NFL's Greatest Games - 1971 AFC Playoff - Dolphins at Chiefs 'The Longest Game' - Enhanced 720p

This feature was done as part of the "NFL's Greatest Games" series back in 2011. While I'm sure that an HD copy of this presentation exists somewhere, the only copy that I or others seem to have is a subpar 640x320 one. I took that copy and upscaled it to 720p using Topaz, which also sharpened it up pretty nicely considering what the software had to work with. It eliminated a lot of compression artifacts and fuzziness in the picture as well

[@camoanddonuts7894]

This is how professional football is supposed to look😮

[@2095yourstruly]

This truly was one of the greatest football games ever played.

[@michaelfabian3036]

THEEE greatest, by definition even{{i.e., the longest game ever played=the MOST evenly matched game ever)💯💯🎯🏈🤌💎

[@romelovesdan]

Important preservation of history right here...a farewell to KC Municipal Stadium, and one of the top playoff games ever played.

[@RobertBeattie-uf4qf]

Christmas 1971, my brother and I were in high school. My brother’s favorite team was the Dallas Cowboys. Mine was the Kansas City Chiefs. We had watched the Cowboys win, then the first quarter of the KC game. We agreed that this was the year the Chiefs and Cowboys would meet in the Super Bowl. Our buddies showed up at the end of the first quarter with the Chiefs leading the Dolphins 10-0. Everyone agreed the Chiefs would win easily. Probably this type of quarter would continue. The final score would be 40-0 Chiefs. We all went out. No one wanted to be home because ALL of our mothers were unrelenting loud harridans that day. “Football on Christmas!?!” They were so angry. No one could enjoy watching. No one could enjoy being at home. It was an unhappy Christmas. We were in good spirits when we returned at about the 2-minute warning of the 4th quarter. We were shocked to learn that the Chiefs were barely ahead 24-17. Everyone still thought the Chiefs would win. But you know the rest. Thanks, Dave, for bringing back strong memories, good and bad.

[@RobertBeattie-uf4qf]

If you don't remember, or don't know, Coach Shula had a well-earned reputation for losing big games. His heavily favored Colts team was called the greatest of all time when they lost the 1964 NFL championship 27-0 to the Cleveland Browns. Then, after leading and in control most of the game, they lost an overtime playoff game to the Packers in 1965. Then, the heavily favored Colts lost Super Bowl III to the Jets. Shula was a loser. That's one reason why the entire game, including overtime, we expected the Chiefs to win. It was truly a turnaround for Shula and the end of an era for the Chiefs.

[@RLFLOWS]

As a lifelong NFL fan/historian, in my opinion, this was the greatest NFL game ever.

[@michaelfabian3036]

NOOOO doubt💯💯🎯🏈🤌💎

[@brad5015]

It's amazing to me as someone who started watching the NFL in 1970 as a four year old boy, how family friendly and professional everything looked. I quit watching in 1999 and now when I glance at the occasional highlight now and then the modern NFL looks so childish and classless to me. Thank you Dave, you have brought tears to my eyes once agian.

[@rockwestfall9674]

Amen

[@shanetrimble9265]

Well said

[@brad5015]

@@shanetrimble9265 Thank you

[@brucedavis3816]

I was 4 in 70 also!!! And feel exactly the same!!!

[@chrisrhoads8256]

Boy miss old school days 🏈👌💪🏟👍🤛👊🤜🇺🇲

[@Joaquin-227]

I saw this game I was 11 years old, on a console TV. I remember they were going back and forth, back and forth. It seemed it would never end! It was one of the most exciting games I've ever seen.

[@rileyjackfansmithandjones8238]

That was me too, same age watching in Pittsburgh.......and then the Steelers Happened. Bought a bunch of Football Cards, but only wanted one.....and never got it...Ed Podolak😕

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

This feature was done as part of the "NFL's Greatest Games" series back in 2011. While I'm sure that an HD copy of this presentation exists somewhere, the only copy that I or others seem to have is a subpar 640x320 one. I took that copy and upscaled it to 720p using Topaz, which also sharpened it up pretty nicely considering what the software had to work with. It eliminated a lot of compression artifacts and fuzziness in the picture as well

[@dr.hookyeah2883]

Lifelong Chiefs fan here, Dave. Can’t do it man. gonna have to skip this one.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

I completely understand :)

[@alphabarre9096]

​@@dr.hookyeah2883why? Because you knew you lost this one? Lol that's what happen when you became a fan when Reid and Mahomes became almost unstoppable 😂

[@alphabarre9096]

​@@davevolskysbackdoor5673don't worry the quality is just fine, enjoyed watching this classic, it's from 1971 for God sake 😂 most of us weren't even born.

[@gregjones2376]

Beautiful rendition! Another triumph for you, Dave! Well, and for us, too! It is a shame that the copy of the NBC broadcast has either never been found/was destroyed!

[@_thatscrazy]

Actually, there is an NBC Broadcast by Collectors that begins at 3:00 left in overtime and continues to the end of the game in double overtime. But I would think that if someone posts it, It would be blocked by the NFL.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

More likely anyone who posts it would be killed by the higher-up collectors who gave them said copy

[@gregjones2376]

@@davevolskysbackdoor5673 oh. Well, hmm. I'd hate to be the cause of that by asking for it! hahaha

[@michaelceraso1977]

YEA this was such a classic all time NFL game. I was at grandparent's for xmas dinner as usual and the basement of the 2 story building had the pool room and a big oven that was supposed to cook a 25 lb turkey. I played pool with cousins (as we watched this game on a 19 inch tv) and the grownups then realized the Oven wasnt workin up to the correct temp lol. They had to do something to get it hotter but then brought it up to the 2nd floor oven as other food items were already prepared. I will never forget the faces of my family and other relatives as I said "THIS game is still going on past 4 hrs" Id guess we didn't eat until past 8 pm after most of us were there since 2 haha. Podalak did have an alltime game and as was stated - the most combined yards in an OT game

[@lennythecool6926]

The game that forever broke my heart and I still never got over it, and what Lamar Hunt said was the best Chiefs team ever up to that time.

[@primateproductions126]

Beautiful….that’s hallowed ground right there

[@rockwestfall9674]

As a Stram Era Chiefs historian and fanatic, thanks for sprucing this up. This day was the end of an era, and cuts to the bone were as bad as ever. Municipal Stadium and Chiefs glory dies. Certainly one of the most bitter, cruel, and transformative losses in sports history. But Miami deserved it. The Chiefs failed to close. GOAT game, without question. So impactful, far more than just a playoff game.

[@shanetrimble9265]

​@JerseyGroveand that 86 Chiefs team was very mediocre.

[@JosePerez-vz1qq]

The game, the moment was epic. NFL Films' feature on it herein is among their best of the post-Facenda era. Thank you so much Coach DV for this. Thank you.

[@brianivey73]

Love these series....its how i learned about the greatness of players from the past NFL

[@davidnatale9330]

Another classic game that we can't see the original broadcast

[@shanetrimble9265]

The NFL wouldn't want to show people how much class they used to have.

[@cmartin677]

This hurts, Dave. I love you, buddy, but this hurts. I'm 59 years old and I still can't get over this game. It was possible -- maybe probable -- that the Chiefs would go to the Super Bowl. All they had to do was beat this upstart Dolphins team. Len Dawson was my idol. I watched this video until about 26 minutes into it and had to stop. Pathetic, I know, for a grown man to still have a hard time with a loss that was 53 years ago. What might have been... Regards from a huge fan and viewer. CM

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Thanks C Martin. Completely understand :)

[@hammer44head]

Gotta disagree with Warfield, Chiefs had a great offense and defense but they were getting old and not the powerhouse they were in the mid and late 1960's. Dolphins were great also but just didnt know it yet, Dolphins offensive line was best in the NFL, they could control the line where the real action took place. That being said not that my opinion means anything, this was the greatest game i ever seen, i was just transfixed as a 10 year old kid could be! I was a Viking fan but i think they had gotten beat earlier by frisco or dallas? I think this game sticks out the most for our generation, you say the name Ed Podalak and anyone my age will remember this game. I dont even know if Ed had a great career or how long he lasted but i think we'd all say he was a great back just based on this game alone. Thanks for posting this Dave, such a great memory and the video is so freakin clean!!!!

[@nap871]

I watched the game on tv. Remember it well and stenarouds missed field goals. I was 9 years old.

[@dolphingoosby7195]

DAVE! What can i say other than thank you!!!!!!! This simply is fantastic. Years ago i wrote a letter to NBC sports asking why games from yesteryear are not saved, you guessed it i got no response. Later i was told that nfl films did have the "video tape" copy of most games but kept them under "lock and key" i don't know if that is true or not but this is what i was told.

[@mrmercedes8528]

I also have written NBC since the early 90’s about this and a few others - with ZERO response …..

[@yeildo1492]

Those Chiefs were loaded! NFL Network picked their LBs as the top group ever. Jim Lynch was a great college MLB. He was asked "when did you know you were moving to OLB?" "The first time I saw Willie Lanier play." And Bobby Bell, one of those guys who could have played just about any position. In this game two truly great WRs, Paul Warfield and Otis Taylor. My mom made us leave this game when OT started to go to a Christmas party.... still not over that one... Dave, thank you for posting this!

[@dantheman5745]

This is the very first NFL game I have memories of watching. Laying on the living room carpet, elbows on the floor, chin in my hands. Rooting for Kansas City. To this day, along with the Bengals and Lions, the Chiefs are a team I always root for, all due to this game. It still kills that they lost this game, especially as Miami went on to be not much more than cannon fodder vs Dallas in SB VI. Ed Podolak had a career in this 1 game. Thanks for doing your thing with this, Dave. Maybe no other game was more deserving of your expert touch.

[@mudman6832]

God, i love 1970’s football!!! Best decade ever!!!

[@dcaa62817]

I agree with you 100.%

[@davekelsey8762]

I'm a Raider fan from '66 > . This is great !

[@davekelsey8762]

Some of the greatest games in history are between the Raiders, Chiefs, and Dolphins. I was 15 years old during this game . Ha !

[@scottydvintagevideos]

​@davekelsey8762 They definitely had battles. The AFL teams kept their rivalries going with each other even after the merger. Those Dolphins, Raiders & Chiefs games were all out wars! I miss those games.

[@stewartberger7734]

. This is very memorable game . Thank you Dave for bringing it back to life!

[@tonywright282]

Thanks for posting this all time classic playoff game

[@1966425]

Dave, this is spectacular! Thanks so much for this upload. The game just doesn't look this good anymore.

[@raymundotorres6905]

Thanks for this one, game full of stars, one of the greatest ever

[@kylebarnett7695]

Wow! There's always a ton of emotion when watching these wonderful classics! I remember anticipating the weekends and watching, "This Is The NFL"... what a time to be alive🙂

[@brad5015]

27:45 , the music, the situation, the result, really gets to me every single time.

[@chrisuncleahmad]

The craziest thing about such a memorable game is that it arguably never should have come to fruition. New England's final week shocker of Baltimore basically set everything up. otherwise, the Colts would have gone to KC on Christmas and Miami goes to Cleveland

[@TallCoolOne51]

I was 11 years old and loved football. At the age of 8 I picked the Dolphins as my favorite team because I liked their colors, aquamarine and orange. At the time they were bottom of the barrel but I loved and rooted for them anyway, loved Csonka's style of running, hoping for someday. This game, turned the corner and I knew they hit the big time. Sure, they lost to the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, but the next season is and was the greatest season ever played by an NFL team to this very day.

[@MaxAmerica.Freedom]

YES! Podolak was great. Poor Stenerud.

[@robfalter2522]

i always hoped you could pull a rabbit out of your hat and post the full game, but i'll settle for this. many thanks🍻

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

That would be QUITE a huge rabbit.

[@markminter6312]

You know that loss was painful when to this day, the living members of the 1971 Kansas City Chiefs refuse to talk about it.

[@johnbailey3478]

I remember watching this game at my grandparents home great memories

[@tonycurtis4041]

Brilliant Dave, like all your work. I was just a kid and except for this football card of this game, I never saw much of this game as an adult, very hard to find anything on this game and this was a great treat! one of my TOP 5 GAMES I would love to have in its entirety, this may be as close as it gets

[@tomfoolery815]

Another great enhancement, Dave! After reading your description I grabbed my "History of the Miami Dolphins" DVD set and noted that it was released in 2010, one year before this program made its debut on ... NFL Network, if I recall correctly. Which is too bad, because I have to think it would have been included on the Dolphins-history set if it had already been made.

[@ronsmac]

I jumped up when podilak returned that kickoff.

[@scottmerrill2416]

Thanks so much, you are a hero to all true football fans.

[@user-bu7ko2or8e]

I thought Ed Podilak was going to be a HOF tailback after watching this game. Amazing all around performance. 350 total yards, tremendous speed and agility.

[@henrymcallen5703]

LOVE that you added this one Dave! Still to this day maybe THE greatest game of all time. Simply fantastic post! Thank you!!!!!! I know an episode was also done of the Sea of Hands Game……another classic!

[@donaldcampbell9219]

Hee Haw was popular in Pittsburgh, where I grew up during this time also

[@MrWOLFPACK1974]

Nice to see you doing these classic football games again......thanks!

[@adrianjohnson8527]

Much appreciated, Dave!

[@bufnyfan1]

Chiefs kicker Jan Stenerud will not talk about this game to this day when he's asked about it. He remains traumatized by many of the FGs he missed (particularly the one near the end of regulation)

[@keithmotsinger918]

Shula had the players mostly , when he got there , just like Lombardi did . Personally wish George Wilson had been given more time .But ,anyway saw this game on TV and helluva game .When Jan came out to kick the winner , thought thats it ! When he missed couldn't believe it . The rest is well known also. THKS AGIN DAVE !

[@Picasso_305]

Strange that no full game was never saved ss most record setting games were and this was in the 1970s not 1940s I was born Miami and lived in Opa Locks remember watching this game with my father. I was 18 years old The Fins facility was about a mile from my home at St. Thomas University . We use to walk up and watch the practices and talk to the players.

[@richardblatt9986]

Thanks so much

[@jacktheripoff1888]

You have had 6 double-overtime games in AFL/NFL history. All but 1 were won by the visiting team. Only home team to win was the Browns over the Jets in the '86 divisionals. They came back from 10 down late in the 4th to tie it and then win in double OT, only to lose the following week to Elway with the Drive.

[@1983jblack]

I'm not a Chiefs fan and despite their recent success, I personally think their 1968 team was their best ever. But I think many Chiefs fans would still pick their 1971 team as their best ever. Miami beat them yes, but Kansas City should won Super Bowl VI over Dallas, San Francisco, or Minnesota. In my eyes, the Chiefs were the best team that year and once they lost, their era was over despite moderate success in 1972 and 1973

[@mrmercedes8528]

I remember watching this on NFL network……. And the first thing that came to my mind was : ok - there was a handful of ORIGINAL NBC footage…… where the hell is the rest ???? Thanks Dave phenomenal job as always ….

[@oubrioko]

7:56 The longest game in NFL history was shown on _every_ local NBC affiliate in the United States _except_ in Kansas City. It took an act of congress in 1973 to outlaw the local blackout for sold out games.

[@Martin-pt5on]

Are you sure that afternoon 73' sold out games were shown in local areas?

[@oubrioko]

​@@Martin-pt5on *Yes.* Nixon signed the new law on Friday, September 14, 1973, and sold out season openers were broadcast in local markets on Sunday afternoon, September 16, so long as the respective stadiums had sold out 72 hours in advance of kickoff. The law covered _all_ regular and postseason NFL games including super bowls through the 1975 season. Given the positive results after the '75 season, the league effectively adopted the expired law's 72-hour sellout blackout lift as its own policy moving forward to preempt congress from acting again.

[@Martin-pt5on]

@@oubrioko Thank You. So the Divisional Playoff game between the Raiders & Dolphins in 1974 would of been seen in the Bay Area if sold out 72 hr. before. I went to that game at the age of 9 and someone told me it wasn't shown that day from this thread. The Raiders sold out big time in the 70's! Thanks Again

[@oubrioko]

@@Martin-pt5on That 1974 AFC Divisional with the "Sea of Hands" touchdown is a classic. Both NBC and NFL Films each mysteriously misplaced/lost their own respective video/footage of the game. NFL Films eventually found their film footage many years later. I found one source that indicated that the reported attendance for the game was 53,023. I have no idea what the seating capacity of the Coliseum for Raiders games was at the time, but that figure is the game-day turnstiles, not the actual ticket sales. There is almost no chance that a game of that magnitude between the defending two-time super bowl champion Dolphins and an absolutely stellar 12-2 Raiders team, in a game billed as Super Bowl VIII & 1/2 (8.5) leading up to the game, would not have been sold out quickly. I have been unable to find _any_ evidence that the game was _not_ carried live on Bay Area NBC affiliate at the time *KRON TV-4* on Saturday afternoon, December 21, 1974 at 1pm PST. Cheers

[@jeffmerklin2022]

What a film...

[@billbergendahl2911]

If memory serves me correctly Ed Podolak had 350 yards of total offense in this game.

[@jacobjones5269]

Man, this football.. I enjoy the modern game, but not as much as this..

[@_thatscrazy]

Thanks Dave for enhancing this classic. Csonka always look tired after a Dolphin playoff win. If Stenerud made that kick? Who would have won, Kansas City or Baltimore?

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Based on the fact that KC nearly pulled off the win while Baltimore went down 21-0 to the Dolphins, I gotta say that the Chiefs most likely would have smoked them.

[@robf7213]

Agreed I think KC would’ve also beaten Baltimore and probably would’ve been a better match for Dallas in the Super Bowl

[@scottydvintagevideos]

Chiefs were a slightly better team than the Colts. I don't see the Cowboys losing to the Chiefs. Dallas Doomsday Defense would've crushed Lenny & the Chiefs. Miami's offense was very predictable to any team they faced. SB VI could've had a different outcome if Mercury was used more. Shula understood this for the 1972 season.

[@_thatscrazy]

@@scottydvintagevideos Definitely. Remember in the AFC Champ, Norm Bulaich and Tom Matte were injured. But even if they were not injured, I would pick the Chiefs for their better receiver core and great Defensive Line.

[@robf7213]

@@scottydvintagevideos I didn’t say they would lose to the Chiefs I said I think they would’ve been a better matchup with how big and physical the Chiefs were and I don’t think Mercury Morris would have made any difference. Miami was overmatched

[@MJL64]

Back when football was football....today it would a shot of Taylor Swift every 5 minutes.

[@Martin-pt5on]

Great game.Maybe one day someone will explain to me why the NFL was worried about people not going to games if they knew it was already on TV. Michael M Cambridge wrote some good books including recently The Big Time...

[@JeffreyMiller1]

fwiw, @ 11:24 my dad is on the far right, gray overcoat, Chiefs team physician. I was 13 and cold in the stands. It was a thrilling game. I used to love the Municipal burgers with extra extra pickles. And I can still taste them. OK, they were awful but at 13 and part of the scene, they were awesome. The locker room scene after the loss was a lesson for me in how to take defeat while still feeling dejected. Come to think of it, not unlike my fellow Kansan, Ted Lasso. The guy with his mouth open was Wayne Rudy, trainer par excellence and a family friend. From Lamar Hunt on down, it was a class organization. Still is.

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Thanks for sharing that Jeffrey! That's really something that your dad was part of the team staff and that he's actually caught on film.

[@timfremstad3434]

......by 82 minutes they mean it started at 100 and ended at about 630.....a shame there are no copies of it, although I'm guessing it would be one of those games they would protect copyright on

[@Cowboy1959]

That game started at 3:00 PM Kansas City time and ran until about 7:30 or 8, as I recall. The Cowboys and Vikings played in the NFCDP earlier in the day, in the 12:00 window (K.C. time).

[@timfremstad3434]

@@Cowboy1959 Yeah that start time sounds more reasonable......I'm thinking eastern time

[@RedTribeCinema]

COOL STUFF

[@mitchellmelkin4078]

Yet, as mentioned below, despite the quality of this Chiefs' team and the other intangibles involved, even if they had won the game and gone on to beat Baltimore, there was little chance they would've seriously challenged the Cowboys in the Super Bowl.

[@Cowboy1959]

The Cowboys were probably unbeatable that day, but I think the Chiefs would've given them a better game.

[@oubrioko]

40:01 add *Curley Culp* to that list

[@radar0412]

Up to that point, Dolphins vs Chiefs was the best game I ever saw. What's not mentioned here is that The Chiefs LOST in their FINAL game they'd ever play in Kansas City's Municipal Stadium to the Dolphins. The following season, when The Chiefs took the field for the very first time in their Brand New Home Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs would lose again to those very same Dolphins. The Dolphins spoiled the Party twice for The Chiefs. 😅

[@davevolskysbackdoor5673]

Actually they do mention it at 36:46