. The Chiefs then cut the lead with a minute left in the half, 14-10, on Mercer's 31-yard field goal.

At halftime, it appeared that the Chiefs had a chance to win. Many people watching the game were surprised how close the score was and how well the AFL's champions were playing. Kansas City actually outgained the Packers in total yards, 181-164, and had 11 first downs compared to the Packers' 9. The Chiefs were exuberant at halftime. Hank Stram said later "I honestly thought we would come back and win it." The Packers were disappointed with the quality of their play in the first half. "The coach was concerned" said defensive end Willie Davis later. Lombardi told them the game plan was sound but that they had to treak some things and execute better.

On their first drive of the second half, the Chiefs advanced to their own 49-yard line. But on a third down pass play, a rare heavy blitz by Packers linebackers Dave Robinson and Lee Roy Caffey forced Dawson to throw a hurried, poorly thrown pass – which was intercepted by Green Bay defensive back Willie Wood and returned 50 yards to the Kansas City 5-yard line ("the biggest play of the game," wrote Starr later). On their first play after the turnover, running back Elijah Pitts rushed 5-yards for a touchdown, giving the Packers a 21-10 lead.

The Packers defense would then dominate the Chiefs offense for the rest of the game, only allowing them to cross midfield once, and for just one play. The Chiefs were forced to deviate from their game plan, and that hurt them. The Chiefs' offense totaled 12 yards in the third quarter. Dawson was also held to only 5 out of 12 second half pass completions for 59 yards.

Meanwhile, Green Bay added another touchdown with less than a minute left in the third quarter on McGee's 13-yard reception from Starr. Pitts later scored his second touchdown midway through the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run to close out the scoring, giving the Packers a 35-10 win. Also in the fourth quarter, Fred Williamson, who had boasted about his "hammer" prior to the game, was knocked out when his head collided with running back Donny Anderson's knee, and then suffered a broken arm when Chiefs linebacker Sherrill Headrick fell on him. Williamson had three tackles for the game.

Although Starr was named MVP, much of the Packers' success during the game can be attributed to McGee. During the regular season, McGee had only caught a total of 4 passes for 98 yards and 1 touchdown, but he ended up recording 7 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Super Bowl. McGee later said after the game that he spent the previous night out on the town, was in no condition to play the game, and was counting on not playing that day.

Taylor was the leading rusher in the game, with 56 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. Pitts rushed for 45 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also adding 2 receptions for 32 yards. Dawson finished the game with 16 out of 27 completions for 211 passing yards, a touchdown, and 1 interception. He was also the Chiefs leading rusher with 27 rushing yards.

Scoring Summary

2nd Quarter
KC - McClinton 7 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick) 7-7
GB - Taylor 14 run (Chandler kick) 14-7 GB
KC - FG Mercer 31 14-10 GB

3rd Quarter
GB - Pitts 5 run (Chandler kick) 21-10 GB
GB - McGee 13 pass from Starr (Chandler kick) 28-10 GB

Starting Lineup

Officials

Referee: Norm Schachter (NFL)
Umpire: George Young (AFL)
Head Linesman: Bernie Ulman (NFL)
Line Judge: Al Sabato (AFL)
Field Judge: Mike Lisetski (NFL)
Back Judge: Jack Reader (AFL)

The 46 Defense wasn't exactly a radical scheme in 1985. It was originally used by the Bears -- apparently without much success -- back in the late 1970s (the 46 was named after the number worn by defensive back Doug Plank).

The Bears switched to a traditional 4-3 defense immediately after their Super Bowl win in 1985-86, primarily because Buddy Ryan left the team to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Defensively, the Eagles were never as dominant as the Bears had been -- mainly because they simply didn't have the same level of talent as Chicago.

Despite their perfect record, I wouldn't even include the 1972 Dolphins among the top ten teams of all time. They played a very weak schedule that year, and were so unimpressive in running the table that they were actually the underdog in the Super Bowl against Washington.

That's what I was getting at. Pitt has been great for 30 years, but sucked in the 60s. Miami had one good decade, with a couple of decent Marino teams. The 49ers had a couple of teams in the early 70s, and then the Montana teams. But Dallas is a model of consistency. I do think they are three good players away from making a run next year (FS, pass rusher to compliment Ware, and O-lineman).

Well, I give the Dolphins a little more credit. They had the most punishing running game, overall, in NFL history with Csonka, Kiick, and Morris. But their defense was overrated.

I well remember the Skins. If they had had a real QB, they would have been nearly unstoppable, but Billy Kilmer was slightly better than my uncle (and he's dead).

The term "Super Bowl" might not have been the official name of the 1967 game, but everyone called it that--and one radio personality referred to its absence from LA-area TV screens as the "Super Black-Out."

Pretty amazing that for a game that attracted 80% of the TV audience nationwide, they couldn't even sell out the game at the stadium. But the $12 tickets was probably why. That was BIG money back then. I was only a kid at the time but my father was making about $85 a week and I thought he was one of the richest men in the world when he would come home from work on Fridays and flash those bills around. My mother found $50 in his wallet once and she freaked out that he would walk around with that much money on him.

Anyway, I watched the game that day and vaguely recall the marching bands at halftime (that Al Hirt must have put on quite a show) but I have no recollection of all about Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr. Too bad the networks trashed the tapes. What were they thinking!

LS said, "Sorry, that was prehistoric times..."

I'm sorry, LS, I don't mean to pick a fight, but you contradict yourself here. Previously you state, "You define greatness by the test of time."

You should amend your statement that you define greatness by the test of certain periods of time as deemed relavent by LS. 12 league championships makes the Packers the best football team ever until someone else surpasses that total.

Also, the 5 championships in 7 years makes the '60s Packers the single best football dynasty ever. I suppose the '60s are pre-historic too.

Be well, my friend. I much prefer quibbling over football than other topics!!

Lol. Yes, certain periods of time. For example, no question Wilt Chamberlain was the absolute most dominant player of the 1950s and early 1960s. But of all time? Hmmm. I'd say Michael Jordan because of the quality of competition. Likewise, those old teams (like the Bud Wilkinson Sooners) could get on a run because of the incredible unevenness of the competition.

That's why I'd argue that today's New England Patriots are rapidly becoming the best team ever. Not only have they whipped everyone three times in, what? five years? But they have done so in the age of "parity." Anyway, comparing these eras at least gave Sylvester Stallone the basis for another "Rocky" movie!

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