Alternate NFL Playoff History

[The Professor]

Originally Posted by Mattingly120

Man, when are the Giants going to be in the Playoffs?

1981

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl XIII

The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

New England Patriots (11-5)


Head Coach: Chuck Fairbanks
358 Points Scored
286 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Steve Grogan


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Houston, 27-24: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Pittsburgh, 21-16: AFC Championship



Los Angeles Rams (12-4)


Head Coach: Ray Malavasi
316 Points Scored
245 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Pat Haden


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Philadelphia, 28-14: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Dallas, 26-14: NFC Championship



The Game

For the sixth time, the Los Angeles Rams were playing in the Super Bowl, though recent years would suggest that they had never had playoff success. After their Super Bowl VIII victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Rams faced a series of playoff failures, including two losses in the Super Bowl. This season, without star runner Lawrence McCutcheon, Los Angeles was trying to prove that they could still get over the hump with many of the same players they had in their dominant run. Opposing them would be the upstart New England Patriots, who had stood tall despite a coaching controversy to win two come from behind games in the AFC playoffs. The Rams were a force defensively during the regular season and NFC playoffs, but the Patriots' trio of running backs and two solid wide receivers were ready to put that defense to the test.

From the start of Super Bowl XIII, the Patriots had one simple goal: keep the Ram offense off the field. To do this, they relied heavily on their three running backs. Sam Cunnigham, Andy Johnson and Horace Ivory each carried much of the load for the Patriots during the first quarter, and their strategy seemed to be working. New England's first drive lasted eight and a half minutes, and though they did not score any points, they set the tone for the first half. On their next drive, following a short Los Angeles punt, the Patriots needed just four plays to get into field goal range, and David Posey knocked in the 26 yard chip shot to put New England ahead.

The Rams wasted little time in responding, going on a ten play, 70 yard drive of their own. Quarterback Pat Haden, who was desperate to shed the poor showing he had in last season's Super Bowl, moved Los Angeles down the field with crisp passes, and running backs John Cappelletti and Cullen Bryant attacked the New England defenders. In the end, it was backup runner Rod Phillips who found the end zone, giving the Rams the 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. The Patriots needed a score and using the run game, they got just that. Cunningham and Ivory countered the Ram running backs with solid leg work of their own, and their running set up a perfectly timed play action pass from Steve Grogan to Stanley Morgan, who was wide open in the end zone. The 14 yard touchdown finished a 9 play, 79 yard drive and put New England back on top. Neither team could move the ball for the rest of the half, and the Patriots led the Rams 10-7 with just 30 minutes to play.

For much of the third quarter, the game revolved around New England's inability to convert on key possessions. At the start of the quarter, the Patriots forced the Rams to go three plays and out, then drove down to midfield with momentum on their side. Yet they could get no further, thanks to a Steve Grogan interception to Rod Perry. On their next possession, after forcing another Ram punt, New England drove into Los Angeles territory, getting all the way down to the 16 yard line. This time, David Posey missed a 33 yard field goal, taking points off the board. After a Ram fumble on their next possession, the Patriots moved onto the Los Angeles side of the field again, and as the fourth quarter started, they were unable to convert a third down and two situation, giving the ball back to the Rams.

After being given so many chances at life, the Rams knew they had to take advantage, and they did just that on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Moving downfield with a good mix of run and pass, Haden and the Rams got past midfield for the first time in the second half. From there, they made it to the New England 10 yard line before having to settle for a Pat Corral field goal and a tie game. It wouldn't stay tied for long, however because the Patriots finally put the pieces together on their next drive, thanks in large part to a Sam Cunningham 40 yard run. This time, Posey's field goal was good, giving New England the lead back with just five minutes to play.

Faced with the proposition of losing a second straight Super Bowl, Pat Haden gathered his team and began to march down the field against what had been a stoudt New England defense. Passes that had been knocked down on third downs were now being caught, including a huge catch on third and eight by Billy Waddy early in the drive. On the very next play, Haden found Ron Jessie in single coverage downfield, and for the first time on the day, the Rams had the big play they were looking for. 46 yards later, Jessie was brought down at the New England ten yard line, and with just two and half minutes to go, the Rams had a shot to take the lead for the first time.

The Patriots would not make it easy, though. On first down, Haden's pass was knocked away at the very last second by Raymond Clayborn. Second down was no better, as an attempt to run the ball by John Cappelletti was stopped dead at the line, making it third and goal to go with just under two minutes to play. On third down, Haden dropped back into the pocket and, despite the pressure, managed to loft a pass into the end zone that was cradled in by Billy Waddy for the touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Rams led 17-13. The only problem was that New England made a living in the playoffs with late victories, and this time looked like it might be no exception. After poor special teams play left the Patriots back at their own ten yard line, Grogan scrambled for 12 yards on first down. From there, the Rams' defense held strong, stopping the Patriots on three plays to set up a fourth and sixth, with the Super Bowl on the line.

New England called the right play, spreading out the Los Angeles defense with four wide receivers. Grogan dropped back, and had 22 year old rookie Carlos Pennywell open in the middle of the field. The ball was perfectly thrown, but Pennywell, who had only caught one pass all season, seemed ill-prepared, and had the ball bounce off his fingertips. With that, five years of playoff frustration came to an end for the Los Angeles Rams, as they were once again able to be called Super Bowl champions.

Final Score: Los Angeles-17 New England-13

MVP: Pat Haden: 12/19, 178 yards, 1 TD

[Hurkman]

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Houston Oilers (11-5) vs. Denver Broncos (10-6)
The Astrodome, Houston, TX

The losers of the two AFC Divisional playoff games last season met in the Wild Card round in 1979. For the Bronocs, 36 year old Craig Morton wasn't getting any younger, but the two receiver threat of Haven Moses and Rick Upchurch allowed for three Bronco running backs to gain over 400 yards. The "Orange Crush" defense still stood strong as well, allowing just 16.4 points per game, good for fifth in the NFL. Meanwhile, Houston had all the firepower they needed in Earl Campbell, who once again led the league with almost 1,700 yards rushing, and 19 touchdowns, which tied Jim Taylor's 15 year NFL record for most in a season.

The first Houston drive went the way that most of their season had gone. Quarterback Dan Pastorini passed the ball effectively with short throws, then Campbell found the end zone from eight yards away to give the Oilers an early lead. From there, however, the rest of the quarter was all Denver. After being stopped on three straight running plays on their first drive, the Broncos came out throwing on their next two drives. Craig Morton found Rick Upchurch for a 12 yard touchdown and then hit Jon Keyworth with a 23 yard swing pass for a second score. From there, the rest of the first half turned into a battle of defenses, with Houston's Toni Fritsch being the only man who could break through, with a 44 yard field goal midway through the second quarter to cut the Denver lead to 14-10.

While the first half belonged mostly to the Broncos, Houston came out in the third quarter and instantly laid claim to it. Their opening drive lasted seven minutes and ended with another Fritsch field goal. Denver punted on their first possession, and Oiler returner Rich Ellender fielded the punt and scooted up the sideline, untouched, for a 68 yard touchdown that gave Houston a 20-14 lead. Denver was in shock, and after another punt, the Oilers marched down the field again, but had to settle for a third Fritsch kick as the third quarter came to an end.

Any chance the Broncos had of winning seemed to slip out of their grasps on their next two possessions. A failed fourth down conversion and a long Jim Turner field goal were all they could muster, and after another failed try on fourth and two from the Houston 20, it appeared as if the day was done for Denver. However, a good punt return with just 51 seconds to play put the Broncos at the Houston 45 yard line. From there, Morton went to work, finding open receivers and guiding the Broncos to the three. After two incompletions, and with just 14 seconds to play, Denver called Jon Keyworth's number, and the fullback managed to find a seam and just break into the end zone. The Astrodome fell silent, and after one last ditch Pastorini pass fell to the turf, the Oilers left the field, stunned in the playoffs for a second straight season.

Final Score: Denver-24 Houston-23

Real Life Score: Houston-13 Denver-7

AFC Divisional Playoffs

San Diego Chargers (12-4) vs. Miami Dolphins (10-6)
San Diego Stadium, San Diego, CA

For the first time since 1965, the San Diego Chargers were making a splash in the NFL postseason. Led by new head coach Don Coryell and his "Air Coryell" attack, the Chargers jumped to the top of the league in scoring offense. Quarterback Dan Fouts passed for over 4,000 yards, and his two favorite targets, John Jefferson and Charlie Joiner, each had over 60 catches and 1,000 yards. The defense could also play, allowing the second fewest points in the NFL. On the other side of the coin, the Miami Dolphins were an aging team from another era. Bob Greise was not the same passer he once was, and even Larry Csonka, back from a three year tenure with the New York Giants, and a disasterous run in the World Football League, seemed to be on his last legs. Even so, their defense was still solid, causing 49 turnovers and allowing just 257 points on the year.

From the get go, it was obvious how the Chargers would attack Miami early. After a Uwe Von Schamann put the Dolphins up 3-0, Fouts hit Joiner for a 63 yard catch on the first play from scrimmage. Two plays later, halfback Mike Thomas hit the end zone from seven yards away, and the Chargers had the lead. Following a second Von Schamann kick, San Diego took the ball and drove deep into Miami territory, finally scoring on a Fouts touchdown pass to Bob Klein early in the second quarter. From there, the San Diego defense took over the rest of the first half, with Cliff Thrift picking off Greise and returning the ball 50 yards for another touchdown that put the Chargers up 21-6 at the half.

After gaining the lead in the first half, San Diego switched their attack in the second half, using fullback Clarence Williams to run right at the Miami defense. The Dolphins were unprepared, and Williams gained 58 yards on the first possession of the second half. Fouts finished the job, hitting Joiner with a seven yard bullet, but from there on, it was the San Diego running game that was featured. The Chargers used Williams and Mike Thomas to run time off the clock, keeping the Dolphins from even attempting a comeback. The only points Miami could score in the second half were on a third Von Schamann kick midway through the fourth quarter. With a convincing win, San Diego advanced to the AFC Championship, and left the Dolphins with plenty of questions heading into the next season.

Final Score: San Diego-28 Miami-9

Real Life Score: Houston-17 San Deigo-14 (Due to the Oilers winning in real life, they could not play the Steelers in the divisional matchup, sending Miami to Pittsburgh. Since that didn't happen here, these two got to play.)

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) vs. Denver Broncos (10-6)
Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

For the third straight season, the Broncos and Steelers were squaring off in the playoffs. This season, Pittsburgh found an even greater strength, as their offense reached a whole new level, leading the NFL in scoring. Terry Bradshaw passed for over 3,700 yards and 26 touchdowns, while Franco Harris had over 1,100 yards rushing and 11 scores. They were able to do this without any sacrifices on defense, with the "Steel Curtain" still holding strong, allowing just 262 points on the year. Armed not only with that, but also a 42-7 win over Denver in the regular season, the Steelers were ready to put the boots to Denver once again.

While the Steelers may have had a better offense, it did not show for much of the first half. The entire first quarter was a scoreless tie, as both teams felt each other out and missed chances to score, as Rob Lytle for Denver and Harris for Pittsburgh fumbled the ball deep in the opposing territory. Harris would make ammends for his mistake in the second quarter, coming down with a four yard Bradshaw touchdown pass that put the Steelers up. The rest of the quarter showcased Pittsburgh's dominant defense, as they allowed the Broncos just one play inside Steeler territory for the entire quarter. Of course, the Pittsburgh offense couldn't move against the Denver defense, either, and the game remained just 7-0 as halftime came and went.

On their first drive of the third quarter, the Broncos finally broke through against the Steelers and their punishing defense. On a 13 play, 76 yard drive, Craig Morton led Denver down the field with a mixture of runs and short, quick passes. A Jim Turner 41 yard field goal was all they could muster, however, and it did not take very long for Pittsburgh to respond. Just six plays later, backup halfback Sidney Thornton broke away from the Denver defense and wound up in the end zone following a 48 yard run. From that point on, the game belonged to the Steelers. Morton was completely ineffective in the face of an incredible Pittsburgh defense. Jack Lambert intercepted Morton in the fourth quarter, effectively killing off the last Denver drive. Franco Harris sealed the coffin with a two yard touchdown run late in the quarter. To add insult to injury, the last Denver drive ended with a safetly, thanks to John Banaszak, and for the second straight season, the Steelers had ended the season of the Denver Broncos.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-23 Denver-3

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-34 Miami-14

AFC Championship Game

Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) vs. San Diego Chargers (12-4)

After a disappointing home loss in last season's AFC Championship, the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted yet another upstart AFC team with the right to go to the Super Bowl on the line. Both teams bosted high scoring offenses and tough defenses, and as the fans filed into Three Rivers Stadium, they were sure that they would be witness to a great football game on this day.

At the start, however, it appeared as if the game would just be another walk in the park for the Steelers. On their opening drive, Pittsburgh marched down the field with cold, calculating effciency, ending the drive with a 35 yard Matt Bahr field goal. Their defense was on task for the rest of the first quarter, shutting down Dan Fouts and the rest of "Air Coryell." The second quarter, however, was another story. Pittsburgh made the first big mistake of the game when Bradshaw was intercepted by Ray Preston, who took it back 70 yards for a touchdown. Charger kicker Rolf Benirschke missed the extra point, though, only putting San Diego up 6-3. On their next drive, the Chargers finally found a way to get past the Pittsburgh defenders, as Fouts hit Charlie Joiner for a 36 yard touchdown that silenced the Three Rivers crowd and put San Diego up by ten. The rest of the first half was fairly common, as the two teams traded late field goals to make the score 16-6 San Diego with just 30 minutes to play.

In the second half, Pittsburgh came out with a different strategy. Seeing how the Chargers were able to move the ball in the second quarter, coach Chuck Noll decided to lean on his running game much more in the second half. Franco Harris and Sidney Thornton were used extensively, running time off the clock and keeping Fouts and the rest of the Charger offense off the field. Harris (122 yards) and Thornton (98 yards) pounded the San Diego defense, though they were not able to generate any points in the third quarter. The Pittsburgh faithful began to grow restless as the fourth quarter started, especially when the Steelers settled for a third Bahr field goal.

However, it seemed as if sitting on the sidelines had added rust to the Chargers' offense. Not once in the fourth quarter did Fouts look comfortable in the pocket, and San Diego left a lot of time on the clock for the now confident Steelers. Sure enough, Bradshaw was finally able to find a grove, and thanks to the constant threat of the running game, the Pittsburgh quarterback was able to use play action to his advantage, with Pittsburgh finally reaching the end zone on a Bennie Cunningham nine yard touchdown with just three and a half minutes remaining. With the score now tied, the Chargers just needed to run out the clock and force overtime, but they could not even do that. They punted back to the Steelers, and once again, Bradshaw moved them downfield. With just thirty seconds to play, Lynn Swann came down with a 12 yard touchdown pass that put the Steelers in front for the first time in the second half. The shocked Chargers could not move the ball, and Pittsburgh was headed to the Super Bowl for the fourth time.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-23 San Diego-16

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-27 Houston-13

[Hurkman]

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) vs. Chicago Bears (10-6)
Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

For the second straight season, the Philadelphia Eagles found themselves in the NFC Wild Card round. This year, they looked like an even better team, with Ron Jaworski hitting more of a stride, throwing for 18 touchdowns, and halfback Wilbert Montgomery rushing for over 1,500 yards and scoring nine times. The Chicago Bears were back in the playoffs after sitting at home in 1978, and were hoping to make an impact once again. Walter Payton led the Bears on offense, with over 1,600 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, while the Chicago defense was one of the best in the league during the regular season, allowing just 249 points and causing 50 turnovers.

In the first quarter, it didn't appear as if the Eagles were intimidated by the Chicago defense at all. After a Bear punt on the opening possession of the game, the Eagles moved downfield quickly, with Montgomery rushing through the front seven of Chicago. With the Bears back on their heels, Jaworski was able to zip crisp passes to his receivers. Tony Franklin drilled a 42 yard field goal, and Philadelphia would add to that on their next possession. Following a Payton fumble, Montgomery broke through the Chicago defense for a 58 yard gain. Leroy Harris finished the drive three plays later with a two yard touchdown, and the Eagles had a commanding 10-0 lead as the second quarter began. The rest of the first half was much more of a defensive slugfest. Chicago settled down on defense, not allowing Philadelphia to even get past midfield, and the Bear offense finally came through. Payton broke loose on a 52 yard run that set up a Mike Phipps touchdown pass to Dave Williams that cut the Eagles' lead to 10-7 as the first half came to a close.

If the first half was dictated more by the Eagles, the second half pace was clearly being run by the Bears. With neither team still able to move very far, Chicago finally got a break midway through the third quarter. Phipps finally starting hitting open receivers, getting the Bears into field goal range. Sure enough, Bob Thomas' 42 yard attempt was good, and the Bears had tied the game. On the next Philadelphia possession, Jaworski was picked off deep in Eagles' territory by Doug Plank. Four plays later, it was Phipps who found his way into the end zone, giving the Bears their first lead of the game. From there on, it was the Chicago defense that set the tone. After being gashed by Montgomery in the first half, the Bears smothered him, and stopped the Eagles' offense along the way. Philadelphia would get one last chance to tie the game, but they were stopped cold on four plays inside the Chicago ten yard line. On this day, the Bears proved that a great defense could win the day if it had to.

Final Score: Chicago-17 Philadelphia-10

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-27 Chicago-17

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6) vs. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FL

For the first time in team history, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had made the playoffs. In just their fourth season, the Bucs had been able to turn their team from laughingstock of the NFL to serious title contender. They were able to do this thanks to a defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL, and a running attack that was headed by Ricky Bell and Jerry Eckwood. Opposing them would be the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, who had quite the down season compared to the year before. Super Bowl MVP Pat Haden was lost with a broken finger, so Vince Ferragamo led the Rams down the stretch, along with halfback Wendell Tyler and receiver Preston Dennard.

If Tampa Bay was nervous about playing in their first playoff game, it certainly did not show throughout the first half. Wendell Tyler fumbled the ball away on Los Angeles' first possession, and after a 39 yard run by Ricky Bell, quarterback Doug Williams hit Issac Hagins in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The Rams were able to respond, however, with Tyler making up for his fumble with a 62 yard touchdown run on the next possession. From there, though, it was all Bucs. Tampa took the Los Angeles kick and drove 73 yards in 15 plays, ending the drive with a Neil O'Donoghue 29 yard field goal. Their next drive was more of the same, lasting over six and a half minutes and resulting in a second 29 yard O'Donoghue kick. After another Ram punt, the constant pressure of the Tampa running attack finally forced Los Angeles to cave in, and Ricky Bell gained 45 of 61 yards on the Buccaneer drive, including the one yard touchdown that put Tampa up 20-7 at the half.

With the lead, and one of the best defenses in football backing them up, Tampa Bay played conservatively in the second half, scoring just six points on two more O'Donoghue field goals. However, Los Angeles was unable to even move the ball, crossing the 50 yard line just once in the entire second half. The Buccaneers relied heavily on Ricky Bell throughout the game, and he showed he was up for the challenge, gaining 175 on 24 carries. Meanwhile, Ferragamo was useless under center for the Rams, completing just six passes all day long as he faced a tremendous pass rush. As the gun sounded, the Buccaneers had won their first ever playoff game, while the Rams were left at a loss for words, wondering how they could fall from Super Bowl champion to being knocked out in their first playoff game so easily.

Final Score: Tampa Bay-26 Los Angeles-7

Real Life Score: Tampa Bay-24 Philadelphia-17 (Since the Bears won in this playoff rather than the Eagles, Dallas would be hosting Chicago, sending the Rams to Tampa.)

Dallas Cowboys (11-5) vs. Chicago Bears (10-6)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

For the second time in three years, the Bears were hoping that they could shock the world and defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs. This time though, the Bears wouldn't be catching Dallas by surprise, and this Dallas team looked better than the one Chicago had beaten. Roger Staubach, though 37 and on his last legs, had one of his best seasons ever, throwing for over 3,500 yards and 27 touchdowns. Tony Dorsett rushed for 1,100 yards and 6 touchdowns, while two Dallas receivers, Tony Hill and Drew Pearson, each had 1,000 yard seasons. For the Bears to wn this time, they would need to play a perfect game.

From the start, it became clear that a perfect game would not be the case for Chicago on this day. In the first quarter, the Bears managed just a lone first down, while Dallas' two drives resulted in a Rafael Septien field goal first, then a Tony Dorsett three yard touchdown run to cap an 82 yard, 11 play drive that ate up much of the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Bears finally get moving, answering the Dorsett touchdown with one of their own on a 46 yard touchdown pass from Mike Phipps to Steve Schubert early in the second quarter. Once again though, the Cowboys were able to respond, marching downfield in 10 plays and ending the drive with Dorsett's second score of the game, this one from eight yards out. The Bears offense again stalled after that, managing just a lone Bob Thomas field goal as the clock expired in the first half.

The second half was a pure demonstration on time of possession and how it can preserve a lead. Nursing a 17-10 lead, Dallas decided to let Dorsett do most of the work for them in the second half. It worked quite well, as the Cowboys finished with over 35 minutes of time on offense and Dorsett gained 125 yards on the day. Meanwhile, the Bears could achieve nothing even when they did have the ball. Walter Payton was gaining yards against the Cowboy defense, but then Phipps was unable to complete passes when it mattered the most. Midway through the third quarter, Phipps was intercepted by Cliff Harris, and Dallas turned the turnover into a second Septien field goal that ended the game, for all intensive purposes. Septien would add a third kick near the end of the fourth quarter, but by then, the game was no longer in question. Dallas had avenged their loss from two years before, and were headed to another NFC Championship.

Final Score: Dallas-23 Chicago-10

Real Life Score: Los Angeles-21 Dallas-19

NFC Championship Game

Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

Dallas Cowboys (11-5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)

For the ninth time, the Dallas Cowboys were taking part in the NFC Championship, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were just four years old and enjoying their first winning season. Despite the differences in success from the two teams, no one on Dallas was taking Tampa Bay lightly, especially with Ricky Bell in the backfield and that imposing defense keeping opponents off the scoreboard.

On the first drive of the game, it became clear once again that the Bucs were not nearly as intimidated as most Cowboy fans thought they would be. Taking the opening kickoff, quarterback Doug Williams led the Bucs on an eight play, 60 yard drive. Using both Ricky Bell and the play action fakes that he allowed to happen with his running, Tampa seemed unstoppable, and Bell put the exclamation point on that with an 11 yard touchdown run. After that, neither team could move much at all, with both defenses flexing their muscles, trying to prove that they were the tougher of the two. With each team bending, but not breaking on the defensive side, neither offense could even muster up enough for a field goal, and the game went to the half with the Bucs ahead 7-0.

As the third quarter started, Dallas came out of the locker room looking confident, and it soon showed why. After a Tampa punt on their first possession, the Cowboys finally began moving the ball down the field. Tony Dorsett picked up 50 yards on just two runs, and Roger Staubach was finally able to find his two favorite targets in Tony Hill and Drew Pearson. Though Dallas would have to settle for a Rafael Septien field goal, they now knew they could at least move the ball, and they would do that again on their next drive. Following a Benny Barnes interception of Williams inside Tampa territory, the Cowboys struck again, this time through the air. Staubach was four for four passing on the drive, including a two yard touchdown pass to Hill as time expired in the third quarter, giving Dallas a 10-7 lead with just 15 minutes to play.

The fourth quarter will be remembered as one of the most exciting quarters in playoff history. After a Tampa punt, Dallas drove down the field yet again, making it to the Buccaneers' 26 yard line. However, rather than attempt the field goal, coach Tom Landry elected to go for the first down, and Tony Dorsett was stopped cold. Just three plays later though, Williams threw his second interception of the game, this one to Randy Hughes, but the Cowboys could not convert, with Septien missing a long field goal this time around. Now with the ball and just under six minutes to play, the Bucs finally began to move the ball again. Ricky Bell was able to find running room again, and thanks to a Dallas 15 yard personal foul penalty, Tampa Bay was soon knocking on the door. That knocking soon became the door flying off its hinges, thanks to Bell's second touchdown of the game, this one from eight yards away with just two and a half minutes to play.

Down by four, Roger Staubach knew what he had to do. Tricking the Bucs by going with a running play early, Dallas caught Tampa off balance and gained 15 yards. Then, Staubach hit Tony Hill for 37 more yards, before finding Dorsett out of the backfield for another 15 yard gain, getting the Cowboys to the Tampa Bay six yard line with just a minute to play. On first down, Dorsett was stuffed at the line for no gain. The same thing happened on second down, setting up a third and goal to go at the Tampa Bay six. Staubach dropped back in the pocket, and threw a rocket of a pass, but Buccaneer defender Mike Washington stepped in front of Drew Pearson and intercepted the ball in the end zone, ending Dallas' comeback hopes. In just their fourth season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had not only shocked one of the best fanchises in NFL history, but they did so for the right to head to the Super Bowl.

Final Score: Tampa Bay-14 Dallas-10

Real Life Score: Los Angeles-9 Tampa Bay-0 (In Tampa Bay)

[Mattingly120]

Wow, NFC Champs only a few years removed from going winless.

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl XIV

The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)


Head Coach: Chuck Noll
416 Points Scored
262 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Terry Bradshaw


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Denver, 23-3: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated San Diego, 23-16: AFC Championship



Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)


Head Coach: John McKay
273 Points Scored
237 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Doug Williams


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Los Angeles, 26-7: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Dallas, 14-10: NFC Championship



The Game

Very few times in NFL history had two teams had such different paths to a championship game. In the 1970s, the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the most successful teams in the entire NFL, winning three Super Bowls in the decade. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started as a team in 1976, and lost the first 26 games they ever played. Now, just two seasons later, Tampa Bay stood a single win away from being crowned champions of the NFL. With an imposing defense and strong running attack, the Bucs were a match for any team. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers were built on defense and had possibly the best offense out of any of their other Super Bowl seasons. Something would have to give for one of these teams to be victorious.

As the game got underway, it soon became clear that neither team would have much success on offense on this day. Each team was unable to move the ball much at all in the first quarter, with only the Buccaneers having a lengthy drive into Pittsburgh territory. Kick Neil O'Donoghue shanked a 33 yard field goal, however, taking important points off the board. The second quarter was much of the same, as the Tampa running attack was ineffective against the Steelers' front four, while Terry Bradshaw was unable to get time to find his receivers in the face of a strong Buccaneer pass rush. Midway through the second quarter, Bradshaw finally got some time to throw, and found John Stallworth twice on one drive for gains of 17 and 19 yards, before Matt Bahr booted through a 35 yard field goal for the first and only points of the first half. After that kick, both teams dug in once again, and the score at halftime was just 3-0 in favor of Pittsburgh.

When the second half began, neither team knew what to expect from the other, and it showed early. Tampa was able to come out and contain the running of Franco Harris and Sidney Thornton, while Bradshaw was still under pressure on almost every pass. Meanwhile, after a half of fruitlessly pounding into the heart of the Pittsburgh line, Ricky Bell was allowed to run sweeps around the defensive front of the Steelers and found room that he had been missing before. On Tampa's first drive of the half, Bell carried the ball four times, gaining 26 yards and scoring a touchdown on a four yard run to give the Bucs the lead. With the way the defense was playing, Tampa Bay made that lead stick on one Pittsburgh possession, and the offense was driving once again as the fourth quarter began.

Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, the fourth quarter did not start as well as the third quarter ended. O'Donoghue missed his second 33 yard field goal attempt in the game, and with those points off the board, the Buccaneer defense knew that they would have to stop the Steelers from scoring any more points. For the most part, they were up to the challenge, but with the Tampa Bay offense running three plays and punting, the defense was getting more and more tired as the game went on. The Steelers were looking for a chance to break through, and they finally got it midway through the fourth quarter. Franco Harris finally found a few running lanes in a tired Tampa front four, and Matt Bahr kicked his second field goal of the game to put Pittsburgh within a point.

After another three plays and out by a now useless Tampa Bay offense, the Steelers once again drove down the field. Bradshaw was able to find Stallworth open twice for big gains on the drive, including a 13 yard reception on a third down and nine. With under a minute to play, the Steelers were again in field goal range, and with just 13 seconds remaining, Matt Bahr lined up for another field goal that would put the Steelers ahead. The 33 yard kick sailed through the uprights, and Pittsburgh now had a 9-7 lead. Tampa Bay would not go down without a fight, and after a good kick return put them in position for one last heave towards the end zone, Doug Williams was intercepted by Dennis Winston. Winston would not stop running until the clock read zero and he was standing in the end zone, scoring the only Steeler touchdown of the game and putting a final stamp on Pittsburgh's fourth Super Bowl championship.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-15 Tampa Bay-7

MVP: John Stallworth: 5 catches, 92 yards

[Hurkman]

Originally Posted by Mattingly120

Wow, NFC Champs only a few years removed from going winless.

Yeah, it was surprising to see when I simmed it myself. Of course, they actually hosted the NFC Championship game in 1979, so there was a real chance that they could have made it to the Super Bowl that year as well, so the sim wasn't really that far off.

[The Professor]

Yeah. A pity Tampa Bay didn't know where its bread was buttered when they alienated Doug Williams and allowed him to get charmed by the USFL's $$$$.

The decade and more of Bucs futility made people forget that John McKay put together, from scratch, a fundementally solid football team that bloomed along with Williams in '79. That defense is one of the all-time unsung greats in the league's history with the Selmons holding court.

And Ricky Bell's is a tragic story.

He was a star runner at USC, a surprise #1 overall pick in the '77 draft (they passed on Tony Dorsett). While Dorsett led Landry's Cowbows to the Super Bowl, Bell's Bucs were truly awful.

1979, though, was his finest hour as he blossomed alongside signal-caller Williams. That year he rushed for over 1,200 yards and carried the Bucs through the playoffs into their first NFC title game (he almost single-handedly hauled the Buccaneers past the Eagles in their first playoff game, netting almost 150 yards on the ground).

Over the next few seasons, however, Bell's effectiveness declined significantly. He suffered numerous, mysterious injuries while his strength all but disappeared. Eventually he was replaced as Tampa's feature tailback. Unable to rediscover his once formidable talents, Bell retired from the San Diego Chargers following the 1982 strike amid charges that he was lazy, that the injuries were a product of his mind, that he was a malingerer.

Only weeks later he learned what had caused his rapid decline when doctors informed him that he suffered from dermatomyositis, an insidious disease that caused hardening of the skin and muscles. It was terminal.

In 1984 Tampa Bay's first great workhorse died of a heart attack.

He was 29.

[Hurkman]

Wow Professor, I didn't know that much about Ricky Bell. I'm not old enough to remember that game against the Eagles, but when I read about it, it seems like he could have been one of the best backs in the NFL for a while had he been healthy. That's horrible, what happened to him.

Anytime anyone wants to add anything like that as I'm going along, please feel free to. I like to think I know my stuff, but there are things that slip through the cracks, like the Ricky Bell story. So go ahead, I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves to read more about some of these players.

[Hurkman]

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Oakland Raiders (11-5) vs. Houston Oilers (11-5)
Oakland-Alameda Stadium, Oakland, CA

In an odd coincidence, each AFC playoff team this season finished the year with an 11-5 record. For the Oakland Raiders, the record was good enough to get them to the playoffs for the first time since the 1977 season, while the Houston Oilers were attempting to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to the Broncos in the Wild Card round last season.

In the first quarter, the Oilers looked more than capable of advancing, as their offense, led once again by Earl Campbell and his almost 2,000 yards rushing marched down the field on their opening drive, scoring three points on a Toni Fritsch 45 yard field goal. After an Oakland punt, Houston once again moved down the field, almost at will, going 60 yards in 12 plays before settling for a second Fritsch field goal to put them up by six points as the first quarter came to a close. Neither team could do much of anything in the second quarter, as Oakland quarterback Jim Plunkett found himself under constant pressure, and the running attack of Mark van Eeghen and Kenny King seemed unable to move the ball against the Houston defense. Finally, with less than six minutes remaining in the half, Oakland was able to move the ball, with Plunkett finding Dave Casper for a 14 yard gain, then letting King and van Eeghen move downfield. The drive ended with a 23 yard touchdown to Cliff Branch, and Oakland found themselves going to the half with a slim 7-6 lead.

If the first half was any indication, then both teams were in for a defensive struggle in the second half. However, Oakland moved very quickly to rebuff that idea. The three times they had the ball in the quarter, they scored. First, King burst through the line for a one yard touchdown run that capped the opening 10 play drive of the half. Following a Houston punt, returner Ira Matthews fielded the punt and ran 51 yards for a second Oakland score. Then, kicker Chris Bahr got into the act, adding a 46 yard field goal to put Oakland ahead of the shocked Oilers 24-6 as the third quarter came to a close.

If the third quarter was bad for Houston, the fourth quarter was a nightmare. After a Plunkett interception set up a third Fritsch field goal, Houston would be unable to stop the Raiders for the rest of the game. Bahr started the slaughter with a 35 yard kick, and the Raider offense did the rest. After a so-so first half, Plunkett was excellent in the fourth quarter, throwing his second touchdown of the game to Bob Chandler to make it a 34-9 game. After another three and out for the Oilers, Van Eeghen needed just one play to find the end zone for yet another Oakland touchdown. Not to be outdone, Kenny King would score for the second time on the next Raider drive, and finally, Bahr would kick a final field goal late in the quarter. Oakland's return to the playoffs was everything they could have hoped it would be, while the Oilers were left in a state of pure and utter disbelief at what they had just been a part of.

Final Score: Oakland-51 Houston-9

Real Life Score: Oakland-27 Houston-7

AFC Divisional Playoffs

San Diego Chargers (11-5) vs. Buffalo Bills (11-5)
San Diego Stadium, San Diego, CA

For the first time since 1974, the Buffalo Bills had made the AFC playoffs. With former Rams head coach Chuck Knox leading the way, along with quarterback Joe Ferguson, rookie running back Joe Cribbs and a defense that allowed just 260 points all season, the Bills had once again become a force in the AFC. Of course, they would have to stop quite possibly the best passing attack in the NFL in the San Diego Chargers to advance to the AFC Championship. Dan Fouts had another excellent season, once again leading the league in passing yards and throwing for 30 touchdowns on the season. Meanwhile, John Jefferson, Charlie Joiner and Kellen Winslow all had over 1,000 yards receiving for the season, with Jefferson catching 13 touchdowns along the way.

With experience on their side, the Chargers were able to exploit many mistakes in the first half from the clearly nervous Bills. After a Buffalo punt on their first drive, San Diego moved downfield in nine plays, with Fouts doing most of the work through the air. The drive ended with a 10 yard touchdown pass to Jefferson, and the tone of the game would be set. Fortunately for the Bills, Fouts was off for most of the first half, throwing three interceptions, but Buffalo could do nothing with any of the turnovers. In fact, the only other points scored in the first half were thanks to a great punt by the Chargers, which led to a safety, and a Chuck Muncie four yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.

With the nerves being a factor in the first half, Buffalo hoped that they could settle down in the second half of the game, but they did not get off to a good start. After forcing a Charger punt, quarterback Joe Ferguson was intercepted. From there, the Chargers were able to move downfield, this time with the running game of Muncie and Mike Thomas to help eat up some clock. San Diego would have to settle for a Rolf Benirschke field goal with just five minutes remaning in the quarter, but the score effectively ended Buffalo's chances. Buffalo would finally get on the board with a field goal from Nick Mike-Mayer at the start of the fourth quarter, but San Diego answered with Muncie's second touchdown of the game soon after. The Bills were finally able to score a touchdown late in the quarter when Ferguson ran it in himself from 10 yards out, but they missed the extra point, and after an intentional safety from the Chargers, Buffalo could not move the ball, and San Diego was headed to their second straight AFC Championship.

Final Score: San Diego-26 Buffalo-11

Real Life Score: San Diego-20 Buffalo-14

Cleveland Browns (11-5) vs. Oakland Raiders (11-5)
Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH

A bitterly cold mix of snow and ice greeted the Raiders and Browns as the two teams met to see who would go to the AFC Championship. For Cleveland, the Browns had made the playoffs for the first time since 1972. Quarterback Brian Sipe had an amazing season, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, while halfback Mike Pruitt rushed for over 1,000 yards. Meanwhile, the Raiders had the veteran Jim Plunkett leading the way at quarterback, to go along with the duo of Mark Van Eeghen and Kenny King in the backfield.

As the first half got underway, the Raiders wasted no time in enforcing their will onto the game, moving against the Cleveland defense quickly, with Plunkett using shorter passes due to the weather. King and Van Eeghen each had a hand in the drive as well, but it was Cliff Branch who finished things off, taking a swing pass 17 yards for the touchdown. After a Plunkett interception on the next Oakland drive, the Browns were able to take advantage, and kicker Don Cockroft booted a 34 yard field goal through the uprights late in the first quarter. Oakland answered very quickly, however, using power running and short passes once again to grind the Cleveland defense back. Once again, a Plunkett touchdown finished things off, this one to Rich Martini on a slant pattern, to put Oakland up 14-3. This time, Cleveland used the legs of Pruitt to attack the Oakland defense, with Sipe finishing things off with a touchdown pass to Charles White. However, Oakland once again answered, with Chris Bahr nailing a 27 yard kick to close out the first half and put the Raiders up 17-10.

The weather got even worse at the half, with more snow falling into a now swirling wind. Knowing this, the Browns came out and used Pruitt even more extensively in the third quarter, having him or fullback Charles White touch the ball 10 times on a 14 play drive that ended with a Cockcroft 23 yard field goal. From that point on, neither team could move the ball in the quarter, with each team focusing on the running game in the face of one of the coldest games in NFL history. As the fourth quarter began, Cockcroft missed a 28 yard kick that was into the heart of the wind, and while the Raiders could not score either, the next Cleveland drive resulted in a Sipe interception that was returned by Bob Nelson for a touchdown. The Browns had a shot on their next drive, as well, but Sipe tried his only long pass of the game, and the wind got a hold of it. Oakland safety Odis McHenry came down with the ball at the Oakland one yard line, ending another Cleveland threat. Oakland controlled the ball for much of the remainder of the game, and though the Browns did score once more on a Sipe touchdown to Ricky Feacher with a minute and a half remaining, they could not recover the onside kick, and Oakland was able to run out the clock and send themselves back to the AFC Championship.

Final Score: Oakland-24 Cleveland-20

Real Life Score: Oakland-14 Cleveland-12 (Red Right 88)

AFC Championship Game

San Diego Stadium, San Diego, CA

San Diego Chargers (11-5) vs. Oakland Raiders (11-5)

For the third time in the 1980 season, the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders were squaring off. While the two teams each won a matchup during the regular season, this game was for the right to go the Super Bowl. For Oakland, it would be their first trip back since Super Bowl V, and Jim Plunkett would have vindication for the people that said he was washed up. For San Diego, it would be their first ever trip to the Super Bowl, and would stand as proof that Don Coryell's system could lead to a championship after coming so close with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Throughout the first half, the Raiders decided that the best way to beat the Chargers would be to keep their explosive offense off the field, so they focused almost entirely on their running game. The only problem with this is that San Diego was prepared for this plan, and came out with seven or eight defenders in the tackle box on almost every play. Neither Mark Van Eeghen nor Kenny King could get anything going aginst a determined Charger defense, but at the same time, the Chargers' offense could not move the ball into scoring position against the Raiders' defense, either. After a bad Oakland punt started the second quarter, the Chargers were finally able to move, and after three straight first down plays, Dan Fouts hit Kellen Winslow in the end zone for a nine yard touchdown and the lead. Late in the second quarter, Winslow came through again for the Chargers, making two huge catches that set up a Rolf Benirschke field goal as the first half came to a close.

With the Raider offense still stuck in the starting blocks, the Chargers knew that one more score might be enough to get them to the Super Bowl, and it did not take them long to achieve that. After taking the opening kickoff of the second half, San Diego controlled the ball for the next seven and a half minutes, moving 84 yards with a mixture of punishing runs and long crisp passes. Charlie Joiner finished the drive with an 18 yard touchdown catch that put the Chargers up 17-0. Now forced to throw, Jim Plunkett found himself under pressure for much of the second half as the Charger defenders rushed him from seemingly every direction. When all was said and done, Plunkett finished the day 7/23 for only 75 yards, while the Chargers continued to pour it on. The fourth quarter saw San Diego controll the majority of the clock and add two more scores. John Jefferson was on the receiving end of a 13 yard dagger early in the fourth quarter, and Benirschke finished things off with his second kick midway through the quarter. Oakland's attempts to run the ball for control of the clock failed, as Kenny King gained only seven yards to Van Eeghen's 52, and the Raiders were almost doubled in time of possession. When the gun sounded, the Chargers were headed to their first Super Bowl, while the Raiders were once again forced to watch another team celebrate.

Final Score: San Diego-27 Oakland-0

Real Life Score: Oakland-34 San Diego-27

[The Professor]

Too bad. The "Kardiac Kids" are, without a doubt, my all-time favorite single season football team/story. Another close loss this time around, but no 'Red Right 88' to haunt the dreams of Clevelanders.

On the other hand, I'm happy to see Air Coryell get into a Super Bowl.

[Hurkman]

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Dallas Cowboys (12-4) vs. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

After being shocked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in last seaon's NFC Championship, the Dallas Cowboys found themselves in an unfamiliar position as a wild card team in 1980. Roger Staubach had retired and was replaced by Danny White, who filled his shoes with a 3,200 yard, 28 touchdown season. Tony Dorsett was still the workhorse running back, while receiver Tony Hill had over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns to pace the highest scoring team in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Rams had rebounded after a poor season in 1979, with Vince Ferragamo fitting into the starting role much better, as he threw for almost 3,200 yards and 30 touchdowns, while Cullen Bryant and Elvis Peacock provided a dual backfield threat.

In the first half, it appeared as if the Rams would be able to stop the highest scoring team in football, and with ease at that. Danny White looked nervous in his first playoff start, and with the Rams determined to stop Dorsett and make White beat them, they were able to force the Cowboys to punt on almost every drive in the first half. The Rams put up the first points of the game on a Frank Corral 28 yard field goal late in the first quarter, and after once again stopping Dallas, Ferragamo got things going, using the running of Bryant and Peacock to move downfield before throwing a 30 yard touchdown pass to Preston Dennard. With Dorsett still unable to move the ball for the Cowboys, Los Angeles was presented with another chance, and scored again on a second Corral field goal midway through the second quarter. Late in the second, Dallas was finally able to move the ball when Dorsett hit a seam and gained 12 yards, which set up a White 16 yard pass to Tony Hill. With the clock running down in the half, Rafael Septien nailed a 50 yard field goal to give the Cowboys some points headed into the half, but it did not look good for Dallas.

With Dallas finally able to move the ball late in the first half, they came out with more confidence in the second half, and the nervousness seemed to have vanished from White's face. He led the Cowboys downfield on the opening drive of the second half, but Septien missed a 45 yard field goal, taking important points off the board. However, the Dallas defense, which had been almost run completely over in the first half, was re-energized, and stopped the Rams cold time and time again in the third quarter, getting in the face of Ferragamo and stopping Bryant and Peacock in their tracks. As the fourth quarter started, the fans could feel the momentum changing, and coach Tom Landry had one last surprise for the Rams.

Los Angeles had based their entire gameplan almost entirely on stopping Tony Dorsett. While that was working, what they weren't prepared for was Dallas using their leading rusher as a decoy. On the first Dallas drive of the fourth quarter, that's exactly what the Cowboys did, faking several handoffs to Dorsett before actually giving the ball to the veteran Robert Newhouse. With the Ram defense caught totally out of position time and time again, the Cowboys were finally able to get into scoring position, and Newhouse fittingly finished things off with a 16 yard touchdown that put the Cowboys right back into the game. The Rams were still being assaulted by the Dallas defense, and even their attempts to run the ball just to eat up clock were not working any more, as the Cowboys were forcing punt after punt in the fourth quarter. With just a minute and a half remaining, Dallas got one last punt, and Danny White stepped onto the field, looking momre confident than he had the entire game. After an 11 yard pass to Jay Saldi, White found Tony Hill streaking up the sidelines for a 41 yard gain that put the ball at the Los Angeles 30. Hurrying to the line of scrimmage, White caught the Rams out of position, and found Butch Johnson wide open. No Ram was within five yards of him as he walked into the end zone for the go ahead touchdown with just 30 seconds to go. When Ferragamo's last, desperate pass was intercepted, Dallas was headed to the next round, and Danny White had earned a spot in Cowboys' history.

Final Score: Dallas-17 Los Angeles-13

Real Life Score: Dallas-34 Los Angeles-13

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles (12-4) vs. Minnesota Vikings (9-7)
Veteran's Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

For the first time since 1960, the Philadelphia Eagles were NFC East champions, and they achieved that mark with one of the best teams in franchise history. Quarterback Ron Jaworski had his best season to date, throwing for 3,500 yards and 27 touchdowns. Halfback Wilbert Montgomery had an off season, but the Eagle defense made up for it, allowing just 222 points on the season, which made them the least scored upon team in the NFL. On the other side of the coin, the Minnesota Vikings had returned to the playoffs after missing out in 1979. Quarterback Tommy Kramer passed for over 3,500 yards, and receiver Ahmad Rashad caught 69 passes for almost 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns.

For the majority first half, though, it was the Vikings that looked like the more dominant team, scoring on the opening drive of the game thanks to a Rick Danmeier field goal and holding the Eagles to just five offensive plays in the first quarter. A second Danmeier kick opened up the second quarter, but then the Eagles were able to get on track, with Jaworski, Montgomery and backup halfback Louie Giammona leading the way on a 16 play, 67 yard drive that lasted almost nine and a half minutes. Though Philadelphia could not score a touchdown, they were able to get a Tony Franklin field goal. With the Eagles' defense now well rested, the Vikings were unable to move the football, and this time, it was all Jaworski and Montgomery, as the duo moved the Eagles downfield. Jaworski finished the drive with a three yard touchdown to Charlie Smith that gave the Eagles the lead for the first time on the day. The half came to a close with that same 10-6 score.

With momentum on their side, the Eagles came out in the second half determined to put Minnesota away. On their opening drive, they again moved downfield, and Jaworski finished the drive with his second touchdown pass, this one to Keith Krepfle that gave Philadelphia a 17-6 lead. The Vikings were down, but not out, and though they could not score in the third quarter, they kept the Eagles from scoring again, and seemed ready to make their move as the fourth quarter got underway. It was punt returner Eddie Payton who made the first impact, taking back a Philadelphia punt for a 67 yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Eagles were able to respond with a second Tony Franklin field goal on their next drive to make the score 20-13. Minnesota was able to move the ball fairly well on their next drive, but they were stopped on a fourth down attempt, giving the Eagles the ball with just three minutes to go. Needing a big play, the Vikings got one, stopping Philadelphia on just three plays and leaving enough time for one last drive. That time started to tick away, however, and Minnesota found themselves looking at a fourth down and 26 with five seconds to play. Tommy Kramer threw up a prayer to the end zone, and somehow, someway, Sammy White managed to come down with the football! The extra point was good, and the stunned Philadelphia fans watched in horror as the game headed to overtime, thanks to a miracle of a pass.

There would be no second miracle for the Vikings, however. Philadelphia won the coin toss to start overtime, and held onto the ball for seven minutes. A Jaworski scramble on third and eight gave the Eagles a chance in Minnesota territory, and with the Vikings expecting Montgomery to get the ball, Louis Giammona took a handoff and ran 18 yards for the game winning touchdown, sending the Eagles to their first NFC Championship in 20 years, and leaving the Vikings one miracle short of a tremendous upset.

Final Score: Philadelphia-26 Minnesota-20/OT

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-31 Minnesota-16 (The Eagles forced eight turnovers in this game...in the second half!)

Atlanta Falcons (12-4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
Fulton Country Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Taking the place of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for "most surprising team" in 1980 was the Atlanta Falcons. Coming off the heels of a 6-10 season in 1979, no one expected much from the Falcons this season, but thanks to the arm of Steve Bartkowski and his 31 touchdowns, as well as the running of William Andrews and a defense that allowed the fifth fewest points in the NFL, the Falcons finished the year as the best team in the NFC. Of course, their prize for this was Danny White, Tony Dorsett and the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs, but at this point, the Falcons believed that anything was possible.

Rather than waiting this week as they did against the Rams, Dallas came out against the Falcons and put up points rather quickly. Their first drive of the game resulted in a Rafael Septien field goal, and it seemed like the Cowboys would be sitting pretty this week. However, the same nervousness that plauged Danny White last week seemed to avoid Steve Bartkowski, and he led Atlanta on a drive that answered the Dallas points and then some, as William Andrews hit a hole in the Cowboy defense for a 14 yard touchdown run. From there, both defenses held tough until late in the first half. Bartkowski and the Falcons were again able to attack the Dallas defense, though this time they had to settle for a Tim Mazzetti field goal. On the next Cowboy drive, Dallas went three plays and out, but Danny White's (he was the punter too, believe it or not!) punt was blocked, and Andrews scored on an 11 yard touchdown run on the very next play. Dallas was able to respond just as the half ended, but all they could muster was a second Septien field goal to make the score 17-6 as the half ended.

If Dallas held on to any hope of coming back and winning against the Falcons, it was almost all dashed on the first drive of the second half. Atlanta took the opening kickoff and went 84 yards in 13 plays. William Andrews scored his third touchdown of the game, this one on a one yard pass by Bartkowski, and Atlanta had the game pretty much in hand from that point on. Their defense continued to put the squeeze on Danny White, as Tony Dorsett was held to 44 yards on 15 carries. Meanwhile, William Andrews had the game of his life, scoring one final touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a five yard run. The only negative in almost the entire game was that Mazzetti missed the extra point, and the Cowboys were able to score on their next drive on a Tony Hill touchdown. At that point though, it was too little, too late, and the Falcons were headed to their first ever NFC Championship game.

Final Score: Atlanta-30 Dallas-13

Real Life Score: Dallas-30 Atlanta-27

NFC Championship Game

Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Falcons (12-4) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)

For the first time since the Redskins and Packers faced off to see who would go to Super Bowl VII, two NFC teams were squaring off for the right to go to their first Super Bowl. Both the Eagles and Falcons had excellent quarterbacks, halfbacks and defenses, but only one would be able to stand tall as NFC Champion. All the fans that came into Fulton County Stadium were expecting a great matchup, and both teams knew that their opponents were going to give it their all on this day. The Falcons had the advantage, not only because they were playing at home, but because they already had defeated the Eagles once on the season, in Philadelphia, but the Eagles knew that the playoffs were a different time, and what you did in the regular season mattered very little.

Everyone expecting a good game was not disappointed at all by the first half. The Eagles got things started with an opening drive that took advantage of a great kickoff return. Starting at their own 40, Philadelphia needed just 28 yards to get into field goal range, and Tony Franklin knocked through a 40 yard kick for an early Philadelphia lead. Just like in the Dallas game, the Falcons were quick to answer, and used William Andrews early and often. He pounded the front seven of Philadelphia and allowed Steve Bartkowski to then be able to find open receivers. After 11 plays and almost seven and a half minutes, Andrews finished the drive with a five yard touchdown that gave Atlanta the lead. The second quarter started out with the same fireworks as the first quarter. Ron Jaworski was able to use his powerful arm to find open receivers, and in turn, that allowed Wilbert Montgomery to find open running lanes. He did just that on a 23 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter that put the Eagles back on top, but the lead would not last long. This time, Andrews proved his worth as a receiver, catching a screen pass from Bartkowski and taking it 67 yards down to the Philadelphia five. From there, Junior Miller caught a Bartkowski touchdown pass, putting the Falcons back up. The Eagles then answered back, with Jaworski picking up most of the yards through the air and hitting Harold Carmichael with a 4 yard touchdown that gave the lead back to the Eagles, 17-14, as the first half ended.

Atlanta was looking for an answer of their own as the second half began, and they came very close to tying the game on the first possession of the half, but Tim Mazzetti missed a 49 yard field goal. From there, the Eagles were able to move downfield once again on the legs of Wilbert Montgomery and a 47 yard run. Leory Harris took it from there, gaining 11 yards on his first carry of the half, and then finishing the drive with a two yard touchdown that put the Eagles up by ten points. Atlanta was desperate to try and get back into the game following the touchdown, but the Philaelphia defense was up to the task this time, giving up no points in the third quarter. After Mazzetti managed to kick a 41 yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia moved back into Atlanta territory and answered with Tony Franklin's second kick of the game. Mazzetti would add another field goal on Atlanta's next drive, but the Falcons would not see the ball again, as Wilbert Montgomery finished up his day by running out the clock with a five yard run that gave him 121 yards on the day. As the clock hit zero, the Eagles were headed to their first Super Bowl, and had won their first NFC Championship since 1960.

Final Score: Philadelphia-27 Atlanta-20

Real Life Score: Philadelphia-20 Dallas-7 (In Philadelphia)

[The Professor]

1980 was really a great season for exciting, last-minute, football hijinks.

On the other side of the AFC Cleveland "Kardiac Kids" were the NFC's Vikings -- it is fitting that one of the Browns last-minute losses of 1980 came on the legendary Tommy Kramer-to-Ahmad Rashad 'Hail Mary' at the gun...

If Cleveland won and lost in hair-raising fashion, Bud Grant's Vikings were an eerily similar sort of team -- though lacking some of the Browns' charm. From 1979 through 1981, the Vikings ran an offense built on passing. Like the Browns, the Vikes seemed ahead of the curve in using their versatile backs as pass catchers on short, safe, routes. Grant turned the young Kramer loose early and often, short passes as good as runs to soften the defense and then a bevy of bombs to break their backs. And for a while the dark haired Texas phenom from Rice was the darling of the NFL.

While those less interested in football knew Kramer as the most eligible bachelor in Minneapolis, and a regular on the late-night gossip circuit, game fans and media knew him as "Two Minute Tommy."

Maybe it was the alcohol - Kramer would endure a much publicized rehab stint later in his career - but the heir apparent to Fran Tarkenton forged his reputation in those seasons. In the crunch, as they say. One week he was the best QB in the NFL, blistering secondaries for bunches of TDs. The next week, he threw bunches of passes to the secondary. Like their passer, the Vikings were a team few could figure out. They were routinely tabbed for the playoffs. Usually hot out of the gate.

And just as often, equally cold down the stretch.

Their games were microcosms of their seasons. Hot, cold, then maybe hot again.

But, say this for them, they were exciting. One might almost imagine that Tommy Kramer gave the media a test run for the sort of focus and praise they'd shower on John Elway in later years. No game in which he started ever seemed out of reach, and in the final two minutes - like Brian Sipe in Cleveland - he was one of the most revered "comeback" maestros in the NFL.

Eventually, however, the talent around Kramer got old. The late night carousing lost its glamour as the Vikes lost more than they won, and the interceptions seemed to happen three times as often as the touchdowns. Kramer was a disappointing problem child with attitude problems. And there were injuries. Constant injuries.

True, Tommy finally jumped on the wagon. There was the infamous night-before-game oyster ritual. And leading the NFC in passing in 1986, a fine last hurrah. But by that time he was an old man - older than his years - whose wiles were much longer than his arm.

When the Vikings, on the back of a great defense, finally returned to contention, it was not Two Minute Tommy at the helm but fellow Texan Wade Wilson, his longtime backup.

An interesting, unsung, character of the 1980s, Kramer was the throw-a-ton, two-minute-wunderkind, turned drunk, turned comeback kid, turned veteran washout. Elway before there was Elway, and - if you are familiar with his backstory - Todd Marinovich before Todd Marinovich (Kramer was the product of a stern, military man, who prepared his son to be a QB from early childhood -- to slightly better results than Marijuanavich, but still an object lesson of sorts...)

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl XV

The Superdome, New Orleans, LA

San Diego Chargers (11-5)


Head Coach: Don Coryell
418 Points Scored
327 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Dan Fouts


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Buffalo, 26-11: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Oakland, 27-0: AFC Championship



Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)


Head Coach: Dick Vermeil
384 Points Scored
222 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Ron Jaworski


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Minnesota, 26-20/OT: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Atlanta, 27-20: NFC Championship



The Game

For the first time since Super Bowl VII between the Packers and Dolphins, two teams were in their very first Super Bowl at the same time. The Philadelphia Eagles based their attack on an excellent defense, as well as the passing of Ron Jaworski, the running of Wilbert Montgomery and the disicpline of head coach Dick Vermeil. The San Diego Chargers had an attack known as "Air Coryell" after their head coach, Don Coryell. Quarterback Dan Fouts was the head of the most prolific passing attach the NFL had ever seen, with three receivers gaining over 1,000 yards during the regular season. The running attack was very limited, with no back gaining over 700 yards, but the offense was still one of the highest scoring in the NFL. Something would have to give in a game between high flying offense and hard nosed defense.

As the first quarter started, most people could see that the Eagles looked a little nervous as they came on to the field, while the Chargers were looser, and seemed less tense. It certainly didn't show on the first San Diego drive, which was stopped after just one first down. However, the Philadelphia offense looked very timid early on, and was forced to punt after three plays. San Diego rushed punter Max Runager, and his kick was blocked and recovered by the Chargers at the Philadelphia 29 yard line, which then set up a Rolf Benirschke 20 yard field goal for the first points of the game. The next time the Eagles got the ball, the nervousness was still evident, and Ron Jaworski was intercepted by Glen Edwards, ending what looked like a developing drive. Though the Chargers would not score following the turnover, they had set the tone for the rest of the day on defense in the first quarter.

The next Philadelphia drive started as the second quarter began, and was showing some promise, as Wilbert Montgomery was able to break off a 19 yard catch and run on a Jaworski swing pass. After that, though, the San Diego defense clamped down, and as the Eagles were on the cusp of field goal range, the Chargers brought down Jaworski, forcing the Eagles to punt. The San Diego offense would make the Eagles pay on their next drive, as Fouts was finally able to get a handle on the complicated Philadelphia defense. Chuck Muncie also broke off a 35 yard run on a draw play that saw the Eagles completely out of position, as almost everyone believed a pass was on the way. In the end, Philadelphia native John Cappelletti finished the drive with a two yard touchdown that put the Chargers up 10-0. Philadelphia again was able to move on their next drive, but Tony Franklin missed a 47 yard kick, and the Chargers went back on offense and made the Eagles pay again. As the second quarter came to a close, Benirschke added his second field goal of the game, and San Diego went to the half with a 13-0 lead, and all the momentum in the world.

As the game started its second half, the Eagles knew that they needed a score early for a win to even remain an option. Instead, what they got was a three play drive and a punt, killing whatever motivation they had coming out of the break. The Chargers wasted no time in putting in a dagger, either, embarking on a quick 72 yard touchdown drive, thanks in large part to another Muncie run, this one going 32 yards. Charlie Joiner finished things up with a one yard touchdown reception, and after the Eagles punted yet again on their next drive, the Chargers set about burying whatever chances Philadelphia had left of winning.

A Super Bowl record 19 play, twelve minute drive followed for San Diego, who was now more than willing to run the ball in areas where they might have passed before. The exhausted Eagles defense was unable to stop Muncie, Cappelletti or Mike Thomas on the ground, and when Fouts did drop back to pass, his receivers were almost always wide open. Though the Chargers did have to settle for a third Benirschke field goal, they had completely taken the Eagles out of the game, and the end result was no longer in doubt. Following two final Philadelphia drives ending in fourth down misses, Fouts was able to run out the clock on one of the most dominant Super Bowl wins of all time. With over 36 minutes on offense, and just nine incomplete passes, "Air Coryell" had found its legitimacy in the Superdome of New Orleans.

Final Score: San Diego-23 Philadelphia-0

MVP: Dan Fouts: 20/29, 209 yards, 1 TD

[Hurkman]

I've now gotten through 15 seasons, which means there have been 15 Super Bowl winners. I think now's a good time to look back at some of those teams and players that have stood at the top of the NFL mountain.





Jack Kemp and Super Bowl I MVP Bobby Burnett led the Bills to a stunning 19-16 win over Dallas in Super Bowl I, leading to the merger of the AFL and the NFL just three years later.




Just one year later, it would be the Rams who would restore honor to the NFL, with MVP Les Josephson leading the way in a 13-9 win over the Raiders




After being embarassed in Super Bowl I, Don Meredith and the Cowboys got their revenge in a 21-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl III. It was the first matchup between two Super Bowl losers.






Super Bowl IV would feature the first repeat winners in the Los Angeles Rams and Roman Gabriel, as well as the first defensive player to win MVP honors, as Doug Woodlief dismantled the Kansas City offense in a 19-11 victory.








Not to be outdone, the Dallas Cowboys became the first team to win back to back Super Bowls, taking Super Bowls V and VI over the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Colts. Super Bowl V also featured the only player on a losing team to be named MVP in Hewritt Dixon. Oddly enough, the Cowboys also won with two different men under center, as Craig Morton won Super Bowl V, and Roger Staubach took Super Bowl VI.






Then there was the perfect season. The 17-0 Miami Dolphins, led by Bob Griese and MVP Mercury Morris, closed out the season with a 17-14 win over the Cinderella Green Bay Packers.




The Rams then became the second team to three Super Bowl titles, as John Hadl guided Los Angeles to a convincing 27-10 win over Paul Brown and his Cincinnati Bengals.












Then, the Steel Curtain fell across the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers won the next three Super Bowls, all in dominanting fashion. Their 13-10 win in Super Bowl XI over Dallas was the only game within 21 points, and their 24-0 win over Washington in Super Bowl IX was the first shut out in Super Bowl history. Joe Gilliam became the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, then gave way to Terry Bradshaw for the next two.




Breaking the stretch of Steeler victories was Craig Morton and Denver, who took Super Bowl XII over the Los Angeles Rams. Morton became the first quarterback to win Super Bowls with two different teams.




The next season, the Los Angeles Rams became the first team to four Super Bowl titles, as former third string quarterback and World Football League castoff Pat Haden became a Super Bowl MVP and ended the Rams' struggles with a 17-13 win over the upstart Patriots






The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started their lives losing their first 26 games. Two years later, they made it to Super Bowl XIV, but even one of the best defenses in football couldn't stop the Steelers, and they lost a 15-7 heartbreaker.




After a tight loss in the AFC Championship the year before, the San Diego Chargers broke through for a dominating Super Bowl XV win over Philadelphia. Quarterback Dan Fouts was named MVP in the 23-0 romp, giving legitimacy to the "Air Coryell" plan of attack.

Super Bowl Scores:

Super Bowl I:	Buffalo-19  Dallas-16
Super Bowl II:	Los Angeles Rams-13  Oakland-9
Super Bowl III: Dallas-21  Oakland-3
Super Bowl IV:	Los Angeles Rams-19  Kansas City-11
Super Bowl V:	Dallas-10  Oakland-7
Super Bowl VI:	Dallas-26  Baltimore-3
Super Bowl VII:	Miami-17  Green Bay-14
Super Bowl VIII: Los Angeles Rams-27 Cincinnati-10
Super Bowl IX:	Pittsburgh-24  Washington-0
Super Bowl X:	Pittsburgh-31  Los Angeles Rams-10
Super Bowl XI:	Pittsburgh-13  Dallas-10
Super Bowl XII:	Denver-29 Los Angeles Rams-14
Super Bowl XIII: Los Angeles Rams-17  New England-13
Super Bowl XIV: Pittsburgh-15  Tampa Bay-7
Super Bowl XV:	San Diego-23  Philadelphia-0

[Mattingly120]

Good stuff so far. Looking forward to the next 27! I'm also glad the Eagles lost.

[Hurkman]

Here are the masterminds that crafted the winning gameplans in the first fifteen Super Bowls.

Clockwise, from L-R: Joe Collier (I), George Allen (II, IV), Tom Landry (III, V, VI), Don Shula (VII), Chuch Knox (VIII), Chuck Noll (IX, X, XI, XIV), Red Miller (XII), Ray Malavasi (XIII), Don Coryell (XV)

[Hurkman]

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

New York Jets (10-5-1) vs. Buffalo Bills (10-6)
Shea Stadium, Queens, NY

After last making the playoffs in 1969, the New York Jets were finally back in the top teams of the AFC. Quarterback Richard Todd bounced back nicely following a disasterous 30 interceptions in 1980 for a 25 touchdown, 13 interception season. Meanwhile, rookie halfback Freeman McNeil had a solid freshman campaign, while the defense, led by Joe Klecko, Mark Gastineau and Darrol Ray, gave up just 287 points for the season. For the Buffalo Bills, it was a second straight trip to the playoffs, following a loss to San Diego in 1980. Joe Ferguson passed for over 3,600 yards and 24 touchdowns, and Joe Cribbs had another solid season in the backfield as well.

The Bills were hoping to shake the ghosts of their previous playoff defeats, but the first quarter showed that some ghosts are not so easily shaken. On their first possession, Ferguson was intercepted. On the following drive, Frank Lewis fumbled after a 15 yard reception. Then, kicker Nick Mike-Mayer missed a 37 yard field goal on their last drive of the quarter. The only good thing about this all was that the Jets were unable to do anything with the ball, either. The Buffalo defense, which had been one of the stingiest in terms of points allowed during the season, was once again doing its job against the Jets. Richard Todd was under constant pressure, while McNeil and the running game were stuck in neutral. Buffalo finally made headway midway through the second quarter, following a good punt return. Joe Cribbs broke off a 14 yard run to put the Bills into field goal range, and this time, Mike-Mayer's aim was true, giving the Bills a 3-0 lead. Of course, this woke the Jets up, and Freeman McNeil was finally able to find running room, which opened up Todd in the passing game. With time expiring in the first half, kicker Pat Leahy booted a 33 yard field goal through, tying the game as it went to the half.

With the momentum now on the New York side of the football, the Jets came out in the second half and instantly made an impact. Starting with the football in the third quarter, the Jets moved downfield, with McNeil and second string halfback Bruce Harper slashing through the Buffalo defenders. With the Bills now worried about the run, Richard Todd was able to see clearly in the pocket, and his throws found their marks on key plays during the drive. Fullback Mike Augustyniak finished the drive with a one yard touchdown catch from Todd, giving the Jets the lead for the first time on the day. Buffalo's offense, on the other hand, still could not get going, and throughout the third quarter, drives that may have shown promise led to nothing but punts and frustrations, especially when the Jets were able to move the ball again on a 15 play, eight minute drive that spanned both the third and fourth quarter and ended with a second Todd touchdown pass, this one to Harper that put the game out of reach. Buffalo would score a late touchdown on a Ferguson pass to Mark Brammer, but New York recovered the onside kick and won their first playoff game in franchise history. (Remember, they lost in 1968 and 1969 in my world.)

Final Score: New York Jets-17 Buffalo-10

Real Life Score: Buffalo-31 New York Jets-27

AFC Divisional Playoffs

San Diego Chargers (10-6) vs. Miami Dolphins (11-4-1)
The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

After missing the playoffs in 1980, the Miami Dolphins made their return, with almost a completely different look. Gone were Bob Griese and Larry Csonka on offense, replaced with youngsters David Woodley and Tony Nathan. The defense had also been retooled and had allowed just 275 points on the season. Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champion Chargers didn't look like they had slowed down at all on offense. Quarterback Dan Fouts passed for an NFL record 4,802 yards, to go along with 33 touchdowns, while halfback Chuck Muncie rushed for an NFL record tying 19 touchdowns. Fouts had his favorite targets as well, as both Kellen Winslow and Charlie Joiner went for over 1,000 yards receiving. With a strong Miami defense, this game truly was a case of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.

On the opening drive of the game, it seemed as if the Chargers would be able to easily impose their will on the younger, less experienced Dolphins. Fouts found several open receivers, while Muncie gashed through for big gains on the ground. In the end, it was Fouts taking it into the end zone on a one yard sneak that finished things off and gave San Diego the lead. From there, however, the Miami defense held firm, stopping the Chargers throughout the rest of the first quarter and most of the second. Meanwhile, the Dolphin offense had started to move, with the dual running threat of Andra Franklin and Tony Nathan attacking the weaker San Diego defense. With the benefit of the running game behind him, Woodley gained confidence, and found Jimmy Cefalo for a three yard touchdown midway through the second quarter. With the Miami running game having such good effects, the Chargers figured they should switch things up as well, and began exclusively using the running attack against the Dolphin defense. Muncie, as well as James Brooks and John Cappelletti, shocked the Miami defenders just enough for Fouts to hit Kellen Winslow on a long pass that set up a Rolf Benirschke field goal. The Dolphins would not quit, however, and Woodley moved his team once again, this time using the long pass on a strike to Duriel Harris for 35 yards and a touchdown that put Miami ahead of the defending champs at the half.

While the Dolphins were able to score late in the first half, the second half was an entirely different story. San Diego forced a Miami punt on their first possession, which was then followed by a quick Charger scoring drive. Chuck Muncie rushed for 38 yards on the drive, including a 25 yard touchdown on a draw play that gave San Diego the lead back. The Miami offense was still stuck spinning its wheels in the third quarter, as the Charger defense clamped down on Woodley and the running game that had plagued them in the first half. San Diego wasn't setting the world on fire with their offense, either, but late in the third quarter, they began to move again. Fouts found Joiner and Muncie on back to back 15 yard receptions, then turned his attention to the running game again. John Cappelletti gained 13 yards on a rush, setting up James Brooks, who plunged into the end zone from a yard out, giving the Chargers a 10 point lead. Miami was not done yet, however. Following a San Diego punt on their next possession, Woodley again got the Dolphins moving in the steamy heat of Miami. Woodley went 5/6 on the drive, which ended on a Nathan four yard touchdown run that cut the lead to three points. The Chargers were not able to run out the clock, and Miami had one last shot. However, following a 13 yard gain on the first play of the drive, the San Diego defense again found another gear, and when Woodley was brought down in the backfield by Pete Shaw, the Chargers took over and were headed to their third straight AFC Championship.

Final Score: San Diego-24 Miami-21

Real Life Score: San Diego-41 Miami-38/OT (The Epic In Miami)

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) vs. New York Jets (10-5-1)
Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

After a five year absence from the playoffs, the Cincinnati Bengals had finally made it back. Head coach Forrest Gregg had installed a hard nosed system in Cincinnati that he learned from Vince Lombardi when he was a Hall of Fame lineman in Green Bay. Quarterback Ken Anderson, who led the Bengals to Super Bowl VIII, was still enjoying himself as a Bengal, and had an excellent season, passing for over 3,700 yards and throwing 29 touchdowns. Halfback Pete Johnson and receivers Chris Collinsworth and Dan Ross helped Anderson lead one of the highest scoring offenses in all of the NFL.

Early on, however, it was the Jets that looked like they were the team to beat in this game. On their first possession, New York marched right down the field, with Freeman McNeil leading the charge at running back. With McNeil establishing a run game, quarterback Richard Todd was free to focus on finding open receivers, and he did just that, hitting Wesley Walker with an eight yard touchdown to finish the drive. After a quick Cincinnati punt and excellent New York return all the way to the Bengal 11, it took Todd just one play to find Walker again in the end zone, putting the Jets ahead 14-0. Running back Charles Alexander had the ball stripped on the next Cincinnati drive, but Todd threw an interception, saving the Bengals from giving up any more points. The only problem was that the Jets were stopping Cincinnati cold on offense, and when New York got the ball again late in the first quarter, they began moving again. Todd hit Jerome Barkum on back to back plays that gained a total of 43 yards, then McNeil forced the Cincinnati line to give way, scoring from 21 yards out, and stunning the Bengals' fans.

This time, though, Cincinnati could respond. Down 21-0, the Bengals began the long road back on their next drive. Pete Johnson got things started with a 15 yard run, then Anderson picked up his game, finding open receivers that he could not hit in the first quarter. Johnson was given the honor of finishing the drive, scoring from five yards out and at least putting the Bengals back into the game. Cincinnati caught a break on the next Jet drive when Pat Leahy missed a 47 yard kick. Armed with the ball again, the Bengals went on the move, thanks in large part to the arm of Ken Anderson. While they could not find the end zone this time, they were able to get within kicker Jim Breech's range, and as time expired in the first half, Breech nailed a 22 yard field goal, putting Cincinnati down by 11.

Starting with the ball in the third quarter, the Bengals began another march down the field toward the end zone. This one though included a risky fourth down conversion at their own 41 yard line just a minute into the quarter, but the reward would soon justify the risk. After Anderson's passing put the Bengals into New York territory, the Bengals began to run the ball heavily. With the Jets now thinking run, Anderson faked a handoff to Johnson and hit Collinsworth, who was wide open along the sidelines, for a 19 yard touchdown. After a quick New York punt, the Bengals were on the move again, once again focusing on the running game. On the 10 play drive, the Bengals ran the ball seven times, eating up large chunks of yardage and wearing out the New York defense. This time, it was Dan Ross who benefitted from the running, as he found himself open for an Anderson 14 yard touchdown pass that put Cincinnat ahead and erased a 21 point New York lead. Down now for the first time in the game, the Jets could no longer muster anything on offense. As the fourth quarter got underway, New York needed a spark, and they got it on a good punt return that set them up at the Cincinnati 36 yard line. Needing very little room to get into field goal range, the Jets mustered their way close enough, and Leahy nailed the field goal, tying the game up at 24.

Of course, there was still plenty of time for the Bengals to strike back, and with the Jets seemingly unable to stop them in the second half, they did just that. The 14 play, 65 yard drive ate up seven and a half minutes of the precious fourth quarter and relied almost entirely on a now seemingly unstoppable Cincinnati running attack. With just a minute and a half remaining, Breech kicked his second field goal of the game, once again putting the Bengals up by three, but the Jets weren't done quite yet. Richard Todd, who had been under pressure the entire second half, was finally able to get some time in the pocket and quickly moved New York into Cincinnati territory. With just three seconds remaining, the Jets found themselves at the Cincinnati 31 yard line, which was well within Leahy's range. The snap was good and the kick was strong, but Leahy pushed it just a bit too much, and it sailed two yards to the right of the uprights as time ran out, sending the Bengals to the AFC Championship, and sending the Jets home in heartbreaking fashion.

Final Score: Cincinnati-27 New York Jets-24

Real Life Score: Cincinnati-28 Buffalo-21

AFC Championship Game

Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) vs. San Diego Chargers (10-6)

One of the coldest games in NFL history greeted the Bengals and Chargers as they took the field in Cincinnati to determine the AFC champion. Not only was the air temperature nine degrees below freezing, but with 25 mile an hour winds, the wind chill made it feel like -59 degrees, leaving many to wonder how the high flying San Diego offense would perform in both the cold and the wind.

As the first quarter came and went, it seemed as if neither team was ready to play in such freezing conditions. Both offenses were unable to move the ball, with "Air Coryell" being grounded as they played the first quarter into the stiff, 25 mile an hour wind. Cincinnati, on the other hand, got their passing game going late in the quarter, with Ken Anderson using the wind to his advantage, throwing long passes to Chris Collinsworth and Dan Ross to set up a Jim Breech field goal as the second quarter began. With the wind now with them, the Chargers began to operate as they normally did, with Dan Fouts airing the ball out to Kellen Winslow and Charlie Joiner. With the passing game now back on track, Chuck Muncie could get going as well, and he started the next San Diego drive with a 24 yard burst right up the middle. From there, Fouts did the rest, completing four straight passes to end the drive, including a three yard touchdown to Winslow that put the Chargers ahead. With Anderson now throwing into the wind, Cincinnati changed up their gameplan as well, and began running the ball more and more. Just like the Jets the week before, the Chargers seemed unable to stop the Bengals on the ground, and on a drive that featured just one short pass in eight plays, Archie Griffin plowed into the end zone from two yards out, giving Cincinnati the lead back. The Chargers were quick to respond this time, using the pass well again to set up a Rolf Benirschke 29 yard field goal late in the half that tied the game.

As the third quarter started, most people were amazed that the warm weather Chargers, who had just come from playing in the steaming heat of Miami, were able to perform so well in the freezing cold in Riverfront Stadium on this day. That amazement soon grew, as on the first San Diego drive, Fouts went three for three through the air, including a 10 yard touchdown to James Brooks to give the Chargers back the lead. After that, both offenses again seemed to freeze up, but with the lead, the Chargers were more than content to just run the football with Muncie, Brooks and John Cappelletti rather than attempt to throw it into either direction of the wind. Cincinnati, on the other hand, now had to attempt to throw the ball more and more, and as the wind picked up, that became even more difficult. With the Chargers now expecting Cincinnati to pass as the fourth quarter started, the Bengals could not move the football, and after a Bengal punt, Fouts utilized the short pass to move the Chargers downfield again. This time, Wes Chandler scored on a three yard slant pattern. Though Benirschke missed the extra point, the game was no longer in doubt. The Bengals were unable to get their offense moving again in the fourth quarter, and the only other scoring came on a Rolf Benirschke 39 yard field goal. When the gun sounded, the Chargers had survived the cold, as well as the Bengals, and were headed to their second straight Super Bowl.

Final Score: San Diego-26 Cincinnati-10

Real Life Score: Cincinnati-27 San Diego-7 (The Freezer Bowl)

[Mattingly120]

Let's see how my Giants do. Can't wait to get to the mid to late 80's when they were real good, see if they can win some playoff games they lost. Also, I'm doing this same thing, recreating the playoffs, for myself, and so far, I have some slightly different results, but I'm only in 1970.

[PlayTheKids]

Very cool stuff. I've considered doing a baseball one, but would want to format it well. I love the writing though, so perhaps I'll put something together.

Well done!