9. 1987 CLEVELAND BROWNS at 1. 1996 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION GREEN BAY PACKERS
1. 1996 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION GREEN BAY PACKERS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 14-2
Off: 1st
Def: 1st
d. Niners Div Rnd 35-14
d. Panthers NFC Title 30-13
d. Patriots Super Bowl 35-21
d. '03 Colts 48-10 (PotG-Eugene Robinson)
HC: Mike Holmgren, OC: Sherm Lewis, DC Fritz Shermur
Lambeau Field 40 degrees
Jim Irwin/Larry McCarren
Offense
QB Brett Favre (27 S Miss) All Pro 39 td/13 int 59.9% 7.2 y/a 243.7 y/g 95.8 2 td rush
RB Edgar Bennett (27 Florida St) 899 yds 4 y/a 31 catch 176 yds 5.7 y/c 3 td
WR Robert Brooks (26 S Carolina) 23 ctch 344 yds 15 y/a 4td
WR Antonio Freeman (24 Va Tech) 56 ctch 933 yds 16.7 y/a 9td
WR Don Beebe (32 Chadron St) 39 ctch 699 yds 17.9 y/a 4td
TE Keith Jackson (31 Oklahoma) 40 ctch 505 yds 12.6 y/a 10td
LT John Michels (23-R USC)
LG Aaron Taylor (24 N Dame)
C Frank Winters (32 W Illinois)
RG Adam Timmerman (25 S Dakota St)
RT Earl Dotson (26 Tex A&M Kingsville)
Defense
LDE Reggie White (35 Tennessee) int 8.5 scks
LDT Gilbert Brown (25 Kansas) sck
RDT Santana Dotson (27 Baylor) 5.5 scks
RDE Sean Jones (34 Neastern) 5 scks
LLB Wayne Simmons (27 Clemson) int 2.5 scks
MLB George Koonce (28 E Carolina) 3 int
RLB Brian Williams (24 USC) .5 scks
LCB Craig Newsome (25 Ariz St) 2 int
RCB Doug Evans (26 La Tech) 5 int 3 scks
SS LeRoy Butler (28 Florida St) All Pro 5 int 6.5 scks
FS Eugene Robinson (33 Colgate) 6 int
K Chris Jacke (30 UTEP)
P Craig Henrich (25 N Dame)
KR/PR Desmond Howard (26 Michigan) 3td
The third overall seed is the '96 Packers; number one in both offense and defense, rolled through the postseason to win the Super Bowl - every SB Champion in the field so far has advanced, as have the other number one regional seeds. Brett Favre is 27, All Pro, 41 total TDs and 13 picks. The All Pro on defense is 28 year old LeRoy Butler, 5 picks and 6.5 sacks. 35 year old Reggie White added 8.5 sacks. The Pack went unbeaten at home and will return remain at home throughout region 3. Not only number one in offense and defense, also number one in special teams. In rnd 1, they picked off 2003 Peyton Manning 3 times in a rout.
9. 1987 CLEVELAND BROWNS
Record: 10-5
Pythag: 11-4
Off: 3rd
Def: 2nd
1st AFC Central
d. Colts Div Rnd 38-21
Lost AFC Title Broncos 38-33
d. '82 Redskins 20-17 (PotG-Gerald McNeil)
HC: Marty Schottenheimer OC Lindy Infante, DC Dave Adolph
Offense
QB Bernie Kosar (24 Miami) 22 td/9 int 63% 7.8 y/a 252.8 y/g 95.4 1 td rush
RB Ernest Byner (25 E Carolina) 432 yds 4.1 y/c 52 ctch 552 yds 10.6 y/c 10 td
FB Kevin Mack (25 Clemson) 735 yds 3.7 y/c 32 ctch 223 yds 7 y/c 6 td
WR Reggie Langhorne (24 Eliz City St) 20 ctch 288 yds 14.4 y/c 1td
WR Webster Slaughter (23 S Diego St) 47 ctch 806 yds 17.1 y/c 7td
TE Ozzie Newsome (31 Alabama) 34 ctch 375 yds 11 y/c
LT Paul Farren (27 Boston U)
LG Larry Williams (24 N Dame)
C Mike Baab (28 Texas)
RG Dan Fike (26 Florida)
RT Cody Risien (30 A&M)
Defense
LDE Sam Clancy (29 Pitt) 2 scks
NT Bob Golic (30 NDame) 1.5 scks
RDE Carl Hairston (35 MEastern Shore) 8 scks
LOLB Dave Grayson (23 Fresno) sck
LILB Eddie Johnson (28 Louisville) 1 int 1 scks
RILB Mike Johnson (25 Va Tech) 1 int 2 scks
ROLB Clay Matthews (31 USC) 3 int 2.5 scks
LCB Frank Minnifield (27 Louisville) 4 int
RCB Hanford Dixon (29 So Miss) All Pro 3 int
SS Ray Ellis (28 Ohio St)
FS Felix Wright (28 Drake) 4 int
K Jeff Jaeger (23 Wash)
P Jeff Gossett (30 E Illinois)
KR Glen Young (27 Miss St)
PR Gerald McNeil (25 Baylor)
Here's the scab season - '87 is going to have some wonky outcomes; Cleveland is top 3 - top 3 in both offense and defense, lost the AFC Title game to Denver - which, of course, would lose the SB to a Joe Gibbs Redskins team. So, like the '82 Washington squad that played 9 games, the Browns regulars also played a shortened season. 12 games for 24 year old Bernie Kosar. 23 total scores and 9 picks. The Browns All Pro is on defense, it's 29 year old corner Hanford Dixon, he had 3 picks while 35 year old Carl Hairston had 8 sacks. It's the Browns - they beat the '82 Skins in OT in rnd one and now head to GB to face the World Champs.
Pack's favored by 10.5; let's go to Lambeau for the kick.
1st Qtr
Cleveland gets the kick and starts deep in their own end, at the 7.
1/10 - Kevin Mack gets 2 yards.
2/8 - Bernie Kosar - man it's cold today, freezing temperatutes, both teams heavily bundled up - Kosar to Webster Slaughter, 18 yards -- Slaughter's got a first down at the 27.
1/10 - Ernest Byner, 12 yards -- Browns with a couple of first downs.
The drive ends here - after the punt, Pack at the 18.
1/10 - Edgar Bennett buried for a 2 yard loss.
2/12 - Brett Favre fires to Robert Brooks, a dozen and a first.
1/10 - Favre - Antonio Freeman; great matchup with the Browns corners against Favre and these wide receivers, 13 yards to the 41.
1/10 - Favre to Bennett, 2 yds
2/8 - Dorsey Levens 4 yard pickup
3/4 - Favre to Levens, he picks up 9 yards to the Brown 44.
1/10 - Bennett -- Bennett busts it -- Edgar Bennett through the hole -- with a step -- Edgar Bennett rumbling All The Way To the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN PACKERS - Edgar Bennett goes 44 yards for the score, Packers go 82 yards in less than 5 minutes. This Green Bay team is tough, boy.
Browns at the 24 - they go 3 and out - Packers will be starting at the Cleveland 47.
1/10 - Favre....2 yard pickup on a scramble.
2/8 - Bennett busts for 13, Pack already at the Brown 32.
1/10 - Bennett for 5.
2/5 - Carl Hairston gets to Farve and it's 3rd and 13.
3/13 - Favre to his 5th receiver, Terry Mickens -- its 20 yards, Pack first down at the 15!
1/10 - Favre gets a yard and the quarter ends.
2nd Qtr: Packers 7 Browns 0
Pack up and driving. Green Bay not interested in a Cinderalla Browns story in region 3.
They don't advance - Jacke FG and it is 10-0.
Browns at the 23.
1/10 - A dozen for Byner.
1/10 - Kosar 3 to Newsome.
2/7 - Kosar to Byner, 8 yards and a first down at the 46.
And thats it - Pack punt - Desmond Howard fields it at the 11; Howard has a seam -- Howard has some grass -- DESMOND HOWARD IS GONNA GO -- DESMOND HOWARD IS GONNA GO -- DESMOND HOWARD IS GONNA GO 89 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN PACKERS -- Desmond Howard 89 yard punt return for a score and the Packers go up 17-0!!
Browns at the 34. 3 and out.
Good Howard return again - halfway through the 2nd qtr it is 17-0 and GB is at their own 40.
1/10 - Levens for 3.
2/7 - Bennett for 1
3/6 - Favre to Levens, 14 yards from the backfield and the Packers are across midfield and looking to put the dagger into the Browns.
1/10 - Levens stopped at the line.
2/11 - Favre finds Don Beebe - the Packers 3rd receiver has a 12 yard gain to the 31 yard line!
1/10 - William Henderson's first carry, 1 yard.
2/9 - 3 for Bennett -
3/6 - Favre goes back to Beebe, another first down - GB at the 20 yard line.
1/10 - Levens for 1
2/9 - Bennett for 2 and the 2 minute warning hits.
3/7 - Favre to Brooks -- one handed grab at the sideline, gets his feet in bounds -- GB first and goal at the 9!
1/goal - Nothing for Bennett.
2/goal - Favre....End Zone...Mark Chmura --- TOUCHDOWN PACKERS -- Favre nine yard bullet to Chmura -- the Pack goes up 24-0 with 90 seconds left in the half.
Browns at the 25 - they go 3 and out, Pack gets the ball back right before the half, they go nowhere and it is halftime.
3rd Qtr: Packers 24 Browns 0
Weather conditions worsening, Pack up 24 points, offense/defense/special teams, is a full domination here in Lambeau.
Pack starts at the 30 - 3 and out.
Browns at the 43 after a shanked punt, the weather likely to play a role in the second half.
1/10 - Botched snap - Browns lose 4.
2/14 - Mack for 4.
3/10 - Kosar to Slaughter - 18 yards to the Packer 39.
That's as far as it goes, Reggie White sacks Kosar - after the punt, Pack at the 13.
1/10 - Bennett for 16.
1/10 - Bennett for 2
2/8 - Favre finds Brooks - Pack out to midfield.
1/10 - Favre scrambling for 5
2/5 - Levens picks it up -- but just loses the handle -- FUMBLE - and the Browns have some life, they recover at their own 40 yard line! Less than 6 to play in the third, still 24-0.
1/10 - Mack gets 6
2/4 - Kosar hits Reggie Langhorne, 15 yard pickup to the GB 39.
1/10 - Kosar dump off to Byner, 1 yd.
2/9 - Byner runs for 4.
3/5 - Kosar finds Ozzie Newsome, the veteran Newsome makes his way for 15 yards to the Green Bay 18.
1/10 - Kosar to Mack, 2.
2/8 - Kevin Mack rumblin' -- Kevin Mack to the Packer 3 and a first and goal
1/goal - incomplete
2/goal - Kosar - End Zone -- Newsome -- TOUCHDOWN BROWNS - 3 yards from Bernie to Ozzie - the Browns are on the board.
Pack at the 34, two plays lose yards and the qtr ends.
4th Qtr: Packers 24 Browns 7
The task seems too steep - but the deficit is now 17 and the Packers have third and long.
They don't pick it up.
Browns at the 31. 3 and out. Packers at their own 42 after the short punt.
3 and out including a Clay Matthews sack.
10 minutes left, Browns start at their own 7, down 17.
It takes Cleveland 6 minutes, but they drive 93 yards, Kosar hitting Larry Mason with a 9 yard TD pass. It's 24-14 with just 4 minutes left - Cleveland attempts an onside kick.
Packers recover. Packers at the Browns 43. 3 and out.
Cleveland uses all 3 time outs - 2:39 left in the game, Cleveland takes over after the punt, Browns at the 20.
Cleveland keeps possession almost the rest of the way, but is not able to score, Gabe Wilkins gets a sack on the drive - the ball goes back on downs just with seconds left, victory formation and it is done.
Final: Packers 24 Browns 10
Pack score all their points in the first quarter and the weather plays a big role in shutting the game down after that. Just 13 first downs for GB. Pack moves to the region 3 semi.
Favre: 13 for 20, 123 yds TD
Kosar: 26 for 40, 218 yds, 2 TD
Bennett: 15 carries, 76 yds TD
Mack: 20 carries, 58 yds
Brooks: 3 ctches, 44 yds
Slaughter: 6 ctchs, 79 yds
Howard: TD
Player of the Game: Desmond Howard
