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Hurkman · 09-29-2009, 04:17 PM

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Green Bay Packers (12-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (9-6-1)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

The Atlanta Falcons had been a troubled team since the last time they had made the playoffs back in 1998. Their 14-2 record that season had quickly turned into a 4-12 showing just two years later. However, that poor record had started their recovery, as they used the first pick in the 2001 draft to select quarterback Michael Vick. In his first year as a starter, Vick had shown athletic abilities that very few quarterbacks before him had. He threw for 2,936 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also running for 777 yards and eight more touchdowns. Running backs Warrick Dunn and rookie T.J. Duckett helped give the Falcons the one of most dynamic rushing attacks in the NFL. The Atlanta defense had also been turned around in 2002, as Patrick Kerney and Keith Brooking had led the way for a team that allowed just 314 points during the regular season. The Green Bay Packers had another successful season, and were looking to take the extra steps back to the Super Bowl in 2002. Brett Favre had a solid season once again, passing for 3,658 yards and 26 touchdowns, while Ahman Green finished the year with 1,240 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Donald Driver had emerged as a Pro Bowl wideout, recording over 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The Packers had taken a small step back on defense this season, but Darren Sharper and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila were ready for any challenge that Michael Vick could throw at them.

Sure enough, the Green Bay defense was more than ready for Michael Vick and the Falcons in the first half, as the Packers kept Atlanta confused for much of the first 30 minutes of play. The only problem was that the Packers dynamic offense was also having problems getting started, as the Falcons were able to contain Brett Favre, Ahman Green and Donald Driver during the first quarter. Green Bay began to make headway early in the second quarter, but Ryan Longwell missed a 44 yard field goal, putting an end to their first threat of the game. The Packers would have more success on their next drive, as they were once again able to make their way into Atlanta territory. The Green Bay running game did most of the work, as Ahman Green and Tony Fisher pounded through the front seven of the Falcons. It was Fisher that finished the drive, as he broke free for a 16 yard touchdown run for the first points of the game. Atlanta was finally able to move the ball on their next possession, but they could not get into field goal range, and were forced to punt. However, with just 24 seconds left in the first half, the Falcons got the ball back again, and this time, Michael Vick was able to strike. Three quick runs by T.J. Duckett, Warrick Dunn and Vick caught the Packers off guard and moved the ball just outside of field goal range with seven seconds to go. Vick took the snap and fired a perfect strike to Quentin McCord as time expired in the half, tying the score and stunning the Packers.

The defensive struggle between the two teams continued into the third quarter. Michael Vick made his first mistake of the game on the second Atlanta drive, as he was intercepted by Darren Sharper deep in Falcons territory. Two plays later, Tony Fisher fumbled the ball back to the Falcons, killing a chance for Green Bay to take the lead. Following the fumble, Vick took over on the next drive. First, he completed a 20 yard pass to Alge Crumpler, then followed that with a ten yard run and three straight completions, putting the Falcons deep in Packers territory. After a five yard run by T.J. Duckett put Atlanta at the Green Bay five yard line, Vick finished the drive with a five yard touchdown run, putting the Falcons on top for the first time in the game. Brett Favre was ready, and he answered right back, leading the Packers on an eight play, 75 yard drive that ended with a nine yard touchdown pass from Favre to Bubba Franks that tied the game again. After three straight drives ended with punts, the Packers were again able to move downfield on the Falcons. A 39 yard run by Ahman Green moved Green Bay into Atlanta territory, and though the Packers couldn't find the end zone, Ryan Longwell was able to hit a 30 yard field goal with two minutes to play, putting the Packers back on top.

Just as he had at the end of the first half, Michael Vick was able to move the Falcons downfield with very little time on the clock. This time, he used his arm, completing passes to three different receivers to get Atlanta inside Green Bay territory. An 11 yard pass to Shawn Jefferson set up a 24 yard pass to Trevor Gaylor that put the Falcons down at the one yard line. With just 52 seconds to play in the game, Vick took the snap and rolled right. He found open space and made it into the end zone for a touchdown that put the Falcons on top. The only problem was Atlanta had left time on the clock for Brett Favre. Starting at his own nine yard line with just 44 seconds left, Favre moved the Packers all the way to the Atlanta 33 yard line. Favre took one last shot at the end zone, but his pass fell incomplete as time expired, and Michael Vick had earned his first playoff win against a legend in a hostile stadium.

Final Score: Atlanta-21 Green Bay-17

Real Life Score: Atlanta-27 Green Bay-7

San Francisco 49ers (10-6) vs. New York Giants (10-6)
3Com Park, San Francisco, CA

The New York Giants had recovered nicely from a 7-9 season in 2001 to make another playoff showing in 2002. After struggling on offense for much of the season, the Giants had put together four straight impressive wins, and were arguably the hottest team in the NFC heading into the playoffs. Quarterback Kerry Collins finished the season with over 4,000 passing yards and 19 touchdowns and Tiki Barber rushed for 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also catching 69 passes for another 597 yards. Amani Toomer had a career year, bringing in 82 catches for 1,343 yards and eight touchdowns and rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey was named an All Pro for his 74 catch, 894 yard rookie campaign. The New York defense was one of the best in the NFL, even with Michael Strahan failing to match his NFL record 22.5 sacks from the year before. In San Francisco, the 49ers had struggled late in the season, finishing 10-6 after starting the year 7-2. Jeff Garcia was named to the Pro Bowl, finishing the year with 3,344 yards and 21 touchdowns. Wideouts Terrell Owens and Tai Streets looked as if they would be a solid receiving duo for years, with Owens catching 100 passes for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Streets bringing in 72 catches for 756 yards and five touchdowns. The 49ers had struggled at times on defense, but Julian Peterson and Andre Carter had established themselves as leaders, and were ready to bring the 49ers back to their glory years again.

After punts by both teams opened up the game, the 49ers were able to take advantage of a good return by Jimmy Williams that put the ball at midfield. Five plays later, Jeff Garcia hit Eric Johnson for a 26 yard touchdown pass and an early lead for San Francisco. The Giants were quick to respond, thanks to a good mixture of run and pass. Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne did the work on the ground, while Kerry Collins was able to hit Jeremy Shockey, Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer through the air. A five yard touchdown pass from Collins to Toomer ended the drive and tied the score. The 49ers would answer right back, as Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow pounded their way through the heart of the New York defense. The Giants would stop San Francisco, but not before Jeff Chandler would kick a 36 yard field goal that put the 49ers back on top. New York would resond through the air. Kerry Collins completed five of seven passes on the eight play drive that ended with a 29 yard field goal by Matt Bryant to tie the game. The 49ers would come right back, with Garcia completing a 22 yard pass to J.J. Stokes, then a 21 yard pass to Eric Johnson before Garrison Hearst would break free for a 31 yard touchdown run. Both defenses would finally settle down from there, and the score would remain 17-10 San Francisco at the half.

The second half did not start out well for the Giants. On their third play of the third quarter, Tiki Barber was hit and fumbled the ball. San Francisco recovered at the New York 43 yard line and moved 36 yards in seven plays. Though they had to settle for another Jeff Chandler field goal, the 49ers now had a ten point lead, and their defense had begun enforcing its will on New York's offense. Only a missed 33 yard field goal try from Chandler dampened the 49ers' spirits in the third quarter, and for most of the fourth quarter, the game seemed to be in hand. With just over five minutes to play in the game, San Francisco punted the ball back to the Giants, who hadn't been able to cross midfield since the second quarter. It didn't take long for New York to move the ball this time. Two 16 yard passes from Kerry Collins to Jeremy Shockey and Amani Toomer put the ball at the San Francisco 20 yard line, and Matt Bryant nailed a 37 yard field goal with four minutes to play, cutting the 49er lead to seven points. After a three and out by San Francisco's offense, the Giants got the ball back at their own 45 yard line with just 1:47 to go. A 23 yard run by Ron Dayne moved New York into San Francisco territory, and two quick passes by Collins put the ball at the 13 yard line. Tiki Barber took the ball up the middle for three yards, and San Francisco jumped offsides on the next play, moving the ball to the five. Barber took the ball up the middle again on the next play and plowed into the end zone. Bryant's extra point was good, and the Giants had tied the game.

San Francisco had one last drive left in them before overtime, and Jeff Garcia made it count. A 17 yard pass to Eric Johnson started the drive, and a 25 yard strike to J.J. Stokes put the 49ers at the edge of field goal range. Jeff Chandler was called in to attempt the 45 yard field goal, but he pushed it just to the right, and there would be overtime. That drive would be the last time the 49ers would touch the ball on offense in the game. Delvin Joyce took the overtime kickoff back to the New York 41 yard line, and eight plays later, Charles Stackhouse found his way into the end zone from 14 yards out, completing New York's comeback and ending San Francisco's season.

Final Score: New York-26 San Francisco-20/OT

Real Life Score: San Francisco-39 New York-38 (Best Remembered for this. Skip ahead to the 9:00 mark for the ending.)

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (9-6-1)
Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

Two straight trips to the playoffs for the Philadelphia Eagles had resulted in one win, but this year, the Eagles had established themselves atop the NFC. Even after Donovan McNabb went down with a broken ankle against Arizona on November 17th, the Eagles continued on. Koy Detmer started the next game, then was lost due to injury. Third string quarterback A.J. Feeley stepped into the fray and won four of the next five games to keep the Eagles at the top of the NFC East. McNabb finished his injury shortened season with 17 touchdowns and 2,289 passing yards to go along with 460 rushing yards and six more touchdowns. Duce Staley had bounced back from two poor seasons with a 1,000 yard year on the ground, and a motley crew of receivers, led by James Thrash, Todd Pinkston and Antonio Freeman, provided the Eagles with options through the air. Philadelphia's real strength was their defense, where Hugh Douglas, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor and Brian Dawkins were all named to the Pro Bowl. McNabb had recovered and would be starting against Michael Vick and the Falcons, and the air was full of anticipation for a matchup between two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.

For all the talk about Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick, it was Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett that started the game well for the Falcons. Dunn and Duckett managed to exploit the one weakness the Eagles had on defense and caught Philadelphia off guard with their running abilities. With the run established, Vick only needed to throw three passes on the 11 play drive, including the 11 yard touchdown pass to Trevor Gaylor that ended the drive. The Eagles wouldn't respond until early in the second quarter, when their running game finally began to start working. McNabb would rush for ten yards and pass for 27 on the nine play, 49 yard drive. Dorsey Levens' 15 yard touchdown catch ended the drive and tied the score, but the Falcons weren't done in the first half yet. Atlanta's next drive moved all the way down to the Philadelphia 18 yard line before Brian Dawkins intercepted Vick. However, McNabb's second pass of the ensuing drive was picked off by Gerald McBurrows, who returned the ball to the Philadelphia seven. Vick needed just one play to bootleg out and score, giving the Falcons the lead again. The Eagles would respond with an eight play, 47 yard drive that ended with a 41 yard field goal from David Akers, and Atlanta would counter that with one last scoring drive. The Falcons moved 58 yards in ten plays in just under a minute and half. Jay Feely's 21 yard field goal ended the first half and put Atlanta ahead 17-10.

The Philadelphia defense had been pushed around by Michael Vick and the Atlanta offense for most of the first half, and they came out knowing they would have to send a message in the second half. They did so on Atlanta's first drive. After Vick was able to move the Falcons deep into Philadelphia territory, Brian Dawkins forced T.J. Duckett to fumble, ending the drive. Though the Eagles couldn't move the ball on their next drive, the defense had set a tone, and the Falcons went three and out on their following drive. Donovan McNabb then moved Philadelphia on a 70 yard drive that took just four plays. Rookie Brian Westbrook finished the drive with a 33 yard touchdown run that tied the score late in the third quarter. After another three and out by the Falcons, it appeared that momentum had sided with the Eagles, but a quick three and out on their next drive forced them to punt. Former Eagle Allen Rossum fielded the punt and cut through the Philadelphia defense for a 76 yard touchdown that once again put the Falcons on top and stunned the Eagles. Philadelphia was forced to punt on their next drive, and Atlanta responded with an 11 play, 54 yard drive that took six and a half minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter. Vick, Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett attacked the Eagles on the ground, picking up large chunks of yards and eating up the clock. Jay Feely's 30 yard field goal with two minutes to play sealed the Eagles' fate. Philadelphia would make it into Atlanta territory on their next drive, but McNabb would be sacked on fourth down. For the first time since the 1980 season, the Atlanta Falcons were headed to the NFC Championship.

Final Score: Atlanta-27 Philadelphia-17

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-20 Atlanta-6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) vs. New York Giants (10-6)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

While the New York Giants boasted a solid defense and a decent offense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had similar traits, only with the best defense in the NFL and a better quarterback. In his first season with Tampa Bay, for Oakland coach Jon Gruden had somehow made the Buccaneers even better on defense. Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp were all named to the All Pro team, and Rice led the team with 15.5 sacks. Brian Kelly led the NFL with eight interceptions, and Tampa Bay ranked first in the league in both points and total yards allowed on the season. On offense, Brad Johnson had a very good year, passing for over 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. Michael Pittman and Mike Alstott provided Tampa Bay with a solid one-two punch at running back, and Keyshawn Johnson gave the Bucs a true number one receiving threat. Though the Giants had managed to come back against the 49ers the week before, they would need to play a perfect game in order to get past Tampa Bay.

Sure enough, both defenses came out strong in the first quarter, with neither team getting past the 50 yard line on any possession. It looked like one defense would have to force the opposing offense to make a mistake for either team to score any points, and that's exactly what happened. Early in the second quarter, the Buccaneers forced the Giants to punt. Tampa Bay got through the line and blocked Matt Allen's punt, giving the Buccaneers the ball in New York territory for the first time. Brad Johnson used Tampa Bay's running game to set up his passing attack, and the nine play, 44 yard drive ended with a 32 yard field goal by Martin Gramatica, giving the Buccaneers the all important first points of the game. The Giants followed with another punt, and Karl Williams returned the ball to the Tampa Bay 48 yard line. Working with a short field again, Brad Johnson only had to move the ball 26 yards to get into Gramatica's range, and the Tampa Bay kicker nailed a 43 yard attempt. The Buccaneers would strike one last time in the first half, as Johnson hit Ken Dilger for a 24 yard gain to the New York 32 yard line with just 15 seconds to play in the first half. Gramatica's 49 yard field goal ended the first half and put Tampa Bay up 9-0.

The Buccaneers wasted little time in moving the ball against the Giants on offense to start the third quarter. This time, Brad Johnson picked apart the New York secondary, completing six of eight passes on the drive. Though the Buccaneers still couldn't find the end zone, Martin Gramatica was able to kick his fourth field goal of the game, this one from just 24 yards away, to but Tampa Bay up 12-0. The Giants responded by finally moving the ball inside Tampa Bay territory, but just as their drive was gaining momentum, Amani Toomer fumbled the ball away at the Tampa Bay 45 yard line. Kerry Collins was under pressure the entire game, and Tiki Barber could find very little room to run through the tough as nails defense of the Buccaneers. The Giants would cross midfield just twice more during the game, and only once made it inside Tampa Bay's 40 yard line. The Buccaneers would add one final field goal by Gramatica to cap the scoring as they advanced to their second NFC Championship in four years with a dominating performance over New York.

Final Score: Tampa Bay-15 New York-0

Real Life Score: Tampa Bay-31 San Francisco-6

NFC Championship Game

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (9-6-1)

For the third time in the 2002 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons would face off, and this time, the winner would represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXVII. Tampa Bay had dominated the two previous meetings, holding Michael Vick to just ten rushing yards and 162 passing yards while knocking him out of the first game with a sprained shoulder. The Buccaneers were confident that their excellent defense and solid offense would once again carry them over the Falcons, while Atlanta was hoping that their run through the teeth of the NFC in the playoffs would be enough for them to finally get over the hump and beat Tampa Bay.

As was the case the week before against the Giants, neither the Falcons nor the Buccaneers could get anything going on offense early in the first half. The Tampa Bay defense kept Michael Vick, T.J. Duckett and Warrick Dunn under wraps, while Brad Johnson was struggling to get his offense going against a confident Atlanta defense. The Falcons had the first drive to cross midfield, but it came up short when Dunn fumbled the ball over to Tampa Bay at the Buccaneer 33 yard line. Brad Johnson gave the ball right back to the Falcons, thanks to an interception by Will Overstreet, but the Tampa Bay defense kept Atlanta out of field goal range and forced a punt. The Buccaneers finally got moving on offense on their first drive of the second quarter, when Brad Johnson hit Keyshawn Johnson for 18 yards, then found Keenan McCardell for 12 more, putting the ball at the Atlanta 28 yard line. Mike Alstott brought in a pass for ten yards, and three plays later, Michael Pittman broke free for a ten yard touchdown run that put Tampa Bay in the lead. The Falcons were able to counter with a drive that moved them into field goal range, but Jay Feely missed a 46 yard attempt, and Atlanta wouldn't get another scoring chance in the first half. However, the Falcons were able to keep the Buccaneers from scoring as well, and the game went to the half with the score 7-0 Tampa Bay.

After struggling for the entire first half against the Tampa Bay defense, the Falcons came out at the start of the third quarter and looked like a different team. Michael Vick started the Atlanta drive with two eight yard passes, one to T.J. Duckett and the other to Brian Finneran. Then, Warrick Dunn took over the drive. The former Buccaneer carried the ball on three of the next six plays, picking up 32 yards on the three carries, including an 18 yard touchdown run that tied the game. After watching the Falcons run all over their defense, the Buccaneers came out on offense and proceeded to do the exact same thing to the Atlanta defense. Mike Alstott, Aaron Stecker and Michael Pittman punished the Falcons, and Brad Johnson passed the ball only when needed on the 14 play drive that took over nine minutes. The Buccaneers finally stalled inside the Atlanta ten yard line, and Martin Gramatica capped the drive with a 24 yard field goal that put Tampa Bay back on top. With the lead once again, the Tampa Bay defense clamped down on the Falcons, stopping their running attack and forcing Michael Vick to beat them with his arm. Atlanta would get as close as the Tampa Bay 37 yard line, but could never reach Jay Feely's range on their final three drives. Once Vick missed Brian Finneran on fourth and three with two minutes to play, the game was over, the Buccaneers had stopped Michael Vick and were headed to their third Super Bowl.

Final Score: Tampa Bay-10 Atlanta-7

Real Life Score: Tampa Bay-27 Philadelphia-10 (In Philadelphia...I don't like talking about this game.)

09-29-2009, 04:17 PM	#209 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	2002 NFC Playoffs: That guy named Vick shows up...where's he been lately? NFC Wild Card Playoffs Green Bay Packers (12-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (9-6-1) Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI The Atlanta Falcons had been a troubled team since the last time they had made the playoffs back in 1998. Their 14-2 record that season had quickly turned into a 4-12 showing just two years later. However, that poor record had started their recovery, as they used the first pick in the 2001 draft to select quarterback Michael Vick. In his first year as a starter, Vick had shown athletic abilities that very few quarterbacks before him had. He threw for 2,936 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also running for 777 yards and eight more touchdowns. Running backs Warrick Dunn and rookie T.J. Duckett helped give the Falcons the one of most dynamic rushing attacks in the NFL. The Atlanta defense had also been turned around in 2002, as Patrick Kerney and Keith Brooking had led the way for a team that allowed just 314 points during the regular season. The Green Bay Packers had another successful season, and were looking to take the extra steps back to the Super Bowl in 2002. Brett Favre had a solid season once again, passing for 3,658 yards and 26 touchdowns, while Ahman Green finished the year with 1,240 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Donald Driver had emerged as a Pro Bowl wideout, recording over 1,000 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The Packers had taken a small step back on defense this season, but Darren Sharper and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila were ready for any challenge that Michael Vick could throw at them. Sure enough, the Green Bay defense was more than ready for Michael Vick and the Falcons in the first half, as the Packers kept Atlanta confused for much of the first 30 minutes of play. The only problem was that the Packers dynamic offense was also having problems getting started, as the Falcons were able to contain Brett Favre, Ahman Green and Donald Driver during the first quarter. Green Bay began to make headway early in the second quarter, but Ryan Longwell missed a 44 yard field goal, putting an end to their first threat of the game. The Packers would have more success on their next drive, as they were once again able to make their way into Atlanta territory. The Green Bay running game did most of the work, as Ahman Green and Tony Fisher pounded through the front seven of the Falcons. It was Fisher that finished the drive, as he broke free for a 16 yard touchdown run for the first points of the game. Atlanta was finally able to move the ball on their next possession, but they could not get into field goal range, and were forced to punt. However, with just 24 seconds left in the first half, the Falcons got the ball back again, and this time, Michael Vick was able to strike. Three quick runs by T.J. Duckett, Warrick Dunn and Vick caught the Packers off guard and moved the ball just outside of field goal range with seven seconds to go. Vick took the snap and fired a perfect strike to Quentin McCord as time expired in the half, tying the score and stunning the Packers. The defensive struggle between the two teams continued into the third quarter. Michael Vick made his first mistake of the game on the second Atlanta drive, as he was intercepted by Darren Sharper deep in Falcons territory. Two plays later, Tony Fisher fumbled the ball back to the Falcons, killing a chance for Green Bay to take the lead. Following the fumble, Vick took over on the next drive. First, he completed a 20 yard pass to Alge Crumpler, then followed that with a ten yard run and three straight completions, putting the Falcons deep in Packers territory. After a five yard run by T.J. Duckett put Atlanta at the Green Bay five yard line, Vick finished the drive with a five yard touchdown run, putting the Falcons on top for the first time in the game. Brett Favre was ready, and he answered right back, leading the Packers on an eight play, 75 yard drive that ended with a nine yard touchdown pass from Favre to Bubba Franks that tied the game again. After three straight drives ended with punts, the Packers were again able to move downfield on the Falcons. A 39 yard run by Ahman Green moved Green Bay into Atlanta territory, and though the Packers couldn't find the end zone, Ryan Longwell was able to hit a 30 yard field goal with two minutes to play, putting the Packers back on top. Just as he had at the end of the first half, Michael Vick was able to move the Falcons downfield with very little time on the clock. This time, he used his arm, completing passes to three different receivers to get Atlanta inside Green Bay territory. An 11 yard pass to Shawn Jefferson set up a 24 yard pass to Trevor Gaylor that put the Falcons down at the one yard line. With just 52 seconds to play in the game, Vick took the snap and rolled right. He found open space and made it into the end zone for a touchdown that put the Falcons on top. The only problem was Atlanta had left time on the clock for Brett Favre. Starting at his own nine yard line with just 44 seconds left, Favre moved the Packers all the way to the Atlanta 33 yard line. Favre took one last shot at the end zone, but his pass fell incomplete as time expired, and Michael Vick had earned his first playoff win against a legend in a hostile stadium. Final Score: Atlanta-21 Green Bay-17 Real Life Score: Atlanta-27 Green Bay-7 San Francisco 49ers (10-6) vs. New York Giants (10-6) 3Com Park, San Francisco, CA The New York Giants had recovered nicely from a 7-9 season in 2001 to make another playoff showing in 2002. After struggling on offense for much of the season, the Giants had put together four straight impressive wins, and were arguably the hottest team in the NFC heading into the playoffs. Quarterback Kerry Collins finished the season with over 4,000 passing yards and 19 touchdowns and Tiki Barber rushed for 1,387 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also catching 69 passes for another 597 yards. Amani Toomer had a career year, bringing in 82 catches for 1,343 yards and eight touchdowns and rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey was named an All Pro for his 74 catch, 894 yard rookie campaign. The New York defense was one of the best in the NFL, even with Michael Strahan failing to match his NFL record 22.5 sacks from the year before. In San Francisco, the 49ers had struggled late in the season, finishing 10-6 after starting the year 7-2. Jeff Garcia was named to the Pro Bowl, finishing the year with 3,344 yards and 21 touchdowns. Wideouts Terrell Owens and Tai Streets looked as if they would be a solid receiving duo for years, with Owens catching 100 passes for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Streets bringing in 72 catches for 756 yards and five touchdowns. The 49ers had struggled at times on defense, but Julian Peterson and Andre Carter had established themselves as leaders, and were ready to bring the 49ers back to their glory years again. After punts by both teams opened up the game, the 49ers were able to take advantage of a good return by Jimmy Williams that put the ball at midfield. Five plays later, Jeff Garcia hit Eric Johnson for a 26 yard touchdown pass and an early lead for San Francisco. The Giants were quick to respond, thanks to a good mixture of run and pass. Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne did the work on the ground, while Kerry Collins was able to hit Jeremy Shockey, Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer through the air. A five yard touchdown pass from Collins to Toomer ended the drive and tied the score. The 49ers would answer right back, as Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow pounded their way through the heart of the New York defense. The Giants would stop San Francisco, but not before Jeff Chandler would kick a 36 yard field goal that put the 49ers back on top. New York would resond through the air. Kerry Collins completed five of seven passes on the eight play drive that ended with a 29 yard field goal by Matt Bryant to tie the game. The 49ers would come right back, with Garcia completing a 22 yard pass to J.J. Stokes, then a 21 yard pass to Eric Johnson before Garrison Hearst would break free for a 31 yard touchdown run. Both defenses would finally settle down from there, and the score would remain 17-10 San Francisco at the half. The second half did not start out well for the Giants. On their third play of the third quarter, Tiki Barber was hit and fumbled the ball. San Francisco recovered at the New York 43 yard line and moved 36 yards in seven plays. Though they had to settle for another Jeff Chandler field goal, the 49ers now had a ten point lead, and their defense had begun enforcing its will on New York's offense. Only a missed 33 yard field goal try from Chandler dampened the 49ers' spirits in the third quarter, and for most of the fourth quarter, the game seemed to be in hand. With just over five minutes to play in the game, San Francisco punted the ball back to the Giants, who hadn't been able to cross midfield since the second quarter. It didn't take long for New York to move the ball this time. Two 16 yard passes from Kerry Collins to Jeremy Shockey and Amani Toomer put the ball at the San Francisco 20 yard line, and Matt Bryant nailed a 37 yard field goal with four minutes to play, cutting the 49er lead to seven points. After a three and out by San Francisco's offense, the Giants got the ball back at their own 45 yard line with just 1:47 to go. A 23 yard run by Ron Dayne moved New York into San Francisco territory, and two quick passes by Collins put the ball at the 13 yard line. Tiki Barber took the ball up the middle for three yards, and San Francisco jumped offsides on the next play, moving the ball to the five. Barber took the ball up the middle again on the next play and plowed into the end zone. Bryant's extra point was good, and the Giants had tied the game. San Francisco had one last drive left in them before overtime, and Jeff Garcia made it count. A 17 yard pass to Eric Johnson started the drive, and a 25 yard strike to J.J. Stokes put the 49ers at the edge of field goal range. Jeff Chandler was called in to attempt the 45 yard field goal, but he pushed it just to the right, and there would be overtime. That drive would be the last time the 49ers would touch the ball on offense in the game. Delvin Joyce took the overtime kickoff back to the New York 41 yard line, and eight plays later, Charles Stackhouse found his way into the end zone from 14 yards out, completing New York's comeback and ending San Francisco's season. Final Score: New York-26 San Francisco-20/OT Real Life Score: San Francisco-39 New York-38 (Best Remembered for this. Skip ahead to the 9:00 mark for the ending.) NFC Divisional Playoffs Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (9-6-1) Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA Two straight trips to the playoffs for the Philadelphia Eagles had resulted in one win, but this year, the Eagles had established themselves atop the NFC. Even after Donovan McNabb went down with a broken ankle against Arizona on November 17th, the Eagles continued on. Koy Detmer started the next game, then was lost due to injury. Third string quarterback A.J. Feeley stepped into the fray and won four of the next five games to keep the Eagles at the top of the NFC East. McNabb finished his injury shortened season with 17 touchdowns and 2,289 passing yards to go along with 460 rushing yards and six more touchdowns. Duce Staley had bounced back from two poor seasons with a 1,000 yard year on the ground, and a motley crew of receivers, led by James Thrash, Todd Pinkston and Antonio Freeman, provided the Eagles with options through the air. Philadelphia's real strength was their defense, where Hugh Douglas, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor and Brian Dawkins were all named to the Pro Bowl. McNabb had recovered and would be starting against Michael Vick and the Falcons, and the air was full of anticipation for a matchup between two of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. For all the talk about Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick, it was Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett that started the game well for the Falcons. Dunn and Duckett managed to exploit the one weakness the Eagles had on defense and caught Philadelphia off guard with their running abilities. With the run established, Vick only needed to throw three passes on the 11 play drive, including the 11 yard touchdown pass to Trevor Gaylor that ended the drive. The Eagles wouldn't respond until early in the second quarter, when their running game finally began to start working. McNabb would rush for ten yards and pass for 27 on the nine play, 49 yard drive. Dorsey Levens' 15 yard touchdown catch ended the drive and tied the score, but the Falcons weren't done in the first half yet. Atlanta's next drive moved all the way down to the Philadelphia 18 yard line before Brian Dawkins intercepted Vick. However, McNabb's second pass of the ensuing drive was picked off by Gerald McBurrows, who returned the ball to the Philadelphia seven. Vick needed just one play to bootleg out and score, giving the Falcons the lead again. The Eagles would respond with an eight play, 47 yard drive that ended with a 41 yard field goal from David Akers, and Atlanta would counter that with one last scoring drive. The Falcons moved 58 yards in ten plays in just under a minute and half. Jay Feely's 21 yard field goal ended the first half and put Atlanta ahead 17-10. The Philadelphia defense had been pushed around by Michael Vick and the Atlanta offense for most of the first half, and they came out knowing they would have to send a message in the second half. They did so on Atlanta's first drive. After Vick was able to move the Falcons deep into Philadelphia territory, Brian Dawkins forced T.J. Duckett to fumble, ending the drive. Though the Eagles couldn't move the ball on their next drive, the defense had set a tone, and the Falcons went three and out on their following drive. Donovan McNabb then moved Philadelphia on a 70 yard drive that took just four plays. Rookie Brian Westbrook finished the drive with a 33 yard touchdown run that tied the score late in the third quarter. After another three and out by the Falcons, it appeared that momentum had sided with the Eagles, but a quick three and out on their next drive forced them to punt. Former Eagle Allen Rossum fielded the punt and cut through the Philadelphia defense for a 76 yard touchdown that once again put the Falcons on top and stunned the Eagles. Philadelphia was forced to punt on their next drive, and Atlanta responded with an 11 play, 54 yard drive that took six and a half minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter. Vick, Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett attacked the Eagles on the ground, picking up large chunks of yards and eating up the clock. Jay Feely's 30 yard field goal with two minutes to play sealed the Eagles' fate. Philadelphia would make it into Atlanta territory on their next drive, but McNabb would be sacked on fourth down. For the first time since the 1980 season, the Atlanta Falcons were headed to the NFC Championship. Final Score: Atlanta-27 Philadelphia-17 Real Life Score: Philadelphia-20 Atlanta-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) vs. New York Giants (10-6) Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL While the New York Giants boasted a solid defense and a decent offense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had similar traits, only with the best defense in the NFL and a better quarterback. In his first season with Tampa Bay, for Oakland coach Jon Gruden had somehow made the Buccaneers even better on defense. Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp were all named to the All Pro team, and Rice led the team with 15.5 sacks. Brian Kelly led the NFL with eight interceptions, and Tampa Bay ranked first in the league in both points and total yards allowed on the season. On offense, Brad Johnson had a very good year, passing for over 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions. Michael Pittman and Mike Alstott provided Tampa Bay with a solid one-two punch at running back, and Keyshawn Johnson gave the Bucs a true number one receiving threat. Though the Giants had managed to come back against the 49ers the week before, they would need to play a perfect game in order to get past Tampa Bay. Sure enough, both defenses came out strong in the first quarter, with neither team getting past the 50 yard line on any possession. It looked like one defense would have to force the opposing offense to make a mistake for either team to score any points, and that's exactly what happened. Early in the second quarter, the Buccaneers forced the Giants to punt. Tampa Bay got through the line and blocked Matt Allen's punt, giving the Buccaneers the ball in New York territory for the first time. Brad Johnson used Tampa Bay's running game to set up his passing attack, and the nine play, 44 yard drive ended with a 32 yard field goal by Martin Gramatica, giving the Buccaneers the all important first points of the game. The Giants followed with another punt, and Karl Williams returned the ball to the Tampa Bay 48 yard line. Working with a short field again, Brad Johnson only had to move the ball 26 yards to get into Gramatica's range, and the Tampa Bay kicker nailed a 43 yard attempt. The Buccaneers would strike one last time in the first half, as Johnson hit Ken Dilger for a 24 yard gain to the New York 32 yard line with just 15 seconds to play in the first half. Gramatica's 49 yard field goal ended the first half and put Tampa Bay up 9-0. The Buccaneers wasted little time in moving the ball against the Giants on offense to start the third quarter. This time, Brad Johnson picked apart the New York secondary, completing six of eight passes on the drive. Though the Buccaneers still couldn't find the end zone, Martin Gramatica was able to kick his fourth field goal of the game, this one from just 24 yards away, to but Tampa Bay up 12-0. The Giants responded by finally moving the ball inside Tampa Bay territory, but just as their drive was gaining momentum, Amani Toomer fumbled the ball away at the Tampa Bay 45 yard line. Kerry Collins was under pressure the entire game, and Tiki Barber could find very little room to run through the tough as nails defense of the Buccaneers. The Giants would cross midfield just twice more during the game, and only once made it inside Tampa Bay's 40 yard line. The Buccaneers would add one final field goal by Gramatica to cap the scoring as they advanced to their second NFC Championship in four years with a dominating performance over New York. Final Score: Tampa Bay-15 New York-0 Real Life Score: Tampa Bay-31 San Francisco-6 NFC Championship Game Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (9-6-1) For the third time in the 2002 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons would face off, and this time, the winner would represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXVII. Tampa Bay had dominated the two previous meetings, holding Michael Vick to just ten rushing yards and 162 passing yards while knocking him out of the first game with a sprained shoulder. The Buccaneers were confident that their excellent defense and solid offense would once again carry them over the Falcons, while Atlanta was hoping that their run through the teeth of the NFC in the playoffs would be enough for them to finally get over the hump and beat Tampa Bay. As was the case the week before against the Giants, neither the Falcons nor the Buccaneers could get anything going on offense early in the first half. The Tampa Bay defense kept Michael Vick, T.J. Duckett and Warrick Dunn under wraps, while Brad Johnson was struggling to get his offense going against a confident Atlanta defense. The Falcons had the first drive to cross midfield, but it came up short when Dunn fumbled the ball over to Tampa Bay at the Buccaneer 33 yard line. Brad Johnson gave the ball right back to the Falcons, thanks to an interception by Will Overstreet, but the Tampa Bay defense kept Atlanta out of field goal range and forced a punt. The Buccaneers finally got moving on offense on their first drive of the second quarter, when Brad Johnson hit Keyshawn Johnson for 18 yards, then found Keenan McCardell for 12 more, putting the ball at the Atlanta 28 yard line. Mike Alstott brought in a pass for ten yards, and three plays later, Michael Pittman broke free for a ten yard touchdown run that put Tampa Bay in the lead. The Falcons were able to counter with a drive that moved them into field goal range, but Jay Feely missed a 46 yard attempt, and Atlanta wouldn't get another scoring chance in the first half. However, the Falcons were able to keep the Buccaneers from scoring as well, and the game went to the half with the score 7-0 Tampa Bay. After struggling for the entire first half against the Tampa Bay defense, the Falcons came out at the start of the third quarter and looked like a different team. Michael Vick started the Atlanta drive with two eight yard passes, one to T.J. Duckett and the other to Brian Finneran. Then, Warrick Dunn took over the drive. The former Buccaneer carried the ball on three of the next six plays, picking up 32 yards on the three carries, including an 18 yard touchdown run that tied the game. After watching the Falcons run all over their defense, the Buccaneers came out on offense and proceeded to do the exact same thing to the Atlanta defense. Mike Alstott, Aaron Stecker and Michael Pittman punished the Falcons, and Brad Johnson passed the ball only when needed on the 14 play drive that took over nine minutes. The Buccaneers finally stalled inside the Atlanta ten yard line, and Martin Gramatica capped the drive with a 24 yard field goal that put Tampa Bay back on top. With the lead once again, the Tampa Bay defense clamped down on the Falcons, stopping their running attack and forcing Michael Vick to beat them with his arm. Atlanta would get as close as the Tampa Bay 37 yard line, but could never reach Jay Feely's range on their final three drives. Once Vick missed Brian Finneran on fourth and three with two minutes to play, the game was over, the Buccaneers had stopped Michael Vick and were headed to their third Super Bowl. Final Score: Tampa Bay-10 Atlanta-7 Real Life Score: Tampa Bay-27 Philadelphia-10 (In Philadelphia...I don't like talking about this game.)