14. 2007 DALLAS COWBOYS at 3. 2016 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
3. 2016 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Record: 14-2
Pythag: 13-3
Off: 3rd
Def: 1st
d. Texans Div Rnd 34-16
d. Steelers AFC Title 36-17
d. Falcons Super Bowl 34-28
HC: Bill Belichick OC Josh McDaniels DC Matt Patricia
Gillette Stadium: 50 degrees
Bob Socci/Scott Zolak
Offense
QB Tom Brady (39 Michigan)
RB LeGarrette Blount (30 Oregon)
WR Julian Edelman (30 Kent St)
WR Chris Hogan (29 Monmouth)
TE Martellus Bennett (29 Tex A&M)
TE Rob Gronkowski (27 Atizona)
LT Nate Solder (28 Colorado)
LG Joe Thuney (24-R NC St)
C David Andrews (24 Georgia)
RG Shaq Mason (23 Geo Tech)
RT Marcus Cannon (28 TCU)
Defense
LDE Chris Long (31 UVA)
LDT Alan Branch (32 Michigan)
RDT Malcolm Brown (22 Texas)
RDE Jabaal Sheard (27 Pitt)
LLB Jamie Collins (27 So Miss)
MLB Dont'a Hightower (26 Alabama)
RLB Rob Ninkovich (32 Purdue)
LCB Malcolm Butler (26 W Alabama)
RCB Logan Ryan (25 Rutgers)
SS Patrick Chung (29 Oregon)
FS Devin McCourty (29 Rutgers)
K Stephen Gostkowski (32 Memphis)
P Ryan Allen (26 La Tech)
KR Cyrus Jones (23 Alabama)
PR Julian Edelman (30 Kent St)
The '16 Falcons were super impressive in winning their round 1 matchup in the upper half of Region 4 - here's the team that beat them in the Super Bowl. The Patriots have teams in both Regions 1 and 2 that have already moved forward - this squad had the top defense in football despite no All Pros and just 2 Pro Bowlers, 26 year old Dont'a Hightower and 29 year old Devin McCourty. The offense is ranked third, Brady is 39, 28 scores, only 2 picks. Big year for LeGarrette Blount, he scored 18 times. Blount's 30 as is Julian Edelman who caught 98 balls.
14. 2007 DALLAS COWBOYS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 2nd
Def: 13th
Lost Div Rnd Giants 21-17
HC: Wade Phillips, OC: Jason Garrett, DC Brian Stewart
Offense
QB Tony Romo (27)
RB Julius Jones (26)
FB Oliver Hoyte (23)
WR Terrell Owens (34) All Pro
WR Patrick Crayton (28)
TE Jason Witten (25) All Pro
LT Flozell Adams (32)
LG Kyle Kosier (29)
C Andre Gurode (29)
RG Leonard Davis (29)
RT Marc Colombo (29)
Defense
LDE Marcus Spears (24)
NT Jay Ratliff (26)
RDE Chris Canty (25)
LOLB Greg Ellis (32)
LILB Bradie James (26)
RILB Akin Ayodele (28)
ROLB DeMarcus Ware (25) All Pro
LCB Jacques Reeves (25)
RCB Terence Newman (29)
SS Roy Williams (27)
FS Ken Hamlin (26)
K Nick Folk (23)
P Mat McBriar (28)
KR Miles Austin (23)
PR Patrick Crayton (28)
The '07 Patriots took out the '83 Cowboys in Region 1; one of these Tony Romo teams lost a thriller in the Region 3 Play In. This '07 team had the second best offense in football. Romo is 27, 38 total TDs, 19 picks. He throws the ball to TO, 34 year old All Pro, 15 scores and nearly 1400 yards receiving. Jason Witten is 25, also an All Pro, 96 catches. Average defensively, which is likely a concern the Cowboys will have real challenges overcoming, led by 25 year old DeMarcus Ware and 32 year old Greg Ellis who combined for 26.5 sacks. Tough road ahead for this 14th seeded Dallas team, they head to face the third seed in region 4, the 2016 Super Bowl Champs. Let's go to NE for the kick.
1st Qtr
Patriots start at the 12.
1/10 - LeGarrette Blount gets the first carry, loses 2.
2/12 - Blount again, getting 3.
3/9 - Tom Brady's first pass is to James White out of the backfield, he scoots ahead for 14 and the first down.
1/10 - Brady to Chris Hogan for a dozen to the 39.
1/10 - Blount stacked up.
2/10 - Brady to Julian Edelman, it's 13 and a first down.
1/10 - Blount for 7.
2/3 - White picks it up.
1/10 - Oh - it's Brady - home run - 38 yard strike to the rookie Malcolm Mitchell -- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS - 83 yards in 9 plays, the Patriots making it look easy - they do blow the XP on an issue with the snap, so it's 6-0.
Dallas at the 24.
1/10 - Tony Romo comes out looking for Terrell Owens. 10 yards -you have to think for Dallas to stay in this one, TO needs a monster game.
1/10 - Julius Jones is stopped at the line.
2/10 - Jones again - he busts one - Flozell Adams clearing the way - Jones goes for 40 to the 26 yard line.
1/10 - Oliver Hoyte for 3.
2/7 - Romo to Jones - right at the sticks, Dallas 3rd and short at the 17.
3/1 - Barber is shut down at the line - Hightower closing hard to the LOS and busting up the play.
Wade Phillips with 4th and short decides to kick and Nick Folk makes it 6-3.
Patriots at the Dallas 33 after the big runback from Cyrus Jones. Dallas can't give up big return yards and hope to stay in the game.
1/10 - Blount for 4.
2/6 - White for 1 - a holding call drops the Patriots back 10 and it's 3rd and 15.
3/15 - Brady to Martellus Bennett - it's a 25 yard gain - it's a big gainer to the 13 yard line.
1/10 - Dion Lewis carry loses 2.
2/12 - Incomplete
3/12 - Brady looking to the endzone -- Julian Edelman -- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS - 15 yards from Brady to Edelman - Brady's got 2 first qtr TD passes and the Patriots are up 13-3.
Dallas at the 23. 1:24.
Romo looks to TO on the sideline and he is Picked Off by Malcolm Butler - Butler is down at the Dallas 36 yard line - Butler picks Romo and the Patriots, already up 10, take possession.
The next 2 plays net a yard, that ends the qtr.
2nd Qtr
The Patriots doing Patriot things - two scores and a pick - easy goings here at Gillette, Patriots have a 3rd and 9 at the Dallas 35.
Brady picks it up - 17 yards to Michael Floyd - Patriots at the 18.
The next 3 plays net 3 yards - Gostkowski hits the FG and it's 16-3.
Dallas at the 36. 12:45 left in the half.
1/10 - Jones for 1
2/9 - Romo finds Jason Witten for 33 - big gainer all the way to the Patriot 30.
1/10 - Hoyte for 2
2/8 - Marion Barber gets a carry and goes for a dozen. First down at the 16.
1/10 - Barber loses 2.
2/12 - Romo in trouble, escapes contain and gets 4.
3/8 - Romo - over the middle - TO - at the goal line - he bounces off a defender as in into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - Dallas goes 64 yards in 4 minutes and gets back into the game, down 16-10. Romo 14 yards to Owens for the score.
Patriots at the 22. 8:32.
On the first play - Brady hits Edelman for 34 - New England crosses midfield.
The next 3 plays gain 5 - Patriots with 4th and 5 at the Dallas 39 -- Bellichik decides to punt.
Dallas at the 18. 6:11 left.
On 3rd and 7 - Romo throws his second pick - a big downfield shot is picked off by Devin McCourty -- Patriots regain at the Cowboy 49, 4:43 left.
3 and out.
Dallas regains at the 12. 3:04 left in the half.
1/10 - Barber for 1.
2/9 - Jones for 12. 2 minute mark.
1/10 - Romo to Barber for 3, out of bounds.
2/7 - Romo to Owens over the middle for a dozen - Dallas uses their first time out, first down at the 41, 1:50 left.
1/10 - Sweep left - Jones - Jones has a first down -- and will make the sidelines - Jones is out of bounds across midfield, 1:43 left.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Romo ginds Patrick Crayton on the sideline - it's a 15 yard gain and a first down, still 90 seconds left.
1/10 - Romo to Barber for 9 - Cowboys hustle to the line -
2/1 - Romo tries to sneak for the first down - but the Patriots stuff him and Dallas has to use its second time out.
3/2 - Romo rolls out - finds Owens- Owens has the first - Owens fights his way to the sideline
- thats a first down for Dallas at the Patriot 16 yard line, 52 seconds left.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Romo finds Sam Hurd over the middle at the sticks -- Hurd's got the first down - 26 seconds left - Dallas using its last time out, first and goal at the 7 yard line.
1/goal - Romo finds Witten at the goal line -- but he's stopped by Ninkovich. Ninkovich stops Witten, tick, tick, tick -- Romo runs to the line - Romo gets it off - Romo rolling - Romo floating to the end zone -- Patrick Crayton -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS -- Romo to Crayton - TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - Dallas hits the XP and we head to the locker room, Cowboys 17 Patriots 16
Third Qtr
The Patriots were up 16-3 on the strength of two Brady TD passes - but Romo comes back with two scores of his own and it's 17-16 Dallas. The 14th seed in region 4, on the road, giving the 3rd seeded Pats all they want.
Dallas at the 37.
1/10 - Romo finds Owens for 11.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Romo to Witten - 25 yards at the way to the New England 27 yard line!
8 yards in the next 3 plays - Phillips decides to kick the short FG - Dallas goes up 20-16.
Cyrus Jones with another big return - all the way to midfield.
3 and out. Dallas to start at the 17. 8:52.
They pick up 2 first downs, a Jones 12 yard run, a Barber 8 yard reception and get out near midfield - but still punt the ball back.
Patriots at the 26. 5:26.
They'll get a first down, Brady to White for 11. But they punt it back.
Dallas at their own 27. 2:08.
Two plays gain 2 yards - and then Romo hits back to back completions to Witten (14 yards_ and Owens (12) yards to get across midfield as the quarter ends.
4th Qtr
Defense in the third - this Patriot crowd starting to get anxious, their side hasn't moved the ball much since the first qtr. It's the Cowboys with the 4 pt lead and the ball at the Patriot 47, first down, as we turn to the final qtr.
1/10 - Jones for 5
2/5 - Romo to Barber for 4 - third and short.
3/1 - Romo to pass - Romo to Barber for 7 -- its a first down, the Cowboys are at the 31.
1/10 - Barber gets 1
2/9 - Hoyte gets 2 and here's another 3rd down.
3/7 - Romo to Witten - its a big, big 9 yard gain - a first down at the Patriot 19 yard line.
1/10 - Jones for 5.
2/5 - Barber -- Barber right up the gut -- Marion Barber is in the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - Dallas has a 12 play, 7 and a half minute drive - they go up 27-16 - the 14th seeded Cowboys now up 2 scores on the 3rd seeded Patriots.
Patriots at the 23. 10 minutes left in the game.
3 and out -- Hooooo, boy. We have not seen an upset like this in the tournament - Dallas, seeded 14th in the region, is up 11 and getting the ball back.
Cowboys at their own 42. 7:55.
A 34 yard Romo to Crayton gets Dallas to the Patriot 28 - a Jamie Collins strip sack gives the ball back to New England - giving the Patriots one more gasp of life with 4:24 left to play in the game.
The Patriots get 1 first down on an 11 yard pass to Lewis - but a DeMarcus Ware sack will make it 4th and 15 - Brady's pass is incomplete and the Cowboys have the ball near midfield, under 3 minutes to go, up 27-16.
3 and out. Patriots regain at their own 15, under 2 minutes now, needing 2 scores.
Greg Ellis sacks Brady on 4th and 9 - the ball goes back over on downs with just over a minute to play - Dallas runs the ball into the line 3 times, the Patriots use all their timeouts - Dallas kicks a chip shot FG, there's only a handful of seconds left on the clock and we have a final score. Wow!
Final: Cowboys 30 Patriots 16
New England had two scores and 2 picks early in the game and then couldn't move the ball at all the rest of the way - Romo and the Cowboys with the biggest upset to date in the tournament and we shake up the bottom half of region 4 with the 2016 Super Bowl Champs going home.
Just 14 first downs for NE - the maligned Cowboy defense really stands up the final 3 qtrs.
Romo: 21 for 30, 250 yds, 2 TD/2 INT
Brady: 16 for 27, 217 yds, 2 TD
Jones: 17 carries, 107 yds
Blount: 17 carries, 29 yds
Witten: 5 catches, 80 yds
Owens: 4 catches, 67 yds, 1 TD
McCourty: 15 tackes, INT
Player of the Game: DeMarcus Ware
