I extended the days of Week 4 out to include Memorial Day as I think would have happened were this tournament being played in reality. The way the schedule aligns this week, five Dallas teams are hosting, so I'd have to spread it out anyway. And if this were in reality, even though it probably would have beaten the race, I wouldn't want to go up against the Indy 500.
Entering Week 4, a dozen undefeated teams still remain. At most we'll have four when everything is said and done given the nature of four groups playing a single round robin.
So how many will remain unbeaten after the dust clears this week? We're about to find out. Weather conditions from projected game times will be taken into account for these games. You can check out standings and scores from every week here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it!
Group A
'03 NE 27, @ '77 DAL 7
New England forced a three and out to open the game, then Tom Brady hit Kevin Faulk for a 41 yard gain to set up a two yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch. The Cowboys' response stalled in New England territory, but after a deep punt pinned the Pats at the nine, Brady hit David Givens for a 91 yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead. The teams traded punts for much of the rest of the half until Adam Vinatieri hit a 22 yard chip shot for a 17-0 halftime lead. New England opened the second half with another field goal, this one from 47 yards out for a 20-0 advantage. Roger Staubach was picked off on the ensuing drive, but the Patriots couldn't take advantage. Dallas would get on the board with about five minutes left after Tony Dorsett ran for 55 yards to set up a two yard touchdown run three plays later. The Pats got it back on the ensuing drive when Antowain Smith rumbled for 40 yards to set up a two yard Faulk plunge.
@ '95 DAL 31, '81 SF 10
San Francisco looked poised to take the early lead, but Ray Wersching missed a 47 yard field goal, and six plays later the Cowboys found the end zone on an 18 yard pass from Troy Aikman to Kevin Williams. Dallas forced a three and out and took control on their ensuing drive, with Emmitt Smith's 46 yard run later setting him up for a five yard touchdown run and a 14-0 edge. Aikman would throw a pick in the second quarter in 49er territory, but Joe Montana returned the favor in field goal range, and nine plays later Aikman found Jay Novacek from 10 yards out for a 21-0 halftime lead. The Niners would get on the board with a 31 yard field goal early in the third quarter, and after the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs instead of trying a 51 yard field goal, Montana led a 10 play, 66 yard drive capped by a 20 yard touchdown pass to Freddie Solomon. But Dallas put it away after a good punt return set them up in scoring range and Aikman was able to find Michael Irvin for a 26 yard touchdown catch and run to effectively end the contest.
'87 WAS 20, @ '72 MIA 10
The Dolphins got off to an early start, with Earl Morrall finding Marv Fleming for a 41 yard gain that he would fumble on, though the Dolphins did recover. They stalled there and had to settle for a field goal. That lead would hold for a while despite Morrall throwing an interception, until the second quarter when Miami punted just in Washington territory. seven plays and 74 yards later, Jay Schroeder found Ricky Sanders for a 22 yard touchdown to take the lead Obed Ariri would extend the Redskins' lead after a Dolphin three and out with a 43 yard field goal, and would hit from 44 on Washington's next drive for a 13-3 lead. Garo Yepremian would miss a 47 yarder in the third, and eventually desperation set in when the Dolphins went four and out from their own 23, turning it over on teh 29, and on the ensuing play, Lionel Vital would run one in from 29 yards out to effectively end the contest. A Mercury Morris one yard touchdown run with three seconds to go made the margin a little closer than it really was.
@ '84 SF 23, '16 NE 21
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| Photo from the Associated Press (photographer uncredited) |
'99 STL 27, @ '02 TB 9
St. Louis continues its domination of its group as they dominated this one from the get-go. The Rams forced a three and out to open the game, then Jeff Wilkins hit a 40 yard field goal for the early 3-0 lead. After the Bucs failed to convert a 4th and one, Marshall Faulk went to work, scoring from three yards out for a 10-0 edge. It was 17-0 midway through the second when Warner rumbled for a 43 yard touchdown grab to cap an eight play, 96 yard drive. Tampa got on the board with a field goal late in the quarter, but St. Louis got it back early in the third on a 48 yarder by Wilkins. Faulk scored again late in the frame on a 10 yard draw that made it 27-3. The Buccaneers would get a garbage time touchdown in the fourth, but after Michael Pittman scored from 11 yards out, Mike Alstott was stuffed on the two point conversion attempt, but that was all they could muster.
@ '69 KC 16, '13 SEA 8
The Chiefs opened the game with a strong drive as a 36 yard pass from Len Dawson to Robert Holmes set up a 35 yard Jan Stenerud field goal for the early 3-0 Kansas City lead. They'd pad it early in the second after converting a third and nine at the Seahawk 11, and one play later Dawson found Frank Pitts from a yard out for the 10-0 lead. The Seahawks' offense was completely useless for much of the game and found itself needing two touchdowns to try and win when Stenerud hit from 34 yards out late in the third for a 13-0 lead. Holmes would rumble for 50 yards early in the fourth to set up another short kick for Stenerud, who gave Kansas City a 16-0 lead. Seattle would finally break through late in the frame when Russell Wilson found Zach Miller for a 49 yard gain, and Marshawn Lynch followed that up with an 18 yard touchdown run and a two point conversion to boot, cutting the lead in half. Pete Carroll opted to kick away, which worked: Seattle forced a three and out, but Russell Wilson was immediately picked off, though the Chiefs couldn't capitalize as Stenerud missed a 48 yard field goal. But the Seahawks couldn't do anything with their last chance as Wilson scrambled for a yard and missed three pass attempts, allowing Dawson to kneel it out.
Group B
@ '93 DAL 35, '06 IND 27
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| Photo by Richard Mackson (US Presswire) |
@ '86 NYG 20, '70 BAL 10
The Colts had a little of both extremes on special teams early in this one: Jim O'Brien missed a 41 yard field goal early on, but made up for it late in the frame when Ron Gardin returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown. The Giants made their way back in the game after picking off Johnny Unitas and four plays later Raul Allegre hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 7-3. Allegre would hit from 38 with about a minute and a half to go to get within one, but the Colts got it back when O'Brien hit from 25 to make it a 10-6 game at the half. Phil Simms would throw a pick in the third quarter, but the Colts couldn't capitalize, and in the fourth the Giants got their first lead on an 11 play, 79 yard drive with Simms capping it off with an eight yard touchdown pass to Lionel Manuel. The Colts had to punt on the ensuing drive, and the Giants effectively ended it when Lee Rouson punchied it in from a yard out on the first play after the two minute warning.
'74 PIT 27, @ '09 NO 3
To answer an age old question of how a modern offense would fare against the Steel Curtain, the curtain dominated. Roy Gerala got the Steelers on the board first midway through the opening frame with a 40 yard field goal. The Saints couldn't get much going until early in the second, but Pierre Thomas fumbled in Pittsburgh territory and the Steelers recovered. Six plays later, Preston Pearson broke through for a 44 yard touchdown run and a 10-0 lead. The Steelers would miss a 53 yard field goal to end the half, and compounded it in the third when Franco Harris lost a fumble. The Saints turned it into a 51 yard John Carney field goal, but the Pittsburgh offense broke it open when Rocky Bleier broke free for a 43 yard touchdown and a 17-3 edge. Drew Brees got picked off on the next play from scrimmage, and Gerala added another field goal. Terry Bradshaw provided the dagger with a 12 yard touchdown run early in the fourth.
@ '08 PIT 17, '17 PHI 0
The Eagles really miss Carson Wentz. Neither offense got much going until late in the first when a screen from Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward gained 48 yards to the doorstep, and after a Chris Long sack, Roethlisberger punched it in himself to cap a 96 yard drive. Roethlisberger would be picked on Pittsburgh's next drive, but the Eagles couldn't capitalize as Jake Elliott missed a 45 yard field goal. The Eagles went three and out to open the third, and the Steelers responded with a nine play, 64 yard drive capped by a 10 yard touchdown run by Mewelde Moore. The Eagles continued to punt, and Pittsburgh sealed it with a 23 yard field goal on the first play after the two minute warning, with the Eagles losing a fumble on the ensuing drive for good measure.
@ '92 DAL 22, '97 DEN 17
Denver got off to a good enough start in this one, with John Elway's 46 yard pass to Shannon Sharpe setting up an eight yard touchdown to Ed McCaffrey about four minutes in. They'd tack on a Scott Bentley 48 yard field goal late in the frame for an early 10-0 advantage. Dallas was able to get on the board with a drive that bridged the two frames and ended with a 24 yard Lin Elliott field goal, and he'd add a 28 yarder on their next drive to make it a 10-6 game. Elway threw a pick inside the two minute warning deep in his own territory, and three plays later Troy Aikman found Kelvin Martin for a two yard touchdown and a 13-10 Cowboy lead before the half. Lin Elliott would miss a field goal midway through the third quarter, and early in the fourth Denver took the lead back when Elway found Sharpe for a 48 yard touchdown. But the Broncos couldn't contain Aikman and company, as he marched the Cowboys into scoring range and Elliott hit from 30 yards out to pull within one. Denver went three and out, and a strong punt return helped the Cowboys get back into field goal range, with Elliott hitting from 25 for the lead with 1:56 left. The Broncos turned it over on downs in their own territory, and Elliott's 42 yard field goal was enough to hold off a comeback.
'96 GB 13, @ '71 DAL 7
A Duane Thomas fumble about six minutes into the game proved costly for the hosts, as the Packers marched 40 yards in nine plays, capped by a two yard touchdown strike from Brett Favre to Antonio Freeman. Midway through the second quarter, Thomas dropped the ball again, with the Packers again recovering, though this time they were held to a 27 yard Chris Jacke field goal and a 10-0 halftime lead. The Cowboys finally broke through to open the third despite getting pinned deep in their own territory. A facemask penalty brought Dallas out of the shadow of its own end zone, Thomas held onto the ball for a 46 yard gain, then punched one in from 16 yards out to make it 10-7. After that though, neither offense managed a first down until late in the quarter when the Packers began to move the ball, but Jacke missed a 50 yard field goal that could have extended the lead. They made up for it when George Koonce picked off Roger Staubach deep in Cowboy territory, and Green Bay was able to tack on three about halfway through the frame. Mike Clark missed a 42 yard field goal on Dallas' ensuing drive, but the Packers couldn't take full advantage. It required a defensive stand fairly deep in their territory and a Staubach overthrow on 4th and nine from the 24 to stave off the comeback.
Group C
@ '00 BAL 23, '12 BAL 6
The host Ravens got off to a good start, marching 73 yards in 12 plays, with Priest Holmes capping it off with a three yard touchdown run. The '00 Ravens then forced a three and out and broke it open when Trent Dilfer found Travis Taylor for a 41 yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead. The hosts tacked on a field goal right before halftime. The '12 Ravens got those points back early in the third when Ed Reed picked off Tony Banks, and Justin Tucker went on to hit a 50 yard field goal. Dilfer returned to the game and was immediately picked off by Reed again, and Tucker hit from 29 to make it 17-6. Matt Stover hit a chip shot to make it a 14 point game again late in the third, and added another late in the fourth after a Ray Rice fumble.
@ '76 OAK 16, '07 NYG 7
Both teams missed chances in the opening frame; the Giants had a fourth and one conversion negated by penalty, and Eli Manning took a sack on the ensuing 4th and 11, while the Raiders missed a 38 yard field goal late in the frame. Eli would get picked in the second, but it wasn't until almost the two minute warning that the Raiders would get on the board as Fred Steinfort was good from 41 yards out. Oakland got the ball to start the second half and took advantage, marching 62 yards in 15 plays and taking over nine minutes off the clock by the time Ken Stabler hit Clarence Davis from three yards out. The Giants answered with an eight minute drive of their own that saw them march 81 yards and pull back within three when Manning found Jeremy Shockey from 29 yards out. The Giant defense couldn't stop the Raiders from tacking on a field goal though, and after turning the ball over on downs with 1:38 left, Oakland added another field goal at the final gun to make the margin wider than it really was.
@ '10 GB 27, '90 NYG 19
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| Photo by Jamie Squire (Getty Images) |
'14 NE 26, @ '85 CHI 13
In the heat along the lakefront, the Patriots got off to a good early start, marching 51 yards in seven plays to get Stephen Gostkowski in range of a 42 yard field goal to open the scoring. Chicago would get in striking distance, but a Chandler Jones sack forced the Bears to punt from the New England 36 on 4th and 17. The Patriots made Chicago pay, marching 84 yards in ten plays as Brady found Shane Vereen from two yards out to make it a 10-0 game. Kevin Butler missed a 50 yard field goal early in the second, but after Richard Dent picked off Tom Brady, Butler redeemed himself with a 47 yarder. Gostkowski would respond with a 42 yarder set up by a 43 yard pass from Brady to Brandon LaFell. The teams would trade interceptions late in the frame and New England carried a 13-3 lead into the second half. The Bears got right back into it though in the third when a Walter Peyton 28 yard run helped set up a one yard touchdown to Matt Suhey. LaFell made another big play to help set up another Gostkowski field goal that made it 16-10, though Payton and the Bears got back into range and Butler hit from 36 to make it a three point game again. But Shane Vereen dealt a major blow with a 30 yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, and after Butler missed a 47 yard field goal with five minutes to go, the Patriots would add another for the final margin, though the final dagger was saved for a Brandon Browner pick on the final play of the game in the end zone.
'79 PIT 24, @ '66 GB 10
The Packers had chances aplenty in this one, but couldn't convert. Don Chandler missing a 32 yard field goal on the opening drive of the game. Franco Harris was stripped and the Packers recovered on the ensuing drive, but Bart Starr's fourth and two pass fell incomplete, and nine plays later Matt Bahr hit a 34 yard field goal to give the Steelers the early lead. Green Bay missed more opportunities in the second when Chandler missed a 48 yarder, then Bradshaw was picked off by Bob Jeter, though Green Bay couldn't score off of it, and after Sidney Thornton picked up 58 yards on a draw, Bradshaw found Franco Harris from six yards out for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead. Chandler would redeem himself with a 38 yard field goal at the halftime gun. Each team turned it over on downs in the third, and after Bahr missed a 40 yarder, Zeke Bratkowski, who had come into the game on that drive for reasons unknown, found Carroll Dale for a 65 yard touchdown that tied the game. Unfortunately, an outstanding kick return set the Steelers up to grab the lead right back, and five plays later they did when Bradshaw hit Bennie Cunningham from four yards out. Green Bay continued to get chances, picking off Bradshaw again early in the fourth and getting stops after that, but after the Pack turned it over on downs just inside the two minute warning in their own territory, the Steelers put it away as Sidney Thornton punched one in from 26 yards out for the two touchdown margin of victory.
@ '88 SF 13, '75 PIT 10
The 49ers missed out on some early opportunities, punting near midfield on the opening drive and seeing Mike Cofer miss a 37 yard field goal late in the first quarter, though Cofer would hit from 28 on the next drive. Pittsburgh had a chance to go down and tie it, but Roy Gerala's kick was blocked, and Cofer hit from 28 again for a 6-0 lead that the 49ers would take into the break. The Steelers took the lead about four minutes into the third when Terry Bradshaw found Lynn Swann for a 39 yard touchdown pass. After forcing a punt, the Steelers made it a four point game when Bradshaw led a seven play, 35 yard drive capped by a 21 yard Gerala field goal. The Steel Curtain held firm, and they looked poised to deliver a dagger with a nine play drive that got into range, but Gerala missed from 48, and Joe Montana worked his magic, marching the Niners 62 yards in 11 plays and finding John Taylor from two yards out for the go-ahead touchdown with 48 seconds left. Bradshaw and company went to work and actually got into lengthy scoring range, but strangely opted to kick on third and nine from 54 yards out, and Gerala missed wide left, allowing Montana to kneel it out.
Group D
@ '78 PIT 27, '67 GB 21
Terry Bradshaw led a strong opening drive, marching the Steelers 64 yards in nine plays, and Roy Gerala hit a 31 yard field goal to give Pittsburgh the early 3-0 lead. Gerala would miss a second one from 47, and then the game turned into a pick fest with Bart Starr throwing a pair to sandwich Bradshaw's interception. The Packers took the lead when Bart Starr capped a nine play, 80 yard drive with a 23 yard strike to Jim Grabowski. Pittsburgh answered with an eight play drive of its own that took less than a minute and a half with Bradshaw finding Lynn Swann from 18 yards out. Pittsburgh then doubled down when Mike Wagner picked Starr off and took it back 45 yards to the house. The Packers returned the favor 40 seconds later when willie Wood picked off Bradshaw and ran it back 23 yards for a touchdown and a 17-14 Steeler lead, though Starr would be picked again before the half ended. Green Bay actually grabbed the lead back early in the third when Grabowski followed up a 46 yard scamper with a 13 yard draw for a touchdown, but Franco Harris set the Steelers up for an answer with a 30 yard run, and Bradshaw found Swann again, this time from seven yards out to give Pittsburgh a 24-21 lead. Bradshaw would be picked again, but the Packers couldn't take advantage, and after Starr threw his fifth pick of the game with about 11 minutes to play, the Steelers marched 73 yards in 11 plays and Gerala nailed a 43 yard field goal for a six point lead. At this point, Vince Lombardi switched quarterbacks and Zeke Bratkowski was unable to lead the go-ahead drive.
@ '98 DEN 24, '01 NE 10
Denver had some early success in this one, overcoming a Terrell Davis fumble to force a punt, and Davis would redeem himself with a 45 yard touchdown run early in the first. Tom Brady tried to answer, but was picked by Bill Romanowski, though Jason Elam would miss a 49 yard field goal on the ensuing drive. Denver got back to it though with a three and out on defense then an eight play, 82 yard drive capped by a 24 yard pass from John Elway to Davis for a 14-0 lead. Bill Belichick took a risk going for it on 4th and 21 from the Denver 35, which failed, and six plays later Elway hit Rod Smith from 17 yards out for a 21-0 lead. The Patriots would finally get on the board late in the half when Brady capped a six play, 86 yard drive with a 74 yard touchdown pass to Troy Brown. That was about all New England could muster, and the Broncos would add a field goal midway through the third, though the Pats got it back early in the fourth. But a Darrius Johnson pick on first and goal from the one for New England and the Broncos recovering a fumble on the next drive effectively ended the contest.
@ '73 MIA 13, '05 PIT 0
The Dolphins dominated this one despite not scoring until late in the frame. Garo Yepremian missed a field goal on the opening drive, but would convert on Miami's second try from 48 yards out. Meanwhile, it took the Steelers until four and a half minutes into the second quarter to pick up their first first down, and that only came after Aaron Smith picked off Bob Griese. Yepremian would miss another field goal late in the half, but the Dolphins nonetheless took a 3-0 lead into the break. The Steelers had a chance early in the third to tie the game, but Jeff Reed missed a 46 yard field goal, and the remainder of the quarter was a swapping of three and outs. Ike Taylor would record another interception for Pittsburgh, but the Steeler offense couldn't convert it, and midway through the fourth with a short field, the Dolphins struck pay dirt when Mercury Morris punched one in from a yard out. Yepremian would add a field goal after the Steelers turned it over on downs in their own red zone on the ensuing drive, though he would miss two more before the game ended.
'15 DEN 24, @ '94 SF 17
The Broncos had the early edge in this one. After trading punts but winning the field position battle, the Broncos got a drive to start well into Niner territory, and seven plays later Brandon McManus hit a 24 yard field goal for the early 3-0 lead. San Francisco went three and out, and with another short field to work with the Broncos scored when Peyton Manning found Jordan Norwood from six yards out. The 49ers would get on the board late in the frame when Steve Young led a 63 yard drive and Doug Brien hit a 46 yard field goal to make it 10-3 going into the break. San Francisco tied it early in the third when Young led a 13 play, 76 yard drive capped by an 11 yard strike to Ricky Watters. Manning responded by commanding a 16 play drive that took over ten minutes off the clock as Ronnie Hillman punched it in from four yards out on a third and one. The 49ers were able to move into the red zone thanks to a 51 yard pass to William Floyd, but Steve Young was strip sacked by Von Miller and the Broncos recovered. Manning marched the Broncos back downfield, and Hillman struck again, this time from 30 yards out for a two touchdown lead. Young quickly got it back by finding Jerry Rice for a 60 yard touchdown, and after McManus missed a 50 yard field goal, DeMarcus Ware sacked Young to end the contest.
@ '68 NYJ 30, '91 WAS 19
Broadway Joe continues his Cinderella run through group play with an early comeback. The Redskins jumped out to the early edge with an eight play, 88 yard drive to open the game capped by a 46 yard touchdown run by Ricky Ervins. The Jets had a quick answer though when Namath found Don Maynard for a 15 yard touchdown pass to tie it. The Redskins got in close with a 71 yard pass from Mark Rypien to Gary Clark, but Washington had to settle for a chip shot field goal and a 10-7 lead. The Jets once again had an answer, opening the second quarter with a 78 yard touchdown pass from Namath to Sauer for a 14-10 edge. They would tack onto the lead before the half with a drive that covered 78 yards in just 37 seconds and Namath's 57 yard connection to Pete Lammons turned it into a 21-10 contest. Kevin Lohmiller made it a one score game early in the third with a 36 yard field goal for Washington, but the Jets were able to hold firm on defense after that until Jim Turner could hit one from 39 to make it an 11 point game again. Earnest Byner rumbled for 37 yards on the ensuing drive to help set up a 14 yard touchdown from Rypien to Clark, though Byner would fail the two point conversion and keep it a 24-19 Jet lead. Art Monk would fumble midway through the quarter and the Jets turned it into a field goal, and on the ensuing drive Rypien would throw a pick to Johnny Sample, and the Jets got another field goal from it to ice the game.
'04 NE 31, @ '89 SF 7
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| Photo by Rick Stewart (Getty Images) |
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