2014 NFL Tournament of Champions Third Round: Larry Csonka Bracket

Welcome back! Only fourteen teams remain standing after today's earlier post. We're set to narrow this bracket down as well.

Both of the Dolphins teams that won Super Bowls were eliminated last week, but there are still some extremely talented teams left standing. I'm also holding out hope that my Packers team still standing in this bracket can hold its own against a tough team from the old days.

So to decide who advances, we're keeping to tradition. All games are simulated best-of-three, with the "clinching" game being the official result. Weather forecasts will be taken into account, and all simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's narrow the field to twelve.

(XIX) '71 Dallas Cowboys @ (III) '96 Green Bay Packers
Game 1: '96 GB 30, '71 DAL 6
Game 2: '96 GB 23, '71 DAL 7
Dallas scored on its first full possession of the second quarter on a 16-yard Bob Hayes reverse, but it was all Packers from there. Chris Jacke hit three field goals, including the go-ahead one early in the third before the offense kicked into high gear. Edgar Bennett finished with 81 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, while Brett Favre completed 14 of 20 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown to Antonio Freeman. LeRoy Butler also picked off Roger Staubach once, who completed just 10 of 23 passes for 105 yards.

(XXVII) '02 Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ (XI) '79 Pittsburgh Steelers
Game 1: '79 PIT 15, '02 TB 0
Game 2: '79 PIT 17, '02 TB 10
Brad Johnson struggled for the Bucs, going just 12 for 27 for 178 yards. Michael Pittman did run 17 times for 96 yards and the lone Tampa touchdown. Terry Bradshaw showed a little magic though, as he went 18 of 30 for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner to Theo Bell from 38 yards out with about a minute to play. On the ensuing drive, after a first down to Keyshawn Johnson, Brad Johnson threw three straight incompletions to Joe Jurevicius before getting sacked on fourth down to seal the game.

To see the updated bracket, click here.

Once again in this round, home field siezed control, only the Pittsburgh game was closer. They have to head to the tundra next week to face that third-seeded Packers team. Consider it something of a rematch of Super Bowl XLV, except with players from the past.

Coming up tomorrow, I'll try to get the other two brackets finished up and ready to go so I'm actually running on schedule for once. Will home field continue to rule Round Three? Or will we finally see an upset? Check back tomorrow and find out!