New Trivia Question

[Todd Pence]

What happened in two separate games on September 7, 1997, that has only happened ten other times in NFL history?

[ChrisBabcock]

A QB won his only NFL start. (Jim Druckenmiller and Steve Matthews that day)

[Todd Pence]

Dang. I thought it would take longer than that!

Here's the complete list:

9-11-1960: Dick Jamieson - Titans 27, Bills 3
9-23-1960: Bob Brodhead - Bills 13, Patriots 0
10-3-1970: Don Gault - Browns 15, Steelers 7
11-20-1977: Cliff Olander - Chargers 12, Raiders 7
12-6-1981: Glenn Carano - Cowboys 37, Colts 13
10-11-1987: Mike Kelley - Chargers 17, Buccaneers 13
10-18-1987: Brian McClure - Bills 6, Giants 3 (OT)
9-7-1997: Jim Druckemiller - 49ers 15, Rams 13
9-7-1997: Steve Matthews - Jaguars 40, Giants 13
12-30-2002: Scott Covington - Rams 31, 49ers 20
11-25-2004: Drew Henson - Cowboys 21, Bears 7
1-2-2011: Stephen McGee - Cowboys 14, Eagles 13

[ChrisBabcock]

I'm actually suprised it happened 12 times!

[Todd Pence]

Two of those occasions were 1987 scab games and two others were from the inaugural AFL season where there tended to be a high rate of turnover in the position behind center (as well as a high rate of turnovers). A couple of other of these games were actually really won by another QB in relief. Carano's start came against another QB (longtime Raider third-stringer David Humm) who was also making his only NFL start. Interesting that the Cowboys appear three times on this list. Matthews was the only one of these QBs to throw for 200 yards in his game, Druckenmiller and McGee actually led game-winning 4th quarter drives. Gault had just one of his two career completions in sixteen attempts in this game. Scab Kelley's start for the Chargers marks to date the only NFL QB start for a Georgia Tech alum, despite that school's rich football history.

[BD Sullivan]

Two of those occasions were 1987 scab games and two others were from the inaugural AFL season where there tended to be a high rate of turnover in the position behind center (as well as a high rate of turnovers). A couple of other of these games were actually really won by another QB in relief. Carano's start came against another QB (longtime Raider third-stringer David Humm) who was also making his only NFL start. Interesting that the Cowboys appear three times on this list. Matthews was the only one of these QBs to throw for 200 yards in his game, Druckenmiller and McGee actually led game-winning 4th quarter drives. Gault had just one of his two career completions in sixteen attempts in this game. Scab Kelley's start for the Chargers marks to date the only NFL QB start for a Georgia Tech alum, despite that school's rich football history.

Gault was subbing for Bill Nelsen, who had injured his already-shot knees against the 49ers the week before. Gault was so bad that rookie Mike Phipps took over for him after one series in the second half with the Browns trailing the Steelers 7-2. Browns coaches kept his play-calling basic, which meant that he was only 3 of 5 for 86 yards, with 53 of them coming on a screen pass TD to running back Reece Morrison. Leroy Kelly, who had been injured in the opener two weeks earlier suffered a sprained ankle, which was the reason Morrison was the offensive "star".

Terry Bradshaw, playing in third game was sacked for a safety in his third straight game. Still, he showed hints of his potential, getting the Steelers down into the red zone twice. Unfortunately for him, the Browns picked him off both times. The other Browns TD came on a pick-six to clinch the game