By Darin The episode captivates audiences by delving into the rich tapestry of football history, particularly focusing on the extraordinary resilience of quarterbacks faced with overwhelming odds. It opens with a recount of the Tennessee Titans' recent game against the Houston Texans, where Will Levis, despite being sacked a staggering eight times and throwing a pick six, led his team to victory. This contemporary example serves as a springboard into a discussion about historical parallels in the NFL, particularly the remarkable story of Randall Cunningham, who faced similar challenges in 1986.
As the episode unfolds, listeners learn about Cunningham's incredible journey with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was subjected to relentless pressure from opposing defenses, resulting in a jaw-dropping 40 sacks over a four-game stretch. Hayes highlights specific games, detailing how Cunningham's ability to endure such punishment while still contributing significantly to his team's performance exemplifies the grit and determination found in football's most memorable players. The episode underscores a particular game where Cunningham was sacked eleven times yet emerged victorious, showcasing his unique talent and tenacity.
In concluding the podcast, Hayes reflects on the significance of these historical moments in shaping the narrative of football. He emphasizes the theme of resilience, encouraging listeners to draw inspiration from the past and recognize the challenges faced by athletes throughout history. The discussion not only honors the legacy of players like Cunningham but also connects these stories to the modern game, providing insights into the evolution of quarterback play and the enduring spirit of competition in the NFL. This episode is both a celebration of football history and a reminder of the courage it takes to succeed against the odds.
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Sports History Theme Song
This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic/sports-history-network?authuser=0
Transcript
You know, last weekend we watched the Tennessee Titans win a game where their quarterback Will Levis was sacked an amazing eight times and threw a pick six and the Titans won the game.
Speaker A:We have one that's even better than that from history in the NFL.
Speaker A:It's all coming up in just a moment.
Speaker B:This is the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, a podcast that covers the anniversaries of American football events throughout history.
Speaker B:Your host, Darren Hayes is podcasting from America's North Shore to bring you the memories of the gridiron one day at a time.
Speaker A:Hello my football friends.
Speaker A:This is Darren Hayes of pigskidispatch.com welcome once again to the Pig Pen, your portal to positive football history.
Speaker A:And we are going to be talking about something that's amazing.
Speaker A:th of November:Speaker A:game and it happened back in:Speaker A:Before we get to that player, just a couple editorial notes on the show.
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Speaker A:So I think you'll really Enjoy that.
Speaker A:That mystery man from:Speaker A:He was the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles during that time.
Speaker A:He spent 15 seasons.
Speaker A:I'm sorry, not 15 seasons.
Speaker A:He spent 15 games.
Speaker A:He played with the Eagles in:Speaker A:When he got into November, he had a bad string of having a very bad and porous offensive line.
Speaker A:,:Speaker A:10 in an 11 to 13 loss against the Detroit Lions.
Speaker A:It's amazing that they were that close in that game.
Speaker A:He was sacked nine times against Seattle in a 24 to 20 loss.
Speaker A:Another really tight game.
Speaker A:Nine sacks probably made a difference here.
Speaker A:But he sacked 11 times against the Raiders and the Eagles won 33 to 27.
Speaker A:He also threw an interception in that game, but he had three touchdown passes.
Speaker A:That sort of undoes some of those things.
Speaker A:But 11 sacks.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker A:And you go into December, that next game, December 7th, he sacked another 10 times.
Speaker A:So he was averaging over a four game span getting tacked sacked 10 times a game.
Speaker A:Think about that for a second.
Speaker A:We thought eight was a lot for Levis.
Speaker A:Randall Cunningham, we know he was a runner and probably got, you know, out of the pocket too early and wanted to run around.
Speaker A:So that's probably some of those.
Speaker A:But still 11 times you're getting whacked by some big behemoth on the defensive line or a linebacker that's wanting to crush you.
Speaker A:That can't be for a good day for anybody.
Speaker A:But just amazing that he ended up winning that game and kept the other one so close.
Speaker A:That other game that we talked about in December, they were sacked 10 times.
Speaker A:They ended up tying St.
Speaker A:Louis in that game with a 10 all tie.
Speaker A:So, so they, he.
Speaker A:They were 1, 0 and 2 and had a.
Speaker A:Their losses were by 2 points and 4 points.
Speaker A:They win by 6 in tie, have a tie.
Speaker A:He sacked 40 times in 4 games.
Speaker A:That has taken a quarterback beating.
Speaker A:So a pretty amazing statistic for that.
Speaker A:The Eagles that year were, you know, not one of your better teams in the league.
Speaker A:They were 5, 10 and 1.
Speaker A:But they were coached by Buddy Ryan.
Speaker A:And if you remember this, Buddy Ryan's first year with the Eagles the year before, he was the defensive coordinator of dubbears as they won the super bowl with the most dominant defense maybe of all time.
Speaker A:With that, that the great bear front that Buddy Ryan introduced and all those studs that are many of them in the hall of Fame with bronze busts right now for the Bears back in that day.
Speaker A:So just an amazing stat.
Speaker A:I thought maybe it would be interesting for one because of the Will Levison recently, two, the end of November and that's where we are at.
Speaker A:And three, just amazing feat that that quarterback was able to start that many games and take the punishment that he did.
Speaker A:Reno Cunningham, pretty special player from back in the day, did some amazing things.
Speaker A:So check out some of his highlights on YouTube and some other places and NFL.com and you'll really be excited to see him if you didn't get to experience Randall Cunningham playing.
Speaker A:So that's what we have today.
Speaker A:We hope you have a great holiday, a short show, but we're coming back strong with some more great football history for you coming up and we hope you enjoy it.
Speaker A:Check out the YouTube channel, hit us up on Twitter or X and Facebook.
Speaker A:Pigskin dispatch pigskindispatch.com until next time everybody.
Speaker A:Have a great gridiron day.
Speaker A:That's all the football history we have today folks.
Speaker B:Join us back tomorrow for more of your football history.
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Speaker A:Special thanks to the talents of Mike.
Speaker B:And Gene Monroe, as well as Jason Neff for letting us use their music during our podcast.
Speaker A:This podcast is part of Sports History Network, your headquarters for the yesteryear of your favorite sport.
Speaker A:You can learn more@sportshistorynetwork.com RA.
