Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I figured with the regular season now upon us this might be a cool discussion to have. My memory doesn't go farther back than the mid 80s so I'd be interested to hear about games before that. I'll start by throwing out there two classic shootouts.

1986 - Jets 51, Dolphins 45 in OT
10 TD passes between Marino and O'Brien!
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 210nyj.htm

1992 - Bills 34, 49ers 31
Kelly and Young both over 400 yards. No punts!
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 130sfo.htm

...and I've heard great things about this game. One last hurrah between Namath and Unitas.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 240clt.htm

*Ditka's unbelievable run after the catch (breaking about five tackles) saved the Bears from having to face the Pack in a playoff:

1963-Bears 17, Steelers 17

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 240pit.htm

*Another tie game, this went back and forth and was a huge factor in who hosted the NFL title game that year:

1964-Browns 33, Cardinals 33

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 200cle.htm

*Over 700 yards of total offense in another game that went back and forth:

1966-Redskins 34, Cowboys 31

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 110dal.htm

*Packers score first, Vikes score 10 straight, Packers score 10 straight before halftime. Vikes take back the lead, but GB scores two touchdowns in the third to tie it up. Vikings come back to tie and have the ball, but Joe Kapp fumbles the snap in the final three minutes and the Pack kick a FG with eight seconds left to win it:

1967-Packers 30, Vikings 27

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 030min.htm

some good ones-

Lions at Colts in 1960-
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 040clt.htm

49ers at Cardinals in 1976-
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 310crd.htm

Dolphins at Jets in 2000-
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 230nyj.htm

JWL wrote:Lions at Colts in 1960-
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 040clt.htm

This is a favorite of mine and usually the one I post when this topic comes up.

Reaser wrote:

JWL wrote:Lions at Colts in 1960-
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 040clt.htm

This is a favorite of mine and usually the one I post when this topic comes up.

A Hail Mary pass that only needed to reach midfield on the last play of the game, after the Colts had apparently salted the game away on a touchdown with 15 seconds left.

After eight games, the Colts (going for their third straight title) had a one-game lead over the Pack. After a bye week, they lost at home to the Niners--but still had that one-game lead. This crushing loss was followed by two West Coast defeats where they combined to score 13 points.

Greatest games not already mentioned since the merger:

1973 Steelers vs. Dolphins: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/t ... t/1973.htm

1976 Steelers vs. Raiders: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 120rai.htm

1977 Giants vs. Bears: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 180nyg.htm

1978 Dolphins vs. Oliers: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 200oti.htm

1982 Chargers vs. 49ers: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 110sfo.htm

1983 Raiders vs. Redskins: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 020was.htm

1984 Redskins vs Cardinals: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 160was.htm

1984 Cowboys vs. Dolphins: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 170mia.htm

1986 Redskins vs. Vikings: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 020was.htm

1979 Cowboys vs. Redskins: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 160dal.htm

1988 Raiders vs. Seahawks: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 180rai.htm

1989 49ers vs Rams: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 110ram.htm

1990 Bills vs. Giants: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 150nyg.htm

1993 Cowboys vs. Giants: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 020nyg.htm

1997 Jets vs. Lions: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 210det.htm

2000 Bucs vs. Rams: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 180tam.htm

2004 Jets vs. Rams: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 020ram.htm

2007 Giants vs. Patriots: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 290nyg.htm

2009 Browns vs. Lions: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 220det.htm

2011 Lions vs. Packers: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 010gnb.htm

2013 Ravens vs. Vikings: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 080rav.htm

Reaser wrote:

JWL wrote:Lions at Colts in 1960-
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 040clt.htm

This is a favorite of mine and usually the one I post when this topic comes up.

I recall seeing this game on TV, age 10. It was striking how easy the Morrall to Gibbons 65-yard TD pass looked.

11/3/57 - Detroit (31) at San Francisco (35). RC Owen's Alley-Oop catch at the gun.

Broncos at Cowboys, 2013: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/b ... 060dal.htm

Rupert Patrick wrote:Greatest games not already mentioned since the merger:
1973 Steelers vs. Dolphins: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/t ... t/1973.htm

This was basically a tale of two halves: Miami led 30-3 at the half, and Pittsburgh scored all 23 second half points and almost pulled off the miracle comeback.