Top 5 shootouts in NFL history: Defense is not always around on any given Sunday
5. December 22, 1963 Oakland 52 Houston 49
The 1963 Oakland Raiders were led by first year head coach, Al Davis. In his first year with the organization, Raiders legend Al Davis replaced the team's original gold and black uniforms with the current "silver and black" scheme. The Raiders were 2-12 in 1961 followed by a 1-13 mark in 1962. They defeated the Boston Patriots, 20-0 in the last game of the year to prevent an imperfect season.
Oakland was led by QB Tom Flores while future Raider QB George Blanda, was at the helm for the Oilers. Flores threw six TD passes to five for Blanda. The two teams set the record for most points combined in a first half and most points combined in a quarter, with 49 in the second. The score at halftime was 35-35. Kickers, Mike Mercer of Oakland and George Blanda of Houston were both 7-7 on extra points for the game.
Raiders QB Tom Flores finished the day 17 for 29 for 407 yards. Clem Daniels rushed for 158 yards on 22 carries while WR Art Powell caught 10 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns. Oakland amassed 588 yards in total offense while chipping in with its usual nine penalties for 88 yards. Oilers QB George Blanda was 20 for 32 for 342 yards. Houston was first in the league in pass attempts and in first downs, but their defense allowed 70 more points that the offense would score.
The Houston Oilers were the class of the AFL, winning titles in 1960 and 1961. They lost the 1962 crown to the Dallas Texans in two overtimes, 20-17. The 1963 campaign was a struggle starting with an opening loss against Oakland, 24-16. The Oilers committed 10 turnovers, including six interceptions. For the season, the Oilers committed 57 turnovers in only 14 games. They finished the year at 6-8.
Only 17, 401 fans were in attendance at Frank Youell Field in Oakland to witness the third highest scoring game in history. It was the highest ever in the AFL.
4. November 27, 1983 Seattle 51 Kansas City 48 (OT)
In the fifth highest scoring game in NFL history, Seattle needed its 12th man to overtake the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. Seattle QB Dave Krieg had his usual solid game with 16 completions in 31 attempts for 280 yards and three TD's. Future Hall of Fame WR Steve Largent also completed an 11 yard pass to QB Dave Krieg. The big star on offense was former Penn State RB Curt Warner who rushed for 207 yards on 32 carries.
Chiefs QB Bill Kenney had his best game of the season with 21 for 38 passing for 311 yards and four TD's. His QB rating was his highest ever at 117.3. The running game came alive with 127 yards, Theotis Brown with 56 yards and Ken Thomas with 44. The tragic drowning death of RB Joe Delaney just prior to training camp had left a huge void in the ground attack.
After a missed Kansas City extra point left the score 48-45 in favor of the Chiefs, Seattle moved in to field goal range. On the final of regulation, K Norm Johnson booted a 42 yard field goal to force overtime. He added another 42 yarder for the win.
The two teams combined for 1009 yards in total offense, including a league record 59 first downs.
3. December 8, 1985 San Diego 54 Pittsburgh 44
The game was a Sunday night affair on ABC with announcers, Frank Gifford, Joe Namath and O.J. Simpson at the mike. Seeking revenge for the 52-24 drubbing at the hands of the Steelers on November 25, 1984, San Diego QB Dan Fouts wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. The Chargers built a first quarter, 21-7 lead.
The Steelers were led by former Miami Dolphins QB David Woodley. David had started Super Bowl XVII against the Washington Redskins, but was traded to Pittsburgh when Miami drafted Dan Marino. Elizabeth Merrill, ESPN:
One day in 1985, an hour before the Steelers played San Diego, Woodley called his wife, Suzonne from the locker room. He said he was quitting, right there, because at 27, he'd had enough. She talked him out of it, and he threw three touchdowns that day. He stuck out the rest of the season, then retired.
The Steelers would play in front of only 35, 953 at Three Rivers Stadium following the San Diego game, and then be crushed by the New York Giants in the Meadowlands, 28-10. The Steelers finished out of the playoffs at 7-9.
The pressure of being in the limelight drove David Woodley from the NFL. This was to be the last game for Woodley. He would be replaced by QB Scott Campbell for the final two games.
David went out on a high note with 24 completions in 35 attempts and three touchdowns. The Steelers had taken the lead, 44-41 on a 26 yard field goal by K Gary Anderson. San Diego QB Dan Fouts drove the Chargers downfield, and a two yard run by another Gary Anderson, gave them the lead. A late score would follow for a 54-44 win.
Fouts would finish with 21 for 33 passing for 372 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75 yard bomb to WR Wes Chandler. Wes would have 154 receiving yards to go along with 110 for WR Charlie Joiner. TE Kellen Winslow was held to only one catch for four yards. Winslow, Joiner and Fouts would all make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. October 7, 2013 Denver 51 Dallas 48
There have been 15 NFL QB's throw for over 500 yards passing in a game. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger has accomplished this feat, twice. Only two players have thrown for over 500 yards, and lost. Miami QB Dan Marino threw for 521 yards against the New York Jets on October 23, 1988. Dan had three TD passes, but threw five interceptions and finished with only a 68.8 QB rating.
The other QB who threw for over 500 yards in a losing effort was Dallas QB Tony Romo. This game, tied for fifth-highest scoring in NFL history, was also the most-watched game of the season. The Denver Broncos had already scored 179 points in the first four games.
Denver RB Knowshon Moreno rushed for 93 yards on 19 carries. QB Peyton Manning passed for 414 yards on 33 of 42 passing and four touchdowns. The Denver offense produced 517 yards in total offense. They would need every yard because Dallas accumulated more.
The Broncos defense provided the spark with two minutes remaining in regulation when LB Danny Trevathan intercepted Dallas QB Tony Romo. The interception spoiled the outstanding performance by Romo. Tony had thrown for 506 yards with 25 completions in 36 attempts and five touchdowns. Three Dallas receivers, Terrance Williams, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, had gone over 120 receiving yards. This was the only the second time in history that this was accomplished.
The 28 yard field goal by Denver K Matt Prater completed the scoring, 51-48. It was the second consecutive game that the Broncos had scored over 50 points. Tony Romo was the sixth Dallas QB to throw for over 410 yards, all of which are in losses for the Cowboys.
1. December 12, 1964 Cleveland 52 New York 20
If using the NCAA formula for QB passer rating, the performance by Frank Ryan on December 12, 1964 against the New York Giants would be highest rated perfect game. Ryan's 12 completions on 13 attempts for 202 yards and 5 touchdowns would result in a NCAA QB pass rating of 349.75, heavily influenced by Ryan's 38.5% TD percentage. It would also result in an NFL pass rating of 309.46 if the NFL formula was unconstrained.
The New York Giants had been in the title game in 1963, losing to the Chicago Bears, 14-10. The 1964 squad was a totally different team. In the season finale in Cleveland, the defense for the Giants fell apart. Cleveland was not forced to punt once in the game. Browns QB Frank Ryan completed 92.3% of his passes. The Giants would finish the year as the lowest ranked defense in the NFL allowing 399 points with a record of 2-10-2.
The lone highlight for the Giants' defense was holding Browns star running back Jim Brown to 99 yards on 20 carries. Jim sat out the second half.
Just two weeks later, the Cleveland Browns would be the champions of the NFL. They would shut out the Baltimore Colts, 27-0 to win the 1964 title game. QB Frank Ryan would thrown three TD passes to WR Gary Collins in the second half.
The Browns' win in 1964 was the most recent major professional sports championship for the city of Cleveland.
****January 17, 2000 Jacksonville 62 Miami 7
This is the second most lopsided game in NFL playoff history. This is the AARP game that drove head coach, Jimmy Johnson and QB Dan Marino into retirement. Dan finished his 17 year career on a sour note with 11 completions in 25 attempts, 1 TD and 2 interceptions. His QBR was 34.5.
Jimmy Johnson closed out his 35 year coaching career with his worst loss.
The game was played on a Saturday.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
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