Wing Man Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The rule that gave the Bills their game winning safety dates back to September 10,1978. John Madden's Oakland Raiders were at San Diego trailing 20-14 with ten seconds left. Oakland had the football at the San Diego 16 yard line. Kenny Stabler dropped back to pass and was about to be sacked so he fumbled the ball forward. Raiders running back Pete Banaszak was in position to pick up the fumble but realized he would be tackled so he pushed the ball forward. The Raiders tight end Dave Casper then got in on the act kicking and shoving the ball until it crossed the plane and he fell on it. Referee Jerry Markbreit ruled it to be a touchdown because it couldn't be determined that they had purposely did what they did. The Chargers couldn't believe they got away with it and the Raiders on the field that day remained mum for years about their duplicity. The controversy forced a rule change that off-season that said the only player who could advance a fumble after the two-minute warning was the player who fumbled the ball. The only thing more epic than the play itself was the radio call from the Oakland play-by-play announcer Bill King. King: "... The Oakland Raiders have scored on the most zany, unbelievable, absolutely impossible dream of a play! Madden is on the field! He wants to know if it's real! They said yes! Get your big butt out of here! He does!" Markbreit says he cringes whenever he sees the replay on television. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie's Dead Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 (edited) When they said "Safety", I'm like, "The Holy Roller". I had to explain that one to my wife, she thought it was stupid. Edited December 15, 2014 by Fred Jackson Jockstrap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark80 Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 I sort of wish that was the rule the entire game. Actually, I wish that no offensive player (even the player who fumbled it) could advance a recovered fumble at any point in the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wing Man Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 That would cause fumbles to become too large a factor in any game. Fumbles are far too random to be allowed to have that great an impact, IMHO. It would be like forcing the kicker to score touchdowns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricojes Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The rule that gave the Bills their game winning safety dates back to September 10,1978. Game saving or clinching, but not winning...I was waiting anxiously in the stadium for the official ruling, place was going nuts. HEY HEY HEY HEY and high fives all the way out of the stadium. What a great feeling.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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