Highlighted Year: Chris Gamble, 2004

Cornerback, Carolina Panthers

Age: 21

1^st season in pro football

College: Ohio State

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 181

Prelude:

Gamble played both cornerback and wide receiver in college, and was part of Ohio State’s 2002 national championship team. He was chosen by the Panthers in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft (28^th overall) and, despite being a raw talent, moved directly into the starting lineup.

2004 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 6 [3, tied with four others, 1^st in NFC]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at Atlanta 12/18

Int. return yards – 15

Most int. return yards, game – 13 (on 1 int.) at Kansas City 9/19

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 68

Assists – 6

Punt Returns

Returns – 9

Yards – 69

Average per return – 7.7

TDs – 0

Longest return – 16 yards

Panthers went 7-9 to finish third in the NFC South while leading the NFL in interceptions (26).

Aftermath:

Gamble followed up in 2005 by intercepting 7 passes that he returned for 157 yards and a TD. Fast and agile, he could also be inconsistent and reckless in taking chances. Gamble’s play improved over time, as a tackler in the defensive backfield as well as a cover corner, and he was typically a solid starter, if not an elite performer. He also encountered problems with injuries but lasted for nine years with Carolina and appeared in a total of 123 games. While Gamble endured a difficult season in 2010 in which he was benched for a time and suffered a hamstring injury, costing him five games, he bounced back in 2011. He was released following an injury-plagued 2012 season and retired at age 29, having intercepted a franchise-record 27 passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1967: Bills Rally in Fourth Quarter to Defeat Jets

The refurbished Buffalo Bills hosted the New York Jets in an American Football League season-opening game on September 10, 1967. Coached by Joe Collier for the second year, the Bills had won the last three Eastern Division titles but, after advancing to consecutive league championships in 1964 and ‘65, failed to win the AFL title game in ’66, thus costing them a spot in the first Super Bowl. The team made major trades during the offseason in an effort to upgrade at key positions. QB Tom Flores and split end Art Powell were obtained from Oakland and HB Keith Lincoln from San Diego.  All three were highly regarded veterans and Flores moved ahead of QB Jack Kemp (pictured above), who had been behind center during the previous successful seasons. The Bills even had a new placekicker in Mike Mercer, an experienced hand who performed ably for the Chiefs in 1966.

New York, entering the fifth year under Head Coach Weeb Ewbank, was coming off of a 6-6-2 record in ’66, which was a step up from four consecutive five-win seasons. Talented QB Joe Namath had a strong arm and quick release that could yield big gains through the air but also gave up many interceptions. There were outstanding receivers in flanker Don Maynard and split end George Sauer, and an effective running tandem in FB Matt Snell and HB Emerson Boozer. However, the defense had been a sore spot and would need to improve if the club was to rise further in the standings.

There were 45,478 fans in attendance at War Memorial Stadium and they saw both teams miss scoring opportunities in the first quarter. Mike Mercer attempted a 46-yard field goal for the Bills that was blocked by DB Cornell Gordon and New York’s Jim Turner was wide to the left on a 16-yard field goal try.

During the second quarter, the Jets put together a 10-play, 57-yard series that was helped along by a pass interference penalty on LB John Tracey. Three plays later, Joe Namath threw to Don Maynard, who outmaneuvered CB Booker Edgerson for a 19-yard touchdown. Turner added the extra point.

Buffalo responded with a promising possession, but after Keith Lincoln (pictured at left) ran for 23 yards to the New York 35, a holding penalty and two sacks moved the Bills back. On the next series, the Jets took just five plays to advance 71 yards. Namath again connected with Maynard, this time for a 56-yard TD with 21 seconds left in the first half. Turner’s conversion staked New York to a 14-0 lead at halftime.

The Bills were unable to put together sustained drives with Flores behind center and a twisted knee suffered late in the second quarter forced him to the bench. Jack Kemp took his place in the second half, although the results were not immediately different. One of his passes was intercepted by safety Jim Hudson, and the result was that the Jets increased their lead less than five minutes into the third quarter when Turner kicked a 32-yard field goal.

The home team continued to struggle on offense and another New York interception, this time by Cornell Gordon, who was injured on the play, nearly led to another score but Turner missed a field goal attempt from 40 yards.

Down 17-0 after three quarters, the Bills came to life early in the final period. They advanced 46 yards in five plays, although it nearly was for naught when Lincoln fell while running a pass route and Solomon Brannan, the replacement for Gordon, dropped a potential interception. On the next play, Kemp passed to Art Powell for a 24-yard touchdown and Mercer added the point after.

The Jets had to punt following their next possession and Curley Johnson’s 29-yard kick was returned seven yards by CB Butch Byrd to the New York 37. On the next play Kemp threw long to Powell in the end zone for another TD. Mercer’s conversion narrowed the tally to 17-14 with 4:39 on the clock.

New York fought back as Namath completed two passes and a personal foul penalty again moved the visitors into scoring territory. However, Turner once again failed on an attempted field goal, this time from 35 yards. The Bills were forced to punt but Paul Maguire’s kick traveled 50 yards and was downed at the New York one yard line. The Jets had to punt in turn, and while three plays by Buffalo gained nothing, Mercer kicked a 51-yard field goal (a new club record at the time) to tie the score with 2:27 remaining to play.

Another series by the Jets resulted in a punt and the Bills had the ball at their 18 with 1:20 to go. Kemp tossed a swing pass to Lincoln that gained 24 yards and then threw to TE Paul Costa, who made a leaping catch for 21 yards. With the clock down to four seconds, Mercer booted a 43-yard field goal and Buffalo won by a final score of 20-17.

New York had the edge in total yards (287 to 248) although the Bills led in first downs (15 to 14). Buffalo also suffered the only two turnovers of the game and sustained four sacks by the Jets while recording two of its own.  However, while Mike Mercer (pictured at right) kicked the two big field goals for Buffalo, Jim Turner missed on three of his four attempts.

Jack Kemp completed 12 of 23 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns while giving up two interceptions in relief of Tom Flores, who was 6 of 11 for 40 yards and no TDs (or interceptions) in the first half. Keith Lincoln rushed for 81 yards on 13 carries and netted another 23 yards on three pass receptions. Flanker Elbert Dubenion caught 6 passes for 54 yards while Art Powell gained 91 yards on his 5 receptions that included the two touchdowns.

For the Jets, Joe Namath was successful on 11 of 23 throws for 153 yards and two TDs while having none picked off. Don Maynard caught 5 of those passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Snell topped the rushers with 95 yards on 19 attempts and Emerson Boozer contributed 53 yards on his 16 carries.

While Buffalo fans might have felt optimistic following the come-from-behind win, particularly with newcomers Art Powell, Keith Lincoln, and Mike Mercer having starring roles (if not Tom Flores), the season went downhill from there. The Bills lost their next three games on their way to a 4-10 record that tied with Miami for third place in the Eastern Division that they had previously dominated. While Lincoln and Mercer performed well, Powell lasted for six games before going out with a knee injury that required surgery and Flores, suffering from a sore arm, completed only 34.4 percent of his 64 passes and threw for no touchdowns while giving up eight interceptions, thus being relegated to the bench. Adding insult to injury, QB Daryle Lamonica, the backup who was sent to Oakland in the deal for Flores and Powell, had a MVP season as the Raiders won the AFL Championship.

The Jets went 5-0-1 over the next six weeks and appeared to be the successors to the Bills, who they defeated in the rematch at New York, until a late-season collapse caused them to finish second to Houston with an 8-5-1 tally. Joe Namath passed for a record 4007 yards but threw for more interceptions (28) than touchdowns (26). Don Maynard (pictured at left) caught 71 passes, second only to teammate George Sauer, for a league-leading 1434 yards and 10 TDs.

Highlighted Year: Marlin Briscoe, 1970

Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills

Age: 25 (Sept. 10)

3^rd season in pro football, 2^nd with Bills

College: Omaha Univ. (now Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha)

Height: 5’10” Weight: 177

Prelude:

Briscoe was a quarterback in college, where he passed for 2283 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior in 1967 and the team won the Central Intercollegiate Conference championship. He was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the 14^th round of the ’68 AFL/NFL draft with the expectation that he would be a defensive back or wide receiver. But when starting QB Steve Tensi was injured early in the season, he started five games (and thus became the first African-American to start at quarterback in the AFL or NFL). Highly mobile, “The Magician” completed only 41.5 percent of his passes, but they were good for 1589 yards and a league-leading 17.1 yards per catch. He also tossed 14 TD passes and rushed for 308 yards, scoring three touchdowns and averaging 7.5 yards per attempt. With the Broncos unwilling to commit to him as a quarterback, he was released, signed by Buffalo during preseason in 1969, and shifted to wide receiver. Despite joining the team late and changing positions, he caught 32 passes for 532 yards (16.6 avg.) and scored five TDs.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 57 [2, 1^st in AFC]     

Most receptions, game – 7 (for 145 yds.) vs. Miami 10/18, (for 78 yds.) vs. Baltimore 12/13

Yards – 1036 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Most yards, game – 145 (on 7 catches) vs. Miami 10/18

Average gain – 18.2 [12]

TDs – 8 [7, tied with Charley Taylor]

100-yard receiving games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 3

Yards – 19

Average gain – 6.3

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 8 [14, tied with Willie Frazier, Leroy Kelly & Charley Taylor]

Points – 48

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: PFWA

1^st team All-AFC: AP, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Bills went 3-10-1 to finish fourth in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

Briscoe followed up in 1971 with 44 catches for 603 yards (13.7 avg.) and five touchdowns. Having played out his option with the Bills, he moved on to the Miami Dolphins for 1972 and saw limited action as backup to WR Howard Twilley, catching 16 passes while the team went undefeated in winning the NFL title. Briscoe moved into the starting lineup in ’73 and had 30 receptions for 447 yards (14.9 avg.) and two TDs but appeared in only four games in 1974 and was traded, playing for the Chargers and Lions in 1975 and finishing up with New England in ’76. He never again appeared at quarterback after his rookie year, but in eight seasons as a wide receiver he caught 224 passes for 3537 yards (15.8 avg.) and 30 touchdowns, with 133 of those receptions for 2171 yards (163 avg.) and 18 TDs coming with the Bills.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1962: Haynes Scores 4 TDs as Texans Defeat Patriots

The Dallas Texans opened the 1962 American Football League season on September 8, hosting the Boston Patriots. Owned by league founder Lamar Hunt and coached by Hank Stram, the Texans finished second in the Western Division in each of the AFL’s first two campaigns, most recently posting a disappointing 6-8 record in ’61. Dynamic all-purpose HB Abner Haynes (pictured above) was the star on offense, with FB Jack Spikes providing solid power running when healthy, and the defense was effective, especially at linebacker. The big change for ’62 was at quarterback, where veteran Cotton Davidson had been found wanting and was being replaced by Len Dawson, an ex-Purdue star who had been a disappointment in the NFL. Under the tutelage of Stram, who had been Dawson’s backfield coach in college, it was hoped that he would provide the necessary upgrade.

Boston was coming off of a 9-4-1 record the previous year. The Patriots played their best after Mike Holovak was promoted to head coach during the season and he remained at the helm.  32-year-old QB Babe Parilli, who had split time with Butch Songin in 1961, now had the starting job to himself and there was talent around him on offense, including flanker Gino Cappelletti, a reliable, if not speedy, receiver who was also a productive placekicker.

There were 32,000 fans in attendance for the Saturday night game at the Cotton Bowl. The teams traded punts until late in the opening period, when the Texans put together a long drive of 86 yards in 15 plays that stretched into the second quarter. Len Dawson converted a third-and-six situation with a pass to TE Fred Arbanas for 25 yards and Abner Haynes and Jack Spikes ran effectively. Haynes finished the series off with a dive into the end zone from two yards out for a touchdown and Tom Pennington added the extra point.

The Patriots responded with a seven-play, 70-yard possession. Babe Parilli threw to split end Jim Colclough for 13 yards on a third-and-ten play and connected with FB Larry Garron for 22 yards to the Dallas 35. A 19-yard run by Garron had ten more yards tacked on due to a roughness penalty called on the Texans and two plays later Parilli passed to TE Tony Romeo (pictured at right) for an 11-yard TD. Gino Cappelletti kicked the point after to tie the score at 7-7.

DB Dave Grayson returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Boston 49. Haynes gained 11 yards on two carries to start the series and a pass interference penalty picked up ten more yards. A running play was followed by a Dawson pass to split end Chris Burford for 21 yards and two plays later Dawson found Burford again in the corner of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown. Pennington converted and the Texans were back in front by 14-7.

Following a punt by the Patriots, Dallas put together an 82-yard scoring drive in just five plays. Dawson, forced to scramble, ran for 14 yards and HB Frank Jackson (pictured at right) gained 35 yards, showing off good moves in the open field. After an incomplete pass and delay of game penalty, Jackson rushed for another 13 yards around end and Haynes gained the final 25 yards for a TD in spectacular fashion. Pennington again added the PAT and the home team extended its lead to 21-7.

The Patriots got the ball back with two minutes remaining and Parilli immediately threw to Romeo for 17 yards. A defensive holding penalty advanced the ball to the Dallas 25 and, four plays later, Parilli threw to HB Ron Burton for a pickup of 12 yards to the two yard line. From there Parilli ran the rest of the way, going around end for a TD with 34 seconds left in the first half. Cappelletti added the extra point and the Dallas lead was 21-14 at halftime.

Boston put together a promising drive to start the third quarter but, after reaching the Dallas 38, LB Sherrill Headrick intercepted a Parilli pass. The Texans advanced to their 28 and had to punt and the Patriots again moved the ball well, most notably on a Parilli pass to Cappelletti that gained 21 yards. However the visitors again came up empty when Garron, having grabbed a toss from Parilli in the backfield, was stuffed by Headrick for a 12-yard loss and Cappelletti’s field goal attempt from 46 yards was blocked by CB Duane Wood and recovered by the Texans at the Boston 39. Three plays later, Haynes carried 30 yards for a touchdown, Pennington converted, and instead of the Patriots possibly closing the gap, Dallas was up by 28-14.

A short Boston series resulted in a punt and the Texans were driving as the game headed into the fourth quarter. A sack of Dawson put Dallas in a second-and-22 hole but a completion to Jackson for 32 yards advanced the ball to the Boston 18. The 10-play, 58-yard drive concluded with Dawson throwing to Haynes in the end zone for a nine-yard TD, his fourth of the day. Once more Pennington booted the point after and the Texans were seemingly in control by a score of 35-14.

The Patriots responded with a quick tally, going 66 yards in three plays. Parilli completed passes to Colclough for 22 yards and Burton for 29, and Garron ran the last 15 yards for a touchdown. Cappelletti added the PAT to narrow the Dallas margin to 35-21.

A penalty and a sack forced the Texans to have to punt from their own seven on the next series, and Boston started off with excellent field position at the Dallas 35. Parilli threw to Romeo for 32 yards and Burton ran for a three-yard TD.  Cappelletti’s extra point made the game close at 35-28 with 5:25 remaining on the clock.

Starting from their 19 after the ensuing kickoff, the Texans went 81 yards in nine plays to settle the issue. A 15-yard personal foul on the Patriots on a second-and-eight play helped move Dallas along, Haynes had four carries for 21 yards, and Dawson completed a pass to split end Bill Miller for 30 yards. Jackson ran for an eight-yard touchdown with 33 seconds left, Pennington kicked the point after, and Dallas won by a final score of 42-28.

The Texans led in total yards (421 to 322), with 265 of that total coming on the ground, and first downs (27 to 22). Boston recorded five sacks to one by the home team, but also suffered the game’s only turnover. Both teams were penalized seven times apiece.

Abner Haynes was the headliner for the Texans with 122 yards on 19 carries that included three touchdowns and three catches for 14 yards and a fourth TD. Not to be overlooked, Len Dawson had a solid performance as he completed 16 of 23 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, and also ran for 32 yards on four carries. Additionally, Frank Jackson ran for 72 yards on 9 attempts that included a TD and gained another 32 yards on his one pass reception. Bill Miller caught 6 passes for 72 yards and Chris Burford contributed 5 receptions for 59 yards and a score.

For the Patriots, Babe Parilli was successful on 16 of 31 throws for 214 yards and a TD while giving up one interception. Larry Garron ran for 48 yards and a touchdown on five carries, had three catches for 18 yards, and averaged 28.0 yards on three kickoff returns. Tony Romeo (pictured at left) caught 5 passes for 84 yards and a TD.

   

Len Dawson’s performance emboldened owner Lamar Hunt to trade former starting QB Cotton Davidson to Oakland. The vote of confidence proved to be justified as the Texans went 11-3 to top the Western Division and defeat Houston for the AFL Championship. Boston won its next three contests before dropping the rematch to Dallas. The Patriots contended in the Eastern Division, finally ending up second to the Oilers at 9-4-1.

The opening-game performance by Abner Haynes launched a season in which he led the league with 19 touchdowns and finished second in rushing (1049 yards) and all-purpose yards (1768). He was a consensus All-AFL selection. Len Dawson received AFL Player of the Year honors from The Sporting News, leading the circuit in touchdown passes (29), completion percentage (61.0), yards per attempt (8.9), and overall passing (98.3 rating). 

Highlighted Year: Ray Lewis, 2001

Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

Age: 26

6^th season in pro football & with Ravens

College: Miami (FL)

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 245

Prelude:

Lewis was chosen by the Ravens in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft and inserted into the starting lineup at middle linebacker as a rookie, and had an immediate impact. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the first time in ’97 and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in 1999. With outstanding instincts, intensity, and speed that allowed him to cover a large area and make plays, Lewis was well-established as one of the premier linebackers in the NFL. The only concerns about him following the ’99 season pertained to off-field issues surrounding an altercation outside an Atlanta nightclub that ended in two stabbing deaths, but following a plea bargain that included his testimony against two associates, he was back in action in 2000 (and was also heavily fined by the NFL) and received NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press as the Ravens went all the way to a Super Bowl victory.

2001 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 3.5

Most sacks, game – 1 at Denver 9/30, vs. Indianapolis 12/2, vs. Pittsburgh 12/16

Interceptions – 3

Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Cincinnati 12/23

Int. yards – 115 [10, tied with Deltha O’Neal]

Most int. return yards, game – 94 (on 2 int.) vs. Cincinnati 12/23

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Fumble recovery TDs – 0

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 112

Assists – 49

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Ravens went 10-6 to finish second in the AFC Central and qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card entry. Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Miami Dolphins (20-3). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to Pittsburgh Steelers (27-10).

Aftermath:

Lewis adjusted well to a shift to inside linebacker as the Ravens switched to a 3-4 defense in 2002 but he was limited to five games due to a shoulder injury. He bounced back to again be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2003 and, other than a hamstring injury that cost him time in ’05, remained a regular Pro Bowl choice through 2011, his next-to-last season at age 36. Overall, Lewis played for 17 years, all with Baltimore, and recorded 41.5 sacks, intercepted 31 passes, and was credited with over 1500 tackles. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection seven times, received at least some second-team recognition after four other seasons, and was chosen to the Pro Bowl on 13 occasions. Lewis capped his career in 2012 by playing in another Super Bowl, also won by the Ravens.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1998: Jaguars Edge Bears Thanks to Long Fourth Quarter Drive

The Jacksonville Jaguars opened the 1998 NFL season in Chicago against the Bears on September 6. Much was expected of the Jaguars, who were coming off of an injury-plagued year in 1997 but had nevertheless compiled an 11-5 record to place second in the AFC Central and reach the playoffs for the second straight season. Rigorous Tom Coughlin had been the head coach since Jacksonville entered the NFL as a 1995 expansion franchise, quickly turning the team into a contender. QB Mark Brunell (pictured above) was less mobile in ’97 due to a knee injury but remained a formidable left-handed passer, and he had an excellent pass receiving tandem in wide receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. RB Fred Taylor had been chosen in the first round of the ’98 NFL draft although RB James Stewart, an original member of the team, was starting in the opening week.

Chicago, coached by Dave Wannstedt for the sixth year, was coming off of a 4-12 record the previous year. Erik Kramer was again the starting quarterback and RB Curtis Enis was taken with the fifth overall pick in the first round in an effort to bolster the running game, although he missed nearly all of training camp due to a contract holdout. Veteran RB Edgar Bennett, who had spent the previous five years with Green Bay, was also added to the roster. It was hoped that deep-threat WR Curtis Conway was healthy and would have an impact after missing nine games due to a broken collarbone. Moreover, there was much fan discontent with a club that had not reached the playoffs in four years.

There were 55,614 of those fans in attendance at Soldier Field on an 80-degree day. The teams traded punts before RB Tavian Banks of the Jaguars fumbled after catching a pass and the Bears recovered at the Jacksonville 37. The turnover led to the game’s first points as Jeff Jaeger kicked a 45-yard field goal.

In response, the Jaguars put together a long drive that included five completions by Mark Brunell. The first was to Jimmy Smith for 13 yards and Keenan McCardell had a 21-yard reception to the Chicago 46. Brunell converted a third-and-six situation with an eight-yard run and when he connected with McCardell again for nine yards, the visitors had a first-and-goal at the nine. But on the first play of the second quarter, Brunell threw a pass intended for Smith that was intercepted by CB Tom Carter to extinguish the threat.

On their next possession following a punt by the Bears, the Jaguars again moved effectively and this time didn’t fail to score. Brunell completed two passes to Smith and James Stewart (pictured at right) had a 30-yard carry around left end. The eight-play, 66-yard drive concluded with Stewart catching a toss from Brunell for a three-yard touchdown. Mike Hollis added the extra point and Jacksonville was in front by 7-3. The lead didn’t last long, however, when RB Glyn Milburn returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a TD. Jaeger’s point after had the Bears back on top by three points.

Short possessions by both offenses had the clubs trading punts until, with less than three minutes remaining in the first half, the Bears got the ball back at the Jacksonville 41 following another interception, this time by LB Barry Minter. Largely keeping the ball on the ground, Chicago advanced to the 16 in eight plays before Jaeger booted a 35-yard field goal with seven seconds left on the clock. The Bears took a 13-7 lead into halftime.

The home team had the first possession in the third quarter and, in a series that was highlighted by a pass from Erik Kramer to TE Ryan Wetnight for 30 yards, reached the Jacksonville 23, but Jaeger missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.

The teams traded punts until RB Ty Hallock of the Bears fumbled and LB Bryan Schwartz recovered at the Chicago 27. Following a three-yard run by Stewart, Brunell gained 17 yards on two carries and Stewart went seven yards for a TD. Hollis converted and Jacksonville was again in front by 14-13.

Once again the Bears turned the ball over on a fumble, this time by WR Bobby Engram after a pass reception, and the Jaguars had possession at the Chicago 32. Brunell passed to Smith for 20 yards and Stewart had a 16-yard run to set up a Hollis field goal from 23 yards early in the fourth quarter.

The Bears fought back with their next possession, advancing 72 yards. Kramer completed two passes and Curtis Enis had a 29-yard run among his three carries. Edgar Bennett gained the final yard for a TD and Jaeger’s PAT once again had Chicago on top by three points at 20-17.

A three-and-out series by the Jaguars led to a punt and the home team again moved effectively, featuring Enis runs of 14 and 13 yards and a Kramer pass to Engram for 21 yards on a third-and-three play to give the Bears first-and-goal at the Jacksonville four. However, two runs were followed by an incomplete pass and Chicago was forced to settle for a 19-yard Jaeger field goal.

Down by six points with 4:08 to play, the Jaguars started off their next possession after the kickoff at their own 13. Brunell threw to RB Daimon Shelton for eight yards and Jimmy Smith for seven. After a running play gained nothing, Brunell completed a total of six more passes, three of them to McCardell for 28 yards and the last to Smith for a four-yard touchdown. Having gone 87 yards in 13 plays to tie the score, Hollis added the all-important extra point and the Jaguars were up by one with 29 seconds left to play. Time ran out on the Bears at the Jacksonville 43 and the Jaguars came away with a 24-23 win.

Jacksonville led in total yards (367 to 321) and first downs (21 to 16). The Jaguars also converted half of their third downs (7 of 14) while Chicago was successful on five of 13. However, the visitors also turned the ball over three times to two suffered by the Bears.

Mark Brunell completed 22 of 35 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, giving up two interceptions, and was 8 of 9 for 73 yards during the climactic scoring drive. He also ran for 43 yards on six carries. James Stewart rushed for 115 yards on 26 attempts that included a TD. Jimmy Smith had 9 pass receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown and Keenan McCardell contributed 7 catches for 72 yards.

For the Bears, Erik Kramer was successful on 16 of 27 throws for 189 yards and no TDs, although also had none intercepted. Curtis Enis (pictured at left) performed well in his regular season NFL debut with 77 yards on 12 rushing attempts. Edgar Bennett added 30 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Curtis Conway topped the receivers with 6 receptions for 91 yards.

“We made a lot of errors,” said Jacksonville’s Coach Coughlin in evaluating his team’s performance. “I am pleased to win the game, but we have a lot of things to be corrected before we can expect to win consistently.”

The Jaguars won consistently enough, winning their first five games and going on to another 11-5 record that placed them first in the AFC Central. They won in the Wild Card playoff round before falling to the Jets at the Divisional level. After nearly pulling off an opening-week upset, Chicago lost its next three contests and ended up once again at 4-12 and last in the NFC Central.

As a footnote, neither running back that topped the Jaguars and Bears in rushing in Week 1 went on to have a big season. James Stewart was quickly supplanted by Fred Taylor and ended up with 217 yards on 53 carries (4.1 avg.). Curtis Enis suffered a knee injury and gained 497 yards on 133 attempts (3.7 avg.).

1993: Browns Rally from First Quarter Deficit to Defeat Bengals

Two AFC Central rivals, the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, met in a 1993 opening week contest on September 5. Both teams were in a rebuilding mode, with the Browns having gone 7-9 in ’92 and the Bengals 5-11.

Cleveland was beginning its third year under Head Coach Bill Belichick and had been active in signing veteran free agents such as QB Vinny Testaverde, WR Mark Carrier, and G Houston Hoover on offense and DT Jerry Ball and CB Najee Mustafaa on defense. They had also drafted an offensive lineman in the first round, Michigan center Steve Everitt. Still, the starting quarterback was Bernie Kosar (pictured above), in his eighth year with the club, and there were talented veterans on the tough defense that included DT Michael Dean Perry and LB Clay Matthews.

The Bengals were a young team with 28 first- or second-year players on the roster to start the season. They had a young head coach as well in Dave Shula, son of the legendary Don Shula and back for a second season at age 34. QB David Klingler, the team’s 1992 first-round draft choice who started some late-season games, was now taking over for nine-year veteran Boomer Esiason, who had been dealt to the Jets during the offseason.

It was a sunny and mild day with 75,508 fans in attendance at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The teams exchanged punts to start the game before the Bengals put together an 80-yard drive in six plays. David Klingler completed two passes to WR Jeff Query for gains of 25 and 51 yards. The second was a screen pass in a third-and-nine situation and set up a four-yard touchdown run by RB Ostell Miles. Doug Pelfrey added the extra point.

A short series by the Browns resulted in a punt and Cincinnati, benefiting from a 36-yard return by WR Patrick Robinson, again advanced to a score. Klingler completed a third-and-four pass to RB Derrick Fenner for 23 yards to the Cleveland 18 and, after Fenner ran for four yards, two more passes were good to Miles for nine yards and to WR Carl Pickens for a five-yard TD. Pelfrey again converted and the visitors were staked to a 14-0 lead with three minutes remaining in the opening period.

The Browns responded by driving 80 yards in 10 plays that extended into the second quarter. After a penalty on the Bengals gave Cleveland a first down at its own 31, RB Leroy Hoard ran for 12 yards and Bernie Kosar threw to Mark Carrier for 24 yards to reach the Cincinnati 33. Three consecutive completions that included a third-and-six pass to RB Eric Metcalf for 14 yards advanced the Browns to the 15 and, two plays later, Kosar connected with WR Michael Dyson (aka Jackson) for a 13-yard touchdown. Matt Stover’s point after narrowed the score to 14-7.

The teams again traded punts until the Browns put together another scoring possession, going 59 yards in 10 plays. Kosar started the series off with a throw to Carrier for 29 yards and had four more completions, setting up RB Tommy Vardell’s one-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds remaining in the first half. Stover again added the PAT and the teams went into halftime tied at 14-14.

Cleveland had the first possession in the third quarter and put together an 11-play, 64-yard drive. Vardell (pictured at left) ran effectively, picking up 35 yards on six carries, and while he was held for no gain on a third-and-one play at the Cincinnati 11, Stover put the Browns ahead by three with a 28-yard field goal.

It got worse for the Bengals on the next series as a Klingler pass was intercepted by CB Selwyn Jones, giving the ball back to the Browns at the Cincinnati 48. Kosar immediately threw to Carrier for 26 yards but the home team advanced no further and Stover booted another field goal, this time from 34 yards.

Following another exchange of punts, the Browns added to their lead early in the fourth quarter when Klingler, who was being sacked for the third straight play, fumbled and SS Stevon Moore recovered and ran 22 yards for a touchdown. Stover’s extra point put Cleveland ahead by a commanding 13 points.

Once more the teams traded punts before the Bengals, with 10:25 left to play, took over from their 17 yard line and began to move down the field. Klingler hit on five straight passes, including one to WR Tim McGee that covered 33 yards to the Cleveland 16. A pass interference penalty gave the visitors a first down at the one, but the defense held as three carries by Fenner netted a one-yard loss and on fourth down Klingler fumbled the snap. It was, in essence, the last gasp for Cincinnati.

Taking over on downs, the Browns kept the ball on the ground and were finally forced to punt from their 19 with the clock now down to 1:15. There were no last-minute heroics in store and when Klingler threw a pass that Selwyn Jones intercepted, it nailed down the 27-14 win.       

Cleveland led in total yards (263 to 227), first downs (18 to 12), and time of possession (32:38 to 27:22). The Browns recorded six sacks, to two by Cincinnati, and the Bengals turned the ball over three times, while Cleveland had none. The visitors further were hurt by nine penalties, to five flags thrown on the Browns.

Bernie Kosar completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown while giving up no interceptions. Tommy Vardell ran for 60 yards on 16 carries that included a TD while Eric Metcalf, who gained 14 yards on four rushing attempts, had 9 catches for 60 yards. Mark Carrier topped the club with 79 yards on his three pass receptions.

For the Bengals, David Klingler (pictured above) was successful on 20 of 28 throws for 214 yards and a TD, but gave up two interceptions and suffered from being under constant pressure in addition to the sacks. Derrick Fenner rushed for 41 yards on 13 attempts and also pulled in 9 passes for 64 yards. Jeff Query, thanks to the long reception in the first quarter, gained 80 yards on three catches.

The Browns got off to a 3-0 start and then, after a 2-3 stretch, Bernie Kosar was released in a stunning move and ultimately replaced by Vinny Testaverde. Cleveland went 2-6 the rest of the way to end up with another 7-9 record and third place finish in the AFC Central. Cincinnati was 0-10 before finally winning three of its last six contests to place last in the division at 3-13. David Klingler continued to struggle, not helped by the deficient offensive line, and ultimately failed as a starting quarterback. While the Browns would turn things around in ’94 with Testaverde behind center, Cincinnati remained in a prolonged funk, with both Coach Shula and QB Klingler falling by the wayside.