2007 Patriots
2022 49ers
2014 Seahawks
2018 Saints
2008 Ravens
1978 Cowboys
2001 Rams
2006 Patriots
1987 49ers
1987 Browns
2019 Chiefs
1994 49ers
2015 Steelers
2008 Steelers
1974 Steelers
One region left, one more chance to make the Sweet 16 - winners will turn around and face the top overall seed in the whole field, the 2007 Patriots. The Niners and Steelers have both won 3 regions - and they are the top two seeds in region 16.
1. 1989 San Francisco 49ers 17-2 Super Bowl Champions
2. 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 AFC Central Champs
3. 1967 Green Bay Packers 12-4-1 Super Bowl Champions
4. 2017 Philadelphia Eagles 16-3 Super Bowl Champions
5. 2006 San Diego Chargers 14-3 AFC West Champs
6. 2013 Denver Broncos 15-4 AFC Champs
7. 2011 New Orleans Saints 14-4 NFC South Champs
8. 1973 Dallas Cowboys 11-5 NFC East Champs
9. 1969 Oakland Raiders 13-2-1 AFL West Champs
10. 1987 Washington Redskins 14-4 Super Bowl Champions
11. 2020 Kansas City Chiefs 16-3 AFC Champs
12. 1952 Los Angeles Rams 9-4 2nd NFL National
13. 2008 Indianapolis Colts 12-5 2nd AFC South
14. 1971 Minnesota Vikings 11-4 NFC Central Champs
15. 1942 Chicago Bears 11-1 NFL West Champs
16. 1957 Cleveland Browns 9-3-1 NFL East Champs
Last chance for a Packer squad to make the sweet 16; also true for the Eagles, Chargers, Broncos, Raiders, Redskins, Colts, Vikes, Bears, Browns
1. 1989 49ERS 23 16. 1957 BROWNS 7
-Cleveland is eliminated. Roger Craig scores twice, the Niners hold young Jim Brown to 57 yards rushing and the top seeds are safely into round 2. 2 sacks for Charles Haley, a pick for Ronnie Lott.
8. 1973 COWBOYS 17 9. 1969 RAIDERS 13
-The Raiders are eliminated. Oakland had a 13-0 halftime lead, but Calvin Hill scored 2 second half TDs, the second with under 2 minutes to play, and Dallas moves to round 2. 192 yards from scrimmage for Hill. 2 picks for Dallas; 119 yards receiving and a score for Warren Wells in the loss.
5. 2006 CHARGERS 47 12. 1952 RAMS 21
-The last Charger team remains standing. 192 yards from scrimmage and 2 scores for LaDainian Tomlinson. 4 TD passes for Philip Rivers, 2 picks for Quentin Jammer. Dan Towler rushed for 166 yards and 2 scores in the loss.
13. 2008 COLTS 40 4. 2017 EAGLES 13
The Eagles are eliminated, their Super Bowl Champion team from '17 gets rolled by the final Colts team in the field. 6 catches for 123 yards and a score for Reggie Wayne. 2 sack day for Robert Mathis. Kelvin Hayden took a Nick Foles pick back for a score.
6. 2013 BRONCOS 37 11. 2020 CHIEFS 23
-The final Broncos team is still alive, Manning beating Mahomes. 4 TD passes for Peyton Manning, 3 of them going to Demaryius Thomas and 117 yards receiving. 104 yards rushing for Knowshon Moreno. 2 sacks for Robert Ayers. 3 TD passes in the loss for Mahomes.
3. 1967 PACKERS 16 14. 1971 VIKINGS 13
-The Vikings have been eliminated by the final Packers squad. A 3 sack day for Henry Jordan; Clint Jones runs for 143 in the loss.
10. 1987 REDSKINS 35 7. 2011 SAINTS 30
-The final Redskins team in the field will live to see another day. Down 30-21, Doug Williams threw TD passes in the final 6 and a half minutes to beat the Saints. 3 TDs total for Williams, Gary Clark caught one, and he had 151 yards receiving. 2 TDs for George Rogers. 5 sacks for the Washington defense, including 2 for Dexter Manley.
15. 1942 BEARS 13 2. 1976 STEELERS 7
-The last Bear team standing needed to win a 15/2 matchup to stay alive and they did. Ray McLean took back a punt for a TD, Bulldog Turner had a big 4th qtr pick of Terry Bradshaw and the Bears move on.
Second Round
1. 1989 49ers v. 8. 1973 Cowboys
5. 2006 Chargers v. 13. 2008 Colts
3. 1967 Packers v. 6. 2013 Broncos
10. 1987 Redskins v. 15. 1942 Bears
1. 1989 49ERS 21 8. 1973 COWBOYS 16
The Niners drive for their 4th regional champion continues; Dallas led 16-7 with less than 8 minutes to play. Joe Montana led the Niners 67 yards for a TD in 6 plays, culminating in a Tom Rathman run, it was 16-14, a little over 4 minutes left. The Niners forced a 3 and out, getting the ball back just ahead of the 2 minute warning at their own 37. With 31 seconds left, Montana hit Roger Craig over the middle, he high stepped into the end zone for the game winning score from 11 yards out. 194 yards from scrimmage for Craig.
5. 2006 CHARGERS 33 13. 2008 COLTS 30
-The Chargers stay alive, the Colts are all gone. San Diego trailed 30-16 early in the 4th qtr and scored 17 unanswered to advance to the regional semi, culminating in a 56 yard Nick Kaeding FG at the gun. 2 TDs for LaDainian Tomlinson. 2 TD passes for Phil Rivers, 2 sacks for Luis Castillo.
3. 1967 PACKERS 24 6. 2013 BRONCOS 13
-The last Packer team reaches a regional semi-final, the Broncos are gone and so is Peyton Manning. Donny Anderson scores two TDs. 2 sacks for Willie Davis, 2 picks for Willie Wood.
15. 1942 BEARS 14 10. 1987 REDSKINS 10
-The 15th seed in region 16 has reached the regional final, Frank Maznicki intercepts 2 Doug Williams passes, Danny Fortmann has 2 sacks and Chicago moves on.
Regional Semi
1. 1989 49ers v. 5. 2006 Chargers
3. 1967 Packers v. 15. 1942 Bears
1. 1989 49ERS 19 5. 2006 CHARGERS 16
-The last Chargers team is gone and the Niners reach the region 16 final. Another 4th qtr comeback for San Francisco; the Chargers led 16-9 midway through the 4th qtr, Roger Craig tied it with a short TD run - and at the gun, Mike Cofer hit a 43 yard FG and the Niners move on. 170 yards from scrimmage for Craig. Joe Montana was 20-301 for 301 yards. 2 sacks for Kevin Fagan.
15. 1942 BEARS 23 3. 1967 PACKERS 14
-The 15th seed in the region, the '42 Bears have made their way to the region 16 final. Gary Famigletti rushes for 191 yards and 3 TDs. Sid Luckman intercepted Bart Starr 3 times.
Regional Final
1. 1989 49ers v. 15. 1942 Bears
3 49ers teams have reached the Sweet 16, the '89 team hosts the region 16 final. 14-2. Won the NFC West, beat Denver 55-10 to win the SB. 1st in offense, 3rd in defense. The HC is George Seifert. Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott are all first Team All pros and Hall of Famers; they are joined in the HOF by Charles Haley and Steve Young.
The most unlikely regional champion yet would be the '42 Bears, seeded 15th and decades older than the oldest current sweet 16 representative. They went 11-0, won the NFL West and lost the NFL Title game to Washington 14-6. 1st in offense, 1st in defense and that is all showing up in this tournament. The HC is George Halas (for the first part of the year; he left for military service). Sid Luckman, Bulldog Turner, Joe Stydahar are all in the Hall of Fame.
We're going to Candlestick, it's the final game of the regionals.
15. 1942 BEARS 16 1. 1989 49ERS 10
-The 1942 Bears knock off the 2nd, 3rd and now the top seeds in the region. Overtime win for Chicago, they held the Niners to 10 first downs, San Francisco tied the game at the gun with a 44 yard Mike Cofer FG, but in OT, an 18 yard TD run from Hugh Gallarneau moved Chicago into the Sweet 16. 112 yards rushing on the day for Gary Famigiletti.
So - there you have it - next comes the Sweet 16, 8 games, on neutral sites, that will cut the field to 8.
