December 17

In this edition of the Football History Headlines, we discuss a couple of BIG controversial games that came down to an official's judgment on a call.  We also cover some write ups on some fantastic performances by players, some even record breaking as well as many more Legendary Pigskin stories.

As we flip the calendar page, we delve into another chapter of pigskin history. From legendary comebacks that defied the odds to record-breaking performances that left fans speechless, remarkable moments unfolded on this very date. So, buckle up and get ready to relive iconic plays, celebrate trailblazing athletes, and revisit the captivating stories that continue to shape the ever-evolving narrative of professional football. Let's lace up our cleats and journey back in time to witness the incredible feats that transpired on this historic day in the NFL!

December 17, 1933 - Wrigley Field, Chicago - The First National Football League Championship Title Game that the League scheduled before the season started is played per ESPN.com.  A Title game was played in 1932 but it was thrown together in a week at the end of the season. The Football History Headlines for December 18 will go into detail about the 1932 contest.  In the closing minutes, with the ball on the Giants' 33-yard line, Bronko Nagurski throws a jump pass to end Bill Hewitt, who reaches the 19, when he makes a long lateral to the other end, Billy Karr. Eluding two Giant defenders, Karr races into the end zone for his second touchdown, giving the Bears the lead. The pass play was extremely controversial as to where Nagurski was when he threw the ball. At the time of this contest one rule that constituted a legal forward pass was that the person throwing the ball had to be at least five yards or more behind the line of scrimmage when they released the ball forward.  At the League Meetings later in 1933 the "Bronko Nagurski Rule" was created in which a forward pass is legal anywhere from behind the line of scrimmage like it is currently in all levels of football.  Anyhow back to the end of the 1933 Championship game. In the final seconds, The Galloping Ghost, Red Grange preserved Chicago's 23-21 victory with a touchdown-saving tackle. The Chicago Bears defeated the New York Football Giants, 23-21. This game also helped other rules at the 1933 meetings to be instituted. The NFL divided into two divisions and these top two teams in each would meet for the title. The hash marks were moved and so were the goal posts to open the game up a little bit to provide more action, similar to what the ever popular collegiate game was doing at the time. The game set an NFL record of six lead changes in a championship game which still stands at the time of this writing in 2020. The champs eached received $210.34 and the Giants pocketed a cool $170 each for participating in the game.

December 17, 1944 - Polo Grounds, New York City - The NFL Championship game had the Green Bay Packers visiting the New York Football Giants. The website GoldenRankings.com has a superb write up on the game. According to the article World War II stripped many fine players from the rosters of all NFL teams as they went to serve their country. Retired players that were not involved with the military were recruited by all teams just to be able to put enough to field a team.It was the Packers won  this tightly contested game 14-7 for 6th and final championship title under their legendary coach Curly Lambeau.

December 17, 1972  -  Denver Broncos Quarterback Charley Johnson tosses three touchdown passes to help the Broncos more than double up the New England Patriots 45-21. The story complete with video can be found at denverbroncos.com.

December 17, 2000 - Terrell Owens of the 49ers caught a single game receiving record of 20 receptions for 283 yards against the Chicago Bears per an ESPN.com story.  Owens broke the previous record of 18 set by Tom Fears in 1950 with the Rams.  

December 17, 2017 - It was the scheduled matchup that most NFL fans were licking their chops for all season long. The 11-3 New England Patriots invaded Heinz Field to take on the 11-3 Pittsburgh Steelers. These two teams had little fondness for each other and the game did not disappoint its billing as it gave a game that came right down to the wire and added to its legacy by having a controversial play being at its pinnacle according to a NY Times article written the day after the game. With 56 seconds remaining in the game the Patriots took the lead on an 8 yard run by Dion Lewis. Tom Brady connected on a pass with Rob Gronkowski to convert the two point attempt and the Pats were up 3. The Steelers started their drive after the kickoff from their own 21 yard line. Ben Roethlisberger connected with Rookie Receiver Ju-Ju Smith Schuster on a crossing route who with some crazy moves took the ball deep into New England territory. New excitement filled the stadium after the 69 yard pass play! On the very next play Big Ben found Tight End Jesse James for an apparent score. However after review the official overturned the touchdown declaring the pass incomplete and an interception of a tipped pass a few plays later gave the Patriots the victory. Tony Corrente, the game’s referee, when asked later why the TD did not stand said a lack of contact by a defender on James was irrelevant. ”As he hit the ground, the ball began to roll and rotate and the ball hit the ground,” Corrente said, “that’s the end at that point.” The NFL rule has since been modified and if the exact play occurred now, it would have been a touchdown.

December 17, 2021 - The new strains of COVID-19, the Delta as well as the Omicron Variants, effected many thing in life around the world and this time it postponed three NFL regular season games.

• The Las Vegas Raiders versus Cleveland Browns tilt that had been scheduled for Saturday December 18 in the 4:30 PM EST slot was moved to Monday at 5PM as the Browns had over 20 players in the COVID protocol which prevented them to partiicipate in any in person team activities. 
• The Washington Football Team and the Philadelphia Eagles NFC East matchup was also resceduled to be played a few days later than first expected. On Tuesday December 21 the two will face off, also delayed because of a pandemic outbreak with the players and coaching staffs.
• The Seattle Seahawks and LA Rams NFC West contest is also a schedule delay casualty of COVID-19 as their game too was postponed until Tuesday December 21, 2021 from its originally scheduled day of December 19.