1999: The Newborn Browns Stun America's Team
The narrative couldn't have been more lopsided. After a painful three-year hiatus, the Cleveland Browns were back in the NFL as an expansion team. Their very first game was the Hall of Fame Game against the still-glamorous Dallas Cowboys. While Dallas rested
most of its stars like Troy Aikman after the first quarter, the symbolism was potent. This was a brand-new Browns roster, built from the expansion draft and led by No. 1 overall pick Tim Couch, against the mighty Cowboys. What ensued was a moment of pure football poetry. Couch, after a shaky start, looked poised, finishing with 137 yards and a touchdown pass. The game went into overtime, and with rookie Daylon McCutcheon's second interception setting up the final drive, the Browns secured a 20-17 victory. For a city that had lost its team, this win, even in a meaningless exhibition, felt like everything.
2003: Kansas City's Defense Stymies the Packers
On paper, this matchup seemed to favor the Green Bay Packers, who were coming off a 12-4 division-winning season. The Kansas City Chiefs were a respectable but not dominant 8-8 team the prior year. What made this result an upset was not just the win, but the manner of it. In a game shortened by lightning and rain, the Chiefs' defense completely shut down the Packers, resulting in a 9-0 victory. While stars like Brett Favre saw only limited action, a shutout is a rarity in any context. The only points in the weather-shortened contest came from the leg of veteran kicker Morten Andersen, who booted three field goals. It was an early sign of what was to come for Kansas City, which would start the regular season on a 9-0 winning streak, largely fueled by a high-powered offense that was still finding its footing in this defensive preseason battle.
2008: Washington Dominates the Mighty Colts
The Indianapolis Colts were the class of the AFC for a decade, a perennial powerhouse led by Peyton Manning and fresh off a 13-3 season. The Washington Redskins (now Commanders) were a solid 9-7 team but were not considered to be in the same class. The game was also played on an emotional weekend, as Redskins legends Darrell Green and Art Monk were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Washington channeled that energy into a stunningly dominant performance, defeating the Colts 30-16. While the superstars watched, Washington's depth shone. Quarterback Jason Campbell led an efficient opening touchdown drive, and rookie Colt Brennan later threw two touchdown passes in the second half to pull away. A late-game interception returned for a touchdown sealed the convincing win and gave Washington fans an unexpected celebration to cap off a historic weekend for the franchise.
2015: The Vikings Handle a Contender
This game featured two teams on different trajectories from the previous season. The Pittsburgh Steelers were an 11-5 division winner and a legitimate AFC contender. The Minnesota Vikings were a 7-9 team still building around their young quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. But in the preseason opener, those records meant nothing. The Vikings controlled the game from start to finish, securing a decisive 14-3 victory. Bridgewater played only one series but looked sharp, completing five of his six passes. The game's key moments belonged to Minnesota's backups and rising players. A 34-yard touchdown pass from Mike Kafka and a 62-yard punt return by rookie Stefon Diggs that set up another score highlighted the Vikings' superior depth and readiness on the night. For a team looking to take the next step, convincingly beating a respected franchise like the Steelers was a significant confidence boost to kick off their preseason.
