NFC Wild Card Playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) vs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA
After last season's defeat at the hands of Tampa Bay, the Philadelphia Eagles had come back in 2001 as one of the best teams in the NFC. Donovan McNabb had emerged as a star player, throwing for 3,233 and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for 482 yards and two touchdowns. The Philadelphia running game wasn't the best, as Duce Staley led the team with just 604 yards and two touchdowns, but the defense was one of the best in the NFL. The Philadelphia defense allowed just 208 points on the season and finished in the top ten in the league in yards allowed. One team that always had a good defense was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they too boasted one of the best defenses in the NFL. Warren Sapp and Ronde Barber were eached named to the All Pro team, while Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch all would have been solid picks as well. The Bucs finished in the top ten in both points and yards allowed and forced 39 turnovers for the season. Brad Johnson had been added at quarterback, but struggled through the year, throwing only 13 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions. The running attack had struggled as well, with Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn combining for just over 1,000 yards. The Eagles had beaten the Buccaneers just a week ago, and were ready to get some revenge for last season.
With both teams boasting top ten defenses, it was no surprise that neither offense could get much going throughout the first half. The Eagles were the first team to cross midfield, thanks to Jeremiah Trotter's interception midway through the first quarter, but Tampa Bay forced a Philadelphia punt after the Eagles gained just a single yard. Philadelphia would get closer to scoring range on their next drive, but elected to attempt a fourth down conversion rather than a long David Akers field goal, and Donovan McNabb was sacked to end the the drive. The only good thing was that the Buccaneers were having even more trouble than the Eagles when it came to moving the football, and their special teams were struggling as well. After another three and out for Tampa Bay, Brian Mitchell returned Mark Royals' punt to midfield, and Philadelphia was able to take advantage. McNabb used his short passing game, as well as runs by Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter to move deep into Buccaneer territory. The nine play, 58 yard drive was finished off with a ten yard touchdown pass from McNabb to James Thrash, and the Eagles had the lead. The defenses would again take over from there, with neither team making much progress as the first half came to a close.
The defensive theme that had been shown throughout the first half carried over into the second half. Philadelphia again made progress against Tampa Bay's defense, but the Buccaneers were able to clamp down when they needed to, forcing a punt on Philadelphia's first drive and stopping the Eagles on fourth down the next time they had the ball. The only problem was that the Tampa Bay offense was having little to no success against the Philadelphia defense. Brad Johnson had been under pressure all day, and Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn were being held in check by the Eagles. The Buccaneers finally made some progress on their last drive of the third quarter, as Alstott and Dunn found holes in the Philadelphia defense for the first time all day. With Brad Johnson just throwing one pass on the drive, the Buccaneers were able to get into field goal territory. However, Martin Gramatica missed a 49 yard attempt, and Tampa Bay was still not on the scoreboard. Derrick Brooks would give Tampa Bay another chance after intercepting Donovan McNabb on the next Philadelphia play, but the Eagles managed to keep the Buccaneers just out of field goal range and forced a punt. Tampa Bay wouldn't get the ball back until there were just four and a half minutes to play, and they started their drive at their own nine yard line. A defensive holding penalty on third down gave the Buccaneers life, and Brad Johnson began moving his team down the field. Passes to Dave Moore and Reidel Anthony put Tampa Bay at midfield, and then Johnson struck with a 51 yard catch and run into the end zone by Warrick Dunn that tied the game at seven.
With just a minute and a half to play, Donovan McNabb got the ball back at his own 23 yard line and began guiding the Eagles into Tampa Bay territory one last time. An 11 yard pass to Todd Pinkston started the drive, and three plays later, McNabb found James Thrash for another 15 yards. A surprise run by Duce Staley and a 13 yard pass to Pinkston put the Eagles into field goal range, and as time expired, David Akers nailed a 37 yard field goal, giving Philadelphia a bit of revenge over Tampa Bay and moving the Eagles on to the second round of the playoffs.
Final Score: Philadelphia-10 Tampa Bay-7
Real Life Score: Philadelphia-31 Tampa Bay-9
Green Bay Packers (12-4) vs.
San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
After missing the playoffs the last two seasons, Brett Favre had the Green Bay Packers back and ready to go in the NFC in 2001. Favre led the way for the resurgent Packers, passing for almost 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Ahman Green had come over the year before from Seattle and exploded onto the scene in 2001, rushing for 1,387 yards and nine touchdowns while Bill Schroeder and Antonio Freeman had emerged as Favre's new favorite targets. The Green Bay defense was also impressive, with second year player Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila leading the way with 13.5 sacks. The Packers would need that pressure if they wanted to take down the San Francisco 49ers, who were also back in the playoffs after two bad seasons. Former CFL star Jeff Garcia had filled the shoes of Steve Young and become a solid player for the 49ers, making the Pro Bowl for the second straight season and throwing for 3,538 yards and 32 touchdowns. Garrison Hearst had returned from missing each of the last two seasons and didn't miss a beat, rushing for 1,206 yards and four touchdowns. Wideout Terrell Owens had become everything the 49ers wanted him to be in the place of Jerry Rice, as he brought in 93 passes for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns. The San Francisco defense was also strong, finishing in the top half of the NFL in both yards and points allowed.
The 49ers came out right away and showed why they had one of the best offenses in the NFL, driving down the field against the Packers on their first possession. Garrison Hearst led the way, and Jeff Garcia was right behind him, completing passes to J.J. Stokes and Terrell Owens to move San Francisco into field goal range. Once there, Jose Cortez missed a 39 yard attempt, cutting short a chance for the 49ers to score early. However, the Packers could get nothing going on offense against the San Francsico defense, as dropped passes and short runs had Green Bay stopped cold. After a short Packer punt, the 49ers would take over at their own 46 yard line, and this time, they wouldn't waste the chance. Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow attacked the Green Bay defense before Garcia's 16 yard pass to Tai Streets put the ball at the Green Bay one yard line. Hearst finished the drive with the one yard touchdown, and the 49ers had the lead. The Packers still could get nothing going on offense, while the 49ers soon found themselves in the game situation. Both defenses kept the opposing offense from moving the ball for much of the second quarter, and the first half ended with San Francisco still nursing a 7-0 lead.
The Packers wouldn't take long to get their offense moving in the third quarter. On their opening drive of the quarter, the Green Bay running game smashed into the San Francisco defense. Dorsey Levens, Ahman Green and even Rondell Mealey moved the Packers down field for the first time in the game. Brett Favre didn't throw a single pass on the eight play, 60 yard drive, and Ryan Longwell capped it with a 32 yard field goal that put Green Bay on the scoreboard. The 49ers looked as if they would answer right away, with Garrison Hearst again punishing the Packer defense, and Jeff Garcia hitting Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes to once again move into field goal range. This time, the Green Bay defense would come up with a huge stop, as Jose Cortez's 42 yard field goal try was blocked. However, the 49ers would not be denied on their next drive, as once again Hearst and Garcia moved San Francisco deep into Green Bay territory. Kevan Barlow finished the drive with an eight yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to put the 49ers up 14-3. The Packers would answer quickly, thanks to the arm of Brett Favre. Favre completed all four passes on the next Green Bay drive, before Dorsey Levens broke free for a 37 yard touchdown run. The Packers elected to go for a two point conversion, and William Henderson broke into the end zone, making the score 14-11.
Green Bay would start with excellent field position on their next drive, but the San Francisco defense held strong and forced the Packers to punt with just under five minutes to play. From there, Jeff Garcia and Garrison Hearst began eating up the clock, moving the 49ers to midfield with just under two minutes to play. On third down and 11, Garcia called a pass that was then tipped and intercepted by Tyrone Williams at midfield. With just one timeout left, the Packers knew their chance was now, and they wasted little time in attacking the San Francisco defense. The 49ers were up to the task, however, and quickly forced a fourth down and nine at midfield. Brett Favre managed to find Bill Schroeder for 10 yards to convert the fourth down, then broke the hearts of 49er fans everywhere on the next play. Ahman Green took a draw and ran untouched for 40 yards to put the Packers ahead. San Francisco would get one last shot, but Garcia couldn't get anything going, and the Packers had stolen a victory away from the 49ers and advanced once again.
Final Score: Green Bay-18 San Francisco-14
NFC Divisional Playoffs
Chicago Bears (13-3) vs.
Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Six seasons had passed in between playoff berths for the Chicago Bears, but they looked as good as ever coming into the 2001 postseason. After four other quarterbacks had come and gone, Jim Miller had stepped into the void and seemed to at least be a solid man to have under center. Miller had taken advantage of his first starting chance, passing for 2,299 yards and 13 touchdowns in 13 starts. Marty Booker had quickly become his favorite target, catching 100 passes for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. The Bears also had a great running game again, thanks to offensive Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas and his 1,183 yards and seven touchdowns. The Chicago defense had once again become one of the most feared in the NFL, with Brian Urlacher, Ted Washington, Mike Brown and Rosevelt Colvin leading the way. The Philadelphia Eagles had already taken care of one solid defense in Tampa Bay, but the Chicago Bears were another story all together.
The Chicago defense lived up to its reputation on the first Philadelphia drive, stopping the Eagles on three plays before giving way to the Chicago offense. A 21 yard pass from Jim Miller to Dez White kept the drive alive, and a 27 yard run by Anthony Thomas moved the Bears into Philadelphia territory. A 30 yard field goal by Paul Edinger capped the drive and gave Chicago a 3-0 lead. The Eagles would answer back on their next drive, as Philadelphia used runs by Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter before Donovan McNabb hit Todd Pinkston and James Thrash to move the Eagles inside the Chicago five yard line. Staley finished the drive with a two yard touchdown run, and Philadelphia had the lead. From there, both defenses took over until late in the second quarter, when the Bears were able to move once again. Anthony Thomas broke a 40 yard run with just a minute to play, and that set up a nine yard touchdown pass from Miller to Marty Booker. Rather than just run out the clock, the Eagles decided to pass the ball three times. Three incompletions later, the Bears had the ball back, and Miller struck again, this time hitting Anthony Thomas for a 65 yard touchdown with just ten seconds to play in the half. The two touchdowns in under a minute stunned the Eagles and gave Chicago all the momentum heading into the second half.
The Chicago defense continued their domination over the Philadelphia offense in the second half. The Eagles could manage just a David Akers field goal in the third quarter, which the Bears then countered with a Paul Edinger field goal of their own. The fourth quarter was more of the same, as every Philadelphia drive ended with a punt on turnover on downs, while all three Chicago drives ended with a field goal by Edinger. By the time the dust had settled, the Bears had held Donovan McNabb to just eight completions for 87 yards and just 15 rushing yards on five carries. Chicago allowed just 184 total yards on the day as they were headed to the NFC Championship for the first time in 15 seasons.
Final Score: Chicago-29 Philadelphia-10
Real Life Score: Philadelphia-33 Chicago-19
St. Louis Rams (14-2) vs.
Green Bay Packers (12-4)
The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, MO
One year after losing in Super Bowl XXXV, the St. Louis Rams were back and seemed to be better than ever. Kurt Warner was healthy once again, and his 4,830 yards and 36 touchdowns won him his second NFL MVP award. Marshall Faulk rushed for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also catching 83 passes for 765 yards and nine touchdowns. Issac Bruce and Torry Holt rounded out the highest scoring offense in the NFL, with each receiver going over 1,100 yards and combining for 13 touchdowns. The Rams had also madeover their defense, and the results were immediate. Safety Aeneas Williams had come over from Arizona and paid dividends right away, becoming a leader on defense and intercepting four passes. Leonard Little and Grant Wistrom had solid seasons on the defensive line, while Dre Bly and first round pick Adam Archuleta helped round out a defense that finished the year ranked in the top ten in both points and yards allowed. St. Louis had finished the regular season on a six game winning streak, and while the Packers would good, most people had their money on the Rams.
The Rams quickly showed why they were considered the best team in the NFL in 2001. Their opening drive lasted for almost seven minutes and went 76 yards in 13 plays. Marshall Faulk started the drive with his running ability, and Kurt Warner finished it off with his passing. A 24 yard strike from Warner to Ricky Proehl gave St. Louis a 7-0 lead. The Packers could get nothing going on their first drive, but a good punt, coupled with a holding penalty on the Rams pushed the ball back to the St. Louis five yard line. Jim Flanigan brought Warner down in the end zone for a safety, and Green Bay took advantage of the safety kick, as Ryan Longwell added a 45 yard field goal to cut the St. Louis lead down to just two points. The Rams would answer on their first drive of the second quarter, as the St. Louis running game broke down the Green Bay defense. Trung Canidate scored on a 16 yard run to cap the five play, 60 yard drive. The Packers then responded with a scoring drive of their own. A 40 yard run by Rondell Mealey set up Brett Favre's 23 yard touchdown pass to Bill Schroeder. St. Louis would then counter with a 12 play, 74 yard drive that ate up most of the remaining time in the second quarter. Jeff Wilkins ended the drive with a 23 yard field goal, but the Packers weren't done yet either. Brett Favre picked apart the St. Louis defense before Ryan Longwell kicked a 29 yard field goal as a very exciting first half of football ended.
Down just two points at the half, the Packers knew they had a chance to pull off the upset, but Brett Favre didn't do them any favors to start the second half. His first pass of the third quarter was intercepted by London Fletcher, and the Rams used the turnover to move downfield again. The six play, 32 yard drive ended with Jeff Wilkins' second field goal of the game, and extended the St. Louis lead to five points. Favre would bounce back by leading another Green Bay scoring drive that would end with another field goal by Ryan Longwell, this one from 45 yards out. Once again, the Rams would answer back, thanks to Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner. Faulk started the drive with a five yard run and a 12 yard catch before Warner hit Issac Bruce for 11 yards and Torry Holt for 24 more. A six yard run by Faulk then set up Wilkins for his third field goal of the game. His 31 yard kick ended the nine play, 56 yard drive and started the fourth quarter. The Packers would again move down the field against the St. Louis defense on their next drive, but this time, Longwell would push a 50 yard field goal try to the right, and the Rams would utilize the miss. Marshall Faulk and Trung Canidate pounded the Green Bay defense, and Faulk finished the eight play, 60 yard drive with a three yard touchdown run to put the Rams up 30-18. Brett Favre was again able to move the Packers downfield on their next possession, completing four of four passes on the drive, including a 17 yard touchdown pass to Corey Bradford. St. Louis would counter with another scoring drive of their own. The five play, 51 yard drive took almost four minutes off the fourth quarter clock and ended with yet another Jeff Wilkins field goal. Favre and the Packers would get one last shot, but this time, the Rams were ready on defense. Green Bay couldn't get past midfield, and the Rams were headed to their third straight NFC Championship.
Final Score: St. Louis-33 Green Bay-25
Real Life Score: St. Louis-45 Green Bay-17
NFC Championship Game
The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, MO
St. Louis Rams (14-2) vs.
Chicago Bears (13-3)
Seeing the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Championship was starting to become common once again. For the third straight season, the Rams had made it to the NFC Championship, and they were once again going against an NFC Central opponent. Kurt Warner's second NFL MVP award looked nice, as did his 36 touchdowns, but the Chicago Bears were not impressed. Chicago's defense was one of the best in the NFL, and while their offense couldn't stand up to that of the Rams, there were few teams in the NFL that could. Brian Urlacher and the Bears were ready to see if they could lead Chicago to their second Super Bowl, while Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner and the rest of the St. Louis offense were hopeful that this would not be a repeat of Super Bowl XXXV, where a great defense stopped a great offense.
The Bears did not get off to a great start, as a holding penalty on the opening kickoff pushed Chicago back to their own three yard line. From there though, the Bears were very impressive. Anthony Thomas and James Allen punished the St. Louis defense on the ground, while Jim Miller was able to find receivers Dez White and Marty Booker for chunks of yards. The Rams finally stopped the Bears inside the St. Louis ten yard line, and caught a break when Paul Edinger missed a 26 yard field goal attempt that put an end to an almost ten minute long drive. However, the Rams could do very little on offense, as Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk were kept under control by the Chicago defense. St. Louis' vaunted offensive attack wouldn't cross midfield for the entire first half. Meanwhile, the Chicago offense couldn't find the magic they had on their opening drive, and struggled against the St. Louis defense. Much like the Rams, the Bears just couldn't find anywhere to go on offense, and would only cross midfield one more time in the first half. The defensive struggle left many Rams fans worried as the NFC Championship went to the half with no scoring from either team.
With defense being the name of the game in the first half, it seemed like it would be up to the defense to score the first points of the game, and that's exactly what happened. Mike Brown intercepted Kurt Warner's second pass of the third quarter and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown and the first points of the game. The Chicago offense was still struggling, but their defense had giving the Bears a lead, and that defense was putting a stop to the "Greatest Show on Turf." Late in the third quarter, the Bears once again found their way on offense. Pinned back at their own 13 yard line, Jim Miller and Anthony Thomas began moving Chicago down the field once again. Thomas broke off runs of 18 and 32 yards on back to back plays, and a ten yard run by James Allen was helped out by a five yard facemask penalty, putting the Bears inside the St. Louis ten yard line. This time, they would end the drive with points, as Thomas pounded his way in from six yards out. Chicago now had a 14-0 lead, but the Rams were able to answer back. For the first time in the game, St. Louis managed a sustained drive. A 32 yard pass to Torry Holt on third down put the Rams in Chicago territory, and two more passes from Kurt Warner to Holt moved St. Louis down to the Chicago 15 yard line, where Marshall Faulk finally found some running room and broke free for a touchdown.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the Bears wasted little time killing any momentum they may have just gotten. A 32 yard pass from Jim Miller to Dez White moved Chicago into St. Louis territory again, and two plays later, Anthony Thomas broke free for a 29 yard touchdown run. The Rams would have the ball just one more time and would turn it over on downs. Chicago's last drive took up the rest of the game and ended with a Paul Edinger field goal. The impressive St. Louis offense had been held to just 202 yards on the day as the Chicago Bears had proven the value of a great defense once again on their way to their second ever Super Bowl.
Final Score: Chicago-24 St. Louis-7
Real Life Score: St. Louis-29 Philadelphia-24