The 1970 NFL Season Set.  In 1970, the NFL and the AFL merged into one league creating the structure of the sport that people would know and love over the next several decades.  The merger forced a realignment of Conferences and Divisions.  The Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers joined the 10 merging AFL teams and formed the American Football Conference while the remaining NFL teams formed the National Football Conference. Each Conference had an East, Central and West Division.  The playoffs changed in 1970 as well.  Eight teams, four from each Conference now qualified for the playoffs with the three Division winners and one Wild Card team rounded out the field.  Astro Turf was a growing phenomena in the league as seven teams now played on turf.  Perhaps the biggest impact remaining from the 1970 season was the berth of Roone Arledge's Monday Night Football on ABC.  Monday Night Football would take the NFL into homes on a weekly basis with a prime time, week night edition.  The Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets in the first ever Monday night match up.  Things were changing on the field as well as the Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings began to emerge as the strength of the league along with the Dallas Cowboys.  Minnesota's Purple People Eaters devoured rival offenses.  John Brodie led the league in nearly every passing category.  Larry Brown led the league in rushing while Dick Gordon led the league in receptions and the 49ers' Gene Washington led the league in receiving yards.  The Baltimore Colts narrowly edged out the Cowboys in Super Bowl V as Earl Morrall came off the bench again to lead the Colts to a win.  Relive it all with Sideline Football and the 1970 Season Set.