Q: In February 1916 the Germans attacked French defensive positions at the Battle of Verdun, lasting until December 1916. The Germans made initial gains, before French counter-attacks returned matters to near their starting point. Casualties were greater for the French, but the Germans bled heavily as well, with anywhere from 700,000 to 975,000 casualties suffered between the two combatants. Verdun became a symbol of French determination and self-sacrifice. The Battle of the Somme was an Anglo-French offensive of July to November 1916. The opening day of the offensive was the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army, suffering 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 dead. The entire Somme offensive cost the British Army some 420,000 casualties. The French suffered another estimated 200,000 casualties and the Germans an estimated 500,000. Gun fire wasn't the only factor taking lives; the diseases that emerged in the trenches were a major killer on both sides. The living conditions made it so that countless diseases and infections occurred, such as trench foot, shell shock, blindness/burns from mustard gas, lice, trench fever, cooties and the 'Spanish Flu'.
what is the history of opening day?

A: 1916-March-12

Q: After a tough home game against the Cowboys, the Steelers traveled to Cleveland for Game 1 against the Browns. In the first half, it was all Steelers starting in the first quarter when Chris Boswell made a 32-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. They would increase their lead in the second quarter when Boswell made a 33-yard field goal followed up by Le'Veon Bell running for a 1-yard touchdown with a successful two-point conversion to make it 6-0 and then 14-0 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Browns finally got on the board as Cody Parkey made a 24-yard field goal to make the score 14-3. The Steelers however pulled away as Boswell kicked a 22-yard field goal making it 17-3. In the fourth quarter, the Browns drew closer as backup QB Josh McCown threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Gary Barnidge (with a failed PAT) to make the score 17-9. However, later on, the Steelers sealed the game when Javon Hargrave recovered a fumble in the end zone to make the final score 24-9. With their four-game losing streak coming to a stop, the Steelers improved to 5-5. Also, they move back into a tie on top of the AFC North due to the Ravens' loss to the Cowboys. The defensewhich had only 13 sacks going into this gamemanaged to get eight in this game alone, as Cody Kessler and Josh McCown each got sacked four times.
How many yards longer was the longest field goal compared to the shortest?

A: 11

Q: With their Super Bowl title to defend, the Steelers began their season at home in the annual kickoff game against the Tennessee Titans. After a scoreless first quarter, Pittsburgh would get their first score of the season as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Super Bowl XLIII MVP wide receiver Santonio Holmes near the end of the second quarter. The Titans would respond with quarterback Kerry Collins completing a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Gage. Just prior to halftime, pro-bowl safety Troy Polamalu went to the locker room after suffering a knee injury. He would not return to the field and it would later be revealed that he strained his MCL. After a scoreless third quarter, Tennessee would take the lead in the fourth quarter as kicker Rob Bironas got a 45-yard field goal. Pittsburgh would tie the game as kicker Jeff Reed made a 32-yard field goal. With time running out, the Steelers drove down the field again, and lost the ball to a rare Hines Ward fumble, allowing the Titans to run the game into overtime. In overtime, the Steelers won the cointoss and never relinquished the ball. In the end, Pittsburgh emerged victorious as Reed nailed the game-winning 33-yard field goal. This also marked the first time that the Steelers were able to win against Collins.
How many field goals were kicked during the second half?

A: 3

Q: Following their win over the Lions, the Vikings went home for a Week 15 interconference fight with the New York Jets. In the first quarter, the Vikes took an early lead with QB Brad Johnson completing a 30-yard TD pass to WR Travis Taylor. However, the Jets struck back with RB Cedric Houston with a 6-yard TD run. In the second quarter, things got bad for Minnesota. First, New York got a 25-yard field goal from kicker Mike Nugent. Then, QB Chad Pennington completed a 21-yard TD pass to WR Laveranues Coles. Afterwards, Nugent would kick a 52-yard and a 45-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Jets' lead increased with Nugent's 20-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, rookie QB Tarvaris Jackson came in a completed a 35-yard TD pass to RB Mewelde Moore. That would be the only response from the Purple People Eaters. With the loss, the Vikings fell to 6-8.
Which quarterback threw the longest touchdown pass in the first half?

A:
Brad Johnson