NFC 27

AFC 6

January 24, 1971

The first Pro Bowl following the NFL-AFL merger took place at the Coliseum in Los Angeles in 1971. The coaches for the game were Dick Nolan of the 49ers and John Madden of the Raiders. The game was played before 48,222 fans. It was a game dominated by the defenses.

There was no scoring in the first quarter and only two field goals in the second. Jan Stenerud of the Chiefs kicked a field goal from 37 yards and Fred Cox of Minnesota connected from 13 yards out. The score was 3-3 at the half.

In the third quarter, John Brodie of San Farncisco took the NFC on an 84 yard touchdown drive in 6 plays. On the drive, Brodie hit 49er teammate Gene Washington for 24 yards then connected with Minnesota’s Dave Osborn for 23 yards and a touchdown. Still in the third, Cox and Stenerud exchanged field goals, Mel Renfro of the Cowboys tipped a Daryl Lamonica pass and it was intercepted by Green Bay’s Fred Carr. The turnover led to a Cox field goal from 35 yards away. Moments later, Cecil Turner of the Bears fumbled a punt and that set up Stenerud for a field goal from 16 yards. The score at the end of the third period was 13-6. In the fourth quarter, when the Americans were forced to punt, Jerrel Wilson of the Chiefs received a low snap and hurried the kick, which was long and low. Renfro fielded the kick on a full run, broke free and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown. Later in the quarter, Wilson boomed a 52 yard punt and, again, Renfro fielded it on a full gallop. He moved to his left, then cut right and returned it 56 yards for the score. The final was 27-6.
 

The NFC defense won this game and completely dominated the AFC. The NFC out-gained the AFC 337 to 146 yards on offense. The AFC defense, at the same time, gave up only one touchdown. Renfro, who had played in the Pro Bowl for all of his 7 seasons in the NFL, was the game’s MVP back. Fred Carr was the lineman of the game. Following the game, it was apparent that there was more at stake in this first post-merger clash between the league’s all-stars than a normal exhibition game. “There was a rivalry out there.” said Jim Otto of the Raiders, “You could feel it.”

Mel Renfro returned two punts

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