By Anthony McClean, Editor In Chief Emeritus
NEW HAVEN (BASN) — Over the last four Sundays, BASN has taken an in-depth look at the signature seasons of Hall of Fame running back, Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson.
If you’re looking off the field stuff with a National Inquirer or TMZ Sports style, you’d probably better step off. This is all about football and nothing else.
In last week’s action, the Browns remained undefeated (4-0) as they outlast their rival from Pittsburgh. Buffalo just got by the Eagles in another see-saw affair. Both runners also reached the century mark as well.
And now, we look at Week Five.
WEEK FIVE 1963: Cleveland defeats the New York Giants 35-24
Facing another rival at Yankee Stadium, the Giants drew first blood as Dick Lynch took an interception back 47 yards for a score. Cleveland answered with the first of Brown’s three scores on the day. New York (3-2) added another touchdown and would eventually take a 17-14 lead to the locker room. To no one’s surprise, Brown would take over the game in the third quarter. Taking a short pass from Frank Ryan, Brown would rumble 72 yards to paydirt to give Cleveland a 21-17 lead. Later in the quarter, he added his third and final score (a 32-yard run) to ensure that Cleveland would remain undefeated at 5-0. Brown’s day: 23 carries, 125 yards with two TDs. He also had four catches for 86 yards and a TD.
WEEK FIVE 1973: Buffalo defeats the Baltimore Colts 31-13
After spotting the Colts (1-4) an early 3-0 lead, the Bills (4-1) answered with a Joe Ferguson (7-of-13, 57 yards, one pick) 10-yard TD pass to Larry Watkins and were never headed. Up 10-6 at the half, Simpson began to make his presence felt in the second half. His three-yard scoring run early in the third quarter made it 17-6. Following a Ferguson one-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter made it 24-6, Simpson’s 78-yard jaunt put the game out of reach. On the day, O.J. finished with 166 yards on 22 carries and two TDs.
Brown ’63
|
Carries |
Yards |
YPC |
TDs |
Catches |
Yards |
YPC |
TDs |
|
vs NYG
|
23
|
125
|
5.4
|
2
|
4
|
86 |
21.5 |
1 |
|
Season
|
101
|
789
|
7.8
|
8
|
8
|
201
|
25.1
|
2 |
|
Simpson ’73
|
Carries |
Yards |
YPC |
TDs |
Catches |
Yards |
YPC |
TDs |
|
vs BLT
|
22
|
166
|
7.5
|
2
|
—
|
— |
—- |
– |
|
Season
|
124
|
813
|
6.5
|
6
|
3
|
33 |
11.0 |
0 |
|