1974 Monday Night Football-Week #4-Joe Namath TD drive versus Dolphins

[@paulchoudhury2573]

I remember watching this game as a 13 year old, thanks for posting it! This was the last year my Dolphins could call themselves defending Super Bowl Champs, the matchups against the Jets were usually close entertaining games, but during this era the Dolphins would win most of them. Listening to Cosell again is quite interesting as he was quite the polarizing figure during the 70's and 80's.

[@jamessollazzo4860]

were the same age born in 61'. monday night games were killer back then for the jets who didn't win any of them. always on the road until 79'. i remember staying home on a tuesday because i was up all night watching the 72' game vs the raiders with the playoffs on the line!

[@eddiecharlie77]

Dandy Don Meredith left MNF in 74 to work at NBC with Curt Gowdy and Al D. Rogatis. he returned in 77 and stayed until 84

[@retromaven2159]

Yes, and he sure was missed. None of his replacements did anything to enhance the broadcasts

[@lancer3412]

@@retromaven2159 The only thing I really remember Karras for is Otis Sistrunk and the university of Mars.

[@eddiecharlie77]

@@retromaven2159 Dandy Don was part of 2 Super Bowl broadcasts for NBC in January 75 and 77

[@retromaven2159]

@@eddiecharlie77 Very cool, thanks!

[@3243_]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@retromaven2159]

It's my sincere pleasure. Just wish I had more considerate viewers like yourself who will SUB and LIKE so the channel will grow. Maybe it's me? Naw...

[@3243_]

@@retromaven2159 Already subbed.

[@rrmarshall3239]

It's weird but no one remembers Riggins with the Jets, even though he played in the media capital of the world. Once he got to Washington running behind that massive o-line he became a household name. Four SB MVPs played in this game, Namath, Griese, Riggins, and Jake Scott!

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

I do, but then again I am old

[@robertcgordon]

Think Csonka was Super Bowl MVP in 74, not Griese.

[@loyevangelists]

I started following football in 1972 when I was 13 and I don't remember John Riggins playing for the Jets. Of course I was completely wrapped up in following the Pittsburgh Steelers. I can honestly say that I was not a bandwagon fan in those days. I started following the Steelers before they won their 4 Super Bowls in 6 years. I just love watching any old videos of the NFL from those days. Brings back memories. I remember my dad used to let me stay up late on Monday nights to watch Monday Night Football with him even though I had school the next day. I can remember Dandy Don Meredith singing Turn out the lights the partys over when the game was a blowout

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@robertcgordon you are correct

[@radar0412]

​@@robertcgordonYes, Superbowl VIII MVP Larry Csonka had 2 TDs and a Superbowl record 145 yards rushing at the time. While Griese was only 6 for 7 and 73 yards passing in Superbowl VIII.

[@retromaven2159]

Thanks to all who joined the chat. Remember to hit the LIKE button so the video will be seen by more people! 'Til next time..

[@tod4170]

Great footage. More like the John Riggins show.

[@loyevangelists]

We don't hear Howard Cosell until 4 minutes and 12 seconds into the video. I was starting to wonder what happened to Howard.

[@retromaven2159]

A rare occurrence to be sure! 😁

[@johnmanier7968]

Actually, Howard says one word-“lawyer”-at 3:23.

[@bobb3152]

Where is the rest of the game?

[@eletonjohns8361]

One of the greatest Games Ever.

[@carseye1219]

Joe Namath TD drive? It was a John Riggins TD drive.

[@mizzo9]

I saw a game in NY when Namath was on the sideline in a full mink coat. Riggins got hit and his helmet got knocked off. It was when he had a Mohawk and it got a big reaction from the crowd!

[@carseye1219]

Probably a nice enough guy, but Karras brought nothing to MNF.

[@radar0412]

The John Riggins touchdown drive maybe! 😂

[@lancer3412]

Yet another great find. IIRC, the Jets won their last 6 games that year to finish 7-7. Riggins was one of the rare players, at the time, to play out their option and sign for another team. The compensation for signing free agent was so heavy back then. For someone like Riggins, I believe it was 2 first round picks. David Knight, from Temple University, I think. Became one of Namath's regular targets. Interesting that Namath only had 290 TD passes twice, I would have sure thought at least 1 or 2 more.

[@ringsideseatboxinge-magazi6280]

David Knight went to William & Mary

[@lancer3412]

@@ringsideseatboxinge-magazi6280 Whoops. That does ring a bell now that you mention it. For some reason, though, Temple was coming to mind.

[@jamessollazzo4860]

saved charlie winners job which turned out to be the wrong move. hired because he was weeb's son in law

[@lancer3412]

@@jamessollazzo4860 No, not a successful hire. Maybe not Holtz or Kotite bad, but pretty bad.

[@jamessollazzo4860]

riggins went to court and free agency was granted for the 1976 season. there were a few guys who moved to other teams, but mostly every player who played out their option stayed put

[@peterlisecki3694]

One of the worst decisions in Jets history to get rid of John Riggins.

[@goblinzl1]

joe namath did work riggins on this drive. but if you notice all of his passes were short and mid range. the other TD was an 89 yd pass to caster which majorly burned the dolphins. no one was really near caster and the dolphin defenders were off balance and caster galloped in untouched. thanks very much. ive been looking for anything from this game forever. do you have anymore?

[@Jiltedin2007]

When the Raiders broke the Miami Dolphins winning streak in 1973, was that game played in Oakland?

[@retromaven2159]

It was a road game for Miami but that game was played at the California Memorial Stadium in Berkley, California. Over 74,000 were in attendance!!

[@Jiltedin2007]

@@retromaven2159 WOW! Over at Strawberry Canyon the game was played? Probably at a time when the A's were playing in the World Series since the Weekend Games were played at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum. The A's beat the New York Mets that year in 7 games.

[@johnmanier7968]

@@Jiltedin2007The A’s were in Chicago on the day of the Dolphins-Raiders game (Sept. 23), but had a home game the following night against Minnesota. The Coliseum lease gave the A’s exclusivity for 36 hours up to game time, and Charlie Finley exercised that provision in this instance. Cal had previously resisted allowing the Raiders to play at Memorial Stadium, but relented in the 70s for some exhibition games and this single regular season showdown. The 1973 World Series caused the Raiders-Chargers game on October 14 to be moved from Oakland to San Diego, with the November 25 rematch flipped from SD to Oakland. As a result, the 1973 Raiders didn’t play a regular season game in the Oakland Coliseum until November 4, when they massacred the Giants, 42-0.

[@donoakman1507]

It's a shame namath had bad knees..he could have been even better...great player though

[@loyevangelists]

Where was Dandy Don Meredith?

[@retromaven2159]

He left ABC after the 1973 season for NBC. He was replaced by a host of others until he returned for the 1977 season.

[@johnmanier7968]

@@retromaven2159Fred Williamson was the original replacement, but he was fired after the 1974 preseason. Alex Karras filled the role for the 1974 regular season and all of 1975 and 1976.

[@edzaslow]

John Riggins was the best.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

In the rematch.the jets beat them