Brutal Bad Weather 1969 NFL And AFL Games

[@jtdavis62]

It's so sad we'll never see games like this again.

[@markgardner9460]

No kiddin' - used to be a lot of fun watching these types of games.

[@afvet5075]

I feel ya brother. Those were the most exciting times in sports. Me and my Father were big fans and NEVER missed either college or the NFL. Remember Thanksgiving day, and Christmas day. Turkey, ham, dressing, mashed taters. Sometimes a white Christmas time.

[@markgardner9460]

Yes! College ball was awesome too. The college atmosphere on tv created a lot of excitement. Great memories.

[@brötzmannsax]

Between all the domes and warmer winters, snow games have become a rarity nowadays, when yesteryear you had several every season.

[@markgardner9460]

@@brötzmannsax having the Vikings, Lions and Colts move into domes cut waaay back on the number of snow games for sure.

[@amanda_215]

It would be a joy to see a football game like this again

[@markgardner9460]

Indeed it would. I wonder which stadium, if any, would offer that opportunity?

[@johnperrigo6474]

Those days are gone unfortunately. Now every field has to be perfect.

[@blockmasterscott]

Man, I miss those mud games, I really do.

[@jodypaluch3933]

What a sloppy, soggy mess! Love it!

[@markgardner9460]

Me, too!!

[@markhine3232]

So many players I almost forgot Most of these games were from when I was a young teen. Back then, if not the game of the week, you only chance to see these plays was on the weekly NFL replay show with Steve sabol. Thanks for these priceless clips

[@markgardner9460]

You're welcome, Mark. I appreciate it!

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

don't you remember "this week in pro-football" with Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier? every saturday they'd review the games in both the afl and nfl of the previous week. '68 thru '71 i wouldn't miss an episode. being a reciever legend in my neighborhood lance alworth was my man! but i liked players and teams in both leagues. but growing up in KC the chief's were my team!

[@markgardner9460]

@@cjmacq-vg8um Otis Taylor was the man in KC!

[@paulmcdonald4232]

Awesome! This is the way it was meant to be. If the game is over & you are still clean, you did not play hard enough.

[@markgardner9460]

That's right! You could also tell who had seen action.

[@cadredeux1047]

I remember during that season during Carl Garret’s rookie season, being at the stadium when they played Buffalo and chanting “OJ who?” Needless to say that didn’t last long.

[@markgardner9460]

@@cadredeux1047 It just took awhile before The Juice was loose.

[@jammininthepast]

I love weather games, it changes the dynamics and team schemes. Sometimes weather games are won by brute force and a will not to lose. I fondly remember playing "ball" in the mud, it was sooo much fun, that is until my mom saw me. Oh boy. Thanks brother you're appreciated. €bd

[@markgardner9460]

Your comments remind me of the Chargers '81 season when they played in that freezing game in Cinci for the AFC Championship (-9 degrees with -32 degree wind chill). If the Chargers had a balanced attack, the results may have been different, but they were pretty much a passing team.

[@jammininthepast]

@@markgardner9460 that game should have been rescheduled...but tv money is blood money. The Chargers would have made San Diego's only SB..."they was robbed" to quote a past fan....

[@markgardner9460]

The Chargers and 49ers matched up in the Super Bowl - that would have been the first of 2 times that they would have met. Of course Steve Young's 49ers team absolutely destroyed the Chargers 49 to 26 in Super Bowl 29

[@jammininthepast]

@@markgardner9460 yeah I was thinking "that" Chargers team could have won their only title but the NFC was tough. However that team Joiner, Jefferson, Winslow was able to score in bunches...do you remember the shoot out w/Miami? That game was nuts!

[@3243_]

And the Chargers DID have a running game with Chuck Muncie (who scored a total of 19 touchdowns that season) and rookie James Brooks. Their big problem was that on the other side of the ball, they had a good defensive line, and not much else. And even their D-line was never the same once they let Fred Dean go to the 49ers early that season because they didn't want to pay him.

[@carnakthemagnificent336]

I love seeing these sloppy field games. Alot of scoring in Denver, despite the field. Silver and Black! Very nice. Thank you!

[@markgardner9460]

Fred Biletnikoff was able to successfully run his precision pass patterns in the mud - what a technician! He just goes to show that you can throw the scouting combine numbers out the window with some guys - can you get open? can you catch the ball? That's what it's about.

[@hovertrout1]

Truly a team-orientated era, no names on jerseys, no look at me celebrations down 21-7 etc. Liking the numbers on the helmets look.

[@markgardner9460]

I'm glad you mentioned the "no look at me celebrations...". It's a team sport + that's what they're paying you to do anyway!

[@3243_]

Just the NFL still had the nameless jerseys, until the next season.

[@MrBeyondbelief]

Or fantasy teams, or DRAFT KINGS...LOL

[@bjchit]

The AFL had names on the jerseys....

[@Xlc_Royal17]

Y’all complain over anything with todays NFL

[@jasonlinz2007]

Great film......as usual.. hopefully more real passionate fans would see this

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you, Jason. I hope that's the case, too!

[@2095yourstruly]

This is a great montage capturing the true essence of the game! Battling the elements while battling the opponent. Thanks for putting this one together

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you! I was thinking the same thing when I saw #17 Mike Taliaferro drop back, slip and fall, then get up again, then slide around some more in pocket on one particular play. He's also playing the elements, in addition to the Dolphins. I was thinking, "How is he able to keep his concentration on the receivers' routes when he's slipping all over the place?"

[@2095yourstruly]

Mark, to this day, when the fall weather turns wet and muddy , I immediately think of wanting to play football! Also, thanks for giving a lot of details of games and individual feats accomplished in these matchups. Great information that broadens one's perspective

[@markgardner9460]

@@2095yourstruly You're welcome, Marc! I appreciate it. Each fall I think of all the bloody noses, bruises and aches from back in the day and it makes me want to do it all over again.

[@2095yourstruly]

Absolutely I never rule it out! I still get out there with my sons. Recovery time is just a little longer than it was in the 1970s!! Keep up the great work

[@QAKVIK]

@@markgardner9460 Ha, haha, 😂. I feel that too.

[@paulcalhoun193]

I love it...❤️. The true game of Football is all about with the weather 😁🎊

[@markgardner9460]

Absolutely!! Thanks for watching and commenting, Paul.

[@mlbolts72]

Those were some crazy weather games 😅😅😅🏉

[@markgardner9460]

Old school football. We used to water down our backyards and play ball in the mud so we could be like these guys - was a lot of fun.

[@murphyotoole9014]

If you do another 1969 compilation such as this, please put in the Lions-Vikings 1969 Thanksgiving Day game. May not have been as "luxurious" as the "Silverdome" or "Ford Field", but football games were much more fun to watch when the Lions played in Tiger Stadium, and the Vikes in the old "Met" . . .now THAT was fun football to watch. Thanks for all of your hard work and quality vids uploaded. Take care.

[@markgardner9460]

Actually, I have that game on another one of my Bad Weather videos which is located in my Special Features section of my Playlist. I totally agree with you, Murphy; Lions games were far more fun to watch at old Tiger Stadium (formerly Briggs Stadium and Navin Field). Thanks!

[@michaelleroy9281]

I was watching that Vikings Lions game on CBS that Thanksgiving as far as sitting there in that weather , no thanks

[@markgardner9460]

Only diehard fans

[@JohnOdermott]

Don't forget the Thanksgiving Day 1968 mud-fest between the Lions and Eagles. Not a single touchdown was scored all day. It is my first memory of watching a bad-weather game, on my grandma's black & white TV while dinner was being prepared.

[@hammer44head]

great one, miss them ol sloppy field games

[@markgardner9460]

Great to hear from you again, Hammer!

[@jstube36]

Hard to talk of bad weather games of 1969 without bringing up December 14 :Vikings vs 49ers at the Met. The field was covered with beautiful Minnesota snow. The Vikes won 10-7 thanks to a 52yard strike From Joe Kapp to Gene Washington.

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

And the Vikings at Lions game!

[@jstube36]

@@stevenzimmerman4057 I believe that's the one where Marshall and Page combined for a TD. That's also the year I was born in the Twin Cities.

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

@@jstube36 That's correct the Vikes won 27-0.and that was a great play by Page and Marshall!

[@markgardner9460]

I think I may have that game in one of my other bad weather videos - good memory!

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

@@markgardner9460 Yes I think that you do actually

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

I already know that I am going to like this video and I just turned in

[@markgardner9460]

It doesn't get any better than that!

[@ronnierowe1312]

Love this! Thank you very much!

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you, Ronnie; I appreciate it!

[@559043]

12:42 great pass and catch

[@bwayne40004]

'68 and '69! My favorite AFL years. I watched on NBC every Sunday. Eastern Conference at 1, Western at 4.

[@robertcherry1369]

Gotta Love 💕 it I miss theses type of game’s awesome

[@markgardner9460]

I hear ya, Robert. These types of games add an extra dimension to the game and make it more entertaining, I think.

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Giants Steelers game was the last ever NFL game at Pitt Stadium

[@markgardner9460]

I should have noted that in the video - thank you for bringing that up!

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Good catch!

[@brötzmannsax]

Well that was fun from a ma soon to a blizzard, the rain in the Miami at Pats game was as deep as I've ever seen. I thought Czonka was going to drown on that first run, and the fans fighting for the ball @0:44 was ankle deep, I can't remember such deep rain in the end zone.

[@markgardner9460]

It seemed like that corner of the end zone just got deeper in water each foot that a player meandered into it. Obviously draining was non-existent in that stadium - unreal.

[@brötzmannsax]

@@markgardner9460 That stadium is where Boston College played and looks like it had no drainage system at all, the ball on top of the water in the end zone is hilarious.

[@markgardner9460]

They didn't hire any one to retrieve the kicked footballs. I guess they were just giving them away.

[@brötzmannsax]

@@markgardner9460 Imagine what one of those original AFL balls must be worth now.

[@markgardner9460]

$1,000 - $1,500

[@cmacdhon]

Oh man. How I miss the mud!! But I suppose these, the mud would make it more difficult for players to do their dance routines and have celebrations after each play.

[@markgardner9460]

That was a LOL moment for me!

[@rockymtns.h.1700]

Great video sir!!!

[@markgardner9460]

Glad you liked it! Thank you!

[@michaelhemphill8575]

"Spectacular".. I really love...the "Keystone Cop"effect..that the inclement weather.imposes upon the combatants..in regards to any pass...kick.. or run...could be disastrous for either team..which brings on the "Gladiator".." style of play"!! "SportsStatsNGab"!!

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you, Michael - I'm glad you liked it!

[@DavidSilva-fq7nt]

This is awesome.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@blakkat4126]

Remember when the jerseys had sleeves?

[@markgardner9460]

I do. They should go back to that. Bunch of posing now. Can you imagine someone posing in front of Conrad Dobler, Jack Lambert, Lyle Alzado or Jack Tatum?

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

​@@markgardner9460That makes me laugh! They would have gotten punched out!

[@markgardner9460]

They wouldn't have even dared - the players policed themselves back then, but they can't do that now because the fines and suspensions are so stiff.

[@anibalsosa5727]

That was real football. Rough and tough and crazy weather outdoor games.

[@afvet5075]

Along with those field conditions, I would be willing to bet those locker rooms were just as brutal back then.

[@markgardner9460]

I'm glad that you brought that up. I recall stories of birds being in locker room showers and many showers not functioning properly. A lot of the locker rooms were small and stunk.

[@brötzmannsax]

@@markgardner9460 I played back when the whole team couldn't fit in some locker rooms which contained a single light bulb, I avoided taking a shower until I got back to the hotel or home and some players dressed with their feet off the ground on stools so rats or roaches wouldn't bite them, ha.

[@markgardner9460]

Geez! Now that's bad!

[@brötzmannsax]

@@markgardner9460 I dreaded every road locker room I walked into my entire career and most times I would try to find a place outside where I can put on the outer layers of my equipment and stretch.

[@3243_]

And don't forget the constant cloud of secondhand smoke in those days (I don't smoke, by the way).

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Paul Robinson of the Bengals... good running back...I didn't realize that Tom Flores played for Kansas City! You definitely dig up some nuggets! Terry Hanratty 3 for 17 passing? OUCH

[@markgardner9460]

Flores only played 5 games with the Chiefs in '69 and that was the only pass he threw for them. Got a Super Bowl ring out of the deal.

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

@@markgardner9460 Not a bad deal for Flores!He definitely wasn't going to unseat Dawson or Livingston!

[@markgardner9460]

I think that Mike Livingston was in Vikings camp in '80.

[@RoyPage1970]

​@@markgardner9460yes he was

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Cowboys in their blue 💙 jerseys for this game, no jinx today they won 10-7 and won the Capitol Division for the 3rd straight year

[@markgardner9460]

To lose to the Steelers would have been embarrassing. I'm sure that Tom Landry wasn't too pleased, but a win is a win!!!

[@ericschminke8233]

Being an avid Cowboys fan from 1967-1993 I was sweating torpedoes as the would be 1-13 Steelers very nearly knocked them off. It was still an ugly win, and not just because of the weather. In 1967, the Cowboys had another very close call when they barely beat the Steelers 24-21 on a late touchdown. (The weather was great for that game.)

[@JohnLancaster-b5x]

Even the weather was turbulent in 1969.

[@markgardner9460]

That was a WILD year, wasn't it?

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Woodstock, Charles Manson, Richard Nixon Apollo 11,a lot of things going on!

[@markgardner9460]

That's a LOT of BIG things and of course Bryan Adams would later have the summer of '69 to sing about.

[@michaelleroy9281]

@@stevenzimmerman4057 and Super Bowl 🏆 Champion KC Chiefs

[@markgardner9460]

Whom the pundits nicknamed "The Super Chiefs"

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Love the Csonka jersey

[@markgardner9460]

Yeah! I always wanted one and finally got it last year. Thanks!

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

@@markgardner9460 Me being a Viking fan as you well know,do you have any other Vikings jerseys? Besides Foreman,I like your Csonka jersey and also Sonny Jurgenson among others... George Blanda would be a good one and even though I'm not a Packer fan for obvious reasons,so would a Bart Starr or Ray Nitschke jersey be good

[@markgardner9460]

@@stevenzimmerman4057 I had a Tarkenton jersey, but I wore it so much that I wore it out! Hard to believe, but he was my idol as a kid. I don't have any others but I want a Page and a Gilliam jersey. No Packers jerseys, but Starr is on my want list. Brockington is my 2nd choice.

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

​@@markgardner9460I am partial to Ray Nitschke, because I mentioned before,I was at the Packers Bucs game in 1977( you made a video!) In Tampa Stadium and Nitschke had a area set up in the parking lot with food and beverage,and he of course, signed autographs,...he was very soft -spoken, humble and gracious! We shook his hand and thanked him..nice guy!

[@markgardner9460]

Wow - that's a cool memory! Seems like the bruisers from the '60's/'70's all had the hard vowel sound in their last name: Nitschke, Butkus, Csonka, Ditka.....

[@denisceballos9745]

Slip slidin’ away. Cool to see the young Dolphins with Czonka and Kiick learning how to win. They were gettin’ there slowly. This was pre-Shula, I believe, and pre- Griese.

[@markgardner9460]

Reminds me of the Paul Simon song! Griese started 9 games in '69 - he must have gotten injured during the year. QB John Stofa was also in the mix.

[@denisceballos9745]

@@markgardner9460 Yes sir, you got it! 🎵 Looks like Miami, by that time had a lot of the pieces in place for their title run; Bill Stanfill (84) and I think I saw big Manny Fernández (75) lumbering around in the mud. Great stuff!

[@markgardner9460]

I'll never forget some NFL Films footage of Manny Fernandez hunting alligators while smoking cigarettes. He should have been the MVP of Super Bowl 7.

[@michaelleroy9281]

Griese had been with the Dolphins since 1967 so he was there

[@denisceballos9745]

@@michaelleroy9281 You are correct. The Dolphins selected Purdue QB Griese in 1967, Syracuse FB Czonka in 1968, and then Georgia DE Stanfill in 1969. The pieces were falling into place.

[@brötzmannsax]

Some of those Giants games showcasing the Baby Bulls, Tucker Fredrickson and Ernie Koy played with a ton of heart but had short careers due to injuries. The Giants took Tucker Fredrickson with the #1 pick ahead of Butkus, Sayers, Namath, Snow, etc. seems unbelievable now.

[@markgardner9460]

Tucker was the Heisman Trophy runner-up. 220 pound back - good size, but that knee injury in his rookie year really messed things up.

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Dolphins won that game 17-16 the Patriots played at Alumni Stadium at Boston College for the 1969 season only

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you for bringing it up that they only played there one year. I should have mentioned that in the video. Thanks!

[@TS-ef2gv]

We kids in the '60s used to imitate those muddy and snowy games we saw on TV by waiting until the Midwest weather was sloppy and miserable, putting on whatever equipment we had, and meeting up in the church yard or wherever was the muddiest and/or snowiest. The sloppier the better. I remember playing a sandlot tackle football game in a few inches of wet snow when I was about ten or twelve. The conditions looked a lot like the Bengals-Bills game in this video. I was pretty cold, wet, and miserable, especially my hands, but of course I didn't want to be the one to complain in front of all the neighborhood boys, let alone quit, so I kept playing and walked home when the game ended at dark. By the time I'd walked the several blocks home my hands hurt so bad I couldn't move my fingers. Far from being sympathetic when she saw the condition of my hands, my mom said "You big dummy, you'll be lucky if you don't have frostbite." Good old mom. 😆

[@markgardner9460]

I can totally related because we used to hose down our lawns and play football. We used to play in the snow, too. You'd think that nobody would get hurt playing in the snow, but stray forearms and elbows somehow made their way into noses.

[@markwinfrey4503]

Those players in those mud games must have had good hands haven't seen a fumble yet.

[@davidsipos302]

My Dad took me and my Brothers to that Steelers Giants Game at Pitt Stadium...It was so Cold!

[@markgardner9460]

That's awesome! What's your opinion and memories of Pitt Stadium?

[@Boomhower89]

Jim Nance deserved more attention when he played. I recall hearing the name but possibly because they rarely played on a national game?

[@markgardner9460]

He's the answer to a good trivia question: who rushed for the most yards in a single AFL season? 1,458 in '66

[@Boomhower89]

@@markgardner9460 wow those are amazing numbers back then. Would have never guessed him

[@markgardner9460]

Yes and ya know that he probably had a couple of bad weather games to play in '66 - much more difficult conditions in which to run.

[@margaretjiantonio939]

I love the way they slid in the mud. Those were fun games. After a while, they all looked alike. Sometimes, they'd get so full of mud.

[@markgardner9460]

You're right - after a while, it was very difficult to determine what team the players belonged to, even if you were watching the game on a color tv set.

[@dr.migilitoloveless2385]

These mud bowls were fun to watch. Unfortunately you don't see them anymore.

[@markgardner9460]

No you don't - they want pristine field conditions, so offenses can put up video game statistics and keep all of the fantasy football players happy.

[@patricksmith5282]

This was the first Thanksgiving day game I remember watching.

[@markgardner9460]

Mine too!

[@thetruthissweet2847]

And the next year Miami would have Paul Warfield. Greg Cook could have been great but rotar cuff problems did him in. A game that could have qualified for the video was Packers at Browns. Leroy Kelly had 154 yards, 7+ yards per carry. Him and Sayers probably two of best mud runners.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you for bring up the Browns/Packers game because that game will be shown in the future along with a handful of others from the '69 season. Cook missed the '70 & '71 seasons due to that shoulder problem, then retired in '72 only to come back for the '73 season. By that time, it was Ken Anderson's team and I'm not sure that his arm ever got healthy to the extent that it was pre-injury.

[@harryschnepp5907]

Funtastic to see these old timers

[@hovertrout1]

No lame basketball high tops on astro turf back then!

[@markgardner9460]

Great point! I think a lot of fans may not have been aware that it used to be commonplace.

[@gregorypower9385]

That's what's football is all about in the elements

[@markgardner9460]

You said it!!

[@docnoc66]

Let’s throw on my 69 Rams white Larry Smith jersey … oh my a Karl Kremser siting - I actually have Wisecovksy’s 72 Pats Gamer

[@markgardner9460]

Karl was born in Germany and only had one field goal attempt in the NFl after the '69 season (here today/gone tomorrow). I like Larry Smith's running style - pretty typical of most runners back then - take everything head on.

[@tommythomason6187]

Bengals were disorganized in '69, but that would not be the case in 1970, when they'd win the AFC Central only three years after being founded. I think ex-Giant, Jerry Hillebrand (#69) was the Steeler middle linebacker in 1969, but seems like sometimes, Ray May, #59, manned the middle. Hard to tell in clips of their games that year. The team was bad in '69.

[@markgardner9460]

Profootballreference.com shows May as the MLB and Hillebrand as the LLB

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Ray May was a excellent linebacker

[@markgardner9460]

On the back of his '74 Topps card it says "Ray holds hands with teammates in the huddle" or something like that. He's credited with the Broncos defensive team doing that for solidarity purposes. I'm not sure how many years they continued that. Any idea?

[@tommythomason6187]

@@markgardner9460 No, but in Ray's first year with the Broncos, they had their first winning season. I think they went 7-5-2. The were close in '72 - a much harder to beat squad. I DO remember a Monday night game where they were doing the hand holding thing.

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

May was part of a excellent linebacking corp in Baltimore.... himself, Mike Curtis and Ted Hendricks! Awesome 😎

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Cincinnati fumbled 7 times and lost all 7?. holy cow! What are the odds of that?

[@markgardner9460]

It can't be that good - 5%?

[@higgy04]

1:45 - I guess Metropolitan Stadium wasn't the only stadium with an unorthodox way to 'protect' players near the end zone. What is that?!? I would consider Packer center and radio commentator Larry 'The Rock' McCarren for Pro Football HOF because of the number of games he played in that position during a turbulent time in Packers history. That has to be the worst drainage system I have ever seen in any stadium. 3:42 - Old school FairPlay scoreboard 7:06 - And another FairPlay board Who was responsible for field maintenance in Denver?!? Mentioned on another video that Billy Cannon, along with Gary Cuozzo, appeared on an early 1970's syndicated episode of 'What's My Line' to stump the panel they were also dentists during the off-season Now I know why Paul Maguire had close ties to Western New York even during his broadcasting career, I should have known that he played for Buffalo 11:52 - Is that allowed to be flown? 12:35 - Notice Steelers rookie 'Mean' Joe Greene on the tackle 15:14 - What kind of scoreboard was that? More burnt out lights on the home side. What's the red light in the middle of the clock Didn't waste time turning off the scoreboard at the conclusion of the game.

[@markgardner9460]

So many good comments! Looks like an elementary school wrestling mat thrown over that fence. I remember Paul Maguire from NBC back in the day - I thought that he was an insightful commentator. Those small cheap scoreboards bust me up. Like any fan is going to be able to decipher the numbers unless you're within 50 feet!

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Jon Morris a center! 2nd in rookie of the year voting for the Pats, and later voted Lions offensive player of the year? Astounding! And Craig Morton looked surprisingly nimble on the touchdown run....

[@markgardner9460]

@@stevenzimmerman4057 Morton still had decent knees in '69, but it used to be painful to watch him try to manuever in the pocket during his later years. He must have had pretty good speed and/or great blockung because there weren't any defenders who really got close to him.

[@FranBushardt]

Paul Maguire also owned Bar & Restaurant in Buffalo with Teammate Tom Sestak Called “Sestak & Maguires”

[@markgardner9460]

Any good?

[@waynemiles7027]

Pump it in their Lenny, just keep matriculating the ball down the field boys! Otis, Otis!

[@markgardner9460]

NFL Films wanted to mike up Vikings Head Coach Bud Grant, but he declined and Hank Stram ended up with a classic quip that will live forever.

[@historybuff1483]

Jim Nance and Carl Garrett. What a backfield.

[@markgardner9460]

Thunder & Lightening! Carl was traded for Duane Thomas of the Cowboys, but the trade was rescinded.

[@michaelleroy9281]

Carl Garrett would be rookie of the year in AFL

[@johnperrigo6474]

Holy cow! That game in Denver was the worst field I've ever seen. It's amazing the AFL survived.

[@JSark-by2ts]

The modern day NFL has lost its soul, and will always live on the shoulders of its past.

[@markgardner9460]

Extremely well stated. I agree!

[@TheArtOfDean]

Absolutely surreal watching these teams playing in conditions like this. I'm guessing drainage systems didn't exist back then.

[@stephaniegormley9982]

Good vid. But how could you (or NFL films) forget the Thanksgiving game between the Lions & Vikings in a BLINDING snowstorm. Said storm helped Minnesota dominate 27-0

[@markgardner9460]

That game is actually included in another Bad Weather video that I made. It's in my playlist "Special Features". You're right - blinding snowstorm. I remember watching the game on tv and my Dad turned the black and white tv off because nobody could tell what was going on in the game!

[@stephaniegormley9982]

@@markgardner9460 Thank you. Sorry if I was a crank

[@markgardner9460]

Oh, no! Not at all, Stephanie! If I was viewing it, I'd be wondering where that game was, too. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@orange8167]

It's too bad that the little cry babies who play in today's NFL need synthetic turf, domed stadiums and 2 weeks off for and injured pinky toe. Where have all the tough guys gone?

[@markgardner9460]

They want as perfect playing conditions as possible, so they can ring up pinball-like statistics and scores. I don't need, nor want, a lot of senseless statistics and scoring in order to enjoy a football game....but that's just me....plenty of others enjoy it.

[@carseye1219]

The Oiler uniforms of that era are the best the Oilers/Titans ever had.

[@markgardner9460]

A lot of football fans who have watched my videos have commented and said the same thing. They're unique - I like 'em, too.

[@josephkolozi9364]

These were the greatest games. They tested the adaptability of teams and players. Today’s teams are treated like wusses by NFL and their rules.

[@markgardner9460]

"Adaptability": you nailed it, Joseph!

[@RoyPage1970]

Back when the game was real

[@jimwelke1286]

Water so deep it's a wonder somebody didn't drown

[@alexlarams]

Bring back the mud!!!!!!!!!!

[@herbcanter2614]

Real football.

[@cadredeux1047]

I remember chanting “OJ who” when Patriots played Buffalo because of Carl Garret. Obvious that didn’t last long.

[@alanstrong55]

Glad it was not me.

[@Sparks0124]

I would love to see the prima Donna’s of today play under those conditions

[@Xlc_Royal17]

Imagine the Laundry crew💀 they better got paid a bunch the next week

[@markgardner9460]

No doubt! Some of the uniforms were probably unusable again.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

as kids we not only liked watching games played in this weather, we liked playing games in this weather. we loved the snow, rain and mud. and i'm sure our moms hated it as they had to wash our uniforms. man, we had fun! now, everything's all screwed up as too many parents and players are ptima donas freaking out over every decision that doesn't go their way. i played 4 years in "y" football. the first two years it seems we couldn't buy a win. the last two years we went to the championship game (losing both). it didn't matter. it was just as fun playing on losing teams as winning teams. i can't say everyone i knew felt this way but i sure did. football was intended as a purely outdoor sport to be played in any weather. when the millionaires build these stadiums to shield their millionaire players from the elements they've corrupted the true concept behind the sport.

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you for your comments. I used to play in all types of weather, too. Playing in snow was slow, but it didn't hurt when tackled. Today's "game" is more entertainment than sport, in my opinion.

[@jamesmooney8933]

That is how football should be played in the mud. No turf toe, no clean jerseys.

[@markgardner9460]

Great point of no turf toe! I hadn't thought of that.

[@jamesmooney8933]

@@markgardner9460 Thanks

[@michaelleroy9281]

Then you can't see the players numbers

[@jamesmooney8933]

@@michaelleroy9281 The players with the most mud were the first string. Modern football fields look like a pool that.

[@michaelleroy9281]

In the Bengals Bills game in Buffalo I'll bet OJ wished he wasn't drafted by the Bills since he was born in San Francisco and played at Southern California

[@markgardner9460]

He hated the prospects of playing in Buffalo, but they paid him extremely well, so that always seems to help matters.

[@sunsetpanera2631]

Most missed the next 3 games with "trenchfoot”

[@markgardner9460]

Good one!

[@ronniecozzi8385]

These are the conditions that football should be played in. It's a winter game. That's why statistics in today's game are inflated.

[@markgardner9460]

You're right - it's definately one of the reasons why today's stats are bloated. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@paulcapaccio9905]

They destroyed the game.

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

Terrible tackling on Garrett's 80 yard TD

[@markgardner9460]

Looks like he did a little twist and he slipped away.

[@yankeesandgiants1886]

Yikes- 16 Turnovers in the Chiefs-Oilers game. The Giants turned the ball over 16 times in 17 games in 2022.

[@markgardner9460]

Yeah, playing conditions in today's games are nearly pristine in most instances and the QB's aren't nearly as daring.

[@mikeguttierez4005]

u 👍

[@timmclain5576]

Todays players would cry if they had to play in conditions like this

[@markgardner9460]

They would probably postpone the game.

[@kenhoyer8601]

Games were better before they covered the field

[@3243_]

Another game would be Detroit at Baltimore.

[@markgardner9460]

I do believe that I have that game as a leftover for a future video

[@michaelleroy9281]

​@@markgardner9460 That was the last tie game in the old NFL before the merger 17-17

[@robertsheetz6067]

I'm sorry.... But you just have to laugh.... Dick Shiner 😂😂

[@stevenzimmerman4057]

My mom many years ago heard that name ( Dick Shiner!) and she couldn't believe it! The one name as bad was NASCARs Dick Trickle!

[@markgardner9460]

Gotta wonder how much needling the guy has taken during his life.

[@markgardner9460]

My mom got a kick out of Chris Hanburger and Eric Hipple. Not nearly as bad as those other chaps.

[@KittyPurrfect100]

Snow, mud, outdoor nitty gritty, bare knuckles football. The way it ought to be played. Today’s football is pussyfoot by comparison. Chuck Bednerik was a tough 2-way player that wouldn’t fit in with the game of today

[@markgardner9460]

Can you imagine guys like Bednarik, Nitschke, Butkus and Lambert trying to play in today's game?

[@michaelleroy9281]

Chuck Bednarik would likely be banned from the game for life if that hit he put on Frank Gifford in 1960 was done today

[@berean77]

Can do without the lightning bolt boom at the beginning.

[@markgardner9460]

Too scary?

[@berean77]

@@markgardner9460 No... unfortunately, I had my volume turned up when the video started, it kind of knocked me for a loop. Thanks for bringing back some great memories.

[@markgardner9460]

Oh, OK. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@irishledden4924]

That was when the Pats had the good helmets and before they started cheating.

[@markgardner9460]

Pat the Patriot on the helmet - that's what they should have stayed with! It's classic!

[@michaelleroy9281]

Along time before they started cheating like how many years it was from 1969-1982 if you want to count the snow plow thing and then until 2007 with Spygate

[@Richard-yk3cf]

Uhhhh... most of these are AFL games 🙄

[@markgardner9460]

Thank you - In haste, I left out AFL in the title which has now been added.

[@briantap2068]

Climate change in 69…😮

[@markgardner9460]

The jet stream was outta whack evidently

[@oliverferreirajr4525]

T😅true the game is pitiful and too soft

[@MrBeyondbelief]

1969! The beginning of the Steelers dynasty!!! Well, it was CHUCK Noll's first season, and the Steelers were 1-13. I saw something rare, Mean Joe Greene actually not making a play!!! lol...Here we go Steelers, Here We Go!

[@markgardner9460]

Mean Joe Greene was so mean that even Butkus backed off from him in either the '69 or '71 match-up. I think the confrontation occurred on a special teams play. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@gregorypower9385]

I don't like what they did to football 🏈 u took the fun out of it with these domes 😢😢🥹💯

[@Artamusgordon]

Daryle Lamonica is rarely mentioned as a hall of fame candidate, that I know of anyway. He had impressive numbers, was selected 5 times for the pro-bowl, 3 time AFL champion & 2 time AFL MVP. Perhaps the loss to the Packers in Superbowl II has been the deciding factor. Then again, everybody doesn’t get to be a hall of famer & the Raiders have already got too many in there as of now.

[@markgardner9460]

When I was a kid, we looked at his crazy TD pass numbers in astonishment. Except for Jurgensen, nobody was throwing 30 TD's in a season, let alone multiple time. Namath and Tarkenton never did it. I think Lamonica is right there, in terms of being a HOF'er. You don't have to win a Super Bowl in order to be a HOF'er, contrary to what a lot of people tend to maintain.

[@gregorypower9385]

I don't like what they did to football 🏈 u took the fun out of it with these domes 😢😢🥹💯