13. 2008 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at 8. 2014 DENVER BRONCOS
8. 2014 DENVER BRONCOS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 2nd
Def: 16th
Lost Div Rnd Colts 24-13
d. '75 Rams 24-10 (PotG-Peyton Manning)
d. '62 Packers 16-10 (PotG-Von Miller)
HC: John Fox, OC Adam Gase, DC Jack del Rio
Sports Authority Field: 60 degrees
Dave Logan/Ed McCaffrey
Offense
QB Peyton Manning (38 Tennessee) 39td/15 int 66.2 7.9 y/a 295.4 y/g 101.5
RB CJ Anderson (23 Cal) 849 yds 4.7 y/c 34 ctc 324 yds 9.5 y/c 10 td
WR Demaryius Thomas (27 G Tech) 111 ctch 1619 yds 14.6 y/c 11 td
WR Emmanuel Sanders (27 SMU) 101 ctch 1404 yds 13.9 y/c 9 td
WR Wes Welker (33 TTech) 49 ctch 464 yds 9.5 y/c 2 td
TE Julius Thomas (26 Port St) 43 ctch 489 yds 11.4 y/c 12 td
LT Ryan Clady (28 Boise)
LG Orlando Franklin (27 Miami)
C Manuel Ramirez (31 T Tech)
RG Louis Vasquez (27 T Tech)
RT Chris Clark (29 So Miss)
Defense
DE Sylvester Williams (26 UNC)
NT Terrance Knighton (28 Temple) 2 scks
DE Derek Wolfe (24 Cincinnati) 1.5 sck
LB Von Miller (25 Tex A&M) 14 scks
LB Brandon Marshall (25 Nevada) int 2 scks
LB Nate Irving (26 NC St) sck
LB DeMarcus Ware (32 Troy) int 10 scks
CB Chris Harris (25 Kansas) 3 int sck
CB Aqib Talib (28 Kansas) 4 int 2 td sck
SS TJ Ward (28 Oregon) 2 int 2scks
FS Rahim Moore (24 UCLA) 4 int
K Brandon McManus (23 Temple)
P Britton Colquitt (29 Tenn)
KR Omar Bolden (26 Ariz St)
PR Isaiah Burse (23 Fresno St)
Second best offense in football, it's 38 year old Peyton Manning's last year being Peyton Manning. 39 scores. 15 picks. Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas are both 27, both with over a hundred catches. Mediocre defense. Von Miller's 25, DeMarcus Ware is 32 and they combined for 26 sacks. John Fox was replaced after the season, so whenever Denver loses, that ends his run with the Broncos. Manning ripped up the '75 Rams for 312 yds; in round 2 it was the defense who came through in an upset of the top seeded '62 Packers
13. 2008 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Record: 9-6-1
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 6th
Def: 4th
2nd NFC East
d. Vikes WC 26-14
d. Giants Div Rnd 23-11
Lost Cards NFC Title 32-25
d. '67 Colts 20-17 (PotG-Donovan McNabb)
d. '00 Titans 17-6 (PotG-Asante Samuel)
HC: Andy Reid, OC: Marty Mornhinweg DC Jim Johnson
Offense
QB Donovan McNabb (32) 23td/11 int 60.4 6.9 y/a 244.8 y/g 86.4 2 td rush
RB Brian Westbrook (29) 936 yds 4.0 y/a 54 ctch 402 yds 7.4 y/c 14 td
WR Kevin Curtis (30) 33 ctch 390 yds 11.8 y/c 2td
WR DeSean Jackson (22-R) 62 ctch 912 yds 14.7 y/r 3td
TE Brent Celek (23) 27 ctch 318 yds 11.8 y/a td
TE LJ Smith (28) 37 ctch 298 yds 8.1 y/a 3td
LT Tra Thomas (34)
LG Todd Herremans (26)
C Jamaal Jackson (28)
RG Max Jean Gilles (25)
RT Jon Runyan (35)
Defense
LDE Juqua Parker (30) int 5 scks
LDT Mike Patterson (25) int .5 sck
RDT Brodrick Bunkley (25) 2 scks
RDE Trent Cole (26) 9 scks
LLB Chris Gocong (25) 2 sck
MLB Stewart Bradley (25) int sck
RLB Omar Gaither (24) 2.5 sck
LCB Asante Samuel (27) 4 int
RCB Sheldon Brown (29) int sck
SS Quintin Mikell (28) 3 int 2 sck
FS Brian Dawkins (35) int 3 scks
K David Akers (34)
P Saverio Rocca (35)
KR Quintin Demps (23) td
PR DeSean Jackson (22-R) td
6th in offense/4th in defense in '08; that defensive rank slides the Eagles into the tournament, as they lost in the NFC Title game. No All Pros, the two Pro Bowlers are both in the secondary, 27 year old Asante Samue/35 year old Brian Dawkins. 26 year old Trent Cole had 9 sacks. McNabb's 32, 25 total TDs and 11 picks. 29 year old Brian Westbrook scored 14 times. The 13th seeded Eagles knocked out the 4th seeded '67 Colts in rnd 1. This team won just 9 regular season games but they are here in the regional semi after knocking off the '00 Titans in round 2.
We've got an upset winner coming, the 13th seed against the 8th seed - whomever comes out of the top half of region 5 will have played above their seeding. This game is a full pick 'em, lets go to Mile High.
1st Qtr
Eagles at the 31
1/10 - On the first play, DeMarcus Ware sacks Donovan McNabb - this middling Bronco defense just steamrolled the '62 Pack and they get it going here in front of the home crowd.
2/17 - TJ Ward comes through on a safety blitz and sacks McNabb - it is 3rd and 22.
3/22 - McNabb- just flings it downfield to Kevin Curtis -- he's got it - out of bounds at midfield - huge gainer, first down for the Eagles -- back to back sacks and then the huge McNabb throw.
The drive ends - Eagles punt - Denver starts at the 12.
1/10 - Peyton Manning to CJ Anderson out of the backfield, 6 yds
2/4 - Manning over the middle to Demaryius Thomas, 14 yards to the 32.
1/10 - Anderson for 1
2/9 - Manning crossing route to Emmanuel Sanders and he is wide, wide open - 28 yards to the Eagle 39. Big Manning play - big play call by Adam Gase.
That ends the drive - Brian Dawkins gets a sack - McManus hits a loooooong FG and it is 3-0.
Eagles at the 26.
1/10 Brian Westbrook 3 yards
2/7 - McNabb to Westbrook, 5 yds
3/2 - Westbrook bursts through the line -- Westbrook into the secondary, 29 yards and the Eagles are at the 37.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - McNabb to Westbrook, 6 yards.
3/4 - DeSean Jackson was shut out in the Titan game - he gets involved here, first down at the 26 and an illegal contact call on the next play makes it first down at the 21.
The drive stalls - Akers FG ties this up.
Denver at the 23.
1/10 - Nothing for Hillman
2/10 - Dawkins gets his second sack of the game -- 8 yards -- the qtr ends.
2nd Qtr: Broncos 3 Eagles 3
All tied up here - region 5 is just blown wide open, seeds 1,2,4 all gone - one of these teams about to win the first region 5 semi. 3rd and long for Denver.
3/18 - Manning - beautiful pass - beautiful to Sanders - 26 yards to the 41.
1/10 - Manning hits Wes Welker, 8 yards
2/2 - Anderson 1 yd
3/1 - Hillman picks it up, Denver crosses midfield
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Manning to Sanders again - 19 yards, Manning connecting with Sanders here to the 30.
But - it ends the drive - Omar Gaither with the third Eagle sack - McManus with his 2nd FG and it is 6-3.
Eagles at the 23. 3 and out. Denver with the solid return, they are at the Philly 41.
1/10 - Manning to Thomas, 12 yards. Holding on the next play makes it 1st and 20 at the 39.
1/20 - Hillman for 3
2/17 - Manning 2 yards to Thomas.
3/15 - Manning - Hillman -- oh, Ronnie Hillman's runnin' -- Ronnie Hillman's runnin -- first down, Knocked out of bounds at the 5 yard line! Hell of a run for Hillman on the reception. First and goal.
1/goal - Manning - End Zone -- Sanders -- TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS - Peyton Manning 5 yards to Emmanuel Sanders -- Denver goes up 13-3.
Eagles at the 40, good return - Eagles in good field position with 4 minutes left in the half.
1/10 - 2 for Westbrook
2/8 - Incomplete
3/8 - McNabb hits Curtis - 13 yards and thats a first down.
1/10 - Correll Buckhalter 3 yards, it's the 2 min warning, Eagles at the Bronco 42.
1/10 - McNabb to Buckhalter, he's got 10 yards, out of bounds at the 32.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - McNabb in trouble, dumps to Smith, out of bounds - third and 9.
3/9 - McNabb-----just knifes in a ball to Curtis, first down at the 20 - Eagles stop the clock here, there's 1:28 left in the half.
The next 3 plays - back to back Von Miller sacks and a TJ Ward interception in the end zone -- the Denver defense comes up huge and that effectively ends the half.
3rd Qtr: Broncos 13 Eagles 3
Denver had the 16th ranked defense in '14 -- but they have been stalwart in the tournament - 4 sacks and a pick in the first half.
Broncos at the 31.
1/10 - Hillman, nothing.
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Manning to Thomas, he lunges for the sticks and gets it.
1/10 - 2 for Hillman
2/8 - Ronnie Hillman bursting across midfield, Hillman to the Eagle 40.
1/10 - Hillman again - Hillman again, 14 yards to the Eagle 26 yard line!
The drive stalls - McManus hits another one, it is 16-3 Denver.
Eagles at the 32.
1/10 - 1 for Westbrook, an offsides makes it 2nd and 4
2/4 - Westbrook slithers through a hole and look at him go -- 36 yards for Brian Westbrook to the Denver 26 - Eagles needed a big play and Brian Westbrook gets them one.
1/10 - 2 for Buckhalter
2/8 - McNabb to Jackson, 11 yards and a first down at the 13.
1/10 - 4 for Buckhalter
2/6 - Westbrook....Brian Westbrook Is Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN EAGLES - 6 plays in 3:35, Philly marches down the field and Brian Westbrook is in the end zone, it's 16-10 Denver.
Broncos at the 20.
1/10 - 1 for Anderson
2/9 - Manning 7 yards to Welker
3/2 - Manning to Hillman, first down at the 34.
1/10 - 1 for Hillman
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Manning to Hillman - 15 yard gain to midfield.
The drive ends - Trent Cole sacks Manning - and as the 3rd qtr ends - the Eagles will take over at the 19.
4th Qtr: Broncos 16 Eagles 10
Philly is back in the game, they score, stop Denver and have the ball again.
1/10 - Buckhalter goes for 10
1/10 - McNabb to Westbrook - 12 more to the 41, Eagles moving the ball now
1/10 - McNabb - PICKED OFF by Asante Samuel -- Samuel Intercepts McNabb - the Broncos are at their own 40. Once again - the Denver defense comes through in the big spot.
3 and out. Eagles take over at their own 11 yard line. 11 minutes left in the game. 16-10 Broncos.
1/10 - McNabb 4 to Smith
2/6 - Westbrook bursts through, 24 yards and a first down
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Carry for Booker, nothing.
3/10 - McNabb to Curtis - big play downfield -- 23 yard pickup -- Eagles are at the Denver 38 yard line.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - McNabb -- deep -- PICKED OFF by Chris Harris -- Picked Off By Chris Harris -- Harris down at the Denver 9 - the Denver defense has intercepted McNabb 3 times, with only 7 minutes left in the game the Broncos regain possession at the 9.
1/10 - Anderson gets 1
2/9 - 15 yard gain for Anderson, all the way to the 25.
That ends the drive - with 4 minutes left, the Eagles get the ball back at their own 35.
Here we go - Eagles at the 35 - 65 yards away, it is 16-10, tough day for McNabb - can he drive the Eagles for this win?
1/10 - 3 for Westbrook
2/7 - McNabb to Curtis, 3.
3/4 - McNabb to LJ Smith, 9 yards and the Eagles are at midfield.
1/10 - Westbrook gets 6 yards and it is the 2 minute warning.
2/4 - Incomplete
3/4 - Incomplete
So - big spot here, 1:46 left in the game - Eagles with 4th and 4 at the Denver 44.
4/4 - Incomplete. Denver turns Philly over on downs - Denver takes over - they burn through the Eagles 3 timeouts - they squeeze out a first down and it ends the game.
Final: Broncos 16 Eagles 10
That Denver defense, improbably, has led them to the Region 5 finals.
Manning: 17 for 22 209 yds TD
McNabb: 20 for 38 217 yds 3 INT
Hillman: 14 carries, 44 yds, 4 ctches 55 yds
Westbrook: 16 carries 119 yds TD, 5 ctches 50 yds
Sanders: 4 ctches, 78 yds TD
Curtis: 4 ctches 68 yds
Miller/Dawkins: 2 sacks
Ward: sck/int
Player of the Game: Von Miller
