Scrimmage Downs Established
October 21, 1882 - Major Rules revision occurred per historian Parke H. Davis in his book 'Football: The American Intercollegiate Game". The game was changed from the "Block Game" which since there was not a set number of downs and distance, teams like Princeton developed the style of play where they could snap the ball and gain no ground and keep the ball for an entire half of a game to keep an undefeated record. Walter Camp proposed that the offensive team be required to advance the ball at least five yards in three scrimmage downs and these down-and-distance rules, combined with the establishment of the line of scrimmage, transformed the game from a variation of rugby football into the very different and unique game of American football.
Dryer gets a deuce ... twice
October 21, 1973 - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - Fred Dryer of the then Los Angeles Rams became the first player in NFL history to score two safeties in the same game. In an article on barstoolsports.com it is found that going into the 1973 Week 6 matchup with the Pack the LA Rams were 5-0, while the Packers were 2-1-2. By the fourth quarter, the Rams were in a comfortable position, taking a 20-7 lead. As the game was winding down, Fred Dryer took down quarterback Scott Hunter in the end zone. On the next possession, Dryer sacked backup Jim Del Gaizo for another safety for a final score of 24-7. A few days later, Fred Dryer was named NFL Defensive Player of the Week.
Newsome Starts Streak
October 21, 1979 - Ozzie Newsome begins his NFL streak of 150 consecutive games with a reception. In a UPI article by Thomas M. Burnettrich dated October 29, 1989 about the game when the streak ended on October 29, 1989. The story goes that Newsome was injured after the first Cleveland offensive play in the second half and had not had a reception in the first half against the Oilers. Newsome, by his own choice, decided not to go back into the game to try and preserve the streak with a short reception. The Browns prevailed without their star receiver contributing on the stat line as they cruised to a 28-17 victory over the Houston Oilers.
Cox Boots a Franchise Record
October 21, 1984 - Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio - Cleveland Browns' Steve Cox sets club record with a 60-yd field goal. The amazing thing was that Cox was the punter and kick off guy on the Brown’s roster that season, Matt Bahr was the field goal and extra point kicker. Bahr had booted a 50 yarder earlier in the first quarter, but with time waning in the 2nd stanza, the Brown’s faced a fourth down and were just out of the range of Bahr’s accuracy. Since Cox had a powerful kick off leg Cleveland decided to trot him out there for the attempt. The NFL rule for placing the ball at the spot it was kicked from after a missed field goal was not present in that era, so with 28 seconds left on the clock, the worst that would probably occur on a miss would be a touchback. Cox’s kick went through and knotted the game at the half 6-6. The Bengals however managed to come on in the second half and won the game 12-9.
Biggest NCAA Comeback Ever!
October 21, 2006 - Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois - The Michigan State Spartans set an NCAA record when they staged a comeback victory after being down by 35 points. According to Enacademic.com the Spartans scored 38 unanswered points after trailing the Wildcats of Northwestern by the score of 38-3 at the 9:54 left in the 3rd quarter. Michigan State back up quarterback Bryan Hoyer came off the bench to help his team escape with a 41-38 'W".
Bironas Nails 8
October 21, 2007 - Reliant Stadium, Houston Texas - Tennessee Titans kicker Rob Bironas sets NFL record for most points scored in a game without a TD by a player, with 26. Everyone of Bironas’s 8 field goals were needed as the Titans defeated the Houston Texans by the close score of 38-36 win.
