The Boston Patriots of the newly-formed American Football League made their debut at BU Field as the Patriots dropped a 13-10 decision to the Denver Broncos.
A lively crowd of 21,587 left disappointed after the Patriots, who had defeated the Broncos handily in a preseason clash just a couple of weeks earlier, were unable to generate much offense. Wide receiver/place-kicker Gino Cappelletti scored the first points in Patriots history with a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter to put Boston on top, but the Broncos used a pair of big plays to forge a 13-3 third-quarter lead.
Al Carmichael took a screen pass from quarterback Frank Tripuka and raced 59 yards for a touchdown, and Gene Mingo returned a Tommy Greene punt 76 yards for another score. The Patriots countered with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Butch Songin to Jim Colclough late in the third to get within 3 at 13-10, but Boston's last-ditch effort was snuffed when Songin's pass was intercepted at the Denver 2 late in the game.
