If you had asked me three or four months ago whether a project like this was going to be feasible this year, I would have told you no. But by some miracle, my simulator that I have poured a ton of manhours into came through in at least one sport: the NFL. Since I had an even number of teams I was able to birth a second NFL Tournament of Champions, and here we are with eight weeks in the books.
As we enter our ninth week of games, we have just one undefeated team remaining in the 1996 Green Bay Packers. And yet no one has clinched one of the 24 berths in the elimination round, not even these unbeaten Packers. They are close, needing just a win and one other game this week to go their way to lock up their bid. The only other team as far as I can tell that can clinch in this week's slate are the '95 Cowboys, who need a win and two other teams to lose to punch their ticket. More clinching scenarios will approach in the coming weeks.
I'd also like to note that I will be on vacation after the 4th of July holiday, so the Week 10 post will be delayed. With an anticipated heavy workload when I return, I'm not sure at what point I will get the post for those games up, but I hope to have it up before the weekend of the 14th and 15th.
As for this week's slate, weather conditions from the host cities will be taken into account. I haven't yet had to crank the temperature on my simulator up to its highest setting, but this week I might have to given how scorching hot it was. You can take a look at scores, standings, and the schedule here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it!
Group A
@ '02 TB 17, '72 MIA 10
Miami's offense couldn't muster much in the opening quarter, but they got a big play from their defense when Lloyn Momphord intercepted Brad Johnson in the red zone midway through. But the Buccaneers went right back to it, going 76 yards in 15 plays and just under nine minutes, with Johnson finding Keenan McCardell from three yards out for a touchdown early in the second quarter. They'd tack on right before the half with a perfect two minute drive as Martin Gramatica hit a 50 yard field goal at the buzzer for a 10-0 lead. Tampa got the ball to start the second half and ran the perfect two for one drive, converting two third downs, including a third and 16, with Johnson finding Michael Pittman for a 10 yard touchdown and 17-0 lead less than six minutes into the second half. The Dolphins finally broke the shutout late in the third quarter with a 45 yard Garo Yepremian field goal. The Bucs struggled to take time off the clock in the fourth, barely moving the ball and ultimately seeing Miami get closer with a great punt return to set up a 29 yard Larry Csonka touchdown run with 4:34 to play. The Bucs once again went three and out, giving the Dolphins a chance to tie, but Warren Sapp came up with a huge sack to push the Dolphins back, and Bob Griese missed two throws to Marlin Briscoe needing 16 yards to move the chains. The Bucs had the ball in Dolphin territory, and actually turned it over on downs with 39 seconds to go at the Dolphin 33, giving them one last gasp. Earl Morrall was actually in arm range for a Hail Mary, but his heave was broken up and the Buccaneers escaped with the win.
@ '69 KC 17, '95 DAL 14
The Chiefs forced a Dallas punt from their 45, and responded with a seven play, 77 yard drive capped by a ten yard strike from Len Dawson to Fred Arbanas for a 7-0 lead about eight minutes in. They hung onto that lead despite a Dawson interception thrown midway through the second quarter, and the Chiefs squandered a chance to tack on before halftime when Mike Livingston came in, connected with Gloster Richardson for a 19 yard pickup on a play started with 17 seconds to go from the Dallas 21, but failed to get out of bounds and were unable to spike the ball. Instead they settled for scoring to open the third quarter, marching 76 yards in 11 plays, with some help from a hold on the Cowboys on a third and nine, capped by a 14 yard Frank Pitts touchdown run. Late in the third the Cowboys started to get back into the game, with Emmitt Smith breaking free for a 59 yard run to eventually set up a one yard strike from Troy Aikman to Michael Irvin. But late in the game the Chiefs got their dagger, capping an almost eight minute drive with a 36 yard Jan Stenerud field goal with 2:42 to play. Yet they almost blew it as the Cowboys moved 72 yards in under two minutes, with Aikman hitting Kevin Williams for an eight yard touchdown with 55 seconds to go, and Dallas became the first team in the tournament to recover an onside kick. But Aikman took a sack on fourth and seven, and the Chiefs escaped with the win.
@ '13 SEA 20, '77 DAL 20
We have our second tie of the tournament, though this one is among the lower part of the standings in this group. Dallas looked to be in charge early despite a pair of three and outs, partially due to blocking a Seattle punt. But the Seahawks grabbed control on their second drive when Russell Wilson found Golden Tate for a 79 yard touchdown. They should have tacked on, with Tate making a 22 yard catch late in the first quarter helped set up a first and goal from the two, but the Cowboys made a goal line stand and forced a turnover on downs. Seattle made a nice defensive stop in response though and added to their lead with a 22 yard Steven Hauschka field goal with 2:49 to go. The Cowboys answered with a two minute drive that saw Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett tear the Legion of Boom apart, capped by a two yard strike from Staubach to Billy Joe Dupree with 45 seconds left. But Marshawn Lynch broke free for a 42 yard run to flip the field and give Hauschka a 49 yard field goal to end the half with a 13-7 Seattle lead. The Seahawks added on right away with a five play, 74 yard drive to open the third, capped by a 26 yard Lynch touchdown run. The Cowboys were able to get those points back, returning the ensuing kickoff to midfield, surviving a Drew Pearson fumble and allowing Efren Herrera to hit a 39 yard field goal. Russell Wilson threw an interception on the ensuing drive deep in his own territory, and Herrera hit from 29 to make it a seven point game. Midway through the fourth the Cowboys capped a 15 play and almost ten minute drive with a 13 yard Tony Dorsett touchdown run that tied the game. They forced a Seattle three and out and went right back to work, but Herrera missed a 45 yard field goal with 1:24 to play. Seattle had a chance to win it then, but Hauschka doinked his kick off the upright from 53, and we went to overtime. Five minutes in Herrera followed Hauschka's lead and bounced one off the upright, then after forcing a punt, missed from 42. With ten seconds left, the Seahawks had one last chance, but Wilson's completion to Doug Baldwin was 26 yards short and the game ended tied.
@ '99 STL 23, '80 OAK 10
The Rams opened the game with an almost nine minute drive but had to settle for a 36 yard Jeff Wilkins field goal. But the defense stepped up with back to back sacks to end Oakland's drive, and the Rams followed up with an 11 play drive capped by a three yard Marshall Faulk touchdown run. Wilkins would hit from 20 after a Kurt Warner spike to make it 13-0 at the break, thanks in part to a 44 yard pass from Warner to Robert Holcombe. Oakland went three and out to open the third quarter, and the Rams practically put it away with a nine play, 59 yard drive capped by a three yard strike from Warner to Az-Zahir Hakim for a 20-0 lead. Chris Bahr hit a 45 yard field goal late in the quarter, and they would add a garbage time touchdown in the middle of the fourth when Jim Plunkett hit Cliff Branch for a 14 yard touchdown.
@ '16 NE 13, '03 NE 6.
Neither offense mustered much early in this one, though the '03 Patriots got some momentum on their first drive until Adam Vinatieri missed a 38 yard field goal. The battle for field position was finally won by the '03 Pats early in the second quarter, who got a 31 yard run by Antowain Smith to set up a 20 yard kick by Vinatieri. The hosts were unable to muster much of a counter, as they failed to take advantage of an interception by Rob Ninkovich late in the half and went into the break down 3-0. Things flipped after halftime as the older Tom Brady led an 11 play, 58 yard drive that culminated in a 37 yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal that tied the game. The hosts forced a three and out, but '16 Brady was picked off by Willie McGinest, though '03 Brady immediately returned the favor by throwing an interception to Rashaan Melvin, and six plays later the elder Brady found Martellus Bennett for an eight yard touchdown and a 10-3 lead right before the end of the third quarter. The '03 Pats would pull back within four with a 36 yard Vinatieri kick with about five and a half minutes to go, but after forcing a three and out the guests turned it over on downs in their own territory, and Gostkowski hit a 50 yard field goal with just under two minutes to play. The '03 Pats again turned it over on downs, and the elder Brady was able to kneel it out.
@ '87 WAS 34, '81 SF 28 (OT)
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| Photographer uncredited (photo from nflpastplayers.com) |
Group B
'09 NO 10, @ '92 DAL 3
Pierre Thomas got the Saints in business late in the first quarter with a 54 yard draw, and four plays later Drew Brees found Robert Meachem for an 11 yard touchdown to open the scoring. Troy Aikman compounded the issues for the Cowboys with a couple three and outs preceding that touchdown, and an interception by Jabari Greer on the first play after the touchdown gave the Saints a chance to pull away, but John Carney missed a 38 yard field goal. Eventually the Cowboys got on the board, overcoming a holding that forced a third and 16 to set up Lin Elliott for a 33 yard field goal. But the Saints had an answer as Carney hit from 23 to get the points back and take a 10-3 lead into the locker room. Brees was picked off on the Saints' first drive of the second half after they forced a punt, but the Cowboys couldn't take advantage, marching into the red zone before Aikman was picked off in the end zone. Dallas would punt from the Saints 39 early in the fourth, and after forcing a New Orleans three and out, couldn't take advantage of field position as Elliott missed a 48 yard field goal. Brees made another mistake on the ensuing drive, throwing an interception in Cowboys territory with about five minutes to go, but Dallas again couldn't capitalize, turning it over on downs at the New Orleans 12, and the Saints were able to run out the clock.
@ '71 DAL 14, '86 NYG 14
In the Texas heat, we have our second tie of the week and third of the tournament, but it probably shouldn't have come to that. After trading three and outs to open the game, the Giants were able to get on the board first after an outstanding punt return with a 36 yard Raul Allegre field goal. The Cowboys tried to answer and got in range, but Mike Clark missed a 39 yard field goal to tie. The Giants took a bit of a gable bridging the first and second quarters, getting inside the Dallas 30, but Tony Galbreath only got one yard on a fourth and two from the 28, and the Cowboys responded with the momentum and moved 73 yards in 11 plays, capped by an eight yard touchdown run by Duane Thomas. The Giants couldn't respond before the half, going three and out and seeing Phil Simms throw an interception. Dallas added onto its lead late in the third quarter despite punting in Cowboy territory on its first possession of the second half, going 87 yards in ten plays with some help from a facemask on the first play, capped by an 11 yard strike from Roger Staubach to Lance Alworth to make it 14-3. The Giants mounted their comeback in the fourth; after punting from midfield, they forced a Walt Garrison fumble at the Dallas 20 and turned it into a 27 yard Allegre field goal. The Cowboys punted ont heir next drive with 3:30 to go, and the Giants got some huge plays, with Simms finding Bobby Lee Johnson for a 36 yard pickup right before the two minute warning, and three plays later Simms hit Phil McConkey from 25 yards out for a touchdown, then hit Mark Bavaro for the game-tying deuce. The Cowboys had a chance to retake the lead, with backup quarterback Craig Morton leading a nice drive with back to back mid-teens completions, but Clark missed a 51 yard go-ahead field goal. The Giants had a chance to win too, but Allegre missed a 54 yard field goal at the buzzer, forcing overtime. Both teams would punt in opposing territory in the extra session, with the Giants squandering a 43 yard Simms to Joe Morris connection. On the ensuing drive Morton found Mike Ditka for a 42 yard pickup, followed by a 19 yard pass to Billy Truax, but Clark missed again, this time from 36. The Giants couldn't capitalize despite getting a bonus chance after a Cowboy fumble with 12 seconds to go, but Simms missed a pair of Hail Mary's and the game ended in a tie.
@ '96 GB 17, '93 DAL 13
The Packers remain unbeaten after a great back and forth affair. It didn't look good after about 13 minutes of action, as the Cowboys had moved the ball very efficiently while the Packers had one three and out, but Dallas only led 3-0 because Eddie Murray missed a 50 yard field goal on the Cowboys' first drive before hitting from 45 on their second. Green Bay started to move the ball on their second drive, but Don Beebe lost a fumble in Cowboy territory to end the threat. Midway through the second the Cowboys were threatening again, seeing first down at the Packer 25, but a Leroy Butler sack and a holding penalty pushed them backwards, and Murray missed from 49. The Packers finally tied the game at the end of the half thanks to great field position as Chris Jacke hit from 41. Late in the third Green Bay's offense finally fully awoke as Brett Favre found Keith Jackson for a 55 yard touchdown and a 10-3 lead. It was short lived, however, as Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith chipped away at the Packer defense and Smith tied it with a two yard touchdown run with six seconds left in the third. The Packers had a chance to retake the lead on their next drive, but Jacke missed a 47 yard field goal, and the Cowboys answered with a quick foray into Packer territory. Daryl Johnston failed to convert a third and one from the 26, meaning Murray had to settle for a 44 yard go-ahead field goal with 5:42 left. But time proved to not be a factor as Edgar Bennett broke free for a 47 yard touchdown just over a minute later. A desperate Cowboy team pushed into Packer territory, but on fourth and four from the 39, Emmitt Smith was stopped a yard shy of a first down, and on the ensuing third and seven for Green Bay, Favre hit Antonio Freeman for a first down, taking Dallas' final timeout and allowing Favre to run out the rest of the clock.
'11 NYG 27, @ '97 DEN 10
The Giants were able to pick apart the Bronco defense to open the game, grabbing a 3-0 lead about five minutes in. The Broncos seemed poised to answer on their second drive as Terrell Davis broke free and ran for 40 yards before being stripped from behind and seeing the Giants recover. Eli Manning then went to the air and tore the Broncos apart, finding Ahmad Bradshaw for a 40 yard completion and an 18 yard completion on back to back plays, setting up 12 yard strike to Jake Ballard for a 10-0 lead. Denver finally got an answer in the second after an almost seven and a half minute drive, with Scott Bentley hitting a 31 yard field goal. The Broncos forced a punt just inside their territory, then went right back to work, using a 16 yard Davis drraw and a 31 yard connection from John Elway to Rod Smith to set up a seven yard Davis touchdown run that tied the game with 1:46 left. The teams traded punts, and the Giants got a huge play in a 34 yard Brandon Jacobs run in the final 20 seconds, with him stepping out of bounds to stop the clock with ten seconds left, and Manning found Victor Cruz for a touchdown as the clock hit zero for a 17-10 halftime lead. Elway opened the second half with an immediate interception, and Lawrence Tynes hit from 33 to make it a 20-10 game. Denver responded with a long drive into the red zone, but Elway was intercepted again, and later in the quarter the Giants put the game away when Manning hit Bradshaw for a six yard touchdown. Elway would throw a third pick later for good measure.
@ '17 PHI 31, '06 IND 27
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| Photo from the Associated Press (photographer uncredited) |
@ '74 PIT 37, '70 BAL 11
This one was a blowout through and through. Franco Harris broke free for a 44 yard run on the second play of the game to set up a 30 yard Roy Gerala field goal, but then things got sloppy on both sides. Johnny Unitas threw a pick on his second pass attempt, though Terry Bradshaw threw one three plays later in his own territory. Then the kickers got in on it, with Jim O'Brien missing from 48 for the Colts and Gerala missing from 50, but Unitas threw another pick two plays after Gerala's miss, and two plays later Bradshaw hit Rocky Bleier for a 15 yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter. Midway through the second a Colt punt was blocked at their own 40, and ten plays later Franco Harris dove in from three yards out for a 17-0 edge. O'Brien would get the Colts on the board with 37 seconds left in the half with a 39 yard kick, but the Steelers' ground game got right back to it, with Harris rumbling for 36 yards to set up a 32 yard Bleier touchdown run with seven seconds left, though Gerala missed the extra point to keep it a 23-3 game at the intermission. The start of the third quarter was ugly, with the Colts losing a fumble and missing a field goal to sandwich another Bradshaw interception, but the Steelers put it away late in the frame after forcing another fumble and after a 53 yard Bleier run, Frank Lewis got in on the action with a six yard end around for a touchdown and a 30-3 lead. Ron Gardin got Baltimore's lone touchdown on a 74 yard punt return following another O'Brien missed field goal, with Tom Nowatzke hauling in a two point conversion. The Steelers got one more touchdown late from Harris.
Group C
'10 GB 14, @ '66 GB 5
The All-Packer battle goes to the most recent Super Bowl champs, with Aaron Rodgers leading a phenomenal opening drive of 14 plays for 80 yards, with James Starks picking up 29 yards on the second play to eventually set up a six yard strike from Rodgers to Donald Driver. The hosts responded with a nice drive of their own, moving almost 50 yards, but Don Chandler missed a 33 yard field goal that could have cut the lead to four. A 33 yard Starks run followed and closed out the first quarter, but the '10 Packers had to punt. Rodgers would throw a pick later in the quarter, but the '66 Packers couldn't convert as Chandler missed from 37 and went into the break down seven. Rodgers threw another pick late in the third after the teams traded touchback punts to open the frame, and the hosts pinned the '10 Packers on their one, following it up with a Bob Brown sack in the end zone. The safety led the '66 Packers on an eight play, 49 yard drive capped by a 29 yard field goal for Chandler, but Rodgers had one more good drive in him, picking apart the old guard for three and a half minutes, and right after the two minute warning, Brandon Jackson delivered the dagger with a 12 yard draw for a touchdown.
@ '88 SF 20, '76 OAK 9
You could consider chunks of this game missed opportunities for the Raiders, as they got goo dfield position to open the game and turned it into a nice drive, but Fred Steinfort missed a 31 yard field goal. Neither offense threatened again until late in the first when the 49ers got into scoring range and Mike Cofer hit from 36 yards out. The Raiders had a nice response, getting into the red zone, but Steinfort clanged it off the upright from 36. The Raiders later got inside the 49er 40, but Mark Van Eeghen lost a fumble and ended up down 3-0 at the break. San Francisco finally capitalized on all the missed opportunities by opening the second half with a seven minute offensive clinic, marching 74 yards with Roger Craig getting the final one into the endzone on fourth and goal to make it 10-0. The Raiders finally got on the board on the ensuing drive, surviving a Pete Banaszak fumble and allowing Steinfort to hit a 33 yarder to make it a seven point game. Momentum seemed to turn as the third quarter turned into the fourth, with the Niners moving the ball into scoring range, but a couple key sacks stalled their progress and Cofer missed a 40 yard field goal. Six plays later Oakland found the end zone when Ken Stabler hit Cliff Branch for a 53 yard catch and run, but Steinfort missed the extra point. San Francisco nearly made them pay as Montana got a couple big pass plays, but Doug Dubose fumbled at the Raider six and Oakland recovered. However, two plays later Stabler threw a pick, and Tim Rathman provided the dagger with a four yard touchdown run. The game was sealed when the Raiders failed to even move forward on their ensuing drive, and Cofer added another field goal to further cement the 49er victory.
'00 BAL 31, @ '75 PIT 14
Tony Banks provided a nice spark after the Steelers roared out to a quick start, though Banks was the cause of the slow start. He threw a pick on the second play of the game deep in his own territory, and on his first play, Terry Bradshaw hit John Stallworth for a ten yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead a minute in. Bradshaw then led a more conventional drive late in the quarter, marching his offense 89 yards in 13 plays, taking almost eight minutes off the clock before finding Franco Harris for a two yard touchdown pass with under half a minute to play in the frame for a 14-0 lead. The Ravens' offense stayed in neutral until late in the half when they blocked a Steeler punt, and four plays later Banks hit Shannon Sharpe from eight yards out to cut the Steeler lead in half. Still down seven going into the third, the Ravens forced a punt and immediately struck, with Banks finding Priest Holmes for a 66 yard catch and run touchdown that tied the game. The Steelers seemed poised to retake the lead after Bradshaw hit Rocky Bleier for a 34 yard gain, but the Steelers stalled and punted from the Baltimore 38. Then the Ravens special teams took over, as after a Pittsburgh three and out, Jermaine Lewis ran a punt back 53 yards for a touchdown to give Baltimore a 21-14 lead. Then the game got sloppy, as Ray Lewis picked off Bradshaw, but the Ravens gave it right back when Sharpe fumbled. But the Steelers turned it over on downs after failing a fourth and one at midfield, and two plays later Banks hit Jamal Lewis for a 43 yard touchdown and a two score lead. Matt Stover would add a late field goal for the final margin.
'82 WAS 15, @ '79 PIT 10
Mark Moseley was the hero for the Redskins in this one, with some help from the Washington defense. The Redskins went three and out to open the game, but on Pittsburgh's first offensive play John Stallworth fumbled in his own territory, and Moseley hit a 48 yard field goal to open the scoring. Washington's defense continued to hold, and Moseley opened the second quarter with a 23 yard field goal to make it 6-0. But then the Steelers made their run, going 69 yards in just eight plays, with Terry Bradshaw finding Lynn Swann for a 16 yard touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a 7-6 lead. The Steelers tacked on with a clutch drive at the end of the half that led to a 25 yard Matt Bahr field goal as time expired to make it 10-6 going into the break. The Redskins' defense stepped up in the second half, forcing a three and out to open the third, and Joe Theismann led a ten play, 58 yard drive capped by a 22 yard Moseley field goal to cut the lead to one. He went right back to it at the end of the third, finding Charlie Brown for 27 yards on third and seven to get to the red zone, and Moseley hit from 46 yards out for a 12-10 lead. Dexter Manley picked off Bradshaw on the ensuing drive, and thanks to a 20 yard run by Joe Riggins and a 36 yard scamper by Joe Washington, Moseley was in range to hit from 28 with just over five minutes remaining for a five point lead. Bradshaw and company were able to at least move into field goal range, but needing a touchdown, went for it on fourth and six from the 32 and failed when Bradshaw just overthrew Stallworth. Washington couldn't run out the clock, allowing the Steelers one more chance, but they suffered a setback with a hold at the Redskin 40 and turned it over again, allowing Theismann to kneel it out.
@ '14 NE 17, '12 BAL 16
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| Photo by AJ Mast (AP) |
'07 NYG 23, @ '90 NYG 17
The hosts got off to a good start in this one, after trading three and outs, with a 30 yard pass from Phil Simms to Troy Kyles that set up a 50 yard Raul Allegre field goal. After forcing another three and out, the '90 Giants went right back to work, with Rodney Hampton running for 30 yards and hauling in a 12 yard catch to help set up a four yard touchdown pass from Simms to Ottis Anderson for a 10-0 lead. The '07 Giants finally picked up their first first down in the second quarter, and nine plays later Lawrence Tynes hit a 28 yard field goal to get his team on the scoreboard. They recovered a Hampton fumble on the ensuing drive, and ten plays later Tynes hit from 38 to make it 10-6. They would still trail by four going into the break despite a desperation downfield play to Plaxico Burress, but got the lead midway through the third after forcing a three and out and going 64 yards in ten plays capped by a one yard Derrick Ward plunge. The hosts retook the lead with 3:32 to play when David Meggett broke free for a 43 yard touchdown run, but the '07 Giants had a quick answer, recovering from Eli Manning getting sacked by Lawrence Taylor to see him find Jeremy Shockey for a go-ahead 47 yard touchdown with just under two minutes to play. Simms went 1-4 for two yards on the ensuing drive, turning it over on downs, and the visitors tacked on a 48 yard Tynes field goal to make it a six point game with just over a minute to go. Jeff Hostetler took over, but also went four and out, and Eli took a knee to end it.
Group D
@ '68 NYJ 26, '73 MIA 7
This one was all Jets, even though the Dolphins actually drew first blood. Joe Namath and company were getting yards in bunches, but Jim Turner missed a 44 yard field goal on the opening drive. After forcing a three and out, the Jets were right back at it, with Namath finding Don Maynard for a 42 yard gain and Matt Snell running for 31 yards to set up Turner again, but his 35 yard field goal was blocked and recovered at the 40. Three plays later Mercury Morris broke free for a 46 yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead. But that was it, as early in the second Snell literally one-upped Morris with a 47 yard touchdown run that tied the game. The Dolphins got into scoring range on the ensuing drive, but Garo Yepremian missed a 43 yard field goal that would have given Miami the lead again. After the Dolphins forced a punt, Morris lost a fumble deep in his own territory, and three plays later Turner finally hit a field goal, this one from 35 to give the Jets a 10-7 lead. Yepremian had another chance on the ensuing drive, but missed from 40, and Turner would hit from 35 again right before halftime. The Jets all but put it away early in the third with a defensive three and out followed by a quick strike, with a 50 yard completion from Namath to George Sauer setting up a one yard Snell touchdown run for a 20-7 edge. Miami wouldn't manage another first down until early in the fourth, but even then couldn't do anything with it, and the Jets would add two more field goals to pad the lead before the final gun.
@ '89 SF 25, '98 DEN 14
After trading three and outs, the 49ers got on the board first with a 73 yard drive. A 42 yard Joe Montana to John Taylor connection accounted for the biggest chunk, with a four yard strike from Montana to Rice putting the points on the board. The Broncos seemed poised to threaten, getting second and eight from the 23, but Elway took a sack then threw a pick to Chet Brooks ending the threat. A 44 yard run by Roger Craig on third and 14 helped set up the Niners to score again, as Mike Cofer would hit a 41 yard field goal early in the second quarter. The Broncos had a quick response though as Terrell Davis broke free for a 64 yard touchdown. San Francisco needed little time to get most of those points back, with a 40 yard connection from Montana to Taylor setting up a 14 yard Craig touchdown run, though Cofer missed the extra point. Each team committed a turnover late in the half, leaving it a 16-7 game at the break. On the second play of the third quarter, Elway was picked off, and the Niners turned it into a 22 yard Cofer field goal. Denver couldn't respond, and late in the third the 49ers provided the dagger as Cofer capped a nine minute drive with a 29 yard kick. They would add one more Cofer chip shot, while the Broncos got a garbage time touchdown from Derek Loville in the final minute.
@ '04 NE 20, '78 PIT 17 (OT)
The teams traded punts to open the game before Pittsburgh opened the scoring with an eight play, 52 yard drive capped by a seven yard strike from Terry Bradshaw to Randy Grossman. But Tom Brady and company had an answer, with Kevin Faulk breaking free for a 64 yard run to set up a two yard strike from Brady to Christian Fauria that tied the game. New England grabbed its first lead early in the second quarter when Adam Vinatieri hit a 27 yard field goal, but special teams got Pittsburgh back in front shortly after when Theo Bell took a punt back 87 yards for a touchdown. The Steelers missed a chance to extend the lead when Roy Gerala missed a 48 yard field goal inside the two minute warning, taking a 14-10 lead into the break. They ultimately would extend the lead with just over three minutes to go in the third when Gerala hit from 50 yards out thanks in part to a New England facemask penalty. They had a golden chance to put it away after blocking a Patriot punt on the ensuing drive, but Gerala bounced his 35 yard attempt off the upright. They had another in the fourth thanks to a 35 yard Rocky Bleier run, but Gerala missed again from 46, and Brady went to work, marching his offense 64 yards in eight plays, capping it with an 11 yard draw to Faulk, tying the game. Neither offense mustered enough in regulation, with the Patriots punting from the Pittsburgh 43 with 90 seconds to go. But the Patriots won the overtime coin toss, marched 50 yards to get into scoring range, and six and a half minutes in Vinatieri nailed a 39 yarder to win it.
@ '91 WAS 24, '83 LAR 16
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| Photo from The Washington Post (photographer uncredited) |
@ '15 DEN 23, '67 GB 0
Denver was all but able to cruise in this one, despite each team trading three and outs to open the game. Peyton Manning found Demaryius Thomas on a screen, and he took it 70 yards to pay dirt to give the Broncos ultimately the only points they would need. Bart Starr led a nice drive in response that found the red zone, but Ben Wilson was dropped in the backfield and on third and 13, Aqib Talib picked off Starr. Denver responded with a march in to Packer territory, and on the first play of the second quarter capitalized with a 29 yard C.J. Anderson touchdown run. The Broncos would add a field goal late in the half for a 17-0 lead they'd take into the locker room. Starr and backup Zeke Bratkowski couldn't get anything going, other than a brief trip to midfield late in the third, but it ended in a punt. Brandon McManus would miss from 48 yards out early in the fourth, but Starr was picked by Talib again, and McManus converted his second chance from 50 yards out. He would hit again from 26 at the final gun.
'01 NE 17, @ '05 PIT 16
The Patriots got a quick lead but needed some late dramatics to secure the win. After forcing a three and out, Tom Brady led a seven play, 75 yard drive, ultimately finding Terry Glenn for a 16 yard touchdown just over six minutes in. The Steelers would turn it over on downs on the ensuing drive, with Ben Roethlisberger taking a sack on fourth and one from the New England 47, and two plays after Brady converted a third and 16 with a 20 yard completion to Troy Brown, he found Jermaine Wiggins for a 30 yard scoring strike and a 14-0 lead 11 minutes in. The Pats had a chance to add to it early in the second quarter, but Adam Vinatieri missed a 49 yard field goal. The Steelers then finally really got a good drive going, seeing first and goal from the eight, but the Patriots made a goal line stand, as Roethlisberger overthrew Antwan Randle El on fourth and goal from the two. However, the Pats couldn't capitalize, wasting a 40 yard Antowain Smith run and punting from the Steeler 37, albeit on fourth and 12. The Steelers finally got on the board late in the half after strip sacking Brady, and two plays later Willie Parker scored from eight yards out to cut the lead in half. They'd force a three and out and get three more points before the break on a 45 yard Jeff Reed field goal thanks to two ten-plus yard completions from Big Ben. Neither offense mustered much in the third quarter, with the Patriots losing a fumble, until finally in the fourth the Steelers pulled within one on a 37 yard Reed field goal. The Pats would go on to punt, and the Steelers grabbed their first lead with under a minute to go when Reed hit from 47 to cap a seven play drive. But 54 seconds was too much time as Tom Brady ripped apart the Steeler secondary to get first and goal from the six. Kevin Faulk took a loss of yards, but it allowed the Pats a chance to call timeout, and Adam Vinatieri drilled a 26 yard field goal as time expired to win the game.
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