NFL's Highest-Scoring Game Turns 44

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: Giants, Redskins, NFL Record

The highest-scoring game in NFL history turned 44 on Saturday. In that contest, the Washington Redskins plastered the New York Giants, 72-41, at then District of Columbia Stadium on November 27, 1966.

Incredibly, the Redskins' Sonny Jurgensen (right) only had 145 yards passing on 10-of-18 passing. Jurgensen three three touchdowns passes. Charley Taylor caught two of the scoring strikes, one for 32 yards and one for 74.

The Redskins' Brig Owens -- a defensive back -- scored two touchdowns. Owens returned a fumble 62 yards in the first quarter and an interception 60 yards in the fourth quarter to make it 62-28. Owens had three interceptions on the day.

There were 16 PATs, 14 converted. The interesting sidelight to that stat is the PATs were kicked by brothers, Pete and Charlie Gogolak. Pete Gogolak was the first soccer-style kicker, beginning his career in the AFL with Buffalo before signing with the Giants.

The final indignity for the Giants came after quarterback Tom Kennedy lost track of downs and threw the ball out of bounds on a fourth-down play in the last minute.

With the score 69-41, Redskins coach Otto Graham sent Charlie Gogolak out for a 29-yard field goal that made the final score 72-41.

From profootballhof.com:

Based on the fact that his kicker missed two field goals the previous week, Graham sent Charlie Gogolak out for what he described as "practice." Gogolak converted the three-pointer and the Redskins had run up 72 points by the time the gun sounded to end the contest.

The win did not come without a sacrifice from the host team. In the days before nets were placed behind the goal posts, extra points would sail into the stands. So, needless to say, the team shelled out a fair amount of money in the cost of footballs that afternoon. According to a newspaper account, 14 footballs ended up in the stands - 13 of the lost footballs came on extra-point attempts while the other lost ball came courtesy of Brig Owens who heaved it into the crowd after he returned a fumble 62 yards for a score. At a value of $22.50 each, the total tab for balls for the Redskins that afternoon came to $315.

One of the Redskins' touchdowns was scored on a nine-yard run by Joe Don Looney. The running back, one of the great characters in NFL history, had been a first-round draft pick by the Giants in 1964.

 

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