50 Fun Facts About 2010s NFL

Which team opened the decade by upsetting the Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010?

It was the first major pro championship for a New Orleans team, and Drew Brees was MVP.

What surprise play did the Saints open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV with?

Thomas Morstead's kick was recovered, and Tracy Porter's 74-yard pick-six later sealed the win.

The 2010 Packers became the first team to reach the Super Bowl as what?

They went 10-6, beat Pittsburgh 31-25 in Arlington, and Aaron Rodgers was named MVP.

The 2011 Giants had the worst regular-season record of any Super Bowl champion. What was it?

They beat the 13-3 Patriots 21-17 on Ahmad Bradshaw's late touchdown, a rematch of Super Bowl XLII.

The Ravens–49ers championship game of February 2013 was nicknamed what, after its coaches?

John Harbaugh's Ravens beat brother Jim's 49ers 34-31 after a 34-minute power outage that also produced the name 'Blackout Bowl'.

How long was Jacoby Jones's record kickoff-return touchdown to open the second half of Super Bowl XLVII?

Moments later the Superdome lights went out for 34 minutes and the 49ers rallied to within five.

By what score did the Seahawks crush the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII?

Cliff Avril's safety came 12 seconds in, the fastest score in Super Bowl history, and Seattle led 36-0 before Denver got on the board.

Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium was the first played where?

East Rutherford, New Jersey hosted; the weather turned out mild.

Which Patriots cornerback intercepted Russell Wilson at the goal line to win Super Bowl XLIX?

Seattle's decision to throw from the 1-yard line rather than hand off to Marshawn Lynch is still called one of the worst calls ever.

Which Broncos linebacker was MVP of Super Bowl 50, Peyton Manning's final game?

The defense sacked Cam Newton seven times and forced four turnovers in a 24-10 win; the NFL dropped Roman numerals for that one game.

From what deficit did the Patriots come back to beat the Falcons in Super Bowl LI?

They scored 25 unanswered points and won 34-28 in the first Super Bowl overtime; Tom Brady threw for a record 466 yards.

Which Patriots running back set Super Bowl records with 14 receptions and 20 points in Super Bowl LI?

He also scored the walk-off touchdown in overtime.

The Patriots' 13-3 win over the Rams in February 2019 holds what record?

Sony Michel scored the only touchdown; the Rams became just the second Super Bowl team not to score a touchdown.

How old was Sean McVay, the youngest head coach in Super Bowl history, at Super Bowl LIII?

He lost to a 66-year-old Bill Belichick, who was winning his sixth title.

Whom did the Chiefs beat in Super Bowl LIV for their first title in 50 years?

Kansas City trailed 20-10 entering the fourth quarter and scored 21 unanswered; Patrick Mahomes was MVP.

'Deflategate' arose from the Patriots' win over which team in the AFC Championship Game of January 2015?

Tom Brady eventually served a four-game suspension in 2016; the team was fined $1 million and lost two draft picks.

How many games was Tom Brady ultimately suspended for over Deflategate?

A district court voided it for 2015, but the Second Circuit reinstated it and he sat out the start of 2016.

Which head coach was suspended for the entire 2012 season over the Saints' 'Bountygate' scandal?

He was the first head coach ever suspended by the league; defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was banned indefinitely.

The 2012 'Fail Mary' game, decided by replacement officials, was won by the Seahawks over which team?

Golden Tate and M. D. Jennings both grabbed Russell Wilson's Hail Mary; two officials signalled differently. The referee lockout ended two days later.

Which Jets quarterback ran into his own lineman's backside in the 2012 'Butt Fumble'?

On Thanksgiving night the Patriots turned three Jets fumbles into three touchdowns in 52 seconds of game time.

Which Vikings receiver caught the 61-yard walk-off 'Minneapolis Miracle' touchdown in 2018?

Case Keenum threw it and Saints safety Marcus Williams whiffed; it was the first playoff game ever to end on a touchdown as time expired.

Which Dolphins running back scored on the multi-lateral 'Miracle in Miami' in 2018?

Ryan Tannehill hit Stills, who lateraled to Parker, who lateraled to Drake, who ran past a badly positioned Rob Gronkowski.

Marshawn Lynch's 67-yard 'Beast Quake' touchdown in January 2011 came against which team?

He broke nine tackles and the Seattle crowd's celebration registered magnitude 2.0 on a nearby seismometer.

Tim Tebow's 2011 Broncos beat the Steelers on an 80-yard overtime touchdown pass to whom?

It came on the first play of overtime; Tebow later won a legal battle for the trademark on 'Tebowing'.

How many rushing yards did Adrian Peterson finish with in 2012, nine short of Eric Dickerson's record?

He did it a year after tearing his ACL and MCL and was named MVP.

How many receiving yards did Calvin Johnson post in 2012 to set the single-season record?

He was the highest-paid receiver in the league at the time and had just beaten Cam Newton for the Madden 13 cover.

How many touchdown passes did Peyton Manning throw in his record 2013 season with Denver?

He also set the yardage record with 5,477, then lost Super Bowl XLVIII to Seattle.

Which 49ers quarterback began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality?

He never played another NFL game after that season and later settled a collusion grievance with the league.

Which Colts quarterback shocked the league by retiring at 29, two weeks before the 2019 season?

He had just been Comeback Player of the Year, but cited an endless cycle of injury and rehab.

Which team left St. Louis and returned to Los Angeles for the 2016 season?

Los Angeles had been their home from 1946 to 1994; San Diego's team followed a year later.

After how many years in San Diego did the Chargers play their last season there in 2016?

They joined the Rams in Los Angeles in 2017.

Which player did the Ravens release in 2014 after a domestic assault video surfaced?

He won his appeal of the indefinite ban but never played in the NFL again.

Which Seahawks secondary of the 2010s was nicknamed the 'Legion of Boom'?

They powered six straight winning seasons, two NFC titles and the Super Bowl XLVIII rout.

How many times did J. J. Watt win Defensive Player of the Year in his first five seasons?

He even caught three touchdown passes on offense for the Texans in 2014.

With what record did the Panthers, led by MVP Cam Newton, reach Super Bowl 50?

They had the league's top offense and beat Arizona 49-15 in the NFC title game before running into Denver's defense.

How long did the NFL lockout, the decade's major labor dispute, last?

Owners locked players out from March 12 to July 25 over the salary cap, revenue sharing and rookie pay; no games were lost.

Which team's Super Bowl 50 win made it eight straight seasons with different NFL champions?

The Patriots ended the streak by winning again the next year.

Against which team did Patrick Mahomes make his NFL debut and first start, on December 31, 2017?

He won 27-24 in a meaningless finale, then took over from Alex Smith and was MVP in 2018.

The 2019 campaign was celebrated as which milestone for the NFL?

An NFL 100 emblem went on every jersey and the Bears marked their own centennial as a charter member.

Which record did the Oakland Raiders set in the 2016 season?

The 23 flags cost them 200 yards.

Which quarterback was named Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth time in Super Bowl LI, at age 39?

He set records that night for attempts (62), completions (43) and passing yards (466).

Which Seahawks defensive end scored a safety on the first play from scrimmage of Super Bowl XLVIII?

A snap sailed past Peyton Manning 12 seconds in, the fastest score in Super Bowl history.

Which Colts receiver caught the 64-yard TD capping the 28-point playoff comeback against Kansas City in 2014?

It was Luck's first home playoff game and the second-largest comeback in postseason history.

Which Saints defensive coordinator was suspended indefinitely for running the Bountygate program?

The suspension was overturned the following year; general manager Mickey Loomis also sat out eight games.

Which venue hosted the first Super Bowl in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Super Bowl XLV in 2011?

Now AT&T Stadium; the Packers beat the Steelers 31-25 there.

Which backup quarterback caught a touchdown on the "Philly Special" trick play in Super Bowl LII?

Foles had taken over after Wentz's December ACL tear; the Eagles' 41-33 win was their first Super Bowl title.

The Packers' Super Bowl XLV win gave them how many NFL championships, then a league record?

Green Bay beat the Steelers 31-25 at Cowboys Stadium in February 2011, their first title since Super Bowl XXXI.

Which player became the first publicly gay man to be drafted into the NFL, in 2014?

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year at Missouri went to the Rams in the seventh round but was cut before the season.

On the final day of the 2017 season, which team ended an 18-year playoff drought, the NFL's longest?

They still lost 10-3 to Jacksonville in the Wild Card round, stretching their playoff-win drought to 22 years.

How old was Lamar Jackson when he became the youngest quarterback ever to start an NFL playoff game?

He took over from an injured Joe Flacco as a rookie in 2018 and won the division; his unanimous MVP came the next season.