Patriots Lose Inaugural Season Opener to Denver (9/6/60)

Not the way to start your first season if you're the Boston Patriots. In their first game in franchise history in the American Football League, the Boston Patriots lost to Frank Filchok's Denver Broncos. Patriots Head Coach Lou Saban dropped his first game to Denver primarily by not getting much offense in. Gino Cappelletti scored the first points in franchise history on a field goal but the Broncos scored 13 straight points to take a 13-3 lead in the third quarter. Patriots quarterback Butch Songin found Jim Corclough in the end-zone for a touchdown to cut the lead 13-10, but that's how the score remained. The Patriots had lost their first game in franchise history 13-10 to the Denver Broncos at Nickerson Field.

                                                              Program from the first game

The first quarter belonged to the Patriots. Lou Saban's defense led by linebacker Harry Jacobs mauled Broncos quarterback Frank Tripucka. At one point in the game, cornerback Chuck Shonta picked off Tripucka for a 52 yard interception return. The first points in franchise history were scored when receiver/safety/kicker Gino Cappelletti kicked a 35 yard field goal to put the Patriots up 3-0 going into the second quarter.

                                                            3-0 Patriots after one

The Broncos took the game over in the second quarter. The killing blow came when Tripucka tossed a pass to halfback Al Carmichael who scampered 52 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Denver defense kept Patriots quarterback Butch Songin off the board for most of the game. In fact, it was Denver defensive back Goose Gonsoulin's two interceptions that were vital for the Denver attack. At half-time, it was 7-3 Broncos.

                                                      Broncos take the lead

The Patriots tried to fight back in the third quarter with halfbacks Larry Garon and and Jim Crawford trying their best to run behind tackle George McGee, guard Charley Leo, center Walt Cudzik, guard Jack Davis and tackle Jerry DeLucca. Unfortunately Garon could only muster 26 total yards on the ground with Crawford gaining 29. Meanwhile Patriots punter Tom Greene boomed one to halfback Gene Mingo.....who took it back 76 yards for the backbreaking score. The Broncos missed the extra point but went into the fourth quarter up 13-3.

                                                  Broncos ice the game

By the fourth quarter Frank Filchok's defense punished Songin and the Patriots. The Patriots did manage to hang on with Patriots defensive tackle Bob Dee desperately trying to get to Tripucka. The Patriots did manage to score their first AFL touchdown when Songin found receiver Jim Colclough for a ten yard score. Cappelletti kicked the extra point and the Patriots trailed by just three points. That was as close as Boston got as the Denver defense held the rest of the way. The Broncos had won the game 13-10.

                                                                   Broncos win

Reaction:

That loss was a kick in the pants for sure. The Patriots kept the game close and even rallied when they were down 13-3 to make it 13-10. Unfortunately they couldn't make the plays they needed to when it mattered. Still, both scores they gave up could have been avoided. Carmichael had no business going 52 yards and who the hell let Mingo loose for a 76 yard romp. Patriots head coach Lou Saban has some work to do for sure because that was a very winnable game. 36 year old Butch Songin was just 12 for 24 with two interceptions, he could have done better. The offensive line didn't accomplish much either when their top two runners only gained 55 yards combined on the ground. The air attack didn't net much until the very end but this is what they got. Patriots owner Billy Sullivan put this team together, he's stuck with it for now. The loss drops the Patriots to 0-1 and next Saturday night the Patriots play their first road game in franchise history. The Patriots travel to the Polo Grounds to face the 1-0 New York Titans next Saturday at 1 PM.