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Hurkman · 01-17-2010, 12:55 AM

...Yes, this bad boy is back again. I've been meaning to get this finished up, but the 1-2-3 punch of losing my job, finding another job and the holidays have pushed it back. However, watching the playoffs now has given me the itch again. I don't have much more to go. I will finish this thing.

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Baltimore Ravens (10-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (12-4)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

The Baltimore Ravens had bounced back from a 7-9 season in 2002 because of two reasons. First, their defense had recovered from a poor showing the year before, with young safety Ed Reed becoming one of the best ballhawks in the NFL. Secondly, Jamal Lewis took over the offense, becoming just the fifth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards. His 2,066 yards on the season were the second most all time and helped him win Offensive Player of the Year honors. The rest of the offense was set as it was a few years prior, when Baltimore won the Super Bowl. Quarterback Anthony Wright just had to manage the game, and Lewis and the defense would do the rest. In Tennessee, the Titans were hoping to make a deeper run into the playoffs than their last attempt. Steve McNair remained healthy for most of the season, and he and Eddie George led Tennessee to 435 points on the season, good for the second most in team history behind the 1961 Houston Oilers. The defense was strong as well, allowing just over 20 points a game with a run defense that ranked first in the NFL.

The Titans started the game with the ball, and the vaunted Baltimore defense couldn't find an answer for Steve McNair. The 2003 co-MVP picked apart the Ravens, ending the first drive with a 13 yard touchdown pass to Erron Kinney. The Ravens would answer back with a nine play drive on their first possession of the game, but they would have to settle for a Matt Stover field goal when the drive stalled in Tennessee territory. The next Baltimore drive would be more successful. A poor punt by Craig Hentrich gave the Ravens the ball at midfield, and Jamal Lewis broke free for a 27 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to put the Ravens ahead. A 63 yard run by Lewis on the next Baltimore drive put the Ravens at the Tennessee two yard line, and, after the Titans held their ground on three straight plays, Chester Taylor scored from a yard out on fourth down to increase Baltimore's lead. The Titans would respond back with two field goals by Gary Anderson on their next two drives to cut the Ravens' lead to 17-13 at the half.

The Baltimore running game continued to have success against the top ranked Tennessee rush defense in the second half. Jamal Lewis and Chester Taylor pounded the Titans, and that allowed Anthony Wright to have time to pass when he needed to. An 18 yard pass to Marcus Robinson on third down midway through the third quarter set up a six yard touchdown pass to Travis Taylor that increased Baltimore's lead to 24-13. The Titans wouldn't threaten again until there were just eight and a half minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and even then, they could only get a Gary Anderson field goal. The Ravens took the ball back on the ensuing kickoff, and held it for the next four and a half minutes, thanks mostly to two big passes by Wright. Matt Stover would nail a 20 yard field goal, and Tennessee was out of chances. Steve McNair moved the Titans into Baltimore territory, but couldn't get any last threats going. For the second year in a row, the Titans were exiting the playoffs after their first game.

Final Score: Baltimore-27 Tennessee-16

Real Life Score: Tennessee-20 Baltimore-17

Indianapolis Colts (12-4) vs. Denver Broncos (10-6)
The RCA Dome, Indianapolis, IN

The name of the game for the Indianapolis Colts was very simple: offense, offense and more offense. Peyton Manning passed for over 4,200 yards with 29 touchdowns as he won his first NFL MVP award, while Edgerrin James contributed in the running game with 1,259 yards and 11 touchdowns. Marvin Harrison rounded out the trio with 94 catches for 1,272 yards and 10 touchdowns, while young wideout Reggie Wayne brought in 68 balls for 838 yards. The Colt defense was a bit suspect, and that is where the Denver Broncos thought they had an advantage. In just his second season in the NFL, Clinton Portis had already proven that he was one of the best running backs in the league. His 1,591 yards on the ground were fifth in the league and his 14 touchdowns were at the top of that category as well. Meanwhile, the Broncos had picked up Jake Plummer in the offseason, and despite battling injuries, he proved to be exactly what Denver needed, passing for 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions in just 11 games. Denver also had a 31-17 regular season win over the Colts heading into their playoff matchup, so hopes were high on the Broncos' sideline as the game got underway.

However, it was the Colts that came out firing in the first half. Peyton Manning hit Marvin Harrison for a 48 yard strike on the first Indianapolis drive that set up a one yard touchdown run by Edgerrin James. Following a Denver punt on their first possession, Manning led the Colts on a 14 play, 85 yard drive that took over eight and a half minutes off the clock. Marcus Pollard's 26 yard touchdown catch finished off the drive and put the Colts up by two touchdowns early in the second quarter. It only got worse for the Broncos after that. Jake Plummer was intercepted by Idrees Bashir on the next Denver drive, and Manning once again moved the Colts downfield. This time, a 31 yard pass to Harrison set up a one yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. The Colts had taken possession of the football three times, and each time, they had come away with a touchdown. The Broncos were finally able to put together a sustained drive, but even their 12 play, 45 yard effort wasn't enough to find the end zone, as Jason Elam was forced to kick a 47 yard field goal for the first Denver points of the game.

Things didn't start much better for the Broncos in the third quarter. Despite a solid drive to start the second half, Denver would come away with no points, thanks to a blocked Jason Elam field goal. However, the Broncos were finally able to stop Peyton Manning on defense, and the Colts couldn't get going again in the third quarter. The only points of the frame came on a safety by the Broncos after Edgerrin James was tackled in the end zone. The next Denver drive ended with a one yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer to Rod Smith, and after the two point conversion, the Broncos now found themselves down by just eight points. The Colts would respond with a backbreaking 13 play drive that took over eight minutes off the clock and ended with a Mike Vanderjagt 43 yard field goal. The Broncos failed to convert on fourth down on their next drive, and the Colts would answer with a second field goal by Vanderjagt to put the game away. A late touchdown pass from Plummer to Shannon Sharpe was meaningless, and the Colts blocked Jason Elam's extra point attempt, rubbing salt in the Broncos' wound at the end of the game. Peyton Manning finished the game with just five incompletions and 292 yards through the air, showing everyone why he was named co-MVP of the NFL.

Final Score: Indianapolis-27 Denver-19

Real Life Score: Indianapolis-41 Denver-10

AFC Divisional Playoffs

New England Patriots (14-2) vs. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

After missing out on the playoffs in 2002, the New England Patriots were out to prove that their 2001 team wasn't a fluke. Tom Brady had emerged as one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, and while the offense wasn't full of playmakers, the New England defense was one of the best in the league. The Patriots allowed just 238 points on the season, good for first in the league, and their rushing defense was ranked fourth, meaning that the Baltimore Ravens might have some trouble against New England. However, the Ravens were fresh off a victory over the Tennessee Titans, who boasted the top rush defense in the league. Jamal Lewis was ready to go once again for Baltimore, who was looking for its second trip to the AFC Championship in four years.

On a cold and windy day in Foxborough, it was New England's defense that struck the first blow. Tryone Pool intercepted Anthony Wright on Baltimore's first drive, and the Patriots turned the interception into a 25 yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri for an early lead. The Ravens would return the favor early in the second quarter, as Tom Brady was intercepted by Chris McAlister, and Matt Stover would kick a 39 yard field goal that tied the game up. Both teams would have long drives go for no points in the second quarter, as Vinatieri and Stover eached missed field goals. For the most part, Jamal Lewis had been kept under control, and the Patriots were happy with a 3-3 tie at the half, because they knew that the second half would rest on the shoulders of Anthony Wright.

Those shoulders didn't take long to buckle. The Ravens went three and out on their first drive of the third quarter, and Troy Brown returned the Baltimore punt to the New England 40 yard line. From there, the Patriots' running game took over, with Kevin Faulk and Antowain Smith breaking off big runs against the Baltimore defense. Faulk finished the drive by catching a four yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady, putting the Patriots back on top. Jarvis Green sacked Anthony Wright on the next Baltimore possession, stripping the ball at the same time. Green recovered the loose football at the Baltimore 16 yard line, and the Patriots only needed three plays to strike again. Brady found Daniel Graham for an eight yard touchdown, and what had been a tight 3-3 game had now turned into a 17-3 rout. The Ravens weren't done yet, though. A 63 yard screen pass from Wright to Chester Taylor set up an eight yard touchdown catch by Jamal Lewis, and just like that, Baltimore was back in the game. Early in the fourth quarter, the Ravens began another long drive, with Anthony Wright threading passes through the New England secondary, and Chester Taylor breaking off a 28 yard run to put Baltimore at the New England eight yard line. The Ravens would get as close as the three, but on third down, Mike Vrabel stepped in front of a Wright pass, picking it off and giving the ball back to the Patriots. Baltimore wouldn't threaten again for the remainder of the game. The Patriots held Jamal Lewis to just 36 yards on 14 carries, and New England was headed to their first AFC Championship game since the 1986 season.

Final Score: New England-17 Baltimore-10

Real Life Score: New England-17 Tennessee-14

Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

For the first time since the 1997 season, the Kansas City Chiefs had made it to the playoffs, and they had did so with the same thing that got the Indianapolis Colts this far: their offense. Trent Green had made his way to the Chiefs from St. Louis, and threw for 24 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards in his third year in Kansas City. Priest Holmes had emerged as one of the best players in the NFL, rushing for 1,420 yards and an NFL record 27 touchdowns, while Dante Hall had become the best return threat in the league, taking two punts as well as two kickoffs back for touchdowns during the season. The Kansas City defense was one of the worst in the NFL, however, finishing 29th in the league in total yards allowed, but the Chiefs felt as long as their offense could produce, they could play with anyone in the AFC, and that idea would be challenged by the visiting Colts.

The first quarter started out very well for the Chiefs, who marched downfield and scored on their opening drive. Priest Holmes finished the 12 play, 76 yard drive with a six yard touchdown run, but the Indianapolis defense would come up strong for the rest of the half, keeping the Chiefs from adding to their total. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning and the Colts were looking for ways to get through a usually pourus Kansas City defense, but they were finding it much more difficult than they imagined. Finally, Manning began to find holes in the Kansas City secondary and began moving the Colts downfield. On back to back drives in the second quarter, the Colts moved into Kansas City territory, only to settle for field goals by Mike Vanderjagt. Even with the two scoring drives, the Colts found themselves down by a point heading into the half of what was a very disappointing, low scoring affair, considering the two teams involved.

The Chiefs were finally able to move again on offense on their first drive of the third quarter. Priest Holmes and Tony Richardson moved the ball on the ground, while Trent Green hit Eddie Kennison for two midrange passes that set up a 20 yard field goal by Morten Andersen. However, the Colts were able to answer with a scoring drive of their own, and this time, they would find the end zone. Edgerrin James picked up 26 yards on three carries before Peyton Manning hit Marcus Pollard for a 26 yard touchdown pass that gave the Colts their first lead of the game. A missed field goal by Andersen on the next Kansas City possession gave the Colts great field position, and they took advantage. Manning hit Reggie Wayne with a 15 yard touchdown pass that expanded the Indianapolis lead to 20-10 with just under nine minutes to play in the game. The Chiefs would take their next drive into Indianapolis territory, but when Priest Holmes was stopped on a fourth down try, the game was all but over. The Colts took almost four minutes off the clock with their next drive, and ended it with a field goal by Mike Vanderjagt. The high powered Kansas City offense was held to just ten points as Peyton Manning and the Colts were going to the AFC Championship.

Final Score: Indianapolis-23 Kansas City-10

Real Life Score: Indianapolis-38 Kansas City-31

AFC Championship Game

Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

New England Patriots (14-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

For the first time ever, the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts were facing off in the AFC Championship, with the winner headed to Super Bowl XXXVIII. For the Colts, it was their first AFC title game appearance since 1986, while the Colts hadn't advanced this far into the playoffs since the 1987 season. While both teams were excellent, they each had made it this far in their own way. The Patriots played a solid team game, with Tom Brady and one of the top defenses in the NFL working their magic. The Colts, on the other hand, relied heavily on Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison to offset their average defense. The two teams had played in what was one of the best games of the season in Indianapolis, with the Patriots coming out on top 38-34. Most people were hoping for a repeat of that, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Those expecting an offensive shootout, however, were sadly disappointed. Neither team was able to move the ball much in the first quarter until Tedy Bruschi intercepted Peyton Manning deep in Indianapolis territory. The Patriots took advantage of the short field, and Tom Brady hit Troy Brown with a 22 yard touchdown pass to put New England on top. The Colts would answer on their next drive, but a 12 play, 53 yard, eight minute effort could only yield a Mike Vandgerjagt field goal for Indianapolis. After that, neither team could move the ball again, until another turnover resulted in points. This time, it was David Macklin intercepting Tom Brady, and the Colts added a second Vanderjagt field goal as time expired in the first half to cut the New England lead to 7-6.

Peyton Manning came out firing in the third quarter, hitting Reggie Wayne with passes of 13 and 23 yards on Indianapolis' first two plays, but once again the Colts were forced to settle for a Mike Vanderjagt field goal, and their lead did not last for long. Bethel Johnson returned the kickoff to the New England 40 yard line, and nine plays later, Antowain Smith found the end zone on a ten yard run, giving the Patriots the lead back at 14-9. The Colts answered back with another scoring drive, this one thanks to a 30 yard catch by Marcus Pollard and a 29 yard run by Edgerrin James, but it too could only result in a Vanderjagt field goal. New England attempted to put the Colts away on their next drive, moving into Indianapolis territory before stalling at the Colt 35 yard line. Rather than attempt a long field goal, the Patriots decided to go for the conversion, and Larry Centers was stopped in the backfield for a loss, giving the ball back to the Colts. Eight plays later, Manning hit James on a swing pass that turned into a 41 yard touchdown. For the first time all day, the Colts had the lead, and they weren't going to give it up. The Patriots had three more chances with the football, and all three times they couldn't even get past their own 40 yard line. For a team that had dominated with offense, the Indianapolis Colts had won the AFC Championship with defense, and they were headed to their first Super Bowl in 32 years.

Final Score: Indianapolis-19 New England-14

Real Life Score: New England-24 Indianapolis-14

01-17-2010, 12:55 AM	#211 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	2003 AFC Playoffs: No, Cleveland isn't coming back ...Yes, this bad boy is back again. I've been meaning to get this finished up, but the 1-2-3 punch of losing my job, finding another job and the holidays have pushed it back. However, watching the playoffs now has given me the itch again. I don't have much more to go. I will finish this thing. AFC Wild Card Playoffs Baltimore Ravens (10-6) vs. Tennessee Titans (12-4) M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD The Baltimore Ravens had bounced back from a 7-9 season in 2002 because of two reasons. First, their defense had recovered from a poor showing the year before, with young safety Ed Reed becoming one of the best ballhawks in the NFL. Secondly, Jamal Lewis took over the offense, becoming just the fifth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards. His 2,066 yards on the season were the second most all time and helped him win Offensive Player of the Year honors. The rest of the offense was set as it was a few years prior, when Baltimore won the Super Bowl. Quarterback Anthony Wright just had to manage the game, and Lewis and the defense would do the rest. In Tennessee, the Titans were hoping to make a deeper run into the playoffs than their last attempt. Steve McNair remained healthy for most of the season, and he and Eddie George led Tennessee to 435 points on the season, good for the second most in team history behind the 1961 Houston Oilers. The defense was strong as well, allowing just over 20 points a game with a run defense that ranked first in the NFL. The Titans started the game with the ball, and the vaunted Baltimore defense couldn't find an answer for Steve McNair. The 2003 co-MVP picked apart the Ravens, ending the first drive with a 13 yard touchdown pass to Erron Kinney. The Ravens would answer back with a nine play drive on their first possession of the game, but they would have to settle for a Matt Stover field goal when the drive stalled in Tennessee territory. The next Baltimore drive would be more successful. A poor punt by Craig Hentrich gave the Ravens the ball at midfield, and Jamal Lewis broke free for a 27 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to put the Ravens ahead. A 63 yard run by Lewis on the next Baltimore drive put the Ravens at the Tennessee two yard line, and, after the Titans held their ground on three straight plays, Chester Taylor scored from a yard out on fourth down to increase Baltimore's lead. The Titans would respond back with two field goals by Gary Anderson on their next two drives to cut the Ravens' lead to 17-13 at the half. The Baltimore running game continued to have success against the top ranked Tennessee rush defense in the second half. Jamal Lewis and Chester Taylor pounded the Titans, and that allowed Anthony Wright to have time to pass when he needed to. An 18 yard pass to Marcus Robinson on third down midway through the third quarter set up a six yard touchdown pass to Travis Taylor that increased Baltimore's lead to 24-13. The Titans wouldn't threaten again until there were just eight and a half minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and even then, they could only get a Gary Anderson field goal. The Ravens took the ball back on the ensuing kickoff, and held it for the next four and a half minutes, thanks mostly to two big passes by Wright. Matt Stover would nail a 20 yard field goal, and Tennessee was out of chances. Steve McNair moved the Titans into Baltimore territory, but couldn't get any last threats going. For the second year in a row, the Titans were exiting the playoffs after their first game. Final Score: Baltimore-27 Tennessee-16 Real Life Score: Tennessee-20 Baltimore-17 Indianapolis Colts (12-4) vs. Denver Broncos (10-6) The RCA Dome, Indianapolis, IN The name of the game for the Indianapolis Colts was very simple: offense, offense and more offense. Peyton Manning passed for over 4,200 yards with 29 touchdowns as he won his first NFL MVP award, while Edgerrin James contributed in the running game with 1,259 yards and 11 touchdowns. Marvin Harrison rounded out the trio with 94 catches for 1,272 yards and 10 touchdowns, while young wideout Reggie Wayne brought in 68 balls for 838 yards. The Colt defense was a bit suspect, and that is where the Denver Broncos thought they had an advantage. In just his second season in the NFL, Clinton Portis had already proven that he was one of the best running backs in the league. His 1,591 yards on the ground were fifth in the league and his 14 touchdowns were at the top of that category as well. Meanwhile, the Broncos had picked up Jake Plummer in the offseason, and despite battling injuries, he proved to be exactly what Denver needed, passing for 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions in just 11 games. Denver also had a 31-17 regular season win over the Colts heading into their playoff matchup, so hopes were high on the Broncos' sideline as the game got underway. However, it was the Colts that came out firing in the first half. Peyton Manning hit Marvin Harrison for a 48 yard strike on the first Indianapolis drive that set up a one yard touchdown run by Edgerrin James. Following a Denver punt on their first possession, Manning led the Colts on a 14 play, 85 yard drive that took over eight and a half minutes off the clock. Marcus Pollard's 26 yard touchdown catch finished off the drive and put the Colts up by two touchdowns early in the second quarter. It only got worse for the Broncos after that. Jake Plummer was intercepted by Idrees Bashir on the next Denver drive, and Manning once again moved the Colts downfield. This time, a 31 yard pass to Harrison set up a one yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne. The Colts had taken possession of the football three times, and each time, they had come away with a touchdown. The Broncos were finally able to put together a sustained drive, but even their 12 play, 45 yard effort wasn't enough to find the end zone, as Jason Elam was forced to kick a 47 yard field goal for the first Denver points of the game. Things didn't start much better for the Broncos in the third quarter. Despite a solid drive to start the second half, Denver would come away with no points, thanks to a blocked Jason Elam field goal. However, the Broncos were finally able to stop Peyton Manning on defense, and the Colts couldn't get going again in the third quarter. The only points of the frame came on a safety by the Broncos after Edgerrin James was tackled in the end zone. The next Denver drive ended with a one yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer to Rod Smith, and after the two point conversion, the Broncos now found themselves down by just eight points. The Colts would respond with a backbreaking 13 play drive that took over eight minutes off the clock and ended with a Mike Vanderjagt 43 yard field goal. The Broncos failed to convert on fourth down on their next drive, and the Colts would answer with a second field goal by Vanderjagt to put the game away. A late touchdown pass from Plummer to Shannon Sharpe was meaningless, and the Colts blocked Jason Elam's extra point attempt, rubbing salt in the Broncos' wound at the end of the game. Peyton Manning finished the game with just five incompletions and 292 yards through the air, showing everyone why he was named co-MVP of the NFL. Final Score: Indianapolis-27 Denver-19 Real Life Score: Indianapolis-41 Denver-10 AFC Divisional Playoffs New England Patriots (14-2) vs. Baltimore Ravens (10-6) Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA After missing out on the playoffs in 2002, the New England Patriots were out to prove that their 2001 team wasn't a fluke. Tom Brady had emerged as one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, and while the offense wasn't full of playmakers, the New England defense was one of the best in the league. The Patriots allowed just 238 points on the season, good for first in the league, and their rushing defense was ranked fourth, meaning that the Baltimore Ravens might have some trouble against New England. However, the Ravens were fresh off a victory over the Tennessee Titans, who boasted the top rush defense in the league. Jamal Lewis was ready to go once again for Baltimore, who was looking for its second trip to the AFC Championship in four years. On a cold and windy day in Foxborough, it was New England's defense that struck the first blow. Tryone Pool intercepted Anthony Wright on Baltimore's first drive, and the Patriots turned the interception into a 25 yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri for an early lead. The Ravens would return the favor early in the second quarter, as Tom Brady was intercepted by Chris McAlister, and Matt Stover would kick a 39 yard field goal that tied the game up. Both teams would have long drives go for no points in the second quarter, as Vinatieri and Stover eached missed field goals. For the most part, Jamal Lewis had been kept under control, and the Patriots were happy with a 3-3 tie at the half, because they knew that the second half would rest on the shoulders of Anthony Wright. Those shoulders didn't take long to buckle. The Ravens went three and out on their first drive of the third quarter, and Troy Brown returned the Baltimore punt to the New England 40 yard line. From there, the Patriots' running game took over, with Kevin Faulk and Antowain Smith breaking off big runs against the Baltimore defense. Faulk finished the drive by catching a four yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady, putting the Patriots back on top. Jarvis Green sacked Anthony Wright on the next Baltimore possession, stripping the ball at the same time. Green recovered the loose football at the Baltimore 16 yard line, and the Patriots only needed three plays to strike again. Brady found Daniel Graham for an eight yard touchdown, and what had been a tight 3-3 game had now turned into a 17-3 rout. The Ravens weren't done yet, though. A 63 yard screen pass from Wright to Chester Taylor set up an eight yard touchdown catch by Jamal Lewis, and just like that, Baltimore was back in the game. Early in the fourth quarter, the Ravens began another long drive, with Anthony Wright threading passes through the New England secondary, and Chester Taylor breaking off a 28 yard run to put Baltimore at the New England eight yard line. The Ravens would get as close as the three, but on third down, Mike Vrabel stepped in front of a Wright pass, picking it off and giving the ball back to the Patriots. Baltimore wouldn't threaten again for the remainder of the game. The Patriots held Jamal Lewis to just 36 yards on 14 carries, and New England was headed to their first AFC Championship game since the 1986 season. Final Score: New England-17 Baltimore-10 Real Life Score: New England-17 Tennessee-14 Kansas City Chiefs (13-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (12-4) Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO For the first time since the 1997 season, the Kansas City Chiefs had made it to the playoffs, and they had did so with the same thing that got the Indianapolis Colts this far: their offense. Trent Green had made his way to the Chiefs from St. Louis, and threw for 24 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards in his third year in Kansas City. Priest Holmes had emerged as one of the best players in the NFL, rushing for 1,420 yards and an NFL record 27 touchdowns, while Dante Hall had become the best return threat in the league, taking two punts as well as two kickoffs back for touchdowns during the season. The Kansas City defense was one of the worst in the NFL, however, finishing 29th in the league in total yards allowed, but the Chiefs felt as long as their offense could produce, they could play with anyone in the AFC, and that idea would be challenged by the visiting Colts. The first quarter started out very well for the Chiefs, who marched downfield and scored on their opening drive. Priest Holmes finished the 12 play, 76 yard drive with a six yard touchdown run, but the Indianapolis defense would come up strong for the rest of the half, keeping the Chiefs from adding to their total. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning and the Colts were looking for ways to get through a usually pourus Kansas City defense, but they were finding it much more difficult than they imagined. Finally, Manning began to find holes in the Kansas City secondary and began moving the Colts downfield. On back to back drives in the second quarter, the Colts moved into Kansas City territory, only to settle for field goals by Mike Vanderjagt. Even with the two scoring drives, the Colts found themselves down by a point heading into the half of what was a very disappointing, low scoring affair, considering the two teams involved. The Chiefs were finally able to move again on offense on their first drive of the third quarter. Priest Holmes and Tony Richardson moved the ball on the ground, while Trent Green hit Eddie Kennison for two midrange passes that set up a 20 yard field goal by Morten Andersen. However, the Colts were able to answer with a scoring drive of their own, and this time, they would find the end zone. Edgerrin James picked up 26 yards on three carries before Peyton Manning hit Marcus Pollard for a 26 yard touchdown pass that gave the Colts their first lead of the game. A missed field goal by Andersen on the next Kansas City possession gave the Colts great field position, and they took advantage. Manning hit Reggie Wayne with a 15 yard touchdown pass that expanded the Indianapolis lead to 20-10 with just under nine minutes to play in the game. The Chiefs would take their next drive into Indianapolis territory, but when Priest Holmes was stopped on a fourth down try, the game was all but over. The Colts took almost four minutes off the clock with their next drive, and ended it with a field goal by Mike Vanderjagt. The high powered Kansas City offense was held to just ten points as Peyton Manning and the Colts were going to the AFC Championship. Final Score: Indianapolis-23 Kansas City-10 Real Life Score: Indianapolis-38 Kansas City-31 AFC Championship Game Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA New England Patriots (14-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (12-4) For the first time ever, the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts were facing off in the AFC Championship, with the winner headed to Super Bowl XXXVIII. For the Colts, it was their first AFC title game appearance since 1986, while the Colts hadn't advanced this far into the playoffs since the 1987 season. While both teams were excellent, they each had made it this far in their own way. The Patriots played a solid team game, with Tom Brady and one of the top defenses in the NFL working their magic. The Colts, on the other hand, relied heavily on Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison to offset their average defense. The two teams had played in what was one of the best games of the season in Indianapolis, with the Patriots coming out on top 38-34. Most people were hoping for a repeat of that, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Those expecting an offensive shootout, however, were sadly disappointed. Neither team was able to move the ball much in the first quarter until Tedy Bruschi intercepted Peyton Manning deep in Indianapolis territory. The Patriots took advantage of the short field, and Tom Brady hit Troy Brown with a 22 yard touchdown pass to put New England on top. The Colts would answer on their next drive, but a 12 play, 53 yard, eight minute effort could only yield a Mike Vandgerjagt field goal for Indianapolis. After that, neither team could move the ball again, until another turnover resulted in points. This time, it was David Macklin intercepting Tom Brady, and the Colts added a second Vanderjagt field goal as time expired in the first half to cut the New England lead to 7-6. Peyton Manning came out firing in the third quarter, hitting Reggie Wayne with passes of 13 and 23 yards on Indianapolis' first two plays, but once again the Colts were forced to settle for a Mike Vanderjagt field goal, and their lead did not last for long. Bethel Johnson returned the kickoff to the New England 40 yard line, and nine plays later, Antowain Smith found the end zone on a ten yard run, giving the Patriots the lead back at 14-9. The Colts answered back with another scoring drive, this one thanks to a 30 yard catch by Marcus Pollard and a 29 yard run by Edgerrin James, but it too could only result in a Vanderjagt field goal. New England attempted to put the Colts away on their next drive, moving into Indianapolis territory before stalling at the Colt 35 yard line. Rather than attempt a long field goal, the Patriots decided to go for the conversion, and Larry Centers was stopped in the backfield for a loss, giving the ball back to the Colts. Eight plays later, Manning hit James on a swing pass that turned into a 41 yard touchdown. For the first time all day, the Colts had the lead, and they weren't going to give it up. The Patriots had three more chances with the football, and all three times they couldn't even get past their own 40 yard line. For a team that had dominated with offense, the Indianapolis Colts had won the AFC Championship with defense, and they were headed to their first Super Bowl in 32 years. Final Score: Indianapolis-19 New England-14 Real Life Score: New England-24 Indianapolis-14 Last edited by Hurkman; 01-24-2010 at 05:19 PM.