10. 2021 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at 7. 1998 NFC CHAMPION ATLANTA FALCONS
7. 1998 NFC CHAMPION ATLANTA FALCONS
Record: 14-2
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 4th
Def: 4th
1st NFC West
d. Niners Div Rnd 20-18
d. Vikings NFC Title 30-27
Lost Broncos Super Bowl 34-19
HC: Dan Reeves OC: George Sefcik, DC Rich Brooks
Georgia Dome
Jeff Hullinger/Jeff Van Note
Offense
QB Chris Chandler (33 Wash)
RB Jamal Anderson (26 Utah) All Pro
FB Bob Christian (30 Nwestern)
WR Tony Martin (33 Colo Mesa)
WR Terance Mathis (31 N Mexico)
TE OJ Santiago (24 Kent)
LT Bob Whitfield (27 Stanford)
LG Calvin Collins (24 Tex A&M)
C Robbie Tobeck (28 Wash St)
RG Gene Williams (30 Iowa St)
RT Ephraim Salaam (22-R S Diego St)
Defense
LDE Lester Archambeau (31 Stanford)
LDT Travis Hall (36 BYU)
RDT Shane Dronett (27 Texas)
RDE Chuck Smith (29 Tenn)
LLB Cornelius Bennett (33 Alabama)
MLB Jessie Tuggle (33 Valdosta St)
RLB Henri Crockett (24 Florida St)
LCB Ray Buchanan (27 Louisville)
RCB Ronnie Bradford (28 Colorado)
SS William White (32 Ohio St)
FS Eugene Robinson (35 Colgate)
K Morten Andersen (38 Mich St)
P Dan Sryzinski (33 Indiana)
KR/PR Tim Dwight (23 Iowa)
2 games left in Region 2. The '98 Falcons lost the Super Bowl to Denver; they were top 4 in both offense and defense. One All Pro on the Falcons, 26 year old back Jamal Anderson, 1846 yards rushing and 16 combined scores. The QB is 33 year old Chris Chander, 25 scores, 12 picks. 31 year old Terance Mathis caught 11 TDs. The 4 man defense line combined for 29.5 sacks. 27 year old corner Ray Buchanan had 7 picks.
10. 2021 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Record: 13-4
Pythag: 12-5
Off: 2nd
Def 5th
d. Eagles WC 31-15
Lost Rams Division Rnd 30-27
HC Bruce Arians OC Byron Leftwich DC Todd Bowles
Offense
QB Tom Brady (44 Michigan)
RB Leonard Fournette (26 LSU)
WR Mike Evans (28 A&M)
WR Chris Godwin (25 Penn St)
WR Tyler Johnson (23 Minnesota)
TE Rob Gronkowski (32 Arizona)
LT Tristan Wirfs (22 Iowa) All Pro
LG Alex Cappa (26 Humboldt)
C Ryan Jensen (30 Col St Pueblo)
RG Ali Marpet (28 Hobart)
RT Donovan Smith (28 Penn St)
Defense
LDE Ndamukong Suh (34 Nebraska)
NT Vita Vea (26 Wash)
RDE Jason Pierre Paul (32 S Florida)
LOLB Lavonte David (31 Nebraska)
LILB Devin White (23 LSU)
RILB Joe Tryon Shoyinka (22 Wash)
ROLB Shaq Barrett (29 Col St)
CB Jamal Dean (25 Auburn)
CB Carlton Davis (25 Auburn)
FS Antoine Whitfield (23 Minnesota)
SS Jordan Whitehead (24 Pitt)
K Ryan Succup (35 S Carolina)
P Bradley Pinion (27 Clemson)
KR/PR Jaelon Darden (22 N Tex)
We just saw the '06 Patriots advance in the prior game - fast forward 15 years and we have a 44 year old Tom Brady leading the 11th ranked team in the region, the 2021 Bucs. 2nd best offense in the league, 43 scores and 12 picks for Brady. 28 year old WR Mike Evans had 14 scores. The 22 year old LT Tristan Wirfs is the team's lone All Pro. The defense is 4th - this Bucs team very comparable to the Atlanta team they're facing, despite the seed disparity (largely because the Falcons won the conference) 10 sacks for 29 year old Shaq Barrett.
Two Round 2 slots left in Region 2 - will it be the Dirty Bird Falcons or 44 year old Tom Brady's Bucs? Let's head to the Georgia Dome for the kick.
1st Qtr
Falcons start at the 30.
1/10 - Jamal Anderson for 3.
2/7 - 6 for Anderson.
3/1- 5 for Anderson - 3 Anderson carries to open the game and a first down for the Falcons.
1/10 - Chris Chandler hits Tony Martin for 33 yards - big downfield play for the Falcons and they are at the Buc 23.
1/10 - Anderson for 2.
2/8 - Chandler flushed, gets 3.
3/5 -Anderson gets 1 - 4th and 4 for the Falcons - they line up for the kick - but the Bucs jump offside and so Altanta has a first down at the 12.
1/10 - Bob Christian gets a yard.
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - JPP levels Chandler, big loss of 9 on the sack - this time there's no offsides and the FG is good. Atlanta eats the first 6:19 of the game on their opening drive. 3-0
Tampa at the 36.
1/10 - Ronald Jones for 2.
2/8 - Leonard Fournette for 6.
3/2 - Tom Brady finds Chris Godwin for 15 -- Bucs near midfield.
1/10 - Fournette for 4.
2/6 - Jones loses 2.
3/8 - Brady goes to Mike Evans for 7, Bucs are just short, 4th and 1 at the Atlanta 42.
It's 2021 and it's Bruce Arians and the Bucs don't hesitate. They go for it.
4/1 - Fournette picks it up.
1/10 - Fournette loses 4.
2/14 - Brady hits a perfect strike to Evans right down the middle - he never breaks stride and rolls into the end zone TOUCHDOWN BUCS Brady hits Mike Evans for 45 yards and Tampa takes the 7-3 lead. Falcons at the 22, 2:58.
1/10 - Chandler to OJ Santiago - both clubs have an OJ in the TE room in this one, 4 yards.
2/6 - Anderson breaks one - 32 yards off the right tackle, big gainer for Anderson to the Bucs 42.
1/10 - Anderson for 1.
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Chandler hits Todd Kinchen for the first down -- but he's stripped by Antoine Winfield -- Fumble Recovered by the Bucs - Tampa will take over at their own 25 yard line with 44 seconds to go.
1/10 - Fournette for 2.
2/8 - Jones for 1. And that's the end of the qtr.
Second Qtr
Bucs up 10-3 as we hit the second qtr, Atlanta's moved the ball in both drives, but a sack ended the first drive in a FG and a fumble ended the second. Tampa scored the only time they've had the ball and now have a 3rd and 7 at their own 28.
They don't pick it up. Incomplete - really good field position for the Falcons, they take over at their own 49.
1/10 - 1 for Anderson
2/9 - Christian gets a dozen.
1/10 - Anderson gets 15 - big hunks for yardage on the ground for the Falcons. They're at the Tampa 24.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Anderson again, 15 more yards - Atlanta just huge gains on the ground. First and goal at the 9.
1/goal - Chanlder finds Tony Martin in the end zone - TOUCHDOWN FALCONS - that was easy money, the Falcons regain the lead on the Chandler TD pass. Bucs will start at the 26, 10:23 left.
1/10 - Brady goes to Godwin for a dozen.
1/10 - Brady again to Godwin. 15 more - Bucs across midfield in just two plays.
1/10 - Brady find Tyler Johnson, 17 yards, Atlanta on the ground - Tampa through the air - Bucs at the 30.
1/10 - Fournette for 1
2/9 - Brady finds Antonio Brown for 13 - Brady dicing the Falcons secondary.
1/10 - Fournette for 1
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Brady hits Antonio Brown again -- 11 yards, a first and goal to the Falcons 4 yard line.
1/goal - Brady zips a strike to Tyler Johnson TOUCHDOWN BUCS - Brady's second TD pass of the day - Tampa surges back in front, we've got a good one here between the 4th best offense from '98 against the 2nd best offense from '21. Falcons at the 30. 4:37.
1/10 - Jamal Anderson is running all over the Bucs - 48 yards - it could be this 2021 defense just is not ready at all for a 90s style running game any more than the Falcons 1998 defense can handle Tom Brady and Bruce Arians. A monster run for Anderson.
But that's as far as the drive goes - 3 plays net 2 yards - Morten Andersen's 37 yd FG makes it 14-13 Bucs. Tampa starts at the 19. 2:49 left.
3 and out.
Atlanta at the 36. 1:46 left.
1/10 - Chandler to Martin again, 6 yds. out of bounds
2/4 - Anderson goes for 3, Falcon time out on the third and 1.
3/1 - Chandler in trouble - Bucs pass rush all over him - but he slips it - is across the line of scrimmage and has the first down.
1/10 - Chandler going back to Martin, that's his preferred target today - another dozen yards and the Falcons are in Tampa territory.
1/10 - Chandler to Terance Mathis for 18 - big gainer for Atlanta showing they can move the ball through the air. Falcons at the 23 with a minute 10 left.
1/10 - Chandler goes right back to Mathis for 15 more - three first down passes in the last 3 plays get the Falcons to first and goal at the 8 and a timeout. 55 seconds.
1/goal - Anderson gets a yard.
2/goal Chandler throws to Anderson out of the backfield - And Anderson steamrolls his way into the endzone TOUCHDOWN FALCONS -- Jamal Anderson just carrying Bucs defenders into the endzone to give Atlanta the 20-14 lead. Bucs will get the ball at the 25, 30 second left.
1/10 - Brady to Antonio Brown for 2.
2/8 - Handoff to Jones, gets 2, timeout Bucs.
3/6 - Brady hits Godwin for 22 - Bucs use their second timeout near midfield, 24 seconds left.
1/10 - Brady to Fournette for a dozen, Bucs at the Falcons 37 yard line with 16 seconds left.
1/10 - Chuck Smith sacks Brady - loss of 4, Tampa uses their last time out.
2/14 - Incomplete. Ryan Succup attempts a 58 yard FG at the gun --- nope.
Halftime.
3rd Qtr
We've got a good one, Falcons up 6 - Tampa will start at the 35.
1/10 - Ronald Jones goes for 6.
2/4 - Fournette loses 1
3/5 - Brady has to run - 44 year old Tom Brady stumbling his way for 6 yards and out of bounds for the first down.
But that's it - Bucs lose 11 yards over the next 3 plays including Lester Archambeau ripping Brady down for a sack. Falcons take over at the 32. 10:38.
3 and out. Bucs start at the 27. 8:32.
1/10 - Jones for 14. First down Bucs.
But that's it. 3 plays net 4 yards and it's a punt. Falcons at the 29. 6:19. Still up 6.
1/10 - A yrd for Anderson
2/9 - 12 more for Anderson.
1/10 - Christian stopped at the line.
2/10 - Chander finds Mathis downfield for a big 30 yard gain - Chris Chandler with the big strike to Mathis and the Falcons reach the Tampa 28.
1/10 - Anderson again, 14 more. An offsides call then moves Atlanta to the 9.
1/5 - Anderson again - Tampa Can't Stop Jam Anderson -- TOUCHDOWN FALCONS - 1990s power football goes up against the ultramodern Bucs - and Tampa cannot stop this Falcons ground game - Anderson is in the endzone again and Atlanta goes up 13, 27-14.
Bucs start at the 34. 2:33 left in the qtr.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Defensive holding is an automatic first down.
1/10 - Jones for 1.
2/9 - Fournette for 2.
3/7 - Brady hits Mike Evans for a dozen - Bucs are across midfield.
1/10 - Brady to Godwin, that's the last play of the qtr, 9 yard pickup.
4th Qtr
Jamal Anderson has 2 TDS, Falcons up 13, Bucs have a 2nd and 1 at the Atlanta 37.
2/1 - Brady to Evans, 12 more yards. Bucs first down at the 25.
That's it - 3 plays net 5 yards, Succup hits a 37 yard FG and now it's 27-17 Atlanta. 13:28 Falcons start at the 33.
1/10 - Anderson goes for 3
2/7 - Ndamukong Suh in the backfield, sacks Chandler and he loses 5.
3/12 - Chandler to Mathis for 17 yards, big first down - Falcons are near midfield with 11:11 left and a ten point lead.
1/10 - Anderson gets 3
2/7 - Chandler to OJ Santiago for a big 10 yard gain, first down at the Bucs 39 yard line.
The next 3 plays lose a yard. Falcons punt. Bucs will start from deep in their own territory, at their own 6. 8:08 left. Down 10.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - A run, Fournette gers 9.
3/1 - Brady hits Gronkowski for the first time all day - Gronk's been totally silent - but comes up with the big 15 yard catch here, Bucs are at their own 30, 6:34.
1/10 - 3 for Fournette.
2/7 - Brady to Godwin for 7, Bucs to the 49, 5:41. Down 10.
1/10 - Jones gets a yard.
2/9 - Incomplete, an offsides call then gives the Bucs 5 to make it 3rd and 4.
3/4 - Brady converts - 14 yards to Antonio Brown, Tampa's at the Atlanta 40, timeout Falcons, 4:54 left
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Brady to Godwin for 13, Bucs reach the 27.
1/10 - Brady to Evans for 14, Bucs at the 13.
1/10 - Brady to Fournette for 8 yards, he is out of bounds at the Atlanta 5 yard line with 4:11 left.
2/2 - Incomplete
3/2 - Brady throws into coverage in the endzone -- Gronk comes down with it - TOUCHDOWN BUCS - Brady to Gronk - Brady leads the Bucs 94 yards in a little over 4 minutes --- Tampa back in the game --- but they miss the XP. Huge miss - instead of it being a 3 point game - the Falcons still lead by 4, 27-23.
Falcons ball at the 36. 3:55 left. Up 4.
1/10 - The first play is an nderson carry. And he busts another one. Jamal Anderson goes for 48 huge yards and the Georgia Dome is absolutely going wild - Atlanta's all the way out to the Tampa 16.
The next 3 plays gain 4 yards - Andersen hits the 29 yd FG. There's 1:46 left, Tampa will start at their own 39. Down 7.
Well, here we go. In Region 2 we've seen 37 year old John Elway with a 99 yard 4th qtr game winning TD drive. Can 44 year old Tom Brady send this into OT?
1/10 - Brady to Fournette for 7. Out of bounds at the 46. 1:39 left.
2/3 - A run - Fournette gets only 2 - Bucs have to hurry.
3/1 - Fournette goes into the line -- there's going to be a measurement.
Short. Short. 4th and 1.
4/1 - Brady finds Fournette on the sideline for 15 and a first down, out of bounds at the Atlanta 37 yard line. Bucs have first down with 70 seconds to go.
1/10 - Incomplete.
2/10 - Brady is sacked by Cornelius Bennett - Tampa has to stop the clock with just 42 seconds to go. Tampa back at the Falcons 40.
3/13 - Brady looking deep - Brady going to the End Zone - Mike Evans -- TOUCHDOWN BUCS....Tom Brady hits Mike....
there's a flag.
Holding. offense.
The TD comes back - just a huge call, huge, huge call - really controversial call - and now with 30 seconds left to go, Tampa has 3rd down and 23.
Incomplete.
4th and 23 from just about midfield. 22 seconds to play in the game. Can Brady somehow, someway, get this done?
Incomplete.
And tht's it - Chandler will take a knee and that's the final.
Final: Falcons 30 Bucs 23
Tampa had a shot - Brady had a 94 yard TD drive to pull the Bucs within a score - and needed to do it again to force OT - but a game tying TD was called back with a big holding call, biggest penalty call of the tournament to date and Atlanta heads to Rnd 2. Jamal Anderson with an all time great game, virtually ensuring he is the MVP of Region 2, Rnd 1.
Chandler: 12 for 17, 176, 2 TD
Brady: 25 for 36, 311 3 TD
Anderson: 23 carries, 230 yards, 2 TD
Jones: 11 carries, 33 yds
Mathis: 4 catches, 8 yds
Godwin: 8 catches, 100 yds
Player of the Game: Jamal Anderson
