1970--Reimaging NFL-AFL Merger: Week 2--Historic Results

1970: Reimagining the NFL-AFL Merger: Week 2

Here are the historic game results that were unaffected by the NFC alignment shift.

Jets Down Patriots, 31-21

NY Jets (1-1)  7 14  7  3 -- 31
Boston  (1-1)  0  7 14  0 -- 21

Boston -- The Boston Patriots dropped their home-opener at Havard Stadium to the NY Jets, 31-21.  The Patriots, who had played at Alumni Stadium the past year, and at Fenway Park before that, played their first game ever at Harvard Stadium. They will move into a new stadium being built in Foxboro, MA for the 1971 season. The Jets pounded out 187 yards on the ground, with Emerson Boozer and Matt Snell each scoring TDs. A 4-yard TD pass from Joe Namath to Pete Lammons, and an a 36-yard interception return by Earlie Thomas gave the Jets a 28-7 lead in the third quarter. The Patriots battled back, going on a 14-0 run. Mike Taliaferro tossed a 40 yard TD pass to Ron Sellers and Carl Garrett scored on a 6 yard run to close the gap, 28-21. A Jim Turner field goal in the fourth capped the scoring and cemented the win for New York.

Lions Rout Bengals

Cicinnati (1-1)  0  0  0  3 --  3
Detroit   (2-0)  7 24  0  7 -- 38

Detroit -- In an 'all-cats' affair, Mel Farr scored two rushing TDs and Lem Barney returned a punt 61-yards for a TD as the Detroits Lions throttled the Cincinnati Bengals 38-3 at Tiger Stadium. During the first two weeks of the season, the Lions have outscored opponents, 78-3.

Rams Blank Bills

Los Angeles (2-0) 3 13  0  3 -- 19
Buffalo         (0-2) 0  0  0  0 --    0

Buffalo -- David Ray kicked four field goals the the Los Angeles Rams' defense shut-down the Buffalo Bills offense to win 19-0 at War Memorial Stadium. Los Angeles' Willie Ellison scored the game's only TD on a 4-yard run. He finished the game with 90 yards on 16 carries.

Bears Edge Eagles

Philadelphia (0-2)  6  3  0  7 -- 16
Chicago      (2-0)  7 10  0  3 -- 20

Chicago -- Playing their home opener at Dyche Stadium in Evanston, and with star running back Gale Sayers nursing an injury and watching from the sideline, the Chicago Bears held off the Philadelphia Eagles 20-16. Cecil Turner electrified the crowd by returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a score. The Eagles scored later in the first quarter on a 7 yard pass from Norm Snead to Gary Ballman. Kicker Mark Moseley missed the extra point allowing the Bears to maintain a one-point edge 7-6. Mac Percival and Moseley traded field goals, and the Bears used some razzle-dazzle as RB Ronnie Bull threw a 12 yard TD pass to Dick Gordon to give the Bears a 17-9 lead at the half. In the final quarter, Philadelphia again pulled to within one, 17-16, on a 10-yard scoring run by Lee Bouggess. Later Percival kicked a 36 yard field goal for the Bears to secure the win for Chicago.

Dolphins Double Houston, 20-10

Miami    (1-1)  3  7  7  3 -- 20
Houston  (1-1)  3  0  0  7 -- 10

Houston -- Bob Griese tossed two TD passes to help propel the Miami Dolphins past the Houston Oilers, 20-10 at the Astrodome.  The Dolphins' defense forced four fumbles by the Houston offense, recovering three.

Broncos Rally Past Steelers

Pittsburgh (0-2)  0 10  3  0 -- 13
Denver     (2-0)   7  0  9  0 -- 16

Denver -- Rookie QB Terry Bradshaw played better during his second start for the Steelers at Mile High Stadium, but he has yet to win a game as a starter as Pittsburgh fell to the Denver Broncos, 16-13. Bradshaw completed 13-of-26 passes for 211 yards and helped Pittsburgh build a 13-7 lead, thanks to two Gene Mingo field goals and a 4 yard TD run by Dick Hoak.  However, Bradshaw also threw an interception and was sacked for a safety by LB Dave Washington to narrow the Pittsburgh lead to four, 13-9 in the third quarter. Later, Denver QB Steve Tensi tossed a 38 yard TD pass to Billy Van Heusen to put the Broncos on top to stay.

San Francisco Edges Cleveland in Barnburner

Cleveland       (1-1)   7 10  7  7 -- 31
San Francisco (2-0) 14  7  0 13 -- 34

San Francisco -- Quarterback John Brodie outdueled Cleveland's Bill Nelsen as the San Francisco 49ers edged the Cleveland Browns 34-31 at Kezar stadium.  Brodie tossed three TDs, two to Jimmy Thomas, while the Browns' Bill Nelsen finished the game with 308 passing yards and one TD and one interception.  The 49ers' Ken Willard bulled for 105 yards on the ground and scored on a 9-yard run and caught a 5-yard pass from Brodie for another score.

San Diego Rallies to Deadlock Oakland

Oakland   (0-1-1)  3 17  0   7 -- 27
San Diego (0-1-1)  3  7  3 14 -- 27

San Diego -- John Hadl tossed two fourth quarter TDs to help rally the San Diego Chargers from a 27-13 deficit to tie the Oakland Raiders, 27-27 at San Diego stadium.

Dawson Shines as Chiefs Embarrass Colts

Kansas City (2-0) 10 21  3 10 -- 44
Baltimore   (1-1)  0  7  3 14 -- 24

Baltimore -- On Monday night, Len Dawson threw four TD passes as the Kansas City Chiefs raced out to a 31-7 halftime lead and went on to defeat the Baltimore Colts, 44-24 at Memorial Stadium.