Top 25 Memorable Super Bowl Moments: #11-14

11.       Super Bowl 23 – Montana to Taylor

The San Francisco 49ers met the Cincinnati Bengals in another Super Bowl and this one wouldn’t be decided until the final minute. After a back-and-forth game, the Bengals held a 16-13 lead with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter. The 49ers had possession of the ball on their own eight-yard line.

Forty-niner quarterback, Joe Montana completed three short passes and runningback, Roger Craig carried twice, enabling San Francisco to pick up a few first downs. Then Montana connected with receiver, Jerry Rice, for 17 yards to move the ball to the Cincinnati 48. After an incomplete pass and an offensive penalty, the 49ers faced second-and-20 from their own 45 with only 1:15 left to play.

Rice caught a pass at the Bengal 33, avoided three Cincinnati defenders, and was finally brought down on the 18-yard line. An eight-yard pass to Craig, brought up second-and-two from the ten, with 39 seconds to play. Montana then finished the game-winning drive with a pass to receiver, John Taylor, who caught the ball in the end zone. After the extra point, the score was 20-16. The 49er defense held Cincinnati at bay for the remaining thirty seconds and the 49ers had their third Super Bowl victory.

12.       Super Bowl 25 – A stunning rendition

Who could ever forget Super Bowl 25? The third-and-long reception of New York Giant receiver, Mark Ingram. Or Buffalo Bills’ running back, Thurman Thomas's long touchdown run. Or the fact that the Giants’ offense held possession of the ball for over 40 minutes, a Super Bowl record. Or the wide-right missed field goal of Bills’ kicker, Scott Norwood.

But the most memorable moment of Super Bowl 25 happened before the game. It was Grammy-Award winner Whitney Houston’s incredible performance in singing the Star-Spangled Banner. The United States was at war with Iraq (The First Gulf War) and patriotic fever was in the air. With heightened security and suggestions that maybe the game shouldn’t even be played, the stadium in Tampa Bay was a sea of American Flags as the fans showed their support for the troops fighting in the Middle East.

And Whitney’s performance of the National Anthem gave everyone goosebumps and sent shivers down spines. It was such an amazing rendition, it was even released as a single that reached Number 20 on the U.S. charts.

13.       Super Bowl 27 – Leon Lett

The Dallas Cowboys were making their first Super Bowl appearance in 14 years, while the Buffalo Bills were in the big game for the third year in a row. This game was close for about the first quarter when Dallas led 14-7 going into the second. After Bills’ starting quarterback, Jim Kelly, injured his knee and was taken out of the game, numerous Buffalo turnovers led to numerous Cowboy touchdowns and Dallas easily won the game, 52-17.

However, the Cowboys could have scored even more points if it wasn’t for the idiocy of defensive tackle, Leon Lett. With Dallas having already scored 52 points, they appeared headed towards the record that had been set in Super Bowl 24 by the San Francisco 49ers (55).

Bills’ back-up quarterback, Frank Reich, dropped back to pass, but was hit by Jim Jeffcoat, causing a fumble. Lett quickly moved in and scooped up the loose ball at the Cowboys’ 36-yard line and appeared to be heading for a touchdown as there was nobody between him and goal line. Buffalo wide receiver, Don Beebe, gave chase and was quickly closing the gap. Had Lett continued to hustle and run, he would have scored. Instead he slowed down and started to showboat, holding the ball out at his side. Beebe caught him and swatted the ball out of his hands before he crossed the goal line. The ball bounced harmlessly through the end zone for a touch back, giving the Bills the ball back.

Instead of scoring a touchdown, Lett looked like the biggest goof in Super Bowl history.

14.       Super Bowl 29 – Monkey removed

Ever since Steve Young became the number one quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers in 1991, the comparisons with Joe Montana never ceased. The pressure became more and more intense as the Niners lost the NFC Championship game two years in a row to the Dallas Cowboys in 1992 and 1993. However, in 1994, San Fran finally managed to beat Dallas and would face the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl 29.

The game wasn’t close as San Fran walloped the Chargers 49-26. The scoring started early. On the third play of the game, Young threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Rice. On their next possession, Young threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Rickey Watters. In the second quarter, he threw his third TD pass of the game, a short five-yard play to William Floyd. Before the half had ended, Young threw his fourth TD pass, another Watters score, this time from eight yards out.

After Watters scored a TD on a running play, Young tied Montana’s Super Bowl record for TD passes in a game when he hit Rice on a 15-yard pass. Finally, in the fourth quarter, Young broke the record when he hit Rice on a seven-yard pass for the receiver’s third TD catch, and Young’s sixth TD pass.

The 49er quarterback was named the game’s Most Valuable Player and late in the fourth quarter, asked for someone to remove the “monkey from off his back” in a reference to playing under Montana’s shadow. Rather foolishly, 49er linebacker Gary Plummer, removed an imaginary monkey from Young’s back, an act that looked pretty silly and Young, years later, would admit to having some regret over that moment of the game.

However, Young’s performance in the Super Bowl, proved he could win the big one, and solidified him as one of the best quarterbacks of the era.

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Top 25 Memorable Super Bowl Moments: #6-10

6.       Super Bowl 16 – Goal line stand saves Niners

This was the first time the Super Bowl was played in the Detroit area as the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, hosted the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The 49ers were at the beginning of their dynasty and this would be the first of four Super Bowl triumphs in the 1980s. Quarterback Joe Montana was named the game’s MVP as the 49ers beat the Bengals by a score of 26-21.

But it could be argued that it was the San Francisco defense that won the game. Three first half turnovers helped build a 20-0 lead and a goal-line stand late in the third quarter prevented the Bengals from the points that could have given them the win.

The big play happened on third-and-goal when Bengal quarterback Ken Anderson hit running back Charles Alexander for what looked like a sure touchdown. But 49er linebacker, Dan Bunz made a perfect tackle to prevent Alexander from getting in the end zone. On fourth down, the Bengals tried to run the ball in, but Bunz, fellow linebacker Jack Reynolds and cornerback Ronnie Lott combined to tackle full back Pete Johnson before he could score.

7.       Super Bowl 17 – The Diesel plows through the Dolphins

Ten years after the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl 7 to cap the undefeated season, the two teams met in the big game once more. This time it was the Redskins who prevailed, 27-17, largely due to the performance of running back, John Riggins. The man nicknamed “The Diesel” rushed for a then-Super Bowl record 166 yards and a touchdown run that defined his toughness and determination.

In the third quarter, with the Redskins trailing 17-13 and facing a fourth-and-one on the Miami 43-yard line, Riggins took the handoff from quarterback, Joe Theisman, and looked like he was going to be stopped for a loss. Instead, the Diesel broke the tackle and rumbled 43 yards with Dolphin defenders trying in vain to catch him.

The Redskins led 20-17 and would score another touchdown in the fourth to seal the victory.

8.       Super Bowl 18 – The incredible running of Marcus

John Riggins’s Super Bowl rushing record lasted all of one year. The Raiders defeated the Redskins in Super Bowl 18 by a score of 38-9. It was the Raiders third championship in eight years and the first since moving from Oakland to Los Angeles in 1982.

And it was the Marcus Allen show as the Los Angeles runningback set a new Super Bowl rushing record by running for 191 yards and scoring two touchdowns in winning MVP honours.

It was the second TD that was the hi-light. It happened in the third quarter with the Raiders ahead 28-9. On the last play of the quarter, Allen took the handoff from quarterback, Jim Plunkett, and started to run to the left, as was the play’s design. But after seeing a lot of Redskin defenders closing in on him, he cut to the right and turned the play up the middle of the field. Not one Washington defender laid a hand on him as he raced to the end zone for a 74-yard, game-clinching touchdown.

9.       Super Bowl 20 – The Fridge scores a TD

Without a doubt, the best defense in the Super Bowl era belonged to the 1985 Chicago Bears. Under the guidance of defensive co-ordinator, Buddy Ryan, the Bears’ 46-defense dominated the entire NFL throughout the season. They only allowed 198 points over the 16 regular season games and followed that up with two shutouts over the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams in their first two play off games.

The Super Bowl was a laugher, a 46-10 thrashing of the New England Patriots. While the most memorable play happened by a defensive player, it happened while he was on defense.

Rookie defensive tackle, William Perry, was a force. Weighing around 380 pounds, Perry earned the nickname “The Refrigerator”. In the third quarter, with the Bears already in command at 37-3, The Fridge got the call on a one-yard plunge. Watching the Patriots trying to stop him was hilarious as he plowed over anyone standing in his way. It was his third offensive TD of the season.

10.       Super Bowl 22 – The Redskins explode in the second quarter

The Denver Broncos were in the Super Bowl for the second year in a row and were trying to avoid the lopsided defeat they had suffered at the hands of the New York Giants in Super Bowl 21. They were playing another NFC East team, the Washington Redskins, and the Broncos got off to a great start leading 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.

But the second quarter is when the roof caved in, or if viewed from the Washington point of view, the Redskins dominated. On the first play of the second, Washington receiver Ricky Sanders got in behind the Denver defensive backs and hauled in a pass from quarterback, Doug Williams, and raced 80 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Denver’s lead was now 10-7.

After the Broncos punted, the Redskins scored again, this time William’s 27-yard pass landed in the diving hands of Gary Clark and Washington was up 14-10. Denver then missed a field goal and Washington scored again, on a 58-yard run by runningback, Timmy Smith. Washington up 21-10. On their next possession, the Redskins scored on another long pass from Williams, as he connected with Sanders once again, this time from 50 yards: Washington 28-10. And then, after the Skins intercepted Bronco quarterback, John Elway, another long drive culminated in another Williams TD pass, this time an 8-yard strike to Clint Didier, and Washington had a Super Bowl record, that still stands, of 35 points in one quarter. Another score in the fourth made the final score 42-10.

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Top 25 Most Memorable Super Bowl Moments: #1-5

            Welcome to my Super Bowl tribute, a six-part series entitled “25 Most Memorable Moment of the Super Bowl.” This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the game, and while the hype and commercials and half-time show and who sings the National Anthem, are things that don’t interest me in the least, the games have had some notable memories over the years. True football fans know that somewhere in all that mess called the Super Bowl, there actually IS a football game. Here, then, are my favourite moments in Super Bowl history. They will be in chronological order as it was impossible to rank one as more important than the rest. Enjoy.

               

1.       Super Bowl 3 – Namath and the Jets are number one

While the game itself was somewhat of a snooze fest, the New York Jets 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts was probably the most important moment in the early history of the game. For years, the NFL looked down on the AFL and considered it a minor league. After several years of warring, including competing to get the best players, the two leagues agreed to a merger that would take place for the 1970 season. Prior to that, beginning in 1966, the AFL and NFL Champions would meet in a Pro Football Championship Game that would eventually be re-named the Super Bowl.

The first two games were mismatches as the NFL Champion Green Bay Packers steamrolled over the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. Everyone was expecting the same for the third Super Bowl. Everyone, that is, except Jets’ quarterback Joe Namath, who predicted New York would beat the heavily favoured Colts. Namath’s prediction was not pre-meditated and he wasn’t being boastful. Fed up with practically all the media putting down the AFL all throughout the week prior to the game, he stuck up for the league by boldly stating the Jets would win the game.

He backed up his prediction with a flawless performance. And as Namath was leaving the field, he held up his finger to indicate the Jets were number one. They had shocked the football world and gave credibility to the AFL.

2.       Super Bowl 7 – The only undefeated team

After the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 14-7 in Super Bowl 7, they became the first and, to date, only team in the Super Bowl era to finish a season without losing a single game. The Dolphins won with defense and their running game. Backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates in NFL history to both rush for 1000 yards over the course of a season.

The defense was nick-named the “No-Name Defense” because they didn’t get the recognition and publicity they were entitled to. It was led by Nick Buoniconti (linebacker), Bill Stanfill (end), Manny Fernandez (tackle) and safeties Dick Anderson and Jake Scott.

            Years later, the members of the 1972 Dolphins still get together to celebrate when the last remaining unbeaten team loses their first game of the year.

3.       Super Bowl 10 – Don’t mess with Lambert’s teammates

The Pittsburgh Steelers won their second consecutive Super Bowl by defeating the Dallas Cowboys, 21-17, in Super Bowl 10. But the image that showed the toughness and togetherness of the Steelers occurred in the third quarter on a field goal attempt.

With the Cowboys leading 10-7, Pittsburgh kicker Roy Gerela, who was playing while hurt, missed a 33-yard field goal, his second miss of the game. Dallas defender, Cliff Harris mockingly patted Gerela on the helmet, as if sarcastically thanking him for missing the field goal.

             Steeler linebacker Jack Lambert, who had a history of being as tough as nails and not somebody to mess with, took exception to Harris’s antics and grabbed him around the shoulder pads and threw him into the turf.

Some harsh words were exchanged and cooler heads prevailed, but the message from Lambert was clear: nobody messes with the Steelers. Pittsburgh’s defense dominated the rest of the game and intercepted Dallas quarterback, Roger Staubach on the final play of the game to seal the victory.

4.       Super Bowl 11 – “Old Man Willie”

The Oakland Raiders didn’t have much trouble handling the Minnesota Vikings in winning their first Super Bowl. It was the Vikings fourth loss in the big game in as many attempts. The four Super Bowl losses is a record that would be eventually tied over the years by Denver, Buffalo and New England. (Denver would lose their fifth in Super Bowl 48).

Oakland outscored the Vikings, 32-14, gained a Super Bowl record (at the time) of 429 yards, and pretty much dominated all facets of the game.

But the image of Super Bowl 11 that is etched in the memories of fans is that of Raider cornerback, Willie Brown, racing to the end zone for a 75-hard interception return for a touchdown, to erase any thought the Vikings had for a comeback.

NFL films preserved the play brilliantly, showing an end zone camera angle of Brown sprinting—in slow motion—towards the end zone with the Viking offense in a failed pursuit. Add in Raiders’ broadcaster’s call of “Old Man Willie” as Brown reached the end zone and you have as classic a memory as you’ll ever get.

5.       Super Bowl 13 – Veteran receiver’s costly drop

For the second time in four years, the Pittsburgh Steelers played the Dallas Cowboys in another thrilling Super Bowl. Veteran tight end, Jackie Smith, a long-time St. Louis Cardinal who had signed with the Cowboys before the 1978 season, would leave an impression on the game he would rather have avoided.

With Dallas trailing, 21-14 in the third quarter, quarterback Roger Staubach threw to a wide open Smith in the end zone. With an all-too-easy game-tying touchdown in his grasp, Smith slipped on the grass and the ball bounced off of his chest for an incompletion. The Cowboys had to settle for a field goal to make the score 21-17.

The two teams traded two touchdowns a piece in the final quarter, making the final score 35-31. If Smith had caught the ball, the game would have been tied and would have needed overtime to decide a winner.

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NFL Playoffs: Conference Championship Memories, Part 3: 2007

2007 NFC Championship: January 20, 2007

New York Giants vs Green Bay Packers

Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

Weather: −1 °F (−18 °C), clear

                The New York Giants had been a force to be reckoned with during the 1980s, but after the resignation of head coach, Bill Parcells, following the victory in Super Bowl 25, the Giants were pretty much mired in mediocrity. Several playoff appearances happened along the way, but other than the 2000 season in which the team won the NFC Championship but lost Super Bowl 35 to the Baltimore Ravens, there wasn’t much to speak of in terms of success.               

                The seeds of success for the 2007 season were sown prior to the 2004 season. The Giants hired head coach, Tom Coughlin, and traded for number one draft pick, quarter back Eli Manning immediately after Manning was drafted by the San Diego Chargers. Despite guiding the Giants to the post season in 2005 and 2006, Manning still was not generating the respect he deserved and was still being referred to as Peyton’s little brother.

                In 2007, the Giants finished at 10-6, made the playoffs as a wild card team and upset both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-14 and the Dallas Cowboys, 21-17 to make it to the NFC Championship.

                The Green Bay Packers were nearing the end of an era while at the same time beginning a new one. In his second year as head coach, Mike McCarthy guided the Pack to a 13-3 record with veteran, but aging, future Hall-of-Fame quarterback, Brett Favre. It was speculated that this would be Favre’s last season with the Packers as highly-touted first-round draft pick, Aaron Rodgers was waiting to take the reigns and lead the Packer offense for years to come.

                It was a frigid late afternoon in Green Bay and the most iconic image of the game would be Tom Coughlin’s face as it got redder and redder from the cold as the game wore on, possibly the beginning stages of frost bite.

                New York was on the scoreboard first with a 29-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes. That was the only scoring play of the first quarter and Tynes extended the Giants’ lead to 6-0 when he hit a 37-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

                But the Packers took the lead for the first time when Favre hit receiver, Donald Driver, on a 90-yard touchdown pass. Green Bay was up 7-6, and extended the lead to 10-6 on a 36-yard field goal by Mason Crosby before the first half ended.

                On their first possession of the second half, the Giants drove 69 yards and retook the lead on a one-yard run by Brandon Jacobs. However, the Packers scored on their next possession after an excellent kick return gave them good field position. Favre threw his second TD of the game, this time a 12-yard pass to Donald Lee and the score was 17-13 for the Pack.

                Then it was the Giants turn for an excellent kick off return and after seven plays, running back Ahmad Bradshaw ran the ball in from four yards out and the Giants were in front again, 20-17. The game was tied early in the fourth quarter when Crosby kicked a field goal from 37 yards away.

                The Giants then controlled the game for the rest of the quarter. However, despite moving the ball into field goal range twice, Tynes missed his two attempts, the last one on the final play of regulation. The game was going into overtime.

                The Packers won the coin toss and would take possession of the ball first in the extra period. On the second play from scrimmage, Favre’s last pass as a Packer would be intercepted by Giants’ cornerback, Corey Webster who returned the ball to the Green Bay 34-yard line. A few plays later, Tynes got his third chance to win the game. This time, he hit a 47-yard field goal to give the Giants a 23-20 victory, the NFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl 42 to play the undefeated New England Patriots. And we all know what happened in that game.

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NFL Playoffs: Conference Championship Memories, Part 2: 1992

1992 NFC Championship: January 17, 1993

Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers

Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

Weather: 54 °F (12 °C), partly cloudy, occasional rain

                The two best teams in football met on a rainy, muddy day at Candlestick Park in San Francisco for the right to meet the AFC Champion Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl 27. This would be the first time in their dynasty years that started in the early 80s, the 49ers would be playing in the NFC Championship game without four-time Super Bowl winner and three-time Super Bowl MVP, quarterback Joe Montana. After being seriously injured in the 1990 NFC title game against the New York Giants, Montana had missed the entire 1991 season.  Although he was still on the roster, he didn’t get into a game until the regular season finale and would be relegated to a back-up role for the playoffs.

                No trouble, though, as another All-star quarterback, Steve Young, proved he was just as capable as leading the 49ers. Young missed five games due to injury during the 1991 season and the 49ers missed the playoffs. However, in 1992, he passed for 3465 yards and 25 touchdowns, and ran for another 537 yards and 4 TDS, while leading the 49ers to a 14-2 record and the best record in the NFL.

                For the Cowboys, this was their first year as a contender since Tom Landry had been fired after the 1988 season. Former Miami Hurricanes coach, Jimmy Johnson, who had won the College National Championship with the Canes after the 1987 season, took over in 1989 and had guided the Cowboys to a miserable 1-15 record. However, two years later the team was in the playoffs and the following year, finished with a 13-3 record and would meet the Niners in the NFC Championship Game.

`               A 63-yard touchdown pass from Young to receiver, Jerry Rice, that would have put the 49ers on the scoreboard first, was called back because of a holding penalty. Instead, the Cowboys would be first on the board with a 20-yard field goal by Lin Elliott after a 49er fumble on special teams. San Francisco would eventually score the first TD of the game on a quarterback sneak by Young from a yard away. The first quarter ended 7-3, San Fran.

                After 49er runningback, Rickey Watters, fumbled the ball away, Dallas drove for a go-ahead score. The drive ended on a four-yard run by Cowboy running back, Emmitt Smith. The Niners managed to tie the game at ten before the half ended on a Mike Cofer field goal.

                Dallas received the second-half kick off and marched 78 yards and scored on a three-yard touchdown run by full back, Darryl Johnston, and took a 17-10 lead. After another field goal by Cofer, Dallas embarked on another long drive, this time one that covered 79 yards and consumed nine minutes. Smith scored his second TD of the game on a 16-yard pass from quarterback, Troy Aikman. The Cowboys led the game 24-13.

                Mid-way through the fourth quarter, Young was intercepted (the third 49er turnover of the game) and Dallas looked to put the game away. However, on a fourth down from the San Francisco 7-yard line, head coach, Johnson, decided to go for the touch down rather than attempt a field goal that would have given the Cowboys a 14-point lead. The 49er defense held and the 49ers still had some life.

                Young led the offense on a 93-yard drive that culminated when he threw a five-yard TD pass to Rice and the Dallas lead had shrunk to 24-20. However, on the first play after the kick-off, Aikman hit Alvin Harper with a short pass on a slant route that the receiver turned into a 70-yard play, finally being forced out of bounds at the nine-yard line. Three plays later, Aikman threw a TD pass to Kelvin Martin. The extra point was missed and the Cowboy lead was 30-20.

                With time running out, Young attempted to pull off some of the magic that had followed Montana around during his tenure as the 49er quarterback. But at the two-minute warning, Young was intercepted again and the Cowboys were able to run out the clock. They were off to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1978 season.

                Aikman threw for 322 yards and two TDs, while Emmitt Smith ran for 114 yards, caught seven passes for 59 yards and scored two touchdowns. In a losing effort, Young threw for 313 yards while Rice caught eight passes for 123 yards. The Cowboys outgained San Francisco by one yard (416-415) but the difference in the game was the four 49er turnovers.

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NFL Playoffs: Conference Championship Memories, Part 1: 1986

I've always enjoyed watching the NFC and AFC Championships. It's been my favourite day of the NFL year since I was a kid. The most exciting games were always in the conference championships. Back in those days, the Super Bowls were pretty one-sided. From 1985 (the year I started watching the NFL) up until 2000, there were a total of sixteen Super Bowls. Only four of them were decided by a touchdown or less. So, as I mentioned, the Conference Championship games were always more exciting. Here then are my memories of a handful of those games.

1986 AFC Championship: January 11, 1987

Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH

Weather: 30 F (-2 C), windy and overcast

                The Cleveland Browns were looking to make their first trip to the Super Bowl and looking for their first championship. They had been close several times earlier in the decade, having lost the Division Playoff to the Oakland Raiders in 1980 on a last-minute end zone interception. In 1985, although finishing at 8-8, had won the AFC Central but had lost in the Divisional Round to the Miami Dolphins. In 1986, they finished at 12-4 and had the number one seed in the AFC playoffs. Their offense was led by quarter back, Bernie Kosar, and running backs, Kevin Mack and Ernest Byner. On defense, linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Hanford Dixon led the way.

                The previous weekend, the Browns had trailed the New York Jets by ten points in the fourth quarter but had rallied to tie the game and win it in double overtime by a score of 23-20.

                The Denver Broncos had won the AFC West with an 11-5 record and had defeated the New England Patriots 22-17 in their first play off game. They were led by quarterback, John Elway, who had thrown for 3485 yards and 19 touchdowns in only his fourth year of what would eventually become a Hall-of-Fame career.

                The Browns hit the scoreboard first when, in the first quarter, Kosar led the team on an 86-yard drive that ended with the Cleveland quarterback throwing a six-yard touchdown pass to running back, Herman Fontenot. But then the Browns turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions. On the last play of the first period, Kosar was intercepted but the Broncos couldn’t convert and had to punt.

                Cleveland’s next turnover was another Kosar interception that was returned to the Browns’ nine-yard line. Again, Denver’s offense couldn’t move the ball and had to settle for a Rich Karlis field goal to make the score 7-3. After the kick-off, Mack fumbled the ball away. Elway ran for a 34-yard gain to set up a first-and-goal. A few plays later, facing fourth down, Denver gambled and scored on a one-yard TD, on a sweep play to Gerald Willhite and the Broncos had the lead at 10-7.

                In the final minute of the half, Cleveland moved the ball into field goal range, where kicker, Matt Mosely, connected on a 29-yard score and the teams were tied at ten as they went to the locker room.

                The only score of the third quarter was a Karlis field goal from 26 yards away, but the Browns tied the score early in the fourth. The Browns got the ball back and started their march towards the game-winning score. With just under six minutes left in the game, Kosar hit Cleveland receiver, Brian Brennan, with a 48-yard pass that he took into the end zone to give the Browns a 20-13 lead. The ensuing kickoff was mishandled by Broncos’ returner, Ken Bell, and the Broncos had to start their drive with the ball at their own two-yard line.

                Deep breath, here we go.

                After seven plays, the Broncos were able to pick up four first downs and had moved the ball to the Cleveland forty as the two-minute warning rolled around. After the break, on second down, Elway was sacked for an eight-yard loss, but on third-and-18, Elway completed a 20-yard pass to receiver, Mark Jackson. A 14-yard pass to Steve Sewell moved the ball to the Cleveland 14. A nine-yard scramble by Elway moved it to the five. And incompletion brought up third-and-one.

                Elway took the snap and dropped back to pass. He spotted Jackson on a slant and threw a rocket that the receiver cradled into his chest as he was falling to the ground. He held on to the ball and scored the touchdown. After the extra point the game was tied at 20. In football lore, the final five-and-half minutes of the fourth quarter is now referred to as “The Drive”.

                In overtime, Cleveland had possession of the ball first, but it was clear they were already deflated. They had to punt and Elway and the Broncos took over. Sixty yards later, Karlis lined up to kick a 33-yard field goal and the bare-footed kicker booted it through the uprights to give the Broncos the AFC Championship with a 23-20 victory. As a side note on the winning kick, the wind had been blowing through Cleveland Stadium all day. As Karlis’s kick seemed to drift to the left, the wind (which was blowing from right to left) died and the ball barely made it just inside the left post.

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NFL Playoffs: Divisional Playoff Memories, Part 3: 2003

2003 NFC Divisional Playoff: January 10, 2004

Carolina Panthers vs St. Louis Rams

Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO

Weather: Played indoors, domed stadium

                The St. Louis Rams were finishing up an amazing five-year run where they had one of the most feared offenses in the National Football League. Nick-named “The Greatest Show on Turf”, the Rams offense was led by quarterback, Kurt Warner, receivers Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt and running back, Marshall Faulk. The Rams had won the Super Bowl after the 1999 season and had lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots after the 2001 season. After a disappointing season in 2002, Warner was replaced at quarterback by Marc Bulger, who led the Rams to a 12-4 season, the NFC West title and a bye to the Divisional Playoff.

                The Carolina Panthers had finished the season at 11-5, won the NFC South and defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 29-10, in the Wild Card game. The Panthers were led by quarterback, Jake Delhomme and runningback, Stephen Davis, and receivers, Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammad and former St. Louis Ram, Ricky Proehl.

                Rams’ kicker, Jeff Wilkins, opened the scoring with a 20-yard field goal and the first quarter ended with St. Louis ahead, 3-0. In the second quarter, Wilkins would kick two more field goals, from 26 and 24 yards, while the Panthers scored ten points on a Muhammad offensive fumble recovery and a John Kasay field goal from 45 yards. At the half, Carolina led 10-9.

                The third quarter was another battle of field goals, as Kasay kicked two and Wilkins kicked one to make the score at the end of the quarter 16-12 for the Panthers. In the fourth, after a Bulger interception, the Panthers scored a touchdown on a seven-yard run by Brad Hoover to increase the lead to 23-13.

                But the Rams battled back. Faulk scored on a one-yard run after a 57-yard drive and St. Louis added a two-point convert to close the score to 23-20. The Rams attempted, and recovered, an onside kick and then drove 43 yards to set up Wilkins for the game-tying field goal, his fifth of the game.

                Neither team was able to score in the first fifteen-minute period of overtime. On the first play of the second overtime, Delhomme threw a 69-yard touchdown to Steve Smith to win the game. The final score was 29-23 for the Panthers. Delhomme finished the game with 290 passing yards while Bulger finished with 332 yards, but was intercepted three times.

                The Panthers would defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game the following and advance to the Super Bowl for the first and only time in their franchise history.

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NFL Playoffs: Divisional Playoff Memories, Part 2: 2001

2001 AFC Divisional Playoff: January 19, 2002

Oakland Raiders vs New England Patriots

Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA

Weather: 19 °F (−7 °C), heavy snow

                It’s hard to imagine a time when the New England Patriots were an underdog that everyone was cheering for, but that’s exactly what they were in 2001. For years the Patriots had been a bad team. After their surprising Super Bowl appearance in 1985, they sunk back into mediocrity and were horrible for another decade before head coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Drew Bledsoe came along. A second Super Bowl appearance happened in 1996, but then they became a group of underachievers after Parcells left following the Super Bowl in 1996.

                Enter Bill Belichick, who became the head coach in 2000, and the rest is history. But two games into the 2001 season, it appeared the Patriots season would be history when Bledsoe was seriously injured against the New York Jets and a relatively unknown quarterback who went to college in heavily run-oriented Michigan and was drafted in the sixth round in 2000 stepped in. The quarterback, of course was Tom Brady, and he led the Patriots to an 11-5 record, the AFC East title and a bye into the divisional playoff game.

                The Oakland Raiders had won the AFC West with a 10-6 record and had defeated the Jets in the Wild Card game the previous week by a score of 38-24. The Raiders were led on offense by quarterback Rich Gannon and on defense by cornerback, Rod Woodson, who had been a teammate of Brady’s on the 1997 Michigan team that had won the National Championship. Brady had been the back-up quarterback to Brian Griese and Woodson had won the Heisman Trophy.

                Heavy snow would have an impact all throughout the game. Snowy games always make for great games, if you’re a fan, and this one was no exception. After a scoreless first quarter, the Raiders were the first to hit the scoreboard in the second quarter when Gannon threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver James Jett. The weather made it difficult for both teams to do much else and they combined for as many punts as first downs (11).

                The Patriots abandoned their running game as the third quarter began and put the game in the hands of Brady. Their first drive ended with a 23-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri and the Raider lead was cut to 7-3. But before the quarter ended, the Raiders kicked two field goals and the game entered the fourth quarter with Oakland ahead 13-3.

                In the fourth, the Patriots scored their first touchdown of the game when Brady led the offense downfield on a 67-yard, 10-play drive that he himself finished when he scrambled into the end zone for a six-yard run. After the extra point, the gap was three points at 13-10. With time winding down and the Patriots still trailing and in possession of the ball, the most controversial play of the game occurred.

                As Brady looked to pass, he was sacked by Woodson and the ball was free. Oakland linebacker Greg Biekert recovered the fumble and the Raiders took possession with 1:47 left to play. Or so we thought. An instant replay review led to the play being reversed, due to the infamous “Tuck Rule.” As Brady was about to be hit by Woodson, his arm started to move forward in a throwing motion. Even though he didn’t release the ball and instead fumbled when he began to tuck it towards his body, the rule indicated that if any throwing motion occurred while being tackled, it was not a fumble, and therefore ruled an incomplete pass.

                With another chance, Brady took advantage and moved the Pats inside the Raider thirty-yard line, where Vinatieri hit his second field goal of the game, this time from 45 yards way and into the heavy snow storm. The game was tied at 13 and headed to overtime.

                The Patriots won the coin toss and drove down the field, on an eight-minute drive, to the six-yard line, where Vinatieri hit his third field goal of the game and the Patriots had the win, 16-13. While some may have thought the Raiders got robbed because of the fumble that was, but wasn’t, the rules were clear and according to those rules, the play was an incomplete pass. (The rule has since been changed.) At any rate, Oakland was out and the Pats were on their way to Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship.

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NFL Playoffs: Divisional Playoff Memories, Part 1: 1995

Now that wild card weekend has wrapped up, we look ahead to the Divisional Playoffs starting on Saturday. Here then, are three memories from the second round of the Playoffs.

1995 AFC Divisional Playoff: January 7, 1996

Indianapolis Colts vs Kansas City Chiefs

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Weather: 14 °F (−10 °C), clear

                The Kansas City Chiefs, winners of the AFC West Division, had the best record in all of football at 13-3 during the 1995 regular season. Under head coach, Marty Schottenheimer, they had finished with more wins than losses for seven consecutive seasons and had made the playoffs in six straight. But to this point, they had only mild playoff success. The closest they got to the Super Bowl was in 1993 when, under quarterback Joe Montana who had joined the team when the San Francisco 49ers decided to go with Steve Young, they made the AFC Championship game but got pummelled by the Buffalo Bills.

                With Montana now retired, the Chiefs were led at quarterback by Steve Bono, another former 49er. Bono had a respectable season, passing for over 3100 yards and 21 TDs. Marcus Allen was the team’s leading rusher with 890 yards and five touchdowns and the defense was led by defensive end Neil Smith (12 sacks) and linebacker Derrick Thomas (8 sacks).

                The Colts were the complete opposite of the Chiefs. They had stumbled into the playoffs with a 9-7 record and held one of the wild card spots. The Colts had not made the playoffs since 1987 and there were some pretty horrible seasons in the between (1-15 in 1991 and 4-12 in 1993). Former Bears’ quarterback, Jim Harbaugh, was in his second year with the Colts and passed for a modest 2575 yards and 17 touchdowns. But more, importantly, Harbaugh brought leadership to Indianapolis.

                The game between the Colts and Chiefs was played on a cold and brisk late Sunday afternoon in Kansas City. The Chiefs were heavily favoured as the Colts would be without star running back, Marshall Faulk, due to an injury. After the teams traded punts throughout the first quarter, Bono finally led the Chiefs on a scoring drive and hit receiver Lake Dawson with a 20-yard pass to put Kansas City up 7-0 with 29 seconds left in the quarter.

                Indianapolis took possession after the touchdown and put together a long, methodical, 18-play drive that included five third down conversions as well as one fourth down conversion. The drive ended on a Harbaugh five-yard touchdown pass to Floyd Turner and the game was tied at seven. Both kickers then each missed a field-goal and the first half ended at 7-7.

                After Bono threw an interception in the third quarter, the Colts moved into field goal position and this time their kicker, Cary Blanchard, connected on a 30-yard field goal to put the Colts up 10-7. The Colts defense, and the cold weather, continued to stifle the Kansas City offense, but early in the fourth quarter, they moved the ball down the field and into field goal range and a chance to tie the score. But Chiefs kicker, Lin Elliott, missed his second attempt, this time from 39 yards away.

                The defenses from both teams held tight as the Colts failed to gain a first down on their next two possessions, and Bono threw two more interceptions when the Chiefs had the ball. A 49-yard field goal attempt from Blanchard could have increased the Indianapolis lead to six, but it was missed. With time running out, the Chiefs had one last chance to tie, or even win the game.

                After struggling throughout the game, with three interceptions, Bono was replaced by backup quarterback, Rich Gannon, who led the Chiefs on a long drive that started on their own 18-yard line. The drive stalled at the 25 and Elliott had yet another opportunity to hit a field goal, this one from 42 yards away that would have sent the game into overtime. But Elliott missed again and the Colts ran out the remaining seconds on the clock and had pulled off the biggest upset in team history. Their 10-7 win, while not winning any style points, was a tough and gritty performance that defined the 1995 Colts and the career of their quarterback, Jim Harbaugh. The Colts would fall short in the AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh the following weekend, when a last-second Hail Mary pass fell incomplete in the Steelers’ end zone.

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NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Memories, Part 3: 2002

2002 AFC Wild Card: January 5, 2003

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

Weather: 27 °F (−3 °C), light snow

                In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers were in the playoffs for the first time since 1997. In their tenth season under head coach, Bill Cowher, they finished 13-3 and looked like they were heading to the Super Bowl, but were stopped short in the AFC Championship Game by the New England Patriots. In 2002, the team was 10-5-1 but still managed to capture the AFC North title. They had Tommy Maddox at quarterback (Ben Roethlisberger was still a couple of years away) and Jerome Bettis and Amos Zereoue as their two running backs. The pair had combined for over 1400 yards. 

                The reincarnation of the Cleveland Browns had happened in 1999, four years after the original team departed for Baltimore. Despite having a 2-14 season in 1999, the Browns slowly got better and finished the 2002 season with a 9-7 record, and after all the tie-breaking scenarios worked themselves out, the Browns had the second wild card and the right to play in Pittsburgh on the first Sunday of the playoffs.

                The Browns got off to a quick start as quarterback, Kelly Holcomb, hooked up with receiver Kevin Johnson for an 83-yard pass to set up William Green’s one-yard touchdown run and the Browns were up 7-0. Cleveland then extended their lead to 14 when Holcomb threw a TD pass to Dennis Northcutt. The Steelers cut the lead in half on Antwaan Randle El’s 66-yard punt return. Cleveland added a field goal and took a 17-7 lead into the locker room at half time.

                The two teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. First it was Cleveland when Northcutt scored his second of the day on a 15-yard pass from Holcomb. Pittsburgh responded when Maddox hit Plaxico Burress for a six-yard score. That made the score 24-14 at the end of three quarters, setting up a wild and thrilling fourth.

                A Cleveland field goal made the score 27-14, but Maddox guided the Steelers the length of the field and connected with tight end, Jerame Tuman on a three-yard pass: 27-21.

                The Browns responded when Holcomb threw another TD pass—his third of the day—to Andre Davis. A two-point convert attempt failed, but the Cleveland lead was now 33-21. However, Pittsburgh marched down the field again and after a 77-yard drive and a five-yard Maddox touchdown pass to Hines Ward, the Cleveland lead was five at 33-28. Time was running out on the Steelers, though, as only three minutes remained.

                When the Browns took possession after the kick off, they tried to work the clock and leave the Steelers with no time left. A dropped pass on a third-and-twelve, that if converted, could have ended the game, forced Cleveland to punt the ball back to Pittsburgh, who took over on their own 42.

                Maddox threw passes of 24 yards to Burress, ten to Ward, 17 to Burress and seven to Ward, bringing the ball down to the Browns’ three-yard line. Fullback, Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala finished the drive by running in from three yards out and the Steelers connected on their two-point attempt and took a 36-33 lead. However, Cleveland still had time remaining to tie, perhaps win the wild game.

                With the seconds ticking away, Holcomb connected on a 16-yard pass to Andre King at the Steelers’ 29-yard line. But the Browns were out of time-outs and couldn’t stop the clock. They were unable to get another snap and time expired with the Steelers ahead.

                Maddox finished the game with 367 yards passing and three touchdowns, while Holcomb threw for 429 yards and three touchdowns. Although the Steelers would lose to the Tennessee Titans the following week, the ground work was laid for a run that would culminate in a Super Bowl triumph three years later. As for the Browns, their fortunes turned the other way as they haven’t been back to the playoffs since and their prospects don’t look good for the foreseeable future.

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NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Memories, Part 2: 1994

1994 NFC Wild Card: December 31, 1994

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

Weather: 31 °F (−1 °C), partly cloudy

                This was the second straight year that division foes, Green Bay and Detroit, played each other in the wild card game. In 1993, the game had been played at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, with the Packers winning the back-and-forth affair, 28-24, when Packers’ quarterback, Brett Favre, hit receiver, Sterling Sharpe, with a 40-yard touchdown pass in the final minutes of the game. For the rematch, Green Bay would be without Sharpe, who suffered what would eventually become a career-ending neck injury on the final week of the regular season.

                The NFC Central division, long known as the black-and-blue division, would send four teams to the playoffs in 1994. The Minnesota Vikings won the division and would play the Chicago Bears the following day. The Bears would upset the Vikings, 35-18.

                This was the first playoff game at Lambeau field since 1982 and only the second since the glory days of the Packers in the 1960s. Aside from Favre leading the offense, the defense was lead by the Minister of Defense, all-pro Reggie White, who had signed as a free agent from the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 1993 season. It would be the Packers defense, led by White, that would make the biggest impact on this wild card game.

                The Lions were led, as they pretty much were for the entire decade of the 90s, by running back Barry Sanders. In 1994, Sanders won his second NFL rushing title with 1883 yards but only scored seven touchdowns. Barry would play ten years in the NFL and never finish with less than 1000 yards rushing in a season. His lowest total had come in 1993 with 1115 yards after missing five games due to injury.

                The Packers would get on the scoreboard first when Favre engineered a 14-play, 76-yard drive that culminated in a three-yard touchdown run by running back, Dorsey Levens. Kicker Chris Jacke would add a field goal in the second quarter and the Packers took a 10-0 lead into halftime.

                The teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter before the Lions scored their first touchdown of the game when quarterback, Dave Krieg, connected with receiver Brett Perriman for a three yard pass to cut the Packer lead to three points at 13-10. Another Jacke field goal made in 16-10.

                The Lions embarked on a potential game-winning drive and moved the ball to the Green Bay eleven-yard line with time running out. After Sanders gained two yards and Krieg threw incomplete, Packer linebacker, Bryce Paup, sacked the Detroit quarterback for six yards, setting up a fourth-and-fourteen. Krieg threw a pass into the end zone and appeared to have the winning score when receiver Herman Moore caught the ball. However, Moore’s foot came down out-of-bounds and the result was an incompletion, ending the drive and Detroit’s chance to win the game. Green Bay conceded a safety on the final play of the game and the final score was 16-12.

The story of the game, though, was the job the Packer defense did on Barry Sanders. The Detroit runner, the rushing leader for 1994, carried the ball only 13 times for minus-one yard, the lowest single-game total of his Hall-of-Fame career. His longest run of the day was seven yards. On six of his carries, he was stopped for negative yardage.

                It was truly a remarkable performance by the Pack on defense, as they picked up the struggling offense. Without his best receiver, Favre still managed to complete 23 of 38 passes for 263 yards but couldn’t finish off drives throughout the day. Neither team committed a turnover and the Packers out gained the Lions in yards, 336 to 171.

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