The NFL's Longest Day

4 decades later, the males who performed the NFL's longest game, remember it enjoy it was yesterday.

The ultimate act from the 1971 AFC playoff game between Miami and Might was an overtime that survived 22 minutes and 40 seconds, therefore it was hardly sudden because the memory endures, well, it had not been exactly dying, either.

What it really was, really, would be a magnificent football game, a long game in National football league history, a game title by which 14 future Hall of Famers shared happens, including both mind coaches (Don Shula and Hank Stram), both quarterbacks (Bob Griese and Len Dawson), and both middle linebackers (Nick Buoniconti and Willie Lanier). It had been rare of games, one performed on such an advanced that even a few of the nonwinners contemplate it work highlight.

Should you desired to select one game to set up a period capsule, which was the overall game," Lanier stated. "We lost, but walking from the area I did not feel crushed. I understood I had been a part of something great, something memorable. The actual way it ended did not change that."

Erectile dysfunction Budde is not so sure. "Willie is much more philosophical than I'm,Inch stated Budde, an exciting-Professional guard for Might. "Yeah, it had been an excellent game, however i performed it to win. Losing, I simply felt empty."

The overall game was performed on Christmas Day and grew to become referred to as Cold Poultry Game because all over America, holiday dinners were placed on hold while millions viewed the drama build for 82 minutes and 40 seconds until-finally-Miami's Garo Yepremian introduced lower the curtain having a 37-yard area goal. The ultimate score was Miami 27, Might 24.

"After I started the ball, I understood it had been good," Yepremian stated, reflecting on that moment 4 decades later. "I began to celebrate and that i thought, 'Why could it be so quiet?' I Quickly stated, 'Oh, we are in Might.' I never heard a stadium so quiet."

It had been an everlasting silence because which was the final game ever performed in Municipal Stadium. As that chapter of Chiefs' history ended so, too, did their era of dominance. The veterans who had won an excellent Bowl 2 yrs earlier were aging as the Whales were a youthful team increasing. They passed on that day-one franchise rising, another heading down.

Miami continued to win the AFC championship and participate in the to begin three consecutive Super Bowls. In 1972, the Whales grew to become the very first National football league team to visit unbeaten and untied to have an entire season. They repeated as league champions the year after. It had been a significant run, also it all began with this Christmas Day marathon in Might.

"That transformed everything," Griese stated. "Just before that, the Whales had not won a postseason game. We understood i was improving, but we had not proven we're able to beat the large boys. To conquer the Chiefs was huge. It required us to a different level, confidence-smart."

It had the alternative impact on the Chiefs, who didn't go back to the 2010 nfl playoffs for the following 15 seasons. They moved right into a gleaming new venue, Arrowhead Stadium, but towards the Stram-brought Chiefs, it didn't seem like home.

"I was a large, physical team that bulldozed people," stated running back Erectile dysfunction Podolak. "I was created to experience grass. The artificial surface [at Arrowhead] was more for speed. It did not really suit us."

"We did not realize it at that time but that [playoff game] maybe it was,Inch Budde stated. "We'd an excellent team. I believe as we had beaten Miami, we would have gone on and beaten Dallas within the Super Bowl. But we lost that game and that we were never exactly the same next.Inch

It had been an unusual game. The Whales never brought until Yepremian started the area goal to win it. The Chiefs were ahead 10- within the first quarter, but a skipped area goal by Jan Stenerud along with a fumble by Podolak permitted the Whales to remain alive and tie the score, 10-10, in the half.

Within the other half, Jim Otis obtained to place the Chiefs ahead, but Jim Kiick clarified having a touchdown to tie. Podolak obtained his second touchdown of the overall game to place the Chiefs ahead within the 4th quarter but Griese put a touchdown pass to tight finish Marv Fleming to the score with 1:36 residing in regulation time.

"The Chiefs must have put us away early," Griese stated. "They'd their chances, however they made mistakes and let's hold off. We could stay within striking distance. The more it went, the greater confident we've got.Inch

The overall game almost ended around the kickoff following Fleming's touchdown. Podolak, who paid for for 350 combined internet yards in the overall game, received the ball. He broke free and made an appearance on his method to a touchdown, but Yepremian got in the manner sufficient to create him change direction, which permitted Curtis Manley to trap him from behind.

"I have seen the replay many occasions," stated Podolak, whose distance total was an National football league postseason record. "I turn to find out if there's anything I possibly could did anything in a different way. Really, there is not."

Still, the Chiefs were within area-goal range. As Stenerud arranged for his 31-yard attempt, even most Dolphins' fans felt the overall game was over. The truly amazing Stenerud wouldn't miss out of this distance. But, shockingly, his kick sailed wide right.

It is among the painful ironies of this game: The only real kicking specialist enshrined within the Professional Football Hall of Fame had his worst day in a game title that'll be spoken about forever. Stenerud told John Underwood of Sports Highlighted the overall game was "the worst factor that ever happened in my experience.Inch

"I felt sorry for Jan," Budde stated. "He's an excellent guy who won lots of games for all of us. He skipped a kick. I skipped blocks other men fumble or drop passes. All of us get some things wrong. None people blamed Jan. It's football, stuff happens."

The overall game pulled on right into a sixth quarter. "At some point, I had been at the end of the pile face-to-face with Nick [Buoniconti]," Podolak stated. "It had been such as the thirty-fifth time we went into one another. I requested him, 'Do you believe this can ever finish?' He just grunted."

The overall game didn't finish before the third having the 2nd overtime, when Ray Csonka broke away on the 29-yard run-an excellent misdirection play known as by Griese-to place the Whales in area-goal position.

"I wasn't nervous," Yepremian stated. "My only concern was the area. It had been in terrible shape. Since it was the final season for the reason that stadium they let [the area] go. It had been all grime and sand however they colored it eco-friendly therefore it appeared as if grass on television.

"I experienced all of the usual things i believe: 'Head lower. Kick the ball. Follow-through.' The lights within the stadium weren't good, therefore it was dark, similar to night time. I simply desired to kick the ball and go back home.Inch

Yepremian's kick was perfect so that as he elevated his arms towards the heavens, he saw Don Shula bounding toward him.

"It had been the greatest smile i have seen on Coach Shula's face," Yepremian stated. "I've the recording [from the kick] on my small apple iphone, but that memory I retain in my heart."

A couple of several weeks later, Willie Lanier was asked to some dinner in the Whitened House. When he met Leader Nixon within the receiving line, Nixon, an enormous football fan, requested: "That playoff game, the double-overtime, did not you receive tired?"

"It explained exactly what a large game it could be that the Leader was still being speaking about this,Inch Lanier stated. "I told him, 'Mr. Leader, you may never get tired playing in a game title like this.Inch