I fell behind due to a combination of travel, family emergencies, and workload, but with these games having been played this past weekend, we should be up to date once these games are in the books.
With every group having one bye each week, that means four teams have Week 13 byes and thus their schedules conclude this week. For a handful of these teams who have a bye coming up either this week or next, their place in the single elimination tournament coming in a couple weeks is cemented. In total, seven spots have been claimed to date, leaving 17 up for grabs and a bunch of games with playoff implications on the docket.
So as has been the case, weather conditions from the host cities will be taken into account. Schedules, scores, and standings can be found here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's play.
Group A
'99 STL 37, @ '87 WAS 13
The Rams clinch a first round bye in pretty dominant fashion, pulling away in the third quarter for their ninth win. They got off to a quick start, needing less than three minutes to grab the lead as Kurt Warner hit Az-Zahir Hakim for a 37 yard touchdown on the sixth play of the game. The Redskins would respond with a good kick return, and parlayed that into a 29 yard Obed Ariri field goal to make it 7-3 midway through the opening quarter. Washington got chances for more as they blocked a Jeff Wilkins 39 yard field goal late in the frame and picked off Kurt Warner a few minutes into the second, but Ariri missed a 49 yard field goal after the interception, and the Rams restored order with a seven play, 61 yard drive capped by a 13 yard strike from Warner to Issac Bruce. The Redskins would answer with a seven play touchdown drive of their own as Kelvin Bryant ran one in from two yards out after backup quarterback Doug Williams made a couple big plays through the air. The Rams would make it a seven point game before halftime though thanks in part to a 37 yard connection from Warner to Bruce setting up an 18 yard Wilkins field goal. The Rams pulled away in the third by forcing a three and out, returning the punt to the Redskin 31, and scoring six plays later when Justin Watson punched it in from a yard out. Another three and out led to another short field and another quick touchdown drive, with Bruce hauling in a 22 yard touchdown pass from Warner to serve as the dagger.
'13 SEA 24, @ '81 SF 6
Seattle comes closer to locking up a playoff bid with a big road win against the last place team in the group. The game nearly started with disaster as Derrick Coleman fumbled on the first play of the game, but the Seahawks settled down, with Lance Turbin's 36 yard run helping set up a five yard rumble in by Marshawn Lynch to open the scoring. Christine Michael lost a fumble on Seattle's next drive but they got away with it as Ray Wersching missed a 38 yard field goal in the swirling winds. Midway through the second Lynch found the endzone again, this time from two yards out for a 14-0 Seattle lead, a lead they took into the second half and added onto about five minutes into the third quarter when Lynch completed the hat trick with another two yard touchdown. Steven Hauschka would add a field goal early in the fourth, and the 49ers only broke the shutout with an eight yard touchdown from Joe Montana to Dwight Clark with under two minutes to play, though the two point attempt failed.
'69 KC 17, @ '03 NE 3
 |
| Photo from Getty Images/Focus on Sport (Photographer uncredited) |
'02 TB 29, @ '80 OAK 0
The Bucs clinch a postseason berth with a dominant first half, needing just four and a half minutes to take the lead for good with an eight play, 70 yard drive helped by a couple penalties and capped by a seven yard strike from Brad Johnson to Keyshawn Johnson. The Raiders moved into Tampa territory, but Mark Van Eeghen lost a fumble and a golden opportunity. The Buccaneers made it 10-0 early in the second on a 38 yard Martin Gramatica field goal, then pounced on a Kenny King fumble on the ensuing drive. After a 42 yard Mike Alstott rumble downfield, Michael Pittman punched it in from five yards out for a 17-0 edge. The Raiders would get into the red zone, but Chris Bahr missed a 30 yard field goal, and Gramatica would make him pay with a 43 yarder near the end of the half. The Bucs delivered exclamation points in the fourth with a nine yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Joe Jurevicius, and Simeon Rice delivered the final blow with a sack for a safety with two and a half minutes to play.
@ '77 DAL 16, '84 SF 10
The Niners' chances at the postseason took a major hit with the loss, though they were in decent shape for much of this one. A Tony Dorsett 40 yard run on the opening drive helped set up a 29 yard Efren Herrera field goal for the Cowboys, but they couldn't duplicate their success after forcing a three and out as Herrera missed from 48, and six play later Wendell Tyler broke free for a 28 yard touchdown run and the lead for the 49ers. Dallas would pull back within one a few minutes into the second quarter when Herrera hit a 45 yard field goal, but back to back three and outs for San Francisco hurt them as the Cowboys marched 84 yards in seven plays to take the lead as Roger Staubach hit Billy Joe Dupree with 1:29 to play in the half. Joe Montana threw a pick on the ensuing drive, and on a desperation heave to Dwight Clark on the final play of the half, Clark was stopped eight yards shy of pay dirt, keeping it a 13-7 game at the break. Tyler broke free for a 48 yard run to open the second half, which set up a 38 yard Ray Wersching field goal, but they would get no closer and the Cowboys would push the lead back to six with a 12 minute drive in the fourth quarter capped by a 38 yard Herrera kick. Montana and company had a nice response, getting inside the Dallas 40, but on a fourth and six from the 34 Earl Cooper was knocked out of bounds a yard shy of the sticks and the Cowboys were able to run the clock out.
@ '95 DAL 22, '72 MIA 7
The Cowboys lock up their postseason berth with a solid first half. The Cowboys forced a pair of three and outs to open the game, then marched 76 yards in 12 plays to set up a 23 yard Chris Boniol field goal that opened the scoring. Miami compounded the issue with a Marv Fleming fumble after a catch, and the Cowboys scored a field goal off that takeaway for a 6-0 lead. The Dolphins finally got their first first down almost five minutes into the second quarter, but ended up punted from the Dallas 37. They got another shot inside the two minute warning from the 35, but turned it over on downs, and the Cowboys made them pay with an eight play, 65 yard drive capped by a 20 yard strike from Troy Aikman to Kevin Williams for a 13-0 lead. The Dolphins made a move in the second half, stripping Emmitt Smith near midfield and turning the game around as Larry Csonka scored from 12 yards out to make it a 13-7 game, but that's as close as they'd get, with the Cowboys going down to get a 29 yard Boniol field goal on the ensuing drive, and a Bob Griese interception in the fourth pretty much sealed the deal as Boniol hit yet another field goal
Group B
'97 DEN 24, @ '74 PIT 21
The Steelers blew a 15 point lead and likely their postseason chances in this one. Pittsburgh had plenty of control early in this one, forcing a punt near midfield after an offensive three and out, but went to work with a 12 play, 83 yard drive capped by a five yard Franco Harris touchdown run. Denver worked its way back into the game though in the second quarter, settling for a 20 yard field goal with about six minutes to go after having first and goal from the eight, then getting a 30 yarder from Scott Bentley with 26 seconds left to pull within one, but on the very next play, Harris broke free for a 66 yard touchdown to flip momentum back around. The Steelers built that aforementioned 15 point lead midway through the third quarter with a 10 play, 72 yard drive capped by a 29 yard Frank Lewis reverse for a touchdown. But the Broncos started to make a run, with Tyrone Braxton picking off Terry Bradshaw later in the frame in Pittsburgh territory, and Terrell Davis made it a one possession game with a six yard touchdown run with under two minutes to go in the third. Even then, the Broncos still tried to give the Steelers chances to hang on, as Derek Loville and Willie Green each lost fumbles in the fourth quarter, but with a chance to ice the game Roy Gerala bounced a 48 yard field goal off the upright, and the Broncos took advantage, going 62 yards in 11 plays and with 1:17 to play, Elway found Ed McCaffrey for a touchdown, then found Shannon Sharpe on the two point conversion to tie the game. The Steelers tried to move into field goal range, but Frank Lewis fumbled a catch and the Broncos recovered inside the Pittsburgh 30. Terrell Davis got the Broncos closer, and with the clock expiring Bentley hit from 25 to win the game.
'96 GB 26, @ '70 BAL 11
Combined with the Giants' loss (see below), the Packers have clinched Group B, become the first team to ten wins, and just need a win next week at home to lock up home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They did it largely with defense, forcing a three and out on the opening drive, and then Brett Favre went off, using a 36 yard pass to Dorsey Levens to help move the team into range, and Edgar Bennett finished the drive with a one yard plunge. The Colts would get some of those points back late in the quarter with a 22 yard pass from Johnny Unitas to Ray Perkins helping set up a 38 yard field goal for Jim O'Brien. But the Packers went right back to work offensively, getting into the red zone and using a little trickery on a fourth and one from the 10, giving the ball to Robert Brooks on a reverse, but he scored to make it 14-3. A Tom Nowatzke fumble midway through the frame gave the Packers the ball back for Chris Jacke to hit a 42 yard field goal, and that 17-3 lead carried over to the second half. Jacke would hit from 50 midway through the third quarter to make it a three score game, and after Doug Evans picked off Unitas later in the frame, Favre and company put it away in the fourth when he hit Antonio Freeman for an 11 yard touchdown. Jacke would miss the extra point and the Colts would respond with a touchdown and two point conversion. They'd almost make it too close for comfort with a first and goal from the nine with just over four minutes to go, but the Packers' defense stood firm and got a little help from a drop on fourth and goal to get the victory.
'71 DAL 59, @ '06 IND 3
 |
| Photo by Walter Iooss, Jr. (Getty Images) |
'92 DAL 20, @ '11 NYG 10
The Giants' chances at winning the group took a major hit while the Cowboys got a huge win that has them in great position to make the postseason. The two teams traded punts to open the game, but the Cowboys returned their punt back to the Giant two yard line, and on the next play Troy Aikman hit Emmitt Smith for a two yard touchdown. The Giants had a quick answer, with a 36 yard Brandon Jacobs run setting up a 48 yard Lawrence Tynes field goal to make it 7-3. Dallas would get those points back early in the second quarter when Lin Elliott hit a 50 yard field goal, then the defenses settled in. Dallas punted twice from just inside Giant territory, but New York couldn't capitalize and that 10-3 lead stood through the break. Dallas forced a three and out to open the third quarter, then Aikman and company marched 80 yards in nine plays to set up a 24 yard field goal for Elliott. But the Giants responded with a big play as Eli Manning hit Hakeem Nicks on a third and 15 for a 60 yard touchdown to pull within a field goal. The Cowboys couldn't push the advantage as Elliott missed from 50, but they got their dagger late in the game. The Giants began a drive from their own 35 with ten minutes to play and got almost to the red zone, but Godfrey Miles picked off Manning and ran it back to the six, and on the next play Smith punched his way in for a touchdown. The Giants would get two more chances to score but turned it over on downs both times.
@ '93 DAL 20, '08 PIT 10
A pivotal game goes the way of the Cowboys, but it was up in the air early. Mewelde Moore fumbled on the second play of the game, but the Cowboys couldn't capitalize, punting from the Pittsburgh 38 (albeit on fourth and 17). Pittsburgh had a great chance in the second quarter, getting first and goal from the four, but the Cowboys made an outstanding goal line stand, with the Steelers eventually getting a field goal from that field position with just over a minute before halftime. But the Cowboys finally broke free with a couple nice passes from Troy Aikman to set up a 38 yard Eddie Murray field goal to tie it going into the break. It was all Cowboys from there, as they needed just six plays in the third quarter to grab their first lead with a 57 yard Aikman to Harper connection setting up a three yard Emmitt Smith touchdown run. The Cowboys got great field position on their next drive to set up a 41 yard Murray field goal to make it 13-3, and after a Ben Roethlisberger interception in the final minute of the third quarter, the Cowboys put it away a couple minutes into the fourth when Aikman found Smith for a two yard touchdown. The Steelers would get that touchdown back on a 19 yard Moore run, but would get no closer, going three and out on their next drive, and the Cowboys ran out the final 5:13.
'09 NO 13, @ '86 NYG 10
The Giants are officially out of the running with a tough last minute loss. The Saints got on the board first, moving 53 yards in seven plays on the opening drive to set up a 34 yard John Carney field goal. But the Giants had a quick answer, with Joe Morris converting a third and five with a 52 yard scamper, and one play later Phil Simms took the ball in himself for a six yard touchdown and a 7-3 lead. The defenses took over from there, with the Giants punting in Saints territory late in the first, but New Orleans couldn't take advantage as Drew Brees threw a pick in Giants territory. The Giants couldn't capitalize on the mistake either as Raul Allegre missed a 45 yard field goal with 24 seconds to go in the half, keeping it 7-3. New Orleans would pull within one midway through the third quarter with a 48 yard Carney field goal, but couldn't grab the lead on their next drive as Carney missed from 47 thanks in part to a Lawrence Taylor sack. The Giants grabbed momentum, using ten plays to march into range, and Allegre hit from 39 to extend the lead. The Giants couldn't run out the clock, punting back to the Saints with 2:16, and Brees only needed a minute, with Lynell Hamilton breaking free for 43 yards right before the two minute warning, and Brees did most of the rest aided by a defensive holding on a fourth down, and with new life Brees hit Jeremy Shockey for a 20 yard touchdown and the lead with just over a minute to play. But Morris fumbled a handoff three plays into New York's desperation drive and the Saints recovered, allowing Brees to kneel it out.
Group C
'79 PIT 31, @ '90 NYG 7
A monster second quarter all but gave the Steelers the Group C title while the Giants find themselves in a tough spot for next week. This one started slow with neither offense mustering much until the Steelers got their third drive to start at the New York 47. Six plays and 21 yards later Matt Bahr nailed a 43 yard field goal to open the scoring. The game turned into a field position battle, tilted heavily in favor of the Steelers when the Giants started a drive at their own two with 2:13 to go in the half. Right after the clock stoppage, Phil Simms was picked off by Mike Wagner who took it nine yards to the house for a 10-0 lead. The Giants went three and out and the Steelers' offense took over with outstanding field position, needing just 22 seconds to go 44 yards and cap the drive with a 12 yard strike from Terry Bradshaw to Sidney Thornton. The Giants got a quick strike, recovering their own fumble with the boon of a personal foul to stop the clock, then Simms hit Stephen Baker for a 53 yard touchdown to get back into it. But too much time was left for Pittsburgh, and as the clock hit zero Bradshaw found Jim Smith, Jr. for a five yard touchdown to cap a six play, 64 yard drive and take a 24-7 lead into the locker room. New York punted twice from Steeler territory in the third and blew a golden opportunity in the fourth when Raul Allegre missed a 34 yard field goal, then another following a Steeler fumble when Simms was picked off again, and three minutes later Franco Harris delivered the dagger with a four yard touchdown grab.
'75 PIT 23, @ '07 NYG 10
The Giants make it a winless weekend despite a decent second quarter in this one. New York got the ball for the second time halfway through the opening quarter, then marched 91 yards, opening the second quarter with a 13 yard strike from Eli Manning to Amani Toomer for a 7-0 lead. The Steelers responded with a couple lengthy completions from Terry Bradshaw to set up a 47 yard Roy Gerala field goal, at which point momentum had begun to swing firmly towards the Steelers. The Giants went three and out, and Pittsburgh went right back down the field with Franco Harris running one in from 14 yards out for a 10-7 lead. Brandon Jacobs got the Giants moving, but Eli threw a pick and Mel Blount took it 74 yards for a touchdown, though Gerala missed the extra point to keep it a 16-7 game. The Giants would get three points back on a Lawrence Tynes field goal at the buzzer, but that was as close as they'd get. The Steelers opened the second half with an eight play, 69 yard drive capped by a 15 yard touchdown run by Rocky Bleier. Tynes would miss a 49 yard field goal on the ensuing drive, and New York couldn't take advantage of a Bradshaw interception off that. Tynes would miss another field goal in the fourth, and that was that.
'88 SF 19, @ '12 BAL 16
Despite being eliminated, Baltimore put up an outstanding fight in a tough loss. Justin Tucker would miss a 49 yard field goal on the game's opening drive after a 41 yard Ray Rice run, but the 49ers wouldn't take advantage, turning it over on downs on fourth and 15 from the 35. But the Ravens compounded matters when Ronnie Lott picked off Joe Flacco, and seven plays later Mike Cofer hit a 24 yard field goal to open the scoring. There was a flurry of activity late in the half as Flacco and company moved 85 yards in 11 plays to set up a 30 yard Tucker field goal, and after forcing a punt with the aid of a couple San Francisco timeouts, the Ravens got great field position for Tucker to hit from 34 with just seven seconds left for a 6-3 halftime lead. San Francisco responded with a great kick return to open the second half to set up a 34 yard Mike Cofer field goal. The Ravens almost answered with one of their own, but Tucker missed from 45, and then the game got crazy. The 49ers bridged the final two quarters with a ten play drive and Roger Craig scored on a nine yard run a minute into the final frame for a 13-6 lead. But the Ravens answered right back, as Rice broke free for a 52 yard run to set up a seven yard Bernard Pierce touchdown. San Francisco seemed to have the game all but won with a 13 play, 80 yard drive that took over eight minutes off the clock and was capped by a 26 yard Cofer field goal, but Flacco worked his magic with a fourht down conversion through the air, followed by another pass to get into field goal range, and Tucker hit from 41 to tie it with just under a minute to play. But Joe Montana had some magic left in him, connecting a couple times with Craig for first downs and hit Jerry Rice for an 18 yard gain that set Cofer up perfectly, and he hit from 42 with two seconds left. The Ravens only got the kick return back to their 30 and the Niners escaped with a dramatic victory.
@ '82 WAS 18, '66 GB 10
The Redskins all but locked up a postseason berth with a dominant few minute stretch in the third quarter. Don Chandler missed a 48 yard field goal for the Packers on the opening drive, but the Packer defense made a couple stops in the opening quarter to maintain the scoreless tie, and early in the second quarter roared to the lead on a 70 yard strike from Bart Starr to Jim Taylor. But the Redskins had an answer, marching 72 yards in 12 plays, including converting a third and 19, to tie the game on a 15 yard John Riggins touchdown run. The Packers actually got to the doorstep ont he ensuing drive, with Starr picking up a pair of 30-plus yard completions to set up first and goal at the ten, but Starr just overthrew Boyd Dowler on fourth and goal from the one to blow a golden chance. Fortunately later in the half Joe Theismann threw a pick, and the game went into the second half tied at seven. This is where Washington took over, as they took the first six or so minutes off the clock and grabbed a lead on a 46 yard Mark Moseley field goal. The Redskins nearly scored again but the Packers made a goal line stand at the one to stop the threat. Unfortunately, Elijah Pitts couldn't get out of the end zone and was tackled for a safety, and after an outstanding free kick return, Moseley hit a 43 yard field goal for eight points in about five minutes and a 15-7 lead. Riggins would fumble to open Washington's next drive, and the Packers got first and goal from the six a couple plays later. Unfortunately they had to settle for a 26 yard Chandler field goal. After a three and out, backup quarterback Zeke Bratkowski threw an interception deep in his own territory, leading to a 46 yard Moseley field goal to push the lead back to eight. The Packers managed to get to the red zone on the ensuing drive, but Bart Starr threw four straight incompletions to turn it back over. The final desperation Bratkowski heave fell incomplete and the Redskins walked away winners.
@ '00 BAL 18, '85 CHI 15
 |
| Photo by John Biever (SI) |
@ '76 OAK 25, '10 GB 20
The Packers are eliminated thanks to a 19 point Oakland second quarter while the Raiders finish their group play at 7-5, but in need of help to make the postseason. Aaron Rodgers and company did next to nothing on their first two drives to sandwich an Oakland punt, but on their second drive the Raiders took nine minutes off the clock to move 65 yards in 14 plays, capped by a 38 yard Fred Steinfort field goal. On the ensuing drive Rodgers made a rare mistake, getting picked off by Skip Thomas, who took it 40 yards for a touchdown. Steinfort would add three more field goals before halftime, one aided by a Brandon Jackson fumble inside his own ten yard line, and the Raiders were up 19-0 at the break. Steinfort opened the second half with another from 49 yards out and a 22-0 lead, at which point the Packers finally started to get something going. Rodgers converted a couple third downs on an 11 play, 80 yard drive capped by a 14 yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson. Rodgers would throw another pick on his next attempt, but Ken Stabler threw one on third and goal from the three to avoid another score. Rodgers followed this up with a 41 yard strike to Greg Jennings for a touchdown to make it 22-14. The Packers forced a punt, but turned it over on downs on their ensuing drive thanks in part to an intentional grounding on a pass that a receiver dropped. Steinfort hit a dagger from 34 yards out, but Green Bay wasn't done yet. The Packers rumbled 74 yards downfield, with Rodgers hitting Nelson again from two yards out to make it a five point game with 1:22 to go, but the two point conversion failed, and Oakland recovered the onside kick to run out the clock.
Group D
@ '05 PIT 21, '91 WAS 13
The Steelers made a late comeback to prevent Washington from clinching a postseason berth and hurt their seeding chances. Pittsburgh actually had control early, forcing a pair of Redskin three and outs and on their second drive with a short field cashing in on a seven yard strike from Ben Roethlisberger to Cedrick Wilson. The Redskins would get some of those points back with a drive bridging the first two frames ending in a 49 yard Chip Lohmiller field goal, and then the defenses settled in, keeping it a 7-3 game at the intermission. The Redskins made some halftime adjustments and they worked, getting a three and out defensively to open the second half, then marching 54 yards in nine plays with Ricky Ervins scoring from six yards out to give Washington the lead. They'd add a 39 yard Lohmiller field goal off a Roethlisberger interception to go up six with about 19 minutes to play. Tommy Maddox came in to play quarterback and did nothing, even throwing an interception in Washington territory, but Mark Rypien returned the favor on the very next play, and Roethlisberger came in to restore order and the lead with a four yard strike to Heath Miller with just under ten minutes to go. Washington punted on its next drive, and the Steelers put the game away with a 37 yard strike from Roethlisberger to Antwan Randle El for an eight point lead. Washington turned it over on downs on the ensuing drive, but got one last chance with about a minute and a half to go, but Clark Haggans came up with the game-sealing sack on the game's final play with the Redskins inside the Pittsburgh 30.
@ '01 NE 24, '04 NE 6
Despite neither team being in the running, both teams gave it their all in the Belichick Bowl, with the younger versions beating the older ones with a dominant second half. '01 Adam Vinatieri hit a 24 yard field goal midway through the opening quarter for the lead, but the '04 Pats responded late in teh frame with a 35 yarder from their Vinatieri to cap a nine play, 51 yard drive. Corey Dillon and '04 Tom Brady took advantage of a short field early in the second to set up a 27 yard field goal for their Vinatieri and a 6-3 lead for the visitors, a lead that held firm into the break. But '01 Belichick made adjustments and late in the third quarter regrabbed the lead with an eight play, 51 yard drive capped by a 15 yard strike from '01 Brady to '01 David Patten. '01 Patten came up huge in the fourth as well with a 56 yard reception early on to set up a five yard strike from '01 Brady to Jermaine Wiggins for a 17-6 lead. Terrell Buckley picked off '04 Brady on the ensuing drive, and eight plays later the younger Brady delivered the dagger with a six yard strike to Terry Glenn.
'89 SF 8, @ '67 GB 6
The 49ers grab the one game lead they needed going into their final game with first place on the line, but it happened in kind of a bizarre game. Bart Starr and Joe Montana traded interceptions in the first quarer, but Montana followed his up with an 11 play drive capped by a 35 yard Mike Cofer field goal. Starr would throw another pick on the ensuing drive, but Cofer missed from 45, giving Green Bay another chance compounded by an encroachment penalty on fourth and five to move the chains. Starr hit Carroll Dale twice for 37 yards to set up a Don Chandler 33 yard kick that tied the game. Green Bay took a lead early in the second half with a 31 yard screen from Starr to Jim Grabowski and a 19 yard Ben Wilson run, but they had to settle for a 40 yard Chandler field goal. A pair of sacks of Starr on Green Bay's next drive led to a three and out, and the 49ers took advantage of the short field with a 30 yard Cofer field goal to tie it. Green Bay had a chance to retake the lead with a nice drive bridging the third and fourth quarters, but Chandler missed from 30 yards. The decisive moment happened late in the fourth quarter with a holding penalty on a Packer punt return pinning them at their own two, and on third and nine, Starr was sacked by Kevin Fagan for a safety and the lead. Green Bay forced a three and out, but turned it over downs on fourth and 25 from their own 41.
'68 NYJ 30, @ '83 LAR 16
The Raiders actually got the early lead in this one with a 40 yard Chris Bahr field goal thanks in part to a 29 yard pass from Jim Plunkett to Todd Christensen, but the Jets had a quick response with an 86 yard kickoff return, and two plays later Joe Namath hit Pete Lammons for an eight yard touchdown and the lead. Jim Turner would add a field goal for the Jets on their next drive for a 10-3 advantage, but the Raiders had a comeback in them. Midway through the second quarter Calvin Muhammad hauled in a 14 yard pass from Plunkett for a game-tying touchdown to cap a nine play, 71 yard drive that included a pair of third and long conversions. Vann McElory picked off Joe Namath's next pass deep in Jet territory, leading to a 47 yard Bahr field goal for a 13-10 lead. They had a chance to make it 16, but Bahr missed from 56 on the final play of the first half. Bahr would make up for it by hitting from 44 early in the third quarter after a New York three and out and it seemed like things would only get worse as Namath's pass to Bake Turner was fumbled by the latter deep downfield. But two plays later Plunkett was picked off by Cornell Gordon, who took it 27 yards for a touchdown and a 17-16 Jet lead. Gordon picked off another Plunkett pass three plays later, and Namath took advantage with a 21 yard touchdown pass to Don Maynard for an eight point lead. The Raiders tried to answer, but turned it over on downs at the Jet 35 late in the third, and later after a Marcus Allen fumble, the Jets put the game out of reach when Namath hit George Sauer for an 11 yard touchdown.
'94 SF 12, @ '78 PIT 10
The 49ers locked up a postseason berth with some help and helped eliminate the Steelers in the process, but it took some late drama. Pittsburgh actually had the lead first, forcing a three and out and following that up with a 28 yard Roy Gerala field goal. But the 49ers had a quick response, with a 39 yard Ricky Watters run setting up a 24 yard Doug Brien field goal to tie the game. Brien would hit again from 44 on San Francisco's next drive early in the second quarter, and that 6-3 lead held through halftime thanks to the Steelers turning it over on downs at the Niner 35 and Bradshaw throwing an interception at the two minute warning. The Steelers had a chance to tie starting the third quarter, but Gerala missed from 39 about six minutes in. San Francisco eventually made them pay, taking ten precious minutes of the fourth quarter to march the length of the field for a 29 yard Brien field goal that made it 9-3. But with three minutes to work with, the Steelers had a chance, and on fourth and 11 from the San Francisco 44, Bradshaw heaved a pass to the endzone and found Randy Grossman for a go-ahead touchdown after Gerala's extra point. But there was still 1:42 on the clock, and that was more than enough for Steve Young, whose 25 yard completion to Brent Jones flipped the field, and Brien came up huge with a 56 yard field goal with 46 seconds to go for a 12-10 lead. The Steelers actually maneuvered into range, but Gerala's try from 54 as time expired fell short and the Niners escaped victorious.
'73 MIA 10, @ '98 DEN 7
 |
| Photo from Getty Images/Focus on Sports (Photographer uncredited) |
No comments:
Post a Comment