The first pre-season game of the year is Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the annual Hall of Fame Game. You have to be a true NFL fan to get even remotely excited about this game, but any fan will appreciate these interesting facts about this annual affair in Canton, Ohio in conjunction with the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The Denver Broncos have played in three Hall of Game games and have a record of 1-2. Their last appearance was 2004 when the played the Washington Redskins. Here's seven more little known facts about the NFL Hall of Fame Game.

  • The Hall of Fame Game has been played every year since 1962 - except for 1966 when there was no game because the pre-season schedule wasn't made up in time to get the game scheduled, and in 2011 when the game between Chicago and St. Louis was cancelled because of the NFL lockout.
  • The Pittsburgh Steelers have appeared in 6 Hall of Fame Games - more than any other team in the league.
  • The Washington Redskins have the most wins going 5-0, while the Chicago Bears have the second most wins with a record of 4-0
  • The Baltimore Ravens are the only team never to play in a Hall of Fame Game, though the Baltimore Colts did before moving to Indianapolis
  • One game ended in a "thrilling' scoreless tie - that was San Diego and Green Bay in 1980. It was the first time that at least one team failed to score. Since then there have been four shutouts.
  • The very first game between the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals ended in a 21-21 tie.
  • The Detroit Lions haven't played in the game since 1991, which is currently the longest absence from the game in the league

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