Blitz Burghed: The Immaculate Reception- The Start of the Raiders-Steelers Rivalry

Source:Blitz Burghed.

Source:Blitz Burghed

To me for a rivalry to be great or for it to even be a rivalry, the two teams involved have to at least be good. Not just consistent winners, but consistent playoff teams. Not teams that generally 8-8 or 9-7 or worst and every few years sneak into the playoffs. But teams where just getting to the playoffs is not enough for them to have a successful season. Teams that have it as their goal every year to win their division and win the league championship. 

The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcon Fans and even though both teams are good now and making the playoffs and in the Saints case winning the Super Bowl in 2009, but historically both franchises have either been mediocre or bad. The Falcons didn't make the playoffs until 1978, their twelfth season and are now in their forty-eighth season and they have only made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons once. The Saints didn't even have a winning season until 1987 their 21st season and played and won their first Super Bowl in 2009 their forty-third season. So Falcon-Saint games traditionally haven't meant much.

Unlike Packer-Bear games, Packer-Viking games, Bear-Viking games, Redskins-Cowboys, Redskins- Giants etc. It's when the games are important that they have meaning is when they become rivalry's because that's when both teams prepare real well and tend to play their best and when the games are played real hard and physical and get real tense and you see big hits and borderline cheap shots and everything else. And the fans really get into it and even go to the other teams stadiums to watch their team play that the games become rival games. Which is exactly what you get in the NFC East where everyone is a big rival of the other.

That's exactly what the Steeler-Raider rivalry was in the 1970 and 80s to a certain extent. Because every time they played in this time period, their games were about who would have home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs. And have the better chance of winning the AFC Championship and going to the Super Bowl. And the rivalry that the Pittsburgh Steelers had with the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s, is similar to the rivalry the Steelers have with the New England Patriots today because they are playing for home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs almost every time they play each other.

But with the Steelers-Raiders rivalry of the 70s, you're talking about two of the three best franchises of the 70s that made the AFC Playoffs a total of sixteen times, that won fifteen division championships between the two of them. Won five AFC Championships and won five Super Bowls. They knew to get to where they wanted to go they were going to have to beat the other team. It was really that simple because both teams in this decade both had the same goal every year, win the Super Bowl. And since they were both in the AFC, that meant beating the other team especially in the AFC Playoffs just to get to the Super Bowl and this why this rivalry was so great and intense. 

Rivalry's are between two good teams and franchises, otherwise they don't mean anything. They're just another game, rivalry games are important, even when one team may be having a down year because they can make their season by beating the other team. Which would be like their championship. "We didn't do much this year, but at least we beat that team and made their season a little more difficult. Perhaps cost them a home game in the playoffs". And the team who lost that game remembers losing that game, takes that with them going into the next season and try's to get their revenge, which makes the rivalry that much greater.

NFL Films: John Facenda- Pride and Poise: The Glory Days of the Oakland Raiders

Source:NFL Films- Not the Oakland Raiders.

"Rollie Schmidt led the Colonels to 32 straight victories in the late 60's. Learn more about Coach Schmidt and Colonel's football history."

From NFL Films

Source:The Daily Post- The Glory Days of the Oakland Raiders.

As John Madden put it when asked about the Raiders not being able to win the "Big Game", the Oakland Raiders won a lot of big games. You have to do that just to have the chance to get to the "Big Game". The teams that play in the "Big Game" aren't selected by a "committee of experts" but they are selected by the two teams from both conferences that won their championships. What the Raiders weren't able to do until 1976, other than 1967 be able to get to the one big game the biggest game in the world. If you think about it as far as the amount of people that watch it.

The Super Bowl of course is the biggest television event in the world, but if you look at the teams that they lost to, there were all great teams as far as who they lost to in those AFC Finals that cost them the AFC Championship and a trip to the Super Bowl. They lost to the Baltimore Colts in 1970 that won that Super Bowl, the Miami Dolphins in 1973 that won that Super Bowl. The Pittsburgh Steelers their arch-rival in the 1970s in both 1974 and 75 that won both of those Super Bowls. So the Raiders problem was that they didn't choke or get it done, they just lost to the best team in football all of those years.

The Raiders had to be the best team in the NFL not just have the best record in the AFC and host the AFC Final at Oakland Coliseum better known as "the Black Hole" as they did in 1974, but they had to have the best team in the AFC both regular and postseason. So when 1976 came around having lost four of the last six AFC Finals, including one at home, the sole-mission of the 1976 Raiders was to go to and win the Super Bowl and meant getting past the Steelers and running through anyone else who got in their way.

The Raiders knew they had the players and they had the talent on both sides of the ball. One of the best offenses in the NFL if not the best, with their vertical spread offense (as I call it)  always looking to throw deep to Cliff Branch from quarterback Ken Stabler. But working the whole field, to tight end Dave Casper and wide receiver Fred Belitninkoff both who are in the Hall of Fame. 

And with their power running game with the best offensive line in the NFL, with Hall of Famers offensive tackle Art Shell and offensive guard Gene Upshaw arguably the best players who ever played their positions. With center Dave Dalby another Pro Bowler and their power running game with their man-on-man blocking where you literally try to destroy the man in front of you.

And with tailback Clarence Davis and fullback Mark Van Egan and their kick ass defense (for lack of a better word) with defensive tackle John Mutuzak and defensive tackle Dave Rowe up front and others. Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks arguably the best outside linebacker of all- time and Pro Bowler Phil Viliapano. With two bump-and-run cover corners in Mike Haynes and Willy Brown. And perhaps the two hardest hitting safety's in football George Atkinson and Jack Tatum.

The Oakland Raiders by the time 1976 came around were already a very good team with a lot of talent. You would have to be to just be in six AFC Finals even though they lost all of them going into 1976. But they weren't a great team yet and being a great team and having great talent are two different things. The trick is to have both of them at the same time which is something the 1976 Raiders were finally able to learn and most of that credit goes to John Madden a Hall of Fame head coach. He figured out how to get all of these great players to play together at the same time.

WCPO-TV Sports: 'Sam Wyche Remembers Super Bowl XXIII'

Source:WCPO-TV Sports- former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Sam Wyche (1984-91)

Source:The Daily Post 

"Former Bengals coach reminisces with John Popovich." 

From WCPO-TV Sports

NBC Sports: NFL 79- Halftime Scores: Mike Adamle & Bryant Gumbel

Source:NBC Sports- left to right: NBC Sports anchors Mike Adamle & Bryant Gumbel.

"A young Bryant Gumbel and Mike Adamle run down week 11 scores from 1979." 

From Daddy Sinister

From 1967-77, the New Orleans Saints never even had a 500 season. Their best record during this period was 5-9, which they accomplished 3 times. But in 1978 under new head coach Dick Nolan, they were in the NFC playoff race up until the last few weeks of that season and finished just a couple games out of the NFC Wildcard at 7-9, after going 3-11 in 1977 under Hank Stram. 

So in 1979, going into that season and into that season, with the Los Angeles Rams dealing with all sorts of key injuries and never being at full strength until the end of that year, the Saints looked like they were about to not just become winners for the 1st time ever, but perhaps get an NFC Playoff birth, and perhaps even win the NFC West, with the Rams down, the 49ers still very bad and the Atlanta Falcons, who finally made it to the playoffs in 1978, but it looked like the Saints could at least be as good as the Falcons in 79. 

I only mention all of this because the Saints-49ers game was one of the scores that Bryant Gunbel and Mike Adamle mentioned. The Saints won that game to move to 6-5 and move into 1st place in the NFC West.

NBC Sports: NFL 1978- AFC Wildcard - Houston Oilers @ Miami Dolphins: Dan Pastorini's Performance

Source:Official Jaguar Gator- Houston Oilers QB Dan Pastorini.

Source:The New Democrat 

"Prior to the 1978 AFC wild card game between the Houston Oilers and Miami Dolphins, Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini was severely injured. He was hospitalized for multiple days, did not practice all week, and was dealing with injuries to his elbow, his knee, his ankle, and his ribs, of which he had three of them that were cracked. What followed was a game where not only did Pastorini play and somehow send the Oilers to the next round of the NFL playoffs, but a game where despite all the pain, Pastorini had arguably the best game of his career at the time." 

From Official Jaguar Gator 

Dan Pastorini wasn't a great NFL QB. At best, he was a system's quarterback, who needed a strong offensive line and running game, to be a successful QB. As a backup, I think he would've been one of the best backups in the NFL during his career. But as a starter, he needed the people and coaching around him, to be successful. He needed a power offense, that only three off of play action a and threw the ball vertically, to be successful. Which is exactly what he had in Houston, with head coach Bum Phillips and the Oilers. 

As far as this game, I think Dan Pastorini, what ever he think of him and career in the NFL, cemented his legacy as one of the toughest QB's to ever play in the NFL. To not only play an NFL game, but a playoff game, on the road, in the heat and humidity of Miami, Florida, at Orange Bowl Stadium, where the Dolphins were almost unbeatable, against a team as good as the 1978 Dolphins, to play that game with broken ribs and on drugs to deal with the pain, you know he was a tough guy and clutch QB.

NBC Sports: NFL 1978-AFC Wildcard-Houston Oilers @ Miami Dolphins: Highlights

Source:NBC Sports- Houston Oilers head coach Bum Phillips.

Source:The New Democrat 

“Bum vs Shula. If you want to see the first game it’s highlights are below. Reposted from classicsportsvids”

From Classic Sports 

The Houston Oilers were playing an AFC Wildcard game on the road in 1978, because they finished second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Central that year. But not because the Miami Dolphins were a better team. Because if anything the Oilers were better. 

Back then and until 1990, you had to win your division in order to host an NFL playoff game. As it should be, at least as far as I’m concern. So because the Oilers were in the same division as the Steelers in 78 and finished behind the Steelers that season, the Dolphins won the AFC East, so the Dolphins hosted this wildcard against the Oilers.

The Oilers were the second best team in the AFC in 78. They just didn’t win their division, because again they were in the same division with the Steelers, the best team in the AFC in 78 and Super Bowl champion.

NFL Films: 1981 New York Jets Highlights

Source:NFL Films- with a look at the 1981 New York Jets.

Source:The Daily Post

"1981 New York Jets Team Season Highlights "Talk Of The Town"

From Sports Odyssey

The Autumn Wind: The Oakland Raiders Code

Source:Oakland Raiders- Just win Baby!

Source:The Daily Post

“The Autumn Wind Oakland Raiders Theme:

JUST WIN BABY”

From NFL Films

I hope for Raiders fans this makes up for the fact that they’ve been so bad the last ten years. The great history that they had in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. I’m not a Raider fan, because I still have horrible memories and even nightmares that I’m getting professional help for. Because of how they took apart my great 1983 Redskins in Super Bowl 18. But imagine what it must be like for Raider fans who write about football and what they’re going through right now. Suffering through ten straight non-winning seasons. Where in this period an 8-8 season was considered successful for them. Something they’ve accomplished once or twice. I mean you have all of those great memories from the 1970s and even 1980s, (unless you still live in Oakland) to go with the current nightmare you’re currently going through.

I think something that current Raiders fans are going through who are long time Raider fans and remember the 1970s, or at least the 1980s, that could be compared with the current state of Raider Nation, would like what New York Yankee fans went through in the early 1990s. Say 1991, 92, 93, when they were no longer just not winning or playing in World Series, but they were no longer not even winning the AL East, or not even making the AL Playoffs, but 1992 was the Yankees fourth straight losing season. Something they hadn’t done since the late 1960s-early 1970s. If you include the 1994 strike-shorten season where the Yankees were in place to make the AL Playoffs, they missed the playoffs thirteen straight seasons. But finished with winning seasons in eight of those years. The Raiders have even been worst than that. 10 straight non-winning seasons.

When I think of the Oakland Raiders, I think of very tough and very smart football teams, that have a lot of speed. Who go right after you and take you apart. You want to play cover-two against their vertical passing game, Cliff Branch will run right through it and catch a bomb from Ken Stabler. Or take a short pass to the house. Or they will run the ball right down your throat to get you to play them straight up. With a defense that comes right after you, because they have two cover corners with Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes. And can stuff the run simply with their front seven and don’t have to blitz. With Howie Long, Lyle Alzado, Greg Townsend and many others up front. Attacking the QB. That is how you have the best record in football in the 1960s and 1970s and how you win three Super Bowls and four AFC Championship’s.

That is just not the current Raider Nation and it hasn’t been that way for a long time. Now they play in a stadium that is not the Black Hole, but more like a Toilet Bowl, with a Toilet Bowl team. That can be counted on to finish last in a four team division every year.Playing in a stadium that is falling apart and in a city that won’t do it’s part to help them get a new stadium, or at least rebuild the current one. And part of this blame goes to the City of Oakland for not doing their part to keep up with the maintenance of the Oakland Coliseum. But the first person you want to look at and I hate to say this, because I have a lot of respect for Al Davis who created the Oakland Raiders, but you have to look at his mismanagement of his franchise. And not hiring a competent person to run his club for him. And trying to do too much on his own.

Conky Joe: 'The Don Shula Show, Super Bowl VIII, January 14, 1974'

Source:Conky Joe- The Don Shula Show from 1974.

Source:The Daily Post

"Back to back Super Bowl wins.  Joe Croghan hosts. Assistant Coach Bill Arnsparger guests with Head Coach Don Shula.  The only copy in existence." 

From Conky Joe

Obviously a Miami Dolphins local TV show with the so-called host of it not there to ask Head Coach Don Shula any tough or critical questions. But having said that, forget about the score of Super 8 between the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, 23-7. The game looked like a 28-0 or 35-10 game, where one team could basically did everything they wanted to do on offense and dominate the first half. And play keep away in the second half, as well as shut down the other team’s offense in the first half at least. 

Sometimes the final score in football games are misleading. Because you could have one team dominate the other really badly without the score indicating that. And making the game look a lot closer than it actually was. Which is what the Dolphins did, completely dominate the Vikings in Super Bowl 8 to the point that the Vikings were never actually in the football game with a real chance of winning. The Vikings fell behind early and never got into the game.

NBC Sports: NFL 1993- AFC Divisional Playoff- Kansas City Chiefs vs Houston Oilers: Highlights

Source:NFL Throwback- battle of HOF QB's.

Source:The Daily Post 

"Check out the 1993 AFC Divisional Round game highlights between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers!" 

From NFL Throwback 

The two best teams in the NFL in 1993 were the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Oilers. And yet only the Cowboys made it to the NFL Final Four, which is the four conference finals teams, the NFC Final and AFC Final. The Oilers didn’t even get to the AFC Final and as a result we didn’t get to see the Texas Bowl as part of the Super Bowl in 1993 between the Cowboys and Oilers. 

As good as the Oilers were on both sides of the ball in 1993 and perhaps even better than the Cowboys at least in the regular season, if you want to be a great team you have to get it done in the playoffs. To be a great team you have to do more than get a first round bye and have the best record in your conference. You have to win in the playoffs and at the very least you have to get to your conference final. 

Great NFL teams don’t lose in the divisional round of the playoffs. They play for Super Bowls and win Super Bowls. The Oilers under Jack Pardee and Buddy Ryan and even Kevin Gilbride were out coached by Marty Shottenheimer and his Chiefs coaching staff.

NFL Films: 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers: 'The Return Of The Champions'

Source:NFL Films- two members of the Pittsburgh Air Force.

What made the Steelers different in the late 1970s from the mid 1970s is that their offense changed when the rules changed in 1978 to improve the blocking and put in the illegal contact rule so WR's could get off of the line of scrimmage. 

In the mid 1970s the Steelers were a defensive club that relied on their defense to get them great field position and get them takeaway's. Not that different from the 1980s Chicago Bears, with a power run ball control offense and deep threats in the passing game with John Stallworth and Lynn Swann at WR. 

When defenses stacked the line of scrimmage to take away the running game, that type of offense was no longer good enough with the new rule changes to open up the passing and running game. 

Even with the Steel Curtain defense the Steelers had to find more ways to score and score more often as we saw in Super Bowls 13 and 14 against the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams. And Terry Bradshaw emerging as the best QB in the league and best big game QB in the league made the Steelers great on offense as well.

From Lafayette Cathey

NFL Films: Americas Game- 1973 Miami Dolphins: Super Bowl 8 Highlights

Source:NFL Films- Dolphins FB Larry Czonka taking the ball into the end zone, against the Minnesota Vikings.

Source:The Daily Post

"In Super Bowl VIII, the Dolphins sought to become the 2nd team to ever win two straight Super Bowls, the first team to do so since Vince Lombardi's Packers took the first two AFL-NFL Championships, but the Dolphins were facing a highly-regarded Vikings team that was picked by SI to win the game." 

From the NFL 

If you think about it, the 1970s Don Shula Dolphins philosophy and game plan was simple to explain, that you could not only do it in simple English, but if you are a real football fan, you would never forget it, not because it was so simple, but because of how successful it was. 

The 1970s Don Shula Dolphins philosophy and game plan was as simple as this: you run the ball down the other team's throats. When that doesn't work, you run the ball outside with sweeps and traps, or you do that before the defense takes away your inside running game, just to give the defense something else to think about. Now the defense is thinking about both the inside and outside running games of the Dolphins, so QB Bob Griese goes play-action down the field to WR Paul Warfield, who is arguably the best big play and perhaps big game receiver ever. 

On defense, Don Shula's Dolphins wanted to take away your running game on 1st down, by either stuffing your run on 1st or forcing you to throw the ball on 1st, because they know they had the pass rushers and secondary to stop your passing game. 

If you think about it, Don Shula's 1970s Dolphins were essentially the AFC's version of the Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. They beat by executing, but outworking their opponents, taking away what you wanted to do and do what they wanted to do, which was to run the ball, stuff your run, throw the ball downfield, and attack your QB. Had the Dolphins not had lost several of their key players to the World Football League in the mid 1970s, maybe we're talking about the Dolphins as the team of the 1970s and not the Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFL Films: NFL 1973- Super Bowl 8- Minnesota Vikings vs Miami Dolphins: Highlights

Source:NFL Films- Miami Dolphins FB Larry Czonka taking it in for a touchdown.

"(4K ULTRA HD) - Super Bowl VIII Highlights - RESTORED" 

From Godzilla Rocks

I think what the Minnesota Vikings experiences in their 4 Super Bowls from 1969-76, is that if you can't run the ball against the other team and can't stop the other team's running game, you are not going to win the Super Bowl. 

You might be able to win the Super Bowl today without a running game, or at least a running game in the Super Bowl, but you couldn't do that in the 1970s, for the simple reason that the rules favored the defenses so much, both the defensive lineman and the defensive backs. 

If you couldn't run the ball in the Super Bowl in the 1970s, even if you had one of the best passing games in the NFL that season, which is what the Vikings had, your QB (in this case Fran Tarkenton) and your receivers, will be sitting ducks. Because your o-line will get run over by the d-line and linebackers, especially since they know you have to throw the ball, just to move the ball.

Like with the Kansas Chiefs in Super Bowl 4, the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 9, the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl 11, the Dolphins won Super Bowl 8 at the line of scrimmage with their o-line and d-line. They ran the ball at will against the Vikings smaller front 7 and stuffed the Vikings running game the whole day. 

You can also see this post at The FreeState, on Blogger.

NFL Films: 1974 Denver Broncos

Source:NFL Films- 24 is Denver Broncos RB Otis Armstrong.

"The 74 Broncos were looking for back to back winning seasons." 

From Classic Sports

From 1974-76, the Broncos were 22-19. Their best season was in 1976 when they were 9-5 and barely missed the AFC Playoffs. The Broncos under head coach John Ralston, was good, but never good enough. Good offensive teams, with a good passing and running games, but probably not enough on defense to win the AFC West, especially with their arch-rival Oakland Raiders being in the same division. The Broncos in the early and mid 1970s, were fun teams to watch, but never good enough to be good enough and be consistent winners. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Three Rivers Stadium (1980)

Source:Pittsburgh Steelers- preparing to take on the Kansas City Chiefs, at Pittsburgh Three Rivers Stadium, in 1980.

"Here is some on field video of Rocky Bleier and the formidable 1980 Pittsburgh Steelers. The date is Dec. 14, 1980. The scene is Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh Pa.  The day is the last home game for Steelers' favorite Rocky Bleier. The Steelers won 21-16 with  Rocky scoring the final touchdown in the last moments of the game." 

From Brampete

Pittsburgh Three Rivers Stadium was known as a cookie-cutter stadium, because it was circular all around the stadium, with upper decks in both end zones and in the outfield for baseball. As well as being one of the other so-called cookie-cutter stadiums that were built in the 1960s and 70s. Like Philadelphia Veterans Stadium, which is just a few hours east of Pittsburgh. Cincinnati Riverfront Stadium, just a few hours west of Pittsburgh, RFK Stadium, 4-5 south from Pittsburgh in Washington, and Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. 

But I don't think the label cookie-cutter gives Three Rivers the credit that it deserves. This was a great place for NFL football, especially in the 1970s, when the Steelers were dominant. 55-60,000 fans at every Steeler game, they were very loud, they were on top of the action with excellent seats. It might have not been a great place to play even for the Steelers, as far as the concrete hard field, but it was a great place for the Steelers to play as far as fan atmosphere. If Three Rivers was a cookie-cutter stadium, it was a football first, baseball second cookie-cutter, because of how well-suited for football that it was.

You can also see this post on WordPress.

NFL Films: 1986 Cleveland Browns Highlights

Source:NFL Films- Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Also known as the Mistake by The Lake.

Source:The Daily Post

"Browns center Mike Baab put together this creative video, based on his love of Conan The Barbarian comics, to benefit charity in 1986. The 17 minute video, "filmed" at Cleveland Metro Parks Squires Castle, features many of the star players of the 1986 Browns, some great game footage from early in the season against the Detroit Lions, and the original song "Hard Die The Heroes" by Cleveland's Michael Stanley Band. Yes, that is Tiny Tim playing "The Lord Of The League."  Transferred in HD." 

From Cindy Scott 

"1986 Browns Highlights" 

Source:NFL Films- the 1986 AFC Divisional between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.

From Comrade Dobler 

The three best teams in the NFL in 1986 were the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns. The Giants clearly deserved to be number one having won the Super Bowl that year and were the most consistent team in the NFL in 1986. The question is who would be number two? The Redskins or Browns 

Some my say the Denver Broncos aren’t in the top three, even though they won the AFC and played in the Super Bowl and beat both the Browns and Redskins that year. The Redskins and Browns simply had better teams, better personal and better records. The Broncos won enough to get to the Super Bowl. And a lot of that credit goes to their head coach Dan Reeves. 

The Browns of this era were an NFC caliber and style team as far as physical strength toughness and speed on both sides of the ball. But simply didn’t win the games they needed to, to play in the Super Bowl. The two AFC Final’s they lost in 86 and 87, where they had the best team in both games, but didn't win those games.

NFL Films: 1983 Seattle Seahawks Highlights

Source:NFL Films- Video Library with a film about the 1983 Seattle Seahawks, the runner up in the AFC that season.

"1983 Seahawks" 

From Lafayette Cathey

The Seattle Seahawks not just became winners in 1983 but contenders and a regular playoff team in the AFC. And ended up having a pretty good decade in the 1980s under head coach Chuck Knox who built another winner and contender in Seattle like he did in Los Angeles and Buffalo. But like in those cities and in Seattle being a contender even a championship contender is different than being a champion. Where you win your conference championship, get to and win the Super Bowl. Something that Chuck Knox or Ground Chuck wasn't able to do in Los Angeles, Buffalo and in Seattle where he had very good teams in each city, but never quite got over the top.

NBC Sports: NFL 1982- AFC Wildcard- Cleveland Browns @ Los Angeles Raiders: 2nd Half

Source:NBC Sports- coverage of this 1982 AFC Wildcard.

"Raiders v Browns 1982 Playoffs p4" 

From Newton Minnowowski

The Raiders beating the Browns in the AFC Playoffs.

NBC Sports: NFL 1977- AFC Divisional- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos: 2nd Quarter

Source:NBC Sports- coverage of the 1977 AFC Divisional between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos.

"This is joined in progress as the Ghost in the Post was an OT game.  This was the biggest game in Denver Bronco's franchise history at the time." 

From Classic Sports

If you look at the the two teams, I think even Denver Broncos fans would say (at least under oath and when they're sober) that the Pittsburgh Steelers had a better team than they did, especially offensively, but defensively as well. I mean just look at the two squads, the personal, the QB, the backfields, the receivers, and the careers that these players had. 

But the Broncos lived off of mistakes that their opponents made and mistakes that they forced their opponents to make and they took advantage of all of them, at least in 1977. They beat two far and superior teams just to get to the Super Bowl in 1977. They beat the Steelers and in divisional and then later the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship. But then they play Tom Landry and his Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl and the Cowboys were ready for them and dominated them in that Super Bowl.

NBC Sports: NFL 1989- Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins: Tom Hammond Intro

Source:NBC Sports- the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, from Joe Robbie Stadium (as it was called back then) in Miami, Florida.

"ALL NEW!  Here is the intro to probably one of the most (if not the most) surreal games, weather conditions-wise, ever played in Miami.  There have been some chilly games in Miami, but usually those are night games in December or January (New England-Miami in 2004 and the Orange Bowl Game in 2010 come to mind), but nothing even close to this for a daytime game.  Kickoff temperatures in the 30s, with a wind chill hovering around just 15 degrees (They had a different wind chill formula at the time).  Note the many no-shows, especially in the upper levels that faced the strong winds, in spite of both teams still having a chance at the playoffs (albeit slim as you see)... That day was also the last time until January 2010 that snow flurries were in the forecast in South Florida! Crazy stuff to see in Miami!" 

From WREY Tube

I didn't get to see a lot of NFL games with Tom Hannomd as the lead announcer growing up in the 1980s and early 90s. Got to see and hear him do college football for NBC Sports in the 1990s as well, doing Notre Dame Fighting Irish games and college bowl games, as well as NBA basketball games. But he has an excellent voice and delivery and does a great intro for this very important Chiefs-Dolphins game. 

As far as this game, it was called the Ice Bowl because of the ridiculous weather for South Florida, with it being so cold for this game. But you could also call it the Mediocre Bowl, with a 7-7 Chiefs team led by Marty Shottenheimer, who was just trying to bring the Chiefs back to respectability, after two bad years in a row in 87 and 88. 

The Dolphins were 8-7 going into this game, with QB Dan Marino having an off year, the defense struggling all year, especially against the run, and no running game at all for the Dolphins. But this was a good, competitive game, especially considering the weather conditions.