Previously in Sports: Historic NFL Football Edition

By Rachel Puglia
Elm Staff Writer

• On Sept. 21, 1997, for the third time in team history, and the first since 1974, the New England Patriots started the season 4-0 with a 31-3 victory over the Chicago Bears.
• On Sept. 13, 1987, the New England Patriots become first NFL team to have its games on a French-speaking radio network on a regular basis. CKLM, a radio station out of Laval, Quebec, Canada, was the flagship station.
• On Sept. 21, 1986 quarterback Tony Eason threw for a team record 414 yards. The Patriots lost that game to Seattle, 38-31.
• On Sept. 28, 1969 The San Diego Chargers defeated the defending Super Bowl III champions New York Jets in front of a record setting crowd in San Diego Stadium. The final attendance count was 54,042 fans that came out for the game.
• Smoke and ashes from a huge fire in San Diego’s east county darkened the skies over San Diego Stadium on Sept. 27, 1970, as John Hadl threw touchdowns of 65 yards to teammate Jeff Queen and 37 yards to fellow Charger Lance Alworth in the final 5:18 of play, giving the Chargers a 27-27 tie against Oakland.
• On Sept. 28, 1976, the San Diego Chargers exploded for 27 points in the second quarter and defeated St. Louis 43-24 for a 3-0 start to their season, their best since 1968.
• In 1925, on Sept. 27 the Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears for first time, 14-10, in their fourth regular-season meeting.
• On Sept. 22, 1963 New York Jets Rookie Marsh Starks had a 97-yard touchdown return on a missed field goal and Mark Smolinski’s touchdown run completed the fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Houston Oilers, 24-17, in the Jets’ first home opener.