Today In Patriots History Sept 3, 1995: Curtis Martin, Ty Law NFL debut in Bill vs Bill IV

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Big Bill vs Little Bill
Curtis Martin steals the spotlight​

Today marks the 31st anniversary of the fourth game with Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells as head coaches on opposite sidelines, as well as the NFL debut for Curtis Martin, Ty Law and Ted Johnson. Fast forward five years to the day later, and September 3 is also the 26th anniversary of the first regular season game with the Hoodie as the head coach of the New England Patriots.


September 3, 1995:
Week 1, Game 1 at Foxboro Stadium
Sunday, 1:00 at Foxboro Stadium
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots
Head Coaches: Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick
Quarterbacks: Drew Bledsoe, Vinny Testaverde
Weather: sunny, 75º; humidity: 64%; wind: NE 11 mph
Television: NBC; **** Enberg, Phil Simms, Paul Maguire
Odds: New England favored by 3[/I]
Attendance: 60,126 (60,292 tickets sold, 166 no-shows)
Time: 2:55
New England Patriots 17, Cleveland Browns 14


Curtis Martin rushed for 102 yards in his first NFL game, and scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 24 seconds left to play. Drew Bledsoe threw for 302 yards and Ben Coates had nine catches for 106 yards, including a nine-yard reception on the final drive that put the ball on the Cleveland 3-yard line.


On a side note, the 1995 Cleveland Browns began the season 3-1 and were considered to be one of the best teams in the NFL, a serious super bowl contender. They were coming off an 11-5 season where they defeated the Patriots in a wild card game, before losing to Pittsburgh in the divisional round. Then Art Modell inexplicably publicly announced that the team would be departing for Baltimore in 1996, throwing the Browns season, their fans and the city of Cleveland into complete chaos. (Why hold a press conference then? Why not wait until the season was over? What was the purpose, or upside?)



Key Stats:
Total Plays: Patriots 75, Browns 48
Time of Possession: Patriots 33:45. Browns 26:15
Total Yardage: Patriots 427, Browns 301
Rushing Yards: Patriots 125, Browns 60
Return Yardage: Browns 129, Patriots 54



Sept 4, 1995:

PRO FOOTBALL; Fun in Foxboro as Patriots Pull One Out (Published 1995)

www.nytimes.com

It was the Patriots who found the final push and the punch. They trailed for nearly all of this game, but in the final 19 seconds won it, by 17-14, in dramatic fashion, in a way that so many Patriot teams throughout their cumbersome history would have lost. That made this opening-day victory especially fun for the 60,126 fans at Foxboro Stadium.​

New England won it on an 84-yard, 15-play touchdown drive that began with 4 minutes 29 seconds left. The Patriots converted on three third-down plays and on one fourth-and-inches situation. They won it by controlling the clock in the fourth quarter, by 8:59 to 6:01.​

New England saved its best for last and kept using the same formula on offense that it had showed for most of the game. It kept throwing underneath (quarterback Drew Bledsoe's longest completion was for only 32 yards) and running tenaciously with the rookie tailback Curtis Martin. Bledsoe was 30 of 47 for 302 yards with no interceptions. Martin rushed 19 times for 102 yards, including the winning 1-yard dive over the goal line with 19 seconds left. On that score, Martin showed great second and third efforts before finally lunging and placing the point of the ball over the line. David Meggett ran over for the 2-point conversion.​

On the winning drive, fullback Sam Gash took advantage of blown coverage and grabbed a 30-yard pass to the Browns' 25. Tight end Ben Coates added a big reception to help cap his big day (9 catches, 106 yards).​

SportsCenter Highlights (2:25)




1995 Week 1 - Cleveland at New England (2:09:21)
Announcers: **** Enberg, Phil Simms, Paul Maguire
​

Belichick vs Parcells:
12/19/93: Browns 20, Patriots 17, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium
11/06/94: Patriots 13, Browns 6, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium
01/01/95: Browns 20, Patriots 13, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium (Wild Card Game)
09/03/95: Patriots 17, Browns 14, at Foxboro Stadium
11/16/03: Patriots 12, Cowboys 0, at Gillette Stadium




Pertinent information and box score via jt-sw.com:

New England Patriots 17, Cleveland Browns 14

Pro Football Reference Stats and Play-by-Play:

Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots - September 3rd, 1995 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Cleveland Browns 14 at New England Patriots 17 on September 3rd, 1995 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

Mini-Box Score, Stats and Graphics via ESPN:

Patriots 17-14 Browns (Sep 3, 1995) Game Stats - ESPN

Complete team stats and game leaders for the New England Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns NFL game from September 3, 1995 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

Official Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:

Viewer - Patriots

Media Archive Suite

patriots.1rmg.com

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Belichick's 1st Game as Pats HC​

This opener was a tough draw for the Patriots, who were in need of a year to rebuild. Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin had molded a juggernaut in Tampa, with exceptional players who would become Hall of Famers at each level on his Tampa-2 defense: DT Warren Sapp, OLB Derrick Brooks, S John Lynch and CB Ronde Barber.


September 3, 2000:
Week 1, Game 1 in Foxborough
Sunday, 1:02 at Foxboro Stadium
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy
Quarterbacks: Drew Bledsoe, Shaun King
Weather: cloudy, 71º; humidity: 93%; wind: variable 5 mph
Television: Fox; Ray Bentley, Ron Pitts
Odds: Tampa Bay favored by 3
Paid Attendance: 60,292
Time: 3:03
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, New England Patriots 16


The offense had a tough time going up against one of the NFL's all-time best defenses. Derrick Brooks made 15 tackles (two for a loss) with a forced fumble and pass deflection, while Warren Sapp and other Bucs combined to sack Drew Bledsoe six times. The Patriot touchdowns came on a Troy Brown 66-yard punt return midway through the second quarter, and a 39 yard pass from Bledsoe to Terry Glenn with 3:01 remaining in the game.

A two point attempt to bring the deficit to three failed when a Kevin Faulk run was stopped short of the goal line. But then Willie McGinest sacked Shaun King for a loss of 11, and the Pats regained possession at the Tampa 45 yard line with 1:53 left to play. With 29 seconds left Bledsoe completed his fifth straight pass on a 4th and 1 to Troy Brown at the 22, but the game ended on four consecutive incomplete passes.


The Patriots could not get their running game going against a stout Tampa Bay defense. At first glance the numbers don't look bad (88 yards rushing, 4.2 yards per carry), but more than half of that yardage came on a pair of first quarter plays: a ten-yard scramble by Bledsoe on the second possession, and a 35-yard run by Troy Brown on the next possession. Both of those drives resulted in punts after a Bledsoe sack. The Patriots kept it close thanks to their return game: Troy Brown returned three punts for 118 yards (including the 66 yard TD), and Kevin Faulk had a 40-yard kickoff return.


The Pats had one defensive lapse that was a game-changer. The Patriots took a 10-7 lead midway through the second quarter on Troy's punt return. Tampa Bay drove into New England territory on the ensuing drive, stalling after predictable Dungy-Bucs offensive play calling (two Mike Alstott runs up the middle followed by an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-long). On 4th-and-8 from the 37, Tampa did not call on Martin Gramatica for a long field goal and instead punted - pinning the Patriots down at the 8-yard line.


The Patriots went three and out and Tampa took over at the 50-yard line with 1:38 left in the half. On 3rd-and-1 Jacquez Green beat Otis Smith for a 33-yard gain to the eight yard line. With the clock ticking, everybody assumed King would spike the ball to stop the clock and figure out the next play. Instead he pulled a Dan Marino, faking the spike while Kato Serwanga wasn't watching, and connecting with a wide open Reidel Anthony for a touchdown with 35 seconds to go.

Buccaneers Fake Spike Touchdown vs Patriots - 2000 (1:07)
​

Bledsoe connected with Troy Brown on completions of 26 yards and 12 yards, but that was all they had time for. After spiking the ball, Adam Vinatieri's 55-yard field goal attempt with two seconds remaining in the half was short. The fake spike and missed field goal to end the half, plus the failed two-point conversion later resulted in the Patriots needing a touchdown rather than a field goal at the end of the game.


Troy finished the game with 221 all-purpose yards: 33 yards on two runs, 70 yards on seven receptions (he caught all seven passes thrown his way), and 118 yards on four punt returns. The two teams combined for 19 punts: nine by Lee Johnson (40.6 avg) and ten by Tampa's Mark Royals (40.3 per).


One historical sidenote: this was the last time that Tom Brady did not play in a game between these two teams until November 9, 2025, when the two QBs were Drake Maye and Baker Mayfield. TB12 was one of the seven players inactive for the Pats for this game. Michael Bishop was Drew Bledsoe's backup, and John Friesz suited up, but did not get on the field.

2:39 Sports Center Highlights:



33:03 Extended Highlights:



Full Game Video:
​

Patriots.com Game preview:

Week One - New England vs. Tampa Bay

The New England Patriots open the 2000 regular season on Sunday, Sept. 3 by hosting the defending NFC Central Division Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

www.patriots.com

This link from jt-sw.com provides the pertinent information from the box score:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, New England Patriots 16

ESPN box score:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/200903017

Official NFL Media Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:

Viewer - Patriots

Media Archive Suite

patriots.1rmg.com

In standard New York Post style, the tabloid trashes Belichick:

BELICHICK’S PATS FLOP

FOXBORO – For openers, Bill Belichick’s Patriots could be summed up with the same word that captures his body of work as head coach of the Browns: flop. Belichick’s Patriots often…

nypost.com

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Tom Brady's Suspension Overturned​

September 3, 2015:

Court overturns Patriots QB Tom Brady’s suspension

Quarterback free to play in regular season opener.

www.patriots.com

Judge overturns Tom Brady’s four-game suspension for ‘Deflategate’

A federal judge said Thursday that National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell went too far when he imposed a four-game suspension on New England quarterback Tom Brady for his alleged role in the so-called “Deflategate.”

www.pbs.org

Brady’s Deflategate suspension tossed; judge mocks Goodell

Tom Brady won the Deflategate court battle on Thursday — and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took another hit when the federal judge bashed him for “dispensing his own brand of industrial justice.” …

nypost.com

Deflategate: Federal Judge Overturns Tom Brady's 4-Game Suspension

Tom Brady challenged the NFL's 4-game suspension.

abcnews.com

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/tom-bradys-deflategate-suspension-overturned-by-judge-ap-reports-2015-09-03

Vacated Tom Brady suspension the latest hit to Goodell's inept tenure

Roger Goodell once again came across as clueless and clownish when it was time for his opponent to face him in an actual court of law.

www.si.com

RIP Deflategate: a saga that made everyone look stupid

We come not to praise the worst controversy in NFL history, but to bury it. And may it stay buried for ever

www.theguardian.com

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/09/03/goodell-losing-deflategate/71649732/

Tom Brady, NFLPA get major Deflategate victory over NFL as Roger Goodell overruled once again

FOXBOROUGH – It was just a few minutes after Tom Brady got the news that he had scored the type ofone-sided victory over Roger Goodell in U.S. District Court that he never had in winning four Super Bowls by a combined 13 points. He…

www.nydailynews.com

Tom Brady Is Free, and Roger Goodell Is Screwed

Teflon Tom Rolls On: Brady's free to play, and Roger Goodell is screwed.

www.rollingstone.com

It's Over, Judge Nullifies Tom Brady's Suspension | PatsFans.com

Tom Brady has a history of being a winner, and on Thursday Judge Richard Berman granted him another victory after vacating the four-game suspension that had been imposed by the NFL for his alleged role in the DeflateGate debacle.

www.patsfans.com

Tom Brady has a history of being a winner, and according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss citing the Associated Press, Judge Richard Berman granted him another victory on Thursday after “nullifying” the four-game suspension that had been imposed by the NFL for his alleged role in the DeflateGate debacle.​

Both Brady and Roger Goodell had spent time recently trying to potentially reach a settlement at the request of Berman, but the two sides were never able to reach an agreement and Brady and the NFLPA seemed just fine with letting the legal process play out.​

​

For now, it’s over. We’re on to Pittsburgh.​

Deflategate: NFL to appeal after judge overturns Tom Brady's ban

Decision to take the Deflategate scandal to federal court pays off as judge rules Patriots quarterback’s four-gme suspension should be overturned

www.theguardian.com

Tom Brady’s decision to take the Deflategate scandal to federal court has paid off, with US district judge Richard Berman ruling that the New England Patriots quarterback’s suspension should be nullified after the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, had dispensed “his own brand of industrial justice”.​

Brady had been suspended for the first four games of the NFL season after a report, conducted by investigator Ted Wells, found that he was “generally aware” that Patriots officials deliberately deflated footballs during the team’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts in last season’s AFC Championship game.​

However, Berman ruled that the NFL had gone too far in its punishment of Brady and the suspension was “premised upon several significant legal deficiencies”. The judge also said Brady had no notice that he could receive a ban for participating in, or being aware of, ball deflation. “Because there was no notice of a four-game suspension in the circumstances presented here, Commissioner Goodell may be said to have ‘dispensed his own brand of industrial justice,”’ Berman ruled.​

“Brady also had no notice that his discipline would be the equivalent of the discipline imposed upon a player who used performance enhancing drugs,” the judge added.​

When Brady appealed to the league against the suspension Goodell upheld the ban in July and said that Brady had deliberately destroyed his cell phone after it had been requested by Wells and his staff. Following Goodell’s ruling, Brady took the case to federal court.​

Read Judge Berman's Ruling that Nullified Tom Brady's Suspension | PatsFans.com

For those who have already tackled reading past legal documents throughout the process that Tom Brady has been under siege, the documents from today's ruling have been released and are available for anyone who would like to read more about the outcome.

www.patsfans.com

https://www.cnn.com/2015/09/03/us/deflategate-tom-brady-ruling/index.html

Tom Brady has scored another big, resounding win – this time, over the NFL.​

A federal judge on Thursday vacated the four-game suspension the NFL imposed on the New England Patriots quarterback in the “Deflategate” scandal.​

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman issued a 40-page ruling Thursday morning, saying he found “several significant legal deficiencies” in how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell investigated accusations the Patriots used footballs inflated below league-mandated levels.​

The NFL failed to give Brady proper notice he could be suspended, didn’t provide him the opportunity to question one of the league’s investigators and denied him equal access to investigative files, Berman wrote in his ruling.​

Rob Gronkowski Celebrates Tom Brady's Victory On Twitter | PatsFans.com

Rob Gronkowski's been pretty vocal in his support for Tom Brady during the entire DeflateGate debacle, and following the news of Brady's suspension being nullified, the tight end took to Twitter to celebrate the news.

www.patsfans.com

​

Social Media Reacts to DeflateGate Verdict | PatsFans.com

While fans in New England rejoiced at the news their star quarterback was exonerated, others outside the region voiced their displeasure.

www.patsfans.com

​

Roger Goodell to Skip NFL Season Opener at Gillette Stadium | PatsFans.com

According to news first broken by Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, the NFL announced today that Commissioner Roger Goodell will not be in attendance opening night when "newly-freed" Quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

www.patsfans.com

Brady Wins! BBBBRRRRRRAAAADDDDDYYYYYYY WINS!

Just heard on the radio. Judge berman overturns the 4 game suspension according to the AP.

www.patsfans.com

Thread 'Brady Wins! BBBBRRRRRRAAAADDDDDYYYYYYY WINS!'

Sep 3, 2015

Just heard on the radio. Judge berman overturns the 4 game suspension according to the AP.

• Rob0729
• Replies: 979
• Forum: PatsFans.com - Patriots Fan Forum

I

Post in thread 'Brady Wins! BBBBRRRRRRAAAADDDDDYYYYYYY WINS!'

Sep 3, 2015

I love this line at the end to: "In view of the Court's determinations regarding the inadequacy of notice and discovery afforded to Brady, the Court does not reach Brady's other claims." In other words, there was so many Goodell did terribly wrong here, we didn't even bother exploring them all.

• Isaac

S

Post in thread 'Brady Wins! BBBBRRRRRRAAAADDDDDYYYYYYY WINS!'

Sep 3, 2015

Bob Lee from espn questions Teddy B, he said then why did the pats suspended the two guys? NOBODY CAN ANSWER THAT...

SCHEFTER STEPPED IN.. and I said I can answer...the NFL asked them to bc they thought they were guilty and the Pats did it. Thats why.

wow this is good stuff

This was another nfl bag job. Schefter was the first to report that these guys were suspended at the NFL's behest but goodell denied this in SF meeting.

• SVN

Post in thread 'Brady Wins! BBBBRRRRRRAAAADDDDDYYYYYYY WINS!'

Sep 3, 2015

Alan Milstein ?@amilst44 2m2 minutes ago
No order to remand for new arbitration, which might have happened if Goodell ruled impartial, so NFL cannot try for a replay.

• Rob0729

Post in thread 'Brady Wins! BBBBRRRRRRAAAADDDDDYYYYYYY WINS!'

Sep 3, 2015

You'll hear all about how Brady won because of "procedure", or a "technicality". What will be ignored by those stating such things is that the state of current U.S. law regarding arbitration rulings is such that you literally cannot win an appeal on just the facts.

Agreed - it's VERY HARD to get an arbitration award overturned at the federal level, even if things weren't perfect at the arbitration hearing itself. The fact that this arbitration was overturned so soundly shows to those in the legal community that the NFL had NO CASE and needed to make themselves prosecutor, judge and...

• PatsDeb

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Patriots defeat the British​

September 3, 1783:

Today in History: September 3, Treaty of Paris ends Revolutionary War

1894: First U.S. Labor Day holiday 1939: George VI delivers "King's Speech" 1976: Viking 2 lander touches down on Mars

apnews.com

Representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the Revolutionary War and recognized U.S. sovereignty.​

“Signed, sealed and delivered”: The Treaty that Ended the Revolutionary War | Beehive

“On Wednesday the third day of this Month, the American Ministers met the British Minister at his Lodgings at the Hôtel de York, and signed, sealed and delivered the Definitive Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the King of Great Britain.”​

It was eight o’clock in the morning when John Adams along with Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, met the British peace negotiator, David Hartley, at his residence in Paris and months of negotiations, first the previous year leading to the preliminary peace treaty, and then in earnest from April until the end of August culminated in this definitive treaty.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Sixties​

September 3, 1960:
Running back Wray Carlton is traded to Buffalo for defensive tackle Al Crow

This was a genuinely awful trade by the Patriots. Crow was originally a 28th round draft pick out of William & Mary by the Giants in 1955. After not making their roster he was drafted and served three years for the Army in the Korean War, returned and failed to make the Giants roster again in1959. At the age of 28 he played in the first three games with two starts for the Patriots, then was released before the month was over, ending his pro football career.

Carlton on the other hand had just turned 23, and would play for the Bills for eight seasons. He rushed for seven touchdowns his rookie season, scoring 11 TD altogether while amassing 1,010 yards from scrimmage, back when the season was only 14 games long. Two years later he led the AFL with 5.6 yards per carry, and was an AFL All-Star in both 1965 and 1966.

I don't know if the idea for this trade came from head coach Lou Saban, general manager Ed McKeever, or owner Billy Sullivan, but regardless, it turned out to be flat-out awful, even if Al Crow was a nice guy.

Albert 'Al' Lee Crow

Albert ‘Al’ Lee Crow

www.dnronline.com

September 3, 1961:
Patriots waive cornerback Clyde Washington

The Pats quickly re-signed Washington, and he played in all 14 games in '61, with 13 starts and four interceptions. Clyde had seven picks in his two seasons in Boston, playing in 27 games.





September 3, 1963:
Boston gets down to the 33-man roster limit, waiving FB Harry Crump, OT Gerry DeLucca, LB Rommie Loudd, OT George McGee, G Tony Sardisco, SE Al Snyder and FB Frank Williams.

September 3, 1967:
Week 1, Game 1 in Denver
Sunday, 4:30 (2:30 MDT) at Bears Stadium
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, Lou Saban
Quarterbacks: Babe Parilli, Steve Tensi
Weather: clear,82º, humidity 23%, wind 10 mph
Television: NBC; Curt Gowdy, Paul Christman
Odds: Broncos favored by 4
Attendance: 35,488
Denver Broncos 26, Boston Patriots 21


This was the first of five straight road games the Patriots had to play to begin the 1967 season. Tom Yawkey and the Boston Red Sox had decided they did not want football games tearing up the field at Fenway Park until the baseball season was over, and the '67 Impossible Dream extended the end of major league baseball in Boston for another week - forcing the Pats to play a week five home game against the Chargers in San Diego.


Denver led 16-7 in the third quarter, with the only Patriot points coming on a 79 yard bomb from Babe Parilli to Art Graham. The Pats came back on two more touchdown passes from Parilli - screen passes to running backs Jim Nance for 10 yards and 20 yards to Larry Garron - to take 21-16 lead.

After a Bronco field goal cut the lead to two, Bronco CB Goldie Sellers intercepted Parilli and returned the football 29 yards for the winning touchdown to upset the Patriots. Despite the three touchdown passes it was a game to forget for Parilli, as he threw a franchise record six interceptions on the day.


Sept 4, 1967:

Six Interceptions Help Broncos Defeat Patriots, 26-21, in A.F.L. Opener; PARILLI IS VICTIM OF STOLEN PASSES Sellers Gets Winning Score With One Wilson's 2d Stops Last Boston Bid (Published 1967)

www.nytimes.com

Remarkable catches by Al Denson, playing despite a personal tragedy, helped the Denver Broncos to a 26-21 victory today over the Boston Patriots in the American Football League opener.​

Another excellent FS64 Preview and Recap:

1967: Denson & Defense Star as Revamped Broncos Beat Patriots

The Denver Broncos had made several notable changes as they opened their AFL season against the Boston Patriots on September 3, 1967. T...

fs64sports.blogspot.com

The Denver Broncos had made several notable changes as they opened their AFL season against the Boston Patriots on September 3, 1967. The perennially losing franchise was coming off a second straight 4-10 record in ’66 and had hired a new head coach/GM, Lou Saban, who had won back-to-back AFL titles in Buffalo. HB Floyd Little was drafted in the first round out of Syracuse and became the first top draft pick in the team’s short history to sign with the club (no doubt helped by 1967 being the first year that the AFL wasn’t competing with the NFL for draft picks). Quarterback had been a major issue for the Broncos in recent seasons, and a trade was swung with San Diego to obtain the strong-armed Steve Tensi to take over the position for ’67.​

The visiting Patriots were coached by Mike Holovak (who had replaced Saban when he was fired from that job during the 1961 season) and were coming off an 8-4-2 year in ’66. FB Jim Nance had blossomed into a star, setting an AFL record with 1458 rushing yards. 37-year-old QB Babe Parilli was coming off of a good season and OE/PK Gino Cappelletti was the league’s top scorer.​

Boston had more total yards (302 to 209) and first downs (14 to 11) than the Broncos, but the Patriots also turned the ball over seven times, to one suffered by Denver.​

Al Denson was the offensive star for the Broncos as he caught four passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Steve Tensi completed 8 of 19 passes for 145 yards and the two TDs with none intercepted. Floyd Little, playing in his first regular season game, rushed for 66 yards on 25 carries, while Cookie Gilchrist, appearing in his last, gained 21 yards on 10 attempts (the talented and mercurial Gilchrist underwent knee surgery the next week and ultimately retired). Gene Sykes, Goldie Sellers, and Nemiah Wilson each intercepted two passes apiece.​

For the Patriots, Babe Parilli was successful on 16 of 30 throws for 234 yards and three TDs but also gave up the six costly interceptions. Gino Cappelletti had 6 catches for 54 yards and, thanks to the long scoring reception, Art Graham gained 84 yards on his two receptions. Jim Nance ran the ball 15 times for 53 yards and Larry Garron contributed 37 yards on 6 carries while also gaining 53 yards on four catches that included a touchdown.​

Tragedy dimmed Al Denson’s fine performance. He left immediately after the game for his home in Jacksonville, Florida due to the untimely death of his three-year-old son.​

The exciting win did not herald a winning season in Denver. The Broncos lost their next nine games and finished at the bottom of the Western Division with a 3-11 record. The Patriots ended up at the bottom of the Eastern Division at 3-10-1.​

Pro Football Reference Stats and Box Score:

Boston Patriots at Denver Broncos - September 3rd, 1967 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Boston Patriots 21 at Denver Broncos 26 on September 3rd, 1967 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

Official AFL Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:

Viewer - Patriots

Media Archive Suite

patriots.1rmg.com

Highlight Video (1:43)
9/3/1967 - Boston Patriots at Denver Broncos
American Football League - Week 1 at Bears Stadium

September 3, 1968:
Patriots release QB Don Trull and CB Jay Cunningham

Don Trull's Patriots card in an Oilers uniform, and his Oilers card in a Pats jersey​

September 3, 1969:
Jets trade Karl Henke to Boston for a 1970 8th round draft pick

Karl Alfred Henke

Channel League Shot Put Champion, 1962, 1963 Ventura High School Shot Put Champion, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 Established Ventura High School Shot Put Record – 59′ 7 3/4″ All-America…

venturacountysportshalloffame.org

https://www.vcstar.com/obituaries/pyrk1279602

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The Seventies​

September 3, 1970:
DE Isaac Lassiter is reportedly considering retirement, as his wife is due to have baby.
Ike had just been traded from Oakland to the Patriots four days earlier.





September 3, 1971:
Veteran free agent WR Eric Crabtree signs, and OT John Kohler is signed to the taxi squad.

Crabtree had averaged 21.4 yards per catch, going for 855 yards and seven touchdowns just two years earlier in 1969 - but his knees were shot, even though he was only 27. He would play in six games with four starts for the Patriots, but was only able to catch nine passes for 120 yards and one touchdown before being released.

Kohler was a Boston native who had been a third round draft pick in 1970 by Denver, out of South Dakota.

John Kohler (1991) - Coyote Sports Hall of Fame - University of South Dakota Athletics

John Kohler, Class: 1970 Induction: 1991 Sport(s): Football - John Kohler, originally of Boston, MA, ranks as one of the best offensive tackles in South Dakota football

goyotes.com

September 3, 1973:
Chuck Fairbanks fortifies the secondary, trading a fourth round draft pick to Pittsburgh for safety Ralph Anderson.

Anderson started 11 games for the Pats in '73, but was replaced the following year by Prentice McCray, who would play for the Patriots for 6½ years. The Steelers used that draft pick on an under-the-radar receiver from Alabama A&M who wound up in the Hall of Fame, John Stallworth.





September 3, 1975:
Running back Leon Crosswhite, a defensive back for Chuck Fairbanks at Oklahoma, is placed on injured reserve, and never returns to the field.

In addition the Patriots waive three others: Alan Bloomingdale, Johnny Vann and Ken Pope. Pope was the only one from that group that ever played for the Patriots, appearing in four games at safety in '74.

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1978: Washington at New England​

September 3, 1978:
Week 1, Game 1 in Foxborough
Sunday, 1:00 at Schaefer Stadium
Washington Redskins at New England Patriots
Head Coaches: Chuck Fairbanks, Jack Pardee
Quarterbacks: Steve Grogan, Joe Theismann
Weather: hazy, warm, 76º; relative humidity 70%, wind SW 14 mph
Television: CBS; Don Criqui, Hank Stram
Odds: New England favored by 9½
Paid Attendance: 61,297
Washington Redskins 16, New England Patriots 14



After a 3-0 first half, Steve Grogan threw touchdown passes of 33 yards to Stanley Morgan and 45 yards to Harold Jackson (7 catches, 124 yards) to give the Patriots a 14-9 fourth quarter lead. It was Jackson's first game with the Patriots; the team had just traded for the receiver following the spinal cord injury in the preseason to Darryl Stingley.

The Patriots were attempting to run out the clock in the final three minutes when Horace Ivory (16 carries for 89 yards) was running wide to the right and hit hard, causing a fumble. The ball bounced on one hop right into the hands of former Patriot Brad Dusek, and the linebacker ran 31 yards down the sideline for the game winning touchdown.

1978 was the final year in New England for Chuck Fairbanks, and Jack Pardee's first year as head coach with Washington. At the age of 29 it was also Joe Theismann's first season as a starting NFL quarterback. He had been drafted out of Notre Dame in the fourth round by Miami in 1971, signed instead with Toronto in the CFL, and was traded to Washington in 1974 - where head coach George Allen used him as a punt returner as often as he was used as a backup quarterback.


Excellent recap here from FS64:

1978: Dusek Fumble Return Lifts Redskins Past Patriots

The Washington Redskins were under new leadership and facing long odds (they were 9.5-point underdogs) as they faced the New England Patr...

fs64sports.blogspot.com

Jack Pardee was making his debut as head coach of the Redskins, the successor to George Allen and his seven straight winning records, including 9-5 in ‘77. Allen had dealt away draft picks to stockpile veterans, and there were concerns about retooling at certain positions. Foremost was at quarterback, where Bill Kilmer was almost 39 years old and being pressed by Joe Theismann, who was named the starter just prior to the opener. HB Mike Thomas was capable and it was hoped that FB John Riggins would rebound from an injury-plagued year. The defense was tough but old and there were concerns in particular about the backfield.​

New England, coached by Chuck Fairbanks, had also been 9-5 the previous year but was considered to be a contender in the highly competitive AFC East. Steve Grogan brought grit and mobility to the quarterback position and there was a promising group of runners led by FB Sam Cunningham. WR Darryl Stingley’s career was cut short by a spinal cord injury suffered during the preseason and WR Harold Jackson was obtained from the Rams to take his place. The defense was fifth overall in 1977 and especially strong against the run.​

Sept 3, 1978:
Redskins, Butz, Duzik Stun Patriots
Redskins Rally Last To Upset Patriots Fumbles, Run Win by 16-14 -- Washington Post

Who would have believed that linebacker Brad Dusek would pick up an unlikely fumble and run 31 yards for a touchdown with 2 minutes 40 seconds left in the game to give Washington a stunning 16-14 victory over favored New England yesterday.​

Here were the powerful Patriots, nine-point favorites, ahead, 14-9, and running out the clock, with hard-charging running back Horace Ivory taking a handoff from quarterback Steve Grogan.​

But defensive tackle Dave Butz heaved his 295-pound body into Ivory, forcing the fumble. Dusek, a fullback while at Texas A&M and once a third-round draft pick of the Patriots, picked up the ball on one hop and did not stop until a final, desperate, lunge into the New England end zone.​

The Redskins appeared to be dead Skins after Grogan had completed the second of his two touchdown passes - this one a 45-yarder to Harold Jackson early in the fourth quarter to give the Patriots a 14-9 lead.​

Time and again the New England defense had come up with enough big plays to frustrate the Redskins offense that period. Now the Patriots had the football on second down and 29 at their 39 with a little under three minutes remaining.​

The Patriots called a play that had been gaining lots of yards all afternoon, a basic sweep to the right, with Ivory running the ball.​

"It looked like they were running a sucker play," Butz said. "The guard in front of me pulled real fast. When he did that, I just went with him, stayed right in his hip pocket. I saw the back out of the corner of my eye, and nobody picked me up. It was a direct hit.​

"I hit him with my chest and put my arms around him to try and rake the ball away. I honestly didn't know the ball was on the ground. I just looked up and there was Brad diving over the goal line."​

Ivory, who gained 89 yards in 16 carries and had given Redskins fits all afternoon, said he never saw Butz coming "until after he hit me. He hit me just as I was getting the ball and I didn't have control. It was just a standard play."​

Dusek never hesitated, as he scooped up the ball and headed for the Patriot end zone, surrounded by a convoy of alert teammates. Patriot tackle Shelby Jordan seemed to have the angle to catch Dusek, but Redskin defensive end Karl Lorch managed to sufficiently get in Jordan's way.​

The Patriots still had plenty of time, and a 14 mile-per-hour wind at their backs, to drive for a game-winning touchdown or field goal. But the Redskin defense, with a brief setback from the officials, would not let it happen.​

Mark Moseley, who had missed an extra point (his first since 1976, after 38 straight) purposely put the kickoff high and short to keep it away from dangerous return man Ray Clayborn.​

The Patriots started at their 27 with 2:32 remaining. The Redskins seemingly sealed the victory when Diron Talbert sacked Grogan, forcing a fumble recovered by Karl Lorch.​

But Redskin cornerback Lemar Parrish was called for an illegal bump on a receiver up field. The Redskins argued hard and long to no avail, and the Patriots retained possession, with a first down at the 32.​

On first down, Grogan's pass to Andy Johnson bounced off the running back's hands. On second down, Coy Bacon recorded his second sack, dropping Grogan for a 13-yard loss. On third down, wide receiver Don Westbrook dropped a pass in first down territory, forcing the Patriots to punt.​

The Patriots never got the football again.​

With 1:38 to play and the Redskins facing second and seven at the Patriot 47, John Riggins slipped around left end and blew 31 yards to the Patriot 17 for a first down that allowed the Redskins to kill the clock.​

Highlight Video (1:47)
9/3/1978 Washington Redskins at New England Patriots highlights, National Football League Week 1
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This was the second-ever meeting between New England and Washington, with the Patriots previously pulling off a 24-23 upset win in 1972. Including this game, Washington won each of the next six, with the pats finally breaking the losing streak in a very emphatic manner, 52-7 against Joe Gibbs in 2007. That started a four-game winning streak against Washington, with the Commanders winning 20-17 in the last meeting, in 2023.

Patriots vs. Commanders Results | The Football Database

View results for regular season and postseason games between the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders.

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Box Score, Individual and Team Stats:

https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore/washington-redskins-vs-new-england-patriots-1978090312

Washington Redskins at New England Patriots - September 3rd, 1978 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Washington Redskins 16 at New England Patriots 14 on September 3rd, 1978 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

Official NFL Media Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:

Viewer - Patriots

Media Archive Suite

patriots.1rmg.com

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[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1979: Monday Night Football​

September 3, 1979:
Week 1, Game 1 in Foxborough
Monday, 9:00 at Schaefer Stadium
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
Head Coaches: Ron Erhardt, Chuck Noll
Quarterbacks: Steve Grogan, Terry Bradshaw
Weather: warm, humid; 81º; wind: SW 13 mph
Television: ABC; Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, Howard Cosell
Odds: Pittsburgh favored by 2
Paid Attendance: 61,297
Time: 3:35
Pittsburgh Steelers 16, New England Patriots 13 in OT


The NFL chose an interesting matchup to finish week one of the 1979 season. The Patriots were coming off a tumultuous 1978 season that began with high hopes and ended with a face palm finish. Chuck Fairbanks had had enough of the Sullivans and word of his decision to bolt for the University of Colorado became public before the season was over. Fairbanks was suspended, and Ron Erhardt and Hank Bullough were assigned "co-head coaches" for the final game. Fairbanks returned for a gloomy, overcast New Years Eve playoff game against the Oilers that the distracted Pats were never in. Meanwhile Pittsburgh had the league's best record at 14-2, defeated Dallas 35-31 in a thrilling super bowl, and Terry Bradshaw was the 1978 NFL MVP.


This game was a defensive battle, with a combined nine sacks, four turnovers and 16 punts. The Steelers tied the score with 4:09 left to go on a defensive coverage breakdown, then won the game on rookie Matt Bahr's 41 yard field goal in overtime. The victory was the 100th for Steeler head coach Chuck Noll. The game was also the first for Erhardt in a permanent capacity as head coach, having replaced Fairbanks in the offseason.


Sept 4, 1979:

Steelers Defeat Patriots (Published 1979)

www.nytimes.com

The first 60 minutes of play ended with the score tied, 13?13, after the Patriots had led at halftime by 13?6. The game amounted to a defensive battle, and the Steelers felt especially fortunate to win with a squad that had so many injuries.​

The contest ended at 12:40 A.M., making it one of the longest of the Monday night National Football League games. This one took 3 hours 35 minutes before a decision was reached.​

The Steelers started Ted Peterson and Steve Courson at tackle and guard on their offensive line and had trouble establishing a running game in the early going. Their problems grew when Terry Bradshaw, their quarterback, sprained a toe in the second period and had to leave the game. Mike Kurczek replaced him.​

When Bradshaw left, the Steelers were behind by 7?6, and two minutes later the Patriots added a field goal by John Smith to lead, 10?6.​

The Patriots opened the game with a 55?yard touchdown drive that featured Russ Francis, their star tight end. The key play was a 22?yard pass from Steve Grogan to Francis, and Francis followed up with an outstanding onehanded touchdown catch from 4 yards out.​

The Steelers countered with a 46-yard drive for a touchdown. The drive was started by Jack Lambert, the all-pro linebacker, who intercepted a Grogan pass, and it featured two Bradshaw completions to his wide receivers, John Stallworth and Lynn Swann, for 13 and 19 yards, respectively. Sidney Thornton, the fullback, playing for the injured Rocky Bleier, dived over from the New England 2 for the score.​

But Bahr, the Steelers’ rookie placekicker, missed the conversion kick, leaving Pittsburgh with a 1?point deficit.​

New England's next drive was highlighted by a 33?yard pass play, with Grogan drilling the ball to Stanley Morgan at the Steeler 32. On the previous series, Bradshaw had been sacked by Tony McGee, and that was when the toe injury occurred.​

Nice game recap here, even if it is Steeler-centric from a Pittsburgh fan:

Pittsburgh Steelers Original Game Broadcasts

Highlight Video (6:23)
9/3/1979 Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots highlights, National Football League Week 1


Longer highlight video (17:04)
1979-09-03 Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots
​

Box Score, Individual and Team Stats:

Steelers vs. Patriots Box Score, September 3, 1979 | The Football Database

View the Box Score for the NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots on September 3, 1979.

www.footballdb.com

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197909030nwe.htm

Official NFL Media Game Summary, with complete play-by-play, team & individual stats, and drive charts:

Viewer - Patriots

Media Archive Suite

patriots.1rmg.com

This was the fourth meeting between the Steelers and Patriots. In 1976 the Pats shocked Pittsburgh at Three Rivers with a 30-27 victory, forcing and recovering six Steeler fumbles, in a big statement game to the rest of the NFL that the Patriots were for real. The next time these two met Pittsburgh won - again, in overtime. By the time the Steelers beat the Patriots in the 1997 postseason 7-6, Pittsburgh had a 12-4 series lead over the Patriots. Since that day the Pats went 12-3 against Pittsburgh, and despite last year's self-inflicted loss now lead the series 19-17.

Patriots vs. Steelers Results | The Football Database

View results for regular season and postseason games between the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers.

www.footballdb.com

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