Pigskin Dispatch

The NFL History That Hasn't Happened Since 1933 in 2026 Week 8

Yes, a historic game this past week takes us back to when FDR was President. Ed Kleese joins us in the wacky games, plays, and history made in week 8 of the 2026 NFL season. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Remember Early Football Disasters and the Safety Lessons Learned

Historian Timothy Brown recounts the worst stadium disaster in United States football history: at Recreation Park in San Francisco in 1900 a roof over a glass factory collapsed, 23 people died, and the game continued. I explain that many early stadiums and temporary bleachers were made of wood and other weak materials. We describe multiple collapses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including large falls at Yale–Princeton and several Wisconsin games. I note that Harvard Stadium was an early move to reinforced concrete to prevent such failures. We reflect that modern steel and aluminum stands make these tragedies rare today. I invite listeners to read more of my research at footballarchaeology.com and to follow Pigskin Dispatch for related history. The conversation is based on Tim's recent article titled: Bleacher Collapses - https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/bleacher-collapses-and-other-stadium-tragedies ⏰ Chapter Times ⏰ 00:15 The Glass Factory and the Fatal Rooftop Collapse 01:32 Bleacher Collapses: Early Football Tragedies 08:02 Modern Stadiums — Design, Capacity, and Safety 09:19 Bleacher Collapses and Early Stadium Tragedies (1902–1906) 11:34 Kingdome Roof and Other Stadium Disasters 13:15 Find Tim's Work — FootballArchaeology.com and Books Do you want more football history? Grab a copy of our Award-Winning book, "The World's Greatest Pro Gridiron Team: The 1903 Franklin All-Stars" at https://amzn.to/4rG6uVe Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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Showcasing a Remarkable University of Tennessee Football Collection

Our guest Bill Harb's unwavering dedication to the preservation of University of Tennessee football history, manifested through an expansive collection that penetrates into the early twentieth century. We recount that Harb, a native Knoxvillian who first attended a game at age nine, has methodically assembled and researched artifacts that range from pre-1950 programs and photographic plate books to game balls and jerseys. We examine emblematic pieces—most notably a multi-signed copy of the 1951 Cotton Bowl photograph and Bowden Wyatt’s circa-1938 jersey salvaged from a barn—which together anchor the biographical narratives of players, coaches, and fans. I elucidate additional treasures, including a 1940s band bass drum, a 1930 Tennessee–Vanderbilt photo book annotated with General Neyland’s exacting notes, fragments of historic goalposts, and Rose Bowl memorabilia, each item serving as a conduit to tactical, cultural, and social histories of the program. We emphasize the historiographical import of Harb’s endeavor: by curating and contextualizing fragile ephemera he mitigates the loss of southern football artifacts predating 1900 and counters the erosive effects of digitization on material culture. I invite the audience to consider this work as stewardship of collective memory and to pursue further engagement with these histories through pigskindispatch.com. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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Tracing How Knute Rockne Changed College Football

I was astonished by Andy Nickle’s extraordinary collection of Knute Rockne artifacts and by how clearly those items show Rockne’s decisive impact on college football. I spoke with Andy Nickle, a Notre Dame alum and collector, who described Rockne’s innovations such as the forward pass, the shift, and his promotion of the game. We recount Rockne’s rise from a Norwegian immigrant and postal clerk to the coach who put Notre Dame on the national map. Andy described specific artifacts in his care, including Rockne’s contracts, passport, telegrams, the watch he wore when he died, a 1916 Victrola, his signature hat, and the lone 1888 Notre Dame game program. We point listeners to Andy’s website for images, a nine-episode Rockne podcast, and a rare Walter Cronkite documentary with original Rockne film clips. I stress that preserving and sharing these items keeps Rockne’s legacy available to fans and scholars today. FInd out more and see and hear Andy's collected piece at www.RockneandMore.com UPDATE CORRECTION: After publishing Andy, apologizes for errantly for saying that umpiring the baseball game with Rock was George Halas when it in actuality was his brother Walter Halas. Walter was on the athletic department staff at ND at the time. ⏰ Chapter Times ⏰ 00:05 Introducing Andy Nickle — Notre Dame & Knute Rockne Collector 00:59 Collecting Notre Dame: The Story and Legacy of Knute Rockne 09:38 Sharing the Collection — Website, Podcast and Rare Cronkite Documentary 17:30 More Than a Coach: Rockne's Many Roles 29:15 Men, Moments, and Myths — Andy’s Book on Coach Rockne Do you want more football history? Grab a copy of our Award-Winning book, "The World's Greatest Pro Gridiron Team: The 1903 Franklin All-Stars" at https://amzn.to/4rG6uVe Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Predict Winners and Covers for Week 8

We are deadlocked straight up through seven weeks at 60-46-1, and I hold a clear advantage against the spread. We present our weekly prediction show for week eight and lay out picks for the slate. I state that Green Bay will handle Carolina and that Buffalo should win while Baltimore covers the points. We split on a few upsets, with Arizona getting my upset pick at Dallas and Ed favoring the Cowboys. I note key divisional tests such as Detroit versus Minnesota and the Chiefs at Denver as pivotal games at the midseason point. We also discuss betting cautions, roster changes, and which divisions look wide open as teams approach the halfway mark. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. We open the program by delimiting our current records and the dual methodology by which we adjudicate weekly prognostications. I recount the ledger that details both straight-up outcomes and results against the spread. We explain the financial calculus employed to contextualize our picks, including the vig on losing wagers, and we underscore the parity that has emerged between us in straight-up selections while acknowledging a differential in spread success. This preface supplies a metric for the listener to evaluate the commentary that follows and imparts a sober frame for our prognostic discourse. We proceed to a systematic exposition of the slate for Week Eight. I and my colleague offer discrete selections for each contest, sometimes in concordance and at other times in dissent. We articulate rationales that pivot on home-field advantage, recent form following byes, roster stability, and particular matchup vulnerabilities. Notable content includes an insistence on the tendency of sizeable favorites to cover, a reluctance to ascribe recovery to persistently underperforming clubs, and a willingness to identify specific upset possibilities. The segment concludes with an admonition to regard these assessments as provisional and subject to revision as injuries and market forces evolve.

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We Reveal Week 7 Scoragami Results and Rare Final Scores

We emphasize the primary development: Week 7 featured the first NFL game played in France, a lively matchup between the Steelers and the Saints. We recount several historic moments, including major upsets, significant comeback wins, and new rushing records. I describe the Ravens’ collapse after a large halftime lead and the Bengals’ 35‑point second half. We note key milestones such as Aaron Rodgers passing Peyton Manning in career touchdown passes and Cleveland’s strong start with Deshaun Watson leading late game drives. I report the Jets’ alarming late‑half point differential, the Chiefs’ unusually low output in Seattle, and Minnesota remaining the only undefeated team. We also review our Scorigami findings from Week 7 and invite listeners to our Week 8 prediction show. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. We open with a measured appraisal of Week Seven and the durable significance of recent events. I recount the inaugural NFL contest staged in France and the robust play that accompanied that historic site. I describe the Steelers and Saints meeting as both athletic and consequential. I relate the Ravens’ collapse against the Bengals and emphasize its rarity by noting historical parallels that reach back to 1950 and earlier. I observe Aaron Rodgers’ career milestone and situate it within the greater context of international play and franchise record keeping. I summarize the Browns’ promising start under DeShone Kizer and DeSean Watson’s late drives that have altered outcomes. I comment on the Jets’ alarming point differential in the closing minutes of halves and frame that datum as evidence of systemic coaching and clock-management weakness. I note the Giants’ positive trajectory, Patrick Mahomes’ uncharacteristically limited output in Seattle, and the Vikings’ undefeated status and emergent resilience. I close by inviting the audience to consult our forthcoming week eight predictions and to engage with our wider historical coverage at pigskindispatch.com.

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Tracing the Origins of Presidential Attendance at College Football Games

We state that William McKinley was the first president-elect to attend a college football game, which he did at the Wisconsin versus Carlisle contest on December 19, 1896 at the Chicago Coliseum. I explain that he traveled to Chicago to join family and that the game drew an estimated eight to sixteen thousand spectators. I note that Carlisle defeated Wisconsin eighteen to eight and that this appears to have been the only football game McKinley attended. We also describe that Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting president to attend a game with the 1901 Army–Navy contest, and that William Howard Taft was the first president to attend a non–Army–Navy game. I invite listeners to consult footballarchaeology.com for further details and to join us for additional explorations of football history. The conversation is based on Tim's recent article titled: First President-Elect to Attend a College Football Game - https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/todays-tidbit-earliest-president ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 00:11 The First President-Elect to Attend a Football Game 00:36 McKinley: The First President-Elect to Attend a College Football Game 04:36 McKinley's Assassination and the Presidential Presence at Football Games 06:47 From Presidential Attendance to Modern Celebrity Culture 08:27 Visit PigskinDispatch.com — website, social media & comics Do you want more football history? Grab a copy of our Award-Winning book, "The World's Greatest Pro Gridiron Team: The 1903 Franklin All-Stars" at https://amzn.to/4rG6uVe Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Connect a 100-Year Football Story to Today

I recount a centennial episode from October 1926 in which thirteen East High players, led by their captain known as "Blubber" Sullivan, boycotted a scheduled contest over the appointment of local officials, were summarily suspended from all athletics by school authorities, and were subsequently reinstated after parental and administrative arbitration, a sequence that reveals the tensions between student agency and institutional control in early American high‑school football. We relate how the boycott nearly foreclosed the season, how Coach Gus Anderson elected to continue the campaign with alternate personnel, and how the restored team proceeded to a defensive stalemate against Academy High, a contest characterized by extraordinarily low yardage totals. I explicate Gus Anderson’s enduring significance to Erie football, noting his prodigious coaching record across East and McDowell and the later commemorations of his legacy in local athletic infrastructure. We connect this historical vignette to contemporary developments, including the renaming of the former Gus Anderson Field and the ongoing community engagement of alumni such as James Conner, thereby demonstrating the continuity of local gridiron culture across a century. I present these recollections as part of our broader endeavor at Pigskin Dispatch to elucidate football history through day‑by‑day and year‑by‑year narratives, and we invite listeners to consult our timelines for further contextualization. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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He Pivoted Senior Trivia Into Comprehensive Football Guides

I introduced Steve Vernon, author of the Fan Edge IQ Football books, which teach football terms and strategy through trivia questions, clear answers, and IQ notes. We discussed that volumes 1A and 1B contain about 500 questions each and are organized as multiple choice quizzes with explanations. Steve explained that he used AI to help generate and edit the questions and that the books are meant to educate both new and experienced fans. We described the books as useful coffee table reference tools and as teaching aids for coaches and young players. I told listeners the books are titled Fan Edge IQ Football, are available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback, and that Spanish editions are offered in neutral Spanish. We will include links in the show notes and recommend searching for Steve L. Vernon on Amazon. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. I welcomed Steve Vernon to the Pig Pen to discuss his Fan Edge IQ series and the genesis of his football trivia volumes. I describe how Steve developed the idea while running trivia sessions at a retirement community and how that weekly engagement evolved into hundreds of curated questions. He explains the dual structure of the books: multiple-choice questions paired with explanatory answers and IQ notes that provide historical context and practical insight. I emphasize the clarity of examples such as coverage schemes and no-huddle strategy, which illustrate how the books educate both novice and seasoned fans. I outline Steve's process for assembling the volumes. He recounts using AI as an efficient research and drafting partner to generate and refine questions, then applying his own editorial direction to ensure varied and pedagogically useful multiple-choice items. I note the book design choices that make the text useful as a reference: a question-based index that directs readers to specific items, bilingual editions in English and neutral Spanish, and formats available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. I conclude by summarizing the intended audiences and practical uses. I state that the books function well as coffee-table references, teaching aids for youth athletes and coaches, and entry points for new fans seeking to learn terminology and strategy. I underscore Steve's aim to preserve and explain football language and history while offering accessible tools for learning and conversation.

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We Pick 49ers, Browns, and Key Covers for Week Seven

We present our Week Seven NFL predictions and picks and lead with the main point that we are issuing game-by-game forecasts and tracking both straight-up and against-the-spread results. I state that Ed holds a one-game lead in straight-up picks and that our against-the-spread tracking shows Ed would be up $920 while I would be down $1,810. We go through individual game picks, including Bears over Patriots, Steelers over Saints, 49ers over Falcons, Browns over Titans, Vikings over Colts, Jets over Dolphins, Panthers over Bucs, Bengals over Ravens, Texans over Giants, Broncos over Cardinals, Lions over Packers, Rams over Raiders, Chiefs over Seahawks, and conflicting calls on Eagles vs Cowboys. I note broader themes and concerns such as trouble in the NFC West, the impact of injuries to key wide receivers, and how thin margins can change team fortunes. We invite listeners to follow our picks and to return next week for results and new predictions. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Recap Week Six: Upsets, Records, and Injuries

We report that Week Six featured significant upsets, multiple record-setting performances, and a wave of injuries, and notably the Buffalo Bills became the first team ever to win four of their first six games while conceding 30 or more points in four separate contests. I emphasize that this anomaly underscores Josh Allen’s extraordinary influence on the Bills’ offense and the extent to which his play forces high-scoring contests. We also review historic trends, including an unprecedented back-to-back winless stretch for an entire division and the Jets’ prolonged futility in New England. We note franchise milestones such as Caleb Williams surpassing the Bears’ previous passing record and individual achievements like Kenneth Walker’s recent scoring run. We record the Eagles’ sudden slide amid injuries and the emergence of rare final scores, including a 25–14 Panthers victory that ranked among the week’s least common outcomes. We will reconvene to offer week seven predictions and further analysis. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

Revealing the Forgotten Origins of the Cal–Stanford "Big Game"

I spoke with Timothy Brown of FootballArchaeology.com and we trace the Cal–Stanford rivalry to 1892, which produced the first intercollegiate game west of the Rockies. I explain that Cal played clubs and schools in winter and spring until Stanford’s arrival shifted the season, and that early contests sometimes used rugby rules. I recount striking details, including a game at the Haight Street Grounds that was delayed 75 minutes because no one brought a ball and the existence of a “Little Big Game” for freshmen. I note that safety and rule controversies in 1906 led many institutions to suspend football, and that Cal and Stanford resumed varsity play in 1915 and 1919 respectively. I invite listeners to consult footballarchaeology.com for additional research and archival material. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

We Unpack the True Origins of the Redskins and Commanders

I welcome author Mike Richman to unpack his Washington Pro Football Encyclopedia, Redskins and Commanders, the definitive history that traces the team name origins, helmet logo evolution, and the recent return of Native American imagery. Mike explains that the Redskins name arose from three factors: a move to Fenway and a link to the Red Sox, the hiring of coach Lone Star Dietz and Native players, and a 1929 silent film titled Redskin. We review the many helmet designs over time, including the spear, the single R, and the composite chief portrait that became the long‑standing logo. He highlights the book’s new material, which adds season summaries through 2025, expanded player biographies, and sidebars on events such as Sean Taylor’s death and Alex Smith’s recovery. I note that the franchise has begun restoring traditional burgundy and gold, that Redskins merchandise recently sold out to retain the trademark, and that further restoration of imagery or the name may occur with the new stadium. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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Revealing the NFL's Winningest and Worst Franchises Since 1970

Professor Perry presents the definitive accounting of every NFL franchise’s wins and losses since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, foregrounding the achievement of teams that have reached or approached the 500-win threshold. We delineate that the Pittsburgh Steelers lead the modern era with roughly 530 victories and that the Dallas Cowboys likewise sit above 500 wins, while franchises such as the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals have eclipsed approximately 500 regular-season defeats. I explain the metric of cumulative championships and win–loss totals as the principal lens, and I contextualize anomalies caused by franchise absences and historical schedule variations. We trace franchise trajectories, noting, for example, the Raiders’ temporary fall below .500 and Pittsburgh’s sustained ascendancy that places it well ahead of peers. I describe the book as an annually updated reference that compiles season-by-season records, winning percentages, and interpretive commentary, and I indicate that copies are available on Amazon with the option for author signatures. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Predict a Rams Bounce Back and Chiefs Control Their Game

The central point is that we present our Week Six NFL game predictions and discuss the betting results to date. I am Darren Hayes and I am joined by Ed Cleese as we make picks both straight up and against the spread. We note that Ed leads the spread standings and has net winnings, while I have sustained losses. We give specific game calls, including Seahawks over Broncos, Texans over the Jaguars in London, and New Orleans over the Giants, and we debate several close contests. We review team form, injuries, and coaching impacts and offer cautious guidance on wagering. We invite you to visit PigskinDispatch.com for more history and analysis and we will return with further predictions next week. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. We present a focused and methodical review of our Week Six prognostications and the reasoning that undergirds each selection. I recount the ledger of our season to date, noting that Ed presently leads in both straight-up and spread success and that the financial accounting we maintain has yielded divergent outcomes for our listeners depending upon whether they follow spread advice. We proceed to adjudicate each game in chronological order: Seattle at Denver, Houston in London versus Jacksonville, Chicago at Atlanta, Baltimore at Cleveland, Tennessee at Indianapolis, New England at New York, New Orleans at New York, Philadelphia at Carolina, Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Rams at Arizona, Kansas City at Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo at Las Vegas, Dallas at Green Bay, and San Francisco at Washington. I supply succinct verdicts on winners and likely covers, and we emphasize prudence where uncertainty prevails, especially in rivalry matchups and contests impacted by travel and recent emotional swings.

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NFL History is Made- Week 5 in the Rear View Mirror

Ed Kleese joins us as we review the history-making Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season. Ed rants about his Commanders' blunder, and we enjoy the week's best moments. Of course, the Scorimangi Index score is released. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Uncover the Rams' 1948 Horns and Why Few Noticed

Timoth Brown if Football Archaeology joins me to state plainly that helmet logos were not immediate: the Los Angeles Rams painted horns on their helmets in 1948 and the change went largely unnoticed until decades later. Tim explains why early teams often put markings on the back or top of helmets and why the side logo only became standard later. We trace scattered experiments in the 1920s and 1930s, the Rams’ 1948 horns, and the slow adoption by NFL teams through the 1950s and early 1960s. We conclude that television visibility, the need for clear team identification on small black-and-white sets, and the rise of licensing and branding drove the widespread use of side helmet logos. We note that colleges delayed widespread logo use because of TV numbers and inconsistent placement until the late 1960s and 1970s. The conversation is based on Tim's recent article titled: The Horns of the Rams’ Dilemma - https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/the-horns-of-the-rams-dilemma Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Trace the Bears' Story from 1920 to Today

Scott Pery and his alter ego, Professor Perry, join us to trace the Chicago Bears' history, focusing on the team's lineage since 1970, based on findings from Scott's book NFL Since 1970. Learn the amazing journey that the Bears have had in Scott's life's work of monitoring NFL teams and the W/L records since 1970. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Predict Key Upsets: Chargers, Jets, and Commanders

Guest Ed Kleese and I present our Week Five 2026 NFL prediction show, focusing on our game-by-game forecasts and the current state of our records. I note that Ed holds a substantial advantage against the spread, having a hypothetical profit of $530 versus my $-940 when wagering $100 per pick. We enumerate key selections, including Dallas over Tampa Bay, Jacksonville favored in London over Philadelphia, and the Bengals to prevail in Miami, and we offer opinions on who will cover the lines. I underscore concerns about the Eagles’ faltering offense and the league’s prevailing unpredictability, which we observe can lead to rapid reversals of fortune. We identify several consequential matchups later in the week, such as 49ers at Seahawks and Bills at Rams, and we close by inviting listeners to consult pigskindispatch.com for additional analysis and to join our subsequent history and prediction segments. Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website.

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We Explain the NFL's 0‑4 Teams and Their 1976 Echoes

We observed that five teams began the season 0-4, the first time that has occurred since 1976. Guest Ed Kleese identifies those teams as the Dolphins, Texans, Titans, Chargers, and Bucks. We also noted that the Minnesota Vikings opened 4-0 and recorded two wins without scoring a touchdown, a feat not seen since the 1934 Detroit Lions. I examined several rare score facts, including a 32–26 finish that has only happened twice in NFL history and a near-scoragami weekend. We reviewed other historical items such as the Bears earning three wins in four games with three different starting quarterbacks and the Chiefs’ early defensive anomaly of no sacks through three games. I closed by inviting listeners to join our preview and predictions for Week 5. Chapters 00:11 Ed Kleese: Week 4 NFL History (2026) 03:23 The 4–0 Teams: Vikings' Defensive Oddity & Early Surprises 08:59 The Bills in the Josh Allen Era 11:38 Night Games & NFC South Highlights 16:32 Scoregami: The Week's Rarest Final Scores Don't forget to check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for additional content and the regular Football History Minute Shorts. Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't, because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. Do you want more football history? Test your Gridiron Knowledge, we feed you Daily with our new FREE activity, The Pigskin Trivia Drive. Grab a copy of our latest book, "Marooned," on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons NFL franchise saga. *OR* Grab a copy of our book on Western Pennsylvania football history, "World's Greatest Gridiron Team" on the 1903 Franklin All-Stars Drop us a line at PigskinDispatch@gmail .com and check out and subscribe to the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel. Contact us directly at PigskinDispatch@Gmail.com Miss our football by the day of the year podcasts, well, don't because they can still be found at the Pigskin Dispatch website. We recount a weekend of NFL history and its surprising patterns. Ed and I focus on the unusual cluster of 0-4 teams and on the 4-0 teams that have distinguished themselves. We note that five teams started 0-4, a situation last seen in 1976, and we trace the fate of those old teams to show how rare long recoveries can be. I describe the 1992 San Diego Chargers who reached the playoffs after an 0-4 start. I also examine the Vikings’ early success. We highlight defensive feats, such as the Vikings winning games without scoring touchdowns and the Detroit Lions’ 1934 shutout run. We weigh the prospects for teams like the Texans, Chargers, and Buccaneers, which were expected to do better, and we contrast them with Minnesota and Kansas City, who look balanced and dangerous. The summary emphasizes history, context, and the lessons that form from these trends.

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