Early agate
ON THIS DATE
Dec. 24
1950 – Cleveland’s Otto Graham throws four touchdown passes, despite icy footing in Municipal Stadium, and Lou Groza kicks a 16-yard field goal with 28 seconds left to give the Browns a 30-28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and the NFL title in their first year in the league.
1961 – George Blanda’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Billy Cannon gives the Houston Oilers a 10-3 victory over the San Diego Chargers for their second AFL title.
1997 – In one of the biggest upsets in college basketball, NCAA Division II American-Puerto Rico defeats No. 12 Arkansas 64-59 in the Puerto Rico Holiday Classic.
Dec. 25
1971 – Garo Yepremian’s 37-yard field goal at 7:40 of the second overtime gives the Miami Dolphins a 27-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the AFC playoffs. At 82:40, it’s the longest game in NFL history.
1979 – Eric Schubert kicks three field goals and Dan Marino throws a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ralph Still as Pitt beats Arizona 16-10 in the Fiesta Bowl.
2007 – Ben Roethlisberger passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns as the Pittsburgh Steelers clinch a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs with a 34-6 victory over Houston.
2016 – Ben Roethlisberger shakes off a pair of interceptions to throw two late touchdowns, including a 4-yard strike to Antonio Brown with 9 seconds remaining to lift the Steelers to a 31-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Brown catches Roethlisberger’s pass just short of the goal line and stretches the ball into the end zone with his left hand to cap a wild fourth quarter and give Pittsburgh the AFC North title. The win is the 600th regular-season victory in franchise history. Roethlisberger also becomes the 10th player in NFL history to throw for at least 300 career touchdowns.