Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Todd Pence wrote:The winning team in this game had two different quarterbacks throw TD passes. The team would make their first Super Bowl just a few years later, but neither quarterback would be in service for them by that time.

The winning team had a HOF running back. He too would not be present for the Super Bowl.

The winning team scored a touchdown on an interception return by a player who had been a former teammate of Gino Cappelletti's. This was followed on the very next play by a kickoff return TD by a man who would be a future teammate of Marcus Allen's.

The losing team had a future Super Bowl MVP at running back.

Got it.
10/28/73 - Broncos 40, Jets 28
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... 280nyj.htm

Charley Johnson, Steve Ramsey
Floyd Little
Leroy Mitchell, Burgess Owens
John Riggins <--- I had a hunch at first that this would be a 49ers/Cardinals game and the RBs would two OJs. Simpson and Anderson.

I figured the past teammate of Cappelletti/future teammate of Allen would place this in the 1970s. Then, a team making a Super Bowl debut that USED to have a HOF RB got me to thinking about the Floyd Little Broncos. Although the OJ Simpson 49ers would be a possibility. I went searching for Broncos kickoff return touchdowns from the Floyd Little era (there’s only about 5) and found Leroy Mitchell Who played for the Patriots.

- Both coaches are in the PFHOF. (as coaches)
- This was a divisional game.
- Both teams finished the season with identical records.
- The winning team broke a 5 game losing streak.
- A member of the PFOHF had a defensive touchdown.

ChrisBabcock wrote:- Both coaches are in the PFHOF. (as coaches)
- This was a divisional game.
- Both teams finished the season with identical records.
- The winning team broke a 5 game losing streak.
- A member of the PFOHF had a defensive touchdown.

1974 Oilers vs. Bengals (Sid Gilman vs. Paul Brown)
Elvin Bethea had the defensive TD.

Todd Pence wrote:

ChrisBabcock wrote:- Both coaches are in the PFHOF. (as coaches)
- This was a divisional game.
- Both teams finished the season with identical records.
- The winning team broke a 5 game losing streak.
- A member of the PFOHF had a defensive touchdown.

1974 Oilers vs. Bengals (Sid Gilman vs. Paul Brown)
Elvin Bethea had the defensive TD.

Correct!

*Neither coach made the HOF, but both won AP or UPI Coach of the Year honors at some point in their careers.
*a HOF player scored a TD in this game.
*a kicker who scored points in multiple Super Bowls scored in this game.
*both QBs had over 300 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs.
*the game-winning TD would be scored by a rookie TE, who would play 5 seasons in the NFL and go on to score only 4 more TDs.

*The losing team was leading at one point 14-0, but trailed at the half by 20 points and went on to losing the game by 34 points.
*There were no HOF players on the field, but the backup quarterback of the losing team (who didn't play and was in his first NFL season) is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
*There were no defensive or special teams touchdowns in the game.
*There was only one interception in the game (the player who picked off the pass was on the losing team and his two sons eventually played briefly in the NFL).
*The starting tight end of the winning team caught three TD passes and his son also played in the NFL.

*Neither coach made the HOF, but both won AP or UPI Coach of the Year honors at some point in their careers.
*a HOF player scored a TD in this game.
*a kicker who scored points in multiple Super Bowls scored in this game.
*both QBs had over 300 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs.
*the game-winning TD would be scored by a rookie TE, who would play 5 seasons in the NFL and go on to score only 4 more TDs.

I am totally stumped on this one. Does the TE in the final clue appear on this list? I think I've gone through everyone who played 5 seasons and can't find a game that fits the description in anybody's rookie year.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... _by=all_td

ChrisBabcock wrote:

*Neither coach made the HOF, but both won AP or UPI Coach of the Year honors at some point in their careers.
*a HOF player scored a TD in this game.
*a kicker who scored points in multiple Super Bowls scored in this game.
*both QBs had over 300 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs.
*the game-winning TD would be scored by a rookie TE, who would play 5 seasons in the NFL and go on to score only 4 more TDs.

I am totally stumped on this one. Does the TE in the final clue appear on this list? I think I've gone through everyone who played 5 seasons and can't find a game that fits the description in anybody's rookie year.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... _by=all_td

He is not on the list because he actually scored 6 career TDs...5 receiving and a bonus rushing TD that I didn't account for in my question. So sorry...again.

*The losing team was leading at one point 14-0, but trailed at the half by 20 points and went on to losing the game by 34 points.
*There were no HOF players on the field, but the backup quarterback of the losing team (who didn't play and was in his first NFL season) is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
*There were no defensive or special teams touchdowns in the game.
*There was only one interception in the game (the player who picked off the pass was on the losing team and his two sons eventually played briefly in the NFL).
*The starting tight end of the winning team caught three TD passes and his son also played in the NFL.

11/17/85 - Jets 62, Bucs 28
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... 170nyj.htm

Steve Young, Mickey Shuler.

Also James Wilder's son had a brief NFL career. (may still be active?) He had two TDs in this game.

ChrisBabcock wrote:

*The losing team was leading at one point 14-0, but trailed at the half by 20 points and went on to losing the game by 34 points.
*There were no HOF players on the field, but the backup quarterback of the losing team (who didn't play and was in his first NFL season) is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
*There were no defensive or special teams touchdowns in the game.
*There was only one interception in the game (the player who picked off the pass was on the losing team and his two sons eventually played briefly in the NFL).
*The starting tight end of the winning team caught three TD passes and his son also played in the NFL.

11/17/85 - Jets 62, Bucs 28
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... 170nyj.htm

Steve Young, Mickey Shuler.

Also James Wilder's son had a brief NFL career. (may still be active?) He had two TDs in this game.

Correct!

For the record, Jeremiah Castille was the player who intercepted the pass and his sons Simeon and Tim also played in the NFL (for the record, Castille fumbled the interception and Wesley Walker recovered it).

As for James Wilder, Jr., he is still playing in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.

https://www.cfl.ca/players/james-wilder-jr/161937/

Here is the gamebook:

http://www.buccaneersfan.com/PDF/Gameda ... _11_17.pdf