12. 2019 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at 5. 2005 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION PITTSBURGH STEELERS
5. 2005 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Record: 11-5
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 9th
Def: 3rd
2nd NFC North
d. Bengals WC 31-17
d. Colts Div Rnd 21-18
d. Broncos AFC Title 34-17
d. Seahawks Super Bowl 21-10
HC: Bill Cowher, OC: Ken Wisenhunt DC Dick LeBeau
Heinz Field: 55 degrees
Announcers: Bill Hillgrove/Tunch Ilkin
Offense
QB Ben Roethlisberger (23 Miami Oh)
RB Willie Parker (25 UNC)
FB Dan Kreider (28 N Hampshire)
WR Antwaan Randle El (26 Indiana)
WR Hines Ward (29 UGA)
TE Heath Miller (23-R UVA)
LT Marvel Smith (27 Ariz St)
LG Alan Faneca (29 LSU) All Pro
C Jeff Hartings (33 Penn St)
RG Kendall Simmons (26 Auburn)
RT Max Starks (23 Florida)
Defense
LDE Aaron Smith (29 N. Colorado)
NT Casey Hampton (28 Texas)
RDE Kimo von Oelhoffen (34 Boise St)
LOLB Clark Haggans (28 Colorado St)
LILB James Farrior (30 UVA)
RILB Larry Foote (25 Michigan)
ROLB Joey Porter (28 Colorado St)
LCB Ike Taylor (25 Louisiana)
RCB Deshea Townsend (30 Alabama)
SS Troy Polamalu (24 USC) All Pro
FS Chris Hope (25 Florida St)
K Jeff Reed (26 UNC)
P Chris Gardocki (35 Clemson)
KR Quincy Morgan (28 Kansas St)
PR Antwaan Randle El (26 Indiana)
How about another Super Bowl Champion? Here are the '05 Steelers; okay offense, 3rd best defense in the league. 24 year old Troy Polamalu leads the unit, he's the All Pro, 28 year old Joey Porter/28 year old Clark Haggans combine for nearly 20 sacks. Big Ben is 23, in his second season, total of 20 scores and 9 picks. Hines Ward is 29, he caught 11 scores. 29 year old guard Alan Faneca is the squad's All Pro. We just saw the '82 Champion Redskins become the first SB winner to fall in the tournament - will the '05 Steelers right the ship?
12. 2019 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 3rd
Def: 13th
1st NFC South
Lost WC Vikings 26-20
HC: Sean Payton, OC Pete Carmichael, DC Dennis Allen
Offense
QB Drew Brees (40 Purdue)
RB Alvin Kamara (24 Tenn)
WR Michael Thomas All Pro (26 Ohio St)
WR Ted Ginn (34 Ohio St)
WR Tre'Quan Smith (23 C Florida)
TE Jared Cook (32 S Carolina)
C Erik McCoy (22 A&M)
G Larry Warford (28 UK)
G Andrus Peat (26 Stanford)
T Ryan Ramczyk (25 Wisc)
T Terron Armstead (28 Ark Pine Bluff)
Defense
DE Cameron Jordan (30 Cal)
DT David Onyemata (27 Manitoba)
DT Malcom Brown (25 Texas)
DE Marcus Davenport (23 Tex S-A)
LB Demario Davis All Pro (30 Ark St)
LB AJ Klein (28 Iowa St)
CB Eli Apple (24 Ohio St)
CB Marshon Lattimore (23 Ohio St)
CB PJ Williams (26 Fl St)
SS Vonn Bell (25 Ohio St)
FS Marcus Williams (23 Utah)
K Will Lutz (25 Geo St)
P Thomas Morstead (33 SMU)
KR/PR Deonte Harris (22 Assumption) All Pro
The '19 Saints got bounced in the WC round of the playoffs. they're in the field on the strength of the third best offense in football - we got the 3rd best offense from '19 against the third best defense in '05. Brees is 40 - 28 total scores and 4 picks; we really see that change in QB numbers from ultra modern teams as the rule shift. Two All Pros, Michael Thomas, 26 years old he caught a monster 149 balls and Ryan Ramczyk 25 year old tackle. 7 Pro Bowlers on offense. Middling defense, 30 year old Demario Davis is an All Pro at LB, big year for the 30 year old Cameron Jordan, 15.5 sacks.
The 5th seeds in Region 3, the Super Bowl Champion Steelers, host the '19 Saints - lets head out to Heinz Field for the kick.
First Qtr
Saints start at the 20.
3 and out. Steelers to start at their own 40.
3 and out. Saints at their own 42.
3 and out including a Clark Haggans sack. Steelers will start at their own 47 after a good Randle El return. 9:46.
1/10 - Willie Parker gets 19 yards for the game's first first down.
1/10 -Jerome Bettis for 1.
2/9 - Big Ben scrambles for a yard.
3/8 - Ben to Hines Ward for 17 - and the Steelers are at the Saints 15.
1/10 - Ben to Randle El, that's 13 yards, that's a first down and goal.
1/goal - Incomplete
2/goal - Ben to Ward in the end zone -- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS - good field position after the Randle El punt return, a big Parker run, a couple of nice Ben throws and the Steelers are into the end zone.
Saints at the 23. 5:58.
1/10 - Alvin Kamara for 2.
2/8 - Drew Brees finds Latavius Murray for 8 yards and the first NO first down.
1/10 - Brees to Michael Thomas, 8 yards.
2/2 - Murray goes around left end for 16 yards - the Saints are into Steeler territory.
1/10 - Kamara loses 2.
2/12 - Kamara gains 4.
3/8 - Brees hits Jared Cook over the middle for 15 - and now the Saints are at the Steeler 26 yard line.
1/10 - Brees to Ted Ginn for 13 and it's another first down.
1/10 - Brees finds Michael Thomas over the middle, he walks into the end zone for the game tying score - TOUCHDOWN SAINTS - 9 plays, 72 yards, and it takes us all the way down to the last 9 seconds of the quarter.
Steelers start at the 32. Parker gains 2 yards.
Second Qtr
Strong TD drives by both teams mixing runs and passes - this looked like a really even matchup, despite it being a 5/12 game - and that's been true so far. Steelers have a 2nd and 8 at their own 34.
2/8 - Simple draw play to Jerome Bettis -- Bettis has a hole - Bettis running behind Faneca - Bettis has open field! Bettis has open field! Bettis is going to go all the way - a 66 yard TD run for Jerome Bettis! TOUCHDOWN STEELERS -- 33 year old Jerome Bettis - the Bus
rumbles for a 66 yard TD and Heinz Field is lit up. 14-7.
The Saints start at the 21. 3 and out.
Another big Randle El return, Steelers at the Saints 31, up a score 13:03 left in the half.
1/10 - Parker for 6.
2/4- Paker just shy of the first down.
3/1 -- Shovel pass to Ward, just gets the first down.
The next 3 plays net 2 yards, Steelers 4th and 8 at the 18 - Reed hits the 35 yarder and it's a 17-7 Steeler lead.
Saints at the 32, 9:32.
1/10 - Kamara for 3.
2/7 - Incomplete
3/7- Brees finds Thomas for 8.
1/10 - Kamara for 2.
2/8 - Kamara for 9 - Saints are across midfield.
But they head back the other way on a big Joey Porter sack and have to punt a couple plays later from their own 45.
Steelers at the 20. 4:36 left - up 10 points.
1/10 - Bettis for 1.
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Ben to Randle El, his productive day continues, that's 16 yards and a first down at the 37.
The next 3 plays net 9 yards - Steelers have the 4th and 1 at their 46, 1:19 left with a 10 pt lead. Cowher plays it safe - there's the punt - Saints will start at the 17, 1:10 left.
1/10 - Saints call a run play, doesn't go anywhere and they stop the clock.
2/10 - Another run play -- and Kamara busts one - Alvin Kamara busts a 49 yard run all the way to the Steeler 36 yard line and another time out with 55 seconds left.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Brees is airing it out - Brees looking to the end zone - Michael Thomas is There -- TOUCHDOWN SAINTS - it takes only 29 seconds to go 83 yards - the Saints miss the XP, Steelers lead 17-13.
Steelers get the ball at their own 36, 35 seconds left. Two Willie Parker first downs, an 11 yard reception and a 14 yard run got the Steelers a chance at a nearly 60 yard FG at the gun - off the upright.
Third Qtr
Steelers had a 10 point lead and the ball with less than 90 seconds left - but the second Brees to Thomas TD of the day gets the Saints to 17-13.
Steelers start at the 29.
3 and out. Saints at the 34.
3 and out. Third quarter starting like the first qtr.
Steelers at the 12. 2 run plays get zero and on third and 10 Ben hits Quincy Morgan for 36 and the Steelers are in business.
But - the next 3 plays net 7 and it's another punt.
Saints deep in their own end. 4 yard line. 8:03.
1/10 - Murray gets 1.
2/9 - Kamara for 3.
3/6- Murray goes 17, first down at the 25.
1/10 - Brees to Murray for 5.
2/5 - Steelers third sack of the day, Casey Hampton. 3rd and long.
3/9 - Brees once again finds Michael Thomas - when in doubt - Michael Thomas - 41 yard strike gets the Saints to the 33. Michael Thomas another big play. Saints are now at the Steeler 33.
1/10 - Murray for 7.
2/3 - Kamara gets 2 and there's another third down.
3/1 - Brees short to Taysom Hill, he breaks a tackle, first down, all the way to the 13 yard line - Saints down the Steeler 11 yard line with 1:51 left in the third.
1/10 - Kamara for 4.
2/6 - Murray loses a yard and it's 3rd and 7 - Brees to Thomas - but he is collared by Polamalu after a gain of just 2 yards and as the quarter ends, the Saints have a 4th and 5 at the 6, down 17-13.
4th Qtr
Sean Payton's going to call for the FG on 4th and 5 at the 6, it's a chip shot and the Steelers lead is now down to 17-16.
Steelers at the 29. 3 and out.
Saints at the 31. Down 1. 12:39 left.
1/10 - Brees finds Tre'Quan Smith for 8.
2/2 - Incomplete.
3/2 - Brees to Ted Ginn - that's 10 yards and the big first down near midfield.
1/10 - Brees to Thomas for a dozen. Saints at the Steeler 39, 10:18 left.
1/10 - Brees to Murray for 8.
2/2 - Kamara gets 3 - the chains keep moving - Saints are at the 28. In FG range.
1/10 - Brees to Cook - 17 yards - the Saints offense moving down the field against the Super Bowl Champs from 2005. Saints all the way down to the Steeler 11 yard line.
1/10 - Murray loses 1.
2/11 - Brees to Kamara for 8 - Kamara down to the 4 yard line, big 3rd and 3.
3/3 - Joey Porter comes up big - the Steelers 4th sack of the day - Will Lutz hits the chip shot - and New Orleans takes its first lead of the day, 19-17.
And so - the Steeler offense takes over. 28 yard line. 5:50. Can Ben drive down and win this game.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - First carry of the game for Verron Haynes - and He Busts One -- Haynes goes 40 yards - Haynes all the way to the Saints 32 yard line!
1/10 - Parker loses 1
2/11 - It's Bettis - the Bus drives for 14 yards and another first down, a false start will then take the Steelers back 5 - but with 3:02 left Pittsburgh is at the New Orleans 24 yard line/
1/10 - 11 yards for Willie Parker - Ben hasn't completed a pass on this drive - but the Steeler ground game is just burying the Saints - Steelers first down at the Saints 13 yard line with 2:19 to go in the game.
The next 3 plays lose 9 yards when Cam Jordan gets the Saints first sack of the day.
Jeff Reed with 1:52 left lines up for a 39 yard FG that would give Pittsburgh the lead.
It's good.
Steelers 20 Saints 19
Saints will start at their own 28. 1:44 to go. It's Drew Brees now. Can he win it?
1/10 - Kamara for 21 - big, big gain for Alvin Kamara and the Saints are near midfield in one play. An offsides call gets them 5 more.
1/5 - Murray for 4.
2/1 - Kamara picks it up - timeout Saints - Saints are at the 41 yard line with 1:26 to go, just needing a FG to win it.
1/10 - Brees finds Ginn - 13 yards - the Saints are at the 28.
1/10 - There's that man again - Brees to Michael Thomas - 24 huge yards - the Saints are all the way down to the 4 yard line, first and goal with just 42 seconds left!
1/goal - Kamara runs into the line. Timeout Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh in real trouble here a FG beats them.
2/goal - Kamara gets the ball - and the Steelers let him score! Alvin Kamara walks into the endzone untouched - the Steelers let the Saints score and it's 25-20 TOUCHDOWN SAINTS
You understand what Cowher is thinking here - if you let the clock tick to zero the Saints have a chip shot FG - here, you give yourself at least a couple of plays as there are still 23 seconds left.
The Saints miss the 2 pt conversion.
Steelers have just 17 seconds left, 25-20, starting at their own 34.
After an incomplete pass - Pittsburgh gets to midfield on a Ben to Ward completion.
4 seconds left in the game. Time for a Hail Mary.
Ben heaves the ball to the endzone -- Ben looking for Heath Miller ----
Knocked down. Done.
Final: Saints 25 Steelers 20
Down 17-13 headed to the 4th qtr, the Saints score a dozen and knock out the SB Champs. Just 13 first downs for Pittsburgh, the Saints defense really handles Ben in this one.
Brees: 19-27 256 yds 2 TD
Roethlisberger: 8-15 120 yds 1 TD
Kamara: 17 carries, 112 yds, 1 TD
Bettis: 10 carries, 93 yds 1 TD
Thomas: 8 catches, 138 yds, 2 TD
Ward: 4 catches, 44 yds, 1 TD
Porter - 2 sacks
Player of the Game: Michael Thomas
