I would like to invite you to follow along as I embark on the 196-game regular season and post-season of the bicentennial 1976 NFL season. The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This fulfilled one of the conditions agreed to in 1966 for the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, which called for the league to expand to 28 teams by 1970 or soon thereafter.

For this season only, the Seahawks played in the NFC West while the Buccaneers played in the AFC West. The Seahawks would return to the NFC West with the realignment prior to the 2002 season, on the other and Buccaneers did not return to the AFC in 2002. The Buccaneers became the first NFL team to finish a season 0–14. The Buccaneers lost their first 26 games as they also lost their first 12 games in 1977.

The season ended with Super Bowl XI when the Oakland Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32–14 at the Rose Bowl. The Raiders were the first original AFL team to win a Super Bowl in the post-merger era.

This replay is dedicated to my dear friend, Mr. Greg Wells, since this is his favorite season. Although his beloved Patriots have won six Super Bowls since then, there is nothing stronger than a 12- to 15-year-old boy’s memory of their favorite team thriving on the gridiron. I must say, I’ve watched the roughing the passer call against Sugar Bear Hamilton numerous times, in today’s game it’s certainly correct, disagree with it being called in 1976. With that said, it’s poetic justice the most penalized team had one go their way. As for my Jets, this will be an exceptionally painful season for me, having to watch my boyhood hero, Joe Namath, on his last legs and their 29/30 defense.