This Day in Football History

2005 - Colts extend record to 11-0

The Indianapolis Colts improve to 11-0 with a 26-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.

On the Colts' first offensive play, quarterback Peyton Manning connects with wide receiver Marvin Harrison for an 80-yard score. Manning finishes the game 15-of-25 for 245 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

"The only thing we focused on was going out and playing the way we play: physical, smart, fast," Colts safety Bob Sanders says. "And today I think we did that better than any game this year.

"I think we did make a statement, because we played one of the most physical teams in the league."

The Colts finish the 2005 season with the best record in the AFC South at 14-2. They meet the Steelers again in the divisional round of the playoffs, but are eliminated by the soon-to-be Super Bowl champions.

2005 - Lions fire Steve Mariucci

After a disappointing 4-7 start to the season, the Detroit Lions fire Steve Mariucci and name defensive coordinator Dick Jauron as interim head coach.

The move comes two years after Mariucci signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Lions to replace Marty Mornhinweg, who compiled a 5-27 record in his two seasons with the team. Mariucci didn't fare any better, though, leading Detroit to a 15-28 record. 

"This is a brutal business and at times, good people suffer a cruel fate," team president Matt Millen says of the decision to fire Mariucci.

2004 - Rudi Johnson leads Bengals to 58-48 victory over Browns

Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson rushes for a career-high 202 yards and two touchdowns in a 58-48 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

The 106 combined points are the most in an NFL game since the 1970 merger.

"We kept putting them away, and they kept coming back," says Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who finishes the game with a then-career-high four touchdown passes. "We kept expecting them to slacken up, but they never did."

Birthdays

1942 - Paul Warfield
1948 - Vern Den Herder
1960 - Dave Duerson
1969 - Dale Carter
1970 - Todd Perry
1974 - Jason Ferguson
1978 - Artis Hicks
1992 - Jarvis Landry