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Karl Kassulke: Unsung Minnesota Star 3

Posted on November 03, 2012 by Dean Hybl

Karl Kassulke

The November Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month spent ten seasons in the NFL as a starting defensive back before an automobile accident prematurely ended his career and left him paralyzed for the remainder of his life.

Drafted out of Drake University in the 11th round of the 1963 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Karl Kassulke didn’t make it with the Lions, but soon became the starting strong safety for the Minnesota Vikings. Read the rest of this entry →

San Diego Fully Charged Once More 0

Posted on November 02, 2012 by Pete South

Philip Rivers had the Chargers back on course against the Kansas City Chiefs.

San Diego look like divisional contenders in the NFL betting lines once again, after they ended a rut of three straight defeats to overcome Kansas City 31-13 on Thursday night.

The Chargers (then 3-4) went into the game knowing a loss would be disastrous for their efforts to claim top spot in the AFC West but a return to offensive form soon righted previous wrongs.

Indeed, so determined were San Diego to rid themselves of October’s nightmare that they scored their first touchdown in six quarters on the first drive.

Quarterback, Philip Rivers, looked back at his best – finding Seyi Ajirotutu with an arching pass to progress the team downfield, before throwing a neat 14-yard pass to Antonio Gates, who took the touchdown tight in the near left corner, securing the Chargers’ first touchdown since week six.

Buoyed by their defensive resilience last week against Cleveland, in which they conceded just one touchdown, San Diego maintained a solid wall of defense to reduce Kansas to field goals until the last quarter, by which time it was all over with three more Chargers scores.

After the game Rivers told NFL news reporters that he was happy to be back to winning ways: “It was good to play well but more importantly, it was good to win a game. We needed a win in the worst way. Games like this, wins like this, can jump start us.” Read the rest of this entry →

Week 8 NFL Storylines 0

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Andy Larmand

Matt Ryan’s three 1st half touchdowns helped the Falcons improve to 7-0 with a Week 8 victory over the Eagles.

It was a week for offenses to shine in Week 8 as five NFL teams picked up wins by 20 or more points and a total of five teams put up 30 or more points.

The 49ers, Broncos, Patriots, Dolphins and Bucs all won by 20 or more and those teams with the exception of the 49ers all put up 30 or more points. The Falcons also put up 30 against the Eagles en route to their seventh win of the year while staying undefeated.

Atlanta became the sixth NFL team to start a season 7-0 and score at least 23 points in each of those games. They also improved to 15-0 when Matt Ryan throws three or more touchdown passes in a game. Philly had been 13-0 following bye weeks under head coach, Andy Reid.

The Saints couldn’t win their third straight and fell to 2-5, but Drew Brees threw a touchdown pass in his 50th straight game to extend his own record. New Orleans fell to Denver 34-14 on Sunday night. Peyton Manning and the Broncos improved to 4-3 and it was the first time that they have won back-to-back games this year.

Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, didn’t let the time change or long flight to London affect him as he also threw a touchdown pass again and this marks 40 straight games for him – still 10 behind Brees for the all-time record. More notable for the Patriots, they gained 473 yards of total offense against the Rams, marking the 17th straight game that they have recorded more than 350. This broke the all-time record set by those Rams in 1999-00.

The Patriots’ offensive explosion left plenty of storylines and it was hard to just pick a few. The 45-7 win for New England was the largest of the weekend and in two games in London since 2009, the Pats have outscored their opponents 80-14 (beat Tampa 35-7 in 2009).

Four different Pats scored touchdowns and both Rob Gronkowski and Brandon Lloyd caught two apiece. It was the 50th time that Brady has had a game with three or more touchdown passes, which is good for fourth all-time. Wes Welker recorded at least one reception in his 102nd straight game. Believe it or not, the Rams scored the first seven points of the game before New England rifled off 45 unanswered.

The last two times Bill Belichick and Jeff Fisher have met, Belichick has outscored him 104-7. Also, Rams receiver, Chris Givens, caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Sam Bradford and now has a 50+ yard reception in five straight games. Bradford was also sacked at least once in his 24th straight game.

Read the rest of this entry →

Week Ten of Zultan’s Fearless Football Forecast 0

Posted on October 31, 2012 by JA Allen

It was a horrible day for a daring football prognosticator who swore Notre Dame was over-rated, who was sure the Gators were worthy of being ranked No. 2 and who predicted the Lions could best the Buckeyes at home in Happy Valley.

Like Icarus who flew too close to the sun—Mighty Zultan came too close to perfection. The Football Gods torched his flammable cloak, sending the All-Seeing One headlong into the sink hole of also-rans—where the rest of you dwell.

Except, of course the dozen or so of you who out-guessed Zultan last Saturday.

These distinguished prognosticators will be listed at the end of this article with appropriate kudos for rising above Zultan in Week 9.

Week 10 promises even more untold surprises.

What unlucky unbeaten will fall? Will Nebraska manage to sustain their slight lead and win on the road? Can LSU change the course of football history in 2012? Who knows??

Zultan was mortally wounded in Week 9—managing to hang on at 5-5.  He staggered under the weight of expectation.  Can he exceed that mark?  Make your own picks in Week 10—and go head-to-head with Zultan to defend your choices.

Read the rest of this entry →

Sports Illustrated’s 10 BEST NFL Franchises (5-1) 1

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Joe Gill

MUST HAVE For Any NFL Fan

Sports Illustrated has just released “Football’s Greatest” which is a MUST HAVE for any NFL fan. This book is choc full of beautiful images, historical tidbits and of course Top 10 lists. This keepsake covers the best players by position, the top 10 plays in NFL history and much, much more.

This week we are going to discuss the “10 BEST NFL Franchises”. Let the debate begin!

 

 

 

 

5. New York Giants

4-NFL Championships

4-Super Bowl Championships

31-Playoff appearances

27-Hall Of Famers

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Chicago Bears

7-NFL Championships

1-Super Bowl Championship

26-Playoff appearances

27-Hall Of Famers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Dallas Cowboys

5-Super Bowl Championships

30-Playoff appearances

12-Hall Of Famers

Read the rest of this entry →

Sports Illustrated’s 10 BEST NFL Franchises (10-6) 3

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Joe Gill

MUST HAVE For Any NFL Fan

Sports Illustrated has just released “Football’s Greatest” which is a MUST HAVE for any NFL fan. This book is choc full of beautiful images, historical tidbits and of course Top 10 lists. This keepsake covers the best players by position, the top 10 plays in NFL history and much, much more.

This week we are going to discuss the “10 BEST NFL Franchises”. Let the debate begin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Washington Redskins

2-NFL Championships

3-Super Bowl Championships

22-Playoff appearances

19-Hall Of Famers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts

3-NFL Championships

2-Super Bowl Championships

24-Playoff appearances

16-Hall Of Famers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Oakland Raiders 

1-AFL Championship

3-Super Bowl Championships

21-Playoff appearances

20-Hall Of Famers

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. New England Patriots

3-Super Bowl Championships

19-Playoff appearances

3-Hall Of Famers

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. San Francisco 49ers

5-Super Bowl Championships

24-Playoff appearances

21-Hall Of Famers

 

Agree or Disagree with SI’S List?

Show your team spirit below and STATE YOUR CASE!

 

Tune in this week for Sports Illustrated’s 10 BEST NFL Franchises (5-1).

  • Vintage Athlete of the Month

    • Louie Dampier: The First 3-Point King
      November 13, 2024 | 1:02 pm
      Louie Dampier

      Louie Dampier’s name might not resonate as widely as other basketball legends, but the Sports Then & Now Vintage Athlete of the Month’s impact on the game, particularly during the American Basketball Association (ABA) era, is undeniable. Known for his pinpoint shooting, exceptional ball handling, and relentless work ethic, Dampier enjoyed a stellar basketball career that saw him thrive in both the ABA and NBA. As one of the most consistent and prolific guards of his time, Dampier left a lasting legacy, and his role in the ABA’s history solidified his place in the annals of basketball greatness.

      Read more »

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