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 The
1977 Pro Bowl came to the
Kingdome in Seattle. The
crowd of 63,214 established
an attendance record,
surpassing the total of
53,647 that witnessed the
1972 game. The coaches for
the game were Chuck Noll of
Pittsburgh and Chuck Knox of
the Rams.
The AFC jumped out to a 10-0
lead in the first quarter on
a 3 yard touchdown run by
the Bills’ O.J. Simpson and
a 31 yard field goal by Toni
Linhart of Baltimore. The
Americans dominated play in
the first quarter, moving
the ball crisply and
allowing the NFC just one
first down. In the second
quarter, the NFC came alive
behind the quarterback,
Roger Staubach of Dallas.
Mike Thomas of Washington
ran a draw play 15 yards to
the AFC 15, then another
draw for 15 more and the
touchdown. The next time the
NFC got the ball, Thomas
fumbled and it was recovered
by L.C. Greenwood of
Pittsburgh. In just :53, Ken
Anderson of the Bengals hit
San Diego’s Charlie Joiner,
who was diving in the middle
of the end zone, for a 12
yard touchdown and a 17-7
lead. Before the half, Staubach hit a leaping Ron
Jessie of the Rams for 43
yards to the AFC one yard
line. Lawrence McCutcheon of
the Rams swept into the end
zone and the score was 17-14
at the half.
There was no scoring in the
third quarter. Midway
through the fourth quarter,
with the NFC driving at the
AFC 12, Mel Blount of the
Steelers picked off St.
Louis’ Jim Hart in the end
zone to thwart the drive.
Moments later, with the NFC
at its own 32, Blount
stepped in front of a Hart
pass intended for Sammy
White of Minnesota and stole
the interception, returning
it to the NFC 27. Two plays
later, Anderson found the
Raiders’ Cliff Branch wide
open in the corner of the
end zone for a 27 yard
touchdown pass. The final
score was 24-14.
Blount, who was injured on
the first day of practice
and had considered returning
home, was voted the player
of the game. In all, the AFC
intercepted 6 passes, five
of them off Hart in the
second half.
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