Alternate NFL Playoff History

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl VI

Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, LA

Baltimore Colts (10-4)


Head Coach: Don McCafferty
313 Points Scored
140 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Earl Morrall


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Cleveland, 17-0-AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Kansas City, 17-6-AFC Championship



Dallas Cowboys (11-3)


Head Coach: Tom Landry
406 Points Scored
222 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Roger Staubach


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Minnesota, 3-0-NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Washington, 12-0-NFC Championship



The Game

Two of the best defenses in the NFL squared off in Super Bowl VI. The defending champion Dallas Cowboys were attempting to win their third Super Bowl in six years, something that would easily cement them as the best team of the Super Bowl era. The Baltimore Colts were a team that had been close to getting to the Super Bowl before, but had just never been able to break through. By the time this day was over, one of the teams was going to wish that they could try and play the game over again.

From the opening kickoff, it was clear that defense would make the difference in Super Bowl VI. Dallas' Doomsday Defense struck first, forcing a Norm Bulaich fumble on Baltimore's first drive. The fumble was returned to the Baltimore seven yard line, and kicker Mike Clark made an easy field goal, putting Dallas up 3-0. Baltimore's defense would strike back, intercepting a Roger Staubach pass intended for Bob Hayes. Ted Hendricks returned the turnover to the Dallas 28. However, the Colts would lose three yards on three plays, so kicker Jim O'Brien had to kick a 48 yard field goal that tied the game as the first quarter ended.

Neither offense could do much of anything until the end of the second quarter. Dallas had been pounding on Baltimore's defense all day long with rushes from Duane Thomas and Walt Garrison, and while neither was very successful for the day, they did force the Colts to put more men closer to the line of scrimmage. What this did was allow Roger Staubach to have clearer passing lanes, and he took advantage of them twice with under a minute to go in the first half.

First, Staubach found Gloster Richardson for a 23 yard gain down to the Baltimore 11 yard line. On the next play, Lance Alworth was open in the end zone and Staubach hit him for the first touchdown of the game. Dallas was up 10-3, and coach Landry decided that one touchdown wasn't good enough. He used all three of his timeouts on three straight Colt plays, and Dallas got the ball back on Baltimore's 48 yard line with enough time for one more play. What Staubach was able to do was launch a perfect pass downfield and find Bob Hayes, uncovered, along the side of the end zone. Hayes came down with the pass, Dallas took a two touchdown lead, and the game, for the most part, was over.

In the second half it was even more obvious who the better team was on this day. Dallas' defense pressured Morrall and stuffed the Colts' running attack for the entire half. Even an appearance by Johnny Unitas couldn't energize the Colts, as he went one for seven and was under constant attack while in the pocket. Dallas defenders brought down Baltimore's quarterbacks a total of seven times on the day, and without their passing game, the Colts were unable to move the ball the entire second half. Dallas added three field goals in the second half to put the finish on the scoring and complete the most dominant Super Bowl win of all time.

Final Score: Dallas-26 Baltimore-3

MVP: Bob Hayes: 3 catches, 52 yards, 1 TD

[kenyan_cheena]

If the Cowboys can be as successful in the 90s as they were in real life, they could end up with six or seven championships.

[darkhorse]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

If the Cowboys can be as successful in the 90s as they were in real life, they could end up with six or seven championships.

If they can make it to some of the Super Bowls they missed with Danny White at QB, the total could go even higher.

[Hurkman]

I'm not going to say anything about Dallas' future, considering I already know it, but I will say that the Lombardi Trophy would probably end up being called the Landry Trophy in this reality. I mean, four Super Bowls in the first six years it was around with three wins, and the Cowboys made the NFC/L Championship every year in that span! Even the Packers couldn't pull that off in the 1960s.

[Hurkman]

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) vs. Oakland Raiders (10-3-1)
Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

For the first time since 1947, the Pittsburgh Steelers made the NFL playoffs, although in 1972 they did it as a member of the AFC rather than the NFL as they were back in 1947. Their defense was one of the best in football, with Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Ham and L.C. Greenwood as anchors, while their young offense was headed by quarterback Terry Bradshaw and rookie running back Franco Harris. Oakland was still a perennial AFC powerhouse, with quarterback Daryle Lamonica and coach John Madden ensuring that any defense that tried to stand up to the Raiders was in trouble.

Pittsburgh's defense struck the first blow early, when Lamonica was intercepted by John Rowser on the first drive of the game. However, the Steelers could do nothing on offense, and had to punt the ball back to the Raiders. This time, Lamonica got Oakland down the field without any problems, and George Blanda kicked a 49 yard field goal to give the Raiders an early 3-0 lead. The lead would not last long, as Franco Harris turned the left corner for 57 yards on the first play of Pittsburgh's next drive. Two plays later, Bradshaw found Ron Shanklin for a nine yard touchdown pass that put the Steelers up.

The second quarter became a battle of wills, as both teams attempted to use their defense and running game to wear the other out. Oakland went with Marv Hubbard and Charlie Smith at running back, while Pittsburgh used Harris and John Fuqua. The lone points of the quarter came after Bradshaw found Harris with a pass out the backfield that resulted in a 57 yard gain that eventually turned into a Roy Gerela 26 yard field goal with 45 seconds left in the half.

Pittsburgh's defense would set the tone for the rest of the game early in the second half. Following another Roy Gerela field goal that made the score 13-3, Pittsburgh refused to let Oakland get any closer, stripping Cliff Branch on the next series and shutting down Daryle Lamonica with bull rushes and blitzes that left the Raiders' quarterback scrambling for his life. The Steelers got two more Gerela field goals in the fourth quarter, while Oakland either punted, failed to convert on fourth down, or had George Blanda miss a field goal on each of their fourth quarter possessions. When the Steelers ran out the clock at the end of the game, they were able to celebrate their first postseason win ever.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-19 Oakland-3

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-13 Oakland-7 (Immaculate Reception, anyone?)

Miami Dolphins (14-0) vs. Cleveland Browns (10-4)
The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

There were very few people who thought that the Cleveland Browns even stood a chance against the Miami Dolphins coming into their playoff matchup. After all, the Dolphins were the first NFL team to finish the regular season undefeated, and while they did have issues at quarterback, with both Earl Morrall and Bob Griese capable of starting, their offense was still the highest scoring in football. Meanwhile, aside from Leroy Kelly, Cleveland's offense was basically nonexistant, and quarterback Mike Phipps threw more interceptions than touchdowns for the season.

Right from the start, the Dolphins let the Browns know who the better team was. After stopping Cleveland on their opening drive, Miami came down the field, led by running backs Mercury Morris and Larry Csonka. Though the drive eventually stalled, Garo Yepremian was able to kick a field goal that put the Dolphins on top. On their next drive, they finished what they had started earlier, with Morrall finding Marlin Briscoe in the end zone for a 27 yard touchdown and a 10-0 Miami lead heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter just seemed to be a continuation of the first. After Vern Den Herder's second interception of the game, Miami used its running game to move down the field. Csonka and Morris both pounded Cleveland up front until Csonka rumbled ahead 15 yards for a touchdown that put Miami up 17-0. On the next Cleveland possession, Phipps would be intercepted again, this time by Dick Anderson, and Earl Morrall would use his arm to get Miami down the field. Howard Twilley caught a three yard touchdown pass with a little under two minutes to go to put a close to the scoring in the first half with the Dolphins ahead 24-0.

The second half featured far less offensive fireworks from Miami, as they used their running game heavily to just run out the clock. Csonka scored his second touchdown of the game on a six yard run midway through the third quarter to end the scoring for Miami. Cleveland's first good chance to score came in the fourth quarter and was ended when Phipps threw his fourth interception of the game, this one to Doug Swift in the end zone. After Miami punted, Leroy Kelly would score a 17 yard touchdown, but it was far too little, far too late. Miami ran out the clock, continued their perfect season, and advanced to the AFC Championship.

Final Score: Miami-31 Cleveland-7

Real Life Score: Miami-20 Cleveland-14

AFC Championship Game

Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (14-0)

If there was one team that was not afraid of the Miami Dolphins, it would have to have been the Pittsburgh Steelers. After all, the Steelers were a young team and had a defense that could punish Miami if given the chance. Plus, they were playing at home, where the Steelers had not lost all season. Many people thought that if the cards fell into place, Pittsburgh could upset the mighty Dolphins. What ended up happening was a dramatic fourth quarter that would shape the season for both teams, as each one had to reach down deep to find out what they were made of.

From the start, it became obvious that Miami would not have such an easy go at things this time around. On the opening drive of the game, the Dolphins made their way down the field, only to have Pittsburgh defense step up and Garo Yepremian missed a 37 yard field goal. Their next drive gave the Dolphins a little bit of an easier run at things, as Earl Morrall was able to lead them down the field with a little help from Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris. Csonka finished off the drive, knocking out the Steelers with a 24 yard touchdown gallop near the end of the first quarter that put the Dolphins on top 7-0.

The second quarter featured both defenses digging in and forcing the opposing offense to come up with a new game plan than what they entered the game with. Miami had another setback when Yepremian missed his second field goal attempt of the game which would have put the Dolphins up 10-0. Instead, they wasted their only scoring chance of the quarter. However, their defense was just as strong as Pittsburgh's, and they rattled young Terry Bradshaw to the point where he was looking to run out of the pocket as soon as he received the snap. Eventually, Bradshaw settled down and Franco Harris was able to break off a run or two before the Steelers had to settle for a Roy Gerela field goal with under a minute to play in the first half to cut the Miami lead to four points going into halftime.

In the third quarter, Miami came out running, using both Morris and Csonka to attempt to eat up the clock and tire out Pittsburgh's defense. The only problem was that Pittsburgh wasn't getting tired, and Miami was punting deeper and deeper in their territory on every possession. Finally, the Steelers were able to take advantage, and a second Gerela field goal cut the Dolphins' lead to 7-6. On the next Miami possession, Bob Griese's pass attempt was picked off by Henry Davis, giving the Steelers the ball back once again. Franco Harris broke off a 51 yard run on the very next play, setting up first and goal to go from Miami's one yard line. Bradshaw hit John McMakin with a one yard strike on the next play, giving Pittsburgh the lead with just two minutes to go in the third quarter. When Miami was forced to punt after just three plays on their next possession, it looked like everything was going the way of the Steelers.

However, as the fourth quarter started, it appeared as if Miami's seemingly useless plan of running the ball until Pittsburgh got tired began to work. Csonka, Morris and even Jim Kiick were able to run left and right on the Steelers in the fourth quarter, with both Csonka (127) and Morris (112) gaining over 100 yards in the game. Bob Griese found his stride as well, and on the first Dolphin drive of the fourth quarter, he found Marlin Briscoe in the end zone for a five yard touchdown. The extra point was good, and Miami led 14-13. With the pressure now on Terry Bradshaw and Pittsburgh's offense, the Steelers sputtered and died. Three times they had the ball with a chance to drive down the field in the fourth quarter, and three times they failed to even get a first down. Each time, the ball went back to Miami, and the Dolphins ran more and more time off the clock until there was no time left. Miami was one win away from a perfect season, while the Steelers were left to wait for next year.

Final Score: Miami-14 Pittsburgh-13

Real Life Score: Miami-21 Pittsburgh-17

[Hurkman]

NFC Divisional Playoffs

San Francisco 49ers (8-5-1) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

The two time defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys were forced to rely on the wild card spot to make the playoffs in 1972, meaning they had to go on the road for their Divisional Round matchup against the NFC West champion 49ers. San Francisco now had Steve Spurrier quarterbacking the offense, and with Gene Washington hauling in the majority of his passes, the 49ers had one of the best quarterback/receiver duos in football. Roger Staubach missed most of the season for the Cowboys, but Craig Morton filled in well, and with the dual running attack of Walt Garrison and Calvin Hill, Dallas would be a tough foe for any team.

It would be the Cowboy miscues in the first quarter that would set the tone for the rest of the game. On their first possession, Dallas marched all the way to San Francisco's eight yard line, before Morton was intercepted in the end zone by Frank Nunley. After the 49ers fumbled the ball, Dallas was at San Francisco's 20 yard line, but they could only gain two yards, and kicker Toni Fritsch missed a 35 yard field goal.

In the second quarter, the 49ers began to make Dallas pay for their early mistakes. Following another Fritsch missed field goal, Steve Spurrier led a charge into Dallas territory. Using running backs Vic Washington and Ken Willard, the 49ers first drew Dallas' secondary closer to the line, then Spurrier threw over top of them on play action passes. Eventually, Willard came down with a ten yard touchdown pass, and San Francisco had the lead. With just under two minutes to play in the half, Dallas finally got on the board. Both Walt Garrison and Calvin Hill began to soften up San Francisco's front seven, and Craig Morton began to find holes in their secondary. This time, Fritsch made a 33 yard field goal, and Dallas had cut the lead to 7-3. This should have ended the scoring in the first half, but a lapse in Dallas' defense allowed Spurrier to find Ted Kwalick open at the ten yard line on the last play of the half. Kwalick walked into the end zone, untouched, and the 49ers went up 14-3.

Dallas looked like they were going to be able to make a comeback very early in the third quarter. Spurrier's second pass attempt of the half was intercepted by Cornell Green, and Dallas had the ball inside San Francisco territory. Fritsch made his second field goal of the game, and the Cowboys were now only down by a score of 14-6. However, that would be as close as they would get on this day. On their next drive, Morton was brought down by Dave Wilcox in the end zone, giving two more points to the 49ers. In the fourth, Morton could not get the stagnant Dallas offense moving again. Fritsch missed his third field goal of the game, and when Walt Garrison fumbled at the Dallas 30, it marked the end of the road for the two time champions. San Francisco celebrated, while Dallas was left to pick up the pieces and try to make it back to the Super Bowl next season.

Final Score: San Francisco-16 Dallas-6

Real Life Score: Dallas-30 San Francisco-28


Washington Redskins (11-3) vs. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

The Green Bay Packers emerged as surprising winners of the NFC Central division in 1972, as head coach Dan Devine preached a strong defensive game, and rode the legs of running backs John Brockington and MacArthur Lane. Meanwhile, the Redskins used the triple threat of quarterback Billy Kilmer, NFL MVP Larry Brown and receiver Charley Taylor to abuse opposing defenses, while their defense gave up the third fewest points in the NFL.

In the opening quarter, it looked as if defense would in fact win the day. Neither team could get a sustained drive, as the Redskins used a five man offensive line to stop Brockington's powerful runs and force quarterback Scott Hunter to try and beat them with his arm. Of course, Washington also had to try and move the ball, and neither Larry Brown nor Billy Kilmer was able to do much of that early in the game.

The second quarter showed that at least one team had begun to figure out how to move the ball. Midway through the quarter, the Packers finally began gaining small stretches of yardage, as the Redskins moved back into a traditional four man defensive line. Brockington's running got the Packers into field goal range, and Chester Marcol hit from 40 yards away, giving Green Bay the first points of the game. With just 17 seconds remaining in the half, he would do it again, this time hitting a 48 yarder to put the Packers up 6-0 at the half. Washington's powerful offense had been stopped cold by the now ancient Ray Nitschke and the rest of the Packers' defense, but it would not stay that way.

The third quarter showed signs that Washington was ready to break through, though nothing came of it. The Redskins' opening drive of the half went deep into Green Bay territory, but Charley Taylor fumbled, and the Packers recovered. Neither team would score in the quarter, as Green Bay used Brockington and Lane to run the clock down and the Redskins' passing game slowed to a halt. It was clear that both teams needed a jolt, and it was just a matter of which one would get it first in the fourth quarter.

It turned out that Washington would. On Green Bay's first drive of the final quarter, Scott Hunter's pass was intercepted by Brig Owens, ending a Packer drive. With Billy Kilmer struggling and slightly injured, George Allen put Sonny Jurgensen into the game, and he responded by completing his first two pass attempts for 83 yards, including a 39 yard touchdown pass to Charlie Harraway that gave the Redskins the lead for the first time. On their next drive, with Kilmer back in the game, Washington put the Packers back on their heels, once again driving right down the field. Harraway caught another touchdown pass, this one from six yards away, and the Redskins were now up 14-6 with just 4:18 to play.

Just then, it seemed as if the spirit of former Packers' coach Vince Lombardi entered the Green Bay sideline. Backup quarterback Jerry Tagge completed his only pass attempt of the game, a 56 yarder to Jon Staggers, on the first play of the Packers' next drive. Just one play later, Brockington plowed into the end zone, making the score 14-13 in favor of the Redskins. On the very next Washington drive, Sonny Jurgensen was back in the game, but this time, he was run over by Bob Brown and fumbled at the 16. The Packers recovered, and Brockington scored on the very first play, putting Green Bay on top 20-14 with just 2:25 to play. Shocked at the two touchdowns in under two minutes, the Redskins collapsed. After failing to convert a fourth down, they allowed the Packers to kick a field goal that made it a two possession game. With no energy left, Washington folded up, and the Packers were headed back to the NFC title game for the first time since 1967.

Final Score: Green Bay-23 Washington-14

Real Life Score: Washington-16 Green Bay-3

NFC Championship Game

Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

Green Bay Packers (10-4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (8-5-1)

A chance to play the undefeated Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VII was on the line in the NFC Championship, as both the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers fought for the right to appear in the Super Bowl for the first time.

The game started out quickly, as the Packers utilized their running attack that was so successful the week before against Washington. MacArthur Lane and John Brockington bashed the San Francisco defensive line, which did not use a five man front, as Washington had done in the first half of their game. With the running game working well, Scott Hunter was able to use Lane as a decoy near the end zone, faking the handoff to to him and then finding him with a two yard touchdown pass that gave the Packers the lead. The 49ers were able to respond when Steve Spurrier buckled down and led them 75 yards in 14 plays. Larry Schreiber scored on a three yard sweep, and the game was tied heading into the second quarter.

The Packers again showed their dominance in the running game in the second quarter. Both Brockington and Lane found ways around San Francisco defenders, and their running set up two Chester Marcol field goals in the quarter that would put the Packers up 13-7 at the half. San Francisco's offense had stalled out in the second quarter, as they were bullied by Green Bay's ferocious defense. As they left the field, however, Spurrier was frustrated, but confident that his team could get the job done.

Sure enough, on the 49ers' first possession of the third quarter, they did just that. After an excellent punt return left them at the Green Bay 13, Spurrier needed just three plays before he found Ted Kwalick in the end zone for an 11 yard touchdown that put San Francisco on top by a point. However, the Packers were able to return the 49er kickoff all the way back to the San Francisco 7, and Scott Hunter hit John Brockington with a screen pass that turned into a 7 yard touchdown just 30 seconds after San Francisco had taken the lead.

After that, the Packers were able to use their defense once again to stop the 49ers from getting any closer. Spurrier finished the day 13 of 29 for only 113 yards, while Green Bay's running back duo of John Brockington and MacArthur Lane ran for a combined 173 yards on 30 carries as they ran the clock down on any chance at a 49er comeback. Kicker Bruce Gossett missed a field goal that would have put San Francisco within three points midway through the fourth, and when Spurrier's last minute heave towards the end zone fell innocently to the ground, the Packers were headed to their first Super Bowl.

Final Score: Green Bay-20 San Francisco-14

Real Life Score (In Washington): Washington-26 Dallas-3

[darkhorse]

Man, this Super Bowl is shaping up to be an asswhuppin'.

[The Professor]

Scott Hunter in the Super Bowl!?!? Bama will be so proud! But that is just too insane to believe.

But, hey, John Brockington was a machine for a very short while in his NFL career.

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl VII

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

Miami Dolphins (14-0)


Head Coach: Don Shula
385 Points Scored
171 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Bob Griese


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Cleveland, 31-7-AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Pittsburgh, 14-13-AFC Championship



Green Bay Packers (10-4)


Head Coach: Dan Devine
304 Points Scored
226 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Scott Hunter


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Washington, 23-14-NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated San Francisco, 20-14-NFC Championship



The Game

The undefeated Miami Dolphins came into Super Bowl VII as heavy favorites over the underdog Green Bay Packers, and with good reason. After all, the Dolphins had not lost all season, and had the highest scoring offense, as well as the least scored upon defense in the NFL. Their running attack of Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris struck fear into opposing defenses, and while the Packers could counter with John Brockington and MacArthur Lane, they could not match the passing combination of Bob Griese to Paul Warfield.

As expected, the Dolphins took it to the Packers early in the first quarter. After punting on their opening drive, Miami forced Green Bay to do the same, but their punt was blocked, and the Dolphins took over the the Green Bay 28 yard line. After Griese was able to get Miami to the five, the Packer defense stiffened, and the Dolphins were forced to settle for a Garo Yepremian field goal and a 3-0 lead.

For the rest of the first half, neither the Dolphins nor the Packers could establish much of anything on offense, as both sides attempted to feel out the other for weaknesses. Yepremian missed a 42 yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter, and that would be as close as either team got in the second. Brockington was finding running against the Miami defense to be far more difficult than against Washington or San Francisco, while Scott Hunter was totally ineffective at quarterback and was intercepted twice in the quarter. Miami, meanwhile, was content to let Morris and Csonka be the workhorses, while Griese only attempted passes when it was totally necessary. At the half, Miami may have only been up by a score of 3-0, but it felt much larger than that.

In the third, Miami's offense finally broke through against Green Bay after pounding them with hard runs all day. After a Griese pass to Otto Stowe put the Dolphins into Packer territory, Mercury Morris broke a 44 yard touchdown burst off the left side of the formation. Not a single Packer player came within five yards of Morris on the enitre play, and he ran untouched for the score that put the Dolphins ahead 10-0. After that, neither team again was able to find much of a rhythm on offense, although the Packers did replace Hunter with backup quarterback Jerry Tagge, who would end up being the leading passer in the game.

As the fourth quarter started, Tagge was guiding the Packers down the field for the first time on the day, and as the midway point came, he finally got them where they needed to be. After MacArthur Lane accounted for 52 yards in getting to the Miami five yard line, Tagge let him finish the drive and he plunged in from 5 yards out. The extra point was good, and suddenly the Dolphin lead was just three points. On their next drive, the Packers again looked to have something brewing, but Dave Davis fumbled the ball after a reception and Miami recovered. On that drive, Larry Csonka helped bury the Packers with a 33 yard touchdown run straight through the heart of the Green Bay defense. With just 1:31 remaining in the game, the Packers needed a miracle, and they almost got it.

With the ball at their own 27, Tagge stepped on to the field and promptly began moving the Packers as quickly as he could. Swing passes to MacArthur Lane and John Brockington became large gains, and a pass to Jon Staggers put the Packers at Miami's four yard line. When Brockington came down with Tagge's touchdown pass with 20 seconds to play, the Packers were only down three points, but they still needed to recover the onside kick if they wanted any chance at winning. Unfortunately for them, they could not, and the Dolphins were able to finish their undefeated season by running out the clock on the Green Bay Packers. For the first time ever, a team finished an NFL season undefeated, as the Miami Dolphins went 17-0 on the year.

Final Score: Miami-17 Green Bay-14

MVP: Mercury Morris: 15 carries, 73 yards, 2 catches, 14 yards, 1 TD

[Hurkman]

Originally Posted by The Professor

Scott Hunter in the Super Bowl!?!? Bama will be so proud! But that is just too insane to believe.

But, hey, John Brockington was a machine for a very short while in his NFL career.

Yeah, this really was the first completely out of the blue team, at least in my eyes, to make the Super Bowl in my alternate world. There's a few other head scratchers that sneak their way in later, but I don't want to spoil who, so you'll just have to keep reading!

[The Professor]

Originally Posted by Hurkman

Yeah, this really was the first completely out of the blue team, at least in my eyes, to make the Super Bowl in my alternate world. There's a few other head scratchers that sneak their way in later, but I don't want to spoil who, so you'll just have to keep reading!

Can't wait! This is a lot of fun.

[Hurkman]

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Oakland Raiders (9-4-1) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
Oakland-Alameda Stadium, Oakland, CA

After coming up short against the Steelers last season in the playoffs, the Oakland Raiders were looking for a bit of revenge in 1973. With Ken Stabler taking over for Daryle Lamonica and three runners with over 600 yards, the Raiders had their game plan to go up against the Steel Curtain once again.

Much like last season, it was defense that ruled the day in the first quarter. Only once did either team advance past midfield, and that was when Oakland missed a 50 yard field goal midway through the quarter. However, the Raiders had developed a plan during the first quarter to punish Pittsburgh's powerful defense by running all three of their backs straight at it. For the rest of the day, Marv Hubbard, Clarence Davis and Charlie Smith would pound into the Steel Curtain, denting it until it eventually gave way.

In the second quarter, with Pittsburgh still unable to move the ball thanks to their stubborn defense, the Raiders were finally able to get decent field position, getting the ball at the 50 yard line. From there, a series of handoffs to the three backs, along with just one Stabler pass, moved Oakland all the way to Pittsburgh's three yard line. Once in position to score, Marv Hubbard did just that, bursting through the middle for a touchdown that would put Oakland up for the first time in the game. With the Steelers still stuck in first gear, the Raiders were content to hold their 7-0 lead into the half.

In the second half, an already tired Steeler defense was pushed to the brink of exhaustion by the Raiders. As Oakland came out with the ball to start the half, Ken Stabler began using his arm to move his team down the field. While Pittsburgh was bringing men up to stop the run, Stabler was spreading his receivers out, giving them favorable matchups against slower Pittsburgh linebackers. When the Steelers finally thought they had the right formation in, Stabler handed the ball to Hubbard, who again found a crease and went 19 yards for another touchdown.

With the score now 14-0, Pittsburgh needed something to happen on offense, but they could not even get a first down. Their tired defense went back onto the field and was forced to try and stop the Raiders, who finished the game with 47 rushing attempts. Although they only amassed 133 yards, it was still almost as much as the 151 total yards the Steelers had. Both teams exchanged field goals late in the game, and Oakland was headed to yet another AFC Championship game with the hope that this year would finally be the one where they would win the Super Bowl.

Final Score: Oakland-17 Pittsburgh-3

Real Life Score: Oakland-33 Pittsburgh-14

Miami Dolphins (12-2) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (10-4)
The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

On paper, this game looked like one of the biggest mismatches in recent memory. Not only were the Miami Dolphins the defending Super Bowl champions, but they had also gone undefeated last season, had lost only twice this season and had a top five offense as well as the lowest scored upon defense in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals were coached by Paul Brown, but they were also making just their second playoff appearance and were middle of the road in both offense and defense, although running backs Essex Johnson and Boobie Clark provided a challenge for defenders all season.

From the start of the game, it appeared as if Cincinnati had forgotten that they weren't supposed to be on the same level as the Dolphins. On Miami's first possession, the Bengals blocked their punt and recovered at the Dolphin 16 yard line. Just two plays later, Boobie Clark pushed through the line and ran those 16 yards, giving the Bengals a 7-0 lead. On their next possession, Horst Muhlmann nailed a 46 yard field goal, pushing the lead to 10-0. Miami could do nothing, as their high powered offense could not even manage a single first down in the quarter.

As the second quarter started, the Bengals were again in position to put points on the board. With the ball at the Miami 33, Clark again received a handoff and broke to the left side of the Dolphin defense. Once there, he found nothing but open field and trotted 33 yards for his second touchdown of the game. Cincinnati was up 17-0, and the Miami crowd was in a state of shock. Fortunately for them, the Dolphin offense finally woke up as Brian Griese led his team on a 12 play, 71 yard drive that ended with a Mercury Morris 24 yard touchdown run.

When the Dolphins scored a field goal on their next drive with just under two minutes left in the half, the Cincinnati lead was suddenly a touchdown, and the Bengals were on the ropes. However, they would not stay there for long as quarterback Ken Anderson led the Bengals down the field with a 24 yard pass to Charlie Joiner before Clark struck for his third touchdown of the half, this one from 38 yards away. In just 30 minutes, the Bengals had put the football world on its ear, and they weren't done yet.

The second half was more a story of Cincinnati's will to bend to the Miami offense, but not let them score. Both Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris finished the game with well over 100 yards, but neither one was able to gain them when it mattered the most. Almost every Miami drive had potential to cut into the lead, but the Dolphins were only able to add a single Garo Yepremian field goal while gathering 250 total rushing yards. The Bengals would add two more Muhlmann field goals in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring, as well as Miami's hopes of a second straight title. As the teams left the field, there was already talk of this being one of the greatest upsets in NFL playoff history.

Final Score: Cincinnati-30 Miami-13

Real Life Score: Miami-34 Cincinnati-14

AFC Championship Game

Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati Bengals (10-4) vs. Oakland Raiders (9-4-1)

For the first time in their history, the Bengals were playing a playoff game at home. While they were still considered the underdogs, Cincinnati had a swagger about them that very few teams have ever had before a championship game. The Oakland Raiders, on the other hand, were more than confident that they would push the lowly Bengals aside and move on to their fourth Super Bowl.

When the game started, it appeared as if that would be the case. Cincinnati had their first possession end in a punt, and when it was blocked, Oakland had the ball at the Bengals' 31 yard line. After softening the defense with Marv Hubbard and Charlie Smith, quarterback Ken Stabler found Fred Biletnikoff from a yard out, putting Oakland ahead 7-0. That lead would not last for long, though, as Ken Anderson equalled Stabler, finding Isaac Curtis, Bob Trumpy and Charlie Joiner for a combined 58 yards before handing it to Boobie Clark, who finished the drive with a 5 yard touchdown run. At the end of the first quarter, the upstart Bengals were hanging tough with the veteran Raiders.

As the second quarter began, neither team was able to do much of anything on offense, and both were forced to punt after their first possessions. The second time the Raiders had the ball, Stabler found his stroke again, hitting receiver Mike Siani for 44 yards before Marv Hubbard crashed into the end zone from 6 yards out, giving Oakland a touchdown lead once again. Cincinnati refused to go away, cutting the lead to four on a Horst Muhlmann on their next possession. George Blanda missed a field goal at the end of the half, meaning that the Raiders were just 30 minutes away from reaching another Super Bowl, but still only had a 14-10 lead.

It did not take long for the Bengals to make sure Blanda would regret missing that field goal. On the third play of the second half, Essex Johnson took off for 39 yards down the right side of the Oakland line. Just two plays later, Ken Anderson found him out of the backfield, and he scampered 19 yards for the go ahead touchdown. With Cincinnati now up, the Raiders needed something, but what they got was disaster. Charlie Smith fumbled the ball after a pass reception, and the Bengals recovered deep in their own territory. Essex Johnson then found a seam for a 53 yard run into Oakland territory, and the Bengals would finish the drive with Muhlmann's second field goal of the game, putting them up 20-14 as the fourth quarter got underway.

It would be another Oakland mistake that would doom the Raiders early in the fourth quarter. With the ball just 9 yards from Cincinnati's end zone, Ken Stabler thought he had Cliff Branch open for the go ahead score. Instead, Bernard Jackson stepped in front of the ball and returned the interception back to the Oakland 22 yard line. Just four plays later, the Bengals had another field goal and a 23-14 lead.

From there on out, the Bengals just tried to hold on for dear life as the Raiders came at them with everything they had. Time and time again the Raiders thought they had a scoring chance, but time and time again they were turned up just short by the Bengals. Charlie Smith did manage to score for Oakland to make it 23-21 with just 2 minutes left, but the Raiders would not get the ball again. Cincinnati was able to run out the clock and somehow advance to the Super Bowl for the first time ever.

Final Score: Cincinnati-23 Oakland-21

Real Life Score (In Miami): Miami-27 Oakland-10

[kenyan_cheena]

BENGALS!!!

[Hurkman]

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Minnesota Vikings (12-2) vs. Washington Redskins (10-4)
Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN

After a one year absence from the playoffs, the Minnesota Vikings returned with a much improved offense. Fran Tarkenton had made his return to the Vikings after a five year stint as a Giant, and rookie running back Chuck Foreman had begun to show the ability to punish defenses late in the season. Their defense was still dominant, with The Purple People Eaters still in place. Meanwhile, the Redskins were a year older, and with Sonny Jurgenson and Billy Kilmer splitting time at quarterback, no one was quite certain who would start in the playoffs. Larry Brown, last season's MVP, had also taken a few steps backward, meaning that this game would be even more difficult for Washington.

Sure enough, the Vikings came out firing early and often in the first quarter. After Washington punted on their first possession, Tarkenton used Foreman both on the ground and through the air to batter the Washington defenders. On his third carry and fourth touch of the drive, the young runner found a seam in the middle of the Redskin line and went 21 yards for a touchdown. The next time the Vikings had the ball, Tarkenton found receiver John Gilliam for 50 yards on two receptions and Carroll Dale for a 16 yarder that got Minnesota to the Washington 2. Backup running back Oscar Reed took it in from there, and at the end of the first quarter, the Vikings led 14-0.

The second quarter was more of the same for the Redskins. Although the finally were able to mount an effort against the Vikings, a Charley Taylor touchdown reception was brought back due to a holding penalty, and the Redskins were forced to settle for a field goal. Minnesota would make the Redskins pay for their missed touchdown just three plays later, when Tarkenton found Ed Marinaro streaking across the middle of the field. Somehow, Washington forgot how to tackle, and 61 yards later, Marinaro had scored and the Vikings led 21-3. From there, both defenses stood up and allowed neither team to score again in the half, leaving the Vikings 18 points up and the Redskins searching for answers.

Those answers would not come to Washington on this day. They were completely dominated in the second half, with their only scoring chance ending when Billy Kilmer was intercepted by Nate Wright at the Minnesota 20 yard line. Tarkenton would throw his second touchdown of the game on the next drive, and the rout was officially on. Washington could not move the ball far enough to even attempt a second field goal, but Minnesota could, and added three more points midway through the fourth quarter to finish the scoring for the day. The Vikings had made a sound statement about their status in the NFC, while the Redskins were left shellshocked and in a daze.

Final Score: Minnesota-31 Washington-3

Real Life Score: Minnesota-27 Washington-20

Dallas Cowboys (10-4) vs. Los Angeles Rams (12-2)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

For the first time since the Super Bowl started, the Dallas Cowboys were not in the NFC Championship game last season. However, they looked to change that this season. Roger Staubach was back, healthy and taking snaps once again, while Calvin Hill proved that he still could bash a defense. For Los Angeles, 1973 was supposed to be a season of change. Roman Gabriel, the hero of Super Bowls II and IV was gone, sent to Philadelphia. In his place was former San Diego Charger quarterback John Hadl, and while he wasn't going to make people forget about Gabriel, he did lead the Rams offense to 388 points, the most in the NFL. Second year running backs Lawrence McCutcheon and Jim Bertelsen proved to be one of the best two man threats in the league, meaning that Dallas would have their hands full.

Early in the game, it appeared as if the Cowboys could not stop the Rams on this day. McCutcheon proved his value out the backfield as a receiver with a 29 yard catch and run on the opening play of the game, and then a 13 yard run later in the drive that put the Rams in field goal range. Sure enough, David Ray put it through from 30 yards away, and the Rams led 3-0. After that, neither team could move against the opposing defense, and both teams looked settled in for a defensive struggle.

In the second quarter, both teams had chances, but only one of them would lead to points. Dallas' first sustained drive ended early when Staubach was intercepted by Charlie Stukes, who returned the ball all the way back to the Cowboy 26. From there, the Rams would get no further, and Ray missed a 39 yard field goal try that would have made the lead 6-0. Instead, Dallas got the ball back and was quickly forced to punt yet again by a punishing Los Angeles defense. This time, McCutcheon made Dallas pay, moving the ball 41 yards by himself on the Los Angeles drive, including a 14 yard touchdown reception, that put the Rams up 10-0. Dallas still could not move the ball, and the Rams took their ten point lead into the half.

Once again, Dallas missed chances to make the game closer in the third quarter. On their opening possession, they finally made it into field goal range and had an attempt, but Toni Fritsch's try was blocked. When Dallas finally scored on their next drive on a 13 yard run by Walt Garrison, the score was just 10-7, but that field goal would have ensured that the game was tied at that point.

Rather than be worried, the Rams would let the Cowboys get no closer in the fourth quarter. After being kept off the field for most of the third, the Los Angeles offense dominated the final quarter of play, holding the ball for almost ten minutes. David Ray kicked two field goals in the fourth, making the score 16-7. The Rams' defense would not let the Cowboys even past midfield in the fourth quarter, and for the second straight year, Dallas would not be in the NFC Championship.

Final Score: Los Angeles-16 Dallas-7

Real Life Score: Dallas-27 Los Angeles-16

NFC Championship Game

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Rams (12-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)

With two of the best defenses in the NFL squaring off for the right to go to Super Bowl VIII, most people expected the NFC Championship to be a low scoring affair. What they got instead was a dominating effort on both sides of the ball by one very hungry team, while the other struggled to even stay in the game early.

Minnesota was stopped quickly on their first possession, and the Rams ended up with great field position inside Viking territory after a poor punt. Los Angeles attacked the Purple People Eaters with a steady diet of Lawrence McCutcheon on the drive, finishing it off with a 17 yard scamper that made the score 7-0. The Vikings found moving the ball against the Rams to be almost impossible in the first quarter, and the Rams were content for now to let Minnesota keep trying to run the ball at them.

As the second quarter started, Ram quarterback John Hadl smiled when he stepped out onto the field. Nine plays and a few nice runs by McCutcheon later, he had reason to smile when he found Harold Jackson in the end zone for an 18 yard touchdown that made the lead 14-0. The Vikings finally moved the ball on their next drive, getting down to the Ram two yard line, but Los Angeles stiffened up and forced Minnesota to kick a short field goal that cut the lead to 14-3. It took just one play for the Rams to avenge that field goal, when Hadl found Jackson streaking down the sideline for a 71 yard touchdown bomb that left the Vikings in pure and utter shock. They could do nothing the rest of the half, and Los Angeles took an 18 point lead into the locker room.

Minnesota had a very early chance in the third quarter to make the game closer, but they let it slip through their fingers. When Hadl was intercepted on the first play of the half, the Vikings had the ball deep in Los Angeles territory. However, Tarkenton served up an interception of his own to Jack Reynolds in the end zone, ending the Minnesota threat. When Los Angeles scored on their next drive, with Hadl finding Bob Klein for his third touchdown pass, the game, for all extensive purposes, was over. Chuck Foreman did score twice in the fourth quarter, on both a run and reception, but it was far too little, far too late. David Ray would add on two field goals in the fourth quarter to finish off the Vikings, and the Rams were heading to their third Super Bowl in eight seasons.

Final Score: Los Angeles-34 Minnesota-17

Real Life Score (In Dallas): Minnesota-27 Dallas-10

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl VIII

Rice Stadium, Houston TX

Cincinnati Bengals (10-4)


Head Coach: Paul Brown
286 Points Scored
231 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Ken Anderson


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Miami, 30-13-AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Oakland, 23-21-AFC Championship



Los Angeles Rams (12-2)


Head Coach: Chuck Knox
388 Points Scored
178 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: John Hadl


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Dallas, 16-7-NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Minnesota, 34-17-NFC Championship



The Game

Cinderella had arrived at the Super Bowl, and this season, she had taken the shape of the Cincinnati Bengals. Picked by most people to not even compete for the division crown, the Bengals not only won the AFC Central, but then shocked defending Super Bowl champion Miami in the first round, then knocked off the always strong Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship. Cincinnati relied upon the strong running of Essex Johnson and Boobie Clark, while using Ken Anderson to pass their way out of more difficult situations.

The Rams, on the other hand, were a powerhouse this season. They finished the season tied for the best record in the league and had the highest scoring offense in all of football while allowing the fourth fewest points. New quarterback John Hadl led the way, and he was helped by the dual running of Lawrence McCutcheon and Jim Bertelsen. The defense was also still one of the best in football, with the New Fearsome Foursome bringing pain to opposing defenses.

Early on, it became clear what Los Angeles' game plan was. After a Ram punt, the Bengals attempted to run the ball, only to have both Clark and Johnson be stopped cold at the line. With no other options, Ken Anderson was forced to pass more than he normally would have. On their first drive, the Rams were not ready for this quick adjustment, and Anderson guided the Bengals into field goal range. Horst Muhlmann kicked a 27 yarder, and the Bengals had the first points of Super Bowl VIII.

On the next Los Angeles drive, John Hadl began to rely less on his arm and more on the legs of McCutcheon and Bertelsen. On five of the first seven plays of the drive, one of the two backs received the handoff, and then, as Cincinnati was assuming the Rams would run again, Hadl faked the handoff to McCutcheon and threw a lob pass over the heads of every Bengal defender to Harold Jackson for a nine yard touchdown pass that gave the Rams the lead. Cincinnati's next drive did not last long, as Anderson's first pass was intercepted by Bob Stein, giving the Rams great field position as the first quarter came to a close.

The Rams would strike again, and with more force than before. Cincinnati's defense was powerless to stop both McCutcheon and Bertelsen, and the Rams knew it. Eight of the nine plays on Los Angeles' drive involved one of the two of them touching the ball, and when McCutcheon pounded into the end zone from two yards out, the Rams were up 14-3. However, it wasn't quite midnight for the Bengals yet. Their running attack, which had been stagnant up to this point, finally came to life, finally came to life. Both Johnson and Clark were able to find holes in the Los Angeles front, and Anderson finally had enough time to locate open receivers, putting the Bengals in position to score. Essex Johnson had the honors, scoring on a 17 yard burst up the middle that cut the Los Angeles lead to four points.

Both teams exchanged punts, giving the Rams the ball with very little time left in the half. Rather than just attempt to run out the clock, Los Angeles started moving down the field, with Hadl using his arm to eat up chunks of yards against a tiring Cincinnati secondary. After getting into field goal range, the Rams were content, but McCutcheon was not. With just 40 seconds left in the half, he took the handoff from Hadl and turned the left corner, seemingly getting faster and faster as he ran down the field. Twenty-six yards later, he had found the end zone for the second time and the Rams had struck a crushing blow against the Bengals. Instead of the score being just 14-10, it was now a seemingly insurmountable 21-10 at the half.

In the third quarter, the Bengals watched as any chance they had to win the Super Bowl slipped through their hands. On their opening drive of the half, they were able to get to the Los Angeles 24 yard line, but Anderson's pass there was intercepted by Jack Reynolds, killing the drive. Cincinnati received new life when John Hadl had a pass intercepted by Bernard Jackson on the Rams' drive, but then Horst Muhlmann missed the field goal attempt, taking more points of the board for the Bengals.

While Cincinnati's offense could not figure out how to score, the Cincinnati defense was at least keeping the Rams from striking again. They were still having trouble stopping the running game of McCutcheon and Bertelsen, but they were keeping the Rams off the board in the second half, although most people knew it was just a matter of time before they scored again. That time would not come until late in the fourth quarter. With Cincinnati's running game dead in the water (46 total yards on 29 carries), the Rams received good field position and made use of it. David Ray kicked a 31 yard field goal, putting the Rams up by two touchdowns and effectively ending any chance the Bengals had of winning. Ray would add another field goal after Anderson's third interception of the day, but that was just the icing on the cake for the Rams. For the third time in the history of the Super Bowl, Los Angeles was the champion.

Final Score: Los Angeles-27 Cincinnati-10

MVP: Lawrence McCutcheon: 19 carries, 126 yards, 3 catches, 12 yards, 2 TD

[Hurkman]

Wow, I just about forgot about this thread until last week. As the NFL playoffs get closer and closer, I decided to bring this back from the ashes, starting with Super Bowl IX. WhatifSports of course deletes all your old saved games after 60 days, so I'll be replaying them again, but I'm sure some of the same results will happen, and that's what made this fun the first time around!

So, sit back, grab something to eat and enjoy the rebirth of the great NFL Playoffs Replay!

[Hurkman]

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Oakland Raiders (12-2) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-3)
Oakland-Alameda Stadium, Oakland, CA

The two teams that were upset by the Cinderella Cincinnati Bengals in the 1973 playoffs squared off against each other in the first round of the 1974 playoffs. John Madden's Oakland Raiders seemed to be even better than last season, with the highest scoring offense in the NFL, and a defense that would punish you on every snap of the ball. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins had an impressive season, losing their three games by a total of just 13 points. Bob Griese, Larry Csonka and Paul Warfield led the third highest scoring offense in football, while an extremely good defense allowed just 216 points in 14 games.

The first quarter of action resembled a hard slugging boxing match more than a football game. Both teams took their best shots on offense, with the Dolphins relying on the hard hitting Csonka and the Raiders countering with Clarence Davis and Marv Hubbard. Finally, after a poor Miami punt gave the Raiders good field position, the ageless George Blanda was able to kick a 47 yard field goal, giving Oakland the lead going into the second quarter.

As the second stanza began, Oakland forced another Miami punt and this time, they attacked through the air. Quarterback Ken Stabler led the Raiders downfield with crisp, decisive throws and finished the drive with a swing pass to Clarance Davis, who took it 30 yards for the game's first touchdown. Miami still could get nothing started on offense, and when Garo Yepremian pushed a 48 yard field goal attempt to the right with just under two minutes to play, it looked like the half was over. However, Stabler was not finished, as he guided Oakland down into field goal range once again. With 17 seconds remaining and one timeout, Stabler handed the ball off to Marv Hubbard, who was just supposed to gain a few more yards to put Blanda in excellent position for another field goal. On this play, however, the Dolphin defense collapsed, and Hubbard found himself running 31 yards to paydirt. The Raiders now led 17-0 at the half, and Miami seemed doomed.

Sure enough, Oakland was able to control the clock early and often in the second half. They took the opening kickoff and held the ball for almost seven and a half minutes before Blanda added his second field goal of the game. The Dolphins tried to answer, but Yepremian missed his second field goal attempt, ending any threat Miami had of winning. The fourth quarter was more of the same, with Oakland controlling the ball and dominating the Dolphins up front. Marlin Briscoe was able to score on a 15 yard pass from Griese late in the quarter, but it was not enough to stop the Raiders from imposing their will on the Dolphins on this day.

Final Score: Oakland-20 Miami-7

Real Life Score: Oakland-28 Miami-26 (Sea of Hands Game)

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3-1) vs. Buffalo Bills (9-5)
Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Playing the role of the Bengals this year were the Buffalo Bills, a team thought by many to be a bottom of the barrell team in 1974. Led by dynamic running back O.J. Simpson, the Bills had a running attack almost unequalled around the league. Although Simpson's numbers were down from his amazing 2,000 yard season in 1973, he still amazed opposing defenses with his slashing skills and cutting ability. However, he would face a stiff task on this day as he went up against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that was becoming well known for a physical brand of toughness that very few had seen before.

The game started out well for the Steelers from the opening drive. On their first play, Buffalo's Joe Ferguson had his pass intercepted by Mel Blount. The Steelers themselves were unable to move the ball much, but they did get a Roy Gerela field goal out of the drive, putting them up 3-0. From that point on, the first quarter was a defensive struggle. Neither Simpson, nor his Pittsburgh counterpart Franco Harris, could get started, and as the first quarter came to a close, it was Pittsburgh starting quarterback Joe Gilliam who led the team into field goal range again.

Gerela's second kick started the second quarter and put the Steelers up 6-0. After forcing a quick punt by the Bills, the Steelers got the ball back and marched downfield. Gilliam seemed to find his stride, while holes were finally starting to open up for Harris in the middle of the field. After five minutes and 11 plays, Franco found the end zone, and the Steelers were up now 13-0. Once again, Buffalo had to punt, and again Pittsburgh found themselves in striking distance. A third Gerela field goal made the score 16-0, and with Buffalo unable to advance the ball, the score remained the same at the half.

As the second half started, it appeared as if the Bills might have new life. After forcing the Steelers to punt, the Bills were able to return the kick 75 yards for their first score of the game. In a flash, the score was 16-7, and Buffalo had a chance. However, Pittsburgh was able to answer once again. Franco Harris started the drive with a 61 yard burst up the middle, and although they could not finish with a touchdown, Gerela added his fourth field goal to push the lead back up to 19-7. Both defenses locked down after that, as neither team was able to advance the ball past the 50 yard line for the rest of the quarter. As dominant as Pittsburgh looked, Buffalo still believed they had a chance as the game entered its final act.

However, any chance the Bills had of coming back against the potent Steeler defense was quickly stamped out. Pittsburgh returned a Buffalo punt to the Bills' 36 early in the fourth quarter, and when Gilliam found Larry Brown in the end zone for a four yard touchdown, the game was all but decided. The Bills were dismantled by the defense of the Steelers, and O.J. Simpson was held to just 27 yards on 17 carries. As the final gun sounded, it seemed as if a new era of football was about to begin in Pittsburgh.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-26 Buffalo-7

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-32 Buffalo-14

(Note: WhatifSports has Gilliam in as Pittsburgh's starting QB over Bradshaw. I can't change that, so that's the way it has to be in 1974.)

AFC Championship Game

Oakland-Alameda Stadium, Oakland, CA

Oakland Raiders (12-2) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3-1)

The most dominant defense in football clashed against the most potent offense for the right to represent the AFC in Super Bowl IX. Though the Raiders dominated the Steelers 17-0 in Pittsburgh early in the season, most people were quick to point out that this was a different, more confident team than that Raiders had played this year or last year in the playoffs.

It certainly didn't seem any different at first to the Raiders. After receiving the opening kickoff, they marched right down the field against the Steelers' defense, with Marv Hubbard's 34 yard run being the focal point. However, Pittsburgh did hold inside their own 30 yard line, and the Raiders were forced to settle for a George Blanda field goal. Pittsburgh came right back with a drive of their own, pounding the Raiders with a twin attack of Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier. Unfortunately, Oakland was able to stiffen their defense as well, and Roy Gerela put a 50 yard field goal attempt off the left goal post, keeping the Steelers off the scoreboard in the first quarter.

The second quarter started much like the first had, as Oakland was driving once again. This time though, the Steelers forced the Raiders to punt, and after receiving the ball, unleashed a third running back on the Raiders. While Oakland was prepared for Harris and Bleier, they had done little to prepare for Preston Pearson, and it showed right away. On his first carry of the game, Pearson broke through the Oakland defense and left everyone in his dust on his way to a 49 yard touchdown run. Suddenly, the Steelers were up 7-3, and it was Oakland now trying to figure out how they would score aganist such a good defense. Oakland's panic led to mistakes, and their next three drives would end in turnovers; two interceptions by Stabler, and a fumble by Clarence Davis. The half would end with the Raiders now on the ropes, staggered by Pittsburgh's defense.

While the Steelers just seemed to toy with the Raiders in the first half, they finished them off quickly in the second half. On their first drive of the third quarter, Pittsburgh marched down the field like a conquering army, with Joe Gilliam leading the way. It was Gilliam's 28 yard touchdown to Larry Brown that ended the drive, and Oakland was now down on the canvas, unable to get back up. After a quick Oakland punt, the Steelers embarked on a 10 play drive that ate up almost seven full minutes of the third quarter. On that drive, they called nine run plays, and every one just seemed to tire out the Raiders more and more. When Preston Pearson scored his second touchdown of the game from two yards out, everyone in the stadium knew how this game was going to end.

The fourth quarter was a series of punts, as Pittsburgh just wanted to run out the clock, and Oakland could do nothing on offense. In the end, the Steelers ran for 231 yards and held the Raiders to just 147 total yards. Ken Stabler, who was masterful in beating the Dolphins, was held to just 12/30 passing on the day for 85 yards and two interceptions. The Pittsburgh victory marked their first AFC Championship, and put the rest of the NFL on notice that this team would be quite good for quite some time.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-21 Oakland-3

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-24 Oakland-13

[lewis31lewis52]

Yay, Hurkman's back!

I'm still sad that your baseball replay got lost, but this thread was always a good one.

[Hurkman]

Originally Posted by lewis31lewis52

Yay, Hurkman's back!

I'm still sad that your baseball replay got lost, but this thread was always a good one.

Thanks, nice to see I'm rememberd. Yeah, it did suck when my baseball replay was scuttled by my computer. I have something in the works that's a bit more...comprehensive, but it's still in the formative process right now. For now, it's football time!

[Hurkman]

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Minnesota Vikings (12-2) vs. St. Louis Cardinals(10-4)
Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, MN

The playoff tested Minnesota Vikings couldn't help but feel confident against the upstart St. Louis Cardinals. Not only had the Vikings been one of the top teams in the NFC for the last half decade, but the Cardinals were just a year removed from a season in which they went 4-9-1. Not only that, but Minnesota had beaten the Cardinals in St. Louis earlier in the season. However, while the Vikings did have Fran Tarkenton and one of the best defenses in the league, the Cardinals were not intimidated. Head coach Don Coryell had installed his system of play, and his team had taken to it in just his second season. Quarterback Jim Hart had a career year, while running backs Jim Otis and Terry Metcalf helped pound opposing defenses.

The stage was set, but for a while, neither offense looked ready to step into the spotlight. The normally potent Minnesota offense was being smothered by the Cardinals, whle the "Purple People Eaters" were doing the same to Hart and St. Louis. The Cardinals did have the first scoring chance of the game, but elected to go for a touchdown on fourth and goal from the two, only to have Jim Otis stood up at the line and stopped cold.

As the second quarter started, it was clear that defense would rule the day in Minnesota. Even after seeing the best from both defenses, neither teams' offense could muster much of anything that got past the 50 yard line. The Vikings did have one drive that got them into field goal range, but Fred Cox pushed the kick left, leaving the game a scoreless tie. Even as the first half came to a close, neither team was able to score, and many were amazed at the ability that the Cardinals were showing in standing up to the powerhouse Vikings.

In the third quarter, the teams finally began to find chinks in each other's armor. After a good punt return put them in Minnesota territory, the Cardinals were able to score on a 45 yard field goal by Jim Bakken that gave them the first points of the game. Not to be outdone, the Vikings stormed down the field on the legs of Chuck Forman and Dave Osborn. After a five and a half minute drive, Osborn broke through the St. Louis line and scored from 19 yards out, giving the Vikings a 7-3 lead. After a quick Cardinal punt, the Vikings had control of the ball and the game heading into the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals were not quite ready to give up the day yet, though. After a stop on a third down and 3, the Vikings were forced to punt. What happened next was a perfect execution of Coach Coryell's system. Jim Hart finally started to find open receivers, and that then began to open the running game up more. Play after play gained yards for the Cardinals, and they soon found themselves on the Minnesota one yard line. However, after two attempts failed, it appeared as if the Vikings had held again when Hart's pass was knocked to the turf on third and goal. What the Vikings failed to see was a penalty for defensive holding, giving St. Louis a new set of downs and new life. On the very next play, Jim Otis squeezed in from a yard out, putting the Cardinals up 10-7 and shocking the Minnesota faithful. With the clock now running against them, the Vikings were forced to hurry, and they did just that, moving down the field at a pace that kept the clock moving, but also put them into position to tie or win the game late. St. Louis finally made a stand at the 13 yard line, and the Vikings were forced to settle for a field goal that tied the game.

The Cardinals were content to run out the clock, and for the first time since the 1958 championship game, a playoff game was headed to overtime. It would not take long to find a winner. Minnesota won the toss, but the momentum that they had given to the Cardinals following their defensive stand late in the game was too much. The Vikings were forced to punt and St. Louis wasted no time in marching down the field. On their first play of the extra period, Terry Metcalf broke away for a 26 yard gain. On the next play, Hart found wideout Earl Thomas for 18 more yards. After being stopped for just a yard on the next play, running back James Otis found a seam and got into the end zone for the second time on the day, winning the most dramatic game in Cardinals' history, while knocking the Vikings out of the playoffs.

Final Score: St. Louis-16 Minnesota-10 (Overtime)

Real Life Score: Minnesota-30 St. Louis-14

Los Angeles Rams (10-4) vs. Washington Redskins (10-4)
LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

The defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams once again found themselves in a familiar position, as they were once again in the playoffs. Although they had a different starting quarterback in James Harris, the Rams were still a dominant force on defense, leading the league in points allowed. Meanwhile, the "Over the Hill Gang" appeared to have enough juice for one more playoff run, after being dismantled by the Vikings the year before. With a win already under their belts against the Rams this season, Washington was not afraid coming into their matchup in the playoffs, and it showed.

On the opening drive of the game, both quarterback Billy Kilmer and running back Larry Brown were on point as they led the Redskins down the field almost at will against the usually stout Ram defense. Though they were not able to score a touchdown, Mark Moseley put a 33 yard field goal right through the uprights, giving the Redskins an early lead. However, it would not take long for the Rams to recover. Super Bowl VIII MVP Lawrence McCutcheon picked up right where he left off in the prior postseason, gaining 30 yards on his first two carries. From there, James Harris was able to find open receivers, while secondary running back Jim Bertelsen pounded against the Washington front four. When McCutcheon touched the ball again, he broke to the outside and was gone for a 18 yard run, putting the Rams ahead 7-3 as the first quarter came to a close.

This year, however, the Redskins were not going to roll over and die so easily. After focing a Minnesota punt, Washington again was able to make headway against the Vikings, once again using the legs of Larry Brown to move the football. When Moseley put his second kick of the game through the uprights in the California sun, the Los Angeles lead was but one point. Once again though, the Rams were able to respond. This time, after Harris found receiver Bob Klein for a 16 yard reception, McCutcheon struck again with a 53 yard run down to the Washington 9 yard line. Three plays later, Harris found Klein again, this time for a nine yard touchdown that put the Vikings back up by eight points. The two teams traded missed field goals on their last possessions and went into the half with the score 14-6 in favor of Minnesota.

In the second half, both teams seemed to settle down, with neither defense willing or seemingly able to make a mistake. With the defenses digging in their heels, both Washington and Minnesota were unable to make any sort of effort to score, and the fourth quarter began with the score the same as it was 15 minutes before. As the fourth quarter got underway, it became clear that the Redskins had found a flaw in Los Angeles' gameplan. When the third period had come to a close, Washington was driving, using Kilmer's play fakes to Brown to freeze the Ram linebackers, leaving holes in the middle of the field for crisp passes. The plan continued into the fourth quarter, and though the Redskins were stopped short of the goal line once again, Moseley's third field goal made the score 14-9. Washington was given another chance two drives later, when Harris was intercepted by Ken Stone inside Ram territory. However, the Rams were able to hold, and Washington punted. What happened next will be talked about for years to come.

Los Angeles just needed to run out six minutes of clock, and the game would be in hand. With Lawrence McCutcheon in the backfield, that seemed simple enough, but there was one problem. Washington was not ready to give up just yet. On the first play of the possession, McCutcheon was stripped of the ball. The Redskins recovered at the Los Angeles 29 yard line and were given new life by the turnover. Just four plays later, Kilmer found Moses Denson in the end zone for a touchdown. Though the extra point was blocked, Washington now led 15-14, with just three minutes to play. Washington's defense was then up to the task, stopping McCutcheon one final time on fourth and three. Kilmer was then able to run out the clock and preserve an improbable 15-14 victory for Washington.

Final Score: Washington-15 Los Angeles-14

Real Life Score: Los Angeles-19 Washington-10

NFC Championship Game

Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

St. Louis Cardinals (10-4) vs. Washington Redskins (10-4)

By virtue of their two wins over the Redskins in the regular season, the Cardinals were playing host to their first championship game in almost 30 years as they welcomed Washington to town. While neither team was expected to be here, both of them knew they were more than qualified, and the game would come down to which team's plan would work.

On their first drive of the game, the Redskins showed what they planned to do on the day. They knew that St. Louis' offense could score at almost a moment's notice, so their plan was to keep the ball away from the Cardinals with runs and short passes. It nearly worked on their first drive for a touchdown, but Duane Thomas coughed up the ball and St. Louis recovered at their own 29 yard line. However, just three plays later, the Redskins recovered the fumble of receiver Mel Gray at the 38 yard line, giving them the ball back with excellent field position. This time, they would not let it go to waste, as Mark Moseley put through a 21 yard field goal for the first points of the game. As the first quarter came to a close, the Cardinals will still unsure of what to do on offense, and many of their plays were being stopped in the backfield by Washington, leaving some people doubting what they were doing.

When the second quarter started, it seemed as if neither team would be able to do much of anything on offense. Both teams exchanged punts on their first two possessions before the Cardinals started to find holes in the Redskin defense. Suddenly, Jim Hart was finding open receivers and the Cardinals were moving down the field for the first time all day. Mel Gray even had a chance to redeem himself, and did so with a three yard touchdown that gave the Cardinals the lead, as well as their first points in a championship game since 1947. Washington was able to respond with a late field goal, but heading into the half, the Cardinals were just 30 minutes away from their first trip to the Super Bowl.

With St. Louis getting the ball to start the second half, most of their fans expected a quick score to help put the lid on the team's first championshp in 27 years. Instead, the Cardinals were forced to punt after just three plays, and Washington was able to attack again with their running game. Larry Brown, Duane Thomas and Moses Denson each carried the ball at least twice on a ten play drive that lasted almost seven and a half minutes. The Redskins were again stopped, this time at the three yard line, but a third Moseley field goal gave Washington a 9-7 lead. The Cardinals would not go away just yet, and Jim Bakken kicked a 36 yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter to give the Cardinals a one point lead.

As the rest of the fourth quarter unfolded, it became clear that St. Louis' defense was beginning to wear down against the Redskins. Washington's running game had pounded the Cardinals from the opening snap and now, larger holes were opening in the defensive line. The Redskins took advantage of that by marching back down the field following the St. Louis field goal. Yet again, they were stopped short of the end zone and were forced to settle for Moseley's fourth kick of the day, giving them a slim 12-10 advantage. With a well rested Washington defense stopping the Cardinals quickly, St. Louis punted the ball back to the Redskins, needed just one stop with six and a half minutes left for one more chance at the Super Bowl.

That chance never came, as Washington just pounded again on the exhausted Cardinal defensive line. Billy Kilmer threw just two passes in the last six and a half minutes of play, as the three headed attack of Brown, Thomas and Denson wound down the clock. In the end, Washington had run for almost 200 yards and controlled the ball for almost 40 minutes. The Cardinals were shellshocked, but it was the Redskins who were headed to their first Super Bowl.

Final Score: Washington-12 St. Louis-10

Real Life Score: Minnesota-14 Los Angeles-10 (In Minnesota)