Through seven weeks we are down to just a single unbeaten team, and I'm thrilled at who it is: the 1996 Green Bay Packers. They haven't scored a ton of points, but haven't needed to; they have the best defense in terms of scoring in the tournament. I ended up deleting my stat sheet because it got to be too much to keep individual stats, but I may try to bring it back while I still can for the team stats, because those are fairly easy to grab. We'll see.
Several teams are still kicking with one loss at this point, and the current cutoff record, albeit one requiring tiebreakers at this point, is 3-3 or 4-3 depending on the group. We aren't quite to the point where any teams can clinch a berth in the elimination round, but we're coming close to seeing the 24 open spots start to be claimed.
As with the prior seven weeks, I am taking weather conditions from the weekend into account. Schedules, scores, and standings can be found here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it!
Group A
@ '03 NE 20, '87 WAS 6
Patriot special teams came up big early in this one as they blocked a Washington punt midway through the first quarter deep in their own territory. Starting in the red zone, Tom Brady led a three play touchdown drive with a 15 yard touchdown pass to Bethel Johnson to open the scoring. Washington had a chance to cut into the lead early in the second quarter, but Obed Ariri missed a 50 yard field goal, though he was absolved when Adam Vinatieri also missed from that distance on the ensuing drive. Ariri hit from 43 after a 31 yard George Rogers run, and the Redskins had a chance to grab the lead when Brady was picked off by Darrell Green on the very next play. But a Mike Vrabel sack pushed the Redskins out of range and they punted. Brady got the Patriots into scoring range late in the half, but a holding penalty pushed them out of field goal range and Green picked off the Hail Mary before the half. The teams traded turnovers to open the third, with Clint Didier losing a fumble for Washington but being picked up when Green recorded his third pick of the game in the red zone. Unfortunately for the Redskins, they had to punt, and Brady led a nice scoring drive when Vinatieri hit a 46 yard kick to make it 10-3. Washington answered quickly, with Jay Schroeder finding Ricky Sanders and Craig McEwen for 32 and 20 yards, respectively, to set up a 34 yard Ariri field goal. But New England all but ended the contest with a 15 play, 69 yard drive bridging the final two quarters and capped by a one yard touchdown pass from Brady to Daniel Graham. A Tedy Bruschi interception seemed to lead to the dagger, but Vinatieri missed from 35. Fortunately for the Pats, Ty Warren picked up a fourth down sack of Schroeder deep in Redskin territory, and Vinatieri hit from 32 to reach the final margin.
'16 NE 31, @ '80 OAK 21
New England picked up a needed win in a pretty fun affair. The Patriots forced a three and out to open the game, then Tom Brady went to work with a nine play, 58 yard drive capped by an eight yard strike to Chris Hogan for the early 7-0 lead. The Raiders had a quick response with a 42 yard pass from Jim Plunkett to Rich Martini to help set up a two yard Kenny King touchdown run that tied it. The teams traded punts after that with New England finally getting back on the board as Brady found Hogan again, this time from 16 yards out for a 14-7 lead. The Raiders again had an answer, with a 36 yard King run helping set up a six yard strike from Plunkett to Dave Casper that again tied it. Plunkett and the Raiders blinked first offensively when Patrick Chung picked him off, and four plays later Brady converted a third and 16 with an 18 yard touchdown to Michael Floyd and a 21-14 edge. Oakland couldn't answer before halftime, and the Patriots all but put it away opening the second half when Brady picked apart the Raider secondary and capped a ten play drive with a three yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett. Chris Bahr missed a 36 yard field goal on Oakland's ensuing drive, as well as a 45 yarder early in the fourth quarter. Stephen Gostkowski delivered a late dagger with a 45 yard make with under three minutes to go, though the Raiders would get a garbage time touchdown with a Mark Van Eeghen 19 yard touchdown run with about a minute to play.
'99 STL 31, @ '77 DAL 3
 |
| Photo from Getty Images (Photographer uncredited) |
@ '95 DAL 31, '13 SEA 6
Both teams punted on their opening possession before the Cowboys embarked on a long drive to bridge the first and second quarters. Dallas stalled with goal to go and Chris Boniol hit a 21 yard chip shot to open the scoring. The Seahawks bounced back with a 39 yard Christine Michael run that helped set up a 34 yard Steven Hauschka field goal that tied the game. Hauschka missed what would have been a go-ahead 43 yarder late in the half, and after the break the wheels fell off. Emmitt Smith ran one in from 46 yards out on the third play of the second half to make it a 10-3 game, and the Seahawks turned it over on their first play when Golden Tate fumbled in his own territory. Seven plays later, Troy Aikman found Jay Novacek from nine yards out to double the lead just over six minutes into the third quarter. Seattle punted in Dallas territory on the ensuing drive, but was able to get back into the game with a 38 yard Hauschka field goal early in the fourth. They had a golden chance to make it closer when they stripped Smith in Dallas territory, but Pete Carroll stupidly punted on fourth and one from the Cowboy 37, and Aikman responded with a 62 yard screen to Kevin Williams and a 21 yard touchdown pass to Michael Irvin to put the game away. Seattle turned it over on downs deep in their own territory now that the game was out of hand, and Dallas added one more score for good measure with a seven yard strike from Aikman to Irvin.
'69 KC 26, @ '72 MIA 7
Len Dawson found Otis Taylor for a 28 yard gain on the third play from scrimmage to help set up a 37 yard Jan Stenerud field goal that got the Chiefs on the board first. The Dolphins made a nice foray into Kansas City territory on the ensuing drive, but punted on fourth and eight from the Chief 39. Kansas City made them pay by marching 83 yards in 11 plays, capped by a 21 yard strike from Dawson to Taylor to make it 10-0. The Dolphins got back into the game late in the half after pinning the Chiefs deep and taking advantage with starting a drive at the Chief 41, and five plays later Mercury Morris punched it in from a yard out. The Dolphins couldn't keep that momentum up, either with one extra drive before halftime nor in the third quarter, punting two and a half minutes in then giving up a 36 yard Stenerud field goal seven minutes later. The Dolphins went three and out on the ensuing drive, and again the Chiefs took advantage with a 41 yard Stenerud kick that made it 16-7. They put it away at the start of the fourth when Bob Griese was picked off by Johnny Robinson deep in his own territory, and Mike Garrett delivered the dagger with a nine yard touchdown run on the next play.
'02 TB 9, @ '84 SF 6
This one came down to special teams. Both squads ended up punting around midfield on their first drives, and on their second drive the 49ers got an extended run going, and opened the second quarter with a 37 yard Ray Wersching field goal. The Bucs responded with a nine play, 41 yard drive that saw a pair of converted third and eights to set up a 21 yard Martin Gramatica field goal that tied the game. Tampa ended up punting on fourth and two from the San Francisco 37 late in the half, but San Francisco couldn't take advantage, as Wersching would later go on to miss a 37 yard field goal that kept it a 3-3 game going into the break. Wersching would hit from 26 late in the third quarter though to cap a 13 play, 69 yard drive to retake the lead for the Niners, but the Buccaneers had an answer, with Mike Alstott running 37 yards with about a minute to go in the third, setting up a 31 yard Gramatica field goal that tied it again. Joe Montana threw a pick on the next drive to Ronde Barber, though the Bucs wouldn't capitalize. It seemed like the Niners would pick up a clutch win when Tampa punted with two minutes to go, and Montana got one gain into the edge of field goal range, but Wersching missed a 58 yard kick with 1:20 to play. The Buccaneers took advantage, as Brad Johnson flipped the field and Gramatica hit from that same distance with 41 seconds to go to give Tampa its first lead of the game. Matt Cavanaugh inexplicably came into the game for Montana for that last drive, but took a sack and threw three incompletions to blow the game.
Group B
'74 PIT 38, @ '06 IND 6
Pittsburgh got off to the quick start the score suggests, scoring about five minutes in when Terry Bradshaw capped a ten play drive with a four yard strike to John Stallworth. The Colts had a nice answer, with Peyton Manning finding Marvin Harrison for a 66 yard pickup that set his team up in good position, but Dominic Rhodes was stuffed on fourth and goal from the one. The Steelers couldn't carry momentum from that stop, punting on their next drive, and the Colts got a 24 yard Adam Vinatieri field goal to cut into the lead. But then the bottom fell out as Bradshaw led a seven play, 72 yard drive capped by a 35 yard strike to Larry Brown for a 14-3 edge. Things compounded when Ran Carthon fumbled on the ensuing drive, and three plays later Bradshaw found Brown again, this time from 14 yards out for a 21-3 edge. DeDe Dorsey then fumbled for the Colts, and Roy Gerala turned it into a 28 yard field goal. Indy almost got back into the game on the final play of the half as Manning found Harrison downfield, but he was stopped three yards shy of the goal line with the clock at zero. The Colts did parlay that into a little bit of momentum in the third and a 30 yard Vinatieri field goal, but that was all they could muster, punting from just on the other side of midfield, and seeing the Steelers put it away with a three yard Franco Harris touchdown run about four minutes into the fourth. Pittsburgh would later add another on a 45 yard Harris run following a Vinatieri miss from 49.
@ '11 NYG 27, '17 PHI 20
The only winless team in group play finds itself eliminated from the postseason after a bit of a slow start. The Giants got off quick, with Brandon Jacobs rumbling for 45 yards on the first play from scrimmage, and two plays later Eli Manning found Hakeem Nicks for an 18 yard touchdown. The Eagles were able to respond with a 31 yard gain on a pass from Nick Foles to Alshon Jeffrey, but they had to settle for a 30 yard Jake Elliott field goal. Philly was able to stay in it with some decent defense, though a punt from the New York 42 would lead to a Giant touchdown ten plays later when Manning found Mario Manningham for a 30 yard touchdown. It nearly got worse for the Eagles when Jay Ajayi lost a fumble on the ensuing drive, but Lawrence Tynes missed a 50 yard field goal, and the Eagles responded with an Elliott make from 44. Tynes redeemed himself with a 24 yard chip shot on the ensuing drive thanks in part to a 32 yard pass from Manning to Cruz, but the Eagles really make it close again after picking off Manning with about a minute and a half to go deep in Giant territory, and six plays later, LeGarrette Blount rumbled in from two yards out to make it a 17-13 deficit at the break when Tynes missed a 45 yard kick at the halftime gun. Neither offense did much in the third quarter, with the Giants punting from the Philly 39 early on, but responding with an extended drive bridging the third and fourth quarters albeit one that ended with a punt. They wouldn't on the next drive, as Nicks hauled in a four yard touchdown from Manning to extend the lead. Foles would be picked off on the ensuing drive, and the Giants put it away with a 27 yard Tynes field goal. Nate Sudfeld took over and led a late touchdown drive with a five yard scramble with 39 seconds left, but the Giants recovered the onside kick and Eli was able to kneel it out.
@ '93 DAL 24, '97 DEN 21
The Cowboys and Broncos engaged in one of the better games of the tournament to date. Dallas got off to a great start, marching 69 yards in nine plays on the opening drive with Emmitt Smith plunging in from seven yards out to open the scoring. The Broncos didn't have to wait long to respond, intercepting Troy Aikman on Dallas' second drive, and seven plays later John Elway found Rod Smith for a 24 yard touchdown that tied the game. Dallas responded with an eight play drive that saw Eddie Murray hit a 41 yard field goal for a 10-7 lead. They held it through halftime as the Broncos were unable to get beyond the Dallas 44 on the final play of the half. Denver would grab its first lead late in the third quarter after trading punts when Terrell Davis took it in from 45 yards out. The Cowboys got an outstanding return to the 50 on the ensuing kickoff and regrabbed the lead under a minute into the fourth when Smith scored from 15 yards out. Kevin Smith would pick off Elway on the ensuing drive and nine plays later Aikman delivered a dagger with a ten yard touchdown to Kevin Williams. The Broncos didn't go quietly, as Elway let a seven play, 73 yards drive capped by a one yard Davis plunge with 4:29 to go. But the Cowboy ground game proved to be too much, as Smith converted a second and 12 with a 13 yard sweep when Denver had taken its final timeout, and Aikman was able to kneel it out.
'96 GB 24, @ '86 NYG 13
 |
| Photo from Getty Images (Photographer uncredited) |
'71 DAL 35, @ '09 NO 23
The Cowboys took the early lead thanks to early field position advantage, getting a 22 yard Bob Hayes touchdown run halfway through the first quarter. They nearly extended the lead when Reggie Bush fumbled at the Dallas 30, but the Cowboys had to punt, and John Carney got the Saints on the board in the ensuing drive with a 33 yard field goal after a 58 yard Pierre Thomas run. Late in the half the scoring resumed when Roger Staubach found Bill Truax for a 17 yard touchdown on fourth and one with about 90 seconds left before halftime. The Saints got back into it with Drew Brees leading a drive capped by a 38 yard Carney kick. Then things fell apart, as early in the third quarter Chuck Howley picked off Brees and took it 56 yards for a touchdown. The Saints again were forced to settle for a field goal as Carney hit from 37 on the ensuing drive. New Orleans started to make it interesting in the fourth with a comeback, as Brees led a seven play, 61 yard drive capped by a four yard toss to Thomas that made it 21-16 with 6:26 to go. But Staubach opened the next drive with a screen to Walt Garrison, who took it 77 yards for a touchdown to push the lead back to 12. Brees and Thomas went right back to work, with Brees finding Kyle Eckel from seven yards out with four and a half minutes to go to cut the lead back to five. Brees had a chance after a defensive stop to lead a game winning drive with 1:50 to go, but Cornell Green picked him off and took it 28 yards for a touchdown to serve as the dagger. Brees would throw one more pick on the next drive to end any hope of a miracle.
@ '08 PIT 6, '92 DAL 3
After the two teams traded punts to open the game, Pittsburgh finally got its offense going, marching 72 yards in 12 plays to set up a 27 yard Jeff Reed field goal to open the scoring. The Cowboys responded with a foray into Steeler territory, but Lin Elliott missed a 41 yard field goal early in the second. Pittsburgh got another golden chance when Alexander Wright fumbled after a catch and the Steelers recovered at the Dallas 28. The Steelers were close enough to position Reed for a 32 yard make that made it 6-0 going into the break. The offenses struggled in the third, and when the Steelers looked poised to threaten, Gary Russell lost a fumble in Cowboy territory. Unfortunately for the Cowboys they couldn't take advantage, though late in the fourth they were able to pick off Ben Roethlisberger deep in his own territory and get a 40 yard Elliott field goal to cut the lead in half with 5:11 to go. Dallas forced a three and out and got into scoring range, but Elliott missed from 41 with just over a minute to go, and the Steelers were able to almost run out the clock, having to punt with six seconds left, but the Cowboys were stopped 68 yards short.
Group C
@ '12 BAL 30, '90 NYG 13
The second quarter proved problematic for the Giants, who survived an early strong drive by the Ravens that led to a 32 yard Justin Tucker field goal. They grabbed a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter with a seven play, 64 yard drive capped by a 23 yard touchdown pass from Phil Simms to Stephen Baker. Things fell apart in the second when Ed Reed picked off Simms, and five plays later Bernard Pierce scored from 17 yards out to make it 10-7. The Giants punted from the Baltimore 45, and the Ravens tacked on, converting a third and 11 to set up a one yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith for a 17-7 lead. Lardarius Webb added on with a pick deep in Giant territory to set up a 23 yard Tucker field goal. New York would manage to make it somewhat reasonable with a solid two minute drive that led to a Raul Allegre 39 yard field goal right before halftime. Allegre would hit from 29 on the first drive of the second half thanks in part to a 27 yard Ottis Anderson run that opened the frame, but after forcing a three and out, Allegre would go on to miss a 45 yard kick late in the third, and the Ravens made them pay with a 33 yard Flacco to Pitta connection to help set up a five yard Pierce touchdown run with 12 minutes to go. The Giants went three and out, and then Baltimore put it away with a 29 yard Tucker field goal.
@ '82 WAS 31, '14 NE 10
Washington struggled in the early going, with Joe Theismann throwing an interception on his second attempt of the game and then punting from the New England 39. But the Patriots couldn't muster any offense either, failing to get past their own 33 on their first three drives. The Redskins finally got something going bridging the first and second quater and capped an 11 play, 64 yard drive with a six yard touchdown pass from Theismann to Art Monk. The Patriots punted on their ensuing drive, and Washington took advnatage with a seven play, 83 yard drive including a 34 yard Joe Riggins run and capped by a three yard trike from Theismann to Charlie Brown that made it 14-0. Washington took that lead into halftime and built on it in the second half, with Clarence Harmon capping a nine play, 65 yard drive to open the third quarter with a 13 yard touchdown. The Pats marched into scoring range, but Stephen Gostkowski missed a 49 yard field goal, and Riggins' 32 yard run on the very next play set up a Mark Moseley 46 yard kick that made it 24-0. The Pats got on the board early in the fourth with a 32 yard Gostkowski field goal, and each team added a touchdown in the final frame, with Theismann's two yard connection with Don Warren serving as the dagger.
'79 PIT 19, @ '00 BAL 13
 |
| Photo from Getty Images (Photographer uncredited) |
'75 PIT 31, @ '76 OAK 7
This one was all Steelers. Paul Steinfort missed a 43 yard field goal that could have gotten Oakland on the board first, and the Steelers marched 67 yards in 11 plays following that, with a 27 yard Franco Harris run on third and two helping set up a three yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw to Lynn Swann. The Steelers doubled their lead early in the second quarter when Bradshaw found John Stallworth from six yards out to convert the third third down of the drive. The Raiders hurt their comeback attempt when Ken Stabler threw a pick, though the Steelers couldn't take advantage and had to settle for a 14-0 halftime lead. The teams traded punts for most of the third quarter until the field position game favored Pittsburgh well enough to set up a 43 yard Roy Gerala field goal. Stabler then made another mistake, throwing a second pick, and two plays later Bradshaw hit Rocky Bleier for a 29 yard touchdown pass to make it 24-0. On the ensuing drive, Steinfort missed a 46 yard field goal, and the Steelers capitalized to put it completely away with a Bleier 21 yard touchdown run. The Steelers also recovered an Oakland fumble before the Raiders finally got on the board with a 17 yard Stabler to Cliff Branch touchdown pass.
'88 SF 33, @ '10 GB 16
The 49ers jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a 13 play, 73 yard drive to open the game capped by a 12 yard strike from Joe Montana to Jerry Rice. The Packers tied the game early in the second quarter when Aaron Rodgers led a seven play, 86 yard drive that included a 32 yard pass to James Starks, setting up a 13 yard touchdown pass to James Jones. But that was as close as the Packers would get, as late in the half Mike Cofer hit a 34 yard field goal and the Packers ran out of time to respond before the half. Green Bay went three and out to open the second half, and the Niners went to work, with Cofer hitting a 35 yard field goal for a 13-7 lead and all but put it away with a 46 yard Roger Craig touchdown run. The Packers pulled back within ten on a 25 yard Mason Crosby field goal early in the fourth, but a monster kick return set up the Niners to get those points back on a 39 yard Cofer kick, and Craig delivered a dagger midway through with a 63 yard touchdown run. The Packers would get a garbage time touchdown followed by a Niner field goal to cap the scoring.
@ '85 CHI 16, '66 GB 14
The oldest rivalry in the NFL is renewed in the Tournament of Champions with Chicago pulling out the late victory. The Bears punted on fourth and one from the Green Bay 39 on their second drive, but blocked the Packer punt on the ensuing drive, taking over at the Packer 24. Four plays later Jim McMahon found Emery Moorehead from 12 yards out and the Bears had a 7-0 lead. McMahon would throw a pick early in the second quarter, but Green Bay couldn't take advantage until their second drive after the pick, with Jim Taylor notching a 36 yard touchdown run midway through the frame. Chicago responded with a ten play, 55 yard drive that included a 24 yard pass to Willie Gault and set up a 38 yard Kevin Butler field goal before the half. The Bears would extend that lead late in the third after Green Bay punted on fourth and five from the Bear 37 with a 13 play, 80 yard drive that included a 34 yard screen to Tim Wrightman to set up a 22 yard Butler kick. The Packers' offense finally broke through with a ten play drive bridging the final two frames and was capped by Bart Starr finding Carroll Dale for a four yard touchdown and a 14-13 lead. The Packers had multiple chances to extend the lead, but a Mongo McMichael sack cut one drive short, and a three and out plus a penalty pinned Green Bay deep. The Bears took advantage by starting at the Packer 41. McMahon failed to pick up a first down, but Butler bailed him out by nailing a 52 yard field goal for a two point lead with 1:50 to play. The Packers had a hold on the ensuing kick return, pinning them deep, and four straight incompletions from Starr after a couple first downs all but ended the game. Walter Payton finished it with a 15 yard run after the Bears took over.
Group D
@ '67 GB 3, '05 PIT 3
We have our first tie of the tournament as neither team was able to score in the extra session, and it took some late heroics to even reach that point. Don Chandler missed a 41 yard field goal late in the first, and the Steelers responded with a seven and a half minute drive capped by a 32 yard Jeff Reed field goal. Green Bay lost a fumble on the ensuing drive, but Pittsburgh couldn't capitalize, taking that 3-0 lead into the break. The offensive futility continued into the second half, with both teams, including one by each team in opposing territory in the third. Green Bay finally got some progress bridging the third and fourth quarters, but early in the fourth Bart Starr was picked off by Aaron Smith in the red zone. The Steelers couldn't capitalize and later missed out on a golden opportunity to put it away, but Reed missed from 43 with 3:50 to play, and Starr was able to work some magic, finding Boyd Dowler for a 43 yard gain on fourth and 10 to get in the red zone. But a second down sack pushed them back to the 21, and the team settled for a tie on a Chandler 38 yard kick. The Steelers punted from the Packer 45, and Zeke Bratkowski missed three long bombs at the end of regulation. Neither offense mustered much in the extra session, though on their first possession the Steelers turned it over on downs just inside Packer territory, though Green Bay would go three and out. The Steelers would also punt in Packer territory later, and Starr's Hail Mary on the final play fell incomplete, resulting in a tie.
'15 DEN 27, @ '83 LAR 22
 |
| Photo by Charlie Riedel (AP) |
'91 WAS 17, @ '78 PIT 6
Martin Mayhew picked off Terry Bradshaw three minutes into the game with the Steelers threatening, and the Redskins capitalized on it, with Mark Rypien finding Gary Clark for a 36 yard gain on third and five to help set up a seven yard touchdown pass to Ricky Sanders. Washington forced a three and out, then went right back to work, converting a third and 13 possibly out of field goal range to extend the drive and give Chip Lohmiller a closer shot, which he hit from 38 to make it 10-0. The Redskins punted from just past midfield, and again the Redskins picked apart the Pittsburgh defense, with Rypien converting three third downs of at least ten yards and finding Art Monk for a one yard touchdown pass and a 17-0 lead they carried into the half when the Steelers decided to punt on fourth and 12 from the Washington 38. Pittsburgh started to get some momentum early in the second half when Earnest Byner lost a fumble in his own territory and Roy Gerala was able to hit a 46 yard field goal to get the Steelers on the board. Washington got into Steeler territory on the ensuing drive, but Lohmiller missed a 47 yard kick, and after the Steelers had a massive punt return on the next defensive stop, Gerala hit from 35 yards out to make it 17-6. But that was it as Washington punted from the Pittsburgh 41 and Gerala would miss a 37 yarder on the ensuing drive. The Redskins would turn it over on downs following that, but Mayhew recorded his second interception of the game with about three minutes to play to effectively end the contest.
@ '98 DEN 21, '04 NE 6
The Broncos made this one look over pretty quick, marching 77 yards in 11 plays on their opening drive with John Elway finding Willie Green for a 13 yard touchdown seven minutes in. After trading punts, the Patriots finally got on the board midway through the second quarter when Adam Vinatieri capped an 11 play, 46 yard drive with a 35 yard field goal. But the Broncos had a quick response, with Terrell Davis rumbling for 49 yards to set up his one yard touchdown run that made it 14-3. The Broncos forced a three and out, then went back to work with a perfect two minute drive capped by an 11 yard Davis touchdown run and a 21-3 halftime lead. The Patriots made it a two score game with a Vinatieri 30 yard field goal to open the second half, but that was as close as they got. Denver punted on fourth and eight from the New England 36 on the ensuing drive, but New England had to punt as well, and on their next drive Tom Brady turned it over on downs. A blocked punt by the Pats late made it interesting, but Brady again turned it over on downs, and the Broncos were able to run out the clock.
'89 SF 21, @ '73 MIA 14
It took some late heroics, but the Niners secured a huge win in the battle between the top two teams in the group. The Dolphins got off to the good early start with Mike Cofer missing a 45 yard field goal on the game's opening drive, then marching 65 yards in eight plays with Larry Csonka scoring from six yards out to open the scoring. It took the 49ers until their third drive to get going again after forcing a punt from their 38, with Tom Rathman running for 38 yards to help set up his 18 yard touchdown catch from Joe Montana. Miami would punt twice in San Francisco territory before the half, but the Niners ran out of time before the half (with somehow a spike play starting with two seconds on the clock not stopping it in time before the intermission). The Dolphins' ineptitude continued in the third, seeing them punt from opposing territory on their first two drives of the half, then follow that up with a Csonka lost fumble and Bob Griese interception by Ronnie Lott. After the Lott pick, the Niners' offense finally got going again, with a 34 yard pass from Montana to John Taylor setting up a seven yard Terrence Flagler touchdown run for a 49er lead. After forcing a three and out, Montana made a rare mistake when Jake Scott picked him off in his own territory. Mercury Morris tied the game four plays later with 28 yard touchdown run. Ultimately, special teams proved monumental as inside the two minute warning the 49ers blocked a Miami punt, taking over at the Dolphin 36. Montana found Rice for a 31 yard pickup, and two plays later Harry Sydney gave the Niners the lead with a two yard touchdown plunge. This still left the Dolphins with just over a minute to tie the game, but they turned it over on downs with 22 seconds left.
@ '94 SF 30, '68 NYJ 16
The bye couldn't help the Jets regroup as they drop their second in a row. New York got off to a decent enough start, marching 49 yards in the first six or so minutes to give Jim Turner space to hit a 38 yard field goal. But the 49ers had a quick response, with Ricky Watters running for 33 yards on their first play to set up his six yard touchdown plunge that made it 7-3. The Jets would pull within one early in the second as Turner hit from 32, but the Niners kept up the pressure on the ground, with Jerry Rice taking an end around 43 yards for a touchdown and a 14-6 edge. They followed that up by blocking a punt after forcing a three and out, and Doug Brien hit a 30 yard field goal to make it an 11 point game. The Jets would answer with a 23 yard Turner field goal, but couldn't get closer, trailing by eight at halftime. San Francisco made it a two score game again with a 24 yard Brien field goal that opened the second half, and made the margin two touchdowns when Brien hit from 32 early in the fourth. They put it away after a Jet punt near midfield with a nine play, 77 yard drive capped by a nine yard strike from Steve Young to Rice. The Jets would get a late touchdown but couldn't recover the onside kick and San Francisco was able to run out the clock.
No comments:
Post a Comment