Pat Summerall. I call him the voice of Football. Pat was the best ever. This was his last season with Brookshire. 1981 would be the first season of the greatest broadcast team in all of sports history. Pat was joined with John Madden. When Pat and John did a game, you knew it was big. It's what Football was supposed to sound like. RIP to both
@@jstube36 Yes, I really liked Pat Summerall. After several years, I got kinda tired of John Madden though. Madden seemed pretty biased in favor of the Redskins as the 80s rolled on. I remember he seemed in shock when the Raiders blew them out in the SB in '84. The Redskins had only lost 2 games that year and the Raiders just dominated them. Riggins was a non-factor and Marcus Allen ran wild. Madden was almost speechless in the 2nd half. I loved that beat down
Pat and Tom had their moments. But for me, Summerall and Madden were what the game was about. Especially when they did the best teams. Most notably when they did the Cowboys-49ers games in the 90's. Pat was the voice of the game, Madden was the spirit of the game. Annoying at times perhaps. But in the overall, they were the best. Nowadays the broadcast teams all sound the same. No character Just blandness.
Why is Walter Payton the greatest? He makes a highlight reel run at the 20 minute mark and the very next play, he throws a great block for his teammate. He was great at everything.
@@markgardner9460 Put Payton behind Dallas's offensive line and what would he have done?! But Dallas has a good passing attack so it may have been apples and oranges...
@@rebelgreen2398 Still holds the Non-QB passing TD record, as well, with 8. Literally a perfect football player who could run, pass, catch, return kicks (led league in ‘77), block, and even placekick (was JSU’s kicker in college!).
I watched this game live at my friends house back when i was in 8th grade, I had to get home for dinner but i stayed for the OT and we all couldn’t believe William’s kickoff return for a TD. That was talked about in school the next day. There was another game that day too. Was it Cowboys/Redskins? Both Sims and Payton had good performances. I love Billy Sims, you can see now how amazing his abilities were. I like him better than Sanders. Good running backs back then were not only tough but very aggressive. Much respect. Great upload Mark.
As much as I admire Walter and Barry, Sins is my favorite RB and that's necer going to change. The Cowboys thumped the Seahawks 51-7 in the other Thanksgiving Day game.
@@stevenzimmerman4057 Yeah, Detroit and Dallas always had home games on Thanksgiving back then. Always a treat to watch, especially for me being a Cowboys fan. Nothing better than beating the Redskins on Thanksgiving!
I can't wait to share this with my 87 year old father. I remember watching this with him at my maternal grandma's house in Wisconsin. Was just talking with him about this a few days ago. Thank you!
Somehow we ended up at a distant family member's house for thanksgiving and some of their guests were a snobby family from Detroit who kept rubbing our nose in the fact that Detroit was winning. I swear, I have never enjoyed an ending to a game more than that one, I didn't say anything because I didn't have to! They quickly packed up their stuff and out the door they went!
Man, I remember watching this game with my folks as we were relaxing at the house that holiday. Last Thanksgiving game I watched with my father. Great memories 👍🏾
Because of this game, my favorite childhood Thanksgiving Day!! My family had an unusual Turkey Day as we didn't get together with extended family. Just Mom, Dad, my brother and me. Being a Viking fan, there was a sliver of hope of the Vikes were back in the Central Race. I didn't have a lot of faith in the Bears, especially as they fell behind big time. This game along with a Rashad Hail Mary a few weeks earlier, and boom!! Thanks for the post and happy holidays!!
This was my first live NFL game I ever attended. I was 10 years old, and my uncle had season tickets that were at the 40 yd line, but 4 rows from the top of the dome in the upper deck. We could see the footprints appear on the dome above as crews attempted to clear some of the accumulating snow. Walter Payton, Billy Sims, overtime. Even though the Lions lost, it was still an amazing experience, and one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Back then I watched every NFL game on TV. I was 14 years old and home all alone watching as my parents had gone out. My mother told me the only thing she wanted me to do before she got back was to take out the garbage. We still burned our garbage and the burn barrel was approximately 50 yards from our house, not a quick trip. Anyway I looked at the clock and knew my parents would be home soon. Just as the game went into overtime I grabbed the garbage to take out before they arrived. I stopped and thought I will just watch the kickoff return then I will run the garbage out. I stopped and watched as Chicago took it all the way back! I was so glad I decided to watch one more play!
I was 8, and this is the first Lions game I can remember watching. I still remember my grandpa screaming obscenities all throughout the house after that KO return.
I'll never forget this(was 12yrs old). Watching this game while mom was finishing up dinner. My older sister and her family was visiting from Detroit and her husband was a die hard Lions fan.
I watched this game at home in Chicago. I was a senior in H.S. I'll never forget it. As a side note, both Allen Page and Bob Thomas became Supreme Court Justices from the Bears. Page in Minnesota and Thomas in Illinois. And as a bonus, two receivers named James Scott in the same game. Walter's brother Eddie also played for the Lions. Vince Evans had a cannon for an arm.....Caleb should watch him as a fellow USC alumnus. I could go on and on. Too many memories.
Prime Billy Sims vs prime Walter Payton. Say less! People forget or are unaware how good Billy Sims was. The original #20 in Detroit would have likely had a HOF career if he did not suffer a career ending Knee injury in 84.
I produced a video of Billy Sims' first regular season NFL game. He was spectacular agaibst the Rams and had a great rookie season. My favorite RB of all-tine, I think he was destined for the HOF, too, if not for that nasty knee injury that took place on that worthless Metrodome artificial turf in Minneapolus.
Yeah and knee surgery techniques went as good then... That was definitely a nasty injury and I agree,if Sims had stayed healthy I believe he would have been a HOF player.
Walter was the best overall running back. Didn't have the luxury of playing with a great QB nor an offensive line. Block, run, pass or catch. Walter is the GOAT. He did the most with the least.
My wife and I moved from the Chicago area to Detroit during the fall of 1980. I grew up a Lions fan. Invited our families for Thanksgiving and went to this game on Thanksgiving Day. It was my first ever indoor game and trip to the Dome. Brother in Law was a huge Bears fan. He quickly ran to the Men's Room before OT began. Dave Williams ran back the KO for that TD, and he missed it. We still laugh about it!
Growing up a Vikings fan from the late 70's The Bears were always the enemy especially the 84-88 years but I always always loved Fencik and Plank even when they were hitting my guys ..
Better have your head on a swivel around those guys cuz they'd saw ya in half. Hard hitting Safety play was very prominent in the '70's (Cliff Harris, Atkinson, Tatum and Donnie Shell immediately come to mind). I miss it!
Nice holiday treat, two of the greatest backs. I remember watching this game @ families house. Brookshire & Summerall sounded relatively sober. Shout out Colorado State AL "Bubba" Baker & CU Buff Williams taking it for a house call.....thanks brother, appreciated.
@@markgardner9460I don't even have to watch to know what happened! Great game unless you are a Lions fan!My late brother Martin was a lifelong Lions fan.....
@@kevinfoley8105 The first game Summerall and Madden called was the Vikings Bucs game in 1979 in Tampa,won by Minnesota 23-22,Wally Hilgenburg blocked the XP with seconds left that would have tied the game, Minnesota blocked 2 XP a FG and a punt in that game, and I happened to be in attendance!
Was so upset I ran four miles in the snow after this game on a full belly. After all those years, it sure is great to see Dan Campbell’s Lions win on Thanksgiving and at 12-1. Bills are going to be tough. My grandpa loved the Bills. Thanks for posting the game.
I grew up watching Payton. I can vividly remember my pops hollering at the TV back in '74 over a run Payton had. I started watching with him and I fell in love with football and Payton. I'm a born and raised Chicagoan so Walter holds a special place in the hearts of guys like me. But the era had so many great runners. You have the great Billy Sims here on this clip. But the Chargers had a guy named Chuck Muncie who was pretty good too. There was Dorsett in Dallas and Earl Campbell in Houston. Wilbert Montgomery in Philly and so many others that I would be typing for an hour if I listed them all. It was just the Golden Era in football for running backs.
So your pops was hollering over a highlight of potential draft choices? Sounded more like a reaction of someone watching an actual game so that’s why I made my comment. I’ll tell you one thing I wish the Bears had a Walter Payton type player on the team now!
@@bigtuna9529 Yeah. They were talking about the potential for Payton to come to Chicago. His words were something like, "The Bears will never get that bad mutherfu**er!!" So I started watching the program with him. Nowadays, with analytics governing the game, running backs aren't valued anywhere near what they were back in Payton's day. Because running backs generally have to face many more opponents to advance the football, the game has gone the way of the QBs and wideouts. A wideout catching a ball in the flat or across the middle of the field will face fewer opponents on average on his way upfield than your RB getting a handoff. It's that kind of analysis that has reduced the running game to a distraction from the passing game as opposed to it being a complimentary or main focus of an offense
think the RBs have started to show just how important the run game really is. I agree the passing game has been on the upswing for many years recently but if you watch the very good teams today most have a solid 1-2 punch & some good teams are now featuring a stellar featured RB like Barkley in Philly & Henry in Baltimore. Look how much San Fran misses McCaffrey!
My Uncle and Aunt lived 2 miles away, we were hosting. My Uncle was watching the game so they waited until the end of regulation to drive over. I was downstairs watching, and was amazed at the suddenness of the run-back of the OT kickoff... 1 minute later my Uncle cake downstairs... "Do you have the game on?" "Nope! It's over!" "What?!?!?!?" The man stopped in his tracks! "What, did they run back the opening kickoff in overtime?" "Yes they did!" "Well I'll be!", he said, still standing on the last step. I will always remember that!
Thank you for sharing your memories. Watching great games always seem to create long-lasting, fond memories. Fortunately, I have quite a few, like a lot of other fans.
The memory of Joe Montana's Chicken Soup game against Houston at Cotton Bowl the year before was still resonating in me watching this comeback by the Bears. Evans last second TD and then, Wiliams runback had me smiling for many days afterwards....and it made the Thanksgiving meal I had with family that more satisfying. Go Bears!
Thanks for the great upload, I remember this game and OT runback vividly. Fun fact: Dan Hampton broke his nose celebrating Williams' runback without his helmet on. You can see him checking his busted schnozz at 28:05.
I agree that this is one of the best Thanksgiving games. Had everything. Payton was smokin'...at his zenith! Lions must have been tiring later in the game because Payton did not get much on that defense early on. Game also featured a classic Gary Fencik pulverizing hit, Alan Page gettin' after it like a youngster, and Dave Williams' race to the endzone. Bears had trouble early on with Billy Sims. He was fast off the snap - blazing quickness and through the line before the Bears knew he had the ball. Having fast Dexter Bussey back (#24) with Sims was like having two halfbacks in the game. Danielson was masterfully quick to duck that Chicago rush and make some pivotal throws. And, Evans had a gun for an arm and his throwing style reminded me of Warren Moon. Glorious Detroit Lions uniforms.
Page was 35 years old, but still super quick. He was still hustling, too, as he made an assisted tackle 10 yards downfield on one of those plays. Plank and Fencik were brutal on that one yard touchdown sneak by Danielson. Today the field would be littered with penalty flags.
Payton had a big game. If I remember correctly on the Jumbotron they wrote something like “Walter who”. Payton’s 18 yard run was a thing of beauty. Love Brookshiers’ comment ‘ I would hate to tackle it”
This game was great, I'm sure you posted it because of the meeting this year, Imagine tying the game as time ran out, and winning the game on the first play of overtime, those poor Lions fans must have been in shock
@@markgardner9460 They adopted “Another one bites the dust” as their anthem. I remember Monte Clark said these things come back to haunt you as he disliked the team playing it after only winning the first four. Sure enough, they fizzled down the stretch and opponents had some fun with the song. Sudden death overtime as the announcers liked to refer to it.
Brookshier had noted how big the Bears offensive line was, so their effective running game late in the game could be attributed to them wearing down the Lions defensive line.
Watched this back in the day. Bears had a very up and down season after their playoff appearance in 79. Finished up with a 62-7 pounding of the packers
Of all the running Quarterbacks of the 1970's, I think that Vince Evans was the fastest and most shifty of them. In terms of arm strength, his was superior to most Quarterbacks in the league. Walter was, indeed, the star of the show in most games.
Those were the traditional Lions uniforms. Awesome. They have desecrated their uniforms over the years. Now they change them all the time. Oregon Ducks of the NFL
@@stevenzimmerman4057I believe this is to please the Gen X ers or the millennials what everyone likes back from the 60s to 2000 doesn't matter anymore
You have to go back a long way to remember Billy Sims and Dexter Bussey, and I do. The Lions started off great in '80, but faltered mid-season, ending up 9-7 and out of the playoffs.
Three exceptional running backs were taken with the first overall pick in 1978 (Earl Campbell), 1980 (Billy Sims, heavily referenced in this game) and 1981 (George Rogers). For completeness, LB Tom Cousineau was selected in first in 1979. None of these four made it to their seventh season with anything approaching the skill level they showed early in their careers. During the 1980s, only three players taken first overall made the Hall of Fame: John Elway (1983), Bruce Smith (1985) and Troy Aikman (1989). That decade was outdone (underdone?) by the 1990s, with just Orlando Pace (1997) and Peyton Manning (1998) receiving the bust and gold jacket signifying the ultimate personal achievement in the NFL.
If any other team but the Bucs have the first overall selection, they select Dorsett, but of course Head Coach and de facto General Manager John McKay had coached Bell at USC.
@stevenzimmerman4057 Jeez, Steven, Dorsett makes four in six drafts! And a miss by me. A record unlikely to be broken in the near, and probably distant, future.
Great game, great topic, and great debate Mark! I would put 1974 Redskins at Cowboys the greatest Thanksgiving game. This 1980 matchup second place. Happy Thanksgiving Mark!
I do like those '63 Chargers jerseys and the '62 Steelers is old school cool, too. I'd like to get a Rams Ollie Matson jersey. He made 1st Team All-Pro each of his first five years in the league. Of course that was with the Cardinals and their jerseys were as plain as could be.
Crazy how Billy Sims and Barry Sanders both have the same initials, the same college, same team, and same jersey number, both were really good, and both played for the Lions in the 80s!
Thing I remember hearing about and now it's confirmed from this footage at the end of this video, Dan Hampton (#99 in white) apparently got his face messed up (want to say his nose got broken) in the melee in the endzone following Williams' runback that won it for the Bears.
Remember this well while growing up in Detroit, although I'm primarily a Dallas Cowboy fan, i did watch most all the Lions games too, and remember the kickoff return for a touchdown in OT! Simms was Barry before Barry, anothoer Lions great hope that didnt work out like Owens in early 70s... Also, remember the player that died on the field which I believe was an earlier Lions Thanksgiving game.
That's a high number, but it's one full game of carries behind. Also, the tackling intensity in 1980 was much more than it is now. Still, Barkley is a workhorse, too, no doubt.
Oh, no! I was glued to the tube, but nobody would watch the game with me. When I told them about the ending, they just asked me why I didn't tell 'em how exciting the game was. &#$@!
I've always wondered that, too, because a lot of Topps football card photos that were taken inside The Silverdome appear "smokey". I don't know if it's on account of all of the smoking that occurred back then, but maybe it was. If anyone has a clue about this, please chime in. Thanks!
I was eleven years old, still to this day my vote for best Thanksgiving day game ever, at least most unbelievable finish! One question, why did you not show the last two plays, only the slo mo replay??
Well, the rules have changed so much that I think it may appear to be that way. Both blocking and tackling have been altered so much that I think it offers that perspective. Also, the short passing game of today is not nearly as exciting to me as the medium to deep passing game favored by most teams pre-1980.
I remember that game like it was yesterday. That cost the Lions the Playoffs that year along with a 10-9 loss to Baltimore. That will not happen tomorrow, November 28th, 2024.
@@michaelleroy9281 -- I didn't mean a 2024 Thanksgiving loss would cost us the Playoff this year. Yes, it would take 5 or 6 unprecedented collapses by the Lions and numerous other teams for that billion to one chance to occur. I also remember the miracle catch by Rashad of the Vikings against the Browns in the last game of the regular season that put the Vikings in and left the Lions out. This is our year!!!!
I remember that it used to be located out in the middle of nowhere. In a '70's game, the Vikings' bus was late to the dome because it was stuck in traffic. Result: the kick-off was delayed and the Vikings were assessed a delay of game penalty.
1980s One of My Favorite Ending O.T. of a Bears vs Lions Games. (smile) a Few Weeks Later They B*E*A*T Tampa Bay Buccaneers' the Same Way., a Fun Year.
This game couldn’t compare to the Leon Lett’s muff of a blocked kick which eventually gave possession to the Dolphins on the one yard line which lead to the Dolphins game winning Field Goal on Thanksgiving Day in 1993….the play happened with only 15 seconds left…so if Lett did nothing with the ball the Cowboys would have won the game….
I consider it an honor to have grown up watching Walter Payton.
He epitomised teamwork, durability and countless other positive characteristics.
@@markgardner9460 You never hear anything negative about him!
Sweetness
My all time favorite player. Watched his entire career.
Yep!!
Pat Summerall. I call him the voice of Football. Pat was the best ever. This was his last season with Brookshire. 1981 would be the first season of the greatest broadcast team in all of sports history. Pat was joined with John Madden. When Pat and John did a game, you knew it was big. It's what Football was supposed to sound like. RIP to both
@@jstube36 Yes, I really liked Pat Summerall. After several years, I got kinda tired of John Madden though. Madden seemed pretty biased in favor of the Redskins as the 80s rolled on. I remember he seemed in shock when the Raiders blew them out in the SB in '84. The Redskins had only lost 2 games that year and the Raiders just dominated them. Riggins was a non-factor and Marcus Allen ran wild. Madden was almost speechless in the 2nd half. I loved that beat down
I grew tired of Madden's schtick after awhile, too. The "bang! and "pow!" routine got old.
Summerall and Brookshire were the best ever, imo.
Madden was annoying
Pat and Tom had their moments. But for me, Summerall and Madden were what the game was about. Especially when they did the best teams. Most notably when they did the Cowboys-49ers games in the 90's. Pat was the voice of the game, Madden was the spirit of the game. Annoying at times perhaps. But in the overall, they were the best. Nowadays the broadcast teams all sound the same. No character Just blandness.
Why is Walter Payton the greatest? He makes a highlight reel run at the 20 minute mark and the very next play, he throws a great block for his teammate. He was great at everything.
Thanks for bring up those plays. I think that he's the best, too!
@@markgardner9460 Put Payton behind Dallas's offensive line and what would he have done?! But Dallas has a good passing attack so it may have been apples and oranges...
@@rebelgreen2398 Still holds the Non-QB passing TD record, as well, with 8. Literally a perfect football player who could run, pass, catch, return kicks (led league in ‘77), block, and even placekick (was JSU’s kicker in college!).
I watched this game live at my friends house back when i was in 8th grade, I had to get home for dinner but i stayed for the OT and we all couldn’t believe William’s kickoff return for a TD. That was talked about in school the next day. There was another game that day too. Was it Cowboys/Redskins? Both Sims and Payton had good performances. I love Billy Sims, you can see now how amazing his abilities were. I like him better than Sanders. Good running backs back then were not only tough but very aggressive. Much respect. Great upload Mark.
As much as I admire Walter and Barry, Sins is my favorite RB and that's necer going to change.
The Cowboys thumped the Seahawks 51-7 in the other Thanksgiving Day game.
Great game! I remember it. I was 14 years old then. Terrific looking Detroit uniforms. Thanks for the video.
I was 14, too. The Honolulu Blue & Silver are a terrific color combo!
@@markgardner9460 I was 21 the whole family was watching at my grandparents house!
@markgardner9460 Yes, always liked the Lions uniform back then. The Falcons as well. The uniforms today for all teams are trash
The Falcons helmet logo used to be one of the best!
@@stevenzimmerman4057 Yeah, Detroit and Dallas always had home games on Thanksgiving back then. Always a treat to watch, especially for me being a Cowboys fan. Nothing better than beating the Redskins on Thanksgiving!
I love the way Fencik’s hit about halfway through is a clean hit. Man, I loved watching him and the Bears through the years.
Plank and Fencik provided a lot of ringing ears and headaches for opposing players over the years.
Amazing the way the Lions’ WR bounced back up after that collision. That was Freddie Scott (87).
I can't wait to share this with my 87 year old father. I remember watching this with him at my maternal grandma's house in Wisconsin. Was just talking with him about this a few days ago. Thank you!
Very cool! Thanks for sharing your story - I like it.
Somehow we ended up at a distant family member's house for thanksgiving and some of their guests were a snobby family from Detroit who kept rubbing our nose in the fact that Detroit was winning. I swear, I have never enjoyed an ending to a game more than that one, I didn't say anything because I didn't have to! They quickly packed up their stuff and out the door they went!
Awesome story! Thank you for sharing.
Man, I remember watching this game with my folks as we were relaxing at the house that holiday. Last Thanksgiving game I watched with my father.
Great memories 👍🏾
I like to hear that!
The good old days. I was kid of 31 years old.
I was 31 years old too! Payton and Sims was almost too much talent to watch in a single game!
Because of this game, my favorite childhood Thanksgiving Day!! My family had an unusual Turkey Day as we didn't get together with extended family. Just Mom, Dad, my brother and me. Being a Viking fan, there was a sliver of hope of the Vikes were back in the Central Race. I didn't have a lot of faith in the Bears, especially as they fell behind big time. This game along with a Rashad Hail Mary a few weeks earlier, and boom!! Thanks for the post and happy holidays!!
Thank you! Happy holidays to you and your friends and family, too!
@@markgardner9460 Have a great Thanksgiving Mark and everyone else here!
Thank you, Steven! You, too!
This was my first live NFL game I ever attended. I was 10 years old, and my uncle had season tickets that were at the 40 yd line, but 4 rows from the top of the dome in the upper deck. We could see the footprints appear on the dome above as crews attempted to clear some of the accumulating snow. Walter Payton, Billy Sims, overtime. Even though the Lions lost, it was still an amazing experience, and one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
That's great! Thank you for sharing your experiences. I enjoy reading about viewers' memories in attending and/or watching these games.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Back then I watched every NFL game on TV. I was 14 years old and home all alone watching as my parents had gone out. My mother told me the only thing she wanted me to do before she got back was to take out the garbage. We still burned our garbage and the burn barrel was approximately 50 yards from our house, not a quick trip. Anyway I looked at the clock and knew my parents would be home soon. Just as the game went into overtime I grabbed the garbage to take out before they arrived. I stopped and thought I will just watch the kickoff return then I will run the garbage out. I stopped and watched as Chicago took it all the way back! I was so glad I decided to watch one more play!
That's an awesome memory - I love it. I remember those barrels that my grandparent's used to burn garbage in, too.
Thank you! And thank you for posting!
I was 8, and this is the first Lions game I can remember watching. I still remember my grandpa screaming obscenities all throughout the house after that KO return.
That got a chuckle out of me. I can relate. My Dad had quite the set of lungs, too, in that regard.
I'll never forget this(was 12yrs old). Watching this game while mom was finishing up dinner. My older sister and her family was visiting from Detroit and her husband was a die hard Lions fan.
Wow, that must've been a heartbreaker for him - kinda ruins the rest of the day. This game really sticks in my memory bank, too.
I was 13 years old watching this game. This is the game that truly showed me what life was going to be like as a Lions fan.
This could be the year!
@markgardner9460 I'd like to believe that, but after yesterday, how many players do we have left?
I remember this game. Great game for this Bears fan! William's kickoff return in OT had us all jumping up and down cheering!
I watched this game at home in Chicago. I was a senior in H.S. I'll never forget it. As a side note, both Allen Page and Bob Thomas became Supreme Court Justices from the Bears. Page in Minnesota and Thomas in Illinois. And as a bonus, two receivers named James Scott in the same game. Walter's brother Eddie also played for the Lions. Vince Evans had a cannon for an arm.....Caleb should watch him as a fellow USC alumnus. I could go on and on. Too many memories.
Great comments! Thank you for sharing!
@@hugozapata3071 No, Caleb shouldn’t. Caleb should be absolutely nothing like Vince Evans.
@@trevorhembrough1290 He should watch Vince......not be like Vince.
Prime Billy Sims vs prime Walter Payton. Say less! People forget or are unaware how good Billy Sims was. The original #20 in Detroit would have likely had a HOF career if he did not suffer a career ending Knee injury in 84.
I produced a video of Billy Sims' first regular season NFL game. He was spectacular agaibst the Rams and had a great rookie season. My favorite RB of all-tine, I think he was destined for the HOF, too, if not for that nasty knee injury that took place on that worthless Metrodome artificial turf in Minneapolus.
Yeah and knee surgery techniques went as good then... That was definitely a nasty injury and I agree,if Sims had stayed healthy I believe he would have been a HOF player.
Lem Barney was the original 20.And he is in the Hall of Fame.
Averaged over 80 yards per game rushing, which very few can say. Was probably just 3 more healthy years from being a HOF guy. He was special.
@@JohnGordon-h6j Fair enough lol
Walter was the best overall running back. Didn't have the luxury of playing with a great QB nor an offensive line. Block, run, pass or catch. Walter is the GOAT. He did the most with the least.
Yes, and he was only 5'10 1/2" and weighed a shade over 200 pounds which is remarkable that he was able to do what he did for such a long time.
My wife and I moved from the Chicago area to Detroit during the fall of 1980. I grew up a Lions fan. Invited our families for Thanksgiving and went to this game on Thanksgiving Day. It was my first ever indoor game and trip to the Dome. Brother in Law was a huge Bears fan. He quickly ran to the Men's Room before OT began. Dave Williams ran back the KO for that TD, and he missed it. We still laugh about it!
Wow! That is a very cool story. Thanks for sharing!
I was there as a 10 year-old, with a seat behind the end zone. The overtime kick return was run right toward me. Unforgettable!
Fantastic! How cool is that? Thanks for sharing your memory.
I was a senior in HS in Chgo...just got done eating Mom's turkey and Dave Williams busted it....great memories
Walter payton is the best running back ever.pound for pound i would put him up against anyone in history.
I hear ya and I'm with ya on that!
💯
yeah, I watched this game with a bunch of Lions fan. this past summer we all got together AND NOT ONE COULD REMEMBER THE GAME, NOR HOW IT ENDED!
I was 11 and watched this game at my Grandparents house in Blue Island, Illinois, what great memories. Thanks, go Bears
"What a ride"...."back in"time"Mark"...."retro heaven"!!,🔥🔥🔥🔥
I've always loved Thanksgiving Day games going back to the first one that I remember - '69 Lions/Vikings in a white-out snowstorm.
@@markgardner9460 I remember that game a very messy field just like it should be!
Growing up a Vikings fan from the late 70's The Bears were always the enemy especially the 84-88 years but I always always loved Fencik and Plank even when they were hitting my guys ..
Better have your head on a swivel around those guys cuz they'd saw ya in half. Hard hitting Safety play was very prominent in the '70's (Cliff Harris, Atkinson, Tatum and Donnie Shell immediately come to mind). I miss it!
ACTUAL football!
Nice holiday treat, two of the greatest backs. I remember watching this game @ families house. Brookshire & Summerall sounded relatively sober. Shout out Colorado State AL "Bubba" Baker & CU Buff Williams taking it for a house call.....thanks brother, appreciated.
That was the third and final kickoff return for a touchdown by Dave Williams.
@@markgardner9460I don't even have to watch to know what happened! Great game unless you are a Lions fan!My late brother Martin was a lifelong Lions fan.....
Summerall and Brookshire! The good ole days!
Great Lions uniforms!
Nifty hookup sideline pass Danielson to Williams 3:15!
Summerall and Brookshier. It just didn't get any better than that, huh?
Those guys were a great pair - terrific chemistry
Curt gowdy
@@kevinfoley8105 The first game Summerall and Madden called was the Vikings Bucs game in 1979 in Tampa,won by Minnesota 23-22,Wally Hilgenburg blocked the XP with seconds left that would have tied the game, Minnesota blocked 2 XP a FG and a punt in that game, and I happened to be in attendance!
@@Marcuswelby-nx2te Another great one. I didn't mean to imply these two were the only great broadcasters, just my personal favorites.
Ya that's fine.Pat and tom were terrific as well.Lindsey Nelson Chris schenkel
Was so upset I ran four miles in the snow after this game on a full belly. After all those years, it sure is great to see Dan Campbell’s Lions win on Thanksgiving and at 12-1. Bills are going to be tough. My grandpa loved the Bills. Thanks for posting the game.
You're welcome; I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
Lions and NFL are 🗑️ now. Staged entertainment for the liberal elites.
I grew up watching Payton. I can vividly remember my pops hollering at the TV back in '74 over a run Payton had. I started watching with him and I fell in love with football and Payton. I'm a born and raised Chicagoan so Walter holds a special place in the hearts of guys like me. But the era had so many great runners. You have the great Billy Sims here on this clip. But the Chargers had a guy named Chuck Muncie who was pretty good too. There was Dorsett in Dallas and Earl Campbell in Houston. Wilbert Montgomery in Philly and so many others that I would be typing for an hour if I listed them all. It was just the Golden Era in football for running backs.
Pretty strange since Walter didn’t enter the NFL until 1975 lol
@bigtuna9529
They were showing college highlights of likely first-rounders. I never said that he was a Bear in '74.
So your pops was hollering over a highlight of potential draft choices? Sounded more like a reaction of someone watching an actual game so that’s why I made my comment. I’ll tell you one thing I wish the Bears had a Walter Payton type player on the team now!
@@bigtuna9529
Yeah. They were talking about the potential for Payton to come to Chicago. His words were something like, "The Bears will never get that bad mutherfu**er!!" So I started watching the program with him. Nowadays, with analytics governing the game, running backs aren't valued anywhere near what they were back in Payton's day. Because running backs generally have to face many more opponents to advance the football, the game has gone the way of the QBs and wideouts. A wideout catching a ball in the flat or across the middle of the field will face fewer opponents on average on his way upfield than your RB getting a handoff. It's that kind of analysis that has reduced the running game to a distraction from the passing game as opposed to it being a complimentary or main focus of an offense
think the RBs have started to show just how important the run game really is. I agree the passing game has been on the upswing for many years recently but if you watch the very good teams today most have a solid 1-2 punch & some good teams are now featuring a stellar featured RB like Barkley in Philly & Henry in Baltimore. Look how much San Fran misses McCaffrey!
I Remember watching this Game.. The 1974 Thanksgiving 🦃 Game to me was the Best PERIOD
That last kickoff was repeated 1,000 times on the "Alcoa Fantastic Finishes" segments in the 80's.
My Uncle and Aunt lived 2 miles away, we were hosting. My Uncle was watching the game so they waited until the end of regulation to drive over. I was downstairs watching, and was amazed at the suddenness of the run-back of the OT kickoff... 1 minute later my Uncle cake downstairs... "Do you have the game on?" "Nope! It's over!" "What?!?!?!?" The man stopped in his tracks! "What, did they run back the opening kickoff in overtime?" "Yes they did!" "Well I'll be!", he said, still standing on the last step. I will always remember that!
Thank you for sharing your memories. Watching great games always seem to create long-lasting, fond memories. Fortunately, I have quite a few, like a lot of other fans.
The memory of Joe Montana's Chicken Soup game against Houston at Cotton Bowl the year before was still resonating in me watching this comeback by the Bears. Evans last second TD and then, Wiliams runback had me smiling for many days afterwards....and it made the Thanksgiving meal I had with family that more satisfying. Go Bears!
I remember that game at The Cotton Bowl - excellent!
Thank you for your comments and sharing.
Thanks for the great upload, I remember this game and OT runback vividly. Fun fact: Dan Hampton broke his nose celebrating Williams' runback without his helmet on. You can see him checking his busted schnozz at 28:05.
That's wild!
Great clips and appreciate the Eddie Money reference.
Glad you liked it!
I watched this game in 1980 as a 17year old kid now a 61-year-old retiree. Still watch the games on Thanksgiving Day.
I remember this like it was yesterday.
@@ChristopherMosley-dj3kt yeah I do as well!
Great unis 👍
I agree that this is one of the best Thanksgiving games.
Had everything. Payton was smokin'...at his zenith! Lions must have been tiring later in the game because Payton did not get much on that defense early on.
Game also featured a classic Gary Fencik pulverizing hit, Alan Page gettin' after it like a youngster, and Dave Williams' race to the endzone.
Bears had trouble early on with Billy Sims. He was fast off the snap - blazing quickness and through the line before the Bears knew he had the ball. Having fast Dexter Bussey back (#24) with Sims was like having two halfbacks in the game.
Danielson was masterfully quick to duck that Chicago rush and make some pivotal throws. And, Evans had a gun for an arm and his throwing style reminded me of Warren Moon.
Glorious Detroit Lions uniforms.
Page was 35 years old, but still super quick. He was still hustling, too, as he made an assisted tackle 10 yards downfield on one of those plays.
Plank and Fencik were brutal on that one yard touchdown sneak by Danielson. Today the field would be littered with penalty flags.
@@markgardner9460 They manhandled Danielson!
There were no turnovers in that game. I should have noted that somewhere in the video.
@@markgardner9460 Rightfully so on flagging Fencik and Plank on the Danielson business......my take is that they were notorious cheap shots.
I agree. Plank was typically ranked high on the yearly cheap shot lists that were conducted from player polls. Fencik wasn't far behind.
Payton had a big game. If I remember correctly on the Jumbotron they wrote something like “Walter who”. Payton’s 18 yard run was a thing of beauty. Love Brookshiers’ comment ‘ I would hate to tackle it”
The guy was so relentless. He never stopped fighting for yards. Amazing heart.
27:54 after Hampton’s helmet was ripped off he broke his nose when he slammed it against one f his teammates helmet. Ouch!
That had to be a first! I checked and he started the next game.
This game was great, I'm sure you posted it because of the meeting this year, Imagine tying the game as time ran out, and winning the game on the first play of overtime, those poor Lions fans must have been in shock
I could hear some booing. The Lions had such a great start to the year by winning their first 4 games, but they ended up only 9 & 7.
@@markgardner9460They were a physical team not a prolific passing team though. Monte Clark was conservative for sure.
Yer right - Clark was a Tackle for the Browns in the '60's, so I think he much preferred the grinding running philosophy.
@@michaelleroy9281 My brother was a Lions fan and his jaw hit the ground!
@@markgardner9460 They adopted “Another one bites the dust” as their anthem. I remember Monte Clark said these things come back to haunt you as he disliked the team playing it after only winning the first four. Sure enough, they fizzled down the stretch and opponents had some fun with the song. Sudden death overtime as the announcers liked to refer to it.
Crazy how successful Payton and Harper were, especially late in the game!
Brookshier had noted how big the Bears offensive line was, so their effective running game late in the game could be attributed to them wearing down the Lions defensive line.
Watched this back in the day. Bears had a very up and down season after their playoff appearance in 79. Finished up with a 62-7 pounding of the packers
7 wins & 9 losses. Even worse in '81 when they 6 & 10, then it was "bye bye" for Head Coach Neill Armstrong.
@@markgardner9460 Then " Iron Mike" came back to the Windy City...
Their last game was on a Saturday afternoon, beat the Buccaneers 14-13
First time seeing this game. Thanks
Thanks for the visit!
I remember it like yesterday. It still haunts me.
But to watch Walter and Sims was special.
Sims was electric. Had it all power speed & moves. like Gale Sayers had a short career
Sims is my favorite RB ever and that's not going to change.
Vince Evans was my favorite Quarterback of this era and watching sweetness Walter Paton was must see
Of all the running Quarterbacks of the 1970's, I think that Vince Evans was the fastest and most shifty of them. In terms of arm strength, his was superior to most Quarterbacks in the league. Walter was, indeed, the star of the show in most games.
@Grim 1son You said it exactly! Thank you for saying it. #34 Payton Chicago's Finest . How humbled we all are!
🛑🛑 A joy to see the Pro Style Offense, once again.
😀👍💯
Those were the traditional Lions uniforms. Awesome. They have desecrated their uniforms over the years. Now they change them all the time. Oregon Ducks of the NFL
I have a throwback Lions jersey - it's classy, I think. I wish teams would stop tinkering with uniforms and go back to their roots.
100% agree Mark.
@@markgardner9460 I don't like the Vikings current uniform! The old one was cleaner looking!
No doubt - 100%
@@stevenzimmerman4057I believe this is to please the Gen X ers or the millennials what everyone likes back from the 60s to 2000 doesn't matter anymore
You have to go back a long way to remember Billy Sims and Dexter Bussey, and I do. The Lions started off great in '80, but faltered mid-season, ending up 9-7 and out of the playoffs.
You're right - they started out hot with 4 wins and they outscored their opponents in those games by 117 points to 41.
Watch a slo mo closeup of the celebration at the end. Walter Payton jumps on the pile pulling Hamptons helmet backwards and breaking his nose 😂😂😂
I gotta check that out again!
Remember watching that game!
You have the best choice in your programs.
Thank you, Mike! I really appreciate that.
Helluva game!
Three exceptional running backs were taken with the first overall pick in 1978 (Earl Campbell), 1980 (Billy Sims, heavily referenced in this game) and 1981 (George Rogers). For completeness, LB Tom Cousineau was selected in first in 1979. None of these four made it to their seventh season with anything approaching the skill level they showed early in their careers. During the 1980s, only three players taken first overall made the Hall of Fame: John Elway (1983), Bruce Smith (1985) and Troy Aikman (1989). That decade was outdone (underdone?) by the 1990s, with just Orlando Pace (1997) and Peyton Manning (1998) receiving the bust and gold jacket signifying the ultimate personal achievement in the NFL.
In '77 Ricky Bell was #1 overall, followed by Tony Dorsett at #2. So Running Back was king back then.
Ricky Bell was definitely star-crossed....
If any other team but the Bucs have the first overall selection, they select Dorsett, but of course Head Coach and de facto General Manager John McKay had coached Bell at USC.
@markgardner9460 Yep but Dorsett might have been ruined in Tampa Bay!
@stevenzimmerman4057 Jeez, Steven, Dorsett makes four in six drafts! And a miss by me. A record unlikely to be broken in the near, and probably distant, future.
Great game, great topic, and great debate Mark! I would put 1974 Redskins at Cowboys the greatest Thanksgiving game. This 1980 matchup second place. Happy Thanksgiving Mark!
Another viewer chose that '74 game, too. I saw that game on live tv and it was fantastic. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Thank you sir!
There was a better Redskins Cowboys game and it wasn't Thanksgiving, Week 16 of 1979
The '74 game was iconic, but I gave this one the edge.
Lions need to go back to these unis STAT.
I watched this game live in Michigan. Went to take a leak, came back and it was over.
44 yrs later, Da Bears can't call a timeout..... priceless...
Ya just gotta shake yer head at that, right?
@markgardner9460 yes!!!! I was like wth???? Lol
Having been at this game, I was thinking about that too.
A payback 44 years later.
Hi Marc - the Alworth 63 Chargers repro came today - awesome…wearing a cheap 1962 Bobby Layne Steelers reproduction for this video
I do like those '63 Chargers jerseys and the '62 Steelers is old school cool, too. I'd like to get a Rams Ollie Matson jersey. He made 1st Team All-Pro each of his first five years in the league. Of course that was with the Cardinals and their jerseys were as plain as could be.
Crazy how Billy Sims and Barry Sanders both have the same initials, the same college, same team, and same jersey number, both were really good, and both played for the Lions in the 80s!
Billy Sims went to the University of Oklahoma. Barry Sanders went to Oklahoma State University. Not the same school.
Thing I remember hearing about and now it's confirmed from this footage at the end of this video, Dan Hampton (#99 in white) apparently got his face messed up (want to say his nose got broken) in the melee in the endzone following Williams' runback that won it for the Bears.
Yes, that's what some viewers have also said. That's one of the most unique cause of an injury that I've heard of.
Next game was 12/7/80 GB. CHICAGO 61 GB 7
Wow!
I saw this game live at my aunt and uncle's house.
Wow! Look! A real kickoff!!! 😁
Awesome 👏
Thank you - glad you enjoyed it!
NFL Games on Thanksgiving Day are ALWAYS EXCITING!
Remember this well while growing up in Detroit, although I'm primarily a Dallas Cowboy fan, i did watch most all the Lions games too, and remember the kickoff return for a touchdown in OT! Simms was Barry before Barry, anothoer Lions great hope that didnt work out like Owens in early 70s...
Also, remember the player that died on the field which I believe was an earlier Lions Thanksgiving game.
Thanks for the comments! Chuck Hughes died on October 24th. He played at Tiger Stadium in a game against the Bears that day.
2:18. 247 carries? By Thanksgiving? The NFL has really changed.
Indeed it has. Now most teams run the ball just to keep the defenses honest.
To be fair Barkley has 223 so far at the Thanksgiving mark.
That's a high number, but it's one full game of carries behind. Also, the tackling intensity in 1980 was much more than it is now. Still, Barkley is a workhorse, too, no doubt.
I remember watching this game. Got excited during it.
And for some reason my family wanted to go to Kmart.
Needless to say, I missed the ending.
Oh, no! I was glued to the tube, but nobody would watch the game with me. When I told them about the ending, they just asked me why I didn't tell 'em how exciting the game was. &#$@!
@@markgardner9460 Exactly!
Sims was great for about 4 seasons. So many short careers for great RBs
Sims was an old rookie in the NFL. He was 24 or 25 as a rookie.
Jerry Muckensturm. Now THAT'S a linebacker name! Also, the current Lions uniforms blow compared to these.
Why is it foggy in the Siverdome…..smoke ‘em if you got ‘em? 😂
I've always wondered that, too, because a lot of Topps football card photos that were taken inside The Silverdome appear "smokey". I don't know if it's on account of all of the smoking that occurred back then, but maybe it was. If anyone has a clue about this, please chime in. Thanks!
Thanksgiving Day 1980...also my 6th birthday
Very cool!
I was eleven years old, still to this day my vote for best Thanksgiving day game ever, at least most unbelievable finish! One question, why did you not show the last two plays, only the slo mo replay??
They were copyrighted
@ ok I see, well great video !
Thank you!
I remember Hampton getting his nose broken in the celebration.
Back when Detroit got snow before January. 0:03.
The Bears have a history of starting slow. It's weird... But they just don't know how to come out swinging.
Is it just me or did the players back then seem better than the players now? It seemed more exciting than it does now.
Well, the rules have changed so much that I think it may appear to be that way. Both blocking and tackling have been altered so much that I think it offers that perspective. Also, the short passing game of today is not nearly as exciting to me as the medium to deep passing game favored by most teams pre-1980.
Another heartbreaker for this 11 yr old Lions fan ☹
Can wait to see the Lions in Thanksgiving
They're rollin'!
I remember that game like it was yesterday. That cost the Lions the Playoffs that year along with a 10-9 loss to Baltimore. That will not happen tomorrow, November 28th, 2024.
They're too far ahead to miss the playoffs now
@@michaelleroy9281 -- I didn't mean a 2024 Thanksgiving loss would cost us the Playoff this year. Yes, it would take 5 or 6 unprecedented collapses by the Lions and numerous other teams for that billion to one chance to occur. I also remember the miracle catch by Rashad of the Vikings against the Browns in the last game of the regular season that put the Vikings in and left the Lions out. This is our year!!!!
How did you miss the last two Bears touchdown? Did you run to the toilet or something?
They are copyrighted
Definitely enjoyed this game more than this years Lions Bears Thanksgiving game. Bye bye Eberflose.
we know whose the best running back on the field this game is better than all superbowls of the last 30 years or so from 1990 to eternity?
Missing the best parts live.
Copyrighted
The old Silverdome. Now it's an Amazon distribution center.
I remember that it used to be located out in the middle of nowhere. In a '70's game, the Vikings' bus was late to the dome because it was stuck in traffic. Result: the kick-off was delayed and the Vikings were assessed a delay of game penalty.
1980s One of My Favorite Ending O.T. of a Bears vs Lions Games. (smile) a Few Weeks Later They B*E*A*T Tampa Bay Buccaneers' the Same Way., a Fun Year.
I did not know that - thanks!
@@markgardner9460 Touche' (smile)
What a terrible field the Silverdome was. You can see huge seams in the turf all over the place.
From a viewership standpoint, it always seemed to be hazy and smokey, too.
This game couldn’t compare to the Leon Lett’s muff of a blocked kick which eventually gave possession to the Dolphins on the one yard line which lead to the Dolphins game winning Field Goal on Thanksgiving Day in 1993….the play happened with only 15 seconds left…so if Lett did nothing with the ball the Cowboys would have won the game….
It's a matter of opinion. That was one play. This game had the play at the end of regulation as well as the kickoff return in overtime.
No social justice messages stenciled on the field behind the goal posts. 6:12. I miss this NFL.
...but there used to be a lot of fan banners hung all over most of the stadiums. Now they've rid the fans of that fun.
Vince Everett Vince Evans was about average
Tom Brookshier got screwed by Summerall and CBS by bringing in Maddon....Brookshier had a great vouce and not bombastic like Maddon
Pat and Tom partied too hard, so CBS broke 'em up.
Me to