OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Hurkman · 09-09-2009, 12:24 AM

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Oakland Raiders (10-6) vs. New York Jets (10-6)
Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA

For the first time since 1998, the New York Jets had made it to the postseason. Head coach Herman Edwards had come in, and in his first season, made the Jets back into a respectable football team. At age 38, Vinnie Testaverde was on his last legs, but he still managed to throw for over 2,700 yards and 15 touchdowns. Curtis Martin rushed for 1,513 yards and ten scores while John Abraham and Aaron Glenn helped the New York defense record 39 turnovers, good for second in the league. They would need all the defensive help they could get against the Oakland Raiders, who had become one of the best offensive teams in football. Oakland's older offense seemed to tire out at the end of the season, as a they closed the year with a three game losing streak, but they were confident that they could turn it around for the playoffs. Rich Gannon passed for over 3,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, and Tim Brown had been joined at wideout by Jerry Rice. The two future Hall of Famers each recorded over 1,100 receiving yards and each had nine touchdowns. If the Raiders did have a weak point, it was their defense, which finished in the bottom half of the league in just about every statistical category.

The powerful Oakland offense wasted little time in attacking the New York defense. Rich Gannon needed just three plays to find Jerry Rice for a 44 yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game to put the Raiders ahead. Oakland's defense looked to have the Jets stopped on their first possession, but a running into the kicker penalty gave New York the ball back, and John Hall nailed a 43 yard field goal to put the Jets on the board. It wouldn't take long for the Raiders to respond, as their next drive also resulted in points. This time, Gannon used a mix of passes, as well as runs by Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley to move downfield. The ten play, 70 yard drive ended with a 27 yard touchdown pass from Gannon to tight end Roland Williams, and Oakland had a 14-3 lead. The Raiders would find the end zone on their next drive as well, as Gannon hit Charlie Garner on the first play of the drive for a 55 yard touchdown. The Jets would answer back, as Curtis Martin broke free for a 20 yard run on New York's next possession, which set up John Hall's second field goal of the game. From there, the Raiders would finally stall on offense, as Sebastian Janikowski missed a 46 yard field goal on their next possession, and the Jets would force a punt on the final Oakland possession of the first half. However, New York couldn't score again for the rest of the first half, either. John Hall's 49 yard field goal try sailed to the left as time expired in the first half, leaving the Raiders up 21-6 at the break.

The Jets knew that they needed to score quickly in the second half, but their offense was still having trouble getting started as the third quarter began. The Raiders defense forced a quick three and out, then had their offense move down the field once again. Charlie Garner put Oakland in field goal range with a 31 yard run, only for Sebastian Janikowski to miss a 41 yard kick, ending the drive. This time, the Jets were able to move into Oakland territory. Two big passes from Vinnie Testaverde to Laveranues Coles and Anthony Becht put New York at the Oakland nine yard line, but Charles Woodson intercepted Testaverde on the next play, killing the drive off right before the Jets could find the end zone. Rather than run the ball, the Raiders elected to move downfield on the arm of Rich Gannon, and he was happy to oblige. Passes to Tim Brown, Jerry Rice and Jon Ritchie moved Oakland into New York territory and this time, Janikowski was able to finish the 12 play, 79 yard drive with a field goal to put Oakland up 24-6. A quck three and out by the Jets on their next drive turned out to be their undoing, as the Raiders would take five minutes off the clock and move just 31 yards in eight plays, but it was close enough for another Janikowski field goal midway through the fourth quarter. New York would not threaten again, and the Raiders were headed to the second round of the AFC Playoffs with a win over their old rivals.

Final Score: Oakland-27 New York-6

Real Life Score: Oakland-38 New York-24

Miami Dolphins (11-5) vs. Balimore Ravens (10-6)
Pro Player Stadium, Miami, FL

The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens had gone through some dramatic changes during the offseason. Trent Dilfer had been let go, and was replaced by Elvis Grbac, who had made the Pro Bowl the year before with the Chiefs. Grbac couldn't find the same success he had in Kansas City, finishing the year with only 15 touchdowns compared to 18 interceptions. Terry Allen and Jason Brookins shared the running back duties, thanks to an injury to Jamal Lewis. Qadry Ismail and Shannon Sharpe provided Grbac with weapons to throw to, but the main strength was still the Baltimore defense. While the Ravens did allow more points in 2001, the defense still ranked at the top of the NFL in yards and points allowed, and Ray Lewis had firmly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins had managed to get back into the playoffs as well, and this time, they were looking for a win. Jay Fiedler had guided Miami to an 11-5 record, and while his 20 touchdowns and 19 interceptions weren't going to make people forget Dan Marino, he was at least filling Marino's shoes. Lamar Smith rushed for almost 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns, while rookie Chris Chambers had become Fiedler's favorite target, brining in 48 catches for 883 yards. The Miami defense was also solid, as Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor and Patrick Surtain helped guide the Dolphins into the top third of defenses in the NFL.

Defense was the name of the game throughout the first half of play. Neither offense could get much going, as both Elvis Grbac and Jay Fiedler faced tremendous pressure from the opposing defense. The Ravens got their offense going first, thanks to Shannon Sharpe bringing in two passes for 31 yards, but Matt Stover missed a 47 yard field goal to keep Baltimore off the board. The Dolphins attempted to answer with a drive of their own, but the Ravens not only stopped Miami, they took the ball back from them on a failed fourth down conversion. This time, Grbac found Travis Taylor for 30 yards, and Stover wouldn't miss, nailing a 37 yard field goal for the first points of the game. Olindo Mare would miss a 40 yard field goal attempt on the next Miami drive, but a Terry Allen fumble on the second play on the next Baltimore drive gave the Dolphins new life. Even though Miami didn't gain a single yard, the Dolphins were in field goal range, and Mare nailed a 37 yard kick to tie the score. From there, neither team could get close to scoring again, with the only threat ending on a Brock Marion interception of Grbac and midfield. As the game went to the half, it had lived up to its hype as a defensive struggle, as it was a 3-3 tie.

The defensive theme picked up in the second half right where it had left off in the first half. On the first play of the third quarter, Elvis Grbac was intercepted by Zach Thomas, giving the Dolphins the ball inside Baltimore territory. Despite only picking up four yards in three plays, Olindo Mare was able to kick a 50 yard field goal that gave Miami their first lead of the game. The Miami defense would come through again on the next Baltimore drive, blocking Kyle Richardson's punt at the Baltimore 27 yard line. Once again, the Dolphins could only gain four yards in three plays, and once again, Olindo Mare came out and kicked a field goal, putting the Dolphins up 9-3 despite Miami only gaining eight yards on their three scoring drives. Miami looked to be driving again on their next possession, but Travis Minor fumbled the ball away at the Baltimore 20 yard line, and the Ravens took advantage. Elvis Grbac was finally able to find open receivers for the first time all day, and a 43 yard pass from Grbac to Shannon Sharpe put the Ravens at the Miami 12 yard line early in the fourth quarter. However, the Dolphins held tough on defense, and Baltimore had to settle for a Matt Stover field goal that cut the Miami lead to just three points. The Ravens would get just one last possession, and after moving into Miami territory with just over two minutes to play, Baltimore elected to punt on a fourth down and 11. The Dolphins would hold onto the ball for the rest of the game, running out the clock and knocking out the defending Super Bowl champions.

Final Score: Miami-9 Baltimore-6

Real Life Score: Baltimore-20 Miami-3

AFC Divisional Playoffs

New England Patriots (11-5) vs. Oakland Raiders (10-6)
Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA

The New England Patriots were one of the most interesting stories of the 2001 NFL season. In the middle of a Week 2 loss to the New York Jets, quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured, and second year quarterback Tom Brady, a sixth round pick, was forced to come in and play. After guiding the Patriots to what seemed to be a respectable 5-5 start to the season, Brady and the Patriots would go on a six game winning streak that resulted in an AFC East title and a first round bye in the playoffs. Brady finished the season passing for 2,843 yards and 18 touchdowns. He did have help, thanks to running back Antowain Smith, who picked up 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns, as well as a bend, but don't break defense that finished in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed, but sixth in points allowed. A heavy blizzard was on tap for the game against the Oakland Raiders, potentially negating the powerful passing attack of Oakland and giving the advantage to the Patriots.

Sure enough, it was the Patriots that came out in the snow and marched downfield on their first drive. Antowain Smith and Marc Edwards moved the ball toward midfield before Tom Brady hit Troy Brown on a screen pass that turned into a 25 yard gain. Smith picked up 22 yards on his next two carries, and Kevin Faulk finished the drive with a six yard touchdown run that put New England ahead early. The weather proved to be a problem early for the Oakland offense, as Rich Gannon couldn't get into a groove against the New England defense in the snow. The first two Oakland drives ended in punts, and the Patriots moved downfield again following the second punt. Two quick passes from Brady to Troy Brown put New England inside Oakland territory, and runs by Smith, Faulk and David Patten put the Patriots at the one yard line. From there, the Oakland defense stepped up, as William Thomas intercepted Tom Brady in the end zone, cutting the drive off at the cusp of the goal line. Though the Raiders would not score on that possession, they would on their next one, following a fumble by David Patten. Rich Gannon found his footing in the snow and completed a short pass to Tim Brown that turned into a 41 yard gain. Three plays later, Gannon hit Jerry Rice for a 13 yard touchdown and the game was tied. Kevin Faulk returned the kickoff to the New England 40 yard line, and from there the Patriots moved 40 yards in seven plays. Adam Vinatieri's 40 yard field goal closed out the scoring for the first half, and put New England back up going into the locker rooms.

Though the Raiders had been stopped cold by the New England defense in the first half, Rich Gannon knew it was just a matter of time before he got warmed up. The first drive of the second half just so happened to be when Gannon began to warm up. The Oakland quarterback started the drive with a 16 yard pass to Jerry Rice, then, after runs by Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley, he hit Garner for a ten yard gain to the New England 37 yard line. From there, the running game of Wheatley and Garner would do the rest, putting the Raiders in field goal range for Sebastian Janikowski. His 36 yard field goal tied the score midway through the third quarter. The Patriots looked as if they would answer on their next drive, but Tom Brady made his second mistake of the game and was intercepted by Eric Allen inside Oakland territory, ending the drive. The Raiders would take advantage of the mistake, running the ball seven straight times on the seven play drive. With the New England defense back on their heels, Charlie Garner burst into the end zone from nine yards out early in the fourth quarter, and the Raiders had their first lead. Oakland would add to their lead midway through the quarter, thanks to a poor New England punt. Rich Gannon would need only two plays to find Jerry Rice for a 19 yard touchdown, and the game was, for all intensive purposes, over. The Patriots would not threaten on their next two possessions, and the story of Tom Brady came to a close, at least for 2001.

Final Score: Oakland-24 New England-10

Real Life Score: New England-16 Oakland-13/OT (The Tuck Rule Game)

Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-5)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

It had been four seasons since the Pittsburgh Steelers had made it to the NFL postseason, and now they were back with a new stadium, but the same style of play. Three Rivers Stadium had been replaced by Heinz field, but many of the players were still the same. Kordell Stewart remained at quarterback, and had passed for 3,109 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for over 500 yards and five touchdowns. Jerome Bettis finished with over 1,000 yards, but an injury would keep him out of the game. Instead, the running back duties would fall to Amos Zereoue and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala. The Steelers also had a pair of 1,000 yard receivers in Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress, and their defense was again at the top of the NFL. Pittsburgh allowed just 212 points on the season, and finished first in the league in yards allowed. Defensive Rookie of the Year Kendrell Bell, as well as Joey Porter, Jason Gildon and Chad Scott looked like they would be the second coming of the Steel Curtain defense from the 1970s, and provided Jay Fiedler and the Miami Dolphins with a very tough challenge coming into their playoff matchup.

Just as it had been the week before against the Ravens, defense was the name of the game early for both the Steelers and Dolphins. Without Jerome Bettis, the Pittsburgh offense couldn't really get started, while the Miami offense was just struggling against the powerful Steeler defense. The Dolphins caught a break late in the first quarter when Kordell Stewart was intercepted by Scott Gaylon inside Pittsburgh territory. Miami drove 20 yards in six plays, which was more than enough for Olindo Mare to kick a 31 yard field goal for the first points of the game. The Steelers would answer in their typical fashion: with a long, punishing scoring drive. The 15 play, 71 yard drive lasted over nine minutes and featured just five passing plays, including Kordell Stewart's nine yard touchdown pass to Troy Edwards that put the Steelers ahead. Pittsburgh would use the passing game more on their next drive as Stewart ran the two minute offense to perfection in setting up a 41 yard field goal by Kris Brown as time expired in the first half.

Yet again, the defenses of both teams reigned supreme in the third quarter. The Dolphins had an early chance to move closer, thanks to a 22 yard run by Lamar Smith, but Olindo Mare missed a 49 yard field goal. Pittsburgh would get the next chance, moving into field goal range early in the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins were ready and blocked Kris Brown's field goal attempt to keep the score 10-3. The only problem was that the Miami offense was unable to pick up a single first down for most of the fourth quarter. The blocked field goal resulted in a three and out, which was followed by another three and out, and then two failed fourth down conversions by the Dolphins. While Pittsburgh was also unable to move the ball, they had the lead, and the clock was winding down. With just under two minutes to play, the Steelers punted the ball back to Miami, downing it at the Miami five yard line.

Staring at a hostile defense with 95 yards needed to tie the game, Jay Fiedler reached down and pulled out a legendary drive. A 15 yard face mask penalty on the Steelers moved the Dolphins away from their own end zone, and a 14 yard pass from Fiedler to James McKnight put the ball at the 36 yard line. Two plays later, Fielder hit Oronde Gadsden for 44 yards, moving the Dolphins to the Pittsburgh 20 yard line. Three plays later, there was one second on the clock and the Dolphins were staring at a fourth down from the Pittsburgh 19 yard line. Fiedler dropped back to pass and hit Chris Chambers in the end zone for the touchdown. Olindo Mare's extra point was good, and a stunned Heinz Field crowd watched at both teams got ready for overtime.

After stunning the Steelers on their last drive, the Dolphins would make sure Pittsburgh wouldn't even touch the ball again on offense. Miami won the coin toss, and needed just two plays to deliver a back breaking blow. A 72 yard pass from Jay Fiedler to Lamar Smith easily put the Dolphins in field goal range, and three plays later, Olindo Mare put the finishing touches on one of the most exciting stretches of play in NFL history with his 22 yard field goal. Miami was headed to the AFC Championship, while the Steelers were left to wonder what had gone wrong with just two minutes to play.

Final Score: Miami-13 Pittsburgh-10/OT

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-27 Baltimore-10

AFC Championship Game

Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA

Oakland Raiders (10-6) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-5)

An old school 1970s matchup was on tap for the 2001 AFC Championship. The Miami Dolphins had made it to the doorstep of the Super Bowl by the skin of their teeth, winning two defensive struggles by three points, including a game against the Steelers that they tied on the final play of regulation. Jay Fiedler had continued his solid play in the postseason, while the Miami defense had pushed their game to another level. They would need to push even harder against the potent Oakland offense, which had taken out two AFC East opponents already on their way to their first AFC Championship since the 1993 season.

At the start, it was the Oakland offense that had the advantage over the Miami defense. After forcing a quick Miami punt and returning the ball to the Miami 43 yard line, the Raiders needed just three plays to find the end zone. Rich Gannon hit fullback Jon Ritchie for a 15 yard touchdown that put Oakland up early. The Dolphins were able to answer with a ten play, 54 yard drive of their own. While they couldn't get into the end zone, they were able to move into field goal range for Olindo Mare, and his 32 yard field goal put Miami on the board. The Raiders would move into Miami territory again on their next drive, but Sebastian Janikowski missed a 44 yard field goal. The Dolphins looked to take advantage of the mistake by Oakland, but the offense could not get started, and Jay Fiedler was intercepted by Tory James, ending the drive. However, the Miami defense would stop the Oakland offense in their tracks and force a punt. This time, Fiedler used Lamar Smith to pound the Raider front seven and passed only when necessary. The 11 play, 74 yard drive took seven minutes off the clock and ended with Mare's second field goal of the first half. The Dolphins looked like they had all the momentum on their side when Jerry Porter fumbled the ball on the next Oakland possession, but Miami attempted a fourth down conversion at the Oakland 35 yard line and Travis Minor was stopped at the line, putting an end to the promising drive. With just over a minute left in the half, the Raiders would waste little time as Gannon found Charlie Garner and Tim Brown for big gains. Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 46 yard field goal with just three seconds to play in the first half, increasing Oakland's lead to 10-6 and giving them the momentum heading into the third quarter.

The Oakland momentum spilled right over into their first drive of the second half. Two passes from Rich Gannon to Roland Williams put the Raiders in field goal range, and Sebastian Janikowski's 38 yard field goal increased their lead. Jay Fiedler was able to move the Dolphins into Oakland territory on Miami's next drive, but it stalled at the Oakland 35 yard line, and Dave Wannstedt elected to go for the fourth down conversion again. Once again, it failed, giving the Raiders excellent field position. Once again, the Raiders took advantage of the poor choices by the Dolphins, as Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley punished the tiring Miami defense. Janikowski's third field goal of the game put Oakland up 16-6 and had giving the Raiders even more momentum heading into the fourth quarter. The Dolphins looked like they were going to answer on their next drive, as Lamar Smith finally found running room and broke a 22 yard run to start things off. Facing a third and eight from the Oakland 26 yard line, Fiedler looked like he had found Chris Chambers for a touchdown, but a holding penalty took the points off the board. Miami would have to settle for another Olindo Mare field goal, rather than the touchdown. The Raiders would make the Dolphins pay for their penalty mistake, driving 61 yards in 11 plays while taking seven minutes off the clock. Rich Gannon threw just two passes, one to Jerry Rice, the other to Tim Brown, while Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley did most of the work. The drive ended with another Sebastian Janikowski field goal, but with only three minutes to play, Miami was in a very deep hole. The Dolphins would strike, as Fiedler hit Lamar Smith in the end zone for a ten yard touchdown pass, but with only three seconds to play, it was too little, too late. As the final three seconds clicked down, the Raiders were able to celebrate their first AFC title in 18 seasons, while the miracle run of the Dolphins had come up just short.

Final Score: Oakland-19 Miami-16

Real Life Score: New England-24 Pittsburgh-17 (In Pittsburgh)

09-09-2009, 12:24 AM	#205 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	2001 AFC Playoffs: Remember when Tom Brady was just some guy? AFC Wild Card Playoffs Oakland Raiders (10-6) vs. New York Jets (10-6) Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA For the first time since 1998, the New York Jets had made it to the postseason. Head coach Herman Edwards had come in, and in his first season, made the Jets back into a respectable football team. At age 38, Vinnie Testaverde was on his last legs, but he still managed to throw for over 2,700 yards and 15 touchdowns. Curtis Martin rushed for 1,513 yards and ten scores while John Abraham and Aaron Glenn helped the New York defense record 39 turnovers, good for second in the league. They would need all the defensive help they could get against the Oakland Raiders, who had become one of the best offensive teams in football. Oakland's older offense seemed to tire out at the end of the season, as a they closed the year with a three game losing streak, but they were confident that they could turn it around for the playoffs. Rich Gannon passed for over 3,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, and Tim Brown had been joined at wideout by Jerry Rice. The two future Hall of Famers each recorded over 1,100 receiving yards and each had nine touchdowns. If the Raiders did have a weak point, it was their defense, which finished in the bottom half of the league in just about every statistical category. The powerful Oakland offense wasted little time in attacking the New York defense. Rich Gannon needed just three plays to find Jerry Rice for a 44 yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game to put the Raiders ahead. Oakland's defense looked to have the Jets stopped on their first possession, but a running into the kicker penalty gave New York the ball back, and John Hall nailed a 43 yard field goal to put the Jets on the board. It wouldn't take long for the Raiders to respond, as their next drive also resulted in points. This time, Gannon used a mix of passes, as well as runs by Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley to move downfield. The ten play, 70 yard drive ended with a 27 yard touchdown pass from Gannon to tight end Roland Williams, and Oakland had a 14-3 lead. The Raiders would find the end zone on their next drive as well, as Gannon hit Charlie Garner on the first play of the drive for a 55 yard touchdown. The Jets would answer back, as Curtis Martin broke free for a 20 yard run on New York's next possession, which set up John Hall's second field goal of the game. From there, the Raiders would finally stall on offense, as Sebastian Janikowski missed a 46 yard field goal on their next possession, and the Jets would force a punt on the final Oakland possession of the first half. However, New York couldn't score again for the rest of the first half, either. John Hall's 49 yard field goal try sailed to the left as time expired in the first half, leaving the Raiders up 21-6 at the break. The Jets knew that they needed to score quickly in the second half, but their offense was still having trouble getting started as the third quarter began. The Raiders defense forced a quick three and out, then had their offense move down the field once again. Charlie Garner put Oakland in field goal range with a 31 yard run, only for Sebastian Janikowski to miss a 41 yard kick, ending the drive. This time, the Jets were able to move into Oakland territory. Two big passes from Vinnie Testaverde to Laveranues Coles and Anthony Becht put New York at the Oakland nine yard line, but Charles Woodson intercepted Testaverde on the next play, killing the drive off right before the Jets could find the end zone. Rather than run the ball, the Raiders elected to move downfield on the arm of Rich Gannon, and he was happy to oblige. Passes to Tim Brown, Jerry Rice and Jon Ritchie moved Oakland into New York territory and this time, Janikowski was able to finish the 12 play, 79 yard drive with a field goal to put Oakland up 24-6. A quck three and out by the Jets on their next drive turned out to be their undoing, as the Raiders would take five minutes off the clock and move just 31 yards in eight plays, but it was close enough for another Janikowski field goal midway through the fourth quarter. New York would not threaten again, and the Raiders were headed to the second round of the AFC Playoffs with a win over their old rivals. Final Score: Oakland-27 New York-6 Real Life Score: Oakland-38 New York-24 Miami Dolphins (11-5) vs. Balimore Ravens (10-6) Pro Player Stadium, Miami, FL The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens had gone through some dramatic changes during the offseason. Trent Dilfer had been let go, and was replaced by Elvis Grbac, who had made the Pro Bowl the year before with the Chiefs. Grbac couldn't find the same success he had in Kansas City, finishing the year with only 15 touchdowns compared to 18 interceptions. Terry Allen and Jason Brookins shared the running back duties, thanks to an injury to Jamal Lewis. Qadry Ismail and Shannon Sharpe provided Grbac with weapons to throw to, but the main strength was still the Baltimore defense. While the Ravens did allow more points in 2001, the defense still ranked at the top of the NFL in yards and points allowed, and Ray Lewis had firmly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins had managed to get back into the playoffs as well, and this time, they were looking for a win. Jay Fiedler had guided Miami to an 11-5 record, and while his 20 touchdowns and 19 interceptions weren't going to make people forget Dan Marino, he was at least filling Marino's shoes. Lamar Smith rushed for almost 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns, while rookie Chris Chambers had become Fiedler's favorite target, brining in 48 catches for 883 yards. The Miami defense was also solid, as Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor and Patrick Surtain helped guide the Dolphins into the top third of defenses in the NFL. Defense was the name of the game throughout the first half of play. Neither offense could get much going, as both Elvis Grbac and Jay Fiedler faced tremendous pressure from the opposing defense. The Ravens got their offense going first, thanks to Shannon Sharpe bringing in two passes for 31 yards, but Matt Stover missed a 47 yard field goal to keep Baltimore off the board. The Dolphins attempted to answer with a drive of their own, but the Ravens not only stopped Miami, they took the ball back from them on a failed fourth down conversion. This time, Grbac found Travis Taylor for 30 yards, and Stover wouldn't miss, nailing a 37 yard field goal for the first points of the game. Olindo Mare would miss a 40 yard field goal attempt on the next Miami drive, but a Terry Allen fumble on the second play on the next Baltimore drive gave the Dolphins new life. Even though Miami didn't gain a single yard, the Dolphins were in field goal range, and Mare nailed a 37 yard kick to tie the score. From there, neither team could get close to scoring again, with the only threat ending on a Brock Marion interception of Grbac and midfield. As the game went to the half, it had lived up to its hype as a defensive struggle, as it was a 3-3 tie. The defensive theme picked up in the second half right where it had left off in the first half. On the first play of the third quarter, Elvis Grbac was intercepted by Zach Thomas, giving the Dolphins the ball inside Baltimore territory. Despite only picking up four yards in three plays, Olindo Mare was able to kick a 50 yard field goal that gave Miami their first lead of the game. The Miami defense would come through again on the next Baltimore drive, blocking Kyle Richardson's punt at the Baltimore 27 yard line. Once again, the Dolphins could only gain four yards in three plays, and once again, Olindo Mare came out and kicked a field goal, putting the Dolphins up 9-3 despite Miami only gaining eight yards on their three scoring drives. Miami looked to be driving again on their next possession, but Travis Minor fumbled the ball away at the Baltimore 20 yard line, and the Ravens took advantage. Elvis Grbac was finally able to find open receivers for the first time all day, and a 43 yard pass from Grbac to Shannon Sharpe put the Ravens at the Miami 12 yard line early in the fourth quarter. However, the Dolphins held tough on defense, and Baltimore had to settle for a Matt Stover field goal that cut the Miami lead to just three points. The Ravens would get just one last possession, and after moving into Miami territory with just over two minutes to play, Baltimore elected to punt on a fourth down and 11. The Dolphins would hold onto the ball for the rest of the game, running out the clock and knocking out the defending Super Bowl champions. Final Score: Miami-9 Baltimore-6 Real Life Score: Baltimore-20 Miami-3 AFC Divisional Playoffs New England Patriots (11-5) vs. Oakland Raiders (10-6) Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA The New England Patriots were one of the most interesting stories of the 2001 NFL season. In the middle of a Week 2 loss to the New York Jets, quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured, and second year quarterback Tom Brady, a sixth round pick, was forced to come in and play. After guiding the Patriots to what seemed to be a respectable 5-5 start to the season, Brady and the Patriots would go on a six game winning streak that resulted in an AFC East title and a first round bye in the playoffs. Brady finished the season passing for 2,843 yards and 18 touchdowns. He did have help, thanks to running back Antowain Smith, who picked up 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns, as well as a bend, but don't break defense that finished in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed, but sixth in points allowed. A heavy blizzard was on tap for the game against the Oakland Raiders, potentially negating the powerful passing attack of Oakland and giving the advantage to the Patriots. Sure enough, it was the Patriots that came out in the snow and marched downfield on their first drive. Antowain Smith and Marc Edwards moved the ball toward midfield before Tom Brady hit Troy Brown on a screen pass that turned into a 25 yard gain. Smith picked up 22 yards on his next two carries, and Kevin Faulk finished the drive with a six yard touchdown run that put New England ahead early. The weather proved to be a problem early for the Oakland offense, as Rich Gannon couldn't get into a groove against the New England defense in the snow. The first two Oakland drives ended in punts, and the Patriots moved downfield again following the second punt. Two quick passes from Brady to Troy Brown put New England inside Oakland territory, and runs by Smith, Faulk and David Patten put the Patriots at the one yard line. From there, the Oakland defense stepped up, as William Thomas intercepted Tom Brady in the end zone, cutting the drive off at the cusp of the goal line. Though the Raiders would not score on that possession, they would on their next one, following a fumble by David Patten. Rich Gannon found his footing in the snow and completed a short pass to Tim Brown that turned into a 41 yard gain. Three plays later, Gannon hit Jerry Rice for a 13 yard touchdown and the game was tied. Kevin Faulk returned the kickoff to the New England 40 yard line, and from there the Patriots moved 40 yards in seven plays. Adam Vinatieri's 40 yard field goal closed out the scoring for the first half, and put New England back up going into the locker rooms. Though the Raiders had been stopped cold by the New England defense in the first half, Rich Gannon knew it was just a matter of time before he got warmed up. The first drive of the second half just so happened to be when Gannon began to warm up. The Oakland quarterback started the drive with a 16 yard pass to Jerry Rice, then, after runs by Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley, he hit Garner for a ten yard gain to the New England 37 yard line. From there, the running game of Wheatley and Garner would do the rest, putting the Raiders in field goal range for Sebastian Janikowski. His 36 yard field goal tied the score midway through the third quarter. The Patriots looked as if they would answer on their next drive, but Tom Brady made his second mistake of the game and was intercepted by Eric Allen inside Oakland territory, ending the drive. The Raiders would take advantage of the mistake, running the ball seven straight times on the seven play drive. With the New England defense back on their heels, Charlie Garner burst into the end zone from nine yards out early in the fourth quarter, and the Raiders had their first lead. Oakland would add to their lead midway through the quarter, thanks to a poor New England punt. Rich Gannon would need only two plays to find Jerry Rice for a 19 yard touchdown, and the game was, for all intensive purposes, over. The Patriots would not threaten on their next two possessions, and the story of Tom Brady came to a close, at least for 2001. Final Score: Oakland-24 New England-10 Real Life Score: New England-16 Oakland-13/OT (The Tuck Rule Game) Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-5) Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA It had been four seasons since the Pittsburgh Steelers had made it to the NFL postseason, and now they were back with a new stadium, but the same style of play. Three Rivers Stadium had been replaced by Heinz field, but many of the players were still the same. Kordell Stewart remained at quarterback, and had passed for 3,109 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for over 500 yards and five touchdowns. Jerome Bettis finished with over 1,000 yards, but an injury would keep him out of the game. Instead, the running back duties would fall to Amos Zereoue and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala. The Steelers also had a pair of 1,000 yard receivers in Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress, and their defense was again at the top of the NFL. Pittsburgh allowed just 212 points on the season, and finished first in the league in yards allowed. Defensive Rookie of the Year Kendrell Bell, as well as Joey Porter, Jason Gildon and Chad Scott looked like they would be the second coming of the Steel Curtain defense from the 1970s, and provided Jay Fiedler and the Miami Dolphins with a very tough challenge coming into their playoff matchup. Just as it had been the week before against the Ravens, defense was the name of the game early for both the Steelers and Dolphins. Without Jerome Bettis, the Pittsburgh offense couldn't really get started, while the Miami offense was just struggling against the powerful Steeler defense. The Dolphins caught a break late in the first quarter when Kordell Stewart was intercepted by Scott Gaylon inside Pittsburgh territory. Miami drove 20 yards in six plays, which was more than enough for Olindo Mare to kick a 31 yard field goal for the first points of the game. The Steelers would answer in their typical fashion: with a long, punishing scoring drive. The 15 play, 71 yard drive lasted over nine minutes and featured just five passing plays, including Kordell Stewart's nine yard touchdown pass to Troy Edwards that put the Steelers ahead. Pittsburgh would use the passing game more on their next drive as Stewart ran the two minute offense to perfection in setting up a 41 yard field goal by Kris Brown as time expired in the first half. Yet again, the defenses of both teams reigned supreme in the third quarter. The Dolphins had an early chance to move closer, thanks to a 22 yard run by Lamar Smith, but Olindo Mare missed a 49 yard field goal. Pittsburgh would get the next chance, moving into field goal range early in the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins were ready and blocked Kris Brown's field goal attempt to keep the score 10-3. The only problem was that the Miami offense was unable to pick up a single first down for most of the fourth quarter. The blocked field goal resulted in a three and out, which was followed by another three and out, and then two failed fourth down conversions by the Dolphins. While Pittsburgh was also unable to move the ball, they had the lead, and the clock was winding down. With just under two minutes to play, the Steelers punted the ball back to Miami, downing it at the Miami five yard line. Staring at a hostile defense with 95 yards needed to tie the game, Jay Fiedler reached down and pulled out a legendary drive. A 15 yard face mask penalty on the Steelers moved the Dolphins away from their own end zone, and a 14 yard pass from Fiedler to James McKnight put the ball at the 36 yard line. Two plays later, Fielder hit Oronde Gadsden for 44 yards, moving the Dolphins to the Pittsburgh 20 yard line. Three plays later, there was one second on the clock and the Dolphins were staring at a fourth down from the Pittsburgh 19 yard line. Fiedler dropped back to pass and hit Chris Chambers in the end zone for the touchdown. Olindo Mare's extra point was good, and a stunned Heinz Field crowd watched at both teams got ready for overtime. After stunning the Steelers on their last drive, the Dolphins would make sure Pittsburgh wouldn't even touch the ball again on offense. Miami won the coin toss, and needed just two plays to deliver a back breaking blow. A 72 yard pass from Jay Fiedler to Lamar Smith easily put the Dolphins in field goal range, and three plays later, Olindo Mare put the finishing touches on one of the most exciting stretches of play in NFL history with his 22 yard field goal. Miami was headed to the AFC Championship, while the Steelers were left to wonder what had gone wrong with just two minutes to play. Final Score: Miami-13 Pittsburgh-10/OT Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-27 Baltimore-10 AFC Championship Game Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA Oakland Raiders (10-6) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-5) An old school 1970s matchup was on tap for the 2001 AFC Championship. The Miami Dolphins had made it to the doorstep of the Super Bowl by the skin of their teeth, winning two defensive struggles by three points, including a game against the Steelers that they tied on the final play of regulation. Jay Fiedler had continued his solid play in the postseason, while the Miami defense had pushed their game to another level. They would need to push even harder against the potent Oakland offense, which had taken out two AFC East opponents already on their way to their first AFC Championship since the 1993 season. At the start, it was the Oakland offense that had the advantage over the Miami defense. After forcing a quick Miami punt and returning the ball to the Miami 43 yard line, the Raiders needed just three plays to find the end zone. Rich Gannon hit fullback Jon Ritchie for a 15 yard touchdown that put Oakland up early. The Dolphins were able to answer with a ten play, 54 yard drive of their own. While they couldn't get into the end zone, they were able to move into field goal range for Olindo Mare, and his 32 yard field goal put Miami on the board. The Raiders would move into Miami territory again on their next drive, but Sebastian Janikowski missed a 44 yard field goal. The Dolphins looked to take advantage of the mistake by Oakland, but the offense could not get started, and Jay Fiedler was intercepted by Tory James, ending the drive. However, the Miami defense would stop the Oakland offense in their tracks and force a punt. This time, Fiedler used Lamar Smith to pound the Raider front seven and passed only when necessary. The 11 play, 74 yard drive took seven minutes off the clock and ended with Mare's second field goal of the first half. The Dolphins looked like they had all the momentum on their side when Jerry Porter fumbled the ball on the next Oakland possession, but Miami attempted a fourth down conversion at the Oakland 35 yard line and Travis Minor was stopped at the line, putting an end to the promising drive. With just over a minute left in the half, the Raiders would waste little time as Gannon found Charlie Garner and Tim Brown for big gains. Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 46 yard field goal with just three seconds to play in the first half, increasing Oakland's lead to 10-6 and giving them the momentum heading into the third quarter. The Oakland momentum spilled right over into their first drive of the second half. Two passes from Rich Gannon to Roland Williams put the Raiders in field goal range, and Sebastian Janikowski's 38 yard field goal increased their lead. Jay Fiedler was able to move the Dolphins into Oakland territory on Miami's next drive, but it stalled at the Oakland 35 yard line, and Dave Wannstedt elected to go for the fourth down conversion again. Once again, it failed, giving the Raiders excellent field position. Once again, the Raiders took advantage of the poor choices by the Dolphins, as Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley punished the tiring Miami defense. Janikowski's third field goal of the game put Oakland up 16-6 and had giving the Raiders even more momentum heading into the fourth quarter. The Dolphins looked like they were going to answer on their next drive, as Lamar Smith finally found running room and broke a 22 yard run to start things off. Facing a third and eight from the Oakland 26 yard line, Fiedler looked like he had found Chris Chambers for a touchdown, but a holding penalty took the points off the board. Miami would have to settle for another Olindo Mare field goal, rather than the touchdown. The Raiders would make the Dolphins pay for their penalty mistake, driving 61 yards in 11 plays while taking seven minutes off the clock. Rich Gannon threw just two passes, one to Jerry Rice, the other to Tim Brown, while Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley did most of the work. The drive ended with another Sebastian Janikowski field goal, but with only three minutes to play, Miami was in a very deep hole. The Dolphins would strike, as Fiedler hit Lamar Smith in the end zone for a ten yard touchdown pass, but with only three seconds to play, it was too little, too late. As the final three seconds clicked down, the Raiders were able to celebrate their first AFC title in 18 seasons, while the miracle run of the Dolphins had come up just short. Final Score: Oakland-19 Miami-16 Real Life Score: New England-24 Pittsburgh-17 (In Pittsburgh)