Ghost to the Post
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Ghost to the Post is a significant play in NFL history. It refers specifically to a 42-yard pass from Ken Stabler to Dave Casper, nicknamed "The Ghost", that set up a game tying field goal in a double-overtime playoff game played between Casper's Oakland Raiders and the then-Baltimore Colts on December 24, 1977. Casper also caught the last pass of the game, a 10-yard touchdown pass. [1] The game was the third-longest game in NFL history, and has become synonymous with the play that made it famous. [2]
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[edit] Game synopsis
The first half was mostly a defensive struggle. Oakland scored first on a 30-yard run by Clarence Davis. Baltimore returned with two second quarter scores, a 62-yard Bruce Laird interception return for a touchdown and a 36-yard field goal by Toni Linhart. The half time score was 10-7 in favor of Baltimore.
The second half began with a scoring flurry. Dave Casper scored on an 8-yard touchdown reception on Oakland's first drive of the half. Marshall Johnson of the Colts then returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a matching touchdown. Ted Hendricks blocked a third-quarter Baltimore punt, setting up a 10-yard Stabler-to-Casper touchdown pass, which made the score 21-17 in favor of the Raiders.
The fourth quarter saw impressive comebacks by both teams. Ron Lee scored on a 1-yard fourth down plunge for Baltimore, making the score 24-21 in favor of Baltimore. Oakland returned with a long drive culminating in a 1-yard Pete Banaszak run for a touchdown, making the score 28-24 in favor of Oakland. Baltimore returned with a 13-yard Lee run that left them with a 31-28 lead with just over 2 minutes to go, setting up the memorable play for Casper.
On third and long, with less than one minute on the clock, Raider head coach John Madden called for a time out. As Madden excitedly went over the next play on the sidelines with his quarterback, Stabler calmly looked at the frenzied Baltimore crowd and remarked "the fans are sure getting their money's worth today." Offensive coordinator Tom Flores called for a pass designed to go to one of the two wide receivers running an out pattern to the sideline, but told Stabler to "take a peek at the Ghost to the post", referring to a deep pattern by Casper down the field and then angling to the goal post. In what football fans now refer to as "The Ghost to the Post", Casper ran a deep post pattern, and Stabler threw a high, arching pass that looked well over thrown and behind Casper. It was Casper's memorable change of direction, chase, and athletic over-the-head catch that became the signature moment for the game. Casper went down at the 14-yard line, setting up a Errol Mann field goal that tied the game and sent the game to overtime.
With 14 minutes left in the second overtime, Stabler hit Casper on a 10-yard touchdown pass that ended the third longest game in NFL history with a score of 37-31. [2]
[edit] Significance of the game
To this date, the game is still the third longest in NFL history.[3] The game marked the last playoff appearance for the Baltimore Colts, who would abandon the city and move to Indianapolis in 1984. The Raiders would go on to lose the AFC championship game that year to the Broncos 20-17.[4] NFL Films has released a film of the game as one of the most memorable in NFL history.[5] Hall of Fame coach John Madden has called the moment one of the most memorable of his coaching career.[6] Dave Casper has been named one of the best Tight Ends in NFL History, and this catch is cited as the most memorable in his career.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Dave Casper Bio www.profootballhof.com. Retrieved November 24, 2006.
- ^ a b 1977 AFC DIVISIONAL GAME ravensnest.com. Retrieved November 24, 2006
- ^ The NFL's Longest Game profootballhof.com. Retrieved November 23, 2006
- ^ 1977 Playoff Results Football @ JT-SW.com. Retrieved November 24, 2006
- ^ NFL Films video of the game Retrieved November 24, 2006
- ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060806/ai_n16665725 Madden brought out Raiders' greatness] Oakland Tribune, August 6, 2006. Retrieved November 24, 2006
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