August 23, 1999 and September 23, 2001 are two dates that are forever etched in NFL history. No one knew at the time what would unfold from that point forward.
August 23, 1999. Rams and Chargers. Third preseason game. Quarterback Trent Green of the Rams suffers a season ending knee injury. The Rams turn to unknown Kurt Warner. The man who previously was stocking shelves and played in the Arena League and NFL Europe, led the Rams all the way to the Super Bowl where they defeated the Tennessee Titans 23-16. Warner was the MVP of that game and won the NFL MVP award twice. He would take the Rams to another Super Bowl as well as the Arizona Cardinals. Green eventually left for Kansas City and enjoyed six decent seasons but not the same success as Warner.
September 23, 2001. Jets and Patriots. Week 2. Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe is hit by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis on a run. Bledsoe shears a blood vessel in his chest as a result and is replaced by Tom Brady. Brady played so well, he remained the starter and led the team to their first Super Bowl win (although Bledsoe did lead the Pats to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game when Brady left with an injury). Bledsoe was eventually traded to the Buffalo Bills. Brady would go on to win two more Super Bowls and win two MVPs along with other accolades.
Two dramatic events that forever changed NFL history. No doubt that if Green and Bledsoe were not injured, that the Rams and Patriots would not have won any Super Bowls (and in the Patriots case start a dynasty of sorts).
