All the games are on neutral sites (chosen by random generator). Lets do the top half of the bracket.
2007 New England Patriots v. 1942 Chicago Bears
2006 New England Patriots v. 1987 San Francisco 49ers
2008 Baltimore Ravens v. 1994 San Francisco 49ers
2018 New Orleans Saints v. 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers
1978 Dallas Cowboys v. 2019 Kansas City Chiefs
2014 Seattle Seahawks v. 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers
2001 St Louis Rams v. 1987 Cleveland Browns
2022 San Francisco 49ers v. 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers
Records are cumulative, regular season+postseason+tournament
Region 1 v. Region 16 (at Oakland)
2007 Patriots
22-1
AFC Champion, Lost Super Bowl Giants 17-14
Region 1 Champions: d. 1967 Raiders 28-0
HC Bill Belichick (55)
Key Contributors (age)
QB T.Brady (30)
LT M.Light (29)
WR R.Moss (30
LG L.Mankins (25)
LG L.Mankins (25)
C D.Koppen (28)
WR W.Welker (26)
LOLB M.Vrabel (32)
LCB A.Samuel (32)
NT V.Wilfork (26)
RT N.Kaczur (28)
RB L.Maroney (22)
1942 Bears
15-1
NFL West Champion, Lost NFL Title Redskins 14-6
Region 16 Champion d. 1989 49ers 16-10
HC George Halas (47)
Key Contributors
QB S.Luckman (26)
RB H.Gallarneau (25)
RB G.Famigletti (29)
RT L.Artoe (25)
LG D.Fortmann (26)
C B.Turner (23)
RG R.Bray (25)
LT E.Kolman (27)
Both undefeated until losing in the championship game, one will survive to the Elite 8. Lets go to Oakland to kick off the Sweet 16.
2007 PATRIOTS 27 1942 BEARS 9
-The 2007 Patriots are the first team to make the Elite 8. They scored first, at 7:55 remaining in the first qtr with a Stephen Gostkowski 24 yard FG. Chicago took the lead with 1:49 left in the qtr Sid Luckman ten yard TD pass to John Siegal. Gostkowski brought the Patriots within 1, a 33 yarder at 8:27 of the second qtr. Then the big play - Asante Samuel takes a Luckman pick back 41 yards for a score at 7:26 of the second qtr. 13-7. With 1:51 left in the half, Danny Fortmann sacked Tom Brady in the end zone for a safety - that was the halftime score, 13-9, Chicago would not score again.
At 6:45 of the third qtr Tom Brady threw a 1 yard TD pass to Ben Watson. And at 11:21 remaining in the game, it was Brady again - this time to Wes Welker from 10 yards. 27-9 and that was the final.
Brady was 21-28, 196 yards and the 2 scores.
The 2007 Patriots advance to the Elite 8 - they'll face the winners of this game:
Region 8 v. Region 9 (at Houston)
2006 Patriots
18-5
AFC East Champs, L AFC Title Colts 38-34
Region 8 Champions, d. 1952 Lions 17-14
HC Bill Belichick (54)
Key Contributors (age)
QB T.Brady (29)
RB C.Dillon (32)
RB L.Maroney (21)
WR R.Caldwell (27)
LT M.Light (28)
C D.Koppen (27)
LG L.Mankins (24)
RDE R.Seymour (27)
CB A.Samuel (25)
LB M.Vrabel (31)
DE T.Warren (25)
LB T.Bruschi (33)
1987 49ers
17-3
NFC West Champs, L DivRnd Vikings 36-24
Region 9 Champs d. 1969 Vikings 10-7
HC Bill Walsh (56)
Key Contributors (age)
QB J.Montana (31)
RB R.Craig (27)
RB T.Rathman (25)
WR J.Rice (25)
C R.Cross (33)
T H.Barton (23)
NT M.Carter (27)
FS R.Lott (28)
RDE D.Board (31)
CB D.Griffin (23)
The '06 Patriots are a game away from facing the '07 Patriots in the Elite 8; standing in their way is the last Bill Walsh/Joe Montana team left in the tournament.
Lets head to the Houston Astrodome for the second matchup in the sweet 16.
2006 PATRIOTS 20 1987 49ERS 17
-The '06 Patriots will face the '07 Patriots in the Elite 8. Scoreless first qtr, in the second qtr, Joe Montana found Jerry Rice twice for scores, at 11:29 with a 7 yarder and later at 5:56 with a 37 yarder. In between was a Stephen Gostkowski 50 yard FG, the Niners leading at the half 14-3. With 26 seconds left in the third qtr Corey Dillon had a 17 yard TD run to make it 14-10. At 9:19 of the 4th qtr, Tom Brady went to Ben Watson for a 5 yard TD pass and New England led 17-14. The Niners tied it at 1:37, Ray Wersching hitting a 39 yard FG. Brady drove the Patriots to the Niner 30 and as the clock hit :00 Gostkowski won it for the Pats with a 47 yard FG.
Rosevelt Colvin sacked Montana 3 times, Joe also threw two interceptions including a huge one in the end zone to Rodney Harrison in the 3rd qtr when the Niners looked to extend that 14-3 lead.
105 yards receiving and that score for Rice in the loss.
The '06 Patriots face the '07 Patriots in our first elite 8 matchup - time to find the teams that will faceoff in the second.
Region 5 v Region 12 (at Dallas)
2008 Ravens
17-6
2nd AFC North, L AFC Title Steelers 23-14
Region 5 Champion, d. 2010 Patriots 10-3
HC John Harbaugh (46)
Key contributors (age)
QB J.Flacco (23)
RB W.McGahee (27)
WR D.Mason (34)
WR M.Clayton (26)
ILB R.Lewis (33)
FS E.Reed (30)
OLB T.Suggs (26)
NT H.Ngata (24)
DE T.Pryce (33)
1994 49ers
20-3
Super Bowl Champions, d. Chargers 49-26
Region 12 Champion d. 2013 Seahawks 19-7
HC George Seifert (54)
Key Contributors (age)
QB S.Young (33)
RB R.Watters (25)
TE B.Jones (31)
C B.Oates (36)
LG J.Sapolu (33)
RG D.Deese (24)
LT S.Wallace (30)
CB D.Sanders (27)
FS M.Hanks (26)
SS T.McDonald (29)
DT D.Stubblefield (24
It's time to head to Texas Stadium for the 5/12 matchup, who will the third team be to make the Elite 8?
2008 RAVENS 23 1994 49ERS 20
Back to back losses for the Niners organization. Scoreless first qtr - the teams combined for 4 FGs in the second qtr, Doug Brien hit one from 51 yards to give the Niners a 3-0 lead, Matt Stover hit FGs from 38 and 45 to make it 6-3 Ravens. With 1:49 left in the half, Steve Young found William Floyd for a 10 yard TD pass to make it 10-6 Niners - and at the gun, Stover his his third FG of the quarter, a 56 yarder. The Ravens regained the lead at 8:39 of the third qtr, Joe Flacco to Derrick Mason, a 14 yard TD. 16-10 Ravens - Doug Brien sliced that in half with a minute left in the qtr with a 38 yard FG. 16-13 Baltimore as we entered the 4th qtr. At 13:31 came what appeared to be the big play - Deion Sanders, in to return punts - took one back 67 yards for a score - the Niners go up 20-16 -- but with 1:35 left, Flacco again, this time to Todd Heap - 9 yards for the game winning TD. San Francisco reached midfield but no further and the Ravens move on. 110 yards rushing for Le'Ron McClain. Joe Flacco throws for under a hundred yards on the day in the win. 2 sacks for Terrell Suggs.
The '08 Ravens advance and will face the winner of this one:
Region 4 v. Region 13 (at Tampa)
2018 Saints
18-4
NFC South Champs, L NFC Title Rams 26-23
Region 4 Champions, d. 2006 Ravens 24-21
HC Sean Payton (55)
QB D.Brees (39)
RB A.Kamara (23)
WR M.Thomas (25)
RT R.Ramczyk (24)
C M.Unger (32)
RG L.Warford (27)
LG A.Peat (25)
LT T.Armstead (27)
LDE C.Jordan (29)
LLB D.Davis (29)
2015 Steelers
15-7
2nd AFC North, L Div Rnd, Broncos 23-16
Region 13 Champions, d. 2017 Vikings 16-14
HC Mike Tomlin (43)
QB B.Roethlisberger (33)
RB D.Williams (32)
WR A.Brown (27)
RG D.DeCastro (25)
LG R.Foster (29)
LDE C.Heyward (26)
RILB L.Timmons (29)
The 2008 Ravens await the winner - lets head to Tampa for this contest.
2015 STEELERS 41 2018 SAINTS 35
We'll have an all AFC North matchup in the Elite 8. The Saints took a 7-0 lead midway through the first qtr on a 19 yard TD pass from Drew Brees to Alvin Kamara. The teams would then combine for 42 second qtr points. At 13:38 the Steelers tied the game with a 1 yard Le'Veon Bell TD run. 2 minutes later the Saints went back on top with another Brees TD pass, to Ben Watson, five yards. Over the next 6 minutes, Pittsburgh had taken the lead, a 5 yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Heath Miller - and then a gadget play, a double reverse to Martavis Bryant, he ran it in from 41 yards out. The Saints tied it at the 2 minute warning on Drew Brees' third TD pass of the half, 14 yards to Michael Thomas. But at 18 seconds remaining in the half it was Roethlisberger, 18 yards to Markus Wheaton, the Steelers leading at the half 28-21.
In the third, Chris Bowell kicked a 41 yard FG at 8:30 and the Steelers led by 10. Drew Brees threw his 4th TD pass 3 minutes later, 11 yards to Tre'Quan Smith. But as the quarter came to a close, the Steelers once again went up double digits as Bryant scored again, on a 4 yard toss from Roethlisberger.
The Steelers basically iced the game at the 5 minute mark to play in the game with a 31 yard Boswell FG, New Orleans scores with under a minute to play on a 14 yard run by Mark Ingram, but it wasnt enough - and the Steelers reach the Elite 8.
140 yards from scrimmage for Le'Veon Bell, the 3 TD passes for Big Ben, 9 tackles and 2 sacks for James Harrison. Brees threw for 378 yards and the 4 scores in the defeat.
There you go. Half of the Elite 8 is set.
2007 Patriots v. 2006 Patriots
2008 Ravens v. 2015 Steelers
