This episode delves into the intriguing history of Week One matchups in the NFL, particularly those that will unfold in the 2026 season. Our discussion, led by the erudite Ed Cleese, uncovers the fascinating fact that there are three matchups this year that have never occurred before in Week One since 1980. Among these novel encounters is the highly anticipated game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, marking a significant milestone in their historical rivalry. Furthermore, we explore the rare occurrences of certain teams, such as the Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers, meeting for the first time in Week One, despite their long-standing presence in the league. Through a meticulous examination of past games, we aim to enrich our understanding of football history as we prepare for the upcoming season.
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The episode opens with Darren Hayes expressing excitement as he welcomes back Ed Cleese, who brings his extensive knowledge of football history to the table once again. The primary focus of their discussion is the upcoming NFL season, particularly the intriguing matchups set for Week One in 2026. Ed has conducted thorough research into past encounters, and he shares fascinating insights about how these matchups have unfolded over the years.
Among the highlights of their conversation is the revelation that three matchups will feature for the first time in Week One: the New England Patriots versus the Seattle Seahawks, the Chicago Bears against the Carolina Panthers, and the Miami Dolphins facing the Las Vegas Raiders. Each of these games carries a unique historical significance, with Ed detailing the context behind these matchups and what they might mean for the teams involved. He emphasizes how the NFL's scheduling can lead to unexpected pairings, which adds to the excitement of the season.
The episode continues with Ed discussing other matchups that have occurred only once in the past, such as the Buccaneers against the Bengals, and the Jets facing the Titans, with both hosts reflecting on the implications of these historical encounters. They draw upon rich anecdotes and statistics that not only entertain but also educate the audience about the sport's past. This thorough exploration of Week One games serves as a prelude to the excitement that the new NFL season promises, while also fostering a deeper appreciation for the historical narratives that shape the game today.
Transcript
Hello, my football friends. This is Darren Hayes of pigskindispatch.com welcome once again to the Pig Pen, your portal to positive football history.
And as we approach the NFL season coming up in about a week, we want to talk a little bit about the history of some week one games. And who better to do that with than Ed Cleese? Our fan who loves to come on here and talk football and give us some history, gives us some insight.
Ed, welcome back to the Pig Pen.
Ed Kleese:Hey, Darin, how are you?
Darin Hayes:I'm doing great, Ed. How about yourself?
Ed Kleese:I am doing good. Week one is just around the corner, so I am ready.
Darin Hayes:Yeah, I know. Talking before we came on. You are pumped up.
week one games coming up for:Ed Kleese:matchups in week one of:And so I went down this rabbit hole big time.
hup going all the way back to:Darin Hayes:All right, well, let's hear it.
Ed Kleese:All right, so we're going to start. There are actually three matchups that are happening this this year in week one that have never occurred before in week one.
keep saying it going back to:So, oddly enough, the rematch of the super bowl, the Patriots at the Seahawks, this is the first time those two teams will have ever played in Week one. And. And that's, you know, it's an AFC team and an NFC team.
So, you know, I think maybe that's not that crazy, but if you remember, Darren, for many, many years, the Seahawks were also in the afc. They were in the AFC West. So first time this one's ever happened.
Darin Hayes:Yeah, probably what, the first 20 years of the Seahawks exist. Yeah, about.
Ed Kleese:before.:ers history only goes back to:But one kind of interesting thing that I found here is that's 30 years, and the Bears and the Panthers have only actually played 12 times total in those 30 years and only five times in Carolina. So this is only the sixth time in history that the Bears will play in Carolina at all in the regular season.
And it is obviously the first time it's ever happened in week one. And then the last matchup that's never happened before, this one really surprised me.
layed in week one again since:Darin Hayes:Wow, that is amazing.
You would think that they would want, especially like in the early 70s when they, these teams were probably two of the top teams in the NFL, that they would want these marquee matchups almost like you have, you know, the Patriots and the Seahawks playing, you know, so.
Ed Kleese:ember, I'm only going back to:Darin Hayes:Oh, that's true. Okay. Okay.
Ed Kleese:ah. So I'm only going back to:Darin Hayes:I gotcha.
Ed Kleese:'re going all the way back to:, right? So this is a game in:The:st like they'll be playing in:And then somewhere in the third quarter, the skies darken and it is an absolute downpour to the level that I would imagine in today's football. They probably would have delayed it because it was such a massive thunderstorm. You can barely even see anything.
And then by the end of the game, it's bright and sunny again. So it's like this really weird thing to go check out on, on YouTube if you want. It is a very good game.
Doug Williams brings the Buccaneers back late in the game. He throws a touchdown with about two minutes left to give them the lead. The Bengals drive down, but fail on a fourth down conversion.
The Buccaneers win. So the Bucks have the one win over the Bengals in week one. And here's a little history question for you. Any idea who the.
Speaking of the:Darin Hayes:Was it Garo your Permian?
Ed Kleese:my YouTube deep dive into the:Darin Hayes:Wow, that is some deep research. Great job.
Ed Kleese:So this, this does go back to:time in week one. This was in:time previously. That was in:e. Now this only goes back to:That game was in Buffalo in:And a Monday Night Football game that wound up being a one point game in Arizona. The Cardinals won 18 to 17 on a fourth quarter comeback.
e only happened since I think:Sunday night football game in:your games that have only in:Darin Hayes:Wow. Now some interesting matchups if you think about the history here. You mentioned the Baltimore vs. Indianapolis and the Colts coming out of Baltimore.
Now the Ravens are there and also the jets and Titans. The original nickname for the jets franchise was the New York Titans when they were in the afl.
Ed Kleese:That's why you're here for things like that. Good catch.
Darin Hayes:Maybe the NFL did this on purpose. Just. Yeah, there you go.
Ed Kleese:There you go. There you go. Now we're going to go on to the Games, the matchups that have happened twice previously.
So this year will be the third time that these teams have met.
en in the same division since:s, not really interesting. In:And in:So both times this has happened before wound up being really bad years for the Rams. So obviously they'll be hoping for a different outcome this year.
Darin Hayes:Wow. Very, very good. I can't. Yeah.
That is unbelievable that The Rams and 49ers have only had that handful of times in, God, what, 60, 70 years that they've been in the same.
Ed Kleese:Right. Again, I only went to 80. You know what I mean? But.
Darin Hayes:Yes, that's right. Yeah. But still, 40, 40 some years.
Ed Kleese:Yes. So. So it's very strange. I. I would. I didn't. I did not do this. I did not go back and check every single divisional matchup of all time.
But I'm guessing that that's got to be near the bottom of the.
Or the top, however you want to look at it, of divisional matchups that have happened the least often in week one, sticking with the nfc, we have the Saints and the Lions. That's going to be a game. That's a week one game for us this year. They've only outplayed twice prior. That series is tied 1 1.
In:Drew Brees at 358 yards and six touchdown passes in Week 1. Of course, the Saints went on to win the super bowl that year and The Lions went 2 and 14.
a repeat of what happened in:Darin Hayes:Yeah, I bet they are.
Ed Kleese:How about we go to your neck of the woods, Darren? Kind of strange. I wouldn't have think this had happened more than once, but the Falcons and the Steelers have met twice in week one before.
Both somewhat recent.
nd let me just ask you, so in:Darin Hayes:In regulation combined, I'll say maybe four. I know, I know.
Ed Kleese:The 1 00.
Darin Hayes:Really?
Ed Kleese:These two games, the Steelers scored zero touchdowns.
Darin Hayes:The 2,010 was a Michael Vick game,.
Ed Kleese:I think, and they won them both. Darren. The Steelers are 20 in this matchup. They haven't scored a touchdown in regulation and they've won both games.
In:then you probably remember in:Darin Hayes:And that was when Kirk Cousins threw a couple picks there, a little bit rusty from his injury, right? Yeah.
Ed Kleese:three times in week one since:The Broncos are three. And oh, in those matchups, nothing really stuck out in terms of the game so much.
week one in Kansas City since:I went back farther on this one, Darren, because I was curious. They've only played each other in September seven times in 63 years.
Darin Hayes:Wow.
Ed Kleese:So not very many early season matchups between the Broncos and Chiefs, for whatever random reason it might be. And the first time they've ever opened against each other in Kansas City will be this year.
Darin Hayes:Nope, should be a good one. And this might be what, the last year for? Arrowhead, Right?
Ed Kleese:I can't remember when that's slated to open, but you might be right.
Darin Hayes:Okay, well, if it's not the last year, it's the second last year, correct?
Ed Kleese:Yep. So now we end with it. Now we're going to go up the ladder a little bit. This matchup has happened six times previously. It's an NFC north battle.
Used to be the NFC Central of course, that is the Green Bay packers and the Minnesota Vikings. This series is tied three games apiece. So the winner this year will break the tie there.
Darin Hayes:The.
Ed Kleese:t happen the first time until:me. Kind of interestingly, in:They ended the season against each other in Minnesota. Green Bay needed to win that game to get into the playoffs, and they lost. And the game did not mean anything to Minnesota.
in:e. And then most recently was:Darin Hayes:All right, wow, that is quite the rundown there, Ed. That's a great, great research on that.
Ed Kleese:Now we're going to end Aaron with the best because the last two are both come from the best division in football, the most interesting division in football, the most historic division in football, the NFC East. So that's where we're going to end both of our last two. The Commanders, formerly Redskins, of course, play the Eagles.
have played on week one since:It kind of interesting, in:'s been some good turnouts in:Darren, is if you go back to:They punted the ball on second down in that game and it was blocked.
Darin Hayes:Oh my gosh. That takes you back to over a hundred years ago when they used to punt. When you had bad field position, even on first down, they would punt.
Ed Kleese:So there you go, so there was second and 40. It was I think this May 86. I think it was Buddy Ryan's first game as coach. He was probably frustrated. He said, yeah, get out there.
And then it was blocked anyway. So kind of a disaster of a day for the Eagles, which warms my heart.
Darin Hayes:I'm sure it did.
Ed Kleese:All right, so we're going to end with the one that. Now this probably will not surprise you because it feels like these teams play week one every single year.
times in week one since:the Giants won was in I think:This the Cowboys wins run the gamut. There are some really amazing last second dramatic WINS. There are two shutouts, one that was 35 to nothing. One that was 40 to nothing. Interest.
g teams played in week one in:is one that I was looking at:Romo completely dominated this these games. And this is also kind of interesting, Darren. Eight of these ten games have been played at night, either Monday night or Sunday night.
hat will be the case again in:And I guess you could say Giants Cowboys is your winner of this countdown.
Darin Hayes:I guess so. But Ed, tremendous job folks. You can see Ed and hear him each week here during the season just like we did last year.
he podcast coming up for your:Ed, thanks a lot for joining us and we will talk to you again next week.
Ed Kleese:Thanks Darren.
Darin Hayes:That's all the football history we have today, folks. Join us back tomorrow for more of your football history.
We invite you to check out our website, pigskindispatch.com not only to see the daily football history, but to experience positive football with our many articles on the good people of the game as well as our own football comic strip cleat marks comics pigskindispatch.com there's also on social media outlets, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and don't forget the Big Skin Dispatch YouTube channel to get all of your positive football news and history. Special thanks to the talents of Mike and Gene Monroe, as well as Jason Neff for letting us use their music during our podcast.
Ed Kleese:This podcast is part of the Sports History Network, your headquarters for the yesteryear of your favorite sport. You can learn more@sportshistorynetwork.net that.
