# Football Trivia **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 5, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079 "2013-09-05T15:44:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/1 "2013-09-05T15:44:03Z")
So I was studying up about football to become a better supporter of the Carolina Panthers and I noticed something. The Carolina Panthers are the only active team in the NFL without back-to-back winning seasons. > [@](#): > > Carolina Panthers NFC South 0 seasons Source:[A Tally of Winning and Losing Seasons in the NFL](http://www.footballgeography.com/a-tally-of-winning-and-losing-seasons-in-the-nfl/) With a 7-9 record last year, and a predicted 8-8 record this year, it looks like they won’t start a winning streak any time soon. So what interesting trivia fact can you share about your NFL team? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/2 "2013-09-05T15:50:32Z")
The Kansas City Chiefs have not drafted a quarterback who has won a game for them since Todd Blackledge in 1983 (7 picks before Jim Kelly, 20 picks before Dan Marino). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/3 "2013-09-05T19:36:20Z")
Tom Landry was a defensive back for the New York Giants, and had 32 career interceptions (including 3 that he returned for touchdowns). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/4 "2013-09-05T19:48:58Z")
Before the “Squish the Fish” game for the AFC title in 1986 that sent them to their first Super Bowl, the Patriots had \*never \*won a game in Miami in 18 previous tries. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/5 "2013-09-05T21:43:51Z")
The Bears have the NFL record for largest blowout victory (and largest shutout), 73-0 over the Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship game. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/6 "2013-09-06T00:40:46Z")
The Denver Broncos have never been shutout in a home game for their entire history since 1960 (includes the AFL games) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/7 "2013-09-06T01:58:31Z")
I’m not a Broncos fan, but they once played in a game where the other team (Oakland) scored in every possible way (touchdown, PAT, safety, and field goal) before the Broncos ran an offensive play. On September 22, 1968, the New York Jets defeated the Patriots despite the fact that the Patriots scored an illegal touchdown against them (a player advanced the ball when it should have been ruled dead). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/8 "2013-09-06T11:50:47Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’m not a Broncos fan, but they once played in a game where the other team (Oakland) scored in every possible way (touchdown, PAT, safety, and field goal) before the Broncos ran an offensive play. Just curious: How did Oakland score a safety without a Denver offensive play? Some bizarre snafu on the kickoff? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/9 "2013-09-06T14:13:43Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > Just curious: How did Oakland score a safety without a Denver offensive play? Some bizarre snafu on the kickoff? I can’t find anything about the game, but I would assume the Denver return man was tackled in the end zone or stepped out of bounds while still in the end zone. Either of those results in a safety. I would argue that Oakland scored every possible point value (1, 2, 3, and 6), not every possible way since they did not complete a two-point conversion after a touchdown. But that’s all a quibble. That’s a very interesting piece of trivia. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/10 "2013-09-06T14:27:13Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > I can’t find anything about the game, but I would assume the Denver return man was tackled in the end zone or stepped out of bounds while still in the end zone. Either of those results in a safety. Is stepping out of bounds in the end zone a safety? Not sure. Getting tackled in the end zone on a kickoff would be a touchback, no? (Unless to runner came out of the end zone and got tackled back in.) Sorry, still trying to understand this. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/11 "2013-09-06T14:28:59Z")
Stepping out of the end zone and being tackled in it with possession of the ball are both safeties. If a kick returner comes out and gets pushed back in, the ball is marked at the point forward progress stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/12 "2013-09-06T14:32:41Z")
Well then I was wrong on many counts. Thanks for fighting my ignorance! ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/13 "2013-09-06T14:53:48Z")
Also a safety is charged if the runner leaves the end zone and either: 1. Fumbles it back in the end zone where it is grounded by the receiving team, or 2. Voluntarily returns to the end zone (i.e., steps out and then back in - in this case it’s the runner that matters not the ball in relation to the plane of the goal line) and is tackled or grounds the ball. I’ve seen both of these things happen in games at the college level. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/14 "2013-09-06T14:55:29Z")
Are you sure about #1? If the defense / kicking team recovers a fumble in the end zone, that’s a touchdown. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/15 "2013-09-06T15:10:43Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Are you sure about #1? If the defense / kicking team recovers a fumble in the end zone, that’s a touchdown. The defense/kicking team is not the receiving team. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/16 "2013-09-06T15:36:32Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > I would argue that Oakland scored every possible point value (1, 2, 3, and 6), not every possible way since they did not complete a two-point conversion after a touchdown. Depends on when this was. 2 point conversion was not an option in the NFL until 1994. I’m not sure of the date of this game, so I can’t say whether it applies here though. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/17 "2013-09-06T16:34:14Z")
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never had cheerleaders. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/18 "2013-09-06T16:49:36Z")
> [@picker](#): > > Depends on when this was. 2 point conversion was not an option in the NFL until 1994. I’m not sure of the date of this game, so I can’t say whether it applies here though. RealityChuck didn’t say when the game was played, but Oakland and Denver were together in the old AFL before they merged with the NFL in 1970. In the AFL, two-point conversions were allowed… though I can’t imagine why a team with a lead would ever bother attempting a two point conversion early in a game. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/19 "2013-09-06T17:10:29Z")
It wasn’t always attempted - if the holder fumbled the snap and ran or passed it in, that would be 2 points. IIRC the NFL rule is that you have to be trying for 2 to get 2 - line up in kick formation and you can only get 1, no matter how you do it. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079/20 "2013-09-06T17:48:42Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > IIRC the NFL rule is that you have to be trying for 2 to get 2 - line up in kick formation and you can only get 1, no matter how you do it. I can’t seem to find this rule anywhere (my Google-fu is weak today), do you have a cite? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-trivia/668079.md?page=2)