Tag: Ken Houston (1973-80)

Commanders don’t do ‘Dallas Week’ these days

Washington fans from long ago remember how special “Dallas Week” was through the years.

Those old enough to recall Washington vs. Dallas NFL games will recall the term “Dallas Week.”

Dallas had won the division five consecutive seasons from 1966-1970 and Washington only had one single winning season those years (1969) when they were 7-5-2.

George Allen was hired to be the new Washington head coach, and he instantly talked of how Dallas had owned the division but Washington was going to fight for the division.

In his first season, Washington headed to the old Cotton Bowl Stadium to face the Cowboys in Week 3. During the week, Allen began to refer to the week as “Dallas Week.”  What followed shocked one city and excited the other.

Both teams were 2-0 when Washington went to Dallas to face the defending conference champs in a wet, rainy game. Washington shocked the NFC Champion Cowboys 20-16.

Allen had fired up the city the week of the game, and when the team arrived at Dulles Airport Sunday night, thousands of fans were at the airport to greet the victors back home. “Dallas Week” had been born!

“Dallas Week” continued to be huge through the George Allen years (1971-77). There were huge wins for both teams, and both became in the top tier of NFC teams.

Dallas won the Super Bowl that 1971 season and Washington returned the next season to defeat Dallas in the NFC Championship game 26-3 at RFK.

In 1973, Brig Owens had a fourth-quarter pick-six, and then Ken Houston stopped Walt Garrison on the one-yard line to hold on for a 14-7 win at RFK. In 1974, Roger Staubach was concussed, and his replacement Clint Longley threw two touchdown passes leading Dallas to a 24-23 Thanksgiving Day win.

Dallas, in 1979, won perhaps the greatest regular-season game in the storied rivalry. Washington led at Dallas 34-21 after a long John Riggins touchdown run. But Staubach brought back Dallas to win 35-34 in the final seconds.

Joe Gibbs (1981-92) had his fair share of big wins and losses against Dallas. Washington won the 1982 NFC Championship game over Dallas 31-17 at RFK. In the 1983 season opener, Washington led 23-3 at the half at RFK, but Dallas stormed back to win 31-30. When the teams met late in the year at Dallas, both were 12-2. Washington crushed Dallas 31-10. The next season in Dallas, the Cowboys led 21-6, only to see Washington come back and win 30-28.

1989 was a miserable year for Dallas as they went only 1-15. Yet, that win was at RFK against Washington. In 1991, Dallas at home led Washington 21-10 on MNF. But Washington came back to win 33-31, went on to win their first 11 games of the season, and then lost at RFK to Dallas.

The 1995 Cowboys were again dominant, winning their third Super Bowl in four seasons. But strangely they lost both times to an ineffective 6-10 Washington team.

Yes, back in those days, it was “Dallas Week.” Today, the DMV appears to have mostly fickle, bandwagon fans, nothing like the 70-90s years. “Dallas Week” means little to the fan base compared to what it did for 30 years dating from George Allen’s arrival.

Tuesday, former Washington tight end Rick “Doc” Walker was filling in for Kevin Sheehan on his Team 980 radio program. Walker talked often of “Dallas Week” of how he missed the energy it once provided the DMV.

Walker also talked with two former Washington defensive greats, defensive tackle Darryl Grant (1981-1990) and defensive end Dexter Manley (1981-89) who were both teammates with Walker (1980-85).

This week has no energy, no juice as the rivalries’ games did in the past. We can only hope the new administration will bring back “Dallas Week” once again to the DMV.

Commanders season opener in 27 days: Washington’s best No. 27

27 Pro Football Hall of Famer Ken Houston days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 27 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 27?

Former Washington head coach George Allen had traded for aging safeties Richie Petitbon in 1971 and Rosey Taylor in 1972. But both were old, worn down and retired after the 1972 season. It was time for another trade by Allen.

Remarkably the Houston Oilers traded All-Pro Safety Ken Houston (age 28). Allen, in return, gave the Oilers Jim Snowden, Mac Alston, Mike Fanucci, Jeff Severson, and Clifton McNeil.

All Ken Houston did for Washington was become a Pro Bowler for seven consecutive seasons (1973-79). Houston was All-Pro 1st team in 1975 and 1978, while All-Pro 2nd team in 1979.

Houston was durable and tough. He started and played every game from 1973-1978 for the Redskins. It was not until age 35, in 1979, that Houston missed three games while starting all other 13.

In his eight Washington seasons, Houston intercepted 24 passes, recovered 10 fumbles and collected 4.0 quarterback sacks.

Houston made probably the most significant defensive play in Redskins regular season history in 1973. It was a Monday Night game with Dallas at Washington. Washington led 14-7 late in the final quarter, but Dallas had driven the ball all the way to the Washington four-yard line.

With 24 seconds remaining Dallas had a 4th & Goal at the Washington 4. Dallas quarterback Craig Morton passed to fullback Walt Garrison. Ken Houston met Garrison at the one-yard line, pulled up on Garrison, lifting him off of his feet to stop the drive and save a Washington 14-7 MNF victory.

The very next season (1974), when Dallas came to Washington, Ken Houston made another huge play when he returned a punt 58 yards for a first-half touchdown in a 28-21 Washington win.

With the Houston Oilers in 1971, Houston amazingly returned a fumble and four interceptions for a total of 5 defensive touchdowns in one season.

Ken Houston was voted one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in 2002, he is in the Washington Ring of Fame and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 1986.

Commanders season opener in 41 days: Washington’s best No. 41

41 Mike Bass days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 41 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 41?

Mike Bass (1969-75) was a Michigan Wolverine who was drafted 314 overall by Vince Lombardi and the Packers in the 1967 NFL draft. But Bass was traded before the regular season to the Lions.

Playing for the Lions his rookie season, he was released and remembered by Lombardi, who brought the free agent Bass to Washington in 1969. Bass who had only played in two games for the Lions (starting neither), was an instant starter for Lombardi’s Redskins.

Bass was an iron man for Washington, starting all 14 games all seven seasons in Washington at cornerback. Mike has the distinction of scoring the first touchdown in Washington’s five Super Bowl games. In the final quarter of Super Bowl VII, Miami attempted a field goal when Washington’s Bill Brundige blocked the kick. When kicker Garo Yepremian bobbled the ball, it was Bass who caught the “fumble,” returning it 49 yards for a touchdown.

Concluding his seven Washington seasons, Bass had started all 98 games he could have played, intercepted 30 passes, returned three for touchdowns and recovered six fumbles.

In the 1971 season, Bass intercepted eight passes in the 14 games and was “not” chosen for the Pro Bowl. He was a solid starter at right cornerback for the playoff teams of 1971-74 and was voted All-Pro second team in 1974.

Being named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in 2002, Bass was then named to the franchise’s Ring of Honor in 2022.

Check out this highlight package of Mike Bass

How good were those Redskins defenses in the early 1970s? All four defensive back starters from 1973-75 were voted as the 70 Greatest Redskins. They were Pat Fischer (1968-77) and Bass (1969-75) at cornerback, and Ken Houston (1973-80) and Brig Owens (1966-77) at safety.