Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
1967 New Orleans Saints season
NFL team 1st season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
The 1967 New Orleans Saints season was the inaugural season for the franchise. The team went 3–11, finishing in last place in the four-team NFL Eastern Conference Capitol Division.
Remove ads
Offseason
Summarize
Perspective
Expansion draft
The Saints made a splash in the expansion draft by selecting Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung. Lombardi was distraught when the Saints selected Hornung in the draft.[1] In later years, Hornung revealed that he spoke to Saints coach Tom Fears prior to the draft. Fears was a former assistant in Green Bay and Fears felt that Hornung would help sell tickets in New Orleans.[1] Several weeks later, the Saints also signed Packers running back Jim Taylor, a native of Baton Rouge and an All-American at LSU. Taylor had felt underpaid and under-appreciated under Lombardi.[2] An examination at the Scripps Clinic in California found the severing of the fifth, sixth, and seventh vertebrae, and damaged nerve roots in the spinal cord of Hornung. It was decided that Hornung would retire and he never played a game for the Saints.[2]
NFL draft
The Saints committed a colossal blunder by trading the first overall selection to the Baltimore Colts for Gary Cuozzo, the backup quarterback to Johnny Unitas. Cuozzo began the season as the Saints' starter, but lost the job to expansion draftee Billy Kilmer. Cuozzo was traded to the Minnesota Vikings early in 1968.
Baltimore selected Michigan State All-America defensive end Bubba Smith with the first pick. Smith became a star for the Colts, starting at left end for their Super Bowl III and Super Bowl V teams.
Remove ads
Personnel
Summarize
Perspective
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
Remove ads
Pre-season
Summarize
Perspective
The Saints played six pre-season games, finishing with a record of 5–1.
Regular season
Things couldn't have looked better for the Saints and their inaugural season. A 5–1 preseason record was followed by a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by rookie John Gilliam to begin the 1967 season against the Los Angeles Rams. (There is a rumor in the annals of New Orleans Saints legends that following this play many fans allegedly heard another fan in Tulane Stadium shout out aloud "This is going to be the greatest football team in history!" – thus jinxing the Saints for their first 20 years of existence). Apparently the Rams were not informed of this declaration as they quickly recovered from the opening blow to win 27–13. The first-ever win for the Saints came in week 8 when[3] wide receiver Flea Roberts scored 3 touchdowns in a 31–24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. With additional triumphs over Atlanta and Washington the 3 wins for the year matched the most for an expansion team. Former Green Bay great Jim Taylor led the team with 390 yards rushing and 17th round pick rookie Danny Abramowicz from Xavier College led in receiving with 50 grabs for 721 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensive back Dave Whitshell led the team as well as the NFL in interceptions with 10 steals—still a New Orleans Saint season record.
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Date: Sunday, September 17
- Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 80,879
- Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), relative humidity 66%, wind 7 mph (11 km/h)
1 | NO | John Gilliam 94-yard kickoff return (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 7–0 | |
1 | LA | Bruce Gossett 10-yard field goal | NO 7–3 | |
2 | LA | Bruce Gossett 21-yard field goal | NO 7–6 | |
2 | NO | Charlie Durkee 44-yard field goal | NO 10–6 | |
2 | LA | Roman Gabriel 2-yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick) | LA 13–10 | |
3 | NO | Charlie Durkee 25-yard field goal | Tied 13–13 | |
3 | LA | Dick Bass 13-yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick) | LA 20–13 | |
4 | LA | Les Josephson 15-yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Bruce Gossett kick) | LA 27–13 |
Week 2: vs. Washington Redskins
- Date: Sunday, September 24
- Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 74,937
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 63%, wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
1 | WAS | Ray McDonald 1-yard rush | WAS 6–0 | |
1 | NO | Charlie Durkee 27-yard field goal | WAS 6–3 | |
2 | NO | Walter Roberts 36-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 10–6 | |
2 | WAS | Ray McDonald 36-yard rush (John Love kick) | WAS 13–10 | |
2 | WAS | Charley Taylor 40-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (John Love kick) | WAS 20–10 | |
4 | WAS | Ray McDonald 15-yard rush (John Love kick) | WAS 27–10 | |
4 | WAS | John Love 37-yard field goal | WAS 30–10 |
Week 3: vs. Cleveland Browns
- Date: Sunday, October 1
- Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 77,045
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), relative humidity 68%, wind 8 mph (13 km/h)
1 | CLE | Paul Warfield 18-yard pass from Frank Ryan (Lou Groza kick) | CLE 7–0 | |
2 | NO | Jim Taylor 2-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | Tied 7–7 | |
2 | CLE | Ernie Green 41-yard pass from Frank Ryan (Lou Groza kick) | CLE 14–7 | |
3 | CLE | Leroy Kelly 1-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) | CLE 21–7 | |
3 | CLE | Ernie Green 2-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) | CLE 28–0 | |
4 | CLE | Paul Warfield 49-yard pass from Frank Ryan (Lou Groza kick) | CLE 35–7 | |
4 | CLE | Ralph Smith offensive fumble recovery in end zone (Lou Groza kick) | CLE 42–7 |
Week 4: at New York Giants
- Date: Sunday, October 8
- Location: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
- Game start: 1:30 p.m. ET
- Game attendance: 62,670
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), relative humidity 60%, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
1 | NY | Ernie Koy 1-yard rush (Les Murdock kick) | NY 7–0 | |
1 | NO | Danny Abramowicz 13-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick) | Tied 7–7 | |
2 | NO | Gary Cuozzo 1-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 14–7 | |
2 | NY | Tucker Frederickson 2-yard rush (Les Murdock kick) | Tied 14–14 | |
3 | NY | Homer Jones 34-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton | NY 20–14 | |
3 | NO | John Gilliam 19-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 21–20 | |
4 | NY | Bobby Crespino 11-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Wendell Harris kick) | NY 27–21 |
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
- Date: Sunday, October 15
- Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
- Game start: 1:35 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 64,128
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 83%, wind 13 mph (21 km/h)
1 | DAL | Don Perkins 2-yard rush (Danny Villanueva kick) | DAL 7–0 | |
2 | NO | Dave Whitsell 26-yard interception return (Charlie Durkee kick) | Tied 7–7 | |
2 | DAL | Lance Rentzel 20-yard pass from Craig Morton (Danny Villanueva kick) | DAL 14–7 | |
3 | NO | Charlie Durkee 47-yard field goal | DAL 14–10 |
Week 6: at San Francisco 49ers
- Date: Sunday, October 22
- Location: Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. PT
- Game attendance: 34,285
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), relative humidity 87%, wind 11 mph (18 km/h)
1 | SF | Tommy Davis 50-yard field goal | SF 3–0 | |
2 | NO | Charlie Durkee 39-yard field goal | Tied 3–3 | |
2 | NO | Charlie Durkee 34-yard field goal | NO 6–3 | |
2 | SF | Bob Windsor 2-yard pass from John Brodie (Tommy Davis kick) | SF 10–6 | |
3 | NO | Walter Roberts 47-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 13–10 | |
3 | SF | Dick Witcher 15-yard pass from John Brodie (Tommy Davis kick) | SF 17–13 | |
4 | SF | Tommy Davis 39-yard field goal | SF 20–13 | |
4 | SF | Ken Willard 2-yard rush (Tommy Davis kick) | SF 27–13 |
Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
- Date: Sunday, October 29
- Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 68,911
- Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), relative humidity 75%, wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
1 | NO | Charlie Durkee 37-yard field goal | NO 3–0 | |
2 | NO | Jim Taylor 2-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 10–0 | |
4 | PIT | J.R. Wilburn 5-yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Mike Clark kick) | NO 10–7 | |
4 | PIT | Don Shy 33-yard rush (Mike Clark kick) | PIT 14–10 |
Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
- Date: Sunday, November 5
- Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Game start: 1:30 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 59,596
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), relative humidity 61%, wind 12 mph (19 km/h)
1 | NO | Walter Roberts 91-yard kickoff return (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 7–0 | |
2 | NO | Walter Roberts 27-yard offensive fumble return (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 14–0 | |
2 | PHI | Sam Baker 41-yard field goal | NO 14–3 | |
2 | PHI | Jim Kelly 22-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) | NO 14–10 | |
3 | NO | Charlie Durkee 12-yard field goal | NO 17–10 | |
3 | NO | Dave Whitsell 41-yard interception return (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 24–10 | |
4 | PHI | Gary Ballman 14-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) | NO 24–17 | |
4 | NO | Walter Roberts 49-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 31–17 | |
4 | PHI | Timmy Brown 33-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) | NO 31–24 |
Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Date: Sunday, November 12
- Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 83,437
- Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C), relative humidity 88%, wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h)
1 | NO | Danny Abramowicz 9-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 7–0 | |
1 | DAL | Don Perkins 14-yard rush (Danny Villanueva kick) | Tied 7–7 | |
2 | DAL | Dan Reeves 5-yard rush (Danny Villanueva kick) | DAL 14–7 | |
3 | NO | Charlie Durkee 11-yard field goal | DAL 14–10 | |
3 | DAL | Danny Villanueva 21-yard field goal | DAL 17–10 | |
3 | DAL | Frank Clarke 56-yard rush (Danny Villanueva kick) | DAL 24–10 | |
4 | DAL | Danny Villanueva 12-yard field goal | DAL 27–10 |
Week 10: at Philadelphia Eagles
- Date: Sunday, November 19
- Location: Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Game start: 1:15 p.m. ET
- Game attendance: 60,751
- Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C), relative humidity 53%, wind 19 mph (31 km/h)
1 | PHI | Sam Baker 21-yard field goal | PHI 3–0 | |
2 | PHI | Ben Hawkins 10-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) | PHI 10–0 | |
2 | NO | Danny Abramowicz 22-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick) | PHI 10–7 | |
2 | PHI | Tom Woodeshick 5-yard rush (Sam Baker kick) | PHI 17–7 | |
2 | PHI | Jim Kelly 35-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) | PHI 24–7 | |
2 | PHI | Tom Woodeshick 13-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) | PHI 31–7 | |
3 | PHI | Ben Hawkins 19-yard pass from Norm Snead (Sam Baker kick) | PHI 38–7 | |
3 | PHI | Sam Baker 37-yard field goal | PHI 41–7 | |
4 | PHI | Izzy Lang 15-yard pass from King Hill (Sam Baker kick) | PHI 48–7 | |
4 | NO | Don McCall 11-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick) | PHI 48–14 | |
4 | NO | Danny Abramowicz 1-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Ted Davis kick) | PHI 48–21 |
Week 11: vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Date: Sunday, November 26
- Location: Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 83,437
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), relative humidity 84%, wind 10 mph (16 km/h)
1 | NO | Charlie Durkee 34-yard field goal | NO 3–0 | |
2 | ATL | Junior Coffey 1-yard rush (Wade Traynham kick) | ATL 7–3 | |
2 | ATL | Tommy McDonald 32-yard pass from Perry Lee Dunn (Wade Traynham kick) | ATL 14–3 | |
2 | ATL | Billy Martin 5-yard pass from Randy Johnson (Wade Traynham kick) | ATL 21–3 | |
2 | NO | Kent Kramer 7-yard pass from Gary Cuozzo (Charlie Durkee kick) | ATL 21–10 | |
3 | NO | Randy Schultz 22-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | ATL 21–17 | |
4 | NO | Charlie Durkee 32-yard field goal | ATL 21–20 | |
4 | ATL | Wade Traynham 26-yard field goal | ATL 24–20 | |
4 | NO | Kent Kramer 7-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 27–24 |
Week 12: at St. Louis Cardinals
- Date: Sunday, December 3
- Location: Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. CT
- Game attendance: 41,171
- Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C), relative humidity 87%, wind 16 mph (26 km/h), wind chill 24
1 | NO | Charlie Durkee 41-yard field goal | NO 3–0 | |
1 | STL | Johnny Roland 54-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) | STL 7–3 | |
2 | NO | Charlie Durkee 16-yard field goal | STL 7–6 | |
3 | STL | Jackie Smith 20-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken kick) | STL 14–6 | |
3 | NO | Billy Kilmer 1-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | STL 14–13 | |
3 | STL | Jim Bakken 27-yard field goal | STL 17–13 | |
4 | STL | Prentice Gautt 19-yard rush (Jim Bakken kick) | STL 24–13 | |
4 | STL | Jackie Smith 76-yard pass from Jim Hart (Jim Bakken) | STL 31–13 | |
4 | NO | Charlie Brown 4-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | STL 31–20 |
Week 13: at Baltimore Colts
- Date: Sunday, December 10
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Game start: 2:05 p.m. ET
- Game attendance: 60,238
- Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 14 mph (23 km/h)
1 | BAL | Tony Lorick 1-yard rush (Lou Michaels kick) | BAL 7–0 | |
2 | BAL | Lou Michaels 35-yard field goal | BAL 10–0 | |
2 | BAL | Tom Matte 2-yard rush (Lou Michaels kick) | BAL 17–0 | |
3 | NO | Charlie Durkee 35-yard field goal | BAL 17–3 | |
3 | BAL | Lou Michaels 21-yard field goal | BAL 20–3 | |
3 | NO | Charlie Brown 5-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | BAL 20–10 | |
4 | BAL | Lou Michaels 17-yard field goal | BAL 23–10 | |
4 | BAL | Jerry Hill 1-yard rush (Lou Michaels kick) | BAL 30–10 |
Week 14: at Washington Redskins
- Date: Sunday, December 17
- Location: District of Columbia Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Game start: 1:15 p.m. ET
- Game attendance: 50,486
- Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C), relative humidity 50%, wind 6 mph (9.7 km/h), wind chill 30
2 | NO | Danny Abramowicz 80-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 7–0 | |
3 | WAS | Charley Taylor 6-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Bruce Alford kick) | Tied 7–7 | |
3 | NO | Safety; John Love tackled in end zone by Dick Anderson | NO 9–7 | |
3 | NO | Randy Schultz 1-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 16–7 | |
4 | NO | Danny Abramowicz 13-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 23–7 | |
4 | WAS | A. D. Whitfield 23-yard pass from Sonny Jurgensen (Bruce Alford kick) | NO 23–14 | |
4 | NO | Don McCall 49-yard rush (Charlie Durkee kick) | NO 30–14 |
Standings
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Remove ads
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads