Firsts in the NFL and in NFL Broadcast History






Friday, September 18, 1931 - 8:15PM
at Loyola University Stadium, Chicago, IL
First NFL night game in Chicago.
Friday, October 2, 1931 - 8:30PM
at Frankford Stadium, Philadelphia, PA
First NFL night game in Philadelphia.
Sunday, December 18, 1932 - 9:15PM
at Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IL
Game moved to Chicago Stadium due to blizzard.
First indoor NFL game.
Field shortened to 80 yards in length and played under modified rules.

Sunday, December 23, 1951 - 4:00PM
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
DuMont
First NFL Championship Game to be televised live from coast to coast
Sunday, August 28, 1955 - 11:00PM
at Multnomah Stadium, Portland, OR
First NFL game to feature sudden-death overtime.
The field yard lines were marked from zero to 100 instead of the traditional goal lines to the 50.
Sunday, September 17, 1961 - 2:35PM
Chicago Bears  13  vs
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN
First game for expansion franchise Minnesota
First game for Minnesota head coach Norm Van Brocklin

Friday, August 24, 1962 - 9:00PM
Denver Broncos  27  vs
Dallas Texans  24  OT
at Farrington Field, Fort Worth, TX
First AFL game to feature sudden-death overtime.
Sunday, January 2, 1966 - 2:05PM
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
CBS
First NFL Championship Game broadcast in color.
Sunday, November 16, 1969 - 1:15PM
Dallas Cowboys  41  vs
at RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
President Nixon became the first sitting US President to attend an NFL game.

Saturday, December 26, 1970 - 3:30PM
Detroit Lions  0  vs
at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX
CBS - Frank Glieber, Frank Gifford,
Dick Stockton
First Postseason game played on artificial turf.
Saturday, December 25, 1971 - 1:00PM
Dallas Cowboys  20  vs
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN
CBS - Jack Whitaker, Irv Cross,
Dick Stockton
First NFL game played on Christmas
Sunday, September 22, 1974 - 4:00PM
Denver Broncos  35  OT
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO
NBC - Jay Randolph, Paul Maguire
First regular season overtime game in NFL history. Game still ended in a tie.

Sunday, September 12, 1976 - 1:00PM
at Houston Astrodome, Houston, TX
NBC - Ross Porter, Mike Haffner
First game for expansion franchise Tampa Bay
First game for Tampa Bay head coach John McKay
Sunday, September 12, 1976 - 4:00PM
at The Kingdome, Seattle, WA
CBS - Jim Thacker, Alex Hawkins
First game for expansion franchise Seattle
First game for Seattle head coach Jack Patera
Sunday, September 19, 1976 - 4:00PM
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN
CBS - Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier
Minnesota first overtime regular season game

Sunday, December 11, 1977 - 1:00PM
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
CBS - Frank Glieber, Emerson Boozer
First win for Tampa Bay franchise after 0-26 start
Thursday, October 26, 1978 - 8:30PM
at Texas Stadium, Irving, TX
ABC - Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
First Thursday Night Football game on ABC
Sunday, December 14, 1980 - 1:00PM
at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA
CBS - Gary Bender, John Madden
ATL clinches first Division title in team history (NFC West).

Saturday, August 6, 1983 - 12:30PM
at Wembley Stadium, London, England
The Global Cup
The first NFL game to be played in the UK.
Saturday, December 31, 1988 - 12:30PM
at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
CBS - Verne Lundquist, Terry Bradshaw,
Irv Cross, Will McDonough
PHIL QB Randall Cunningham becomes the first player in NFL playoff history with 400-or-more passing yards (407) and no touchdowns in a playoff game.
Game nicknamed The Fog Bowl after advection fog rolled in off of Lake Michigan during the 2nd Quarter and remained for the rest of the game.
Sunday, November 5, 1989 - 1:00PM
at Hubert H. Humphry Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
CBS - Pat Summerall, John Madden
Minn kicker Rich Karlis kicked 7 field goals in regulation and the Vikings scored the first ever safety in overtime

Monday, December 25, 1989 - 9:00PM
at Hubert H. Humphry Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
ABC - Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf
First NFL regular season game played on Christmas
Sunday, September 3, 1995 - 1:00PM
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
FOX - Thom Brennaman, Ron Pitts
First game for Carolina head coach Dom Capers
First game for expansion franchise Carolina
Sunday, September 3, 1995 - 1:00PM
Houston Oilers  10  vs
at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
NBC - Don Criqui, Beasley Reece
First game for expansion franchise Jacksonville
First game for Jacksonville head coach Tom Coughlin

Sunday, October 12, 1997 - 4:00PM
at Hubert H. Humphry Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
FOX - Paul Kennedy, Bill Maas
MN QB Brad Johnson became the first player to complete a pass to himself for a touchdown in NFL history.
Monday, August 9, 1999 - 8:00PM
Dallas Cowboys  17  OT
at Fawcett Stadium, Canton, OH
ABC
First Hall of Fame Game to go to overtime.
Sunday, October 31, 1999 - 1:02PM
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
CBS - Don Criqui, Steve Tasker
First win for expansion Cleveland Browns since returning to NFL in 1999

Sunday, January 30, 2000 - 6:25PM
St. Louis Rams  23  vs
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
ABC - Al Michaels, Boomer Esiason,
Lynn Swann, Lesley Visser
Last game for St. Louis head coach Dick Vermeil
MVP Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis
First Super Bowl broadcast in high definition.
Sunday, January 1, 2006 - 1:02PM
Miami Dolphins  28  vs
at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
CBS - Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross
NE QB Doug Flutie converts XP with first successful drop-kick in 64 years.
Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 1:03PM
at Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
FOX - Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan,
Chris Myers
WAS QB Mark Brunell sets new record for consecutive completions in a single game by completing his first 22 attempts.

Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 1:03PM
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
FOX - Matt Vasgersian, JC Pearson,
Krista Voda
Michael Spurlock has first Kickoff Return Touchdown in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history (32 years)
Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 4:15PM
Dallas Cowboys  24  vs
at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
FOX - Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman,
Pam Oliver
The first NFL game to end with a blocked punt returned for TD (Monty Beisel, Arizona Cardinals)
Monday, November 24, 2008 - 8:40PM
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
ESPN - Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Tony Kornheiser,
Suzy Kolber
NFL record set for most passing yards, first ten games of season
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints, 3,254 yards
Previous record: Dan Fouts, 1982 San Diego, 3,164 yards

Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 1:02PM
Detroit Lions  21  vs
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
FOX - Chris Rose, John Lynch
NFL record set for most regular season losses
Detroit Lions, 16 losses
Previous Record, 15 losses, done eight times
The first team to complete a NFL regular season with a 0-16 record.
(Detroit Lions)
Sunday, December 4, 2011 - 1:05PM
Denver Broncos  35  vs
at Mall of America Field, Minneapolis, MN
FOX - Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick,
Laura Okmin
Game was switched from CBS to FOX, the first game to be crossflexed.
Thursday, August 9, 2012 - 8:00PM
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA
ESPN - Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden,
Lisa Salters
Shannon Eastin becomes the first woman to officiate a NFL game.

Sunday, September 9, 2012 - 1:03PM
St. Louis Rams  23  vs
at Ford Field, Detroit, MI
FOX - Chris Myers, Tim Ryan,
Jaime Maggio
First game for St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher
Shannon Eastin becomes the first woman to officiate a NFL regular season game.
Saturday, January 3, 2015 - 4:20PM
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
ESPN - Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden,
Lisa Salters
This was the first NFL playoff game to be broadcast primarily on a cable network.
Sunday, October 25, 2015 - 8:35AM
Buffalo Bills  31  vs
at Wembley Stadium, London, England
CBS/Yahoo! - Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon,
Jamie Erdahl
This game was the first NFL broadcast done primarily by webstream.

Sunday, December 6, 2015 - 4:25PM
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
FOX - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman,
Erin Andrews
Game originally scheduled for 1:00 PM
NO Stephone Anthony became the first NFL player to score a defensive two-point conversion, returning a blocked extra-point kick from Graham Gano.
Thursday, September 8, 2016 - 8:40PM
at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
NBC - Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth,
Michele Tafoya
First NFL start for Broncos QB Trevor Siemian
The first quarterback to start the opening game for a defending Super Bowl Champion having zero career pass attempts (Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos)
Sunday, September 11, 2016 - 8:30PM
at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
NBC - Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth,
Michele Tafoya
First NFL start for Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo
First game of four game suspension for Patriots QB Tom Brady for his role in Deflategate

Sunday, September 18, 2016 - 4:08PM
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
FOX - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman,
Erin Andrews
This is the first NFL regular season game in Los Angeles since 1994
Sunday, October 2, 2016 - 1:04PM
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
FOX - Dick Stockton, Chris Spielman,
Kristina Pink
First team in NFL history to have a 500-yard passer and a 300-yard receiver in same game. (Matt Ryan & Julio Jones, Atlanta)
Sunday, October 23, 2016 - 8:30PM
at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
NBC - Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth,
Michele Tafoya
This game was the first NFL tie in which both teams scored in overtime

Saturday, December 24, 2016 - 1:00PM
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
FOX - Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman,
Peter Schrager
Panthers TE Greg Olsen became first TE in NFL History with three consecutive 1,000 yard receiving seasons
Falcons QB Matt Ryan became first QB in NFL History with TD passes to 13 different receivers in one season
Saturday, December 24, 2016 - 1:00PM
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
FOX - Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman,
Peter Schrager
Panthers TE Greg Olsen became first TE in NFL History with three consecutive 1,000 yard receiving seasons
Falcons QB Matt Ryan became first QB in NFL History with TD passes to 13 different receivers in one season
Saturday, January 7, 2017 - 4:35PM
at NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
ESPN/ABC - Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden,
Lisa Salters, Adam Schefter
First NFL start for Raiders QB Connor Cook
The first quarterback to start a postseason game in his first NFL start (Connor Cook, Oakland Raiders)

Saturday, January 14, 2017 - 8:15PM
Houston Texans  16  vs
at Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
CBS - Jim Nantz, Phil Simms,
Tracy Wolfson, Jay Feely
The first player to score a Rush TD, Rec TD and Kick Return TD in a playoff game (Dion Lewis, New England Patriots)
Sunday, February 5, 2017 - 6:30PM
at NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
FOX - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman,
Chris Myers, Erin Andrews
First Super Bowl game to go into overtime
Largest comeback in Super Bowl history (New England Patriots down 28-3)
MVP Tom Brady, QB, New England
Sunday, September 17, 2017 - 1:00PM
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
CBS - Jim Nantz, Tony Romo,
Tracy Wolfson
This was first NFL game with 2 QBs that have each thrown 400 TD passes. (Tom Brady, Drew Brees)

Sunday, October 22, 2017 - 1:00PM
at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
CBS - Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts,
Evan Washburn
Chicago defender Eddie Jackson is the first defensive player to have two return touchdowns exceeding 75 yards in a single game (75-yard fumble return in 1st quarter, 76-yard interception return in 2nd quarter)
Sunday, February 4, 2018 - 6:30PM
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
NBC - Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth,
Michele Tafoya
Most total combined yards in a game in NFL history, regular or postseason (1,151 yards)
Most passing yards by a quarterback in postseason history (Tom Brady, 505 yards)
Most combined passing yards in Super Bowl history (878 yards)
First quarterback to catch a touchdown pass in Super Bowl history (Nick Foles)
MVP Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia
Thursday, September 20, 2018 - 8:20PM
New York Jets  17  vs
at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, OH
NFL Network - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman,
Kristina Pink, Erin Andrews
First win for Cleveland since December 24, 2016 (0-18-1)
First NFL appearance for Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield (replaced Tyrod Taylor, injury)

Monday, September 24, 2018 - 8:15PM
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
ESPN - Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Anthony McFarland
Tampa Bay QB Ryan Fitzpatrick starting in place of Jameis Winston (suspension)
First QB in NFL history with three consecutive games with 400 yards passing (Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tampa Bay)
Sunday, October 14, 2018 - 1:00PM
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
FOX - Sam Rosen, Ronde Barber
Adam Thielen (MINN) becomes first receiver in Super Bowl era to have at least 100 yds receiving in the first 6 games.
Sunday, November 17, 2019 - 1:00PM
Dallas Cowboys  35  vs
at Ford Field, Detroit, MI
FOX - Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis,
Pam Oliver
Lions wearing white jerseys at home for the first time since 1970 vs OAK.

Sunday, October 25, 2020 - 1:00PM
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
FOX - Kevin Kugler, Chris Spielman,
Laura Okmin
NO QB Drew Brees becomes the first to exceed 7000 completions.
Sunday, November 29, 2020 - 1:00PM
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
FOX - Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma,
Shannon Spake
Carolina Jeremy Chinn had 2 fumble recovery returns for touchdowns in the first 69 seconds of the 3rd quarter.
Sunday, February 7, 2021 - 6:30PM
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
CBS - Jim Nantz, Tony Romo,
Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn, Jay Feely
Tampa Bay Buccaneers first franchise to play in Super Bowl in their own stadium
MVP Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay

Sunday, October 3, 2021 - 1:00PM
at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
FOX - Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen,
Pam Oliver
CAR QB Sam Darnold becomes the first QB to have 5 rushing TDs in his teams first 4 games.
Sunday, December 12, 2021 - 4:25PM
Buffalo Bills  27  vs
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
CBS - Jim Nantz, Tony Romo,
Tracy Wolfson
First time since 1991 a team has no rushing attempts by a RB (BUF) in the 1st Half.
Monday, December 27, 2021 - 8:15PM
Miami Dolphins  20  vs
at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
ESPN - Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick,
Laura Rutledge
MIA becomes first team in NFL History to have both a 7-game losing streak and a 7-game win streak in the same season.

Sunday, January 9, 2022 - 4:25PM
at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
FOX - Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth,
Shannon Spake
ARZ QB Kyler Murray becomes the first QB in League history to record 70+ TD passes and 20+ rushing TDs in his first 3 seasons.
Sunday, September 11, 2022 - 1:00PM
Houston Texans  20  OT
at NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
CBS - Tom McCarthy, Tiki Barber
Colts first tie since 1982 Texans first ever tie
First game as HOU HC for Lovie Smith.
Saturday, December 24, 2022 - 1:00PM
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
FOX - Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth,
Kristina Pink
Minnesota wore white jerseys at home for the first time since the 1972 preseason.
MINN K Greg Joseph kicks 61 yard GW FG on last play of the game.

Monday, January 2, 2023 - 8:30PM
at Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
ESPN/ABC - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman,
Lisa Salters
Game was suspended with 5:58 left in the first quarter after BUF S Damar Hamlin was taken from the field in an ambulance. Hamlin collapsed shortly after making a tackle.
Score was CIN - 7, BUF - 3 at the time of suspension.
Game will not be resumed, per Commissioner Goodell.
The AFC Championship Game will be played at a neutral site if the participating teams played an unequal number of games and both could have been the number one seed and hosted the game had all AFC clubs played a full 17-game regular season.
Those circumstances involve Buffalo or Cincinnati qualifying for the game as a road team and are listed below.
Scenario 1 - Buffalo and Kansas City both win or both tie – a Buffalo vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site
Scenario 2 - Buffalo and Kansas City both lose and Baltimore wins or ties – a Buffalo vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site.
Scenario 3 - Buffalo and Kansas City both lose and Cincinnati wins – a Buffalo or Cincinnati vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site.
If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati in Week 18 it will have defeated Cincinnati, a divisional opponent, twice but will not be able to host a playoff game because Cincinnati will have a higher winning percentage for a 16-game schedule than Baltimore will for a
17-game schedule.
If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati and if those two clubs are schedule to play a Wild Card game against one another, the site for that game would be determined by a coin toss.
If Cincinnati wins the Week 18 game or if Baltimore and Cincinnati are not scheduled to play one another in the Wild Card round, the game sites would be determined by the regular scheduling procedures.
CIN clinches AFC North.
Sunday, September 17, 2023 - 1:00PM
Chicago Bears  17  vs
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
FOX - Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston,
Pam Oliver
CHI becomes the first NFL team to lose 12 straight games (dating back to 2022) while giving up 25 pts or more in every game.
Sunday, September 24, 2023 - 1:00PM
Denver Broncos  20  vs
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
CBS - Kevin Harlan, Trent Green,
Melanie Collins
MIA becomes the 4th team in NFL history to score 70 or more points in a game and the first to do it since WASH in 1966.

Sunday, September 24, 2023 - 4:05PM
at Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
CBS - Ian Eagle, Charles Davis,
Evan Washburn
SEA wore white jerseys in a regular season home game for the first time in team history.
Sunday, December 10, 2023 - 4:05PM
at Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, NV
FOX - Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez,
Laura Okmin
The first 3-0 game since week 12 2007 between Miami and Pittsburgh.