50 years ago Saturday (December 31, 1972), I was in the upstairs living room of my neighbor’s home (the Broy family) watching on their color TV set the Washington Redskins win the NFC Championship Game over Dallas 26-3.
Oh, there was such an energy of anticipation leading up to that game. Dallas was the hated divisional rival. Hated because not only were they in the division, but frankly because they had won the NFC the previous two seasons (1970-71), and winning the Super Bowl over Miami to close out the 1971 season.
In the ’72 season, the Redskins had waltzed through the NFC 11-1 before resting some players the last two weeks to finish 11-3. They had already wrapped up the division title and home field, while Dallas would be the fourth team to qualify (wild card) with the three division winners Washington, Green Bay and San Francisco.
Week one of the playoffs saw Washington shut down Green Bay 16-3 at RFK, while Dallas had traveled to San Francisco, overcome a 28-13 deficit, winning 30-28, setting up the heated rivalry game for the NFC Championship at RFK.
In the AFC’s first week of the playoffs, the Steelers via the Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris had defeated the Raiders 13-7 and the Dolphins remained undefeated, with a 20-14 win over the Browns.
In Week two of the playoffs, the AFC Championship saw Miami defeat Pittsburgh in the early game 21-17 to win the AFC, so we all knew if Washington won this RFK game, they would have to face the undefeated 16-0 Dolphins in Super Bowl VII.
Many particulars of that NFC championship game have blurred over five decades. Yet a few memories have remained crystal clear. A first-half slant-pattern to Charley Taylor from Billy Kilmer to lead 10-3 at the half. There was also a feeling of nervousness that Washington still only led 10-3 after three quarters.
When suddenly, the game was blown wide open! Billy Kilmer’s 45-yard pass down the right sideline was chased down by Taylor for a 17-3 lead. It seemed like Washington scored each possession in the final quarter as Curt Knight then added three consecutive field goals until it was 26-3. Washington was routing Dallas and going to the Super Bowl!
RFK was going crazy! Washington fans stormed the field in the last seconds. Redskins head coach George Allen was being carried off of the field when suddenly a Redskins fan, wanting a souvenir of the NFC Championship euphoria, suddenly (and selfishly) reached up and yanked Allen’s cap right off of his head.
The band was playing “Hail to the Redskins;” I can still see the joy of the players and fans, those gold uniform pants, with the Burgundy jerseys and the unmistakable helmet logo, which had been suggested by a Native American chief himself. It was the first season Washington wore that helmet logo, and it would be theirs through the 2019 season.
50 years ago, a Happy New Years’ Eve for all the fans of the Burgundy and Gold, especially this nine-year-old boy watching from out in Berryville, VA on Baltimore TV 2, because, get this, the game was blacked out on the CBS 9 Washington affiliate! That’s another story for another day.
How could a diehard Washington fan ever forget a day like that?
