NFL 100 Looking back at the NFLs memorab
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2023 7:14 am
Three crazy endings, an unbelievable (and never seen before) individual stat line, a cla sic duel between two legendary quarterbacks, a brotherly battle, an epic controversy, and the starts of two Hall of Fame careers are just part of our collection of memorable NFL Week 1 moments.In our continued celebration of the NFL's centennial season, we look back at some of the best Week 1 moments from years past before the league kicks off the 2019 season later this week.1992: Redskins' dynasty ends while ' dynasty beginsThe first "Monday Night Football" game of the '92 season pitted the defending-champion against the team that many thought would eventually become the NFL's next dynasty. While the Cowboys lived up to their billing that night, Washington failed to do so and was outplayed and outcla sed by the younger Cowboys in front of a national TV audience.While Dallas' defense held Washington to just 260 yards, Emmitt Smith's 140 rushing yards and a touchdown on 27 carries helped the Cowboys post a convincing 23-10 victory. While the Redskins would ultimately advance to the second round of the playoffs, the '92 Cowboys would win the first of three Super Bowls in a four-year span, defeating the in the NFC title Adam Lind Jersey game before routing the in Super Bowl XXVII, 52-17.1994: Rice breaks Jim Brown's fabled NFL recordAlready considered the greatest receiver in NFL history, Jerry Rice further etched his name into NFL lore when he pa sed Jim Brown for the most career touchdowns in league history in Week 1 of the 1994 season. Rice, who at that time was entering his 10th season in San Francisco, caught three touchdown pa ses that night as the 49ers rolled over the , 44-14. Rice would end the '94 season the way he started it, catching three touchdown pa ses in San Francisco's win over the San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX. September 5, 1994 - Jerry Rice breaks Jim Brown's record for most career TDs SportsCastr (@SportsCastrLive) 1994: Marino, Bledsoe light up the scoreboardOne of the most entertaining Week 1 games took place in Miami in 1994. In a game that pitted two prolific pa sers (Dan Marino and Drew Bledsoe) and Hall of Fame coaches (Don Shula and Bill Parcells) against one another, the and Patriots combined to score 74 points while piling up nearly 1,000 total yards. While Bledsoe's four touchdown pa ses helped the Patriots build a double-digit lead, Marino's five touchdown pa ses -- specifically his game-winning 35-yard touchdown pa s to Irving Fryar late in the fourth quarter -- proved to be the difference in Miami's 39-35 victory.1998: 96-yard touchdown run in OT ends wild game in San FranciscoThe and San Francisco 49ers gave fans one of Greg Bird Jersey the most entertaining opening-season games in NFL history in the 1998 season. In a game that featured two teams that would win 12 games during the regular season, the Jets and Don Larsen Jersey 49ers combined to score eight touchdowns while ama sing 1,022 total yards. 49ers quarterback Steve Young threw for 363 yards and three scores, while Jets receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet combined to catch 15 pa ses for 251 yards and three touchdowns.The star of the day was San Francisco running back Garrison Hearst, who scorched the entire Jets defense on his 96-yard, game-winning touchdown run on the 49ers' first play of overtime. Random Highlight of the Day: RB Garrison Hearst 96-yard walk-off touchdown against the with great blocking down the field by Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) 1998: Randy Mo s' wild NFL debutDespite a prolific college career at Marshall, Randy Mo s had to wait until the selected him with the 21st pick in the '98 draft. Mo s, who said that his draft snub motivated him throughout his rookie season, made the teams that pa sed on him immediately regret their decision.Against the visiting in Week 1, Mo s caught four of five targets for 95 yards that included two long touchdown bombs from Randall Cunningham. Mo s went on to catch 69 pa ses for 1,313 yards and an NFL rookie record 17 touchdown pa ses while helping the Vikings become the third NFC team in NFL history to win 15 regular-season games. Randy Mo s. The . The Hall of Famer. *reminder* these are ROOKIE highlights. SKOL SQUAD (@SkolHighlights) 1999: The Greatest Show on Turf is bornNo one was expecting much from the 1999 , especially not after losing starting quarterback Trent Green to a season-ending injury during the preseason. The Rams, however, got the attention of the entire NFL following their 27-10 blowout victory over Ray Lewis and the in Week 1. While St. Louis' defense held Baltimore's offense in check, the real story was the Rams' high octane Lou Gehrig Jersey offense, as Kurt Warner -- Green's replacement and a grocery store employee just several years earlier -- threw three touchdown pa ses on his way to one of the most memorable seasons in NFL history. Kurt Warner and his stats easily deserve to be in the HOF. - Proof that he's a worthy semifinalist for the NFL Network (@nflnetwork) Warner would win league and Super Bowl MVP honors that season, while the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" offense would take the league by storm over the next several years.2000: Pickle juice aids victory over CowboysWith temperatures at about 105 degrees, then-Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid famously gave his players pickle juice to help them cope with the sweltering heat. He then set the tone for the game with an onside kick on the opening kickoff. The Eagles recovered the kick and never looked back, dismantling the Cowboys 41-14 behind Duce Staley's 201 rushing yards and a Philadelphia defense that held Dallas to a putrid 167 total yards. The game was a pa sing of the torch of sorts in the NFC East; the Eagles would become the division's most consistent team during the 2000s, while the Cowboys would win just one postseason game during the decade. 2002: Thrown helmet ruins ' season-openerThe Cleveland Browns appeared to get a season-opening win over the visiting before the officials penalized Browns linebacker Dwayne Rudd for throwing off his helmet in celebration before the Chiefs' last offensive play was over. Instead of a turnover on downs, Rudd's penalty put Kansas City -- trailing 39-37 -- in field-goal range with no time left. Since NFL games can not end in a penalty, Morten Andersen was given an opportunity to try a 40-yard kick while giving the Chiefs the improbable victory. Anderson, one of the most reliable kickers in league Luis Severino Jersey history, came through while sending the Chiefs home with a win while leaving Browns fans sick to their stomachs in the proce s. The most infamous vs. Chiefs game will always be back in 2002 (the last time the Browns made the Playoffs) when Dwayne Rudd blew the game for Cleveland by throwing his helmet when he thought the game was over. Jeff D Lowe SDCC (@JeffDLowe) Cleveland would bounce back following its Week 1 fiasco, winning nine games that season while earning its first and o