Alternate NFL Playoff History - Page 11

Reader012 · 08-31-2009, 10:35 AM

They should just bid everyone badbye.

Jestor · 08-31-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reader012

They should just bid everyone badbye.

Nice way to reveal yourself as an alias.

But that's irrelevant. Keep going with the replay, Hurk.

Hurkman · 08-31-2009, 09:59 PM

Super Bowl XXXV

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Baltimore Ravens (12-4)

Head Coach: Brian Billick
333 Points Scored
165 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Trent Dilfer

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Denver, 24-10: AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated Oakland, 17-10: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Tennessee, 13-0: AFC Championship

St. Louis Rams (10-6)

Head Coach: Mike Martz
540 Points Scored
471 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Kurt Warner

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated New Orleans, 38-24: NFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated New York, 35-10: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Minnesota, 31-28: NFC Championship

The Game

The St. Louis Rams and Baltimore Ravens were complete opposites of each other on the football field. While the Rams were content with putting up, and allowing, high numbers of points each week, the Ravens enjoyed pounding opposing teams into submission with one of the NFL's best defenses of the last ten years. Kurt Warner had missed part of the season with the Rams, but still managed to throw 21 touchdowns in just 11 games, which was more than what Trent Dilfer and Tony Banks threw for the Ravens, combined. Both teams did have solid running attacks, with Marshall Faulk being a double threat out of the backfield for the Rams, and Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes providing the hammer for the Baltimore offense. That was where the similarites ended, though. The Rams had allowed almost three times as many points on defense as the Ravens did, and ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in almost every defensive category. Though the St. Louis defense had improved as the playoffs took place, Baltimore was hopeful that on this day, a great defense could stop a powerful offense.

At the start, it looked as if the Rams would be able to have their way with Baltimore's defense. The first play of the game was a 30 yard strike from Kurt Warner to Issac Bruce that put the Rams inside Baltimore territory. From there, however, the Ravens clamped down and kept St. Louis out of field goal range. On their next drive, though, the Rams were able to move into scoring range. Az-Zahir Hakim returned the Baltimore punt inside Ravens territory, and St. Louis used a mixture of Marshall Faulk runs and passes by Warner to get inside the ten yard line. Though the Ravens were able to stop the Rams from getting into the end zone, Jeff Wilkins nailed a 26 yard field goal for the first points of Super Bowl XXXV. After another Baltimore punt, the Ravens settled down on defense and forced the Rams to punt. Jermaine Lewis showed why he was one of the most dangerous return men in the NFL in 2000 by returning the punt all the way to the St. Louis 23 yard line. The Ravens would run four straight running plays into the St. Louis defense, and on the fourth play, Priest Holmes broke through the line for an 11 yard run that put Baltimore on top.

Now with the lead, the Ravens were able to attack on defense, and Kurt Warner fell victim to an aggressive Baltimore attack. Corey Harris intercepted Warner at the St. Louis 41 yard line, and four plays later, Matt Stover increased the Baltimore lead by kicking a 48 yard field goal. The Ravens would strike again on defense on the next St. Louis drive, as Marshall Faulk was stopped on an attempted fourth down conversion just outside of field goal range. This time, Trent Dilfer was able to move the Ravens downfield using a short passing game and the running of Priest Holmes and Jamal Lewis. Though Baltimore couldn't find the end zone, Stover was able to add his second field goal of the second quarter, putting the Ravens up by ten. After another St. Louis punt, the Ravens took over at their own 36 yard line with just 24 seconds to play in the half. Brian Billick stunned the Rams by calling a Travis Taylor reverse. Caught out of position, the Rams could only watch as Taylor picked up 35 yards and moved Baltimore into field goal range once again. Two plays later, Stover nailed his third kick of the quarter as time expired, pushing the Rams even further into a hole that they would have to fight tooth and nail to get out of.

As they came out for the third quarter, the Ravens knew that it wouldn't take much more to put the Rams away, and they went at doing just that very quickly. Trent Dilfer completed passes to Shannon Sharpe and Brandon Stokely that moved Baltimore inside St. Louis territory again, and then Jamal Lewis broke free for a 35 yard touchdown run just three minutes into the half. The Matt Stover extra point made the score 23-3 in favor of the Ravens, and pushed the Rams even closer to the edge of defeat. For the rest of the game, the vaunted St. Louis offense could do very little against an extra aggressive Baltimore defense. The Rams could get nothing going on the ground all day as Ray Lewis, Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett and Peter Boulware contained Marshall Faulk, holding him to just 31 yards on 20 carries. Kurt Warner didn't have much luck passing the ball either, as the Ravens recorded two sacks in the second half. The Rams would cross midfield just once for the remainder of the Super Bowl, and though the Ravens wouldn't come close to scoring again, they wouldn't need to. Trent Dilfer had managed the game to perfection, and the running of MVP Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes more than complimented one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history.

Final Score: Baltimore-23 St. Louis-3

MVP: Jamal Lewis-18 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD

jbergey22 · 08-31-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorseMoose

Hurkman, you will soon find yourself on my ignore list if the Vikings don't win a ****ing Super Bowl.

I think we are out of luck unless the 2004 team can shock the world.

Hurkman · 09-09-2009, 01:24 AM

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

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

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

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

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

Final Score: Oakland-27 New York-6

Real Life Score: Oakland-38 New York-24

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

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

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

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

Final Score: Miami-9 Baltimore-6

Real Life Score: Baltimore-20 Miami-3

AFC Divisional Playoffs

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

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

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

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

Final Score: Oakland-24 New England-10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Final Score: Miami-13 Pittsburgh-10/OT

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-27 Baltimore-10

AFC Championship Game

Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA

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

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

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

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

Final Score: Oakland-19 Miami-16

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

Hurkman · 09-19-2009, 01:57 PM

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

After last season's defeat at the hands of Tampa Bay, the Philadelphia Eagles had come back in 2001 as one of the best teams in the NFC. Donovan McNabb had emerged as a star player, throwing for 3,233 and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for 482 yards and two touchdowns. The Philadelphia running game wasn't the best, as Duce Staley led the team with just 604 yards and two touchdowns, but the defense was one of the best in the NFL. The Philadelphia defense allowed just 208 points on the season and finished in the top ten in the league in yards allowed. One team that always had a good defense was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they too boasted one of the best defenses in the NFL. Warren Sapp and Ronde Barber were eached named to the All Pro team, while Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch all would have been solid picks as well. The Bucs finished in the top ten in both points and yards allowed and forced 39 turnovers for the season. Brad Johnson had been added at quarterback, but struggled through the year, throwing only 13 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions. The running attack had struggled as well, with Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn combining for just over 1,000 yards. The Eagles had beaten the Buccaneers just a week ago, and were ready to get some revenge for last season.

With both teams boasting top ten defenses, it was no surprise that neither offense could get much going throughout the first half. The Eagles were the first team to cross midfield, thanks to Jeremiah Trotter's interception midway through the first quarter, but Tampa Bay forced a Philadelphia punt after the Eagles gained just a single yard. Philadelphia would get closer to scoring range on their next drive, but elected to attempt a fourth down conversion rather than a long David Akers field goal, and Donovan McNabb was sacked to end the the drive. The only good thing was that the Buccaneers were having even more trouble than the Eagles when it came to moving the football, and their special teams were struggling as well. After another three and out for Tampa Bay, Brian Mitchell returned Mark Royals' punt to midfield, and Philadelphia was able to take advantage. McNabb used his short passing game, as well as runs by Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter to move deep into Buccaneer territory. The nine play, 58 yard drive was finished off with a ten yard touchdown pass from McNabb to James Thrash, and the Eagles had the lead. The defenses would again take over from there, with neither team making much progress as the first half came to a close.

The defensive theme that had been shown throughout the first half carried over into the second half. Philadelphia again made progress against Tampa Bay's defense, but the Buccaneers were able to clamp down when they needed to, forcing a punt on Philadelphia's first drive and stopping the Eagles on fourth down the next time they had the ball. The only problem was that the Tampa Bay offense was having little to no success against the Philadelphia defense. Brad Johnson had been under pressure all day, and Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn were being held in check by the Eagles. The Buccaneers finally made some progress on their last drive of the third quarter, as Alstott and Dunn found holes in the Philadelphia defense for the first time all day. With Brad Johnson just throwing one pass on the drive, the Buccaneers were able to get into field goal territory. However, Martin Gramatica missed a 49 yard attempt, and Tampa Bay was still not on the scoreboard. Derrick Brooks would give Tampa Bay another chance after intercepting Donovan McNabb on the next Philadelphia play, but the Eagles managed to keep the Buccaneers just out of field goal range and forced a punt. Tampa Bay wouldn't get the ball back until there were just four and a half minutes to play, and they started their drive at their own nine yard line. A defensive holding penalty on third down gave the Buccaneers life, and Brad Johnson began moving his team down the field. Passes to Dave Moore and Reidel Anthony put Tampa Bay at midfield, and then Johnson struck with a 51 yard catch and run into the end zone by Warrick Dunn that tied the game at seven.

With just a minute and a half to play, Donovan McNabb got the ball back at his own 23 yard line and began guiding the Eagles into Tampa Bay territory one last time. An 11 yard pass to Todd Pinkston started the drive, and three plays later, McNabb found James Thrash for another 15 yards. A surprise run by Duce Staley and a 13 yard pass to Pinkston put the Eagles into field goal range, and as time expired, David Akers nailed a 37 yard field goal, giving Philadelphia a bit of revenge over Tampa Bay and moving the Eagles on to the second round of the playoffs.

Final Score: Philadelphia-10 Tampa Bay-7

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-31 Tampa Bay-9

Green Bay Packers (12-4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

After missing the playoffs the last two seasons, Brett Favre had the Green Bay Packers back and ready to go in the NFC in 2001. Favre led the way for the resurgent Packers, passing for almost 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Ahman Green had come over the year before from Seattle and exploded onto the scene in 2001, rushing for 1,387 yards and nine touchdowns while Bill Schroeder and Antonio Freeman had emerged as Favre's new favorite targets. The Green Bay defense was also impressive, with second year player Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila leading the way with 13.5 sacks. The Packers would need that pressure if they wanted to take down the San Francisco 49ers, who were also back in the playoffs after two bad seasons. Former CFL star Jeff Garcia had filled the shoes of Steve Young and become a solid player for the 49ers, making the Pro Bowl for the second straight season and throwing for 3,538 yards and 32 touchdowns. Garrison Hearst had returned from missing each of the last two seasons and didn't miss a beat, rushing for 1,206 yards and four touchdowns. Wideout Terrell Owens had become everything the 49ers wanted him to be in the place of Jerry Rice, as he brought in 93 passes for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns. The San Francisco defense was also strong, finishing in the top half of the NFL in both yards and points allowed.

The 49ers came out right away and showed why they had one of the best offenses in the NFL, driving down the field against the Packers on their first possession. Garrison Hearst led the way, and Jeff Garcia was right behind him, completing passes to J.J. Stokes and Terrell Owens to move San Francisco into field goal range. Once there, Jose Cortez missed a 39 yard attempt, cutting short a chance for the 49ers to score early. However, the Packers could get nothing going on offense against the San Francsico defense, as dropped passes and short runs had Green Bay stopped cold. After a short Packer punt, the 49ers would take over at their own 46 yard line, and this time, they wouldn't waste the chance. Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow attacked the Green Bay defense before Garcia's 16 yard pass to Tai Streets put the ball at the Green Bay one yard line. Hearst finished the drive with the one yard touchdown, and the 49ers had the lead. The Packers still could get nothing going on offense, while the 49ers soon found themselves in the game situation. Both defenses kept the opposing offense from moving the ball for much of the second quarter, and the first half ended with San Francisco still nursing a 7-0 lead.

The Packers wouldn't take long to get their offense moving in the third quarter. On their opening drive of the quarter, the Green Bay running game smashed into the San Francisco defense. Dorsey Levens, Ahman Green and even Rondell Mealey moved the Packers down field for the first time in the game. Brett Favre didn't throw a single pass on the eight play, 60 yard drive, and Ryan Longwell capped it with a 32 yard field goal that put Green Bay on the scoreboard. The 49ers looked as if they would answer right away, with Garrison Hearst again punishing the Packer defense, and Jeff Garcia hitting Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes to once again move into field goal range. This time, the Green Bay defense would come up with a huge stop, as Jose Cortez's 42 yard field goal try was blocked. However, the 49ers would not be denied on their next drive, as once again Hearst and Garcia moved San Francisco deep into Green Bay territory. Kevan Barlow finished the drive with an eight yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to put the 49ers up 14-3. The Packers would answer quickly, thanks to the arm of Brett Favre. Favre completed all four passes on the next Green Bay drive, before Dorsey Levens broke free for a 37 yard touchdown run. The Packers elected to go for a two point conversion, and William Henderson broke into the end zone, making the score 14-11.

Green Bay would start with excellent field position on their next drive, but the San Francisco defense held strong and forced the Packers to punt with just under five minutes to play. From there, Jeff Garcia and Garrison Hearst began eating up the clock, moving the 49ers to midfield with just under two minutes to play. On third down and 11, Garcia called a pass that was then tipped and intercepted by Tyrone Williams at midfield. With just one timeout left, the Packers knew their chance was now, and they wasted little time in attacking the San Francisco defense. The 49ers were up to the task, however, and quickly forced a fourth down and nine at midfield. Brett Favre managed to find Bill Schroeder for 10 yards to convert the fourth down, then broke the hearts of 49er fans everywhere on the next play. Ahman Green took a draw and ran untouched for 40 yards to put the Packers ahead. San Francisco would get one last shot, but Garcia couldn't get anything going, and the Packers had stolen a victory away from the 49ers and advanced once again.

Final Score: Green Bay-18 San Francisco-14

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Chicago Bears (13-3) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Six seasons had passed in between playoff berths for the Chicago Bears, but they looked as good as ever coming into the 2001 postseason. After four other quarterbacks had come and gone, Jim Miller had stepped into the void and seemed to at least be a solid man to have under center. Miller had taken advantage of his first starting chance, passing for 2,299 yards and 13 touchdowns in 13 starts. Marty Booker had quickly become his favorite target, catching 100 passes for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. The Bears also had a great running game again, thanks to offensive Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas and his 1,183 yards and seven touchdowns. The Chicago defense had once again become one of the most feared in the NFL, with Brian Urlacher, Ted Washington, Mike Brown and Rosevelt Colvin leading the way. The Philadelphia Eagles had already taken care of one solid defense in Tampa Bay, but the Chicago Bears were another story all together.

The Chicago defense lived up to its reputation on the first Philadelphia drive, stopping the Eagles on three plays before giving way to the Chicago offense. A 21 yard pass from Jim Miller to Dez White kept the drive alive, and a 27 yard run by Anthony Thomas moved the Bears into Philadelphia territory. A 30 yard field goal by Paul Edinger capped the drive and gave Chicago a 3-0 lead. The Eagles would answer back on their next drive, as Philadelphia used runs by Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter before Donovan McNabb hit Todd Pinkston and James Thrash to move the Eagles inside the Chicago five yard line. Staley finished the drive with a two yard touchdown run, and Philadelphia had the lead. From there, both defenses took over until late in the second quarter, when the Bears were able to move once again. Anthony Thomas broke a 40 yard run with just a minute to play, and that set up a nine yard touchdown pass from Miller to Marty Booker. Rather than just run out the clock, the Eagles decided to pass the ball three times. Three incompletions later, the Bears had the ball back, and Miller struck again, this time hitting Anthony Thomas for a 65 yard touchdown with just ten seconds to play in the half. The two touchdowns in under a minute stunned the Eagles and gave Chicago all the momentum heading into the second half.

The Chicago defense continued their domination over the Philadelphia offense in the second half. The Eagles could manage just a David Akers field goal in the third quarter, which the Bears then countered with a Paul Edinger field goal of their own. The fourth quarter was more of the same, as every Philadelphia drive ended with a punt on turnover on downs, while all three Chicago drives ended with a field goal by Edinger. By the time the dust had settled, the Bears had held Donovan McNabb to just eight completions for 87 yards and just 15 rushing yards on five carries. Chicago allowed just 184 total yards on the day as they were headed to the NFC Championship for the first time in 15 seasons.

Final Score: Chicago-29 Philadelphia-10

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-33 Chicago-19

St. Louis Rams (14-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, MO

One year after losing in Super Bowl XXXV, the St. Louis Rams were back and seemed to be better than ever. Kurt Warner was healthy once again, and his 4,830 yards and 36 touchdowns won him his second NFL MVP award. Marshall Faulk rushed for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also catching 83 passes for 765 yards and nine touchdowns. Issac Bruce and Torry Holt rounded out the highest scoring offense in the NFL, with each receiver going over 1,100 yards and combining for 13 touchdowns. The Rams had also madeover their defense, and the results were immediate. Safety Aeneas Williams had come over from Arizona and paid dividends right away, becoming a leader on defense and intercepting four passes. Leonard Little and Grant Wistrom had solid seasons on the defensive line, while Dre Bly and first round pick Adam Archuleta helped round out a defense that finished the year ranked in the top ten in both points and yards allowed. St. Louis had finished the regular season on a six game winning streak, and while the Packers would good, most people had their money on the Rams.

The Rams quickly showed why they were considered the best team in the NFL in 2001. Their opening drive lasted for almost seven minutes and went 76 yards in 13 plays. Marshall Faulk started the drive with his running ability, and Kurt Warner finished it off with his passing. A 24 yard strike from Warner to Ricky Proehl gave St. Louis a 7-0 lead. The Packers could get nothing going on their first drive, but a good punt, coupled with a holding penalty on the Rams pushed the ball back to the St. Louis five yard line. Jim Flanigan brought Warner down in the end zone for a safety, and Green Bay took advantage of the safety kick, as Ryan Longwell added a 45 yard field goal to cut the St. Louis lead down to just two points. The Rams would answer on their first drive of the second quarter, as the St. Louis running game broke down the Green Bay defense. Trung Canidate scored on a 16 yard run to cap the five play, 60 yard drive. The Packers then responded with a scoring drive of their own. A 40 yard run by Rondell Mealey set up Brett Favre's 23 yard touchdown pass to Bill Schroeder. St. Louis would then counter with a 12 play, 74 yard drive that ate up most of the remaining time in the second quarter. Jeff Wilkins ended the drive with a 23 yard field goal, but the Packers weren't done yet either. Brett Favre picked apart the St. Louis defense before Ryan Longwell kicked a 29 yard field goal as a very exciting first half of football ended.

Down just two points at the half, the Packers knew they had a chance to pull off the upset, but Brett Favre didn't do them any favors to start the second half. His first pass of the third quarter was intercepted by London Fletcher, and the Rams used the turnover to move downfield again. The six play, 32 yard drive ended with Jeff Wilkins' second field goal of the game, and extended the St. Louis lead to five points. Favre would bounce back by leading another Green Bay scoring drive that would end with another field goal by Ryan Longwell, this one from 45 yards out. Once again, the Rams would answer back, thanks to Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner. Faulk started the drive with a five yard run and a 12 yard catch before Warner hit Issac Bruce for 11 yards and Torry Holt for 24 more. A six yard run by Faulk then set up Wilkins for his third field goal of the game. His 31 yard kick ended the nine play, 56 yard drive and started the fourth quarter. The Packers would again move down the field against the St. Louis defense on their next drive, but this time, Longwell would push a 50 yard field goal try to the right, and the Rams would utilize the miss. Marshall Faulk and Trung Canidate pounded the Green Bay defense, and Faulk finished the eight play, 60 yard drive with a three yard touchdown run to put the Rams up 30-18. Brett Favre was again able to move the Packers downfield on their next possession, completing four of four passes on the drive, including a 17 yard touchdown pass to Corey Bradford. St. Louis would counter with another scoring drive of their own. The five play, 51 yard drive took almost four minutes off the fourth quarter clock and ended with yet another Jeff Wilkins field goal. Favre and the Packers would get one last shot, but this time, the Rams were ready on defense. Green Bay couldn't get past midfield, and the Rams were headed to their third straight NFC Championship.

Final Score: St. Louis-33 Green Bay-25

Real Life Score: St. Louis-45 Green Bay-17

NFC Championship Game

The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, MO

St. Louis Rams (14-2) vs. Chicago Bears (13-3)

Seeing the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Championship was starting to become common once again. For the third straight season, the Rams had made it to the NFC Championship, and they were once again going against an NFC Central opponent. Kurt Warner's second NFL MVP award looked nice, as did his 36 touchdowns, but the Chicago Bears were not impressed. Chicago's defense was one of the best in the NFL, and while their offense couldn't stand up to that of the Rams, there were few teams in the NFL that could. Brian Urlacher and the Bears were ready to see if they could lead Chicago to their second Super Bowl, while Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner and the rest of the St. Louis offense were hopeful that this would not be a repeat of Super Bowl XXXV, where a great defense stopped a great offense.

The Bears did not get off to a great start, as a holding penalty on the opening kickoff pushed Chicago back to their own three yard line. From there though, the Bears were very impressive. Anthony Thomas and James Allen punished the St. Louis defense on the ground, while Jim Miller was able to find receivers Dez White and Marty Booker for chunks of yards. The Rams finally stopped the Bears inside the St. Louis ten yard line, and caught a break when Paul Edinger missed a 26 yard field goal attempt that put an end to an almost ten minute long drive. However, the Rams could do very little on offense, as Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk were kept under control by the Chicago defense. St. Louis' vaunted offensive attack wouldn't cross midfield for the entire first half. Meanwhile, the Chicago offense couldn't find the magic they had on their opening drive, and struggled against the St. Louis defense. Much like the Rams, the Bears just couldn't find anywhere to go on offense, and would only cross midfield one more time in the first half. The defensive struggle left many Rams fans worried as the NFC Championship went to the half with no scoring from either team.

With defense being the name of the game in the first half, it seemed like it would be up to the defense to score the first points of the game, and that's exactly what happened. Mike Brown intercepted Kurt Warner's second pass of the third quarter and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown and the first points of the game. The Chicago offense was still struggling, but their defense had giving the Bears a lead, and that defense was putting a stop to the "Greatest Show on Turf." Late in the third quarter, the Bears once again found their way on offense. Pinned back at their own 13 yard line, Jim Miller and Anthony Thomas began moving Chicago down the field once again. Thomas broke off runs of 18 and 32 yards on back to back plays, and a ten yard run by James Allen was helped out by a five yard facemask penalty, putting the Bears inside the St. Louis ten yard line. This time, they would end the drive with points, as Thomas pounded his way in from six yards out. Chicago now had a 14-0 lead, but the Rams were able to answer back. For the first time in the game, St. Louis managed a sustained drive. A 32 yard pass to Torry Holt on third down put the Rams in Chicago territory, and two more passes from Kurt Warner to Holt moved St. Louis down to the Chicago 15 yard line, where Marshall Faulk finally found some running room and broke free for a touchdown.

Unfortunately for the Rams, the Bears wasted little time killing any momentum they may have just gotten. A 32 yard pass from Jim Miller to Dez White moved Chicago into St. Louis territory again, and two plays later, Anthony Thomas broke free for a 29 yard touchdown run. The Rams would have the ball just one more time and would turn it over on downs. Chicago's last drive took up the rest of the game and ended with a Paul Edinger field goal. The impressive St. Louis offense had been held to just 202 yards on the day as the Chicago Bears had proven the value of a great defense once again on their way to their second ever Super Bowl.

Final Score: Chicago-24 St. Louis-7

Real Life Score: St. Louis-29 Philadelphia-24

Hurkman · 09-21-2009, 06:02 PM

Super Bowl XXXVI

The Superdome, New Orleans, LA

Oakland Raiders (10-6)

Head Coach: Jon Gruden
399 Points Scored
327 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Rich Gannon

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated New York, 27-6: AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated New England, 24-10: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Miami, 19-16: AFC Championship

Chicago Bears (13-3)

Head Coach: Dick Jauron
338 Points Scored
203 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Jim Miller

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Philadelphia, 29-10: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated St. Louis, 24-7: NFC Championship

The Game

It had been 18 years since the Oakland Raiders had made it to the Super Bowl. In that time, the Raiders had moved back to Oakland from Los Angeles, and had struggled more than they succeeded. However, with Rich Gannon, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice leading one of the best offenses in football, the Raiders were back with a vengeance. At age 36, Gannon had found the fountain of youth, throwing for 27 touchdowns against just nine interceptions on the season. Brown and Rice each had over 1,100 yards receiving, and Charlie Garner provided a solid running game. The Oakland defense was a bit weaker than the offense, but most of the time, the offense did enough. The Chicago Bears had waited 16 years between Super Bowl trips, and their team was almost the mirror image of the Raiders. The Bears only allowed 203 points on the season, and second year linebacker Brian Urlacher had Chicago fans thinking about the next coming of Mike Singletary. The Chicago offense made very few teams afraid, but with offensive Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas providing a solid running option, the Bears were content to score 13 points and then let their defense take over. Both teams had gone almost two decades without a championship, and for one of them, the drought was about to end.

While the Chicago defense was one of the best in the league, they still needed their offense to play mistake free football. On their first possession of the game, the Chicago offense had trouble doing that. Jim Miller completed a nine yard pass to Marty Booker, only for him to fumble the ball over to the Raiders at the Chicago 37 yard line. Working with a short field, Rich Gannon went straight into the heart of the Chicago defense, and finished Oakland's first drive with a 25 yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown. The Oakland defense was also doing it's part, as they contained Anthony Thomas and pressured Jim Miller before he was comfortable in the pocket. However, once the Raiders had to work with a longer field of play on offense, the Bears were able to stop Gannon and his receiving duo of Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Chicago was finally able to move on offense midway through the second quarter, as their dormant running game snapped back to life. Anthony Thomas and James Allen were able to find holes in the Oakland defense, and that opened up the passing game for Miller. The Bears made it to the Raiders' two yard line, but Oakland's defense stepped up again, and Chicago was forced to end the 15 play, 62 yard drive with a Paul Edinger field goal. Neither team would threaten again for the rest of the half, and the Raiders took their 7-3 into the locker room.

The Raiders had played well against the Chicago defense in the first half, but it didn't take long for the Bears to force a mistake in the second half. On the fifth play of Oakland's first drive of the quarter, Tyrone Wheatley was stripped by Brian Urlacher. The Bears recovered at midfield, giving their offense a chance to take advantage of the turnover. Once again, Anthony Thomas was able to attack the Oakland defense and break through for large chunks of yardage. With the running game moving the Bears into Oakland territory, Jim Miller ran a perfect play action fake and found David Terrell wide open for a 21 yard touchdown pass to put Chicago on top for the first time. When a penalty on the Raiders pinned them back at their own five yard line on the kickoff, it looked like the Bears had all the momentum on their side.

Rather than sit back and attempt a punt, Jon Gruden called aggressive plays in the shadow of his own goalposts. Rich Gannon threw five straight passes to open the Oakland drive, completing four of them. With room to work, Charlie Garner then began to pick through the tough Chicago defense before breaking free for a 24 yard run. Oakland continued to pound the Bears on offense, using Garner, Tyrone Wheatley and even Jon Ritchie to tire out Chicago. The 95 yard drive took 17 plays and lasted for almost ten minutes in the third and fourth quarters. By the time Jerry Rice came down with a three yard pass in the end zone, all the momentum that the Bears had gathered had switched sides over to the Raiders. Chicago would attempt to answer as they moved into field goal range quickly, but Oakland broke through on the field goal attempt and blocked Paul Edinger's kick. Sebastian Janikowski would keep Chicago alive, as he missed a 40 yard field goal on Oakland's next possession, but the Bears could only make it to midfield before turning the ball over on a failed fourth down attempt. The Raiders would control the ball for two and a half out of the last three minutes of the game and closed out the scoring with a 34 yard field goal by Janikowski. The Bears couldn't move the ball on their last drive, and the Raiders were able to celebrate their first Super Bowl title in Oakland.

Final Score: Oakland-17 Chicago-10

MVP: Rich Gannon-15/21, 179 yards, 2 TD

Hurkman · 09-28-2009, 05:28 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)

Hurkman · 09-29-2009, 05:17 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.)

Hurkman · 09-30-2009, 12:51 AM

Super Bowl XXXVII

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

Cleveland Browns (9-7)

Head Coach: Butch Davis
344 Points Scored
320 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Kelly Holcomb

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Pittsburgh, 36-14: AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated Oakland, 27-20: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated New York, 27-10: AFC Championship

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4)

Head Coach: Jon Gruden
346 Points Scored
196 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Brad Johnson

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated New York, 15-0: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Atlanta, 10-7: NFC Championship

The Game

Quite possibly the biggest mismatch in Super Bowl history was on top for Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had established themselves as one of the top teams in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns had managed just their first winning season since their rebirth in 1999. The Browns had switched quarterbacks late in the season, as Tim Couch suffered a broken leg and Kelly Holcomb was forced to come in and start for the former first overall pick. Cleveland's offense was average at best, but had come to life during the playoffs, while their defense had shut down the powerful Oakland offense in the divisional round. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, were well established in terms of defense, as they had held their two playoff opponents to just seven points, and had even shut down Michael Vick in the NFC Championship. The offense had struggled during the playoffs, but Brad Johnson, Mike Alstott and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were quite confident that they would not let the Cleveland Browns take the Super Bowl title in the greatest upset in NFL history.

The Browns held their ground on defense on Tampa Bay's first possession, forcing the Buccaneers to go three and out. However, the Cleveland offense was less than effective against the Tampa Bay defense, and the Browns were forced to punt the ball right back to the Buccaneers. Karl Williams returned the punt to the Tampa Bay 45 yard line, and this time, the Buccaneers would not be denied. A 28 yard pass from Brad Johnson to Rickey Dudley was the big blow on the five play, 55 yard drive that ended with a nine yard touchdown run by Mike Alstott. Cleveland was able to get moving on offense on their next drive, but stalled outside of field goal range and had to punt once again. The ball was downed at the Tampa Bay 14 yard line, but the Buccaneers made quick work of the long field, as Aaron Stecker broke free on the next play for a Super Bowl record 86 yard touchdown run that put the Buccaneers up 14-0. The next Tampa Bay possession was less successful, as the Buccaneers had to punt. Dennis Northcutt returned the punt to the Tampa Bay 38 yard line, and the Browns needed to move just six yards in three plays for Phil Dawson to nail a 49 yard field goal that put Cleveland on the board. The Browns would strike again later in the second quarter, following a Keenan McCardell fumble. This time, Cleveland actually lost a yard on the possession, but Dawson was able to kick a 50 yard field goal to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 14-6. Neither team would score again in the first half, and the Buccaneers took a slim eight point lead with them into the locker rooms.

The Buccaneers knew that they were letting the Browns stay in the game, and if they didn't move quickly, Cleveland could steal the Super Bowl away from them. After stopping the Browns on their first possession of the third quarter, Tampa Bay went to work. An 18 yard run by Michael Pittman started the Buccaneer drive, which ended with a 24 yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson to Keyshawn Johnson. A fumble by James Jackson on the next Cleveland drive set Tampa Bay up in prime scoring position, but Martin Gramatica missed a 50 yard field goal to end the drive. The Browns would threaten on their next drive, but Phil Dawson would counter Gramatica's 50 yard miss with one of his own, and Cleveland would not cross midfield for the rest of the game. Tampa Bay's defense held the Browns to 166 total yards on the day, and the Buccaneer offense would add insult to injury in the fourth quarter with two more touchdown drives. Brad Johnson would hit Mike Alstott for a three yard touchdown, and Michael Pittman would later score on a 12 yard touchdown run to finish up the scoring. For once, most people had gotten it right: this was one of the biggest mismatches in Super Bowl history. The Buccaneers were able to celebrate their second title in four years, while the Browns were left hoping that their future could be even better.

Final Score: Tampa Bay-35 Cleveland-6

MVP: MVP: Brad Johnson: 16/23, 175 yards, 2 TD

Hurkman · 01-17-2010, 01:55 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

Hurkman · 01-18-2010, 05:48 PM

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Carolina Panthers (11-5) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, NC

Two years ago, the Carolina Panthers had finished the season 1-15. Now, the team was 11-5 and back in the playoffs for the first time since the 1996 season. Jake Delhomme had taken over for Rodney Peete in the season opener, and he never looked back, passing for over 3,300 yards and 19 touchdowns. Running back Stephen Davis, who was cast aside by the Washington Redskins, had once again become one of the top backs in the league, rushing for 1,444 yards and eight touchdowns. Steve Smith had become Delhomme's favorite target at wideout, while Mushin Muhammad rounded out a solid receiving tandem. The Carolina defense was also strong, ranked eighth in the league, with ends Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers creating a powerful pass rush. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys had also come out of years of mediocrity, only they had one of the most established coaches in NFL history on their side. In his first year with the Cowboys, Bill Parcells had turned the team back into one of the best in the NFC. While the offense, led by Quincy Carter, was weak, the defense was very strong. The Cowboys ranked first in the league in yards allowed, and second in points allowed on defense, giving them an edge heading into the playoffs. However, Dallas had also started the season 7-2, but a 3-4 finishing run had some people believing that this trip to the postseason would be a quick one for the Cowboys.

As expected, defense was the name of the game in the first quarter. Neither team could generate much on offense, as each team struggled to find a rhythm. Late in the first quarter, Steve Smith returned a Dallas punt to midfield, giving the Panthers the first break of the game. As the second quarter began, John Kasay kicked a 44 yard field goal, putting Carolina on top with the first points of the game. Dallas was quick to respond, as Troy Hambrick broke a 42 yard run on the first play of the next Cowboy drive. Bill Cundiff kicked a 35 yard field goal four plays later, and the game was tied. Dallas' defense struck on the next Carolina possession, first forcing the Panthers to punt, and then blocking Todd Sauerbrun's kick, putting them at the Carolina 31 yard line. Quincy Carter hit Terry Glenn for 29 yards, but the Panthers stood tall on defense, and Cundiff was forced to kick a 25 yard field goal to put the Cowboys ahead. Dallas would strike one more time in the half on their next drive. First, Hambrick broke runs of 16 and 25 yards to put the Cowboys into Carolina territory. Then, Carter found Joey Galloway, who broke free from Ricky Manning Jr for a 26 yard touchdown with just 40 seconds remaining in the half. After keeping Dallas out of the end zone for almost 30 minutes, the Panthers now saw themselves down by ten points against the best defense in the NFL.

Carolina's offense continued to struggle against the Dallas defense in the third quarter, as the Panthers couldn't even get a single first down on two drives. Meanwhile, the Cowboys' offense came together once again on their second drive of the quarter. Quincy Carter used a mix of runs and passes to slowly but surely move down the field against the Carolina defense. The 15 play drive took almost nine minutes off the clock and ended with a 30 yard field goal by Billy Cundiff to put Dallas up 16-3. The Cowboys were content to run out the clock and celebrate their victory, but the Panthers weren't quite done yet. Late in the fourth quarter, Jake Delhomme began to work the magic that had made him one of the biggest surprises of the 2003 season. On fourth and 17, Delhomme hit Steve Smith for a 19 yard gain, then found DeShaun Foster for a six yard touchdown with just 15 seconds to play. The Panthers needed to recover the onside kick, and John Kasay hit it perfectly. Rod Smart recovered for Carolina, who had 12 seconds to go 57 yards. Delhomme almost made it happen, finding Smith again for a 36 yard gain down to the Dallas 21 yard line. With just five seconds to play, Delhomme dropped back to pass, and fired the football...over the outstretched hands of Smith. Dallas had dodged a late bullet, and they had proven that their poor finish to the regular season was in the past.

Final Score: Dallas-16 Carolina-10

Real Life Score: Carolina-29 Dallas-10

Green Bay Packers (10-6) vs. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

A year after joining the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks were in the playoffs, with two of their key members returning to the place where their careers began. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck started in Green Bay as Brett Favre's backup. In 2003, he was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFC, passing for 26 touchdowns and 3,841 yards. Head coach Mike Holmgren was also back in Green Bay after leading the Packers to a Super Bowl in his final season with the Packers. Now, the head coach of the Seahawks was hoping that the high powered Seattle offense, led by Hasselbeck, running back Shaun Alexander and wideout Darrell Jackson could defeat his former team. As for the Green Bay Packers, after a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions put them at 6-6, the playoffs looked to be well out of reach. However, Brett Favre guided the Packers to four straight wins, including one over the Oakland Raiders just after his father had passed away. Favre finished the year by passing for 3,361 yards and 32 touchdowns, but he had help on the offensive side of the ball this year. Ahman Green had a career season, rushing for a franchise record 1,883 yards and 15 touchdowns to help balance out the second highest scoring team in the NFC. With two high powered offenses facing off, people were expecting a shootout.

What they got instead was a defensive struggle. Neither team could move the ball on offense, with each team failing to cross midfield through the first quarter. The Packers were the first team to make an effort at scoring, but their drive came up empty when Ryan Longwell missed a 49 yard field goal attempt. The Seahawks took advantage, finally breaking through the Green Bay defense. A 13 yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Bobby Engram set up Josh Brown's 49 yard field goal that put Seattle on top. The Packers would get one last chance at scoring late in the first half, and this time, they wouldn't let it go to waste. Starting from his own nine yard line, Brett Favre moved Green Bay into Seattle territory, then finished the 11 play drive with a 39 yard touchdown strike to Donald Driver. With the late touchdown, Green Bay went into the half up by a 7-3 score.

The Green Bay defense, which had played very well in the first half, stepped up to another level in the second half. On the first Seattle possession, the Packers stripped Heath Evans and recovered at the Seattle 18 yard line. The Seahawks kept Green Bay out of the end zone, but Ryan Longwell was able to kick a 29 yard field goal to increase the Packers' lead. Seattle would finally get moving again on offense late in the third quarter, as Matt Hasselbeck moved the Seahawks on a 13 play, 60 yard drive. However, the Packers held on defense, and Josh Brown was forced to kick a 25 yard field goal with just eight and a half minutes to play in the fourth quarter. A great kickoff return by Antonio Chatman put the Packers at midfield, and after runs by Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport moved Green Bay deep into Seattle territory, the Packers put the final nail in Seattle's coffin with a five yard touchdown run from Green. The Seahawks failed to convert on fourth down on their next drive, and the Packers had easily handled Seattle, keeping their magical late season run alive.

Final Score: Green Bay-17 Seattle-6

Real Life Score: Green Bay-33 Seattle-27/OT (Best known for this).

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

For the second straight season, the Philadelphia Eagles had captured home field advantage in the NFC Playoffs, and this time, they were hoping to use it. After losing in their first game of the playoffs last year to the Falcons, the Eagles were set to open up their new stadium's postseason career against the hated Dallas Cowboys. Donovan McNabb had a down year by his standards, but still passed for over 3,000 yards with 16 touchdowns. The Philadelphia running game was a three headed monster during the regular season, but team rushing leader Brian Westbrook was lost in the last game of the season against the Washington Redskins with a triceps injury, leaving Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter to pick up the slack. The Philadelphia defense seemed a step or two off from a year ago as well, utilizing more of a "bend, but don't break" mentality that allowed teams to drive downfield, but not score points. Both the Cowboys and the Eagles had won their home game against each other during the regular season, and both teams came into the game expecting to leave with a win.

The Eagles got off to a nice start, as Todd Pinkston caught a 25 yard pass from Donovan McNabb on the third play of the game. However, when Pinkston was hit, he fumbled the football, and the Cowboys recovered at midfield. Using their running attack exclusively, the Cowboys moved 32 yards in seven plays, which was close enough for Billy Cundiff to kick a 36 yard field goal that put Dallas on top early. The Eagles would answer with a scoring drive of their own late in the first quarter, as David Akers kicked a 35 yard field goal to tie up the score. Dallas was quick to answer, as a 23 yard pass from Quincy Carter to Terry Glenn put the Cowboys inside Philadelphia territory. From there, Carter picked apart the Eagles' secondary before Aveion Cason scored on a nine yard draw play, giving Dallas a 10-3 lead. Philadelphia would manage another field goal late in the second quarter, but their next drive ended with a Dexter Coakley interception of McNabb, keeping the Cowboys ahead by a score of 10-6 at the half.

The second half started out about the same way the first half did for the Eagles. Quincy Carter moved the Cowboys into field goal range again, and Billy Cundiff nailed a 46 yard field goal to increase the Dallas lead. Duce Staley answered with a 50 yard run on the first Philadelphia play of the third quarter, but the Eagles would only move the ball 14 more yards before having to settle for a David Akers field goal once again. The Cowboys would answer Philadelphia's scoring drive with one of their own, going 68 yards in nine plays before Cundiff kicked his third field goal of the game, pushing the Dallas lead back up to seven points early in the fourth quarter. From there, the Dallas defense shut down the Eagles on offense. Donovan McNabb was under constant pressure, and couldn't even get a single first down for the Eagles on their next two possessions. The Cowboys finished things off with an eight play, four minute scoring drive in the middle of the fourth quarter that ended with a nine yard touchdown pass from Carter to Terry Glenn. Under a shower of boos, the Eagles failed to convert on fourth down, and the Dallas Cowboys were headed to the NFC Championship, while the Eagles were left beaten at home for the second year in a row.

Final Score: Dallas-23 Philadelphia-9

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-20 Green Bay-17/OT (Fourth and 26)

St. Louis Rams (12-4) vs. Green Bay Packers (10-6)
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO

Despite reaching the Super Bowl just three seasons ago, the St. Louis Rams had begun to show their age, but had enough in them for one final run. Marc Bulger had taken over for Kurt Warner, and though he had thrown 22 interceptions, he also threw 22 touchdowns and passed for 3,845 yards. Marshall Faulk was beginning to slow with age, but still rushed for 818 yards and ten touchdowns. Torry Holt had taken over as the number one receiver for the Rams, helping the highest scoring team in the NFC with 117 catches for 1,696 yards and 12 touchdowns. Isaac Bruce didn't have a bad season, either, bringing in 69 catches for 981 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, Leonard Little was a force on the defensive line, recording 12.5 sacks and helping stabilize what was an otherwise average St. Louis defense. The Rams and Packers had played each other during the regular season, with St. Louis coming out on top, but that was before Green Bay's defense had started to establish itself, and well before Brett Favre had started to turn the Packers' season around.

Sure enough, that average St. Louis defense was exploited early by the Green Bay offense. Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport pounded the Rams on the ground on the first Packers' drive before Brett Favre hit Bubba Franks for a 20 yard pass that put the Packers at the St. Louis three yard line. On third down, Favre found Donald Driver for a two yard touchdown and the Packers had an early lead. The lead lasted for about 15 seconds. On the ensuing kickoff, Arlen Harris ran, untouched, for a 95 yard touchdown that tied the game and had the Packers back on their heels. However, the Packers were still able to drive right through the St. Louis defense, but this time, the Rams stopped them before they could find the end zone. Instead, Ryan Longwell hit a 40 yard field goal, putting the Packers back on top by a 10-7 score. Now, it was St. Louis' turn to answer. On their first offensive drive of the game, Marc Bulger moved the Rams 66 yards in ten plays. The drive was capped by a four yard touchdown pass from Bulger to Torry Holt, and the Rams had taken their first lead of the game. The Packers would respond with another scoring drive of their own, this one a mixture of run and pass. Ahman Green finished the drive with a 15 yard touchdown run, and the Packers had the lead again. From there, the scoring slowed down, as both defenses began to put pressure on the opposing quarterbacks. However, Brett Favre still had one last late drive in him. Two quick passes to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport put the Packers in field goal range, and Ryan Longwell nailed a 43 yard field goal as the first half came to an end, giving the Packers a 20-14 lead.

Anyone expecting the same type of offensive fireworks from the first half was disappointed in the third quarter, as both defenses began to make plays. Marc Bulger was intercepted by Mike McKenzie on St. Louis' first drive of the third quarter, but Tony Fisher fumbled the ball right back to the Rams two plays later. Bulger got the Rams moving again late in the third quarter, but the Packers were able to hold strong, and St. Louis had to settle for a Jeff Wilkins field goal. The Rams needed a play on defense early in the fourth quarter, and they got it when Pisa Tinoisamoa picked off Brett Favre in Green Bay territory. Six plays later, the Rams tied the game on a 44 yard field goal by Wilkins, but there was still more than enough time for the Packers. Brett Favre used his arm to carve up the St. Louis pass defense, as the Packers picked up all but one yard on the 65 yard drive through the air. The final pass came on a 17 yard touchdown to Bubba Franks that once again gave Green Bay the lead. The Rams weren't finished yet, either. Marshall Faulk's running helped keep the Packers off balance on defense, and Marc Bulger was able to move St. Louis deep into Packers' territory with just two minutes to play. The Rams made it all the way down to the Green Bay 15 yard line, but two incomplete passes and a run for no gain turned a first and ten into a fourth and ten. Bulger was able to find Torry Holt, but only for a three yard gain before Al Harris took him down. Green Bay was able to run out the clock, and had earned the right to host the NFC Championship against the Dallas Cowboys.

Final Score: Green Bay-27 St. Louis-20

Real Life Score: Carolina-29 St. Louis-23/2 OT

NFC Championship Game

Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

Green Bay Packers (10-6) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

For the second time in seven years, the Packers and Cowboys were facing off to determine who would represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXVIII. While the Packers boasted one of the best offenses in the NFL and a defense that had started to come on strong at the end of the season, the Cowboys had arguably the best defense in the NFL, and had already taken down two powerful offenses in Carolina and Philadelphia. Both teams had proven that they could win on the road in the playoffs, but when it came down to it, most people were taking Brett Favre over Quincy Carter at the quarterback position, and therefore, most people expected the Packers to head to their third Super Bowl. With their defense though, the Cowboys knew that they had a chance to win their third straight road playoff game and advance to their record tenth Super Bowl.

This time around, defense was expected from both teams, and the Packers and Cowboys delivered without any problems. Through most of the first half, neither team could even get a first down, let alone cross midfield against the opposing defense. While Brett Favre had established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, he was having as much of a problem getting into a groove as young Quincy Carter was for the Cowboys. It seemed like the first team to make a mistake on offense would pay for it, and that's exactly what happened. Midway through the second quarter, Ahman Green was stripped by La'Roi Glover. The Cowboys recovered at the Green Bay 37 yard line, and it only took four plays for Dallas to take full advantage of the turnover. Quincy Carter hit Joey Galloway for a 16 yard touchdown for the first points of the game, and Dallas had the lead. For the rest of the half, neither team could move the ball on offense again, and the 7-0 Dallas lead carried over into the locker rooms.

As the second half began, the Packers came out focused, and it showed on the field almost instantly. After finally getting to midfield on their first drive of the half, Antonio Chatman gave Green Bay great field position for the second drive. Brett Favre moved the Packers deep into Dallas territory, and William Henderson finished the drive with a two yard touchdown run that tied the score and finally gave the Packers fans something to cheer about. Their joy would not last long, though. On the next Dallas drive, Quincy Carter answered Brett Favre with several crisp passes of his own, including a 22 yard strike to Terry Glenn on third down and ten. Early in the fourth quarter, Carter hit Troy Hambrick with a seven yard touchdown pass, capping a ten play, 63 yard drive and putting the Cowboys back on top. With the pressure on, Brett Favre needed to make a big play, but there just weren't any around on this day. The Cowboys kept the pressure on Favre and Ahman Green for the rest of the game, and when Billy Cundiff kicked a 29 yard field goal with just 1:45 to play, the game was no longer in question. Favre moved the Packers down to the Dallas 13 yard line, but it was too little, too late. Just as they had twice before, the Dallas Cowboys had beaten the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field for the NFC Championship. Somehow, Bill Parcells had turned the Cowboys into winners in just one season, and with Quincy Carter at quarterback.

Final Score: Dallas-17 Green Bay-7

Real Life Score: Carolina-14 Philadelphia-3

Hurkman · 01-19-2010, 10:39 PM

Super Bowl XXXVIII

Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX

Indianapolis Colts (12-4)

Head Coach-Tony Dungy
447 Points Scored
336 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback-Peyton Manning

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Denver, 27-19: AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated Kansas City, 23-10: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated New England, 19-14: AFC Championship

Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

Head Coach-Bill Parcells
289 Points Scored
260 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback-Quincy Carter

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Carolina, 16-10: NFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated Philadelphia, 23-9: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Green Bay, 17-7: NFC Championship

The Game

On the field, the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys were mirror opposites of each other. While the Colts won their games with flash and offensive power, the Cowboys battered their opponents with a swarming defense that was at the top of the NFL. The Colts boasted one of the highest scoring offenses in the NFL, with co-MVP Peyton Manning leading the way, along with Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. In 19 games on their way to the Super Bowl, the Colts had been held below 17 points exactly one time, and that was back in the first week of the season against the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, the Cowboys had only allowed six teams in 19 games to score 20 or more points, and their defense had allowed the fewest yards in the NFL. Dexter Coakley, Greg Ellis, Roy Williams, La'Roi Glover and Terrence Newman formed the nucleus of a defense that had already shut down three of the most powerful offenses in the NFC in the playoffs. Now, with one win standing between the Cowboys and their record seventh Super Bowl title, all the defense had to do was stop Peyton Manning, and hope that Quincy Carter and the Dallas offense could do enough.

It was the Dallas offense that surprisingly put the first points of Super Bowl XXXVIII on the board. After the Colts were forced to punt on their first drive, Zuriel Smith returned the punt to the Dallas 42 yard line. It took Quincy Carter two passes to put the Cowboys into field goal range, first hitting Terry Glenn for 16 yards, then finding Joey Galloway for another 13. Three plays later, Billy Cundiff kicked a 38 yard field goal, putting Dallas on top. The Colts wasted little time in coming up with an answer for Dallas' field goal with one of their own. A good kickoff return by Indianapolis put the ball at midfield, and Peyton Manning guided the Colts down into the red zone for the first time. Manning's pass to Reggie Wayne put the Colts at the thee yard line, but the Dallas defense held strong, and Mike Vanderjagt was forced to come in and kick a 22 yard field goal that tied the score. For most of the second quarter, neither team could do anything right on offense, with each team struggling to make any sort of headway against the opposing defense. Finally, the Cowboys caught a break, as Greg Ellis stripped Ricky Williams at midfield, giving the ball back to the Cowboys with just a minute to play in the half. Quincy Carter hit Dan Campbell for 25 yards on the first play of the drive, then Troy Hambrick broke a 17 yard run on a surprise draw on the very next play, moving the ball inside the Indianapolis ten yard line for the first time. With 25 seconds left in the half, Carter hit Terry Glenn for an eight yard touchdown, and Dallas took a now 10-3 lead with them to the break.

The Cowboys started with the ball in the third quarter, but this time, the Indianapolis offense stepped up and made a play. Quincy Carter was intercepted by Nick Harper at the Dallas 35 yard line, giving the Colts great field position for their first drive of the second half. Once again, though, the Dallas defense locked down Peyton Manning and the Colts, not letting them gain a single yard. Tony Dungy decided to go for a fourth down conversion, and Dallas brought a blitz, forcing Manning to hurry his throw. The pass sailed over the head of Reggie Wayne, and the Colts had wasted a chance. Throughout the playoffs, the Cowboys had made a living out of breaking their opponent's backs with long scoring drives, and that's just what they did following the stop on fourth down.

Troy Hambrick, Adrian Murrell and Aveion Cason pounded the Colts on the ground, while Quincy Carter passed whenever he had to, putting the Cowboys inside the Indianapolis ten yard line once again. This time, the Cowboys couldn't find the end zone, and Billy Cundiff had to kick a 24 yard field goal that increased Dallas' lead to 13-3. Despite only getting a field goal out of the drive, Dallas held the ball for almost seven and a half minutes, keeping the Indianapolis offense on the sideline, where they could do nothing but watch what was happening. When the Colts did get the ball back on offense, they wasted little time in attacking the Cowboys' defense. Edgerrin James broke off runs of 20 and ten yards, while Peyton Manning was finally able to find holes in the Dallas secondary. Just like their first scoring drive, the Colts were unable to get into the end zone. Instead, they had to settle for a second Mike Vanderjagt field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter.

Rather than sit back and let the Colts back on the field on offense, the Dallas Cowboys went for the kill on their next drive. Quincy Carter completed three straight passes for 27 yards and rushed for another 11 yards before the trio of Dallas running backs took over. Troy Hambrick broke free for a 17 yard gain, then Aveion Cason carried the ball for seven yards before Adrian Murrell finished things off with a three yard touchdown run. With just under seven minutes to play, the Cowboys had a 20-6 lead, and they were well on their way to another Super Bowl title. Indianapolis failed to convert on fourth down on their next drive, and the Cowboys responded with a 68 yard drive that lasted three and a half minutes and ended with another Billy Cundiff field goal. The Colts didn't have enough time to attempt a comeback, and the Dallas defense made the last play of the game, intercepting Peyton Manning on a deep throw, finishing off one of the dominant team defensive performances in Super Bowl history.

Final Score: Dallas-23 Indianapolis-6

MVP: Quincy Carter: 13/16, 158 yards, 1 TD, 3 carries, 35 yards

Hurkman · 01-24-2010, 06:38 PM

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

San Diego Chargers (12-4) vs. New York Jets (10-6)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

The San Diego Chargers not only were back in the playoffs for the first time since the 1995 season, but their 2004 campaign had also resulted in their first winning season since nine years ago. Fourth year players Drew Brees and LaDanian Tomlinson had guided the Chargers to the top of the AFC West with one of the best offenses in the NFL. Brees finished the year with 27 touchdown passes compared to only seven interceptions, while Tomlinson led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns and 1,335 yards. Second year tight end Antonio Gates had emerged as Brees' favorite target, catching 13 touchdown passes. The San Diego rushing defense was also one of the best in the league, finishing third in yards allowed, which presented a challenge to the New York Jets, who were back in the playoffs after a 6-10 record in 2003. Chad Pennington had battled injuries once again, but still managed to pass for 2,673 yards and 16 touchdowns in just 13 games. Curtis Martin was named an All Pro, finishing the year with 1,697 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, but the real story of the Jets was their defense. New York allowed just 261 points on the season, and finished the year ranked third in the NFL in yards allowed, as well. Jonathan Vilma, Shaun Ellis and John Abraham formed a young, solid core for a defense that had already stopped the Chargers once during the regular season, and they were ready to do it again.

That New York defense would be tested early by Drew Brees and the Chargers. Using a mix of run and pass, Brees moved San Diego deep into New York territory on their first drive of the game. The Chargers made it all the way to the two yard line before the Jets began to hold their ground on defense. Two straight incomplete passes by Brees set up a third down and goal, and the New York blitz forced Brees to scramble for no gain, setting up a fourth down from the two yard line. The Chargers decided to go for the touchdown, but the Jets stopped LaDanian Tomlinson at the line of scrimmage, ending the almost ten minute drive and giving all the momentum to New York. Unfortunately for the Jets, they couldn't take advantage of their own lengthy drive as the Chargers forced them to punt early in the second quarter. On San Diego's next drive, Drew Brees found Kassim Osgood for a 37 yard gain to move the Chargers into Jets' territory again. Two quick passes to LaDanian Tomlinson later, and San Diego was in field goal range. Nate Kaeding nailed a 41 yard field goal for the first points of the game. The Jets answered back with a ten play, 74 yard drive of their own. Chad Pennington hit Santana Moss for 34 yards on a third down and one, and Curtis Martin did the rest, picking up the final 21 yards on a catch and three carries, including a four yard touchdown run that put the Jets on top.

After the New York touchdown, the second quarter belonged to the Chargers. San Diego was forced to punt on their next drive, but a holding penalty on the Jets set them back at their own five yard line. On the first New York play, Shaun Phillips sacked Chad Pennington for a safety. Tim Dwight returned the safety kick to the New York 38 yard line, and after Drew Brees hit Reche Caldwell with a 28 yard strike, the Chargers were in business again. However, the Jets were able to stop San Diego inside the ten yard line for the second time, and Nate Kaeding was forced to kick a 28 yard field goal as the first half came to a close. Even with being stopped twice inside the ten, the Chargers still held an 8-7 lead at the half.

Both defenses had come up strong in the first half, and that trend continued as the third quarter began. Neither team could gain a foothold on offense, with both the Chargers and the Jets struggling to do anything other than punt. Eventually, even that didn't go well for San Diego, as late in the third quarter, Santana Moss returned a Mike Scifres punt to the San Diego 42 yard line. Chad Pennington responded to the excellent field position by hitting Wayne Chrebet for a 32 yard gain to the San Diego ten yard line. This time, it was the Chargers' turn to have a goal line stand, but the Jets weren't going to risk a fourth down conversion. After being stopped three times, Doug Brien kicked a 26 yard field goal that put New York back on top. San Diego continued to struggle on offense going into the fourth quarter, as neither Drew Brees, nor LaDanian Tomlinson, could get moving again. The New York defense had stopped the Chargers cold, and after Santana Moss returned another San Diego punt to midfield midway through the fourth quarter, most people could feel how the game was going to turn out. The Jets milked the clock on a ten play, 59 yard drive that ended with a seven yard touchdown pass from Chad Pennington to Jonathan Carter that would finish the scoring. San Diego would finally start moving on offense on their next drive, but there wasn't enough time left to score twice, and the Jets had gone across the country and picked up a big playoff win.

Final Score: Jets-17 Chargers-8

Real Life Score: Jets-20 Chargers-17/OT

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

For the second straight season, the Colts and Broncos were set to face off in the first round of the AFC playoffs. The Colts had taken their idea of offense to another level in 2004, leading the NFL with 522 points scored. Peyton Manning won his second straight NFL MVP by passing for 4,557 yards and a new NFL record 49 touchdowns. Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley all finished the season with over 1,000 receiving yards and ten or more touchdowns. Edgerrin James complimented the offense with 1,548 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns. The Indianapolis defense was still quite average, at best. The Colts ranked near the bottom of the league in yards allowed, but with their offense, the defense just had to play average to win. In his second season with the Broncos, Jake Plummer looked like he could be the successor to John Elway, passing for 27 touchdowns and 4,089 yards. His 20 interceptions led the league, but with Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie boasting 1,000 yard seasons of their own, most people didn't notice. Reuben Droughns was given the starting job at running back, and responded with 1,240 yards and six touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Denver defense was in the upper tier of the NFL. Champ Bailey came over in a trade with the Redskins and established himself as the shutdown corner in the AFC West, and his matchup with Marvin Harrison could possibly make the difference in what people thought would be a very close game.

Indianapolis started with the football in the first quarter and wasted little time in taking it right to the Broncos. The Colts started with six straight running plays before Peyton Manning found Reggie Wayne for 14 yards. Two plays later, Manning hit Brandon Stokley for a 30 yard touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. Jake Plummer's first pass of the game for the Broncos was intercepted by Jim Nelson, and though the Colts couldn't get into the end zone again, Mike Vanderjagt did kick a 45 yard field goal that increased Indianapolis' lead. Roc Alexander returned the ensuing kickoff to the Denver 42 yard line, and the Broncos took advantage. Reuben Droughns punished the Indianapolis defense, and then Jake Plummer found Droughns for a 32 yard pass down to the Colts' three yard line. From there, the Colts managed to keep the Broncos out of the end zone, and Denver had to settle for a 21 yard field goal by Jason Elam. The Colts responded with a 14 play, 79 yard drive that took up the rest of the first quarter and part of the second quarter. A two yard touchdown pass from Manning to Marvin Harrison finished the drive and put the Colts up by 14 points. Denver answered with a 14 play scoring drive of their own, and Reuben Droughns scored on a two yard run to make the score 17-10, and that carried over to the half.

Denver's momentum carried over into the third quarter, as their first drive of the half ended with points. Reuben Droughns and Quentin Griffin moved the ball well on the ground, which set up Jason Elam's 48 yard field goal that cut the Colt lead to just four points. Peyton Manning came out and picked apart the Denver defense on the next Indianapolis drive, hitting Brandon Stokley for 27 yards, Marvin Harrison for 17 yards and finally, Dallas Clark for a 24 yard touchdown to pad the Indianapolis lead once again. The Colts had a chance to put the game away on their next drive, when Quentin Griffin fumbled the ball away at the Denver 27 yard line. Four plays later, Dominic Rhodes fumbled the ball at the two yard line of the Broncos, and Denver would make the Colts pay for letting them stay in the game. Reuben Droughns broke free for a 54 yard gain, and two plays later, Jake Plummer found Darius Watts for a 13 yard touchdown pass. The Broncos failed to convert the two point conversion, keeping them down by five points. Following two straight Indianapolis punts, the Broncos had just four and a half minutes to play, but Jake Plummer still had one more drive left in him. Plummer completed three straight passes for 57 yards, and right before the two minute warning, Droughns broke loose for a six yard touchdown run that gave the Broncos their first lead of the game. Droughns would find the end zone again on the two point conversion, and the Denver lead was three.

The Broncos made one mistake: they left too much time for Peyton Manning. A 15 yard pass from Manning to Dallas Clark on the first Indianapolis play of the drive put the ball at the Colts' 40 yard line, but a false start penalty and three straight incomplete passes left the Colts with just one shot for a first down. Manning stepped back and found Edgerrin James, who made one man miss before making it to the first down marker, keeping the Colts' season alive. Manning found Reggie Wayne for a 19 yard gain, and, with 31 seconds to play, the NFL MVP struck again. Brandon Stokley found a seam in the middle of the field, and Manning hit him for a 29 yard touchdown that put the Colts on top once again. Jake Plummer had one more shot, but he couldn't complete any of his last three passes, and Indianapolis had taken one more step in defending their AFC Championship.

Final Score: Indianapolis-31 Denver-27

Real Life Score: Indianapolis-49 Denver-24

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Pittsburgh Steelers (15-1) vs. New York Jets (10-6)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

The are good rookie seasons for quarterbacks, and then there's the one that Ben Roethlisberger had while leading the Pittsburgh Steelers. After Pittsburgh lost to Baltimore in Week 2, Roethlisberger took over the starting job from Tommy Maddox and proceeded not to lose a single game for the rest of the regular season. The Offensive Rookie of the Year passed for 2,621 yards and 17 touchdowns, and was backed by the 1-2 punch of Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley, who combined for over 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Pittsburgh defense continued in the tradition of the Steel Curtain, and was the best in the NFL during the regular season. The Steelers allowed just 251 points during the regular season, and allowed the fewest yards in the NFL. Even with all of those impressive figures, the Jets came into the game knowing that they could take down the best team in the NFL if everything could fall their way.

With two of the best defenses in the NFL facing off, most people expected points to be a struggle, and that's exactly how the first quarter was. Neither offense was able to get moving, with each team punting on each of their possessions. Finally, the Steelers started to move, with Jerome Bettis and rookie Willie Parker working their way through the New York defense. Eventually, the Jets were able to put a stop to the drive, and Jeff Reed was forced to come in and kick a 37 yard field goal for the first points of the game. After another New York punt, the Steelers had a chance to score again, but the Jets stopped Pittsburgh cold and then took advantage of the first mistake of the game. Chris Gardocki's punt was blocked by Erik Coleman, and Victor Hobson grabbed the loose ball and raced 15 yards for a touchdown and the lead. Special teams came into play on the next Pittsburgh drive, following a solid Pittsburgh drive. This time, Jeff Reed's 47 yard field goal try was blocked by Jason Ferguson, and the Jets recovered. Chad Pennington finally got New York's offense moving, guiding the Jets on a ten play drive in just one minute. Doug Brien's 23 yard field goal put the Jets up, 10-3, and New York's defense made that score hold until the half.

In the third quarter, New York's defense and special teams made an even bigger impact than they did in the first half. First, after stopping the Steelers on offense again, Santana Moss took a Chris Gardocki punt and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown, putting the Jets up by 14 points. Then, on the very next Pittsburgh play, Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted by Terrell Buckley at the Pittsburgh 34 yard line. A 19 yard run by Curtis Martin put the Jets well inside field goal range, and Doug Brien finished the short drive with a 26 yard field goal, his second of the day. The Steelers responded with a five play, 69 yard scoring drive of their own, but the score was a second Jeff Reed field goal rather than a touchdown. New York's first drive of the fourth quarter came to a quick end when James Farrior intercepted Chad Pennington at midfield, but Pittsburgh couldn't solve the Jets' defense and had to punt again. This time, the Jets would embark on a 15 play drive that took over eight and a half minutes off the clock. Pennington passed the ball just two times on the drive, with Curtis Martin and LaMont Jordan doing most of the work. Martin finished the drive with a one yard touchdown run, and with just two minutes to play, the game was all but over. For everything Ben Roethlisberger did in his rookie season, he couldn't win a single playoff game, and a 15-1 record from the Steelers went to waste.

Final Score: New York-27 Pittsburgh-6

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-20 New York-17/OT

New England Patriots (14-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

After falling just short of their second trip to the Super Bowl last season, the New England Patriots were back, and even better than before. Tom Brady had become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, passing for 3,692 yards and 28 touchdowns, and newcomer Corey Dillon had come over from Cincinnati and made a drastic impact on the running game, rushing for 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns. New England's balance on offense allowed them to have one of the best offenses in the NFL, but their defense was even better. The Patriots gave up just 260 points in the regular season, and their rushing defense was ranked right at the top of the league. To stop Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, though, they would need a great effort from their offense and defense. Without it, the Patriots would be sitting at home, watching the playoffs again.

The game did not start the way the Patriots wanted it to, as Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Dominic Rhodes moved the Colts downfield with relative ease. The Colts made it inside the New England ten yard line, but the Patriots' defense held their ground, forcing Indianapolis to settle for a Mike Vanderjagt field goal. Meanwhile, the Patriots were having a tough time against the Indianapolis defense. Tom Brady couldn't find his receivers, and Corey Dillon wasn't able to get anything going on the ground. When the Patriots finally did get moving on offense, Patrick Pass fumbled the ball at midfield, giving it back to the Colts. This time, Manning wasn't going to be denied from reaching the end zone. Manning completed four passes for 44 yards on the 48 yard drive, including an 11 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Stokley to cap the drive. After another punt by the Patriots, the Indianapolis running game took control on their next drive, moving the Colts downfield before Mike Vanderjagt came in and kicked a 37 yard field goal. Down by 13 points, Tom Brady finally got the Patriots moving on offense, hitting Kevin Faulk for back to back 15 yard passes to get New England inside the Indianapolis ten yard line for the first time. Faulk finished the drive with an eight yard touchdwon run, and, after an Indianapolis punt, the Patriots were able to drive again. This time, a 38 yard pass from Brady to David Patten allowed Adam Vinatieri to kick a 38 yard field goal as the first half came to a close, giving New England more momentum.

After the second quarter had turned into an offensive battle late, the third quarter continued the trend. The Colts struck first with a six play, 56 yard drive that ended with a 32 yard field goal by Mike Vanderjagt. New England answered with Corey Dillon running through the Indianapolis defense for 47 yards on four carries. His 28 yard touchdown run gave the Patriots their first lead of the game, but it wouldn't last for long. The Colts quickly moved downfield again, going 70 yards in just six plays. Dominic Rhodes picked up 35 yards on a run, but it was Peyton Manning that finished the drive, hitting Dallas Clark for a six yard touchdown that took the lead right back. New England drove downfield once again, but Tom Brady was intercepted by Cato June at the Indianapolis 13 yard line, ending the drive and setting the Colts up with a chance to go up by two scores. Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James moved Indianapolis down into New England territory once again, taking over seven and a half minutes off the clock before Mike Vanderjagt kicked his fourth field goal of the game to put the Colts up 26-17. New England managed to drive into Colts' territory quickly, and Patrick Pass made up for his earlier fumble with a one yard touchdown run with just under a minute to play. The Patriots needed to recover the onside kick, but Indianapolis put a stop to that as Brandon Stokley grabbed the last chance that New England had. For the second straight season, New England's season had come to an end at the hands of the Colts, and Indianapolis was headed to their second straight AFC Championship.

Final Score: Indianapolis-26 New England-24

Real Life Score: New England-20 Indianapolis-3

AFC Championship Game

The RCA Dome, Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Colts (12-4) vs. New York Jets (10-6)

The Indianapolis Colts had managed to make it back to the AFC Championship Game for the second straight season behind the strength of their offense once again. Peyton Manning had led the Colts on back to back come from behind wins against the Broncos and Patriots, and now the Colts were a win away from going to their second straight Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the New York Jets were in their second AFC Championship for the second time in three seasons. The New York defense had shut down the powerful San Diego offense and taken out the 15-1 Pittsburgh Steelers and rookie phenom Ben Roethlisberger. Now, with their first trip to the Super Bowl in their sights, the Jets were focused on shutting down the best offense in the NFL.

Just as they had against the Broncos and Patriots, the Colts came out against the Jets and were able to put points on the board. Following a punt by New York, Edgerrin Hames broke loose for a 37 yard run that put the Colts inside New York territory. The Jets were able to hold on defense, though, and Mike Vanderjagt kicked a 39 yard field goal to give the Colts an early lead. After another New York punt, the Colts were set to make another scoring drive, but Peyton Manning was intercepted by Terrell Buckley, who returned the pick back to the Indianapolis 39 yard line. Four plays later, Chad Pennington hit Santana Moss for a 23 yard touchdown pass, putting the Jets on top. New York struck again later in the second quarter, needed just three plays to move 78 yards. Pennington found Chris Baker for 18 yards, then LaMont Jordan broke free on a swing pass and rushed 60 yards for a touchdown. Peyton Manning moved the Colts downfield on the next Indianapolis drive, but once again, the New York defense held, and Mike Vanderjagt had to kick a 29 yard field goal for the final points of the first half.

With an eight point lead at the half, the Jets were confident that they could defeat the Colts, and their first drive of the third quarter helped move them closer to that goal. Curtis Martin was quiet in the first half, but a 38 yard run on his first carry of the third quarter helped set up another New York scoring drive. Chad Pennington's third touchdown pass of the game, this one a six yarder to LaMont Jordan, capped the ten play drive and increased their lead. A holding penalty on the Colts on the ensuing kickoff pinned Indianapolis back at their own four yard line, and three plays later, Shaun Ellis came crashing through the line and brought Peyton Manning down for a safety. Santana Moss returned the safety kick back to the Indianapolis 27 yard line, and Doug Brien kicked a 39 yard field goal, giving the Jets 12 points in just three minutes of gameplay. Down by 20 points, the Colts needed something to get them going again, and Manning got his offense inside the New York ten yard line for the first time. However, the Colts still couldn't solve the Jets' defense, and Mike Vanderjagt kicked his third field goal of the game.

On the next New York drive, Curtis Martin struck again, picking up 54 yards on two carries. Then, Chad Pennington found Jonathan Carter for a 12 yard touchdown. With just ten minutes to play, the Jets held a 33-9 lead, and that lead would only increase. Following a goal line stand by the New York defense, Curtis Martin broke through the Indianapolis defense for a 52 yard run. Four plays later, BJ Askew rushed for a 2 yard touchdown, and the Jets could begin to celebrate. Despite a late touchdown by Edgerrin James, there was no stopping New York on this day. Chad Pennington threw for four touchdowns, Curtis Martin rushed for 215 yards, and the New York Jets had won their third straight road game, earning the right to play in their first Super Bowl.

Final Score: New York-40 Indianapolis-16

Real Life Score: New England-41 Pittsburgh-27 (In Pittsburgh)

kenyan_cheena · 01-24-2010, 07:09 PM

Wow, what a run from the Jets!

MorseMoose · 01-25-2010, 12:26 AM

Can't wait for 2009!!

Hurkman · 01-25-2010, 03:31 PM

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Seattle Seahawks (9-7) vs. St. Louis Rams (8-8)
Qwest Field, Seattle, WA

Two teams that some people said didn't deserve to make the playoff were set to faceoff in the first round in the NFC Playoffs. While the Seattle Seahawks had been able to clinch the NFC West with a 9-7 record, the St. Louis Rams had clinched a playoff spot with a very sloppy looking 8-8 record. Matt Hasselbeck passed for 3,382 yards and 22 touchdowns, while Shaun Alexander rushed for almost 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns as the Seahawks made up for their poor defense with a solid offense. In St. Louis, the Rams had an average offense and defense, but it was enough to get them into the playoffs. Marc Bulger passed for over 3,900 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson rushed for over 1,400 yards and 7 touchdowns on the season. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt each caught over 85 passes, but other than that, the St. Louis offense was useless. Both the Rams and the Seahawks were hopeful that the other team could make enough mistakes for them to make it into the second round.

It was the Seahawks that first took advantage of some questionable defense, with Mack Strong breaking through for a 22 yard run. Seattle was able to get into field goal range, and Josh Brown finished the drive with a 41 yard field goal that put the Seahawks on the board. The Rams answered with a scoring drive of their own. Marshall Faulk and Arlen Harris broke big runs, and Marc Bulger found Brandon Manumaleuna for a four yard touchdown that put St. Louis in the lead for the first time. The Seahawks were able to drive on their next possession, but Jerametrius Butler intercepted a Matt Hasselbeck pass at the St. Louis one yard line, giving the Rams the ball once again. Thanks to a 47 yard run by Steven Jackson, the Rams moved the ball into Seattle territory, and Jeff Wilkins nailed a 38 yard field goal to extend St. Louis' lead. Seattle answered back with a 16 play, 72 yard drive that took over ten minutes off the clock. Both Shaun Alexander and Mack Strong pounded the St. Louis defense, but it was Hasselbeck who finished the drive, hitting Bobby Engram for a five yard touchdown to tie the game. The Rams answered with a nine play drive that ended with a Jeff Wilkins field goal, and St. Louis held a 13-10 lead at the half.

St. Louis' lead only took one play in the second half to expand. On the first play of the third quarter, Marc Bulger found Isaac Bruce for a 75 yard touchdown, and just like that, the Rams were up by a score of 20-10. The Seahawks answered later in the quarter with a seven play drive that ended in a Josh Brown field goal, but the Rams answered right back. Bulger hit Arlen Harris for a 63 yard gain, and two plays later, Marshall Faulk broke free for a 13 yard run, giving the Rams a 14 point lead going into the fourth quarter. Seattle looked like they would respond to the St. Louis touchdown, but Matt Hasselbeck was intercepted by Antiono Cochran, and when Marshall Faulk scored from 39 yards out on the next St. Louis drive, the game was all but over. The Seahawks were able to score on a late touchdown run by Mack Strong, but Matt Hasselbeck was held in check for the entire game, and the 8-8 St. Louis Rams were headed to the secound round of the NFC Playoffs.

Final Score: St. Louis-34 Seattle-20

Real Life Score: St. Louis-27 Seattle-20

Green Bay Packers (10-6) vs. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

For the third time during the 2004 season, the Packers and Vikings were set to face off, only this time, a spot in the NFC Divisional playoffs was at stake. For the Vikings, Daunte Culpepper had regained his form from the 2000 season, passing for 39 touchdowns and 4,717 yards to help offset a poor rushing offense and a defense that ranked near the very bottom of the NFL in both points and yards allowed. In Green Bay, the Packers were hoping that they could make another run to at least the NFC Championship Game. Brett Favre passed for 30 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards, while Ahman Green's stats dropped a bit from 2003, but he was still able to rush for 1,163 yards and score seven times. Like the Vikings, Green Bay's defense was one of the worst in the NFL, but their offense was able to counteract the less than stellar play on the defensive side of the ball. For one of these two teams to advance, their defense was going to have to step up and stop a very good offense.

It didn't take long for the Packers go on the offensive against Minnesota's defense. Ahman Green broke free for a 42 yard run, and Najeh Davenport scored from six yards out on the first possession of the game for the Packers, giving them an early 7-0 lead. Surprisingly, both defenses would take over at the point in the first quarter, allowing each team to drive just to the edge of field goal range, but not close enough for an actual attempt. Neither offense could get moving until midway through the second quarter, when Nate Burleson returned a Green Bay punt to the Minnesota 41 yard line. With great starting field position, Daunte Culpepper was able to use his arm to move the Vikings deep into Green Bay territory. Culpepper then used his legs, scoring on a one yard touchdown run that tied the game. Brett Favre made sure that the tie didn't last for long, hitting Javon Walker and Donald Driver with crisp passes as he moved the Packers downfield in the two minute offense. With 15 seconds to play in the half, Favre hit Driver for a ten yard touchdown, and the Packers had retaken the lead with 30 minutes left to play.

The Vikings had allowed Green Bay to take the momentum with them into the half, but as the third quarter began, Minnesota was determined to take it back. On their opening drive of the quarter, the Vikings once again were able to move through the Green Bay defense. This time, they could not find the end zone, however, and Morten Andersen kicked a 42 yard field goal to cut into the Green Bay lead. On the next Packers' possession, Brett Favre was intercepted by Kevin Williams, and the big man returned the ball into Green Bay territory. Onterrio Smith cut through the Green Bay defense on the ground, but for the second straight drive, Minnesota had to settle for a field goal by Andersen. The Packers answered back on their next possession with a score of their own. Ahman Green found running room once again as the Packers called just four passing plays on the 12 play, 48 yard drive that ended with a field goal from Ryan Longwell. This time, it was Minnesota's turn to respond, and they didn't waste any time. Daunte Culpepper found Jermaine Wiggins in the flat, and the Minnesota tight end raced downfield, untouched, for a 72 yard touchdown that gave the Vikings their first lead of the day. Following a punt by the Packers, the Vikings would increase their lead. Onterrio Smith broke loose for a 48 yard run on the first play of the drive, and Minnesota would continue to eat up clock before settling for a Morten Andersen field goal and a six point lead.

The only problem was that the Vikings left almost two minutes on the clock, and Brett Favre was waiting for a chance to come back onto the field. He quickly found Ahman Green for 16 yards, then hit Antonio Chatman for another 18. After two quick runs and a 24 yard pass to Robert Ferguson, the Packers had the ball at the Minnesota 21 yard line. Favre hit Najeh Davenport for a nine yard gain down to the 12, but two incomplete passes put Green Bay in a fourth and one situation with just four seconds left to play. With only one shot left at the end zone, Favre dropped back and threw a pass in the direction of Donald Driver. The only problem was that the pass was about five feet over Driver's head. The ball sailed through the end zone, and Minnesota had managed to hold on and advance into the NFC Divisional Playoffs, while the Packers were left to wonder what could have been.

Final Score: Minnesota-23 Green Bay-17

Real Life Score: Minnesota-31 Green Bay-17

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Atlanta Falcons (11-5) vs. St. Louis Rams (8-8)
The Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

For the second time in three years, Michael Vick had led the Falcons into the NFC playoffs, and this time, Atlanta was hoping that they could get past the NFC Championship Game and into their first ever Super Bowl. While Vick had only thrown for 2,313 yards and 14 touchdowns, he also rushed for 902 yards with three touchdowns. Vick, along with Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett, formed the best rushing attack in the NFL, and that alone was more than enough to clinch the NFC South. Alge Crumpler was Vick's favorite target through the air, catching 48 passes for 774 yards, and the Atlanta defense was bolstered by great line play from Patrick Kerney and Roderick Coleman, while Keith Brooking was the leader of the linebackers. The St. Louis Rams knew that they had their hands full, especially considering that the Falcons had beaten them handily in the Georgia Dome during the regular season.

This time, however, the Rams weren't going to be intimidated by the Atlanta running game. They used their two back tandem of Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson to perfection on their opening drive before giving way to Jeff Wilkins, who kicked a 37 yard field goal to give St. Louis an early lead. After an Atlanta punt, the Rams went right back to work on the ground, as Jackson and Faulk both found holes in the Falcons' front seven. When Atlanta began to move forward to stop the running game, Marc Bulger stepped in, hitting Torry Holt for a 24 yard gain that set up a second field goal from Wilkins, this one from 46 yards out. The St. Louis defense continued to confuse Michael Vick when he stepped onto the field, as the Rams spied him and jammed the running lanes, daring Vick to beat them with his arm. His first big mistake came midway through the second quarter, when he was intercepted by Jerametrius Butler deep in Atlanta territory. Following the turnover, Jeff Wilkins kicked a field goal, his third of the day, to put the Rams up 9-0. The Falcons finally began to move the ball on offense on their next drive, but the St. Louis defense stopped Atlanta just on the edge of field goal range, and Jay Feely bounced a 46 yard attempt off the upright, ending the scoring threat. St. Louis would waste little time in taking advantage of the missed field goal. Marc Bulger hit Steven Jackson for ten yards, then found Isaac Bruce on back to back plays, first finding him for 23 yards, and the following it up with a 13 yard pass. Two plays later, Bulger finished the drive by throwing a dart to Torry Holt for a 16 yard touchdown. At the half, the Rams had shocked the Falcons, and led by a score of 16-0.

The fans in Atlanta knew that their offense couldn't be kept quiet for much longer, and it only took one play in the third quarter for it to wake up. Allen Rossum returned the second half kickoff to the St. Louis 23 yard line, and on the first play of the third quarter, Michael Vick finally broke loose for a 23 yard touchdown run. Just like that, the Falcons were back in the game, but the Rams had an answer. Marc Bulger used his arm to move St. Louis down into Atlanta territory once again. After being stopped at the seven yard line, Jeff Wilkins kicked his fourth field goal of the game to cap the 12 play, seven and a half minute drive. The Falcons couldn't answer until early in the fourth quarter, and even then, their scoring drive came to a crashing halt when T.J. Duckett fumbled the ball at the St. Louis three yard line. Even though the Falcons picked up a safety when Bulger was sacked by Patrick Kerney in the end zone, it wasn't a touchdown, and when Jay Feely missed his second field goal of the game following the safety kick, it hurt even more. The Rams came right back with a 62 yard run by Steven Jackson that resulted in a fifth field goal by Jeff Wilkins, putting St. Louis up 22-9. The Falcons stormed back, scoring on a five yard touchdown run by Justin Griffith that finished off an 11 play, 68 yard drive, but there was just 1:30 left to play. The Rams recovered the onside kick, and Marc Bulger finished the game by hitting Kevin Curtis for a third down conversion with just seconds left to play. Somehow, the St. Louis Rams, who had been outscored by 73 points during the regular season, had put together back to back wins on the road, and were headed to the NFC Championship.

Final Score: St. Louis-22 Atlanta-16

Real Life Score: Atlanta-47 St. Louis-17

Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) vs. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

After four straight years of failing to reach the NFC Championship Game, the Philadelphia Eagles took the next step in the offseason, signing Jevon Kearse and bringing in Terrell Owens from the San Francisco 49ers to give quarterback Donovan McNabb a real weapon at wide receiver. The McNabb to Owens connection came together right awy, with McNabb having the best season of his career, passing for 3,875 yards and 31 touchdowns, compared to only eight interceptions. Brian Westbrook emerged as a true double threat out of the backfield, rushing for 802 yards and catching 73 passes for 703 yards. As for Owens, he caught 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, but he was lost for at least Philadelphia's first two playoff games with a broken leg that he suffered against the Dallas Cowboys. Without their best offensive weapon, the Eagles would have to make do with Westbrook, Todd Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell on offense, as well as one of the best defenses in the NFL to get by a tough Minnesota Vikings team.

In their previous playoff losses, the Eagles had struggled to find a groove on offense. Against the Vikings, they didn't struggle at all. On their first drive of the game, Donovan McNabb picked apart the Minnesota defense before finishing the six play drive with an 11 yard touchdown pass to Greg Lewis. After a punt by the Vikings, McNabb went right back to work, hitting Brian Westbrook for a 14 yard gain out of the backfield, then hitting L.J. Smith for another 14 yards, which set up a 41 yard field goal by David Akers. Westbrook was able to pick up 15 yards on his next two carries, but the next Philadelphia drive ended with McNabb being intercepted by Raonall Smith. The Vikings were able to take advantage, as Daunte Culpepper found holes in the usually solid Philadelphia secondary. A 25 yard pass to Randy Moss put Minnesota in Philadelphia territory for the first time, and Culpepper finished the drive with a six yard touchdown pass to Michael Bennett. However, the Eagles had an answer. Brian Westbrook broke off a 36 yard run on the very next offensive play for the Eagles, which was followed by a 15 yard pass from McNabb to Todd Pinkston and an 11 yard run by Westbrook. On the next play, McNabb hit Pinkston again for a four yard touchdown, putting the Eagles up 17-7. Minnesota would answer with a nine play, 42 yard drive that ended with a Morten Andersen field goal, but with just seconds left in the first half, Philadelphia would strike again. On the last play of the half, McNabb launched a Hail Mary into the end zone that was answered when Freddie Mitchell came down with the 53 yard bomb. Just like that, the Eagles led 24-10, and any momentum the Vikings had gained was lost.

After giving up a last second touchdown to end the first half, the Minnesota defense came out in the third quarter and looked like a different group. All of a sudden, Donovan McNabb couldn't find his receivers, and the Vikings were able to take advantage on offense. Midway through the third quarter, Nate Burleson returned a Dirk Johnson punt to the Philadelphia 41 yard line. The Vikings needed just six plays to get into field goal range, and Morten Andersen's second field goal of the game cut the Philadelphia lead to 11 points. On the next Eagles possession, Dorsey Levens fumbled the ball back to the Vikings at midfield, and Minnesota drove down to the Philadelphia nine yard line with a chance to cut even further into the lead. However, Daunte Culpepper was intercepted by Dhani Jones in the end zone, ending the threat. Culpepper would be intercepted by Lito Sheppard at his own 11 yard line on the next Minnesota possession, and the Eagles would need just one play to put the game away. Donovan McNabb hit Brian Westbrook for an 11 yard touchdown, and the game was no longer in doubt. After the Vikings turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, the Eagles were able to run out the clock, and for the first time since the 1988 season, the Philadelphia Eagles were headed to the NFC Championship.

Final Score: Philadelphia-31 Minnesota-13

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-27 Minnesota-14

NFC Championship Game

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Philadephia Eagles (13-3) vs. St. Louis Rams (8-8)

For the third time in their history, the Philadelphia Eagles had made it to the NFC Championship Game. After having home field advantage in the playoffs three years in a row, the Eagles had finally broken through the Divisional Round, and were ready for a chance to get to their third Super Bowl. Donovan McNabb had played excellent against the Vikings, even without Terrell Owens, and the Philadelphia defense had proven that they could still play, even after most of the starters hadn't played a full game in about a month. No one was sleeping on the St. Louis Rams, however. After just sneaking into the playoffs as an 8-8 team, the Rams had managed to upset the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons on the road. With Marc Bulger managing the games very well, and the dual threat of Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson working better than ever, there were actually a few people that could see the Rams upsetting the Eagles and heading to the Super Bowl.

Sure enough, it was the Rams that came out looking like the better team on their opening drive. Marc Bulger picked apart the Eagles through the air, completing seven of eight passes on the drive, including a three yard touchdown pass to Steven Jackson that gave St. Louis an early lead. After a Philadelphia punt, the Rams stormed back down the field, getting in range for Jeff Wilkins, but the usually reliable kicker missed a 42 yard attempt, wasting a chance to put Philadelphia down by ten points in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia offense looked like it had been left out in the bitter cold that had gripped the Delaware Valley. On their next two drives, the Eagles made their way deep into St. Louis territory, only for Dorsey Levens to fumble the ball away on one drive, and Reno Mahe to do the same on the very next drive. Luckily for the Eagles, their defense had recovered from the intial shock of watching the Rams drive up the field, and had put a stop to St. Louis' offense. Finally, with just a minute and a half to play in the first half, the Eagles put together a scoring drive. Donovan McNabb hit Todd Pinkston for 26 yards, then found Freddie Mitchell for a gain of 21 that put the Eagles inside field goal range. David Akers kicked a 31 yard field goal as the first half came to a close. Despite the late kick, the Eagles still trailed the 8-8 Rams by a score of 7-3.

The Rams came out in the third quarter knowing that they were just 30 minutes away from being the least likely team to ever reach a Super Bowl, and their defense played well to start, forcing the Eagles to punt on their first possession. However, the St. Louis offense still was stuck in first gear, and Reno Mahe returned the first St. Louis punt of the quarter to midfield, giving Philadelphia excellent starting field position. This time, the Eagles would not let the chance go by. Donovan McNabb hit Greg Lewis for a 34 yard gain, and two plays later, Brian Westbrook made his way into the end zone from two yards out, giving Philadelphia their first lead of the game. The Eagles had a chance to score on their next drive, but David Akers missed a 52 yard field goal attempt and the Rams began to move downfield again. St. Louis made their way to the Philadelphia 16 yard line before Marc Bulger was sacked by Hugh Douglas. On the very next play, Ike Reese intercepted Bulger and returned the pick back to the Philadelphia 41 yard line. Though the Eagles had to punt the ball away, it was downed at the St. Louis one yard line, and when the Rams were forced to punt, Philadelphia started with the ball inside St. Louis territory. With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, the Eagles moved 44 yards in eight plays, and when Brian Westbrook scored on his second two yard touchdown run of the game, the ending was no longer in doubt. A second Bulger interception followed the touchdown, and David Akers added his second field goal of the game to finish off the scoring. For the third time in their history, the Philadelphia Eagles were headed to the Super Bowl. As for the St. Louis Rams, their Cinderella story had ended a little earlier than they wanted it to.

Final Score: Philadelphia-20 St. Louis-7

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-27 Atlanta-10

Hurkman · 01-25-2010, 08:57 PM

Super Bowl XXXIX

Alltell Stadium, Jacksonville, FL

New York Jets (10-6)

Head Coach-Herman Edwards
333 Points Scored
261 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback-Chad Pennington

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated San Diego, 17-8: AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated Pittsburgh, 27-6: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Indianapolis, 40-16: AFC Championship

Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)

Head Coach-Andy Reid
386 Points Scored
260 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback-Donovan McNabb

Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Minnesota, 31-13: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated St. Louis, 20-7: NFC Championship

The Game

The New York Jets had surprised everyone by making it to their first Super Bowl, and waiting for them was by far the best team in the NFC. The Philadelphia Eagles had gotten past the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams without the help of Terrell Owens, and now, he was ready to play in the Super Bowl. Even without Owens, the Eagles had been able to take care of the Vikings and Rams, but no one was counting the Jets out at this point. With Chad Pennington at the helm and one of the best defenses in the NFL backing him up, the Jets had been able to take care of San Diego, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis on defense, while Pennington and Curtis Martin had done their job on offense. With just one game to play in the NFL season, anyone who thought that the Eagles were going to have an easy ride to a Super Bowl title were almost willing to eat their words as Super Bowl XXXIX got underway.

With two of the best defenses in the NFL on display, the Jets and the Eagles both took their time getting started in Super Bowl XXXIX. Neither team could move the ball until the middle of the first quarter, when Philadelphia managed to strike against New York's defense. Brian Westbrook broke free for a 45 yard touchdown run that gave the Eagles an early lead and set the Jets back, as they had been one of the best running defenses in the NFL during the playoffs. On the ensuing New York drive, the Jets managed to drive down to the Philadelphia 26 yard line, but Doug Brien's field goal attempt sailed wide to the right, and the Eagles took over. Using a solid mix of run and pass, Philadelphia moved the ball well, but a holding penalty on David Barrett on Terrell Owens set the Eagles up at the one yard line. Three plays later, the Eagles capped their 18 play drive with a one yard touchdown pass to L.J. Smith that put them up by a 14-0 score. The Jets answered with an 11 play drive that went 74 yards and ended with a Curtis Martin six yard touchdown run. Philadelphia couldn't score on their next drive, and the Eagles took a 14-7 with them into the half.

In the second half, the Eagles wasted little time in taking their offense to the Jets. A 19 yard completion from Donovan McNabb to Terrell Owens set up a 44 yard touchdown pass to Todd Pinkston, and after a New York punt, the Eagles took advantage. On the first play of the possession, McNabb found Owens for a 68 yard touchdown that almost put the game out of reach. Following a New York punt, the Eagles drove down the field once again on a 14 play, 76 yard drive. David Akers finished the drive with a 20 yard field goal, and the Eagles were in control of the Super Bowl. The Jets answered with a drive of their own, but Doug Brien could only kick a 45 yard field goal. Philadelphia answered with a nine play, 66 yard drive of their own that was finished by a Brian Westbrook one yard run. Following a New York drive that ended on a fourth down conversion, the Eagles ran out the clock, and Philadelphia had become champions for the second time.

Final Score: Philadelphia-38 New York-10

MVP: Donovan McNabb: 16/19, 288 yards, 3 TDs

Jason Moyer · 01-26-2010, 02:14 AM

No final score?

Hurkman · 01-26-2010, 04:35 PM

Yeah, I don't know how I forgot that last night, but it's there now. Thanks for pointing that out, I actually don't think I would have noticed it if you didn't.

08-31-2009, 09:59 PM	#203 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	Super Bowl XXXV Super Bowl XXXV Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL Baltimore Ravens (12-4) Head Coach: Brian Billick 333 Points Scored 165 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback: Trent Dilfer Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated Denver, 24-10: AFC Wild Card Playoffs Defeated Oakland, 17-10: AFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated Tennessee, 13-0: AFC Championship St. Louis Rams (10-6) Head Coach: Mike Martz 540 Points Scored 471 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback: Kurt Warner Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated New Orleans, 38-24: NFC Wild Card Playoffs Defeated New York, 35-10: NFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated Minnesota, 31-28: NFC Championship The Game The St. Louis Rams and Baltimore Ravens were complete opposites of each other on the football field. While the Rams were content with putting up, and allowing, high numbers of points each week, the Ravens enjoyed pounding opposing teams into submission with one of the NFL's best defenses of the last ten years. Kurt Warner had missed part of the season with the Rams, but still managed to throw 21 touchdowns in just 11 games, which was more than what Trent Dilfer and Tony Banks threw for the Ravens, combined. Both teams did have solid running attacks, with Marshall Faulk being a double threat out of the backfield for the Rams, and Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes providing the hammer for the Baltimore offense. That was where the similarites ended, though. The Rams had allowed almost three times as many points on defense as the Ravens did, and ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in almost every defensive category. Though the St. Louis defense had improved as the playoffs took place, Baltimore was hopeful that on this day, a great defense could stop a powerful offense. At the start, it looked as if the Rams would be able to have their way with Baltimore's defense. The first play of the game was a 30 yard strike from Kurt Warner to Issac Bruce that put the Rams inside Baltimore territory. From there, however, the Ravens clamped down and kept St. Louis out of field goal range. On their next drive, though, the Rams were able to move into scoring range. Az-Zahir Hakim returned the Baltimore punt inside Ravens territory, and St. Louis used a mixture of Marshall Faulk runs and passes by Warner to get inside the ten yard line. Though the Ravens were able to stop the Rams from getting into the end zone, Jeff Wilkins nailed a 26 yard field goal for the first points of Super Bowl XXXV. After another Baltimore punt, the Ravens settled down on defense and forced the Rams to punt. Jermaine Lewis showed why he was one of the most dangerous return men in the NFL in 2000 by returning the punt all the way to the St. Louis 23 yard line. The Ravens would run four straight running plays into the St. Louis defense, and on the fourth play, Priest Holmes broke through the line for an 11 yard run that put Baltimore on top. Now with the lead, the Ravens were able to attack on defense, and Kurt Warner fell victim to an aggressive Baltimore attack. Corey Harris intercepted Warner at the St. Louis 41 yard line, and four plays later, Matt Stover increased the Baltimore lead by kicking a 48 yard field goal. The Ravens would strike again on defense on the next St. Louis drive, as Marshall Faulk was stopped on an attempted fourth down conversion just outside of field goal range. This time, Trent Dilfer was able to move the Ravens downfield using a short passing game and the running of Priest Holmes and Jamal Lewis. Though Baltimore couldn't find the end zone, Stover was able to add his second field goal of the second quarter, putting the Ravens up by ten. After another St. Louis punt, the Ravens took over at their own 36 yard line with just 24 seconds to play in the half. Brian Billick stunned the Rams by calling a Travis Taylor reverse. Caught out of position, the Rams could only watch as Taylor picked up 35 yards and moved Baltimore into field goal range once again. Two plays later, Stover nailed his third kick of the quarter as time expired, pushing the Rams even further into a hole that they would have to fight tooth and nail to get out of. As they came out for the third quarter, the Ravens knew that it wouldn't take much more to put the Rams away, and they went at doing just that very quickly. Trent Dilfer completed passes to Shannon Sharpe and Brandon Stokely that moved Baltimore inside St. Louis territory again, and then Jamal Lewis broke free for a 35 yard touchdown run just three minutes into the half. The Matt Stover extra point made the score 23-3 in favor of the Ravens, and pushed the Rams even closer to the edge of defeat. For the rest of the game, the vaunted St. Louis offense could do very little against an extra aggressive Baltimore defense. The Rams could get nothing going on the ground all day as Ray Lewis, Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett and Peter Boulware contained Marshall Faulk, holding him to just 31 yards on 20 carries. Kurt Warner didn't have much luck passing the ball either, as the Ravens recorded two sacks in the second half. The Rams would cross midfield just once for the remainder of the Super Bowl, and though the Ravens wouldn't come close to scoring again, they wouldn't need to. Trent Dilfer had managed the game to perfection, and the running of MVP Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes more than complimented one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history. Final Score: Baltimore-23 St. Louis-3 MVP: Jamal Lewis-18 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD Last edited by Hurkman; 09-08-2009 at 11:33 PM.

09-09-2009, 01:24 AM	#205 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	2001 AFC Playoffs: Remember when Tom Brady was just some guy? AFC Wild Card Playoffs Oakland Raiders (10-6) vs. New York Jets (10-6) Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA For the first time since 1998, the New York Jets had made it to the postseason. Head coach Herman Edwards had come in, and in his first season, made the Jets back into a respectable football team. At age 38, Vinnie Testaverde was on his last legs, but he still managed to throw for over 2,700 yards and 15 touchdowns. Curtis Martin rushed for 1,513 yards and ten scores while John Abraham and Aaron Glenn helped the New York defense record 39 turnovers, good for second in the league. They would need all the defensive help they could get against the Oakland Raiders, who had become one of the best offensive teams in football. Oakland's older offense seemed to tire out at the end of the season, as a they closed the year with a three game losing streak, but they were confident that they could turn it around for the playoffs. Rich Gannon passed for over 3,800 yards and 27 touchdowns, and Tim Brown had been joined at wideout by Jerry Rice. The two future Hall of Famers each recorded over 1,100 receiving yards and each had nine touchdowns. If the Raiders did have a weak point, it was their defense, which finished in the bottom half of the league in just about every statistical category. The powerful Oakland offense wasted little time in attacking the New York defense. Rich Gannon needed just three plays to find Jerry Rice for a 44 yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game to put the Raiders ahead. Oakland's defense looked to have the Jets stopped on their first possession, but a running into the kicker penalty gave New York the ball back, and John Hall nailed a 43 yard field goal to put the Jets on the board. It wouldn't take long for the Raiders to respond, as their next drive also resulted in points. This time, Gannon used a mix of passes, as well as runs by Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley to move downfield. The ten play, 70 yard drive ended with a 27 yard touchdown pass from Gannon to tight end Roland Williams, and Oakland had a 14-3 lead. The Raiders would find the end zone on their next drive as well, as Gannon hit Charlie Garner on the first play of the drive for a 55 yard touchdown. The Jets would answer back, as Curtis Martin broke free for a 20 yard run on New York's next possession, which set up John Hall's second field goal of the game. From there, the Raiders would finally stall on offense, as Sebastian Janikowski missed a 46 yard field goal on their next possession, and the Jets would force a punt on the final Oakland possession of the first half. However, New York couldn't score again for the rest of the first half, either. John Hall's 49 yard field goal try sailed to the left as time expired in the first half, leaving the Raiders up 21-6 at the break. The Jets knew that they needed to score quickly in the second half, but their offense was still having trouble getting started as the third quarter began. The Raiders defense forced a quick three and out, then had their offense move down the field once again. Charlie Garner put Oakland in field goal range with a 31 yard run, only for Sebastian Janikowski to miss a 41 yard kick, ending the drive. This time, the Jets were able to move into Oakland territory. Two big passes from Vinnie Testaverde to Laveranues Coles and Anthony Becht put New York at the Oakland nine yard line, but Charles Woodson intercepted Testaverde on the next play, killing the drive off right before the Jets could find the end zone. Rather than run the ball, the Raiders elected to move downfield on the arm of Rich Gannon, and he was happy to oblige. Passes to Tim Brown, Jerry Rice and Jon Ritchie moved Oakland into New York territory and this time, Janikowski was able to finish the 12 play, 79 yard drive with a field goal to put Oakland up 24-6. A quck three and out by the Jets on their next drive turned out to be their undoing, as the Raiders would take five minutes off the clock and move just 31 yards in eight plays, but it was close enough for another Janikowski field goal midway through the fourth quarter. New York would not threaten again, and the Raiders were headed to the second round of the AFC Playoffs with a win over their old rivals. Final Score: Oakland-27 New York-6 Real Life Score: Oakland-38 New York-24 Miami Dolphins (11-5) vs. Balimore Ravens (10-6) Pro Player Stadium, Miami, FL The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens had gone through some dramatic changes during the offseason. Trent Dilfer had been let go, and was replaced by Elvis Grbac, who had made the Pro Bowl the year before with the Chiefs. Grbac couldn't find the same success he had in Kansas City, finishing the year with only 15 touchdowns compared to 18 interceptions. Terry Allen and Jason Brookins shared the running back duties, thanks to an injury to Jamal Lewis. Qadry Ismail and Shannon Sharpe provided Grbac with weapons to throw to, but the main strength was still the Baltimore defense. While the Ravens did allow more points in 2001, the defense still ranked at the top of the NFL in yards and points allowed, and Ray Lewis had firmly established himself as one of the top defensive players in the league. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins had managed to get back into the playoffs as well, and this time, they were looking for a win. Jay Fiedler had guided Miami to an 11-5 record, and while his 20 touchdowns and 19 interceptions weren't going to make people forget Dan Marino, he was at least filling Marino's shoes. Lamar Smith rushed for almost 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns, while rookie Chris Chambers had become Fiedler's favorite target, brining in 48 catches for 883 yards. The Miami defense was also solid, as Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor and Patrick Surtain helped guide the Dolphins into the top third of defenses in the NFL. Defense was the name of the game throughout the first half of play. Neither offense could get much going, as both Elvis Grbac and Jay Fiedler faced tremendous pressure from the opposing defense. The Ravens got their offense going first, thanks to Shannon Sharpe bringing in two passes for 31 yards, but Matt Stover missed a 47 yard field goal to keep Baltimore off the board. The Dolphins attempted to answer with a drive of their own, but the Ravens not only stopped Miami, they took the ball back from them on a failed fourth down conversion. This time, Grbac found Travis Taylor for 30 yards, and Stover wouldn't miss, nailing a 37 yard field goal for the first points of the game. Olindo Mare would miss a 40 yard field goal attempt on the next Miami drive, but a Terry Allen fumble on the second play on the next Baltimore drive gave the Dolphins new life. Even though Miami didn't gain a single yard, the Dolphins were in field goal range, and Mare nailed a 37 yard kick to tie the score. From there, neither team could get close to scoring again, with the only threat ending on a Brock Marion interception of Grbac and midfield. As the game went to the half, it had lived up to its hype as a defensive struggle, as it was a 3-3 tie. The defensive theme picked up in the second half right where it had left off in the first half. On the first play of the third quarter, Elvis Grbac was intercepted by Zach Thomas, giving the Dolphins the ball inside Baltimore territory. Despite only picking up four yards in three plays, Olindo Mare was able to kick a 50 yard field goal that gave Miami their first lead of the game. The Miami defense would come through again on the next Baltimore drive, blocking Kyle Richardson's punt at the Baltimore 27 yard line. Once again, the Dolphins could only gain four yards in three plays, and once again, Olindo Mare came out and kicked a field goal, putting the Dolphins up 9-3 despite Miami only gaining eight yards on their three scoring drives. Miami looked to be driving again on their next possession, but Travis Minor fumbled the ball away at the Baltimore 20 yard line, and the Ravens took advantage. Elvis Grbac was finally able to find open receivers for the first time all day, and a 43 yard pass from Grbac to Shannon Sharpe put the Ravens at the Miami 12 yard line early in the fourth quarter. However, the Dolphins held tough on defense, and Baltimore had to settle for a Matt Stover field goal that cut the Miami lead to just three points. The Ravens would get just one last possession, and after moving into Miami territory with just over two minutes to play, Baltimore elected to punt on a fourth down and 11. The Dolphins would hold onto the ball for the rest of the game, running out the clock and knocking out the defending Super Bowl champions. Final Score: Miami-9 Baltimore-6 Real Life Score: Baltimore-20 Miami-3 AFC Divisional Playoffs New England Patriots (11-5) vs. Oakland Raiders (10-6) Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA The New England Patriots were one of the most interesting stories of the 2001 NFL season. In the middle of a Week 2 loss to the New York Jets, quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured, and second year quarterback Tom Brady, a sixth round pick, was forced to come in and play. After guiding the Patriots to what seemed to be a respectable 5-5 start to the season, Brady and the Patriots would go on a six game winning streak that resulted in an AFC East title and a first round bye in the playoffs. Brady finished the season passing for 2,843 yards and 18 touchdowns. He did have help, thanks to running back Antowain Smith, who picked up 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns, as well as a bend, but don't break defense that finished in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed, but sixth in points allowed. A heavy blizzard was on tap for the game against the Oakland Raiders, potentially negating the powerful passing attack of Oakland and giving the advantage to the Patriots. Sure enough, it was the Patriots that came out in the snow and marched downfield on their first drive. Antowain Smith and Marc Edwards moved the ball toward midfield before Tom Brady hit Troy Brown on a screen pass that turned into a 25 yard gain. Smith picked up 22 yards on his next two carries, and Kevin Faulk finished the drive with a six yard touchdown run that put New England ahead early. The weather proved to be a problem early for the Oakland offense, as Rich Gannon couldn't get into a groove against the New England defense in the snow. The first two Oakland drives ended in punts, and the Patriots moved downfield again following the second punt. Two quick passes from Brady to Troy Brown put New England inside Oakland territory, and runs by Smith, Faulk and David Patten put the Patriots at the one yard line. From there, the Oakland defense stepped up, as William Thomas intercepted Tom Brady in the end zone, cutting the drive off at the cusp of the goal line. Though the Raiders would not score on that possession, they would on their next one, following a fumble by David Patten. Rich Gannon found his footing in the snow and completed a short pass to Tim Brown that turned into a 41 yard gain. Three plays later, Gannon hit Jerry Rice for a 13 yard touchdown and the game was tied. Kevin Faulk returned the kickoff to the New England 40 yard line, and from there the Patriots moved 40 yards in seven plays. Adam Vinatieri's 40 yard field goal closed out the scoring for the first half, and put New England back up going into the locker rooms. Though the Raiders had been stopped cold by the New England defense in the first half, Rich Gannon knew it was just a matter of time before he got warmed up. The first drive of the second half just so happened to be when Gannon began to warm up. The Oakland quarterback started the drive with a 16 yard pass to Jerry Rice, then, after runs by Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley, he hit Garner for a ten yard gain to the New England 37 yard line. From there, the running game of Wheatley and Garner would do the rest, putting the Raiders in field goal range for Sebastian Janikowski. His 36 yard field goal tied the score midway through the third quarter. The Patriots looked as if they would answer on their next drive, but Tom Brady made his second mistake of the game and was intercepted by Eric Allen inside Oakland territory, ending the drive. The Raiders would take advantage of the mistake, running the ball seven straight times on the seven play drive. With the New England defense back on their heels, Charlie Garner burst into the end zone from nine yards out early in the fourth quarter, and the Raiders had their first lead. Oakland would add to their lead midway through the quarter, thanks to a poor New England punt. Rich Gannon would need only two plays to find Jerry Rice for a 19 yard touchdown, and the game was, for all intensive purposes, over. The Patriots would not threaten on their next two possessions, and the story of Tom Brady came to a close, at least for 2001. Final Score: Oakland-24 New England-10 Real Life Score: New England-16 Oakland-13/OT (The Tuck Rule Game) Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-5) Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA It had been four seasons since the Pittsburgh Steelers had made it to the NFL postseason, and now they were back with a new stadium, but the same style of play. Three Rivers Stadium had been replaced by Heinz field, but many of the players were still the same. Kordell Stewart remained at quarterback, and had passed for 3,109 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for over 500 yards and five touchdowns. Jerome Bettis finished with over 1,000 yards, but an injury would keep him out of the game. Instead, the running back duties would fall to Amos Zereoue and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala. The Steelers also had a pair of 1,000 yard receivers in Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress, and their defense was again at the top of the NFL. Pittsburgh allowed just 212 points on the season, and finished first in the league in yards allowed. Defensive Rookie of the Year Kendrell Bell, as well as Joey Porter, Jason Gildon and Chad Scott looked like they would be the second coming of the Steel Curtain defense from the 1970s, and provided Jay Fiedler and the Miami Dolphins with a very tough challenge coming into their playoff matchup. Just as it had been the week before against the Ravens, defense was the name of the game early for both the Steelers and Dolphins. Without Jerome Bettis, the Pittsburgh offense couldn't really get started, while the Miami offense was just struggling against the powerful Steeler defense. The Dolphins caught a break late in the first quarter when Kordell Stewart was intercepted by Scott Gaylon inside Pittsburgh territory. Miami drove 20 yards in six plays, which was more than enough for Olindo Mare to kick a 31 yard field goal for the first points of the game. The Steelers would answer in their typical fashion: with a long, punishing scoring drive. The 15 play, 71 yard drive lasted over nine minutes and featured just five passing plays, including Kordell Stewart's nine yard touchdown pass to Troy Edwards that put the Steelers ahead. Pittsburgh would use the passing game more on their next drive as Stewart ran the two minute offense to perfection in setting up a 41 yard field goal by Kris Brown as time expired in the first half. Yet again, the defenses of both teams reigned supreme in the third quarter. The Dolphins had an early chance to move closer, thanks to a 22 yard run by Lamar Smith, but Olindo Mare missed a 49 yard field goal. Pittsburgh would get the next chance, moving into field goal range early in the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins were ready and blocked Kris Brown's field goal attempt to keep the score 10-3. The only problem was that the Miami offense was unable to pick up a single first down for most of the fourth quarter. The blocked field goal resulted in a three and out, which was followed by another three and out, and then two failed fourth down conversions by the Dolphins. While Pittsburgh was also unable to move the ball, they had the lead, and the clock was winding down. With just under two minutes to play, the Steelers punted the ball back to Miami, downing it at the Miami five yard line. Staring at a hostile defense with 95 yards needed to tie the game, Jay Fiedler reached down and pulled out a legendary drive. A 15 yard face mask penalty on the Steelers moved the Dolphins away from their own end zone, and a 14 yard pass from Fiedler to James McKnight put the ball at the 36 yard line. Two plays later, Fielder hit Oronde Gadsden for 44 yards, moving the Dolphins to the Pittsburgh 20 yard line. Three plays later, there was one second on the clock and the Dolphins were staring at a fourth down from the Pittsburgh 19 yard line. Fiedler dropped back to pass and hit Chris Chambers in the end zone for the touchdown. Olindo Mare's extra point was good, and a stunned Heinz Field crowd watched at both teams got ready for overtime. After stunning the Steelers on their last drive, the Dolphins would make sure Pittsburgh wouldn't even touch the ball again on offense. Miami won the coin toss, and needed just two plays to deliver a back breaking blow. A 72 yard pass from Jay Fiedler to Lamar Smith easily put the Dolphins in field goal range, and three plays later, Olindo Mare put the finishing touches on one of the most exciting stretches of play in NFL history with his 22 yard field goal. Miami was headed to the AFC Championship, while the Steelers were left to wonder what had gone wrong with just two minutes to play. Final Score: Miami-13 Pittsburgh-10/OT Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-27 Baltimore-10 AFC Championship Game Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA Oakland Raiders (10-6) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-5) An old school 1970s matchup was on tap for the 2001 AFC Championship. The Miami Dolphins had made it to the doorstep of the Super Bowl by the skin of their teeth, winning two defensive struggles by three points, including a game against the Steelers that they tied on the final play of regulation. Jay Fiedler had continued his solid play in the postseason, while the Miami defense had pushed their game to another level. They would need to push even harder against the potent Oakland offense, which had taken out two AFC East opponents already on their way to their first AFC Championship since the 1993 season. At the start, it was the Oakland offense that had the advantage over the Miami defense. After forcing a quick Miami punt and returning the ball to the Miami 43 yard line, the Raiders needed just three plays to find the end zone. Rich Gannon hit fullback Jon Ritchie for a 15 yard touchdown that put Oakland up early. The Dolphins were able to answer with a ten play, 54 yard drive of their own. While they couldn't get into the end zone, they were able to move into field goal range for Olindo Mare, and his 32 yard field goal put Miami on the board. The Raiders would move into Miami territory again on their next drive, but Sebastian Janikowski missed a 44 yard field goal. The Dolphins looked to take advantage of the mistake by Oakland, but the offense could not get started, and Jay Fiedler was intercepted by Tory James, ending the drive. However, the Miami defense would stop the Oakland offense in their tracks and force a punt. This time, Fiedler used Lamar Smith to pound the Raider front seven and passed only when necessary. The 11 play, 74 yard drive took seven minutes off the clock and ended with Mare's second field goal of the first half. The Dolphins looked like they had all the momentum on their side when Jerry Porter fumbled the ball on the next Oakland possession, but Miami attempted a fourth down conversion at the Oakland 35 yard line and Travis Minor was stopped at the line, putting an end to the promising drive. With just over a minute left in the half, the Raiders would waste little time as Gannon found Charlie Garner and Tim Brown for big gains. Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 46 yard field goal with just three seconds to play in the first half, increasing Oakland's lead to 10-6 and giving them the momentum heading into the third quarter. The Oakland momentum spilled right over into their first drive of the second half. Two passes from Rich Gannon to Roland Williams put the Raiders in field goal range, and Sebastian Janikowski's 38 yard field goal increased their lead. Jay Fiedler was able to move the Dolphins into Oakland territory on Miami's next drive, but it stalled at the Oakland 35 yard line, and Dave Wannstedt elected to go for the fourth down conversion again. Once again, it failed, giving the Raiders excellent field position. Once again, the Raiders took advantage of the poor choices by the Dolphins, as Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley punished the tiring Miami defense. Janikowski's third field goal of the game put Oakland up 16-6 and had giving the Raiders even more momentum heading into the fourth quarter. The Dolphins looked like they were going to answer on their next drive, as Lamar Smith finally found running room and broke a 22 yard run to start things off. Facing a third and eight from the Oakland 26 yard line, Fiedler looked like he had found Chris Chambers for a touchdown, but a holding penalty took the points off the board. Miami would have to settle for another Olindo Mare field goal, rather than the touchdown. The Raiders would make the Dolphins pay for their penalty mistake, driving 61 yards in 11 plays while taking seven minutes off the clock. Rich Gannon threw just two passes, one to Jerry Rice, the other to Tim Brown, while Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley did most of the work. The drive ended with another Sebastian Janikowski field goal, but with only three minutes to play, Miami was in a very deep hole. The Dolphins would strike, as Fiedler hit Lamar Smith in the end zone for a ten yard touchdown pass, but with only three seconds to play, it was too little, too late. As the final three seconds clicked down, the Raiders were able to celebrate their first AFC title in 18 seasons, while the miracle run of the Dolphins had come up just short. Final Score: Oakland-19 Miami-16 Real Life Score: New England-24 Pittsburgh-17 (In Pittsburgh)

09-19-2009, 01:57 PM	#206 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	2001 NFC Playoffs: The Rams are back, and better than ever NFC Wild Card Playoffs Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA After last season's defeat at the hands of Tampa Bay, the Philadelphia Eagles had come back in 2001 as one of the best teams in the NFC. Donovan McNabb had emerged as a star player, throwing for 3,233 and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for 482 yards and two touchdowns. The Philadelphia running game wasn't the best, as Duce Staley led the team with just 604 yards and two touchdowns, but the defense was one of the best in the NFL. The Philadelphia defense allowed just 208 points on the season and finished in the top ten in the league in yards allowed. One team that always had a good defense was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they too boasted one of the best defenses in the NFL. Warren Sapp and Ronde Barber were eached named to the All Pro team, while Simeon Rice, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch all would have been solid picks as well. The Bucs finished in the top ten in both points and yards allowed and forced 39 turnovers for the season. Brad Johnson had been added at quarterback, but struggled through the year, throwing only 13 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions. The running attack had struggled as well, with Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn combining for just over 1,000 yards. The Eagles had beaten the Buccaneers just a week ago, and were ready to get some revenge for last season. With both teams boasting top ten defenses, it was no surprise that neither offense could get much going throughout the first half. The Eagles were the first team to cross midfield, thanks to Jeremiah Trotter's interception midway through the first quarter, but Tampa Bay forced a Philadelphia punt after the Eagles gained just a single yard. Philadelphia would get closer to scoring range on their next drive, but elected to attempt a fourth down conversion rather than a long David Akers field goal, and Donovan McNabb was sacked to end the the drive. The only good thing was that the Buccaneers were having even more trouble than the Eagles when it came to moving the football, and their special teams were struggling as well. After another three and out for Tampa Bay, Brian Mitchell returned Mark Royals' punt to midfield, and Philadelphia was able to take advantage. McNabb used his short passing game, as well as runs by Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter to move deep into Buccaneer territory. The nine play, 58 yard drive was finished off with a ten yard touchdown pass from McNabb to James Thrash, and the Eagles had the lead. The defenses would again take over from there, with neither team making much progress as the first half came to a close. The defensive theme that had been shown throughout the first half carried over into the second half. Philadelphia again made progress against Tampa Bay's defense, but the Buccaneers were able to clamp down when they needed to, forcing a punt on Philadelphia's first drive and stopping the Eagles on fourth down the next time they had the ball. The only problem was that the Tampa Bay offense was having little to no success against the Philadelphia defense. Brad Johnson had been under pressure all day, and Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn were being held in check by the Eagles. The Buccaneers finally made some progress on their last drive of the third quarter, as Alstott and Dunn found holes in the Philadelphia defense for the first time all day. With Brad Johnson just throwing one pass on the drive, the Buccaneers were able to get into field goal territory. However, Martin Gramatica missed a 49 yard attempt, and Tampa Bay was still not on the scoreboard. Derrick Brooks would give Tampa Bay another chance after intercepting Donovan McNabb on the next Philadelphia play, but the Eagles managed to keep the Buccaneers just out of field goal range and forced a punt. Tampa Bay wouldn't get the ball back until there were just four and a half minutes to play, and they started their drive at their own nine yard line. A defensive holding penalty on third down gave the Buccaneers life, and Brad Johnson began moving his team down the field. Passes to Dave Moore and Reidel Anthony put Tampa Bay at midfield, and then Johnson struck with a 51 yard catch and run into the end zone by Warrick Dunn that tied the game at seven. With just a minute and a half to play, Donovan McNabb got the ball back at his own 23 yard line and began guiding the Eagles into Tampa Bay territory one last time. An 11 yard pass to Todd Pinkston started the drive, and three plays later, McNabb found James Thrash for another 15 yards. A surprise run by Duce Staley and a 13 yard pass to Pinkston put the Eagles into field goal range, and as time expired, David Akers nailed a 37 yard field goal, giving Philadelphia a bit of revenge over Tampa Bay and moving the Eagles on to the second round of the playoffs. Final Score: Philadelphia-10 Tampa Bay-7 Real Life Score: Philadelphia-31 Tampa Bay-9 Green Bay Packers (12-4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI After missing the playoffs the last two seasons, Brett Favre had the Green Bay Packers back and ready to go in the NFC in 2001. Favre led the way for the resurgent Packers, passing for almost 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns. Ahman Green had come over the year before from Seattle and exploded onto the scene in 2001, rushing for 1,387 yards and nine touchdowns while Bill Schroeder and Antonio Freeman had emerged as Favre's new favorite targets. The Green Bay defense was also impressive, with second year player Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila leading the way with 13.5 sacks. The Packers would need that pressure if they wanted to take down the San Francisco 49ers, who were also back in the playoffs after two bad seasons. Former CFL star Jeff Garcia had filled the shoes of Steve Young and become a solid player for the 49ers, making the Pro Bowl for the second straight season and throwing for 3,538 yards and 32 touchdowns. Garrison Hearst had returned from missing each of the last two seasons and didn't miss a beat, rushing for 1,206 yards and four touchdowns. Wideout Terrell Owens had become everything the 49ers wanted him to be in the place of Jerry Rice, as he brought in 93 passes for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns. The San Francisco defense was also strong, finishing in the top half of the NFL in both yards and points allowed. The 49ers came out right away and showed why they had one of the best offenses in the NFL, driving down the field against the Packers on their first possession. Garrison Hearst led the way, and Jeff Garcia was right behind him, completing passes to J.J. Stokes and Terrell Owens to move San Francisco into field goal range. Once there, Jose Cortez missed a 39 yard attempt, cutting short a chance for the 49ers to score early. However, the Packers could get nothing going on offense against the San Francsico defense, as dropped passes and short runs had Green Bay stopped cold. After a short Packer punt, the 49ers would take over at their own 46 yard line, and this time, they wouldn't waste the chance. Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow attacked the Green Bay defense before Garcia's 16 yard pass to Tai Streets put the ball at the Green Bay one yard line. Hearst finished the drive with the one yard touchdown, and the 49ers had the lead. The Packers still could get nothing going on offense, while the 49ers soon found themselves in the game situation. Both defenses kept the opposing offense from moving the ball for much of the second quarter, and the first half ended with San Francisco still nursing a 7-0 lead. The Packers wouldn't take long to get their offense moving in the third quarter. On their opening drive of the quarter, the Green Bay running game smashed into the San Francisco defense. Dorsey Levens, Ahman Green and even Rondell Mealey moved the Packers down field for the first time in the game. Brett Favre didn't throw a single pass on the eight play, 60 yard drive, and Ryan Longwell capped it with a 32 yard field goal that put Green Bay on the scoreboard. The 49ers looked as if they would answer right away, with Garrison Hearst again punishing the Packer defense, and Jeff Garcia hitting Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes to once again move into field goal range. This time, the Green Bay defense would come up with a huge stop, as Jose Cortez's 42 yard field goal try was blocked. However, the 49ers would not be denied on their next drive, as once again Hearst and Garcia moved San Francisco deep into Green Bay territory. Kevan Barlow finished the drive with an eight yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to put the 49ers up 14-3. The Packers would answer quickly, thanks to the arm of Brett Favre. Favre completed all four passes on the next Green Bay drive, before Dorsey Levens broke free for a 37 yard touchdown run. The Packers elected to go for a two point conversion, and William Henderson broke into the end zone, making the score 14-11. Green Bay would start with excellent field position on their next drive, but the San Francisco defense held strong and forced the Packers to punt with just under five minutes to play. From there, Jeff Garcia and Garrison Hearst began eating up the clock, moving the 49ers to midfield with just under two minutes to play. On third down and 11, Garcia called a pass that was then tipped and intercepted by Tyrone Williams at midfield. With just one timeout left, the Packers knew their chance was now, and they wasted little time in attacking the San Francisco defense. The 49ers were up to the task, however, and quickly forced a fourth down and nine at midfield. Brett Favre managed to find Bill Schroeder for 10 yards to convert the fourth down, then broke the hearts of 49er fans everywhere on the next play. Ahman Green took a draw and ran untouched for 40 yards to put the Packers ahead. San Francisco would get one last shot, but Garcia couldn't get anything going, and the Packers had stolen a victory away from the 49ers and advanced once again. Final Score: Green Bay-18 San Francisco-14 NFC Divisional Playoffs Chicago Bears (13-3) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) Soldier Field, Chicago, IL Six seasons had passed in between playoff berths for the Chicago Bears, but they looked as good as ever coming into the 2001 postseason. After four other quarterbacks had come and gone, Jim Miller had stepped into the void and seemed to at least be a solid man to have under center. Miller had taken advantage of his first starting chance, passing for 2,299 yards and 13 touchdowns in 13 starts. Marty Booker had quickly become his favorite target, catching 100 passes for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns. The Bears also had a great running game again, thanks to offensive Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas and his 1,183 yards and seven touchdowns. The Chicago defense had once again become one of the most feared in the NFL, with Brian Urlacher, Ted Washington, Mike Brown and Rosevelt Colvin leading the way. The Philadelphia Eagles had already taken care of one solid defense in Tampa Bay, but the Chicago Bears were another story all together. The Chicago defense lived up to its reputation on the first Philadelphia drive, stopping the Eagles on three plays before giving way to the Chicago offense. A 21 yard pass from Jim Miller to Dez White kept the drive alive, and a 27 yard run by Anthony Thomas moved the Bears into Philadelphia territory. A 30 yard field goal by Paul Edinger capped the drive and gave Chicago a 3-0 lead. The Eagles would answer back on their next drive, as Philadelphia used runs by Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter before Donovan McNabb hit Todd Pinkston and James Thrash to move the Eagles inside the Chicago five yard line. Staley finished the drive with a two yard touchdown run, and Philadelphia had the lead. From there, both defenses took over until late in the second quarter, when the Bears were able to move once again. Anthony Thomas broke a 40 yard run with just a minute to play, and that set up a nine yard touchdown pass from Miller to Marty Booker. Rather than just run out the clock, the Eagles decided to pass the ball three times. Three incompletions later, the Bears had the ball back, and Miller struck again, this time hitting Anthony Thomas for a 65 yard touchdown with just ten seconds to play in the half. The two touchdowns in under a minute stunned the Eagles and gave Chicago all the momentum heading into the second half. The Chicago defense continued their domination over the Philadelphia offense in the second half. The Eagles could manage just a David Akers field goal in the third quarter, which the Bears then countered with a Paul Edinger field goal of their own. The fourth quarter was more of the same, as every Philadelphia drive ended with a punt on turnover on downs, while all three Chicago drives ended with a field goal by Edinger. By the time the dust had settled, the Bears had held Donovan McNabb to just eight completions for 87 yards and just 15 rushing yards on five carries. Chicago allowed just 184 total yards on the day as they were headed to the NFC Championship for the first time in 15 seasons. Final Score: Chicago-29 Philadelphia-10 Real Life Score: Philadelphia-33 Chicago-19 St. Louis Rams (14-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (12-4) The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, MO One year after losing in Super Bowl XXXV, the St. Louis Rams were back and seemed to be better than ever. Kurt Warner was healthy once again, and his 4,830 yards and 36 touchdowns won him his second NFL MVP award. Marshall Faulk rushed for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also catching 83 passes for 765 yards and nine touchdowns. Issac Bruce and Torry Holt rounded out the highest scoring offense in the NFL, with each receiver going over 1,100 yards and combining for 13 touchdowns. The Rams had also madeover their defense, and the results were immediate. Safety Aeneas Williams had come over from Arizona and paid dividends right away, becoming a leader on defense and intercepting four passes. Leonard Little and Grant Wistrom had solid seasons on the defensive line, while Dre Bly and first round pick Adam Archuleta helped round out a defense that finished the year ranked in the top ten in both points and yards allowed. St. Louis had finished the regular season on a six game winning streak, and while the Packers would good, most people had their money on the Rams. The Rams quickly showed why they were considered the best team in the NFL in 2001. Their opening drive lasted for almost seven minutes and went 76 yards in 13 plays. Marshall Faulk started the drive with his running ability, and Kurt Warner finished it off with his passing. A 24 yard strike from Warner to Ricky Proehl gave St. Louis a 7-0 lead. The Packers could get nothing going on their first drive, but a good punt, coupled with a holding penalty on the Rams pushed the ball back to the St. Louis five yard line. Jim Flanigan brought Warner down in the end zone for a safety, and Green Bay took advantage of the safety kick, as Ryan Longwell added a 45 yard field goal to cut the St. Louis lead down to just two points. The Rams would answer on their first drive of the second quarter, as the St. Louis running game broke down the Green Bay defense. Trung Canidate scored on a 16 yard run to cap the five play, 60 yard drive. The Packers then responded with a scoring drive of their own. A 40 yard run by Rondell Mealey set up Brett Favre's 23 yard touchdown pass to Bill Schroeder. St. Louis would then counter with a 12 play, 74 yard drive that ate up most of the remaining time in the second quarter. Jeff Wilkins ended the drive with a 23 yard field goal, but the Packers weren't done yet either. Brett Favre picked apart the St. Louis defense before Ryan Longwell kicked a 29 yard field goal as a very exciting first half of football ended. Down just two points at the half, the Packers knew they had a chance to pull off the upset, but Brett Favre didn't do them any favors to start the second half. His first pass of the third quarter was intercepted by London Fletcher, and the Rams used the turnover to move downfield again. The six play, 32 yard drive ended with Jeff Wilkins' second field goal of the game, and extended the St. Louis lead to five points. Favre would bounce back by leading another Green Bay scoring drive that would end with another field goal by Ryan Longwell, this one from 45 yards out. Once again, the Rams would answer back, thanks to Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner. Faulk started the drive with a five yard run and a 12 yard catch before Warner hit Issac Bruce for 11 yards and Torry Holt for 24 more. A six yard run by Faulk then set up Wilkins for his third field goal of the game. His 31 yard kick ended the nine play, 56 yard drive and started the fourth quarter. The Packers would again move down the field against the St. Louis defense on their next drive, but this time, Longwell would push a 50 yard field goal try to the right, and the Rams would utilize the miss. Marshall Faulk and Trung Canidate pounded the Green Bay defense, and Faulk finished the eight play, 60 yard drive with a three yard touchdown run to put the Rams up 30-18. Brett Favre was again able to move the Packers downfield on their next possession, completing four of four passes on the drive, including a 17 yard touchdown pass to Corey Bradford. St. Louis would counter with another scoring drive of their own. The five play, 51 yard drive took almost four minutes off the fourth quarter clock and ended with yet another Jeff Wilkins field goal. Favre and the Packers would get one last shot, but this time, the Rams were ready on defense. Green Bay couldn't get past midfield, and the Rams were headed to their third straight NFC Championship. Final Score: St. Louis-33 Green Bay-25 Real Life Score: St. Louis-45 Green Bay-17 NFC Championship Game The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, MO St. Louis Rams (14-2) vs. Chicago Bears (13-3) Seeing the St. Louis Rams in the NFC Championship was starting to become common once again. For the third straight season, the Rams had made it to the NFC Championship, and they were once again going against an NFC Central opponent. Kurt Warner's second NFL MVP award looked nice, as did his 36 touchdowns, but the Chicago Bears were not impressed. Chicago's defense was one of the best in the NFL, and while their offense couldn't stand up to that of the Rams, there were few teams in the NFL that could. Brian Urlacher and the Bears were ready to see if they could lead Chicago to their second Super Bowl, while Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner and the rest of the St. Louis offense were hopeful that this would not be a repeat of Super Bowl XXXV, where a great defense stopped a great offense. The Bears did not get off to a great start, as a holding penalty on the opening kickoff pushed Chicago back to their own three yard line. From there though, the Bears were very impressive. Anthony Thomas and James Allen punished the St. Louis defense on the ground, while Jim Miller was able to find receivers Dez White and Marty Booker for chunks of yards. The Rams finally stopped the Bears inside the St. Louis ten yard line, and caught a break when Paul Edinger missed a 26 yard field goal attempt that put an end to an almost ten minute long drive. However, the Rams could do very little on offense, as Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk were kept under control by the Chicago defense. St. Louis' vaunted offensive attack wouldn't cross midfield for the entire first half. Meanwhile, the Chicago offense couldn't find the magic they had on their opening drive, and struggled against the St. Louis defense. Much like the Rams, the Bears just couldn't find anywhere to go on offense, and would only cross midfield one more time in the first half. The defensive struggle left many Rams fans worried as the NFC Championship went to the half with no scoring from either team. With defense being the name of the game in the first half, it seemed like it would be up to the defense to score the first points of the game, and that's exactly what happened. Mike Brown intercepted Kurt Warner's second pass of the third quarter and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown and the first points of the game. The Chicago offense was still struggling, but their defense had giving the Bears a lead, and that defense was putting a stop to the "Greatest Show on Turf." Late in the third quarter, the Bears once again found their way on offense. Pinned back at their own 13 yard line, Jim Miller and Anthony Thomas began moving Chicago down the field once again. Thomas broke off runs of 18 and 32 yards on back to back plays, and a ten yard run by James Allen was helped out by a five yard facemask penalty, putting the Bears inside the St. Louis ten yard line. This time, they would end the drive with points, as Thomas pounded his way in from six yards out. Chicago now had a 14-0 lead, but the Rams were able to answer back. For the first time in the game, St. Louis managed a sustained drive. A 32 yard pass to Torry Holt on third down put the Rams in Chicago territory, and two more passes from Kurt Warner to Holt moved St. Louis down to the Chicago 15 yard line, where Marshall Faulk finally found some running room and broke free for a touchdown. Unfortunately for the Rams, the Bears wasted little time killing any momentum they may have just gotten. A 32 yard pass from Jim Miller to Dez White moved Chicago into St. Louis territory again, and two plays later, Anthony Thomas broke free for a 29 yard touchdown run. The Rams would have the ball just one more time and would turn it over on downs. Chicago's last drive took up the rest of the game and ended with a Paul Edinger field goal. The impressive St. Louis offense had been held to just 202 yards on the day as the Chicago Bears had proven the value of a great defense once again on their way to their second ever Super Bowl. Final Score: Chicago-24 St. Louis-7 Real Life Score: St. Louis-29 Philadelphia-24

09-21-2009, 06:02 PM	#207 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	Super Bowl XXXVI Super Bowl XXXVI The Superdome, New Orleans, LA Oakland Raiders (10-6) Head Coach: Jon Gruden 399 Points Scored 327 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback: Rich Gannon Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated New York, 27-6: AFC Wild Card Playoffs Defeated New England, 24-10: AFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated Miami, 19-16: AFC Championship Chicago Bears (13-3) Head Coach: Dick Jauron 338 Points Scored 203 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback: Jim Miller Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated Philadelphia, 29-10: NFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated St. Louis, 24-7: NFC Championship The Game It had been 18 years since the Oakland Raiders had made it to the Super Bowl. In that time, the Raiders had moved back to Oakland from Los Angeles, and had struggled more than they succeeded. However, with Rich Gannon, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice leading one of the best offenses in football, the Raiders were back with a vengeance. At age 36, Gannon had found the fountain of youth, throwing for 27 touchdowns against just nine interceptions on the season. Brown and Rice each had over 1,100 yards receiving, and Charlie Garner provided a solid running game. The Oakland defense was a bit weaker than the offense, but most of the time, the offense did enough. The Chicago Bears had waited 16 years between Super Bowl trips, and their team was almost the mirror image of the Raiders. The Bears only allowed 203 points on the season, and second year linebacker Brian Urlacher had Chicago fans thinking about the next coming of Mike Singletary. The Chicago offense made very few teams afraid, but with offensive Rookie of the Year Anthony Thomas providing a solid running option, the Bears were content to score 13 points and then let their defense take over. Both teams had gone almost two decades without a championship, and for one of them, the drought was about to end. While the Chicago defense was one of the best in the league, they still needed their offense to play mistake free football. On their first possession of the game, the Chicago offense had trouble doing that. Jim Miller completed a nine yard pass to Marty Booker, only for him to fumble the ball over to the Raiders at the Chicago 37 yard line. Working with a short field, Rich Gannon went straight into the heart of the Chicago defense, and finished Oakland's first drive with a 25 yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown. The Oakland defense was also doing it's part, as they contained Anthony Thomas and pressured Jim Miller before he was comfortable in the pocket. However, once the Raiders had to work with a longer field of play on offense, the Bears were able to stop Gannon and his receiving duo of Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Chicago was finally able to move on offense midway through the second quarter, as their dormant running game snapped back to life. Anthony Thomas and James Allen were able to find holes in the Oakland defense, and that opened up the passing game for Miller. The Bears made it to the Raiders' two yard line, but Oakland's defense stepped up again, and Chicago was forced to end the 15 play, 62 yard drive with a Paul Edinger field goal. Neither team would threaten again for the rest of the half, and the Raiders took their 7-3 into the locker room. The Raiders had played well against the Chicago defense in the first half, but it didn't take long for the Bears to force a mistake in the second half. On the fifth play of Oakland's first drive of the quarter, Tyrone Wheatley was stripped by Brian Urlacher. The Bears recovered at midfield, giving their offense a chance to take advantage of the turnover. Once again, Anthony Thomas was able to attack the Oakland defense and break through for large chunks of yardage. With the running game moving the Bears into Oakland territory, Jim Miller ran a perfect play action fake and found David Terrell wide open for a 21 yard touchdown pass to put Chicago on top for the first time. When a penalty on the Raiders pinned them back at their own five yard line on the kickoff, it looked like the Bears had all the momentum on their side. Rather than sit back and attempt a punt, Jon Gruden called aggressive plays in the shadow of his own goalposts. Rich Gannon threw five straight passes to open the Oakland drive, completing four of them. With room to work, Charlie Garner then began to pick through the tough Chicago defense before breaking free for a 24 yard run. Oakland continued to pound the Bears on offense, using Garner, Tyrone Wheatley and even Jon Ritchie to tire out Chicago. The 95 yard drive took 17 plays and lasted for almost ten minutes in the third and fourth quarters. By the time Jerry Rice came down with a three yard pass in the end zone, all the momentum that the Bears had gathered had switched sides over to the Raiders. Chicago would attempt to answer as they moved into field goal range quickly, but Oakland broke through on the field goal attempt and blocked Paul Edinger's kick. Sebastian Janikowski would keep Chicago alive, as he missed a 40 yard field goal on Oakland's next possession, but the Bears could only make it to midfield before turning the ball over on a failed fourth down attempt. The Raiders would control the ball for two and a half out of the last three minutes of the game and closed out the scoring with a 34 yard field goal by Janikowski. The Bears couldn't move the ball on their last drive, and the Raiders were able to celebrate their first Super Bowl title in Oakland. Final Score: Oakland-17 Chicago-10 MVP: Rich Gannon-15/21, 179 yards, 2 TD

09-28-2009, 05:28 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)

08-31-2009, 10:35 AM	#201 (permalink)
Reader012 Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 48 Thanks: 72 Thanked 0x in 0 posts Infractions: 0/2 (198)	They should just bid everyone badbye.

09-30-2009, 12:51 AM	#210 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	Super Bowl XXXVII Super Bowl XXXVII Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA Cleveland Browns (9-7) Head Coach: Butch Davis 344 Points Scored 320 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback: Kelly Holcomb Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated Pittsburgh, 36-14: AFC Wild Card Playoffs Defeated Oakland, 27-20: AFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated New York, 27-10: AFC Championship Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) Head Coach: Jon Gruden 346 Points Scored 196 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback: Brad Johnson Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated New York, 15-0: NFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated Atlanta, 10-7: NFC Championship The Game Quite possibly the biggest mismatch in Super Bowl history was on top for Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had established themselves as one of the top teams in the NFL, the Cleveland Browns had managed just their first winning season since their rebirth in 1999. The Browns had switched quarterbacks late in the season, as Tim Couch suffered a broken leg and Kelly Holcomb was forced to come in and start for the former first overall pick. Cleveland's offense was average at best, but had come to life during the playoffs, while their defense had shut down the powerful Oakland offense in the divisional round. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, were well established in terms of defense, as they had held their two playoff opponents to just seven points, and had even shut down Michael Vick in the NFC Championship. The offense had struggled during the playoffs, but Brad Johnson, Mike Alstott and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were quite confident that they would not let the Cleveland Browns take the Super Bowl title in the greatest upset in NFL history. The Browns held their ground on defense on Tampa Bay's first possession, forcing the Buccaneers to go three and out. However, the Cleveland offense was less than effective against the Tampa Bay defense, and the Browns were forced to punt the ball right back to the Buccaneers. Karl Williams returned the punt to the Tampa Bay 45 yard line, and this time, the Buccaneers would not be denied. A 28 yard pass from Brad Johnson to Rickey Dudley was the big blow on the five play, 55 yard drive that ended with a nine yard touchdown run by Mike Alstott. Cleveland was able to get moving on offense on their next drive, but stalled outside of field goal range and had to punt once again. The ball was downed at the Tampa Bay 14 yard line, but the Buccaneers made quick work of the long field, as Aaron Stecker broke free on the next play for a Super Bowl record 86 yard touchdown run that put the Buccaneers up 14-0. The next Tampa Bay possession was less successful, as the Buccaneers had to punt. Dennis Northcutt returned the punt to the Tampa Bay 38 yard line, and the Browns needed to move just six yards in three plays for Phil Dawson to nail a 49 yard field goal that put Cleveland on the board. The Browns would strike again later in the second quarter, following a Keenan McCardell fumble. This time, Cleveland actually lost a yard on the possession, but Dawson was able to kick a 50 yard field goal to cut the Tampa Bay lead to 14-6. Neither team would score again in the first half, and the Buccaneers took a slim eight point lead with them into the locker rooms. The Buccaneers knew that they were letting the Browns stay in the game, and if they didn't move quickly, Cleveland could steal the Super Bowl away from them. After stopping the Browns on their first possession of the third quarter, Tampa Bay went to work. An 18 yard run by Michael Pittman started the Buccaneer drive, which ended with a 24 yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson to Keyshawn Johnson. A fumble by James Jackson on the next Cleveland drive set Tampa Bay up in prime scoring position, but Martin Gramatica missed a 50 yard field goal to end the drive. The Browns would threaten on their next drive, but Phil Dawson would counter Gramatica's 50 yard miss with one of his own, and Cleveland would not cross midfield for the rest of the game. Tampa Bay's defense held the Browns to 166 total yards on the day, and the Buccaneer offense would add insult to injury in the fourth quarter with two more touchdown drives. Brad Johnson would hit Mike Alstott for a three yard touchdown, and Michael Pittman would later score on a 12 yard touchdown run to finish up the scoring. For once, most people had gotten it right: this was one of the biggest mismatches in Super Bowl history. The Buccaneers were able to celebrate their second title in four years, while the Browns were left hoping that their future could be even better. Final Score: Tampa Bay-35 Cleveland-6 MVP: MVP: Brad Johnson: 16/23, 175 yards, 2 TD

01-17-2010, 01:55 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 06:19 PM.

01-18-2010, 05:48 PM	#212 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	2003 NFC Playoffs: Home field? We don't need no stinking home field! NFC Wild Card Playoffs Carolina Panthers (11-5) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-6) Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, NC Two years ago, the Carolina Panthers had finished the season 1-15. Now, the team was 11-5 and back in the playoffs for the first time since the 1996 season. Jake Delhomme had taken over for Rodney Peete in the season opener, and he never looked back, passing for over 3,300 yards and 19 touchdowns. Running back Stephen Davis, who was cast aside by the Washington Redskins, had once again become one of the top backs in the league, rushing for 1,444 yards and eight touchdowns. Steve Smith had become Delhomme's favorite target at wideout, while Mushin Muhammad rounded out a solid receiving tandem. The Carolina defense was also strong, ranked eighth in the league, with ends Mike Rucker and Julius Peppers creating a powerful pass rush. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys had also come out of years of mediocrity, only they had one of the most established coaches in NFL history on their side. In his first year with the Cowboys, Bill Parcells had turned the team back into one of the best in the NFC. While the offense, led by Quincy Carter, was weak, the defense was very strong. The Cowboys ranked first in the league in yards allowed, and second in points allowed on defense, giving them an edge heading into the playoffs. However, Dallas had also started the season 7-2, but a 3-4 finishing run had some people believing that this trip to the postseason would be a quick one for the Cowboys. As expected, defense was the name of the game in the first quarter. Neither team could generate much on offense, as each team struggled to find a rhythm. Late in the first quarter, Steve Smith returned a Dallas punt to midfield, giving the Panthers the first break of the game. As the second quarter began, John Kasay kicked a 44 yard field goal, putting Carolina on top with the first points of the game. Dallas was quick to respond, as Troy Hambrick broke a 42 yard run on the first play of the next Cowboy drive. Bill Cundiff kicked a 35 yard field goal four plays later, and the game was tied. Dallas' defense struck on the next Carolina possession, first forcing the Panthers to punt, and then blocking Todd Sauerbrun's kick, putting them at the Carolina 31 yard line. Quincy Carter hit Terry Glenn for 29 yards, but the Panthers stood tall on defense, and Cundiff was forced to kick a 25 yard field goal to put the Cowboys ahead. Dallas would strike one more time in the half on their next drive. First, Hambrick broke runs of 16 and 25 yards to put the Cowboys into Carolina territory. Then, Carter found Joey Galloway, who broke free from Ricky Manning Jr for a 26 yard touchdown with just 40 seconds remaining in the half. After keeping Dallas out of the end zone for almost 30 minutes, the Panthers now saw themselves down by ten points against the best defense in the NFL. Carolina's offense continued to struggle against the Dallas defense in the third quarter, as the Panthers couldn't even get a single first down on two drives. Meanwhile, the Cowboys' offense came together once again on their second drive of the quarter. Quincy Carter used a mix of runs and passes to slowly but surely move down the field against the Carolina defense. The 15 play drive took almost nine minutes off the clock and ended with a 30 yard field goal by Billy Cundiff to put Dallas up 16-3. The Cowboys were content to run out the clock and celebrate their victory, but the Panthers weren't quite done yet. Late in the fourth quarter, Jake Delhomme began to work the magic that had made him one of the biggest surprises of the 2003 season. On fourth and 17, Delhomme hit Steve Smith for a 19 yard gain, then found DeShaun Foster for a six yard touchdown with just 15 seconds to play. The Panthers needed to recover the onside kick, and John Kasay hit it perfectly. Rod Smart recovered for Carolina, who had 12 seconds to go 57 yards. Delhomme almost made it happen, finding Smith again for a 36 yard gain down to the Dallas 21 yard line. With just five seconds to play, Delhomme dropped back to pass, and fired the football...over the outstretched hands of Smith. Dallas had dodged a late bullet, and they had proven that their poor finish to the regular season was in the past. Final Score: Dallas-16 Carolina-10 Real Life Score: Carolina-29 Dallas-10 Green Bay Packers (10-6) vs. Seattle Seahawks (10-6) Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI A year after joining the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks were in the playoffs, with two of their key members returning to the place where their careers began. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck started in Green Bay as Brett Favre's backup. In 2003, he was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFC, passing for 26 touchdowns and 3,841 yards. Head coach Mike Holmgren was also back in Green Bay after leading the Packers to a Super Bowl in his final season with the Packers. Now, the head coach of the Seahawks was hoping that the high powered Seattle offense, led by Hasselbeck, running back Shaun Alexander and wideout Darrell Jackson could defeat his former team. As for the Green Bay Packers, after a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions put them at 6-6, the playoffs looked to be well out of reach. However, Brett Favre guided the Packers to four straight wins, including one over the Oakland Raiders just after his father had passed away. Favre finished the year by passing for 3,361 yards and 32 touchdowns, but he had help on the offensive side of the ball this year. Ahman Green had a career season, rushing for a franchise record 1,883 yards and 15 touchdowns to help balance out the second highest scoring team in the NFC. With two high powered offenses facing off, people were expecting a shootout. What they got instead was a defensive struggle. Neither team could move the ball on offense, with each team failing to cross midfield through the first quarter. The Packers were the first team to make an effort at scoring, but their drive came up empty when Ryan Longwell missed a 49 yard field goal attempt. The Seahawks took advantage, finally breaking through the Green Bay defense. A 13 yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Bobby Engram set up Josh Brown's 49 yard field goal that put Seattle on top. The Packers would get one last chance at scoring late in the first half, and this time, they wouldn't let it go to waste. Starting from his own nine yard line, Brett Favre moved Green Bay into Seattle territory, then finished the 11 play drive with a 39 yard touchdown strike to Donald Driver. With the late touchdown, Green Bay went into the half up by a 7-3 score. The Green Bay defense, which had played very well in the first half, stepped up to another level in the second half. On the first Seattle possession, the Packers stripped Heath Evans and recovered at the Seattle 18 yard line. The Seahawks kept Green Bay out of the end zone, but Ryan Longwell was able to kick a 29 yard field goal to increase the Packers' lead. Seattle would finally get moving again on offense late in the third quarter, as Matt Hasselbeck moved the Seahawks on a 13 play, 60 yard drive. However, the Packers held on defense, and Josh Brown was forced to kick a 25 yard field goal with just eight and a half minutes to play in the fourth quarter. A great kickoff return by Antonio Chatman put the Packers at midfield, and after runs by Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport moved Green Bay deep into Seattle territory, the Packers put the final nail in Seattle's coffin with a five yard touchdown run from Green. The Seahawks failed to convert on fourth down on their next drive, and the Packers had easily handled Seattle, keeping their magical late season run alive. Final Score: Green Bay-17 Seattle-6 Real Life Score: Green Bay-33 Seattle-27/OT (Best known for this). NFC Divisional Playoffs Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-6) Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA For the second straight season, the Philadelphia Eagles had captured home field advantage in the NFC Playoffs, and this time, they were hoping to use it. After losing in their first game of the playoffs last year to the Falcons, the Eagles were set to open up their new stadium's postseason career against the hated Dallas Cowboys. Donovan McNabb had a down year by his standards, but still passed for over 3,000 yards with 16 touchdowns. The Philadelphia running game was a three headed monster during the regular season, but team rushing leader Brian Westbrook was lost in the last game of the season against the Washington Redskins with a triceps injury, leaving Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter to pick up the slack. The Philadelphia defense seemed a step or two off from a year ago as well, utilizing more of a "bend, but don't break" mentality that allowed teams to drive downfield, but not score points. Both the Cowboys and the Eagles had won their home game against each other during the regular season, and both teams came into the game expecting to leave with a win. The Eagles got off to a nice start, as Todd Pinkston caught a 25 yard pass from Donovan McNabb on the third play of the game. However, when Pinkston was hit, he fumbled the football, and the Cowboys recovered at midfield. Using their running attack exclusively, the Cowboys moved 32 yards in seven plays, which was close enough for Billy Cundiff to kick a 36 yard field goal that put Dallas on top early. The Eagles would answer with a scoring drive of their own late in the first quarter, as David Akers kicked a 35 yard field goal to tie up the score. Dallas was quick to answer, as a 23 yard pass from Quincy Carter to Terry Glenn put the Cowboys inside Philadelphia territory. From there, Carter picked apart the Eagles' secondary before Aveion Cason scored on a nine yard draw play, giving Dallas a 10-3 lead. Philadelphia would manage another field goal late in the second quarter, but their next drive ended with a Dexter Coakley interception of McNabb, keeping the Cowboys ahead by a score of 10-6 at the half. The second half started out about the same way the first half did for the Eagles. Quincy Carter moved the Cowboys into field goal range again, and Billy Cundiff nailed a 46 yard field goal to increase the Dallas lead. Duce Staley answered with a 50 yard run on the first Philadelphia play of the third quarter, but the Eagles would only move the ball 14 more yards before having to settle for a David Akers field goal once again. The Cowboys would answer Philadelphia's scoring drive with one of their own, going 68 yards in nine plays before Cundiff kicked his third field goal of the game, pushing the Dallas lead back up to seven points early in the fourth quarter. From there, the Dallas defense shut down the Eagles on offense. Donovan McNabb was under constant pressure, and couldn't even get a single first down for the Eagles on their next two possessions. The Cowboys finished things off with an eight play, four minute scoring drive in the middle of the fourth quarter that ended with a nine yard touchdown pass from Carter to Terry Glenn. Under a shower of boos, the Eagles failed to convert on fourth down, and the Dallas Cowboys were headed to the NFC Championship, while the Eagles were left beaten at home for the second year in a row. Final Score: Dallas-23 Philadelphia-9 Real Life Score: Philadelphia-20 Green Bay-17/OT (Fourth and 26) St. Louis Rams (12-4) vs. Green Bay Packers (10-6) Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO Despite reaching the Super Bowl just three seasons ago, the St. Louis Rams had begun to show their age, but had enough in them for one final run. Marc Bulger had taken over for Kurt Warner, and though he had thrown 22 interceptions, he also threw 22 touchdowns and passed for 3,845 yards. Marshall Faulk was beginning to slow with age, but still rushed for 818 yards and ten touchdowns. Torry Holt had taken over as the number one receiver for the Rams, helping the highest scoring team in the NFC with 117 catches for 1,696 yards and 12 touchdowns. Isaac Bruce didn't have a bad season, either, bringing in 69 catches for 981 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, Leonard Little was a force on the defensive line, recording 12.5 sacks and helping stabilize what was an otherwise average St. Louis defense. The Rams and Packers had played each other during the regular season, with St. Louis coming out on top, but that was before Green Bay's defense had started to establish itself, and well before Brett Favre had started to turn the Packers' season around. Sure enough, that average St. Louis defense was exploited early by the Green Bay offense. Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport pounded the Rams on the ground on the first Packers' drive before Brett Favre hit Bubba Franks for a 20 yard pass that put the Packers at the St. Louis three yard line. On third down, Favre found Donald Driver for a two yard touchdown and the Packers had an early lead. The lead lasted for about 15 seconds. On the ensuing kickoff, Arlen Harris ran, untouched, for a 95 yard touchdown that tied the game and had the Packers back on their heels. However, the Packers were still able to drive right through the St. Louis defense, but this time, the Rams stopped them before they could find the end zone. Instead, Ryan Longwell hit a 40 yard field goal, putting the Packers back on top by a 10-7 score. Now, it was St. Louis' turn to answer. On their first offensive drive of the game, Marc Bulger moved the Rams 66 yards in ten plays. The drive was capped by a four yard touchdown pass from Bulger to Torry Holt, and the Rams had taken their first lead of the game. The Packers would respond with another scoring drive of their own, this one a mixture of run and pass. Ahman Green finished the drive with a 15 yard touchdown run, and the Packers had the lead again. From there, the scoring slowed down, as both defenses began to put pressure on the opposing quarterbacks. However, Brett Favre still had one last late drive in him. Two quick passes to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport put the Packers in field goal range, and Ryan Longwell nailed a 43 yard field goal as the first half came to an end, giving the Packers a 20-14 lead. Anyone expecting the same type of offensive fireworks from the first half was disappointed in the third quarter, as both defenses began to make plays. Marc Bulger was intercepted by Mike McKenzie on St. Louis' first drive of the third quarter, but Tony Fisher fumbled the ball right back to the Rams two plays later. Bulger got the Rams moving again late in the third quarter, but the Packers were able to hold strong, and St. Louis had to settle for a Jeff Wilkins field goal. The Rams needed a play on defense early in the fourth quarter, and they got it when Pisa Tinoisamoa picked off Brett Favre in Green Bay territory. Six plays later, the Rams tied the game on a 44 yard field goal by Wilkins, but there was still more than enough time for the Packers. Brett Favre used his arm to carve up the St. Louis pass defense, as the Packers picked up all but one yard on the 65 yard drive through the air. The final pass came on a 17 yard touchdown to Bubba Franks that once again gave Green Bay the lead. The Rams weren't finished yet, either. Marshall Faulk's running helped keep the Packers off balance on defense, and Marc Bulger was able to move St. Louis deep into Packers' territory with just two minutes to play. The Rams made it all the way down to the Green Bay 15 yard line, but two incomplete passes and a run for no gain turned a first and ten into a fourth and ten. Bulger was able to find Torry Holt, but only for a three yard gain before Al Harris took him down. Green Bay was able to run out the clock, and had earned the right to host the NFC Championship against the Dallas Cowboys. Final Score: Green Bay-27 St. Louis-20 Real Life Score: Carolina-29 St. Louis-23/2 OT NFC Championship Game Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI Green Bay Packers (10-6) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-6) For the second time in seven years, the Packers and Cowboys were facing off to determine who would represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXVIII. While the Packers boasted one of the best offenses in the NFL and a defense that had started to come on strong at the end of the season, the Cowboys had arguably the best defense in the NFL, and had already taken down two powerful offenses in Carolina and Philadelphia. Both teams had proven that they could win on the road in the playoffs, but when it came down to it, most people were taking Brett Favre over Quincy Carter at the quarterback position, and therefore, most people expected the Packers to head to their third Super Bowl. With their defense though, the Cowboys knew that they had a chance to win their third straight road playoff game and advance to their record tenth Super Bowl. This time around, defense was expected from both teams, and the Packers and Cowboys delivered without any problems. Through most of the first half, neither team could even get a first down, let alone cross midfield against the opposing defense. While Brett Favre had established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, he was having as much of a problem getting into a groove as young Quincy Carter was for the Cowboys. It seemed like the first team to make a mistake on offense would pay for it, and that's exactly what happened. Midway through the second quarter, Ahman Green was stripped by La'Roi Glover. The Cowboys recovered at the Green Bay 37 yard line, and it only took four plays for Dallas to take full advantage of the turnover. Quincy Carter hit Joey Galloway for a 16 yard touchdown for the first points of the game, and Dallas had the lead. For the rest of the half, neither team could move the ball on offense again, and the 7-0 Dallas lead carried over into the locker rooms. As the second half began, the Packers came out focused, and it showed on the field almost instantly. After finally getting to midfield on their first drive of the half, Antonio Chatman gave Green Bay great field position for the second drive. Brett Favre moved the Packers deep into Dallas territory, and William Henderson finished the drive with a two yard touchdown run that tied the score and finally gave the Packers fans something to cheer about. Their joy would not last long, though. On the next Dallas drive, Quincy Carter answered Brett Favre with several crisp passes of his own, including a 22 yard strike to Terry Glenn on third down and ten. Early in the fourth quarter, Carter hit Troy Hambrick with a seven yard touchdown pass, capping a ten play, 63 yard drive and putting the Cowboys back on top. With the pressure on, Brett Favre needed to make a big play, but there just weren't any around on this day. The Cowboys kept the pressure on Favre and Ahman Green for the rest of the game, and when Billy Cundiff kicked a 29 yard field goal with just 1:45 to play, the game was no longer in question. Favre moved the Packers down to the Dallas 13 yard line, but it was too little, too late. Just as they had twice before, the Dallas Cowboys had beaten the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field for the NFC Championship. Somehow, Bill Parcells had turned the Cowboys into winners in just one season, and with Quincy Carter at quarterback. Final Score: Dallas-17 Green Bay-7 Real Life Score: Carolina-14 Philadelphia-3

01-19-2010, 10:39 PM	#213 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	Super Bowl XXXVIII Super Bowl XXXVIII Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX Indianapolis Colts (12-4) Head Coach-Tony Dungy 447 Points Scored 336 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback-Peyton Manning Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated Denver, 27-19: AFC Wild Card Playoffs Defeated Kansas City, 23-10: AFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated New England, 19-14: AFC Championship Dallas Cowboys (10-6) Head Coach-Bill Parcells 289 Points Scored 260 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback-Quincy Carter Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated Carolina, 16-10: NFC Wild Card Playoffs Defeated Philadelphia, 23-9: NFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated Green Bay, 17-7: NFC Championship The Game On the field, the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys were mirror opposites of each other. While the Colts won their games with flash and offensive power, the Cowboys battered their opponents with a swarming defense that was at the top of the NFL. The Colts boasted one of the highest scoring offenses in the NFL, with co-MVP Peyton Manning leading the way, along with Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. In 19 games on their way to the Super Bowl, the Colts had been held below 17 points exactly one time, and that was back in the first week of the season against the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, the Cowboys had only allowed six teams in 19 games to score 20 or more points, and their defense had allowed the fewest yards in the NFL. Dexter Coakley, Greg Ellis, Roy Williams, La'Roi Glover and Terrence Newman formed the nucleus of a defense that had already shut down three of the most powerful offenses in the NFC in the playoffs. Now, with one win standing between the Cowboys and their record seventh Super Bowl title, all the defense had to do was stop Peyton Manning, and hope that Quincy Carter and the Dallas offense could do enough. It was the Dallas offense that surprisingly put the first points of Super Bowl XXXVIII on the board. After the Colts were forced to punt on their first drive, Zuriel Smith returned the punt to the Dallas 42 yard line. It took Quincy Carter two passes to put the Cowboys into field goal range, first hitting Terry Glenn for 16 yards, then finding Joey Galloway for another 13. Three plays later, Billy Cundiff kicked a 38 yard field goal, putting Dallas on top. The Colts wasted little time in coming up with an answer for Dallas' field goal with one of their own. A good kickoff return by Indianapolis put the ball at midfield, and Peyton Manning guided the Colts down into the red zone for the first time. Manning's pass to Reggie Wayne put the Colts at the thee yard line, but the Dallas defense held strong, and Mike Vanderjagt was forced to come in and kick a 22 yard field goal that tied the score. For most of the second quarter, neither team could do anything right on offense, with each team struggling to make any sort of headway against the opposing defense. Finally, the Cowboys caught a break, as Greg Ellis stripped Ricky Williams at midfield, giving the ball back to the Cowboys with just a minute to play in the half. Quincy Carter hit Dan Campbell for 25 yards on the first play of the drive, then Troy Hambrick broke a 17 yard run on a surprise draw on the very next play, moving the ball inside the Indianapolis ten yard line for the first time. With 25 seconds left in the half, Carter hit Terry Glenn for an eight yard touchdown, and Dallas took a now 10-3 lead with them to the break. The Cowboys started with the ball in the third quarter, but this time, the Indianapolis offense stepped up and made a play. Quincy Carter was intercepted by Nick Harper at the Dallas 35 yard line, giving the Colts great field position for their first drive of the second half. Once again, though, the Dallas defense locked down Peyton Manning and the Colts, not letting them gain a single yard. Tony Dungy decided to go for a fourth down conversion, and Dallas brought a blitz, forcing Manning to hurry his throw. The pass sailed over the head of Reggie Wayne, and the Colts had wasted a chance. Throughout the playoffs, the Cowboys had made a living out of breaking their opponent's backs with long scoring drives, and that's just what they did following the stop on fourth down. Troy Hambrick, Adrian Murrell and Aveion Cason pounded the Colts on the ground, while Quincy Carter passed whenever he had to, putting the Cowboys inside the Indianapolis ten yard line once again. This time, the Cowboys couldn't find the end zone, and Billy Cundiff had to kick a 24 yard field goal that increased Dallas' lead to 13-3. Despite only getting a field goal out of the drive, Dallas held the ball for almost seven and a half minutes, keeping the Indianapolis offense on the sideline, where they could do nothing but watch what was happening. When the Colts did get the ball back on offense, they wasted little time in attacking the Cowboys' defense. Edgerrin James broke off runs of 20 and ten yards, while Peyton Manning was finally able to find holes in the Dallas secondary. Just like their first scoring drive, the Colts were unable to get into the end zone. Instead, they had to settle for a second Mike Vanderjagt field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter. Rather than sit back and let the Colts back on the field on offense, the Dallas Cowboys went for the kill on their next drive. Quincy Carter completed three straight passes for 27 yards and rushed for another 11 yards before the trio of Dallas running backs took over. Troy Hambrick broke free for a 17 yard gain, then Aveion Cason carried the ball for seven yards before Adrian Murrell finished things off with a three yard touchdown run. With just under seven minutes to play, the Cowboys had a 20-6 lead, and they were well on their way to another Super Bowl title. Indianapolis failed to convert on fourth down on their next drive, and the Cowboys responded with a 68 yard drive that lasted three and a half minutes and ended with another Billy Cundiff field goal. The Colts didn't have enough time to attempt a comeback, and the Dallas defense made the last play of the game, intercepting Peyton Manning on a deep throw, finishing off one of the dominant team defensive performances in Super Bowl history. Final Score: Dallas-23 Indianapolis-6 MVP: Quincy Carter: 13/16, 158 yards, 1 TD, 3 carries, 35 yards

01-24-2010, 07:09 PM	#215 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 7,426 Thanks: 73 Thanked 130x in 113 posts	Wow, what a run from the Jets! __________________ The Greatest Prize in Sports The Greatest Prize in Sports: Almanac kenyan_cheena's NBA 2K11 Off Topic Dynasty

01-25-2010, 12:26 AM	#216 (permalink)
MorseMoose Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,803 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 161 Thanked 164x in 113 posts Infractions: 1/1 (1)	Can't wait for 2009!! __________________ [Referring to rich12545] Princess Leia: But, why must you confront him? Luke: Because, there is good in him. I've felt it. He won't turn me over to the Emperor. I can save him. I can turn him back to the good side. I have to try February: ≠

01-25-2010, 08:57 PM	#218 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	Super Bowl XXXIX Super Bowl XXXIX Alltell Stadium, Jacksonville, FL New York Jets (10-6) Head Coach-Herman Edwards 333 Points Scored 261 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback-Chad Pennington Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated San Diego, 17-8: AFC Wild Card Playoffs Defeated Pittsburgh, 27-6: AFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated Indianapolis, 40-16: AFC Championship Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) Head Coach-Andy Reid 386 Points Scored 260 Points Allowed Starting Quarterback-Donovan McNabb Road to the Super Bowl: Defeated Minnesota, 31-13: NFC Divisional Playoffs Defeated St. Louis, 20-7: NFC Championship The Game The New York Jets had surprised everyone by making it to their first Super Bowl, and waiting for them was by far the best team in the NFC. The Philadelphia Eagles had gotten past the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams without the help of Terrell Owens, and now, he was ready to play in the Super Bowl. Even without Owens, the Eagles had been able to take care of the Vikings and Rams, but no one was counting the Jets out at this point. With Chad Pennington at the helm and one of the best defenses in the NFL backing him up, the Jets had been able to take care of San Diego, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis on defense, while Pennington and Curtis Martin had done their job on offense. With just one game to play in the NFL season, anyone who thought that the Eagles were going to have an easy ride to a Super Bowl title were almost willing to eat their words as Super Bowl XXXIX got underway. With two of the best defenses in the NFL on display, the Jets and the Eagles both took their time getting started in Super Bowl XXXIX. Neither team could move the ball until the middle of the first quarter, when Philadelphia managed to strike against New York's defense. Brian Westbrook broke free for a 45 yard touchdown run that gave the Eagles an early lead and set the Jets back, as they had been one of the best running defenses in the NFL during the playoffs. On the ensuing New York drive, the Jets managed to drive down to the Philadelphia 26 yard line, but Doug Brien's field goal attempt sailed wide to the right, and the Eagles took over. Using a solid mix of run and pass, Philadelphia moved the ball well, but a holding penalty on David Barrett on Terrell Owens set the Eagles up at the one yard line. Three plays later, the Eagles capped their 18 play drive with a one yard touchdown pass to L.J. Smith that put them up by a 14-0 score. The Jets answered with an 11 play drive that went 74 yards and ended with a Curtis Martin six yard touchdown run. Philadelphia couldn't score on their next drive, and the Eagles took a 14-7 with them into the half. In the second half, the Eagles wasted little time in taking their offense to the Jets. A 19 yard completion from Donovan McNabb to Terrell Owens set up a 44 yard touchdown pass to Todd Pinkston, and after a New York punt, the Eagles took advantage. On the first play of the possession, McNabb found Owens for a 68 yard touchdown that almost put the game out of reach. Following a New York punt, the Eagles drove down the field once again on a 14 play, 76 yard drive. David Akers finished the drive with a 20 yard field goal, and the Eagles were in control of the Super Bowl. The Jets answered with a drive of their own, but Doug Brien could only kick a 45 yard field goal. Philadelphia answered with a nine play, 66 yard drive of their own that was finished by a Brian Westbrook one yard run. Following a New York drive that ended on a fourth down conversion, the Eagles ran out the clock, and Philadelphia had become champions for the second time. Final Score: Philadelphia-38 New York-10 MVP: Donovan McNabb: 16/19, 288 yards, 3 TDs Last edited by Hurkman; 01-26-2010 at 04:33 PM.

01-26-2010, 02:14 AM	#219 (permalink)
Jason Moyer Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 4,527 Thanks: 15 Thanked 72x in 55 posts	No final score? __________________ "I pretty much popped everything cold turkey. We were doing steroids they wouldn't give to horses." -- Tom House "In 1973, the year I first ran for Congress, the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce concluded a year-long investigation that found--and I quote--'drug use exists...in all sports and levels of competition...In some instances, the danger of improper drug use--primarily amphetamines and anabolic steroids--can only be described as alarming'" -- Henry Waxman

01-26-2010, 04:35 PM	#220 (permalink)
Hurkman All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 714 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7x in 7 posts	Yeah, I don't know how I forgot that last night, but it's there now. Thanks for pointing that out, I actually don't think I would have noticed it if you didn't.

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