NFL Field Goal Record Ditto

[Sam]

Back in the 70's I lived in New Orleans so I had the opportunity to go to some Saints games.

 

I was in the stands when Tom Dempsey kicked the game winning field goal as time expired to have the Saints win the game 19-17. I also remember Alex Karras walking around the field in disbelieve after the kick went through the uprights and we went wild in the stands.

 

According to the Internet, "Tom Dempsey is most widely known for kicking a 63-yard field goal as time expired to give the Saints a 19–17 win over the Detroit Lions on November 8, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. Prior to 1974, the goal posts in the NFL were on the goal lines instead of the end lines. The 63-yards was the longest field goal in NFL history at that time."

 

Dallas head coach, Tom Landry, tried to get Dempsey's special shoe disqualified as Dempsey's foot was disfigured as he did not have toes on his right foot so he wore a special shoe to kick field goals. Landry's efforts failed.

 

Today, I saw it happen again when the Detroit Lions lost to the Ravens when the Raven's Justin Tucker's 66-yard field goal defeated the Lions 19-17 as time expired. It only took 47 years for it to happen again.

 

And it happened to the Lions, too.

 

Isn't life great!!!!

[BrianMDTX]

I am a diehard Ravens fan. When I saw Tuck line up for a 66-yard FG attempt, I knew if any kicker in the NFL could make it, he could. But I am not going to sit here and say I knew he was going to make it. I’m still in a state of shock and disbelief. 
 

Baltimore has had a couple of great kickers. Matt Stover, and now Justin Tucker. Stover won games during the Ravens’ SB year all on his own. Without him, no Lombardi. But Tuck is on another level. 
 

Walk or drive around the Baltimore area on Purple Fridays and game days and you’d be surprised how many fans wear Stover and Tucker jerseys. Especially Tuck. Or as they’re calling him today…Legatron! 

[schplurg]

I remember as a kid seeing Dempsey's photo in the Guinness book. I thought it would be cool to be a kicker.

 

Nowadays I have different feelings about kicking and football. Radical maybe, but I think field goals should be eliminated. Tired of seeing a hard fought game lost because some little dude that sits on the bench all day can kick a ball over halfway across the field. Doesn't make sense to me.

 

I'd consider getting rid of punting as well.

 

Get rid of the goal posts altogether. I'd like to see that tried at least. But then I don't watch football anymore anyways  Maybe I would.

[BrianMDTX]

2 minutes ago, schplurg said:

Nowadays I have different feelings about kicking and football. Radical maybe, but I think field goals should be eliminated. Tired of seeing a hard fought game lost because some little dude that sits on the bench all day can kick a ball over halfway across the field. Doesn't make sense to me.

If my dad hadn’t passed away in 2019, I’d swear this was his post lol. He was not a lover of field goals. 
 

Then again, it is foot ball! 

[jbsoonerfan]

Matt Prater attempted a 68 yarder today that was returned for a TD.

[schplurg]

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

If my dad hadn’t passed away in 2019, I’d swear this was his post lol. He was not a lover of field goals. 
 

Then again, it is foot ball! 

 

 

Leave it to our country to steal the name for the most popular sport in the world and use it for a game where a ball isn't even allowed to touch the ground and is barely kicked. And git off my lawn! [shakes fist]  

 

I actually had an old man shake his fist at me back in high school. He had a bad-ass 56 Chevy in his garage but just yelled at everyone who drove by. Poor dude.

[12poundbass]

3 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Matt Prater attempted a 68 yarder today that was returned for a TD.

Prater a former Lion, and today’s record was against the Lions. Absolute great day for our Detroit Lions! ????

[Black Hawk Basser]

Lions got ripped, there should have been a delay of game which would have made it a 71 yard try.  They probably would have just had a hail mary.

[detroit1]

On 9/26/2021 at 4:58 PM, Sam said:

Back in the 70's I lived in New Orleans so I had the opportunity to go to some Saints games.

 

I was in the stands when Tom Dempsey kicked the game winning field goal as time expired to have the Saints win the game 19-17. I also remember Alex Karras walking around the field in disbelieve after the kick went through the uprights and we went wild in the stands.

 

According to the Internet, "Tom Dempsey is most widely known for kicking a 63-yard field goal as time expired to give the Saints a 19–17 win over the Detroit Lions on November 8, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. Prior to 1974, the goal posts in the NFL were on the goal lines instead of the end lines. The 63-yards was the longest field goal in NFL history at that time."

 

Dallas head coach, Tom Landry, tried to get Dempsey's special shoe disqualified as Dempsey's foot was disfigured as he did not have toes on his right foot so he wore a special shoe to kick field goals. Landry's efforts failed.

 

Today, I saw it happen again when the Detroit Lions lost to the Ravens when the Raven's Justin Tucker's 66-yard field goal defeated the Lions 19-17 as time expired. It only took 47 years for it to happen again.

 

And it happened to the Lions, too.

 

Isn't life great!!!!

Bite Me Sam. I remember i was 13 watching that game at my buds house. We couldn't believe it. Last sunday absolutely sucks,but i don't expect the Lions to win more (if) 4 games this year, and thats ok. Look out for the Lions in 2024. I can wait, i've waited for 64 years already.

Espn needs to do a 30 for 30 show on the history of the Detroit Lions. People would think it's fiction.

[gim]

On 9/26/2021 at 4:08 PM, BrianMDTX said:

Legatron!

Haha, I like it. He’s easily the best kicker in the NFL right now and may end up as the most accurate kicker of all time.

[throttleplate]

On 9/28/2021 at 5:33 PM, detroit1 said:

 

Espn needs to do a 30 for 30 show on the history of the Detroit Lions. People would think it's fiction.

or a horror story ?

[jbsoonerfan]

The Lions, who are probably the worst team in NFL history, had the best RB to ever play the game. He retired because the team sucked so bad.

[Sam]

On 9/28/2021 at 6:38 PM, gimruis said:

Haha, I like it. He’s easily the best kicker in the NFL right now and may end up as the most accurate kicker of all time.

Do you mean Barry Sanders???

4 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

The Lions, who are probably the worst team in NFL history, had the best RB to ever play the game. He retired because the team sucked so bad.

Do you mean Barry Sanders????

[gim]

8 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

The Lions, who are probably the worst team in NFL history, had the best RB to ever play the game. He retired because the team sucked so bad.

By what statistical measure are you claiming that Sanders was the best RB of all time?  He was certainly a great running back no doubt about it but from a data stand point he's actually not even in the top 3.

 

Emmitt Smith owns all the running back stats, therefore he is the best RB of all time.

[NavyToad]

27 minutes ago, gimruis said:

By what statistical measure are you claiming that Sanders was the best RB of all time?  He was certainly a great running back no doubt about it but from a data stand point he's actually not even in the top 3.

 

Emmitt Smith owns all the running back stats, therefore he is the best RB of all time.

Jim Brown and Barry Sanders are in a league of their own and are the only 2 in the debate.

According to your logic, Brown and Sanders aren’t even in the discussion.

Emmitt Smith? LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!

 

[gim]

15 minutes ago, NavyToad said:

Jim Brown and Barry Sanders are in a league of their own and are the only 2 in the debate.

According to your logic, Brown and Sanders aren’t even in the discussion.

Emmitt Smith? LOLOLOLOL!!!!!!

 

I'll ask you the exact same question I asked @jbsoonerfan.  By what statistical measure is Barry Sanders (or Jim Brown) the best running back of all time?  Show me some stats and then you have an argument.  Simply stating someone is the best based on personal opinion doesn't back anything up with real evidence.

[roadwarrior]

Sweetness was my all-time favorite running back.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Payton

 

Kicker:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Stenerud

 

 

[TnRiver46]

10 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

The Lions, who are probably the worst team in NFL history, had the best RB to ever play the game. He retired because the team sucked so bad.

Calvin Johnson did the same, one of the greatest receivers ever 

[jbsoonerfan]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

By what statistical measure are you claiming that Sanders was the best RB of all time?  He was certainly a great running back no doubt about it but from a data stand point he's actually not even in the top 3.

 

Emmitt Smith owns all the running back stats, therefore he is the best RB of all time.

By what I saw on the field. You and I could have ran for thousands of yards behind that Dallas O-Line in the 90's. The Lions O-Line was not very good and Sanders managed to do what he did.

 

But I guess if statistics is your thing. Sanders average yards per game = 99.8. Smith average yards per game = 81.2. 

 

Smith played in 226 games and Sanders only played in 153. Smith had 18,355 career yards and Sanders had 15,269 in 73 less games. Based on average, if Sanders had played the same amount of games, he would have had 22,554 yards. Hard to argue those stats.

[gim]

Great answer @jbsoonerfan.  I am a stats guy and you nailed it.  By that measure, I will credit you for it and admit that Sanders has a claim to be the best RB of all time.

 

Its unfortunate that Sanders only ever played for kitties.  Smith played on much better teams and his record showed it.

[Mike L]

And then there’s Walter..

 

’Nuff Said 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, Mike L said:

And then there’s Walter..

 

’Nuff Said 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Gale sayers wasn’t too shabby either 

[J Francho]

For RB, this list is pretty good.  I don't think anyone is missing: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2797764-the-top-10-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time

[detroit1]

Stats, to me, is not the deciding factor in any "best" argument.  As jbsooner compared sanders / smith says more than "most - whatevers" in any reasonable thinking person's mind.  Jim Brown was fun to watch because he just ran over everybody. Gale and Walter were fun because of their gazelle - type moves. But Barry was the most fun to watch. Yes he didn't have the o line of Dallas, but i don't think they would have helped as much as everyone thinks. All the lions o line could do is stay in front of the defender and let Barry pick his way thru. Otherwise, he would have been just another back "hitting a hole". I was at every home game Barry played, and to this day, thinking of the :BAR-EEE chants send chills on my neck. Your opinions may differ...

oh, and just kidding Sam...

[BrianMDTX]

It’s hard to compare stats over the decades. Johnny Unitas played in 211 games and threw for 40239 yards and 290 TD’s. Drew Brees played in 287 games and threw for 80358 yards and 571 TD’s. Brees’ completion % was 67.7%. Unitas’ was 54.6%. By stats alone, Brees was a vastly superior quarterback. 
 

Yet back in Unitas’ day, a QB could get leveled two seconds after throwing a pass and that was not a penalty. Brees, Brady, Manning, Mahomes, etc. have not and will never face the intense hits quarterbacks like Unitas, Staubach, Bradshaw, etc. faced every Sunday. Most stats are not comparable over decades. 
 

But having watched football since the early 70’s, I think I can say that I’ve seen some darn good RB’s. Harris, Csonka, Payton, Smith, Simpson, Riggins, Tomlinson, Peterson and many, many more. And in my opinion, I’ve never seen a better running back than Barry Sanders. He made something out of nothing. 
 

Brown? Well, sometimes stats are what they are. He averaged 104.3 rushing yards per game, and is the only player in NFL history to average over 100 rushing yards per game for his career. That’s a stat that’s hard to beat.