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Hurkman · 09-28-2009, 04:28 PM

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

New York Jets (9-7) vs. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

After a poor 6-10 showing in 2001, the Indianapolis Colts had once again reached the AFC playoffs. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy was brought in to replace Jim Mora, and while the offense had struggled at times, Dungy brought his defensive knowledge with him, and it showed. The Colts finished the year eighth in the NFL in yards allowed, and rookie defensive end Dwight Freeney led the way with 13 sacks. Edgerrin James battled injuries and finished with just 989 yards and two touchdowns, and Peyton Manning threw 19 interceptions, but the offense was still solid, as Manning also threw 27 touchdowns, and Marvin Harrison caught an NFL record 143 passes for 1,722 yards and 11 touchdowns. For the Jets, they were eager to remove the stench of a poor playoff showing in 2001 with a longer stay in 2002. Chad Pennington had stepped in at starter and done very well, throwing for 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Curtis Martin rushed for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns, while Laveranues Coles had a breakout season, catching 89 passes for 1,264 yards. The defense was nothing to write home about, but third year defensive end John Abraham was named to his second straight Pro Bowl.

The Jets would strike first, following an Indianapolis punt on their opening possession. A 23 yard pass from Chad Pennington to Laveranues Coles put New York inside Colt territory, and a 12 yard pass to Wayne Chrebet moved them into field goal range. The Colts stopped the Jets short of the goal line, but John Hall nailed a 32 yard field goal to give them an early lead. Peyton Manning would attempt to respond as he drove Indianapolis to midfield, but a poor pass was intercepted by Jon McGraw, and New York took advantage. On the next play, Richie Anderson broke free for a 54 yard touchdown run to put the Jets up 10-0. The Colts were able to answer back on their next drive, as Manning and Edgerrin James pounded the New York defense before James scored on an 11 yard touchdown run. However, the Jets weren't done yet. Two long passes from Pennington to Coles set up an 12 yard touchdown pass to Anderson, and after Aaron Beasley intercepted Manning, Pennington finished off a 10 play, 53 yard drive with a seven yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss. Manning would be intercepted for a third time on the last Indianapolis drive of the half, setting up a John Hall 26 yard field goal as the half expired that put the Jets ahead 27-7.

After being blasted by the Jets in the first half, the Colts knew they had to set a different tone if they wanted to advance in the playoffs. They started out well, forcing the Jets to punt and driving downfield, but Mike Vanderjagt missed a 34 yard field goal on their opening drive. Indianapolis would get another chance later in the third quarter, as Lamont Jordan fumbled the ball at midfield. Peyton Manning only needed two plays to hit Marvin Harrison for a 48 yard touchdown that gave the Colts new life. The momentum would continue for the Colts, as they drove downfield on their first drive of the fourth quarter and added a 25 yard field goal by Vanderjagt that cut New York's lead to ten. After forcing the Jets to punt, Indianapolis took over at their own 35 yard line, but Manning was intercepted by Aaron Beasley again, ending the drive. The Colts would only get one last drive, and Manning was intercepted for the fifth time in the game to finish the Colts season. Though they didn't score in the second half, the Jets had done enough with their defense, and were on to the second round of the AFC playoffs.

Final Score: New York-27 Indianapolis-17

Real Life Score: New York-41 Indianapolis-0

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (9-7)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

The Cleveland Browns had been reborn in 1999, and in the three years before the 2002 season they had not been able to achieve the success of great Cleveland teams of the 1980s. That looked like it was starting to change this season, as the Browns had turned a 4-5 start into a 9-7 record and their first playoff appearance since the 1994 season. The team was not without its faults, though. Kelly Holcomb had replaced Tim Couch at quarterback, and didn't look like much of an upgrade over the former number one pick. William Green provided a decent running game, picking up 887 yards and six touchdowns on the year, while second year wideout Quincy Morgan had taken steps to becoming a number one receiver, brining in 56 passes for 964 yards and seven touchdowns. The Cleveland defense had grown well as the season went along, with veteran Kenard Lang leading the way on a squad that allowed 320 points during the regular season. After a disappointing showing in the 2001 playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers were back again, but they had undergone several changes as well. Kordell Stewart had been benched, and former XFL MVP Tommy Maddox had taken his place at quarterback. Maddox played well, passing for almost 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in 11 starts. Jerome Bettis again battled injuries, leaving Amos Zereoue to pick up the slack, and he did with 762 yards and four touchdowns. Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress had developed into a powerful receiving tandem, and the Pittsburgh defense was again ranked in the top ten in yards allowed.

Of course, that defense didn't seem to bother the Browns much, as Kelly Holcomb moved Cleveland deep into Pittsburgh territory on their opening drive. The Browns would make it to the five yard line before having to settle for a Phil Dawson field goal and a 3-0 lead. Cleveland was unable to get anything going on their next drive, and Tommy Maddox was able to get the Steelers moving on offense, completing two passes to Plaxico Burress that put Pittsburgh inside the Cleveland 20 yard line. Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala rumbled in from 16 yards out, and the Steelers had taken the lead early in the second quarter. From there, the first half belonged to the Browns. Holcomb started the next Cleveland drive with a 31 yard pass to Jamel White, then hit Quincy Morgan for 31 more yards before capping the drive with a nine yard touchdown pass to Andre Davis. Phil Dawson missed the extra point, making the score 9-7 in favor of Cleveland. The Steelers could get nothing going on offense, punting on their next drive, and then having their following drive end with an interception by Darren Hambrick. It took just two plays for the Browns to score again, this time on a 54 yard pass from Holcomb to Quincy Morgan. Cleveland took their 16-7 lead into the half as stunned Steeler fans were left to wonder what had happened to their team.

If the first half was bad for the Steelers, the second half started out even worse. Andre Davis took the opening kickoff all the way to the Pittsburgh five yard line, and William Green scored on the first play of the third quarter to put Cleveland up 23-7. On the next Pittsburgh play, rookie Verron Haynes fumbled the ball back to the Browns, and Cleveland needed just three plays for Kelly Holcomb to hit Kevin Johnson for a 37 yard touchdown pass. The Browns had scored twice in just under a minute, and a slim 16-7 lead had now ballooned into a 30-7 blowout. Pittsburgh would finally get moving again on offense midway through the third quarter, as a poor Cleveland punt gave the Steelers excellent field position. Tommy Maddox ended the six play, 49 yard drive with an 18 yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, but it would be all downhill for the Steelers after that drive. Maddox would be picked off by Kenard Lang on the next Pittsburgh possession, and the Browns would add a Phil Dawson field goal in response. Dawson would kick a 32 yard field goal on the next Cleveland drive to cap the scoring and end one of the worst defeats in Pittsburgh playoff history, while the Browns were finally able to defeat their rivals and bring their new team closer to respectability.

Final Score: Cleveland-36 Pittsburgh-14

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-36 Cleveland-33

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Tennessee Titans (11-5) vs. New York Jets (9-7)
Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, TN

After a year away from the playoffs, the Tennesee Titans were back and ready to get to their first ever Super Bowl. Tennessee had started the year 1-4, but was able to completely turn their season around, going 10-1 in their final 11 games to claim the first AFC South division crown. Steve McNair had an excellent season, passing for 3,387 yards and 22 touchdowns, while running for 440 yards and three more scores. Eddie George bounced back from a poor 2001 season with 1,165 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns and Derrick Mason finished with over 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Despite not having Jevon Kearse for much of the season, the Titans were solid on defense, recording 39 sacks and finishing in the top ten in the league for total yards allowed. While the Jets had been able to shock the Colts in the first round, Tennessee appeared to be more than ready for what New York had to offer.

For the second week in a row, the Jets would score first. This time, Curtis Martin's running and Chad Pennington's passing picked apart the Tennessee defense before giving way to John Hall, who nailed a 44 yard field goal to end the eight play, 33 yard drive. New York would move the ball again on their next drive, but this time, Hall missed a 43 yard kick. Luckily for the Jets, the Titans could get nothing going on offense, as the New York defense was able to contain Steve McNair and Eddie George better than any team had in the previous 11 games. Tennessee was forced to punt on every drive they had in the first half, and the Jets were finally able to take advantage of their strong defensive play late in the second quarter. Pennington hit Anthony Becht for 14 yards, then found Wayne Chrebet for 21 more. From there, Curtis Martin pounded the Titans, as he made his way to the Tennessee 22 yard line on three carries. Pennington then hit Laveranues Coles for 17 yards, and then found Coles again for a five yard touchdown that put the Jets ahead 10-0. One last punt by the Titans finished off the first half, as New York found themselves 30 minutes away from a trip to the AFC Championship.

The defensive struggle in the first half carried over into the second half, as neither the Jets nor the Titans could get moving on offense. The Jets made the first mistake, as Jerald Sowell fumbled the ball midfield, but the Titans couldn't take advantage when Joe Nedney missed a 49 yard field goal try. Tennessee would have more success on their next drive, as Robert Holcombe broke free for a 50 yard touchdown run that made the score 10-7. However, the New York defense would strike on the next Tennessee drive, blocking Craig Hentrich's punt and putting the Jets deep inside Tennessee territory. New York could only manage a John Hall 38 yard field goal though, and the Titans were still alive. However, the Titans still couldn't get moving on offense, and had to punt the ball back to the Jets. New York responded by going on a 12 play, 46 yard drive that took almost seven minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter. The drive ended with another John Hall field goal, but the damage was done. Tennessee got the ball back with just 1:48 to play, and when Eddie George was stopped on a fourth down conversion try, the Jets had punched their ticket to the AFC Championship.

Final Score: New York-16 Tennessee-7

Real Life Score: Tennessee-34 Pittsburgh-31/OT

Oakland Raiders (11-5) vs. Cleveland Browns (9-7)
Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA

The defending Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders were one of the few stable teams in the AFC in 2002, and they looked even better than the team that won the Super Bowl the year before. Rich Gannon continued to defy age, winning the NFL MVP at age 37 by passing for 4,689 yards and 26 touchdowns. Charlie Garner piled up 962 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, while Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Jerry Porter provided Gannon with plenty of receiving options. New head coach Bill Callahan had improved the defense as well, with new addition Rod Woodson leading the way. The Raiders finished in the top ten in points allowed, and in the top half of the league in yards allowed, making them a powerful force both on offense and defense. Most people agreed that while the Browns were a nice story in the playoffs, the Raiders would just be too much for them.

It certainly seemed like the Raiders would march all over Cleveland at the start of the game. Oakland took the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards in ten plays, with Rich Gannon ending the drive on a ten yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown. The first two drives for the Browns didn't go very well, as Cleveland was forced to punt on their first drive, and Kelly Holcomb was intercepted by Terrance Shaw on the next Cleveland possession. However, the Browns were able to stall the Raiders thanks to their defense and Cleveland was able to get moving on their third drive. Phil Dawson finished the drive with a 40 yard field goal, and the Browns were on the board. The Raiders were quick to answer, though. Charlie Garner broke free for a 44 yard run, which set up a 26 yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski that extended Oakland's lead. This time, the Browns were able to come right back. A 36 yard pass from Holcomb to Quincy Morgan put Cleveland inside Oakland territory, and Jamel White finished things off with a one yard touchdown run to tie the game. After a punt by the Raiders, Cleveland marched downfield once again. A 38 yard pass from Holcomb to Morgan set up a 39 yard field goal by Dawson, and just like that, the Browns had the lead. It was short lived, however, as Oakland was able to get into field goal range, and Janikowski nailed a 49 yard kick as the first half came to a close.

Just as they had the week before against the Steelers, the Browns came out in the third quarter and shocked the Raiders. Cleveland wasted little time in moving downfield on their opening drive, thanks in large part to a 39 yard run by William Green. A 15 yard pass from Kelly Holcomb to Kevin Johnson put the Browns at the Oakland five yard line, and Jamel White brought in the five yard touchdown pass from Holcomb to put the Browns on top once again. After a quick Oakland punt, Cleveland went right back to work. Holcomb threw a total of one pass on the seven play, 65 yard drive as the Browns pounded the Raiders on the ground. Dennis Northcutt scored on a 28 yard reverse, and the Oakland fans were silent as the Browns had turned a 13-13 game into a 27-13 Cleveland lead. The Raiders attempted to respond on their next drive, but the Cleveland defense held strong, and forced an incomplete pass on a fourth down attempt early in the fourth quarter. However, the Browns couldn't find their offensive magic again, and the Raiders were able to strike back late in the fourth quarter. Two passes from Gannon to Tim Brown set up a 29 yard touchdown run by Charlie Garner with just 2:55 to play. Oakland was able to force a three and out by the Browns on their next possession, and got the ball back at their own 24 yard line with 1:47 to play. A six yard run by Randy Jordan was followed by a 17 yard pass to Garner, who then picked up another five yards on the next play. A 15 yard facemask penalty on the Browns moved the ball into Cleveland territory, and a 12 yard pass from Gannon to Marcus Knight put Oakland at the Cleveland 19 yard line. With 30 seconds to play, the Raiders had four shots at the end zone, but Cleveland held strong, and when Rich Gannon missed Charlie Garner on fourth down, the Browns had knocked off the defending champions and earned a trip to the AFC Championship.

Final Score: Cleveland-27 Oakland-20

Real Life Score: Oakland-30 New York-10

AFC Championship Game

Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

New York Jets (9-7) vs. Cleveland Browns (9-7)

The most improbable AFC Championship in recent memory was on tap, as the New York Jets played host to the Cleveland Browns. For the Jets, it was another shot to get to their first Super Bowl, while the Browns were attempting to recapture the glory of their teams from the 1980s. Chad Pennington had emerged as the quarterback of the future for the Jets, and he had Curtis Martin and Laveranues Coles to back him up on offense. The New York defense, while average in the regular season, seemed to step it up in the playoffs, holding the Colts and Titans to a combined 24 points. For the Browns, Kelly Holcomb had become national news by guiding Cleveland to the AFC Championship after starting just two games in the regular season. On paper, the Browns looked decidedly average, but there was nothing average about the way they had gone through the Steelers and Raiders to get to this point. Cleveland also owned a victory against the Jets in Giants Stadium during the regular season, so Browns fans were confident that Cleveland could shock the world and make it to the Super Bowl.

Things did not start out well for the Browns, as their youth and nervousness showed on their first possession. A sack of Kelly Holcomb ended their first drive, and Santana Moss returned the punt to midfield. It took the Jets eight plays to go 54 yards, and Curtis Martin put New York on top with a one yard touchdown run. Cleveland was able to answer quickly though, as Jamel White pounded through the New York defense for 27 yards on the first play of the drive. A 20 yard pass from Holcomb to Kevin Johnson followed, then White struck again for a 17 yard catch and run. Two plays later, White finished the drive with an 11 yard touchdown run that tied the score. Chad Pennington came back onto the field for the Jets and moved them 58 yards in 12 plays before the drive stalled at the Cleveland 16 yard line. John Hall nailed the 33 yard kick, and the Jets were back on top. Later in the second quarter, Holcomb was able to move the Browns again as he picked apart the New York secondary. Holcomb completed passes to four different receivers on the drive, but it was Jamel White that finished the drive with his second touchdown run of the day, this one from four yards out. The 12 play, 88 yard drive had stunned the New York fans, and the Jets were unable to respond as the first half ended with the Browns ahead by four.

New York came out in the second half and looked like the team that had scored on their first drive of the game again. Lamont Jordan and Curtis Martin pounded their way through the Cleveland defense, and Chad Pennington was able to find open receivers again. However, the drive stalled at the Cleveland 28 yard line, and John Hall missed a 45 yard field goal attempt, killing the momentum that the Jets had just gotten back. The next New York drive had an even worse ending, as Pennington was intercepted by Darren Hambrick at the New York 36 yard line. The Browns only moved the ball three yards on three plays, but it was enough for Phil Dawson to nail a 50 yard field goal and put Cleveland up by a touchdown. The Jets looked as if they were going to answer on the following drive, but Curtis Martin fumbled the ball inside Cleveland territory, ending the threat. Neither team could move the ball much on offense from there until midway through the fourth quarter, when the Browns struck again. Jamel White and William Green ran through the middle of the New York defense, and Kelly Holcomb then passed over top of it. Passes to Quincy Morgan and Green put Cleveland inside the New York ten yard line, and Jamel White ended the drive with a two yard touchdown run, his third of the day. The Jets had just four minutes to score two touchdowns, but after a Chad Pennington interception and another Curtis Martin fumble on their next two drives, the game was all but over. Phil Dawson added a late field goal to finish the scoring, and the Cleveland Browns had shocked everyone and were on their way back to the Super Bowl.

Final Score: Cleveland-27 New York-10

Real Life Score: Oakland-41 Tennessee-24 (In Oakland)

09-28-2009, 04:28 PM	#208 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	2002 AFC Playoffs: Where anything can happen. AFC Wild Card Playoffs New York Jets (9-7) vs. Indianapolis Colts (10-6) Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ After a poor 6-10 showing in 2001, the Indianapolis Colts had once again reached the AFC playoffs. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy was brought in to replace Jim Mora, and while the offense had struggled at times, Dungy brought his defensive knowledge with him, and it showed. The Colts finished the year eighth in the NFL in yards allowed, and rookie defensive end Dwight Freeney led the way with 13 sacks. Edgerrin James battled injuries and finished with just 989 yards and two touchdowns, and Peyton Manning threw 19 interceptions, but the offense was still solid, as Manning also threw 27 touchdowns, and Marvin Harrison caught an NFL record 143 passes for 1,722 yards and 11 touchdowns. For the Jets, they were eager to remove the stench of a poor playoff showing in 2001 with a longer stay in 2002. Chad Pennington had stepped in at starter and done very well, throwing for 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Curtis Martin rushed for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns, while Laveranues Coles had a breakout season, catching 89 passes for 1,264 yards. The defense was nothing to write home about, but third year defensive end John Abraham was named to his second straight Pro Bowl. The Jets would strike first, following an Indianapolis punt on their opening possession. A 23 yard pass from Chad Pennington to Laveranues Coles put New York inside Colt territory, and a 12 yard pass to Wayne Chrebet moved them into field goal range. The Colts stopped the Jets short of the goal line, but John Hall nailed a 32 yard field goal to give them an early lead. Peyton Manning would attempt to respond as he drove Indianapolis to midfield, but a poor pass was intercepted by Jon McGraw, and New York took advantage. On the next play, Richie Anderson broke free for a 54 yard touchdown run to put the Jets up 10-0. The Colts were able to answer back on their next drive, as Manning and Edgerrin James pounded the New York defense before James scored on an 11 yard touchdown run. However, the Jets weren't done yet. Two long passes from Pennington to Coles set up an 12 yard touchdown pass to Anderson, and after Aaron Beasley intercepted Manning, Pennington finished off a 10 play, 53 yard drive with a seven yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss. Manning would be intercepted for a third time on the last Indianapolis drive of the half, setting up a John Hall 26 yard field goal as the half expired that put the Jets ahead 27-7. After being blasted by the Jets in the first half, the Colts knew they had to set a different tone if they wanted to advance in the playoffs. They started out well, forcing the Jets to punt and driving downfield, but Mike Vanderjagt missed a 34 yard field goal on their opening drive. Indianapolis would get another chance later in the third quarter, as Lamont Jordan fumbled the ball at midfield. Peyton Manning only needed two plays to hit Marvin Harrison for a 48 yard touchdown that gave the Colts new life. The momentum would continue for the Colts, as they drove downfield on their first drive of the fourth quarter and added a 25 yard field goal by Vanderjagt that cut New York's lead to ten. After forcing the Jets to punt, Indianapolis took over at their own 35 yard line, but Manning was intercepted by Aaron Beasley again, ending the drive. The Colts would only get one last drive, and Manning was intercepted for the fifth time in the game to finish the Colts season. Though they didn't score in the second half, the Jets had done enough with their defense, and were on to the second round of the AFC playoffs. Final Score: New York-27 Indianapolis-17 Real Life Score: New York-41 Indianapolis-0 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (9-7) Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA The Cleveland Browns had been reborn in 1999, and in the three years before the 2002 season they had not been able to achieve the success of great Cleveland teams of the 1980s. That looked like it was starting to change this season, as the Browns had turned a 4-5 start into a 9-7 record and their first playoff appearance since the 1994 season. The team was not without its faults, though. Kelly Holcomb had replaced Tim Couch at quarterback, and didn't look like much of an upgrade over the former number one pick. William Green provided a decent running game, picking up 887 yards and six touchdowns on the year, while second year wideout Quincy Morgan had taken steps to becoming a number one receiver, brining in 56 passes for 964 yards and seven touchdowns. The Cleveland defense had grown well as the season went along, with veteran Kenard Lang leading the way on a squad that allowed 320 points during the regular season. After a disappointing showing in the 2001 playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers were back again, but they had undergone several changes as well. Kordell Stewart had been benched, and former XFL MVP Tommy Maddox had taken his place at quarterback. Maddox played well, passing for almost 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in 11 starts. Jerome Bettis again battled injuries, leaving Amos Zereoue to pick up the slack, and he did with 762 yards and four touchdowns. Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress had developed into a powerful receiving tandem, and the Pittsburgh defense was again ranked in the top ten in yards allowed. Of course, that defense didn't seem to bother the Browns much, as Kelly Holcomb moved Cleveland deep into Pittsburgh territory on their opening drive. The Browns would make it to the five yard line before having to settle for a Phil Dawson field goal and a 3-0 lead. Cleveland was unable to get anything going on their next drive, and Tommy Maddox was able to get the Steelers moving on offense, completing two passes to Plaxico Burress that put Pittsburgh inside the Cleveland 20 yard line. Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala rumbled in from 16 yards out, and the Steelers had taken the lead early in the second quarter. From there, the first half belonged to the Browns. Holcomb started the next Cleveland drive with a 31 yard pass to Jamel White, then hit Quincy Morgan for 31 more yards before capping the drive with a nine yard touchdown pass to Andre Davis. Phil Dawson missed the extra point, making the score 9-7 in favor of Cleveland. The Steelers could get nothing going on offense, punting on their next drive, and then having their following drive end with an interception by Darren Hambrick. It took just two plays for the Browns to score again, this time on a 54 yard pass from Holcomb to Quincy Morgan. Cleveland took their 16-7 lead into the half as stunned Steeler fans were left to wonder what had happened to their team. If the first half was bad for the Steelers, the second half started out even worse. Andre Davis took the opening kickoff all the way to the Pittsburgh five yard line, and William Green scored on the first play of the third quarter to put Cleveland up 23-7. On the next Pittsburgh play, rookie Verron Haynes fumbled the ball back to the Browns, and Cleveland needed just three plays for Kelly Holcomb to hit Kevin Johnson for a 37 yard touchdown pass. The Browns had scored twice in just under a minute, and a slim 16-7 lead had now ballooned into a 30-7 blowout. Pittsburgh would finally get moving again on offense midway through the third quarter, as a poor Cleveland punt gave the Steelers excellent field position. Tommy Maddox ended the six play, 49 yard drive with an 18 yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, but it would be all downhill for the Steelers after that drive. Maddox would be picked off by Kenard Lang on the next Pittsburgh possession, and the Browns would add a Phil Dawson field goal in response. Dawson would kick a 32 yard field goal on the next Cleveland drive to cap the scoring and end one of the worst defeats in Pittsburgh playoff history, while the Browns were finally able to defeat their rivals and bring their new team closer to respectability. Final Score: Cleveland-36 Pittsburgh-14 Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-36 Cleveland-33 AFC Divisional Playoffs Tennessee Titans (11-5) vs. New York Jets (9-7) Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, TN After a year away from the playoffs, the Tennesee Titans were back and ready to get to their first ever Super Bowl. Tennessee had started the year 1-4, but was able to completely turn their season around, going 10-1 in their final 11 games to claim the first AFC South division crown. Steve McNair had an excellent season, passing for 3,387 yards and 22 touchdowns, while running for 440 yards and three more scores. Eddie George bounced back from a poor 2001 season with 1,165 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns and Derrick Mason finished with over 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Despite not having Jevon Kearse for much of the season, the Titans were solid on defense, recording 39 sacks and finishing in the top ten in the league for total yards allowed. While the Jets had been able to shock the Colts in the first round, Tennessee appeared to be more than ready for what New York had to offer. For the second week in a row, the Jets would score first. This time, Curtis Martin's running and Chad Pennington's passing picked apart the Tennessee defense before giving way to John Hall, who nailed a 44 yard field goal to end the eight play, 33 yard drive. New York would move the ball again on their next drive, but this time, Hall missed a 43 yard kick. Luckily for the Jets, the Titans could get nothing going on offense, as the New York defense was able to contain Steve McNair and Eddie George better than any team had in the previous 11 games. Tennessee was forced to punt on every drive they had in the first half, and the Jets were finally able to take advantage of their strong defensive play late in the second quarter. Pennington hit Anthony Becht for 14 yards, then found Wayne Chrebet for 21 more. From there, Curtis Martin pounded the Titans, as he made his way to the Tennessee 22 yard line on three carries. Pennington then hit Laveranues Coles for 17 yards, and then found Coles again for a five yard touchdown that put the Jets ahead 10-0. One last punt by the Titans finished off the first half, as New York found themselves 30 minutes away from a trip to the AFC Championship. The defensive struggle in the first half carried over into the second half, as neither the Jets nor the Titans could get moving on offense. The Jets made the first mistake, as Jerald Sowell fumbled the ball midfield, but the Titans couldn't take advantage when Joe Nedney missed a 49 yard field goal try. Tennessee would have more success on their next drive, as Robert Holcombe broke free for a 50 yard touchdown run that made the score 10-7. However, the New York defense would strike on the next Tennessee drive, blocking Craig Hentrich's punt and putting the Jets deep inside Tennessee territory. New York could only manage a John Hall 38 yard field goal though, and the Titans were still alive. However, the Titans still couldn't get moving on offense, and had to punt the ball back to the Jets. New York responded by going on a 12 play, 46 yard drive that took almost seven minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter. The drive ended with another John Hall field goal, but the damage was done. Tennessee got the ball back with just 1:48 to play, and when Eddie George was stopped on a fourth down conversion try, the Jets had punched their ticket to the AFC Championship. Final Score: New York-16 Tennessee-7 Real Life Score: Tennessee-34 Pittsburgh-31/OT Oakland Raiders (11-5) vs. Cleveland Browns (9-7) Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA The defending Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders were one of the few stable teams in the AFC in 2002, and they looked even better than the team that won the Super Bowl the year before. Rich Gannon continued to defy age, winning the NFL MVP at age 37 by passing for 4,689 yards and 26 touchdowns. Charlie Garner piled up 962 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, while Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Jerry Porter provided Gannon with plenty of receiving options. New head coach Bill Callahan had improved the defense as well, with new addition Rod Woodson leading the way. The Raiders finished in the top ten in points allowed, and in the top half of the league in yards allowed, making them a powerful force both on offense and defense. Most people agreed that while the Browns were a nice story in the playoffs, the Raiders would just be too much for them. It certainly seemed like the Raiders would march all over Cleveland at the start of the game. Oakland took the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards in ten plays, with Rich Gannon ending the drive on a ten yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown. The first two drives for the Browns didn't go very well, as Cleveland was forced to punt on their first drive, and Kelly Holcomb was intercepted by Terrance Shaw on the next Cleveland possession. However, the Browns were able to stall the Raiders thanks to their defense and Cleveland was able to get moving on their third drive. Phil Dawson finished the drive with a 40 yard field goal, and the Browns were on the board. The Raiders were quick to answer, though. Charlie Garner broke free for a 44 yard run, which set up a 26 yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski that extended Oakland's lead. This time, the Browns were able to come right back. A 36 yard pass from Holcomb to Quincy Morgan put Cleveland inside Oakland territory, and Jamel White finished things off with a one yard touchdown run to tie the game. After a punt by the Raiders, Cleveland marched downfield once again. A 38 yard pass from Holcomb to Morgan set up a 39 yard field goal by Dawson, and just like that, the Browns had the lead. It was short lived, however, as Oakland was able to get into field goal range, and Janikowski nailed a 49 yard kick as the first half came to a close. Just as they had the week before against the Steelers, the Browns came out in the third quarter and shocked the Raiders. Cleveland wasted little time in moving downfield on their opening drive, thanks in large part to a 39 yard run by William Green. A 15 yard pass from Kelly Holcomb to Kevin Johnson put the Browns at the Oakland five yard line, and Jamel White brought in the five yard touchdown pass from Holcomb to put the Browns on top once again. After a quick Oakland punt, Cleveland went right back to work. Holcomb threw a total of one pass on the seven play, 65 yard drive as the Browns pounded the Raiders on the ground. Dennis Northcutt scored on a 28 yard reverse, and the Oakland fans were silent as the Browns had turned a 13-13 game into a 27-13 Cleveland lead. The Raiders attempted to respond on their next drive, but the Cleveland defense held strong, and forced an incomplete pass on a fourth down attempt early in the fourth quarter. However, the Browns couldn't find their offensive magic again, and the Raiders were able to strike back late in the fourth quarter. Two passes from Gannon to Tim Brown set up a 29 yard touchdown run by Charlie Garner with just 2:55 to play. Oakland was able to force a three and out by the Browns on their next possession, and got the ball back at their own 24 yard line with 1:47 to play. A six yard run by Randy Jordan was followed by a 17 yard pass to Garner, who then picked up another five yards on the next play. A 15 yard facemask penalty on the Browns moved the ball into Cleveland territory, and a 12 yard pass from Gannon to Marcus Knight put Oakland at the Cleveland 19 yard line. With 30 seconds to play, the Raiders had four shots at the end zone, but Cleveland held strong, and when Rich Gannon missed Charlie Garner on fourth down, the Browns had knocked off the defending champions and earned a trip to the AFC Championship. Final Score: Cleveland-27 Oakland-20 Real Life Score: Oakland-30 New York-10 AFC Championship Game Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ New York Jets (9-7) vs. Cleveland Browns (9-7) The most improbable AFC Championship in recent memory was on tap, as the New York Jets played host to the Cleveland Browns. For the Jets, it was another shot to get to their first Super Bowl, while the Browns were attempting to recapture the glory of their teams from the 1980s. Chad Pennington had emerged as the quarterback of the future for the Jets, and he had Curtis Martin and Laveranues Coles to back him up on offense. The New York defense, while average in the regular season, seemed to step it up in the playoffs, holding the Colts and Titans to a combined 24 points. For the Browns, Kelly Holcomb had become national news by guiding Cleveland to the AFC Championship after starting just two games in the regular season. On paper, the Browns looked decidedly average, but there was nothing average about the way they had gone through the Steelers and Raiders to get to this point. Cleveland also owned a victory against the Jets in Giants Stadium during the regular season, so Browns fans were confident that Cleveland could shock the world and make it to the Super Bowl. Things did not start out well for the Browns, as their youth and nervousness showed on their first possession. A sack of Kelly Holcomb ended their first drive, and Santana Moss returned the punt to midfield. It took the Jets eight plays to go 54 yards, and Curtis Martin put New York on top with a one yard touchdown run. Cleveland was able to answer quickly though, as Jamel White pounded through the New York defense for 27 yards on the first play of the drive. A 20 yard pass from Holcomb to Kevin Johnson followed, then White struck again for a 17 yard catch and run. Two plays later, White finished the drive with an 11 yard touchdown run that tied the score. Chad Pennington came back onto the field for the Jets and moved them 58 yards in 12 plays before the drive stalled at the Cleveland 16 yard line. John Hall nailed the 33 yard kick, and the Jets were back on top. Later in the second quarter, Holcomb was able to move the Browns again as he picked apart the New York secondary. Holcomb completed passes to four different receivers on the drive, but it was Jamel White that finished the drive with his second touchdown run of the day, this one from four yards out. The 12 play, 88 yard drive had stunned the New York fans, and the Jets were unable to respond as the first half ended with the Browns ahead by four. New York came out in the second half and looked like the team that had scored on their first drive of the game again. Lamont Jordan and Curtis Martin pounded their way through the Cleveland defense, and Chad Pennington was able to find open receivers again. However, the drive stalled at the Cleveland 28 yard line, and John Hall missed a 45 yard field goal attempt, killing the momentum that the Jets had just gotten back. The next New York drive had an even worse ending, as Pennington was intercepted by Darren Hambrick at the New York 36 yard line. The Browns only moved the ball three yards on three plays, but it was enough for Phil Dawson to nail a 50 yard field goal and put Cleveland up by a touchdown. The Jets looked as if they were going to answer on the following drive, but Curtis Martin fumbled the ball inside Cleveland territory, ending the threat. Neither team could move the ball much on offense from there until midway through the fourth quarter, when the Browns struck again. Jamel White and William Green ran through the middle of the New York defense, and Kelly Holcomb then passed over top of it. Passes to Quincy Morgan and Green put Cleveland inside the New York ten yard line, and Jamel White ended the drive with a two yard touchdown run, his third of the day. The Jets had just four minutes to score two touchdowns, but after a Chad Pennington interception and another Curtis Martin fumble on their next two drives, the game was all but over. Phil Dawson added a late field goal to finish the scoring, and the Cleveland Browns had shocked everyone and were on their way back to the Super Bowl. Final Score: Cleveland-27 New York-10 Real Life Score: Oakland-41 Tennessee-24 (In Oakland)