He Fades Back to Pass...

This really dates me, but what the hell.  It was either 1967 or ’68, when Jim Ninowski backed up Sonny Jurgensen with the Redskins.  My guess is the game 11-28-68 against the Redskins.  Ninowski started and threw for 280 yards.  Or it could have been the next week when he came in to relieve Jurgensen against Cleveland or the week before at Philadelphia or even the last game of the seasons vs. the Lions.  Take your pick.

Anyway, Ninowski faced third-and-30.  I remember—or think I do—because it struck me as an absolutely impossible amount of yardage to gain on one play.  But guess what?  Ninowski pulled it off.

Then again, he had receivers like Charley Taylor and Jerry Smith to throw to.  There’s nobody of that caliber on the Bad News Bears.  First-and-40, who ya gonna call?  Pat O’Donnell, the punter, that’s who.