NFL playoffs, 1976–77

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The NFL playoffs following the 1976 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XI.

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Oakland Raiders (West winner) Minnesota Vikings (Central winner)
2 Baltimore Colts (East winner) Dallas Cowboys (East winner)
3 Pittsburgh Steelers (Central winner) Los Angeles Rams (West winner)
4 New England Patriots Washington Redskins

Contents

[edit] Divisional playoffs

[edit] December 18, 1976

[edit] AFC: Oakland Raiders 24, New England Patriots 21

1 2 3 4 Total
Patriots 7 0 14 0 21
Raiders 3 7 0 14 24

at Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

A controversial roughing the passer call set up Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler's winning touchdown with 10 seconds left in the game. The Patriots scored first after an 86-yard drive was capped by running back Andy Johnson's 1-yard touchdown run. However, Oakland scored 10 straight points, including a 31-yard touchdown reception to wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff with 39 seconds left in the first half. The Patriots then scored two touchdowns of their own in the third period to regain the lead, 21-10. In the fourth quarter, the Raiders marched 70 yards to score on a 1-yard touchdown run by Mark van Eeghen to pull it to 21-17. Late in the final period, a roughing the passer penalty on Patriots tackle Ray "Sugar Bear" Hamilton nullified a third down incompletion and gave the Raiders an automatic first down deep in New England territory (instead of 4th and 10). Replays would later clearly show that there was no illegal contact, but the call setup Stabler's game-winning touchdown. Biletnikoff finished the game with 9 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown. Oakland avenged its only loss of the year, which came at the hands of the Patriots.

  • Scoring
    • NE - Johnson 1 run (Smith kick) NE 7-0
    • OAK - field goal Mann 40 NE 7-3
    • OAK - Biletnikoff 31 pass from Stabler (Mann kick) OAK 10-7
    • NE - Francis 26 pass from Grogan (Smith kick) NE 14-10
    • NE - Phillips 3 run (Smith kick) NE 21-10
    • OAK - Van Eeghen 1 run (Mann kick)NE 21-17
    • OAK - Stabler 1 run (Mann kick) OAK 24-21

[edit] NFC: Minnesota Vikings 35, Washington Redskins 20

1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 3 0 3 14 20
Vikings 14 7 14 0 35

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

The Vikings jumped to a 35-6 lead by the end of the third quarter, led by running backs Chuck Foreman and Brent McClanahan who each rushed for more than 100 yards. McClanahan's 41-yard run on Minnesota's first play of the game set up quarterback Fran Tarkenton's 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Stu Voigt. Then after Washington kicked a field goal, Tarkenton threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Sammy White, who managed to catch it after it was tipped in the air. Foreman added two rushing touchdowns and White caught a second touchdown pass. By the time Redskins quarterback Billy Kilmer completed two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, the game was already out of reach.

  • Scoring
    • MIN - Voigt 18 pass from Tarkenton (Cox kick) MIN 7-0
    • WAS - field goal Moseley 47 MIN 7-3
    • MIN - White 27 pass from Tarkenton (Cox kick) MIN 14-3
    • MIN - Foreman 2 run (Cox kick) MIN 21-3
    • MIN - Foreman 30 run (Cox kick) MIN 28-3
    • WAS - field goal Moseley 35 MIN 28-6
    • MIN - White 9 pass from Tarkenton (Cox kick) MIN 35-3
    • WAS - Grant 12 pass from Kilmer (Moseley kick) MIN 35-13
    • WAS - Jefferson 3 pass from Kilmer (Moseley kick) MIN 35-20

[edit] December 19, 1976

[edit] AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 40, Baltimore Colts 14

1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 9 17 0 14 40
Colts 7 0 0 7 14

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

The Steelers dominated the Colts with 526 yards of total offense, while limiting Baltimore to only 170. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw completed 14 of 18 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns, giving him the first perfect 158.3 passer rating in NFL playoff history, including a 76-yard one to Frank Lewis on the third play of the game. Steelers running back Franco Harris racked up 132 rushing yards on just 18 carries, and caught 3 passes for 24 yards. The Colts scored late in the first period with Bert Jones' 17-yard touchdown pass to Roger Carr, but the Steelers then scored 24 unanswered points. Bradshaw threw 29 and 11-yard touchdowns to wide receiver Lynn Swann, while running back Reggie Harrison had two rushing scores.

  • Scoring
    • PIT - Lewis 76 pass from Bradshaw (kick failed)PIT 6-0
    • PIT - field goal Gerela 45 PIT 9-0
    • BAL - Carr 17 pass from Jones (Linhart kick) PIT 9-7
    • PIT - Harrison 1 run (Gerela kick) PIT 16-7
    • PIT - Swann 29 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)PIT 23-7
    • PIT - field goal Gerela 25 PIT 26-7
    • PIT - Swann 11 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) PIT 33-7
    • BAL - Leaks 1 run (Linhart kick) PIT 33-14
    • PIT - Harrison 9 run (Mansfield kick) PIT 40-14

[edit] NFC: Los Angeles Rams 14, Dallas Cowboys 12

1 2 3 4 Total
Rams 0 7 0 7 14
Cowboys 3 7 0 2 12

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

The Rams overcame two blocked punts by the Cowboys to come away with a 14-12 win. Dallas opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal, but Los Angeles responded with quarterback Pat Haden's 4-yard touchdown run. Late in the first half, Charlie Waters blocked a punt to set up running back Scott Laidlaw's 1-yard touchdown to give the Cowboys a 10-7 lead. Early in the final period, Rams kicker Tom Dempsey made what would have been a game-tying field goal, but Cliff Harris was called for a running into the kicker penalty on the play. The usually conservative Ram coach Chuck Knox uncharacteristically took the points off the board, giving Los Angeles a first down. A few plays later, Lawrence McCutcheon vindicated Knox's decision as he ran for a one yard touchdown to give the Rams the lead, 14-10. With 1:59 remaining in the game, Waters blocked another punt and the Cowboys recovered the ball at the Los Angeles 17-yard line. On first down, Butch Johnson's reception was ruled incomplete because he could only get one foot down in bounds in the end zone. On 4th and two, the Rams stopped Staubach for a one yard gain and took possession on their own 8 yard line. After three "kneel downs" and Cowboy time outs, the Rams faced a 4th and 14 with seconds left in the game. Wary of another blocked punt, Ram punter Rusty Jackson scampered out of the back of the end zone in the final seconds for an intentional safety, and the Rams won 14-12.

  • Scoring
    • DAL - field goal Herrera 44 DAL 3-0
    • LA - Haden 4 run (Dempsey kick) LA 7-3
    • DAL - Laidlaw 1 run (Herrera kick) DAL 10-7
    • LA - McCutcheon 1 run (Dempsey kick) LA 14-10
    • DAL - Safety, Jackson ran out of end zone LA 14-12

[edit] Conference Championships

[edit] December 26, 1976

[edit] AFC: Oakland Raiders 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 7

1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 0 0 7
Raiders 3 14 7 0 24

at Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

With Steelers running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier out of the game with injuries, the Raiders easily shut down Pittsburgh's offense. Oakland jumped to a 10-0 lead with Errol Mann's 39-yard field goal and running back Clarence Davis' 1-yard touchdown run. The Steelers responded with running back Reggie Harrison's 3-yard rushing touchdown. With 19 seconds left in the first half, the Raiders faced first down at the Pittsburgh 4-yard line. Oakland lined up three tight ends as if they were to run the ball, but quarterback Ken Stabler threw a play action pass to Warren Bankston for a touchdown to give the Raiders a 17-7 lead at halftime. Oakland controlled the entire second half, including a 12-play, 63-yard scoring drive that ended with Stabler's second touchdown pass.

  • Scoring
    • OAK - field goal Mann 39 OAK 3-0
    • OAK - Davis 1 run (Mann kick) OAK 10-0
    • PIT - Harrison 3 run (Mansfield kick) OAK 10-7
    • OAK - Bankston 4 pass from Stabler (Mann kick)OAK 17-7
    • OAK - Banaszak 5 pass from Stabler (Mann kick) OAK 24-7

[edit] NFC: Minnesota Vikings 24, Los Angeles Rams 13

1 2 3 4 Total
Rams 0 0 13 0 13
Vikings 7 3 7 7 24

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

The Vikings forced a blocked field goal, a blocked punt, and two interceptions en route to the victory over the Rams. On offense, running back Chuck Foreman rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries while also catching 5 passes for 81 yards. In the first quarter, Nate Allen blocked a field goal and Bobby Bryant picked up the ball and returned it 90 yards for a Minnesota touchdown. Then in the second quarter, linebacker Matt Blair recovered a blocked punt to set up Fred Cox's 25-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 10-0 lead before halftime. Then in the third period, Foreman rushed 62 yards to the Los Angeles 2-yard line, and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run two plays later to increase the lead 17-0. The Rams rallied back with two quick touchdowns in the third. After a Dave Elmendorf interception gave the Rams the ball at midfield, Pat Haden hit Harold Jackson for 40 yards, followed by a 10-yard touchdown run by Lawrence McCutcheon. The PAT was blocked, however. On the Vikings next drive, Fred Dryer hit Fran Tarkenton on a sack, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Jack Youngblood at the Viking 11. Two plays later, Haden hit Jackson for a 5-yard touchdown pass. With 2:40 left in the game, Los Angeles advanced to the Minnesota 39-yard line. On fourth down and needing more than a field goal, Haden thought he had Jackson open deep near the goal line, but Bryant intercepted the pass (his second of the game) rather than batting it down. A few plays later, Tarkenton dumped a short pass off to Foreman, which he turned into a 57-yard gain. Backup running back Sammy Johnson scored the clinching touchdown from 12 yards out.

  • Scoring
    • MIN - Bryant 90 blocked field goal return (Cox kick) MIN 7-0
    • MIN - field goal Cox 25 MIN 10-0
    • MIN - Foreman 2 run (Cox kick) MIN 17-0
    • LA - McCutcheon 10 run (kick failed) MIN 17-6
    • LA - Jackson 5 pass from Haden (Dempsey kick) MIN 17-13
    • MIN - Johnson 12 run (Cox kick) MIN 24-13

[edit] Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XI

Oakland Raiders (AFC) 32, Minnesota Vikings (NFC) 14, at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

[edit] Bracket

Divisional Playoffs Conf. Championship Games Super Bowl XI
                   
December 19 - Memorial Stadium        
 3) Pittsburgh Steelers  40
December 26 - Oakland Coliseum
 2) Baltimore Colts  14  
 3) Pittsburgh Steelers  7
December 18 - Oakland Coliseum
   1) Oakland Raiders  24  
 4) New England Patriots  21
January 9 - Rose Bowl
 1) Oakland Raiders  24  
 A1) Oakland Raiders  32
December 19 - Texas Stadium
   N1) Minnesota Vikings  14
 3) Los Angeles Rams  14
December 26 - Metropolitan Stadium
 2) Dallas Cowboys  12  
 3) Los Angeles Rams  13
December 18 - Metropolitan Stadium
   1) Minnesota Vikings  24  
 4) Washington Redskins  20
 1) Minnesota Vikings  35  


[edit] References

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