This Date in NFL History

August 31
1997 -- Eddie George runs for 216 yards on 35 carries and scores a touchdown as the former Houston Oilers, playing their first game in Tennessee, beat Oakland 24-21 in overtime at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.


September 1
1996 -- The Carolina Panthers defeat the Atlanta Falcons 29-6 in their first regular season game at Ericsson Stadium.


September 2
1966 -- Joe Auer returns the opening kickoff 95 yards for a Miami touchdown in the Dolphins' first regular-season game, but Oakland wins 23-14 at the Orange Bowl before 26,776 spectators.


September 3
1970 -- The sports world grieves the death of Vince Lombardi who dies at age 57. Lombardi led the Green Bay Packers to an 89-29-4 record and the first two Super Bowl crowns in nine years. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.


September 4
1994 -- Miami quarterback Dan Marino throws five touchdown passes in the Dolphins' 39-35 win over New England to set an NFL record with his 18th game of four-or-more touchdown passes.


September 5
1994 -- San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice catches two touchdown passes and runs for another score in a 44-14 victory over the Raiders to surpass Jim Brown as the NFL's career touchdowns leader with 127.


September 6
1946 -- The All-America Football Conference begins regular season play as the Cleveland Browns beat the Miami Seahawks 44-0 before 60,135 at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium. The Browns, coached by future Hall of Famer Paul Brown, go on to a 12-2 record and win the first of their four AAFC championships before four of the league's teams join the NFL in 1950.

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