Today in 2000 - Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers

October 15, 2000 – Today in 2000, the Atlanta Falcons swooped in to Ericsson Stadium to face the Carolina Panthers in a Week 3 matchup.

The only scoring in the first quarter was a 31 yard field goal by Morten Andersen.  In the second quarter, the Falcons added to their lead on a 26 yard touchdown run by Jamal Anderson.  The Panthers responded in kind with a 33 yard field goal by Richie Cunningham and a 9 yard touchdown pass from Steve Beuerlein to Muhsin Muhammad.  The game was tied at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, Morten Andersen broke the tie with a 27 yard field goal.  Then Atlanta sealed the deal with a safety.  The Atlanta Falcons beat the Carolina Panthers 15-10.

Beuerlein passed 21-37 for 241 yards with a touchdown and 2 interceptions for the Panthers.  Tim Biakabutuka was held to 45 yards on 12 rushes.  For the Falcons, Chris Miller passed 21-27 for 174 yards and Jamal Anderson had 22 rushes for 97 yards and a touchdown.  He also had 2 receptions for 12 yards.  Jason Peter and Reggie White each had a sack for Carolina, and Ashley Ambrose and Ray Buchanan each had an interception.  Shane Dronett and Travis White recorded a sack for the Atlanta, while Chuck Wiley had 2 sacks.

Carolina went to 1-2 for the season and Atlanta went to 2-1.  The Panthers finished the season 7-9.  The Falcons finished the season at 4-12.

Notables

• There was 1 Hall of Famer present:  Reggie White for the Panthers.
  
• This was George Seifert’s second season coaching the Panthers.  He coached the team from 1999-2001.  He was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1989-96 and led them to two Super Bowl victories.
  
• This was Dan Reeves’ fourth season coaching the Falcons.  He coached the team from 1997-2003 and led them to a Super Bowl appearance.  Reeves was featured in recent entries of this blog.
  
• Falcons kicker Morten Anderson holds the team scoring record for the Falcons and New Orleans Saints.  His career spanned from 1982-2005.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on October 15,

1978 – Philadelphia 17 – Washington 10

2000 – Minnesota 28 – Chicago 16

2006 – New York Jets 20 – Miami 17

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers - October 15, 2000.

Today in 1989 - San Diego Chargers vs Denver Broncos

October 8, 1989 – Today in 1989, the San Diego Chargers visited Mile High Stadium to take on the Denver Broncos in a Week 5 matchup.

The game started off as a battle of the field goals.  The Chargers scored first on a 39 yard field goal by Chris Bahr and San Diego led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Denver answered in the second quarter with a 46 yard field goal and an 18 yard field goal by David Treadwell.  Denver took the lead at halftime 6-3.

The only scoring in the third quarter came on a 2 yard touchdown run by Marion Butts.  San Diego led at the end of the third quarter 10-6.

But Denver would not be denied.  In the fourth quarter, Treadwell kicked a 27 yard field goal to close the gap and Bobby Humphrey had a 17 yard touchdown run to put the game away.  The Denver Broncos beat the San Diego Chargers 16-10.

For the Chargers, Jim McMahon passed 10-19 for 116 yards and an interception.  Tim Spencer had 15 rushes for 78 yards.  For the Broncos, John Elway passed 19-35 for 199 yards and an interception.  Bobby Humphrey rushed 12-102 yards and a touchdown.

San Diego fell to 2-3 with the loss.  They finished the season at 6-10.  Denver went to 4-1.  They finished the season at 11-5 and were given an offensive clinic in Super Bowl XXIV by the Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers 55-10.

Notables

• There was 1 Hall of Famer present in this game, Denver’s John Elway.
  
• This was Dan Henning’s first season coaching the Chargers.  He coached the team from 1989-91.
  
• This was Dan Reeves’ ninth season coaching the Broncos.  He coached the team from 1981-92.  He led the team to three Super Bowl appearances, losing all of them.
  
• Both Reeves and Henning were head coaches of the Atlanta Falcons.  Henning coached them from 1983-86 and Reeves coached them from 1998-2003.  He led them to a Super Bowl appearance in 1998, losing to his old team, the Denver Broncos.
  
• Rick Dennison became the offensive coordinator for the Broncos from 2006-08. 
  
• Two players and a coach from Denver are now coaches with the Houston Texans: backup quarterback Gary Kubiak (head coach), linebacker Rick Dennison (offensive coordinator), and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips (defensive coordinator).
  
• Phillips was the head coach for the Broncos from 1993-94.
• Reeves and Henning both played in 1966, but never against each other.  Reeves was a running back for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965-72. Henning was a quarterback for the Chargers in 1966.
  
• There were three future head coaches on Reeves’ staff.  Chan Gailey became the coach of the Dallas Cowboys (1998-88) and the Buffalo Bills (2010-present).  Phillips became head coach of the New Orleans Saints (interim 1985), Broncos, Buffalo Bills (1998-2000), Atlanta Falcons (interim 2003), and the Dallas Cowboys (2007-10).  Mike Nolan became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2005-08.
  
• There was one future head coach on Henning’s staff, Jim L. Mora.  He became the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (2004-06) and the Seattle Seahawks in 2008.

Here are some historical scores on this day for teams facing each other this week, on October 6,

1961 – Chicago 31 – Detroit 17

1967 – St. Louis Cardinals 34 – Minnesota 24

1972 – St. Louis Cardinals 19 – Minnesota 17

1978 – San Diego 23 – Denver 0

2000 – Denver 21 – San Diego 7

Game stats can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at San Diego Chargers vs Denver Broncos - October 8, 1989.

Today in 1986 - Los Angeles Raiders vs Denver Broncos

September 7, 1986 – Today in 1986, the Denver Broncos took on the Los Angeles Raiders in Week 1 at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

In the first quarter, Denver got on the board with a 35 yard touchdown pass from John Elway to Steve Watson.  Los Angeles responded with a 24 yard touchdown pass from Marc Wilson to Marcus Allen.  The score was tied 7-7.

The Raiders scored again on a 16 yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Todd Christensen and Greg Townsend sacked Elway in the end zone for a safety.  The score was now 16-7.

In the second quarter, Chris Bahr added to the Raiders’ lead by kicking a 43 yard field goal.  The score was 19-7.  The Broncos helped their cause on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Elway to Steve Sewell and brought the score to 19-14.  Bahr kicked a 42 yard field goal and it was a two score game once again, 22-14.  But Denver made it a one point game on a 1 yard touchdown run by Gene Lang.  Los Angeles led 22-21 at halftime.

The Raiders made it an 8 point game again in the third quarter on a 2 yard touchdown run by Allen.  Ken Woodard had a fumble recovery for a touchdown and the game close again at 29-28.  Los Angeles responded on a 57 yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Rod Barksdale.  The score was 36-28.

In the fourth quarter, Rich Karlis kicked a 51 yard field goal, making the score 36-21.  John Elway sealed the deal with a 7 yard touchdown pass to Lang.  Denver won 38-36.

Wilson passed 20-33 346 yards and 3 TDs.  Marcus Allen rushed 24-102 TD and caught 6 passes for 102 yards and a TD.  Elway passed 21-35 239 yards and 2 TDs.

Notables

• There were 4 Hall of Famers playing in this game: Howie Long, Michael Haynes, and Marcus Allen for the Raiders, and John Elway for the Broncos
• ESPN’s Tom Jackson was playing in his last season for Denver.  He played for the Broncos from 1973-86.
• This was Dan Reeves’ sixth season coaching the Broncos.  He coached the team from 1981-92 and led them to three Super Bowl appearances.  He led the Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl in 1998 and lost to his old team, the Denver Broncos.
• Future Bronco head coach Mike Shanahan was the offensive coordinator that year.  He was Denver’s head coach for both of their Super Bowl wins.
• This was Tom Flores’ eighth season coaching the Raiders.  He coached the team from 1979-87 and led them to two Super Bowl championships. 
• Flores was a quarterback for the Raiders from 1960-66.
• Reeves was a running back for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965-72.  He never faced Flores as a player.

The Denver Broncos will once again host the Oakland Raiders in a Week 1 game.  Unlike the 1986 game, this one is on Monday night.

Game stats and other data can be found on Pro-Football-Reference.com at Los Angeles Raiders vs Denver Broncos - September 7, 1986.