12. 2019 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at 4. 1999 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION ST LOUIS RAMS
4. 1999 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION ST LOUIS RAMS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 14-2
Off: 1st
Def: 4th
1st NFC West
d. Vikings Div Rnd 49-37
d. Bucs NFC Title 11-6
d. Titans Super Bowl 23-16
d. '67 Chiefs 37-14 (PotG-Robert Holcombe)
HC: Dick Vermeil, OC: Mike Martz, DC: Peter Giunta
TWA Dome
Gary Bender/Jack Snow
Offense:
QB: Kurt Warner (28 N Iowa) All Pro 41 td/13 int 65.1% 8.7 y/a 272.1 y/g 109.2 1 rush td
RB Marshall Faulk (26 S Diego St) All Pro 1381 yds 5.5 y/c 87 catch 1048 yds 12 y/c 12 td
FB Robert Holcombe (24 Illinois) 294 yds 3.8 y/c 14 catch, 11.6 y/c 5 td
WR Isaac Bruce (27 Memphis) 77 catch 15.1 y/c 1165 yds 12 td
WR Torry Holt (23-R NC St) 52 catch 15.2 y/c 788 yds 6 td
TE Roland Williams (24 Syracuse) 25 catch 9 y/c 6 td
LT Orlando Pace (24 Ohio St) All Pro
LG Tom Nutten (28 W Michigan)
C Mike Gruttadauria (27 C Florida)
RG Adam Timmerman (28 S Dakota St)
RT Fred Miller (26 Baylor)
Defense
LDE Kevin Carter (26 Florida) All Pro 17 scks
LDT Ray Agnew (32 NC St) 2.5 scks
RDT D'Marco Farr (28 Wash) 8.5 scks
RDE Grant Wistrom (23 Nebraska) 2 int 6.5 scks
LLB Mike Jones (30 Missouri) 4 int scks
MLB London Fletcher (24 J Carroll) 3 scks
RLB Todd Collins (29 Cars-Newm)
LCB Todd Lyght (30 N Dame) 6 int 2.5 scks
RCB Dexter McCleon (26 Clem) 4 int 1.5 scks
SS Billy Jenkins (25 Howard) 2 int sack
FS Keith Lyle (27 UVA) 2 int sck
K Jeff Wilkins (27 Youngs St)
P Rick Tuten (34 Florida St)
KR Tony Horne (23 Clemson) 2 td
PR Az-zahir Hakim (22 S Diego St) td
Here's the 4th seed in the region, the Super Bowl Champs from 1999, the Rams. 1st in offense, 4th in defense. Kurt Warner's 28, 42 total TDs and 13 picks. He's an All Pro as is 26 year old Marshall Faulk with nearly 2500 combined yards of offense. Isaac Bruce is 27 with a dozen scores. and the LT, 24 yar old Orlando Pace, gives this Rams offense 3 First Team All Pros, On defense, there's one, 26 year old Kevin Carter with his 17 sacks. The Rams roasted the '67 Chiefs in rnd 1, outgaining them by 250 yds.
12. 2019 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 3rd
Def: 13th
1st NFC South
Lost WC Vikings 26-20
d. '05 Steelers 25-20 (PotG-Michael Thomas)
HC: Sean Payton, OC Pete Carmichael, DC Dennis Allen
Offense
QB Drew Brees (40 Purdue) 27 td/4 int 74.3% 7.9 y/a 270.8 y/d 116.3 1 rush td
RB Alvin Kamara (24 Tenn) 797 yds 4.7 y/a 81 catch 6.6 y/c 6 td
WR Michael Thomas All Pro (26 Ohio St) 149 ctch 1725 yds 11.6 y/c 9 td
WR Ted Ginn (34 Ohio St) 30 ctch 14 y/c 2 td
WR Tre'Quan Smith (23 C Florida) 18 ctch 13 y/c 5 td
TE Jared Cook (32 S Carolina) 43 catch 705 yds 16.4 y/a 9 td
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) 15.5 sacks
DT David Onyemata (27 Manitoba) 3 scks
DT Malcom Brown (25 Texas) 2 scks
DE Marcus Davenport (23 Tex S-A) 6 scks
LB Demario Davis All Pro (30 Ark St)
LB AJ Klein (28 Iowa St) 1 int 2.5 scks
CB Eli Apple (24 Ohio St)
CB Marshon Lattimore (23 Ohio St) int
CB PJ Williams (26 Fl St) int sck
SS Vonn Bell (25 Ohio St) int 1.5 scks
FS Marcus Williams (23 Utah) 4int
K Will Lutz (25 Geo St)
P Thomas Morstead (33 SMU)
KR/PR Deonte Harris (22 Assumption) All Pro td
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 - Brees is 40 - 28 total scores and 4 picks; we really see that change in QB numbers from ultra modern teams as the rules 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. Saints defense stepped up against a Super Bowl Champion Steeler team in rnd 1, holding Ben to 8 completions.
Rams are favoried by 12, lets go to StLouis for the kick.
1st Qtr:
Rams at the 33, ton of horsepower against a middling Saints defense.
1/10 Marshall Faulk gets the ball and is buried in the backfield.
2/12 - Faulk again - stopped cold at the line.
3/12 - Kurt Warner going up top -- He Finds Isaac Bruce for a 33 yard Strike -- Bruce down at the Saints 36 yard line.
1/10 - Warner to Faulk out of the backfield, 10 yard pickup and an offsides call on the next play makes it 1st and 5 at the NO 21.
1/5 - Faulk picks it up.
1/10 - Robert Holcombe gets a carry, nothing there.
2/10 - Warner -- End Zone -- Ricky Proehl --- TOUCHDOWN RAMS -- Warner 15 yard ball to Proehl - 7 plays, 67 yards -- the Rams are on the board.
Saints at the 31.
1/10 - Alvin Kamara 3 yards.
2/7 - Drew Brees goes to Taysom Hill -- Hill has a 14 yard pickup.
1/10 - Kamara for 1.
2/9 - Kamara for 2.
3/7 - Brees to Michael Thomas -- he picks it up, Saints at the Rams 41.
1/10 - Latavius Murray gets a carry, 2 yards.
2/8 - Brees --- He's Looking for the Big Shot -- Ted Ginn -- He's got it -- it's a 31 yard strike to Ginn! Oooooh, we may get some points today - Saints first and goal at the 8.
But - that's all - Saints have to settle for the FG.
Rams at the 43, Tony Horne with the nice runback.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Holcombe, nothing.
3/10 - Warner finds Az-zahir Hakim, Hakim with the big first down, 26 yards - the Rams at the Saints 31.
1/10 - Faulk --- Marshall Faulk Breaks It -- Marshall Faulk Outracing the Saints Defense -- Marshall Faulk Is Into the End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN SAINTS - 31 yard run, Faulk is In the End Zone and it is 14-3.
Saints at the 25.
1/10 Brees to Murray -- oh, Murray's got blockers -- look at Murray - Latavius Murray sprinting for 42 yards, all the way to the Rams 33! Just haymakers from both sides!
1/10 - Kamara, 6 yards
2/4 - Murray picks it up - the next play is an incomplete pass to the end zone -- as the quarter ends, the Saints have a second and ten at the 22.
2nd Qtr Rams 14 Saints 3
The Rams had the best offense in '99, then won the Super Bowl, and have kept it rolling in the tournament. Saints down 11, but at the 22.
They don't advance the ball, Kevin Carter sacks Brees - they settle for the FG and it's 14-6.
Rams at the 29, they go 3 and out, Cameron Jordan getting a sack- Saints get a great Deonte Harris return to midfield.
1/10 - Brees to Tre'Quan Smith, 12 yards to the 38.
1/10 - Brees to Kamara, 6 yards.
2/4 - Kamara big gainer, 14 yards -- the Saints again are here in scoring position, at the Ram 18 yard line.
And again - they go no further, D'marco Farr gets a sack - again, Will Lutz with the kick - the Saints have cut this to 14-9, 8 minutes left in the half.
Rams at the 25.
1/10 - Holcombe is stopped.
1/10- Warner finds Torry Holt, 21 more yards.
1/10 - Faulk for 2.
2/8 - Warner to Bruce - Isaac Bruce in space - the Rams really scheming men open under that Mike Martz scheme, 15 yards to the 37.
1/10 - Warner hits a wide open Proehl - the Rams shredding the Saints through the air - 18 yards to the 19, a false start makes it 1st and 15.
1/15 - Justin Watson goes for 4.
2/11 - Warner to Faulk -- Marshall Faulk twisting and spinning for the first down at the 8 yard line.
1/goal - 2 for Faulk.
2/goal - Warner - Bruce --- TOUCHDOWN RAMS - Kurt Warner 6 yards to Isaac Bruce and it is 21-9 Rams.
Saints at the 36. 2:02 left.
1/10 - Kamara for 1.
2/9 - Brees -- Brees Goes Downfield to Ginn -- Big Strike to Ginn, 37 yards to the Ram 26.
1/10 - Murray breaks a 16 yarder to the 10 and the Saints have a first and goal.
1/goal - Brees finds Thomas, Michael Thomas stopped at the 4.
2/goal - Brees - Kamara - TOUCHDOWN SAINTS - It takes a minute, 64 yards on 5 plays - the Saints come right down the field and make it 21-16 and we have a wild one here in St Louis.
Rams get the ball with less than a minute left at the 24, they don't move the ball, Marcus Davenport gets a sack - and the half ends.
Third Qtr: Rams 21 Saints 16
Winner of this one heads to Lambeau to face the top seeded '96 Packers in the first region 3 semi.
Saints at the 28.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Murray gets 1.
3/10 - Brees -- hits Michael Thomas in stride, Thomas has a 21 yard pickup and the Saints are at midfield!
1/10 - Murray for 5.
2/5 - Kamara gets 4.
3/1 - Brees -- Going Deep -- Ted Ginn ---- PICKED OFF BY DRE BLY - the rookie from North Carolina snatches the ball out of the air -- huge play by the Rams defense - Bly returns it out to the Rams 30 - big, big play for St Louis!
1/10 - Faulk, stopped.
2/10 - Warner -- he's got Hakim in space, Hakim - he's all the way to midfield - 20 yard gain for Hakim!
The drive ends - after the punt, Saints at the 25.
3 and out. Nice return for Hakim, he's having a strong game - Rams at their own 48, midway through the third, still up 21-16.
1/10 - Faulk runs for 11.
1/10 - Watson gets his second carry for 9. Rams at the 32.
1/10 - Warner to Faulk, Faulk's got a dozen and the Rams are at the 20.
1/10 - Warner to Holcombe -- the fullback barreling his way to the 5 yard line!
1/goal - Warner - Proehl -- TOUCHDOWN RAMS -- like lightning - St Louis takes 5 plays and they are into the end zone, 28-16 Rams.
Big return for Deonte Harris - out to the Saints 47. 4 and a half left in the third.
1/10 - Murray gets 5.
2/5 - Brees to Kamara, yds and the first.
1/10 - Kamara gets 2.
2/8 - Incomplete
3/8 - Brees to Thomas, it's a first down at the 31.
The drive dies - and when Ray Agnew sacks Brees, it's a 4th and long at the 41 as the qtr ends.
4th Qtr: Rams 28 Saints 16
Saints here with a 4th and 20 -- they decide to punt, Rams take over up a dozen at their own 15.
1/10 - Faulk busts a 17 yarder.
That's it - when Marcus Davenport gets back to back sacks - the drive ends - and the Saint take over after the Harris return at the Rams 48.
1/10 - Kamara for 1.
2/9 - Murray for 2.
3/7 - Brees to Kamara, makes men miss and gets to the sticks - Saints at the 37.
1/10 - Brees finds Cook, Cook's got a 16 yard gain.
1/10 - Murray for 1
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Great layout catch for Thomas - a full extention catch at the Rams 6 yard line - New Orleans first and goal.
1/goal - 2 for Kamara
2/goal - incomplete
3/goal - Murray gets a yard and it is 4th and goal at the 3.
Saints going for it. Alright. Here we go.
4/goal - Brees -- End Zone -- MICHAEL THOMAS -- TOUCHDOWN SAINTS - the Saints on 4th and 4 are in the end zone -- there's 7 minutes left in the game, and the Rams lead is cut to 28-23! We got a gooooooood one here in St Louis.
Rams at the 22.
1/10 - Warner to Holt, 8 yards.
2/2 - Faulk gets 1.
3/1 - Warner to Faulk, Marshall Faulk just breaking ankles out here on the turf, 14 yards to the 45.
1/10 - Warner --- Bruce ---- 17 yards to the 38.
1/10 - Warner -- Hakim - 12 yards to the 26.
That ends the drive - Wilkins hits the clutch FG - there's just 2 minutes left when the Saints get another great return by Harris, they trail 31-23. At their own 41. Drew Brees has 2 minutes to go down, score, get a 2 pt and force OT.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Kamara, nothing.
3/11 - Brees to Murray -- Murray fighting - fighting -- Murray has the first down at the Rams 49.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Murray gets 1
3/9 - Brees --- Downfield -- Smith -- HE'S GOT HIM -- Tre'Quan Smith to the Rams 18 yard line! There's 1 minute left in the football game - Saints at the 18.
1/10 - Incomplete, offsides makes it 2nd and 5.
2/5 - Kamara - Kamara -- ALVIN KAMARA IS GONNA GO --- INTO THE ENDZONE --- TOUCHDOWN SAINTS -- TOUCHDOWN SAINTS -- TOUCHDOWN SAINTS -- Alvin Kamara 13 yard TD run -- there's less than a minute to play - and it is 31-29!!!!
Saints lining up for the 2 pt conversion. Here we go.
Give to Murray --- HE IS STOPPED SHORT OF THE GOAL LINE! THE RAMS TURN THE SAINTS BACK ---
That's going to do it - the Saints onside kick fails, they won't get the ball back and it is a final.
Final: Rams 31 Saints 29
A fun shootout, the Super Bowl Champs hold on and they will head to Lambeau for a battle of Super Bowl Champs against the top seed in the region, the '96 Pack.
Warner: 19 for 23, 276 yds 3 TD
Brees: 21 for 35, 285 yds 2TD/INT
Faulk: 12 carries, 71 yds, TD, 4 catches, 48 yds
Kamara: 16 carries, 45 yds, TD, 4 catches, 24 yds, TD
Bruce: 5 catches, 76 yds TD
Thomas: 8 ctches, 68 yds TD
Davenport: 2 sacks
Player of the Game: Kurt Warner
