The Kevin Sheehan Show - 50 Years Ago: The Clint Longley Game

Episode Date: November 28, 2024

Kevin is joined by Redskins great Billy Kilmer remembering the infamous "Clint Longley" game 50 years ago today. On Thanksgiving Day 1974, Longley came off the bench after Roger Staubach got knocked out and led the Cowboys to a stunning 24-23 comeback win over the Redskins. It's still to this day ranked as the all-time NFL Thanksgiving Day moment.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it. But you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Sheehan Show. Here's Kevin. Washington now had a seemingly safe 13-point lead over sputtering Dallas. On the Cowboys' next series came the turning point of the game. Roger Stobach was having one of his poorest passing days in the NFL and he couldn't find an open receiver and ran.

Starbock gained the first down, but was not woozy. And this proved to be the turning point. of the day, for into the fray came an untried and unknown rookie quarterback named Clint Longley. And the rest we know was miserable history. NFL films describing the turning point in the most memorable NFL Thanksgiving Day game of all time. 50 years ago today, Thanksgiving 1974, the Clint Longley game. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I know many of you listening will never forget where you were and what you were doing when Clint Longley ruined Thanksgiving for all of us. And if you're too young to remember, this was the first painful loss to the Cowboys.

And it was really one of the first truly, I'll never forget where I was when it happened moments in franchise history. The backdrop for the game was the rivalry that had developed in the three previous seasons with George Allen arriving in D.C. in 1971, and they had played some high-profile games already, but this was the first Thanksgiving Day matchup between George Allen's skins and Tom Landry's Cowboys. There were only two games back then on Thanksgiving. The Lions played early, the Cowboys played late, and Washington Under Allen was playing for the first time in Dallas on Turkey Day, and the rivalry had reached full. intensity. Since Allen's arrival, Washington had won five of the eight head-to-head against the

Cowboys, with the most notable being the 1972 NFC title game at RFK Stadium, which the skins won 26 to 3. But in 1973, the next season, Washington beat Dallas in the famous Ken Houston-Wallison game. Monday night football October of 73, Washington leading 14 to 7, and Ken Annie Houston tackles Walt Garrison on fourth and goal on the final play of the game, inches short of the goal line. So the series was already white hot and had become the biggest rivalry in the sport. So why not the two of them on Thanksgiving Day in 1974? The Redskins starting quarterback that day 50 years ago?

Billy Kilmer, and he will join me in the next segment. and if you are of a certain age, you will enjoy this. I promise you. Billy Kilmer coming up in the next segment. So the game was, you know, this intense rivalry, national television, Thanksgiving Day, but Washington was actually better than Dallas in 1974. The Cardinals were the biggest competition to Washington in the NFC East. Dallas came into the game six and five. Washington was eight and three. The Cowboys had to win to stay alive for a playoff berth while Washington was actually playing to clinch at least a wild card birth in the game. So the stakes were high and the skins dominated for the first two and a half quarters. They led 16 to three when Dave Robinson, their linebacker, knocked Roger Stawback out of the game.

Diron Talbert had predicted that they would take Staw back out, and they did. Unfortunately, Clint Longley, a rookie from Abilene Christian, who had not taken one snap in his rookie season, came in and led the Cowboys back. He went 11 for 20 in just over a quarter for 203 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a touchdown pass to Billy Joe DePree, the tight end, the longtime tight end for the Cowboys, to make it 16 to 10 in the third quarter. Then they got the ball back, drove again. Walt Garrison punched it in from the one, and they had a 17 to 16 lead. But the skins answered, they came back down the field.

Dwayne Thomas, who was playing for Washington that season, former cowboy, scored his second touchdown of the day. It was a 19-yard run. midway through the fourth quarter, that gave the skins a 23 to 17 lead. And they had a chance to push the lead to 26 to 17, but Mark Mosley's short field goal was blocked, and Dallas took over with the ball down six. And then with 35 seconds left at midfield at the 50-yard line,

they had converted a fourth and six to stay alive. This was the play that immortalized Clint Longley and the game itself. This was the NFL film's description of the play a few days after the game. But the Cowboys were 50 yards away, 35 seconds left to play. 50 yards and 35 seconds away from extinction for the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas and their unheralded rookie had done the impossible, and an entire stadium of 63,240. went wild.

Clint Longley, with his incredible passing performance, had captured the fancy of a Pax Stadium and a national television audience, and had plunged his team right back in the thick of playoff possibilities. Certainly a long and bright future awaits the 22-year-old rookie quarterback, but no matter how long he plays the game of football

and how well he plays it, it is unlikely he'll ever surpass the shining moment he knew in Dallas this Thanksgiving day. A 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson with 28 seconds left. He beat Ken Stone, the deep safety who looked back a little bit early, and Pearson ran right by him and Longley put it right in his hands. 50 yards, 24, 23 Cowboys after the extra point. The game still remembered to this day as the greatest NFL thanks.

Day game of all time. Washington did go on to tie St. Louis for the division with a 10 and four record. The skins ended up being the wild card team. They lost the tiebreaker with the Cardinals who swept them that year. Washington went to the Coliseum in Los Angeles and lost to the Rams in the divisional round 19 to 10. Dallas missed the playoffs despite winning that day on Thanksgiving. For me, I'll never forget that we waited to eat at my grandmothers on that Thanksgiving day. We usually ate fairly early. That day we watched the game. My father, my sister, my mom, my uncles, my aunts, my cousins, my grandmother.

We all watched the game. And afterwards, I was an inconsolable child and didn't want to eat anything if my memory serves me. correctly. I probably did eat. But that was truly one of the first heartbreak moments for me as a sports fan. We didn't do it this year because he could not make it. He was doing the Monday night football gig in L.A. and then had to go away. But Scots told us the story so many times over the years of being traumatized watching that game with his grandfather. Because when Longley, through the game-winning touchdown pass. His grandfather clutched his chest and had a heart attack right in front of little Scott Van Pelt. The ambulance showed up with Scott completely traumatized, taking his

grandfather to the hospital. Fortunately, his grandfather survived many more years after that. But as Scott has told us many times over the years, Clint Longley nearly killed my grandfather. Not a lot of happy Thanksgivings that day 50 years ago in the DC area in the DMV. And it would be another four chances before they finally beat Dallas on Thanksgiving. They lost their next four games on Thanksgiving in Dallas before finally winning in 2012, as we remember, with RG3 at the helm. A memorable day, 50 years ago. and to help us remember it, Billy Kilmer will join me next after these words from a few of our sponsors.

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Billy was the starting quarterback for the majority of the 1970s. He's arriving here in 1971 and playing through the 1978 season before he retired. Eight years here in D.C., a 50, 23, and one record as a starting quarterback. Five trips to the playoffs, including in 1972 when they made their first ever run to a Super Bowl appearance. Billy was on the field. He was the starting quarterback 50 years ago on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day when Clint Longley authored that miracle comeback. And that's why I'm having you on the show. It's been forever. Let me just start off by asking you, how have you been? How are you doing? I'm doing fine. You know, for an 85-year-old man, I guess I'm doing all right. Well, you know,

I called you yesterday and told you this. And I'm assuming that every Thanksgiving, somebody reminds you, about the Clint Longley game. Yeah, every time I watch the Dallas game, you know, that game will come back in my mind, of course. Yeah, it's certainly up there and probably the most memorable Thanksgiving Day games. So take us back to that day, and maybe a little bit before that,

because one of the things that I remember about that season, and I don't know if you remember the same thing, but you guys played the Cowboys essentially twice in, like less than two weeks. You played them at home and beat them on November 17th. It was 11 days earlier on a Sunday. Then you played Philadelphia. Then you went on the short week to Dallas. Do you remember those two games against the Cowboys that season bunched up that tightly? Well, I think in that first game, didn't Sunny play? I think he started the game and played. and I don't know if he got hurt.

And then I came back against Philadelphia, then the Cowboys that on finish this season. I kind of think that's what happened. I'm not sure. Ken Houston had a punt return for a touchdown in that game, and you guys won it 28-21. I think it was the next game you and Sunny split time against Philly, and then it was the Thanksgiving Day game.

Leading into that game, was there a question as to who would start? No, I think that I was a starter. I practice all week as the number one guy, you know, and Sonny had a bum me or something. He wasn't, you know, really, he could play, but it wasn't real good, you know. and he, you know, it was vulnerable to some injuries. So he was really, you know, if I got hurt or something, he could have played.

Do you remember the buildup for this game? You guys actually played Thanksgiving Day the year before in Detroit, actually. So you had had a Thanksgiving Day game under your belt, you know, a four-day turnaround. But do you remember the buildup to this one? before, you know, because Dallas Week was a big deal, as you know, but this was a shortened Dallas week. Yeah, but, you know,

Dallas had lost a bunch of games. In fact, that was one of the years that they did make the playoff. Right. And, you know, they had lost three games or four games going into that game, I think.

I know they had lost a lot of games before we got into that game. And, you know, we were flying pretty high ourselves. So, you know, it just was, you know, a game to us. I mean, Dallas Week was always big. But, you know, we went into that game with a lot of confidence. Yeah, you guys were a short favorite.

Looked that up. You guys were a two-point favorite going into that one. And you're right. Dallas had four losses, actually five losses entering the game. They were six and five. You guys entering that particular game were, you know, St. Louis was really the division. The chase was between you guys and the Cardinals, really, for the division title. And that game turned out to be a significant game.

But you guys were eight and three. They were six and five. So it was a shortened Dallas week. And to your point, Dallas wasn't the, you know, know, in the race as much as the Cardinals were. So was it less of a Dallas week buildup? Dallas week was always good, no matter what your records were. You know, you wanted to beat Dallas more than anything. I know George, that was a big week, and nobody slept off. We worked harder on that week than we did any other week. I know that. Part of the buildup to the game,

included, you know, Diren Talbert predicting that he'd knock Stawback out of the game. What do you remember about that, you know, back and forth? That was, yeah, I remember Dairn saying that and everything. And as a game progressed, you know, Staubeck was having a bad game. He was overthrowing receivers. He was doing everything. and, you know, we were ahead most of the game. We were ahead until the end.

And I remember at the end of the third quarter, I ran over to the bench, and I said, I told all the defensive line, and I especially darned, I said, don't knock him out. Don't knock him out because he can't beat us today. The only guy I missed was Dave Robinson. and he didn't hear me because right after that he was blitzed and knocked

Roger out of the game and him came Clint Longley and everything else was history. That's still kidding. I knew that Roger wasn't going to be that day and I said don't knock him out of the game because I remember Dyern's saying that. You guys were up. You took a 16 to

three lead midway through the third quarter. By the way, Dwayne Thomas, who was a former cowboy, who played that season, that 74 season with you guys, had a big game. He scored two touchdowns in the game, caught a pass from you for a touchdown and rushed for another. So you went to Talbert and the defense just forgot to go to Dave Robinson and said, Roger can't beat us today, but did you know anything about his backup? No, not nothing. And neither did our defense come to find out. You know, he was, nobody knew what he could do or anything.

You know, they played him straight up. But, you know, in that game, they went down and scored a touchdown. And then I drove him down to about the 20-yard line, And we had a, if Moseley makes that field goal, there was no, you know, wouldn't have made any difference because we either won the game, you know, by three points anyway. But, you know, he got it blocked by, I guess, too tall, stood up and blocked the kick.

And then that was a difference. And they took it down and scored the winning touchdown. Mosley missed two field goals. that game. But you're right. You guys were up 2317, and it was the fourth quarter. If he makes that kick, you guys are up nine, and it's game over. Yeah. So when he threw the first touchdown pass, because he threw two

of them, he threw one to Billy Joe to pre, before he threw the one to Drew Pearson, and that was kind of a long touchdown pass as well. Did anybody on the sideline get concerned? Well, I'm sure we all did. I can't remember the emotions of that game other than when they scored the last touchdown. It was like sticking a dagger in us.

But, you know, they had a couple of calls on fourth down. on fourth down, I think before the big touchdown, it was fourth and ten or something, and they threw a pass to, what's their good receiver? Drew Pearson. Drew Pearson. Yeah. Yes, yeah. And Pearson caught the ball, and I'm standing right there,

and it's knee-touched behind where the first-down. First down marker. First down marker was. Yeah. And the referee marked the ball, you know, where the ball had showed up. But Steve touched back of the thing, and it would have been a first down for us. And that was, you know, right the middle of that fourth quarter. And they would never have scored that one touchdown.

I know. I couldn't believe it. I was right on the sidelines, and he had fallen short of the first down, and the referees marked it over the line. That was another incident that went against this, actually. Yeah, and there was no replay back then to check the spot. You know, I've often thought about this. Like, when you go back and watch some of the games from back in that era,

the referees got so many things wrong that would have easily been changed in today's game. But, you know, we didn't, as fans know or think any differently about it. You just, you just think, like the Mel Gray catch is the all-timer, right? In St. Louis. Yeah, that was in 74 too. Yeah. No, that was 75. That was 75.

That was the next year. Yeah. Yeah, because, well, in fact, that knocked this out of the play on that year. Exactly. Yeah, that Mel Gage is because Pat had knocked that ball out of his hand. He didn't catch that ball, and they called it no good, and we're running on the field. Our offense, I don't think I played that game, but our offense was coming on the field, and they huddled up.

First time I ever saw referees huddle up back then and changed their call. I never saw that all the years that I played back then. But that was 75. That wasn't 74. Correct. That was 75. And for those that don't remember the game,

one of the more controversial losses in Skins history, Skins and Cardinals in 75, along with the Cowboys, battling it out. Game was at Bush Stadium, Washington up 17 to 10. And all you got to do is look this up. This would have been so quickly overturned as an incomplete pass in today's game. I mean, Fisher knocks the ball out of his hands. He never has it.

But to Billy's point, the referees huddled up, and it looked like it was over. And they came back and they called it a touchdown. The game went to overtime in St. Louis won the game. By the way, I'm looking this up right now. You're right. Do you remember who the starting quarterback was? Because this was the first year without Sonny.

Randy Johnson. Were you heard? He played very good. Yeah. Yeah. The previous game, we were playing the Jets, and I had separated my left shoulder. No, yeah, my left shoulder.

No, I partially separated my right shoulder, but it wasn't too bad because I went on. and played until Dallas separated all the way back in the next, the last game of the year. Well, that 75 season, which we could do a whole show on, you know, was the first, you guys had three overtime games that year, and the first one, of course, is the memorable one against the Cowboys at RFK that you won in overtime by going over from the one-yard line. You know what's funny about that, Billy? you guys went for the touchdown.

And instead of at the one-yard line, just like we would see now a days, and for a long time, just putting the kicker in and kicking the short field goal to end it. I've always been curious, was the thought of putting a field goal kicker in on first or second down, just not part of it back then? Mostly had missed three field goals that day. Ah. And I got the huddle. And I said, we're not going to let them miss another one.

I said, I told Charlie Taylor, I said, I'm going to run a play action pass. And I, well, what had happened was they got the ball in overtime first. Yep. And then I think Kenny Houston is intercepted a pass. Exactly. And got it to the 20-yard line. And then I said, and that's when we got it down the home. I said, well, I'm not going to.

let Mosley lose this game. Let's score a touchdown. So I ran a play action pass, and I told Charlie Taylor, I said, I'm going to get this outside. And, you know, I said, don't let him get in front of you. So anyway, he made a good move, and we got inside the 10 there. And then I gave it to Larry, and he got it down on the two-yard, or on the one-yard line, you know, and that's when I's quarterback stinked it. Yeah. You know, that game, just if you don't know this, the overtime itself is actually, as it was broadcasted by CBS, Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshire doing the game, is actually available on YouTube. You know, and that's why I knew it was Kenny Houston, because it picks it up right with the Kenny Houston pick. And then, you know, you're past to Charlie Taylor, Larry Brown's run, and then you taking it over from the,

the one. By the way, we're getting sidetracked here, but that's okay, because I think, you know, those that are listening to this are interested. But that 75 team, I always felt that that was actually one of your better teams, especially offensively. You know, you were led, you know, in 71, 72, 73, and 74 by your defense as much as anything else. I thought this 75 team in many ways was the best offensive team that you guys had. Am I wrong or not? Well, I think so. You know, well, that was our first year without sunny.

Right. And I don't know. I knew I had a pretty good year throwing them all. I'm not sure. That year, I think, see, 75. I think that year. I think that year I made the Pro Bowl, you know, but I couldn't go to the Pro Bowl because I had separated my shoulder against Dallas and next to last game. And I was in the hospital and had to have surgery on my right shoulder.

Yeah, that game at the end of the year was for a playoff berth in Dallas. And you got hurt in that game. But you guys lost the heartbreaker to St. Louis, which was robbery. you lost the next week at home to the Raiders in overtime. That's right. So those games were insane for a few weeks. Three overtime games, basically in five weeks, you won the Dallas game, you lost the St. Louis game,

which again, you shouldn't have lost. And then it was basically a shootout between you and Stabler. Yeah, I remember that. Yeah, we went back and forth with everything. and yeah George Blan to kick the field in overtime yeah

we were moving the ball down there and that over I think we got the ball first and we removed it I moved it inside the 50 and then we stalled and didn't get any further and I guess we had to punt the ball

I don't know I just remember them going down right down the field and they kicked the field well that was a That was an excellent Raiders team. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

They were at the height of their powers. All right, well, let's go back to the Clint Longley game. And we'll do that right after these words from a few of our sponsors. Euro step around that hot take and make a play today with Robin Hood. With a 3% boost on your annual IRA contributions with Robin Hood gold, your money starts working for you. That's an easy assist without the flagrant fast. official brokerage in Jersey patch partner of the Washington Wizards. Investing involves risk.

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them know I sent you. After you place your order, select podcast in the survey and select my show in the drop-down menu that follows. And if you're looking for the perfect gifts for the whole family, Skims just launched their biggest holiday shop ever, also available at skims.com. We continue with Billy Kilmer, and let's go back to the Clint Longley game. And as this is happening and Longley's throwing bombs all over the field, your premonition or your advice, which wasn't followed, was clearly becoming something that everybody knew. But specific to, you know, that last drive, you know, you guys missed the field goal, they get to the 50-yard line.

They're basically like, you know, like 40 seconds left and he throws the bomb over Ken Stone, who was the deep safety. So tell me what you remember about that, you know, how it came to be, and then, you know, you guys had one last chance with the ball, but what do you remember about Longley's game winner to Drew Pearson? Well, it looked like, to me, that he was double-covered,

because that was Mike Bass's side of the field, and Mike was a very good receiver, the cornerback. And he had a real good game, you know. Pearson didn't really show up until, you know, that last catch. So I don't know what they, they were playing them in and out, and he split them and went deep and nobody covered him, you know. What was, do you remember about the reaction on the sideline?

Was it, we're done, or we still got a shot? because there were, I think there were like 30-something seconds left. Was there? I was trying to, you know, get something going down the field. I don't remember that last 30 seconds real good. You know, I don't even know if I completed a pass. It went pretty fast. Yeah.

So the locker room was like what from your memory? Thanksgiving Day, 74. Well, well, you know, nobody said anything. and we had a bad flight, you know, going home. No, everybody was disappointed, of course. But still, you know, we were in the driver's seat as far as making the playoffs, you know, and we had, what, about three games left for something like that back then. I guess we were only playing 14.

14. You had two left. Your next game was the Rams and the Colise. see him on Monday night football. That was it, yeah. And we did beat them there. And then I think the bear, but we had showed up a playoff with that game there. And I think the next game was for the Bears in RFK. Good memory.

Crush them. And you needed the Cardinals to, I'm sure, lose. Yeah, and they didn't. They didn't. Yeah. So you guys went in as the wild card winner, as the wild card team. We kind of tied, didn't we? Yeah, you were both 10 and 4.

They beat us, so they got to be champions. Yeah, they beat you twice. Yeah, they swept you. They swept you that year. And so they ended up playing the Vikings and lost, and you guys went to the Coliseum. I saw them and lost to the Rams. Right, but you had the lead at halftime against that team.

I know. I know. And Sonny, that was Sunny's final game. Do you, I forget, were you hurt in the game, or did Sunny come in because of George having a hunch? I guess George having a hunch. I wasn't hurt in the game. You know, we were leading at halftime. We come out.

and I remember, I think, I forgot the fullback's name, but I gave him the ball on a fullback play, and he fumbled right after the half time. We got the ball half, and I might have, I don't remember if we had got a first down. Moses Denson. Moses Denson. Moses Denson. He fumbled and Rams got it in, you know, in plus territory. and they went down and scored, and then they kind of controlled the game after, well, after they

scored, and I don't know if I played another series or not, but after the next series, I guess he put Sonny in and Sonny finished the game. You know, that was Sonny's final game. He was 40 years old, and in basically a quarter and a half, he threw three interceptions, including one to Isaiah Robertson, and that was the game winner because it was 13 to 10, and he picked it and returned it,

and you guys lost 19 to 10 in the game, and obviously Sonny retired after that game. So what else do you remember about the Longley game? You know, the aftermath of the game. You guys were good, they weren't. They didn't go to the playoffs, as you mentioned. In fact, you know, they ended up, they went eight and six. I think it was the first non-playoff season for Landry.

Or maybe they had something like that. But what stories, you know, either from then or over the years about that game? Well, the only thing is what, you know, I always remember telling them, don't knock Roger out. There wasn't many times, you know, that you could say that. because he played so well against us a lot of times. But I just knew I had a feeling that we had them intimidated that year. But, you know, it was just another game to us because they weren't in it as far as the playoffs concern,

and we were kind of more interested in the Cardinals really. really. I don't, you know, losing that Dallas was always bad. And, you know, we should have won the game. That's a big thing, you know, that makes you really upset. Yeah, and Longley ends up, you know, having a very short career because he took a pot shot at Stauback in the locker room, and they cut him the next day. I think that was either the next year or maybe two years later. That was the next year, I think it was in an exhibition season. Yeah. Do you talk to Cowboys, have you talked to Cowboys that played in that game over the years about that game or not?

Well, I lived in Dallas for a while, and I used to talk to some of those guys, you know, bad. But they're not, you know, we, in fact, I didn't rehash that game at all when I saw any of the Cowboys. They didn't say anything to me either. You know, just this past Sunday, Washington lost the game to Dallas, which they were a big favorite in. And I talked about on the show leading into the game that it just isn't the same anymore, you know, and not even having to go back to the 70s when you played in the rivalry. But, you know, it just hasn't been that, you know, Dallas's chief rival,

It's the Eagles more than it's Washington. Yeah. And it has, and it's been that way for years. I mean, you played in it. I was just a child of the 70s and a teenager of the 80s, remembering all of those games. It was the best, wasn't it? It was college-like.

Well, you know, when George came to the Redskins, and that was, I remember in training camp, you know, he emphasized that dad. Dallas, you know, we got our main rivals Dallas and everything. He never got alone with TechSram and, you know, Landry, well, is mostly TechSram, always had it in for George, you know. And he just wanted to beat Dallas. And we heard about Dallas from the day one of practice.

And we emphasized on them because we knew we had to beat them if we were going to have any success as far as in the league. So they were going to the playoffs. And so, you know, we heard a lot. So Dallas Week was always big with George. I mean, it just used, when the gun went off the week before, it was all Dallas all the way through until we played them. And, you know, that first game in 71 in the Cotton Bowl, you guys beat them.

I mean, as you, you know, started that season. You know, undefeated. That was a big game, it really was. It started on a streak. And, yeah, that was a big game for Dallas. I mean, that's for Washington as a, you know, a contender in that division. You know, when George brought you there in 71, and Sonny was the presumed starter and obviously got hurt, you know,

in a couple of the seasons, 72, obviously, toward the Achilles in Yankee Stadium. But when you got to D.C. in 71, what did you think your role would be? Well, I was going to be the backup. Yeah. That was, you know, I knew that. And, you know, I just played the backup role. and I had to be ready to play, you know, if I got the call. It's funny, the first exhibition game that year in 71, we played the charges.

And Sonny had got hurt in some practice. He heard his thumb or his fingers where he couldn't hold the ball. And so I started that game and played most of the game, and I played horrible. and we lost the game. And so, you know, I did play a whole lot in that exhibition season. Sunny came back against Denver and played. I might have got in a quarter there. And then we, I think, see, we played six.

So I can't remember, but it was the next to the last exercise. Miami. Game against Miami, and that's when Sonny broke his shoulder. And was out most of that season. He came back in the last part. And then I played the last exhibition game, I guess, was Cincinnati. Good memory. I forgot.

Yeah, you're right. And I played pretty good. I think we tied that game. They tied us, I think. it was at RFK. And then, you know, then we went to, we had three road games that year. To start. Starting off, three road games.

We went to St. Louis, went to New York, and then went to Dallas. And, you know, George was upset by that schedule, and we ended up winning all three games on the road. And that set the tone for us that year. And, you know, finally we made the playoffs. Yeah. You know, that first game, because I remember I had Richie Pettibone on a show that we did several years ago, that first game was basically the Richie Pettibone game.

Yeah, he got intercepted three balls. Three interceptions, exactly. Yeah, in the game. Yeah, he had a great game. And that season, you know, you guys beat Dallas, as mentioned, came back. I mean, the reception that you got at Delis Airport. I mean, it's kind of strange to think. I mean, people will often talk about the 60s teams with Sunny and Charlie Taylor and Bobby Mitchell and all the points, but they weren't winning teams.

To me, now this is part because it's the first year I remember, is George Allen's what made football such an important thing in our city. and the passion really started with that 71 team, and his kind of prediction that the future is now and trading for all the Rams players, etc. But how quickly into that first season did you realize that this was a big deal in the city? Well, it was after that Dallas game, and when we arrived back,

there was such a crowd at Dallas that we, flew into Dallas and deplained from those. After that, we'd be planed out on the ramp and then we took buses back to where our practice facility was. Right. But

there were lined, the people were lined up all the way back to the Beltway trying to get to us. And we had such a big crowd that night at the airport, you know, woke of us back. Right then we knew that we touched something in the town because, you know, of course, we always filled up RFK in those days. You know, but the tone of the town.

After that Dallas game, I know we beat the New York and we beat the Cardinals, but we didn't have the reception that we did want to beat Dallas. That kind of woke everybody up in the town, you know, and so, hey, we might have a team here, you know. You know, the game that I remember more than any from that year was the first loss when you guys went to Kansas City and Charlie Taylor broke his leg. Oh, boy. In that game. I already threw him.

Well, where he broke his leg was his second touchdown. Yeah. It was in the second quarter. and when it goes across the goal line, the kid that was, guard him fell on his back leg and broke that leg, and he was out for the year.

And right there, if Charlie had not got hurt that year, I swear, we went to the playoffs, but I think we had gone far a lot further than that that year. We had the same kind of team that we had in 72, And Charlie was on that 72 all the way through, you know. But I think that 71 team, we had the momentum.

Charlie was having a great year. I'd already thrown them about six, seven touchdown passes. I forgot. He had a lot of them then, you know. It was early in the year, you know, about the fifth or sixth game. Yeah, I mean. Yeah, it was the – you guys were five and a – when you went to Kansas City.

Five and O, right? Yeah, 5 and O and had the lead when he broke his leg. It was a touchdown pass that made it 17 to 6. Right. And Len Dawson, Otis Taylor, those great chiefs, because they were a great team, came back and won the game by a touchdown. But that's interesting. So do you think the 71 team with Charlie was as good or better than the 72

team. Well, I think we were on a goal that we could have been better than the 72 team. But, you know, that's, because we had momentum and we had, you know, we've never been there, most of the, we called them, you know, the old redskinned guys, they had never been in a playoff situation before. And everybody was so enthused. And, of course, you know, judge, and we, our defense plays, awful good. Our defense played always good, but, you know, we were really good in 71. I just know

that that team with, if Charlie had stayed healthy, we'd have been in the Super Bowl. Yeah. The next year you were, obviously. Seventy-one, we went to the 49ers beat us in that. And we had the lead in that. And we had the lead

that game up until the last quarter, I think. You know, your memory is so good, and that makes it so much fun for me, and I'm sure people that are listening. But, you know, in 71 as a wildcard team, you had the halftime lead, and you ended up losing 2420 to San Francisco. By the way, the punter in that game was Steve Spurrier. A little trivia question. No kidding.

Yeah. In 73, when you were a wildcar team, and you guys were good in 73, too, you went to Minnesota had the halftime lead and lost 27 to 20, close game. And then the game we talked about in 74, you guys had the lead in the Coliseum against the Rams. So, you know, the playoff wins for George were all in 72, but the playoff losses were all close ones. And, you know, you go to 75, you didn't make the play. but you should have because of the Melk Ray disaster in St. Louis. That should have been a playoff team too. And like I said, I think that's 75 team. You had a rookie, Washington had a

rookie of the year running back in Mike Thomas. Mike Thomas had a great year, yeah. Had a great year. Was the NFC rookie of the year. And you guys were kind of unstoppable at times on offense until you got hurt, you know, late in the season. Yeah. Yeah. So we have we. I remember we had a pretty good, I know I had, I think I did make the Pro Bowl, but couldn't go. I was one of two quarterbacks, yeah. Yeah. Man, this was fun. We could do it for a lot longer, but I so appreciate the time.

Oh, let me get your thoughts on this year's team. Have you been paying attention to it? Have you been paying attention to Jaden Daniels? Oh, yeah. I tell you, this kid, he's got it. They just got to get a few more, a couple of good, another couple of good receivers at once. I forget, 17.

Yeah. Terry McCorn, yeah. Yeah, Terry, yeah. And in the running game, seems to go pretty good. I just think they need a couple more players. quality players, and they'll be right there, and don't let that kid get hurt. The quarterback. I like the way he plays.

He's got a heck of an arm, and he seems to – he's so accurate, too. That is one thing. He's very accurate. Yeah, really accurate. What was – other than the 72 championship game at RFK against the Cowboys, which I would assume would be the answer to the following question. And if it isn't, then you can tell me that it isn't. But what's the most memorable game for you that you played in Washington?

That was definitely that game there, sure. Yeah, got us to the Super Bowl, you know. When I hit Charlie Taylor with that long pass, this first play of the fourth quarter, you know, and it kind of broke the game wide open. You know, I remember that game. And then I don't think, after that, I didn't throw another pass. In that game, right.

In that game. Because we kept intercepting. Staubach. It wasn't Stauback, though. I think Craig Borton got in the game. No, remember the. No, Craig started the 49er game. Exactly.

Right. Yeah. They beat them there. Yeah, right. Yeah, they came back. It was like a Marrydon. miraculous comeback. If not, you would have been playing the 49ers in the title game. Exactly. Exactly.

It would have been memorable, but not as memorable, you know? No. So we're glad it worked out that way. But other than that game, is there a game that sticks out as one that you'll never forget? Well, in the 76 Cowboy game, we had to win that to get in the playoffs. It was the last game of the year. And we all played really good that game, and the running game went good. I had a pretty good game in that.

I know I had a little incident before that week before that game, and I needed to win that game. Or I'd have been run out of town. I think at that point you were so beloved that we, no matter what you, no matter what you and Sunny were up to, it didn't matter. Now, Sunny wouldn't even around for 76. No, no. Because one of the games that I, that sticks out to me was the season opener, I think it was that season 76 when you broke your nose, you know, and the blood's coming out everywhere against the giants in the opener.

And I guess Thysman probably came in for a few plays. and then you came back in with that thing bandaged up and let a touchdown drive to win the game. Yeah, it was in the middle of the season. Oh, it was? Okay. Yeah. It wasn't the opening game. Okay.

It was against the Giants. And I got, well, I only wore one bar anyway. Right. And somehow the, gosh, I remember the defensive, both defensive ends got me. and one split my lip and nose, and I'm over there with, you know, getting the trainers, you know, put on a bag. Well, I think they couldn't stitch it because they just, because I made a comment after the game that the trainer above a tire should get the game ball because he's, he's, put my nose back together and then my lip, but too, it was all bloody.

And I went back in and we went down, actually it was a close game, and we went down and scored a touchdown. They broke the game open. Yeah, no, yeah, I think it was a touchdown pass that won the game, maybe to Frank Grant or somebody like that. I can't remember. No, it wasn't a great. I think I hit Mike Thomas?

Yeah. I think it was Mike Thomas. But I don't know. Yeah. Well, you do know. I do have good memory, but I forgot about that. Well, yeah. I mean, you played.

Oh, I know what I was going to say. The next game, the next game, because the people's drug had a big thing that get your bandage. They gave away free bandages. Yeah. Anybody that came in there if you're going to the game. and everybody that stands wore a bandage on their nose. Yeah. Yeah, that's, I vaguely remember that.

Oh, yeah. That's an awesome memory. I mean, even in your last couple of years, you know, when Joe wasn't getting it done and you came in and played well, you know, there were some games I remember in your final season. You guys were, that was the year with Jack Pardee, and you guys started off real quickly, and Thysman was the starter, but things started to go south with him,

and you came in and won a couple of big games for us. Ended up not going to the playoffs that year, but even at, you know, I'm going to guess what were, you weren't 40 yet, were you? 38, 39. Yeah. Yeah. But even some of the-

58, because that was, yeah, 39. Yeah, I mean, and then that was it. But I got to tell you, this is such a thrill for me. It's been a long time since I think I've had you on the show. But just the memories of number 17 as a quarterback during that era are just so fond and such happy memories. Even though the one that prompted the call to you to have you on today wasn't a happy one. But happy Thanksgiving to you, Billy. Really appreciate this.

and hope you and the family are well. Yeah, thank you, pal. It's been fun to talk to you. You kind of revised a lot of memories. Well, let's do it again soon. We won't wait that long. I appreciate it. Take care.

I love to. Thank you. Billy Kilmer, everybody. What a treasure and what a memory he has on him at 85 years old. That was fun. I know it wasn't exclusive to what happened 50 years ago today, but I really enjoyed that. I hope you did as well.

All right, that is it. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody, back tomorrow. Kilmer time.