1966 Week 7

NFL "GAME-OF-THE-WEEK"

Sunday October 23, 1966

San Francisco 49'ers

vs

Detroit Lions

Another rare "Lost Game" of NFL Films has been released on DVD exclusively by Rare Sportsfilms, Inc.! After being shown only one time as the NFL "Game-of-the-Week" in 1966, this game was never again offered to the public - not even in the NFL Films Special Order Catalog, which was closed forever in April of 2022! This is a close game, won on the very last play! On this day, the Lions (2-4) are on the west coast to face the 49'ers (2-2-1) at old Kezar Stadium. Backup quarterback Karl Sweetan has been calling signals for Detroit since starter Milt Plum's recent season-ending injury. After their season-opening 20-20 tie with the Vikings, San Francisco has lost to both the tough Colts and Rams, before squeezing by Green Bay and easily handling the brand-new Falcons 44-7.

Garo Yepremian’s opening kick is fielded by Kermit Alexander and returned nicely for 40 yards. A John Brodie pass to Bernie Casey and a John David Crow 8-yd run help the 49’ers advance to the Detroit five, but the Lions hold and Tommy Davis kicks a field goal to give San Francisco an early 3-0 lead. After a 63-yd kickoff return by Tommy Vaughn, a run by Amos Marsh and 17-yd pickup by Tom Nowatzke, the Lions are on the 49’er 1-yd line, but on the next play Nowatzke fumbles at the goal line and the ball is recovered by Charlie Kruger, denying Detroit a go-ahead touchdown and the score is still 3-0 49’ers at the end of the first quarter.

Runs by Monte Stickles and Brodie passes to John David Crow and Dave Parks bring an 80-yd 49’er drive to the Lions one, where Brodie sneaks over and it’s 10-0 San Francisco. On their next possession the Lions move the ball on passes to Nowatzke, Cogdill and again to Nowatzke, however the drive stalls and Yepremian misses a 35-yd FG attempt. The Lions have played nearly half a game, but still have nothing to show for it! Then things begins to change. Usually sure-handed Dave Parks bobbles a Brodie pass and it’s picked off by Dick LeBeau in 49’er territory! Shortly, Yepremian’s second FG attempt is good, this time from the 30-yd line, and the Lions have finally scored. When San Francisco has the ball once again, Brodie is rushed and his second throw to Kay McFarland is intercepted by Mike Lucci who takes it back 31 yards to the 49’er 32! A long Sweetan pass is grabbed by Pat Studstill on the two and Amos Marsh drives in for the tying touchdown just before halftime!

Yepremian misses a 41-yd FG try on Detroit’s first possession in the third quarter. A 31-yard run by John David Crow sets up a 28-yard FG by Tommy Davis and the 49’ers again have the lead, 13-10 at the end of three quarters.

A 4^th period drive by San Francisco further increases the 49’er lead. A double reverse, Brodie to Dave Copay to Bernie Casey gains 27 yards to the Detroit one and when Crow scores from there, the 49’ers have a 20-10 lead with less than 8 minutes left. But in just 37 seconds, an electrifying 73-yard pass play from Sweetan to Pat Studstill narrows the lead to 3, stunning 49’er fans! The 49’ers eat up time as they work the ball down the field. It looks like the home team is about to score again, but Brodie’s pass is intercepted by Bruce Mahr on the two and run out to the 21 where a 49’er penalty adds 15 more yards to the runback. The Detroit drive continues and runs by Nowatzke, Marsh and passes to Ron Kramer and Studstill advance the ball to the 14, where with 1:38 left, Sweetan himself runs the ball down to the three. Then, his pass to Jim Gibbons in the end zone gives Detroit the lead for the first time in the game, 24-20! John Brodie has 51 seconds to score a touchdown to win the game. Receiving the kick, Alexander runs the ball out to the 30. A pass to Ken Willard gains 19 to the 49. Monte Stickles takes a 15-yd pass to the 36 and a piling on penalty against Detroit adds 15 more! There are only 8 seconds left with the ball on the Lions 21. Stickles is open down the middle and his catch wins the game for San Francisco in a thrilling finish, 27-24!

Throughout the game, you’ll see many other 49’ers of the day: Backup QB George Mira, Jim Norton, Gary Lewis, Mel Phillips, George Donnelly, Dave Wilcox, Bob Harrison, Al Randolph, Jimmy Johnson, Len Rohde, Elbert Kimbrough, John Thomas and Howard Mudd. Other Lions you’ll see include Bobby Thompson, Mike Lucci (2 int’s), Dick LeBeau, Ernie Clark, Wayne Rasmussen, Jerry Mazzanti, Larry Hand and Roger Brown.

To order your own DVD of this rare and notable game, send $29.95 plus $4.50 S & H (Illinois residents MUST add $2.30 sales tax).