We are in the final week of Group Play in the 2018 NFL Tournament of Champions, and a lot is still up in the air. 16 of the 24 postseason berths have been locked up, with the entire Group D representation determined. Two group winners are locked in: the 1999 St. Louis Rams and 1996 Green Bay Packers. Three other first round byes, assuming the bracketing gets done the way I assume it will, have been locked in.
That leaves a lot of seeding still up for grabs. I figured we'd have some meaningless games in terms of playoff position, but there are fewer than I expected: just three games are between eliminated teams, meaning 21 games have significance for the August postseason.
Throughout the process I've kind of evolved the game time and thus weather determination process of going through these games. I started at the top of Group A and worked my way down for a few weeks early on before deciding that that took more time than it needed to, so I started sorting by cities hosting multiple games and getting through those first. Then I started trying to schedule "primetime" games in those multi-game cities with the better matchups. This week I really needed to get everything squared away early. In theory with a setup like this, you want to make sure that every team is giving their all, so I went through the games. We have 16 different cities hosting, with far fewer multi-site cities than has been the norm in this tournament. That made the scheduling easier except with San Francisco, which hosted four games this weekend. I worked through it all though so there's no overlap with games in the same city, and that all relevant games in a group are played at the same time for the sake of gamesmanship.
As has been the case for the entirety of group play to date, weather conditions from the cities where these games are being played at the times they're being played will be taken into account. Scores, schedules, and standings can be found here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's set up a playoff field.
Group A
'77 DAL 17, @ '72 MIA 6
In a meaningless game I swapped out starters, though Roger Staubach was the only quarterback available for the Cowboys, so he beat out Miami starter Jim DelGalzo (though Bob Griese played a significant chunk of the game). The Dolphins actually got out to the early lead as DelGalzo had a couple long competions to set up a 23 yard Garo Yepremian field goal. The Cowboys responded with a foray into Miami territory, but Efren Herrera missed a 40 yard field goal. The Dolphins couldn't take advantage as Jim Klick fumbled in Dallas territory, and eight plays later Robert Newhouse punched it in from six yards out for a 7-3 lead. Yepremian missed from 46 early in the second, and the Cowboys made it a seven point game shortly before halftime when Herrera hit a 30 yard field goal, though he would miss from 41 on the final play of the half. Yepremian missed again from 49 late in the third quarter, and the Cowboys went up two scores early in the fourth when Staubach hit Butch Johnson for a 16 yard touchdown. Yepremian would finally hit again on the ensuing drive from 29, but that was as close as they got as the Cowboys took six minutes off the clock on their next possession, then forced a turnover on downs to come away with the win.
@ '84 SF 27, '80 OAK 10
The 49ers held up what they needed to do to advance, but the gap was just too much to overcome when it was all said and done. The Niners had to overcome an early 3-0 deficit when the Raiders opened the game by marching 69 yards in just under half the frame, capping it with a 28 yard Chris Bahr field goal. San Francisco finally got in the action with an almost seven minute drive in the middle of the second quarter, moving 70 yards in 11 plays capped by a one yard screen from Joe Montana to Renaldo Nehemiah. Oakland punted twice inside the two minute warning, and the Niners extended their lead on the final play of the half when backup quarterback Matt Cavanaugh hit Freddie Solomon for a 46 yard touchdown. The Niners made it a two touchdown game midway through the third on a 38 yard Ray Wersching field goal, but the Raiders made it interesting late in the frame when Mark Van Eeghen scored from 26 yards out to make it 17-10. But Montana and company pulled back away, getting a 24 yard Wersching field goal early in the fourth, and putting it away off a Jim Plunkett interception late in the game when Roger Craig scored from eight yards out.
@ '02 TB 20, '03 NE 14
| Photo by Susan Walsh (AP) |
@ '69 KC 18, '81 SF 3
The Chiefs got the win they needed to largely on the leg of kicker Jan Stenerud, but based on point differential it's the Patriots who advance. Kansas City's failure to cash in played a major role, as they made a couple big defensive stops in the opening quarter before opening the scoring with a 31 yard Stenerud field goal early in the second. Joe Montana compounded the issue with a pick late in the frame, and Stenerud would eventually hit one from 28 at the halftime gun for a 6-0 lead. The Chiefs got first and ten from the 16 midway through the third quarter, but a penalty hurt a little but and Stenerud hit a 24 yard field goal on fourth and one to make it 9-0. Problems arose early in the fourth when Stenerud had a 38 yard field goal blocked, and the Niners marched 58 yards in 11 plays for Ray Wersching to hit one from 30 yards out to make it 9-3. But the Chiefs offense finally broke through after that, with a Mike Garrett 32 yard run helping set up a 23 yard Warren McVea touchdown run, though McVea failed the two point conversion keeping it a 15-3 game. Stenerud would hit from 44 with just over two minutes to go for the final margin, and though it wouldn't have mattered, the Chiefs knelt in the red zone without attempting a field goal in the final minute.
@ '13 SEA 16, '87 WAS 13 (OT)
The Seahawks were likely on track for the #5 seed coming into the weekend, and locked that up with the overtime win. This was a great back and forth outing, with the Redskins needing just under six minutes to grab the first lead of the game when Obed Ariri hit a 42 yard field goal to cap an 11 play, 47 yard drive. The Redskins got a break later in the quarter when a defensive holding nullified a safety, and on the next play Kelvin Bryant broke free for a 53 yard run to flip the field. But the Redskins turned it over on downs at the Seattle 33, and the Seahawks flipped the field to set up Steven Hauschka for a 44 yard field goal that tied it early in the second quarter. That score held up through halftime, with the Redskins opening the second half with a stop followed by a nine play, 87 yard touchdown drive capped by a 15 yard Lionel Vital run. But once again, Seattle had an answer, with a 37 yard Marshawn Lynch run kicking off the drive and eventually setting up a 13 yard strike from Russell Wilson to Golden Tate. Washington would grab the lead again early in teh fourth when Ariri hit a 46 yard field goal, and the Redskins forced a three and out, seemingly poised to pull the upset. But Ariri missed a 49 yard field goal with 4:20 to play, and the Seahawks took advantage, setting up a 36 yard Hauschka field goal to tie it with just under 90 seconds to go. Washington punted and the Seahawks missed a Hail Mary at the end of regulation. The overtime was mostly uneventful, with each team punting once before Seattle's second drive saw a couple long completions by Wilson set up Hauschka's 42 yard game-winner.
@ '99 STL 24, '16 NE 10
The Rams had nothing to play for other than potential spoiler with the #1 seed clinched, but they played that role to perfection in picking up their tenth win while New England has to settle for the #3 seed. The Pats actually opened with the lead, marching 41 yards in eight plays to open the game, and Stephen Gostkowski hit a 47 yard field goal less than five minutes in. But St. Louis needed just six plays and less than four minutes to grab the lead for good, with Marshall Faulk destroying the Patriot defense and capping the drive with a 14 yard touchdown grab. New England actually came close to grabbing the lead late in the frame facing first and goal from the eight, but on fourth and goal from the one LeGarrette Blount was stuffed, and St. Louis responded by going 98 yards with a five yard strike from Kurt Warner to Az-Zahir Hakim completing the 14 point swing. The Patriots would get their touchdown on the ensuing drive though, going 67 yards in 11 plays with Tom Brady hitting Julian Edelman for a 10 yard strike to make it a close game again. That 14-10 lead was extended to a seven point lead when Jeff Wilkins hit from 26 yards out late in the third set up by a 32 yard Faulk run. The Pats nearly had a chance to tie when they forced a Robert Holcombe fumble, but they went three and out, and ten plays later Faulk scored from 14 yards out to put the game out of reach. New England would turn it over on downs with goal to go one more time before the game ended.
@ '09 NO 34, '93 DAL 31
The Saints finish at .500 for group play and play spoiler for the Cowboys, who drop from potentially the #2 seed all the way to #5 in a barnburner. The Saints lost a fumble on the opening possession, but made up for it on their second drive by marching 94 yards and getting a 28 yard touchdown on a screen from Drew Brees to Pierre Thomas, though the Cowboys answered quickly, with an 18 yard strike from Troy Aikman to Michael Irvin. Thomas would strike again early in the second with a 33 yard touchdown run, but again Dallas responded, needing just eight plays to tie the game again as Aikman found Irvin again for a 25 yard touchdown. The Saints had to settle for three on their next drive as John Carney hit a 35 yard field goal, then Emmitt Smith took over with a nine yard run setting up his 58 yard touchdown scamper for a 21-17 Cowboy lead with just over four minutes to go in the half. Brees took a sack on the ensuing drive, forcing Carney to hit again from 34 to make it a one point game before the break. New Orleans would take the lead again late in the third with a 43 yard Carney kick thanks to a short field, but the Cowboys would get those points back early in the fourth when Eddie Murray hit from 21. Then Pierre Thomas took over again, using a 43 yard run to set up a one yard strike from Brees to Robert Meachem, following by a Mike Bell two point conversion to make it 31-24. But the Cowboys again had an answer, marching 76 yards in just under seven minutes to tie the game when Aikman found Irvin for the third time from 15 yards out with 2:24 to play. But this was too much time, and Brees tore apart the Cowboy secondary to set up a 32 yard Carney field goal for a 34-31 lead with 20 seconds left. This wasn't enough time, as Aikman's 59 yard Hail Mary fell incomplete.
@ '08 PIT 10, '11 NYG 6
New York actually looked to be in control early in this one, but blew an early lead and fall to the #3 seed in Group B while the Steelers got the help they needed to make the postseason. Lawrence Tynes hit a 24 yard field goal midway through the first to open the scoring, and Pittsburgh compounded the issue with a Willie Parker fumble near midfield, but the Giants couldn't take advantage. The Steelers got a grip on the next drive, marching 65 yards in ten plays, capping things with an 18 yard strike from Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward. The Steelers made a huge defensive stop in their territory, forcing a fourth and 22 and a punt, then turning that into a 22 yard Jeff Reed field goal and a 10-3 halftime lead as Tynes missed from 45 at the halftime gun. Roethlisberger throw a pick about six minutes into the third deep in his own territory, and the Giants turned it into a 41 yard Tynes field goal, but that was as close as they'd get, with the Steelers taking chunks out of the clock, although they missed their best scoring chance when Reed missed a 49 yard field goal. A Troy Polamalu pick with just under a minute to play ended the threat and the Steelers will play playoff football.
@ '92 DAL 37, '06 IND 17
| Photo by Jamie Squire (Getty Images) |
'70 BAL 12, @ '71 DAL 7
The Cowboys had a chance in the late game to really improve their seeding, but faltered late and took the loss. Roger Staubach was intercepted on the second play of the game, and the Colts returned it to the red zone, getting a 23 yard Jim O'Brien field goal for their efforts. The Cowboys responded by hanging onto the ball, getting a couple big plays to convert third downs, but Mike Clark missed a 47 yard field goal to keep it a 3-0 Colts lead. A running into the kicker penalty gave the Cowboys some new life on the final play of the opening quarter, but their second chance in the second quarter proved fruitless as Clark missed a 50 yard field goal. He'd get yet another chance later in the frame after a Baltimore three and out, but he once again missed, this time from 40, and the Colts took advantage with a 26 yard O'Brien field goal that made it 6-0 right before the half. Dallas finally got on the board ten minutes into the third when Duane Thomas broke free for a 50 yard touchdown run, but the Colts used a drive bridging the final two quarters to retake the lead, as just over two minutes into the fourth, Johnny Unitas hit Roy Jefferson for a 26 yard touchdown. Tom Nowatzke's two point attempt failed though, making it a five point game. Baltimore did nothing offensively after that, with a Unitas interception in Dallas territory hurting the cause, but the Cowboys turned it over on downs in the red zone, then did so again from their own 40 with time running out, ending their dream of a first round bye.
@ '96 GB 22, '74 PIT 13
The Packers lock up home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a come from behind win, while simultaneously knocking the Steelers out of the postseason. Pittsburgh got off to a great start, getting a 55 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw to Larry Brown that helped set up a 23 yard Roy Gerala field goal. Brett Favre would be intercepted later in the frame, but it wasn't until the second when the Steelers took control after another Favre pick returned inside the Green Bay five led to a two yard touchdown from Bradshaw to Franco Harris. But that second pick woke the Packers up, and Favre helped lead a field goal drive with Chris Jacke hitting from 37 to make it a seven point game. They'd get one more chance with a fairly short field, converting a third and 17 to keep a drive alive, but Jacke's 29 yard make with 12 seconds left came on a first down, albeit with Green Bay out of timeouts. Then in the third Green Bay fully took over, with Favre tearing apart the Steel Curtain and setting up a two yard Travis Jervey touchdown run, though Jacke missed the extra point to keep it a two point game. Dorsey Levens then broke through for a 60 yard run on Green Bay's next drive, and Edgar Bennett finished it off with a nine yard touchdown run for a 19-10 lead. The Steelers made it a one score game early in the fourth when Gerala hit from 30, but the Packers went right back to it, converting a third and 21 to set up a 29 yard Jacke field goal for a nine point lead again. From there the Steelers turned it over on downs twice and Favre was able to kneel it out.
'17 PHI 25, @ '97 DEN 19 (OT)
Denver's dreams of postseason play come to an end in heartbreaking fashion, while the Eagles got a lift from the return of Carson Wentz for the finale. But the Broncos actually had the early lead, getting a 38 yard Scott Bentley field goal on the opening drive while Wentz' first pass attempt was picked off, setting up a short field and a 21 yard Bentley field goal for a 6-0 edge. Philly compounded issues when Jay Ajayi fumbled on the next drive, but the Broncos couldn't capitalize, and the Eagles got on the board with a 48 yard Jake Elliott field goal early in the second. That score held up into halftime as the Eagles punted twice in Denver territory while John Elway threw a late interception. But the Eagles got back into the game early in the third as Wentz hit Alshon Jeffery for a 62 yard gain to set up a 12 yard strike to Jeffery for a 9-3 lead after Elliott missed the extra point. Denver would tie the game on a 43 yard Bentley field goal on the ensuing drive set up by a 38 yard Terrell Davis run, but the Eagles grabbed the lead right back to open the fourth on a chip shot Elliott field goal. The Eagles pushed their lead to ten when Elway was picked off again and Ajayi scored from nine yards out. The Broncos got three of those points back on the ensuing drive with a 41 yard Bentley field goal, then got a clutch drive late as a 35 yard completion from Elway to Rod Smith set up a seven yard game-tying Davis touchdown. Philly had a chance to win in regulation with an outstanding punt return, but Elliott missed from 52 as the clock expired, forcing overtime. The Eagles then needed just two and a half minutes to end the contest, with Wentz connecting for a 59 yard gain with Torrey Smith, and on the next play Ajayi ended the game with a four yard plunge.
@ '10 GB 9, '00 BAL 7
The Packers play spoiler, relegating the Ravens to the #2 seed in the group while salvaging a 5-7 tournament. Green Bay got the early lead in this one, with a 43 yard Mason Crosby field goal midway through the first opening the scoring. Baltimore went three and out and the Packers did it again, getting a 50 yarder from Crosby to double the lead late in the frame. Neither offense did anything in the second quarter, with each quarterback throwing one pick to keep it a 6-0 game into the second half. The third quarter saw more of the same, with Green Bay punting just on the Baltimore side of midfield late, albeit on fourth and 13, and the Ravens grabbed their first lead with a 13 play, almost seven minute drive capped by a four yard Jamal Lewis touchdown run. But that was all Baltimore mustered, punting on fourth and five from the Green Bay 40 with 2:40 to go, and Rodgers had one miracle in hand, converting a third and 19 to help set up a 41 yard Crosby field goal as time expired.
@ '85 CHI 17, '82 WAS 3
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| Photo by Al Messerschmidt (Getty Images) |
'12 BAL 19, @ '66 GB 16 (OT)
After winning their first game, the '66 Packers closed out the tournament losing 11 straight, perhaps none in more heartbreaking fashion than this one as the outdated overtime rules remain in place. The Ravens opened the scoring with a 44 yard Justin Tucker field goal midway through the opening quarter, but Green Bay responded by tying the game on a 28 yard Don Chandler field goal to cap a 14 play drive. Green Bay grabbed its first lead off a Joe Flacco interception late in teh second quarter, and after a 36 yard Jim Taylor run, the Packers eventually got pay dirt when Bart Starr hit Carroll Dale for a three yard touchdown and a 10-3 lead they'd take into the break. Green Bay failed to extend its lead early in the third as Chandler missed a 42 yard field goal, and midway through the quarter Baltimore tied it when Ray Rice broke free for a 43 yard touchdown run. The Ravens would block the Green Bay punt on the ensuing three and out, and three plays later Tucker hit from 21 yards for a 13-10 lead. Green Bay tied it early in the fourth on a Chandler chip shot after missing out on a red zone chance. Baltimore would retake the lead on a Tucker 33 yarder with five minutes to go, but Starr and company had one last clutch drive in them. After trading punts, Green Bay got into the red zone, and Chandler hit a 28 yarder as time expired to force an extra session. But in overtime, the Ravens won the toss, and a 22 yard pass from Flacco to Anquan Boldin set up a game-winner from 41 for Tucker.
'07 NYG 34, @ '88 SF 7
The Niners had a golden chance to make the playoffs, but combined with the '90 Giants' victory in Pittsburgh, San Francisco's season comes to an end. The Niners actually got off to a decent start, seeing Lawrence Tynes miss a 49 yard field goal late in the first and following that up with a seven play drive capped by a ten yard touchdown pass from Joe Montana to Tom Rothman. But the Giants made some nice plays late in the half with a short field, tying the game on a ten yard strike from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress. The Niners went three and out, and the Giants converted their two-for-one, with Brandon Jacobs punching it in from a yard out on third and goal for a 14-7 halftime lead. Mike Cofer missed a 50 yard field goal early in the third that would have trimmed the lead, and the Giants took advantage by marching 60 yards with Reuben Droughns scoring from seven yards out, although Tynes missed the extra point to keep it 20-7. New York would add a couple fourth quarter touchdowns for the final margin and the nice spoiler win.
'90 NYG 9, @ '75 PIT 6
Combined with the '88 49ers loss (see above), it's the Giants who find their way into the postseason. Meanwhile, the Steelers are eliminated, and their loss allows the idle '76 Raiders to claim a playoff berth at 7-5. This game was not a pretty one though, though the Steelers got off to a good start, as a Franco Harris 44 yard run about six minutes in set up a 37 yard Roy Gerala field goal. But the Giants followed that up with an almost eight minute drive capped by a 27 yard Raul Allegre field goal. Terry Bradshaw threw a pick two plays later, and this set up a 50 yard Allegre field goal for a 6-3 Giant lead. That lead held into halftime as Phil Simms threw a late interception. The third quarter was quiet save a New York fumble, but the Steelers couldn't capitalize. It took until late in the game for the heroics to happen. The Steelers marched 62 yards in 11 plays, including a 44 yard HArris run, tying the game on a 36 yard Gerala field goal with 1:07 to play. But it was too much time for Simms and company, who also benefitted from a defensive holding on a sack, and Simms found Mark Ingram for the pivotal 28 yard completion that set up a 36 yard Allegre make as time expired.
@ '79 PIT 40, '14 NE 3
The Steelers didn't even need the upset over the 2000 Ravens as they took #1 seed matters into their own hands with a huge blowout win. Pittsburgh grabbed the lead five minutes in after a New England three and out with a five play, 58 yard drive capped by a 12 yard strike from Terry Bradshaw to Franco Harris. The Patriots would get as close as they could for the remainder of the game on the ensuing drive as Stephen Gostkowski hit a 51 yard field goal, but that was it. The Steelers went right back to work with an eight play drive capped by an eight yard strike from Bradshaw to Swann for a 14-3 lead late in the first. New England nearly got back into the game with a Brandon Browner pick of Bradshaw, but four plays later Tom Brady returned the favor, and Matt Bahr would hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 17-3. He'd add one more late in the half and it was 20-3 at the break. The Steelers put it away in the third and early fourth with a five yard Bradshaw to Jim Smith, Jr. touchdown pass and a 35 yard connection from Bradshaw to Bennie Cunningham, respectively.
Group D
@ '73 MIA 30, '78 PIT 0
The shutout gives Miami the #3 seed out of Group D on a day where they shut down the Steeler offense. Miami opened the game with an almost eight minute drive that included converting a fourth and 26 to set up a three yard Mercury Morris touchdown. Pittsburgh punted from the Dolphin 37 on their first drive, but the Dolphins wouldn't take advantage until late in the second quarter when Larry Csonka got in on the action with a three yard touchdown. Roy Gerala missed a 49 yard field goal on Pittsburgh's ensuing drive, and Franco Harris fumbled in his own territory late in the half to set up a 37 yard Garo Yepremian field goal to make it 17-0 before the break. Gerala missed again from 45 about ten minutes into the third and the Dolphins put the game away less than two minutes later after a Morris 63 yard run set up a one yard strike on fourth and goal from Bob Griese to Jim Klick. Yepremian hit a couple field goals in the fourth while the Steelers went 0-3 on fourth down in the final frame.
'83 LAR 20, @ '94 SF 17
The Raiders get their record to .500 for the tournament while playing spoiler with a late come from behind victory. The 49ers had early command thanks in part to Chris Bahr missing a 50 yard field goal on the game's opening drive, but it wasn't until late in the quarter that San Francisco got on the board with William Floyd punching it in from a yard out to cap an eight play drive. The Raiders tied the game early in the second with an eight play, 73 yard drive capped by Frank Hawkins plunging in from two yards out. But the Niners also responded quickly, with Steve Young moving the team into field goal range, setting up Doug Brien for a 36 yard field goal. Jim Plunkett then compounded matter with a pick two plays later deep in his own territory, and five plays later Steve young found Ricky Watters for a four yard touchdown to make it 17-7, a score that held up into halftime despite another Plunkett interception right after the touchdown. Another Plunkett interception in the red zone midway through the third seemed to have the game squarely in San Francisco's hands, but they punted, and the Raiders got enough chunks of yards to set up a 26 yard Bahr field goal. Bahr would hit again to make it a four point game with about four minutes to play, then it was Young's turn to play the goat as he threw a pick on the very next play. Los Angeles needed just five plays to grab its first lead, with Plunkett hitting Hawkins on a screen for a 20 yard touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The Niners turned it over on downs at their 30, ending the contest.
@ '68 NYJ 21, '67 GB 3
New York secured a bye with its eighth victory on the tournament in fairly dominant fashion over Lombardi's Packers, getting a three yard touchdown run from Emerson Boozer late in the first quarter that would prove to be all the Jets needed. The Packers would get on the board midway through the second quarter on a 21 yard Don Chandler field goal, but that was after wasting a first and goal at the six situation. Even so, it was 7-3 at the break, but with a short field midway through the third quarter, the Jets pulled away thanks to a short field and a three yard Boozer touchdown run. The Packers continued to struggle despite a fourth quarter forced fumble, but Boozer notched the hat trick late in the game with a 19 yard touchdown run and securing the victory.
@ '89 SF 37, '01 NE 21
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| Photo by George Rose (Getty Images) |
'05 PIT 24, @ '04 NE 13
Tom Brady was picked off on the third play of the game, but it wasn't until the second quarter when the Steelers finally broke through, capping a seven play, 68 yard drive with Ben Roethlisberger finding Cedrick Wilson for a 17 yard touchdown. The Patriots punted on fourth and one from the Pittsburgh 41, and the Steelers made them pay with a 14 play drive that took just over six minutes off the clock capped by a four yard strike from Roethlisberger to Willie Parker. The Pats went three and out, and Parker took advantage of the short field with a 35 yard touchdown run with a second left before halftime for a 21-0 lead. The Patriots got seven back to open the third quarter with a five play, 59 yard drive capped by a 17 yard strike from Brady to David Givens, then added a couple field goals in the fourth to make it a one score game with about four minutes to go, but Parker put the game away with a 48 yard run to set up a 41 yard Jeff Reed field goal.
@ '91 WAS 31, '15 DEN 27
The Redskins locked up the #4 seed in the group by hanging on late to win, while the Broncos missed out on their shot at a bye. The first quarter was an offensive explosion, with Ronnie Hillman running for 37 yards on the first play of the game and hauling in a four yard strike from Peyton Manning two and a half minutes in to open the fray. Washington had a quick answer, with Mark Rypien hitting Earnest Byner for a 26 yard completion to help set up Byner's 39 yard touchdown run that tied it five minutes in. Denver got a big play to retake the lead, with Manning finding Jordan Norwood for a 50 yard touchdown. Again, Washington answered quickly, with Ricky Ervins getting a turn with a 42 yard touchdown run set up by Rypien's 26 yard completion on third and 19 to Terry Orr. Peyton threw a pick two plays later in his own territory, and Byner got his second touchdown of the day with a 30 yard run. Denver pulled back within four midway through the second quarter off a Rypien interception with a 49 yard Brandon McManus field goal, but the Redskins would extend their lead before halftime when Rypien hit Ricky Sanders for an 11 yard touchdown inside the two minute warning. Chip Lohmiller missed a field goal to open the second half for Washington, and the Broncos got it close again with a 46 yard touchdown from Manning to Emmanuel Sanders. They made it a one point game off a McManus field goal with about four minutes to play, but the Broncos turned it over on downs on their next drive, and the Redskins put it away with a 46 yard Lohmiller field goal with 20 seconds to play.
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