2022 NBA Finals Prediction

 

Warriors.

So, here's what we're working with.

1. I'm a Warriors fan and stoked about the matchup; in years where a Giants pennant was a possibility, I always hoped for a Yankees matchup; 'cause fun, you know?  If you're going to play in a World Series, you might as well play the New York Yankees.  This is that; this Warriors group is one of the great teams in NBA history, there hasnt been/won't be another Warriors squad in my lifetime approaching this team's success - this is NBA Finals #6, let's go play the By God Boston Celtics.  

2. Boston winning the East does not surprise me; in this space, that's who I picked at the outset of the playoffs.  They had a better regular season than did the Warriors; they're younger, they have some length and athleticism, and this Boston group has given the Warriors trouble.  Of the options on the board, this is probsbly the worst matchup for the Warriors; probably you should pick Boston.

3. But I ain't.  Warriors in 7.  

May 2022 Athlete of the Month

 April

Connor McDavid.  Runners-up: Manny Machado, Steph Curry, Jayson Tatum

Almost halfway through, here are the current contenders for 2022 Athlete of the Year.

January-Cooper Kupp

February-Aaron Donald

March-Aliyah Boston

April-Auston Matthews

May-Connor McDavid 

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 2/Round 1: 1985 Chicago Bears v. 1961 New York Giants

 Play in

16. 1961 NEW YORK GIANTS at 1. 1985 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION CHICAGO BEARS

1. 1985 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION CHICAGO BEARS

Record: 15-1

Pythag: 14-2

Off: 2nd

Def: 1st

1st NFC North

d. Giants Div Rnd 21-0

d. Rams NFC Title 24-0

d. Patriots Super Bowl 46-10

HC: Mike Ditka, OC: Ed Hughes, DC: Buddy Ryan

Soldier Field 45 degrees

Wayne Larrivee/Dick Butkus/Jim Hart

Offense

QB Jim McMahon (26 BYU)

RB Walter Payton (31 Jackson St) All Pro

FB Matt Suhey (27 Penn St)

WR Willie Gault (25 Tennessee)

WR Dennis McKinnon (24 Florida St)

TE Emery Moorehead (31 Colorado)

LT Jimbo Covert (25 Pitt) All Pro

LG Mark Bortz (24 Iowa)

C Jay Hilgenberg (26 Iowa)

RG Tom Thayer (24-R N Dame)

RT Keith Van Horne (28 USC)

Defense

LDE Dan Hampton (28 Arkansas)

LDT Steve McMichael (28 Texas) All Pro

RDT William Perry (23 - R Clemson)

RDE Richard Dent (25 Tenn St) All Pro

LLB Otis Wilson (28 Louisville)

MLB Mike Singletary (27 Baylor) All Pro

RLB Wilber Marshall (23 Florida)

LCB Mike Richardson (24 Ariz St)

RCB Leslie Frazier (26 Alcorn St)

SS Dave Duerson (25 N Dame) 

FS Gary Fencik (31 Yale)

K Kevin Butler (23 UGA)

P Maury Buford (25 TTech)

KR Willie Gault (25 Tennessee)

PR Ken Taylor (22 Ore St)

The famed '85 Bears are the second overall seed; the top seeded '07 Pats have safely advanced; the only other SB Champion we've seen was the '02 Bucs and they steamed into the second round.  We just saw the '61 Giants win the Play In Game, but fair to say a Bear loss here would be a signifcant surprise.  3 All Pros on defense, 28 year old Mongo McMichael, who had 8 sacks; 25 year old Richard Dent with 17 sacks; and the leader of the defense, 27 year old Mike Singletary.  Chicago also had the second best offense in '85; Jim McMahon's 26, 15 scores (and 3 on the ground) 11 picks. Two All Pros; the left tackle, 25 year old Jimbo Covert and the legendary 31 year old Walter Payton, who ran for 1551 yards.  

16. 1961 NEW YORK GIANTS

Record 10-3-1

Pythag: 11-3

1st NFL East

Off: 2nd

Def: 1st

Lost NFL Title Packers 37-0

d. 1964 Browns 16-3

HC: Allie Sherman, DC: Harland Svare 

Offense

QB YA Tittle (35 LSU) 

FB Alex Webster (30 NC St) 

RB Bob Gaiters (23 N Mexico St)

WR Del Shofner (27 Baylor) All Pro

WR Joe Walton (26 Pitt)

WR Kyle Rote (33 SMU)

LT Rosey Brown (29 Morgan St) All Pro

LG Darrell Dess (26 NC St)

C Ray Wietecha (33 Nwestern)

RG Jack Stroud (33 Tennessee)

RT Greg Larson (22-R Minnesota)

Defense

LDE Jim Katcavage (27 Dayton) All Pro

LDT Dick Modzelewski (30 Maryland)

RDT Rosey Grier (29 Penn St)

RDE Andy Robustelli (36)

LLB Cliff Livingston (31 Arnold)

MLB Sam Huff (27 W Virginia)

RLB Tom Scott (31 UVA)

LCB Erich Barnes (26 Purdue) All Pro

RCB Dick Lynch (25 N Dame)

LS Dick Nolan (29 Maryland)

RS Jimmy Patton (28 Mississippi) All Pro

K Pat Summerall (31 Arkansas)

P Don Chandler (27 Florida)

KR Bob Gaiters (23 N Mex St)

PR Bill Stits (30 UCLA)

Here's Allie Sherman and the '61 Giants; 2nd in offense, 1st in defense; they got blown out in the title game or they wouldn't be relegated to the play in game. Tittle's 35, 17 scores, 12 picks, he'll look for Del Shofner, 27 year old All Pro end with his 11 scores.  Barnes/Lynch/Patton in the secondary combined for 24 picks. Barnes picked off Frank Ryan twice in the Play In Game and was named plyer of the game. Sam Huff's in his prime as is Rosey Brown.  The Giants are ready to go.

First Quarter

New York starts at the 38.  

1/10 - YA Tittle to Alex Webster for 15 yards.

1/10 - Webster carries for a dozen; Giants all the way to the Chicago 35.  A holding call then takes the Giants back 10.

1/20 - Webster is met by Dan Hampton in the backfield for a loss of 3.  

2/23 - Incomplete

3/23 - Tittle to Kyle Rote, 6 yards and well short of the first down - Giants punt, Bears to start at the 13.  11:46 left.  

1/10 - Walter Payton carries for 2.

2/8 - Pitch to Payton, he gets 11.  

1/10 - Matt Suhey carries, just buried by Andy Robustelli for a loss of 5.

2/15 - Jim McMahon's first pass attempt is to Kenny Margerum, he gets 6.

3/9 - McMahon finds Willie Gault for 17, Bears to their own 44.  

1/10 - Payton for 2.  

2/8 - Payton busts one, 33 yards following Jimbo Covert -- Chicago down to the Giants 21.

1/10 - Suhey for 7.  

2/3 - Sack for Jim Katcavage for a loss of 8.  

3/11 - Incomplete --- Kevin Butler kicks the 39 yard FG and Chicago is on the board.  

Great return by Bob Gaiters on the kick - the Giants to open at their own 48, 5:23 left.

3 and out.  Bears will start at their own 9.  3:50.  

1/10 - Payton for 7.

2/3 - Payton for 1

3/2 - Suhey gets 2 and picks up the first down.  

1/10 - Payton for 9.  

2/1 - Suhey gets 6 and a first down, Bears to their own 34 --- Suhey loses 2 on the next play and Payton gains 2 on the following play as the quarter ends.  

Second Quarter

Bears up 3-0, third and 10 at their own 34.  

3/10 - Incomplete.  Bears punt, Giants start at their own 26.

3 and out.  The Giants got 27 yards on their first two plays and just nothing at all since.

Bears to start at their own 37; 12:37.

3 and out. And New York gets the ball back at their own 27.  11:09. 

3 and out.  New York unable to move the ball at all.  Bears at their own 37.  

3 and out.  Okay - the Giants defense matching Chicago's shot for shot.  New York had the best defense in 1961 and they are right there with the best defense from 1985 (it's only 24 years between them, like a 2009 team playing the '85 Bears; given my age, the distance between '61 and '85 seems much longer). So New York will start at their own 23, 7:23.

1/10 - 11 yard run for Gaiters, New York's first first down since the second play of the game, they pick up 5 more on an offsides call.  

1/5 - Incomplete.

2/5 - Tittle goes to Pete Hall for a yard.

3/4 - Tittle hits Kyle Rote for 24; big gainer, Giants at the Chicago 36. 

1/10 - Gaiters is stopped at the line.

2/10 - Tittle finds Webster for 8, Giants to the Bear 28.

3/2 - Webster gets a yard, 4th and 1 at the Bear 27....man, Sherman's going to kick the FG; can't do that, right?  On the road in a 16/1 matchup, you have to go for it here.  

And - as it turns out, Summerall misses the kick.  Bears take over at their own 34, 3:10.

The Bears lose a yard on the first two plays and on the third McMahon is picked off by Jimmy Patton - Giants take over at the Chicago 44, 1:53 left.  Still 3-0.

1/10 - Gaiters loses 1

2/11 - Gaiters gets back to the line, timeout.  

2/11 - Tittle to Gaiters - that's a 16 yard pickup and the Giants are at the 29, 1:35 left.

1/10 - Tittle to Shofner for 8, he is out of bounds at the 21.

2/2 - Webster loses 2.

3/2 - Incomplete.  Here are again in nearly the exact same spot - again Sherman kicks.

And again, Summerall misses the FG.  Chicago gets it back at 1:03 left.

And again - Jimmy Patton intercepts McMahon, this time on the first play - the Giants get a first down with 55 seconds left at the Bear 21.  2 quick McMahon turnovers, 2 missed Giants FGs.

3 Giants plays lose 2 yards including an Otis Wilson sack.  At the gun - it's another 40 yard FG attempt....

And another miss.

What a quarter.  2 picks, 3 missed FGs.  And it's still 3-0 Bears.

Third Quarter

The Bear defense showing up as expected, but the Giants defense is keeping them in the game and if they had gone for those 4th downs we might see a different result.  It's still a game.

Bears to open at the 39.

1/10 - Payton gains 11.

1/10 - Suhey gets 1.

2/9 - Dennis Gentry gets a carry, just 1.  

3/8 - McMahon finds Margerum, 13 yards and Chicago picks up the first down.

1/10 - 4 for Gentry.

2/6 - 1 for Payton 

3/5 - McMahon finds Payton for  9 -- that's another conversion - Bears to the Giants 21. 10:14.

1/10 - Calvin Thomas gets a carry. Nothing.

2/10 - 2 for Payton

3/8 - Incomplete - Butler hits his second FG, a 35 yarder and it's 6-0 Bears the Giants to start at the 34.  8:01.  

1/10 - Webster busts a 29 yard run and like that New York is at the Bear 37.

1/10 - Tittle to Rote for 5.

2/5 - Gaiters gains a yard.

3/4 - End around to Shofner, he picks up 10 and it's first down at the Bear 21.

1/10 - Webster gets 5.

2/5 - Tittle to Shofner for  8 - the Giants have a first and goal at the 8.  Big spot here.

1/goal - Webster loses 1.

2/goal - Tittle to Shofner, he's able to get to the 5 before knocked out of bounds.

3/goal - Tittle to the endzone - pass broken up by Dave Duerson.  

Giants with 4th and goal at the 5.  It's a FG - and it's good; New York cuts the deficit to 6-3, Bears to get the ball at the 29, 2:20 left in the third.

1/10- 2 for Thomas

2/8 - McMahon to Emery Moorehead for 9.

1/10 - 1 for Thomas

2/9 - McMahon to Payton for a dozen, thats a first down across midfield as the quarter ends.

Fourth Quarter

The second overall seed is getting all they want in round one; the '07 Patriots had to sweat out their round 1 win and the Bears are not having an easier time.  First down for Chicago at the Giants 47.  6-3 Bears.

1/10 - Payton gains 9.

2/1 - Incomplete

3/1 - Payton gets 4 for the first.  

1/10 - Katcavage gets his 2nd second - 9 yards and the Bears are back at the 43.

2/19 - 3 for Suhey

3/16 - McMahon converts with an 18 yd pickup to Suhey, Bears at the 22.

1/10 - Payton gets 1.

2/9 - Payton gets 5.

3/4 - Incomplete.  Chicago has a short FG - its good; NY will take possession at the 23, 9:05 left, Chicago 9-3, 5 back after a false start.  

1/15 - Webster gets 3 - a holding call will take NY back to their own 11.  

2/22 - Webster loses 1.  Yikes.

3/23 - Tittle hits Joe Walton down the sideline for 40!  Enormous play in this spot, the Giants are at midfield, 6:45 left, down 6.

1/10 - Gaiters gets 2 and after an offsides penalty the Giants have 2nd and 3.

2/3 - Tittle to Walton for 8 --- New York to the Bear 35.  5:24 left.

1/10 - Webster gets 4.

2/6 - Gaiters gets 1.  

3/5 - Tittle finds Kyle Rote for 17!  Wow - wow - wow - wow --wow -- The Giants have a first down at the Chicago 13 yard line - it's their best drive of the game and it comes when they need it.  First down at their 13, 3:17 to go.  Giants trail by 6.

1/10 - Webster gets nothing/

2/10 - Wells picks up 6 and the Giants are at the 7.  3rd and 4.  Huge, huge spot.

3/4 - Richard Dent sacks Tittle in the big spot - loss of 5; Giants are back at the 12 with a 4th and 9 at the 2 minute warning.  Can't kick the FG here - they have to go for it.  

4/9 - Tittle is hounded by Dent - throws it into traffic in the endone - incomplete.

And that will do it - the Bears pick one one first down on a Payton run, the Giants burn through all their timeouts and the time expires.  

Final: BEARS 9 GIANTS 3

New York had chances here; missed 3 FGs and had a real live chance to win the game at the end; but the Bear defense rose up, huge Richard Dent sack and Chicago advances.

McMahon 8/14 85 yards 2 INT

Tittle: 15/22 161 yards

Payton: 20 carries, 129 yds

Webster: 17 carries, 57 yds

Payton: 2 catches, 21 yds

Margerum: 2 catches, 19 yds

Rote: 4 catches, 52 yds

Jimmy Patton - 2 picks

Katcavage - 2 sacks

Player of the Game - RICHARD DENT

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 2 Play In Game

region 1

1964 NFL CHAMPION CLEVELAND BROWNS at 1961 NEW YORK GIANTS

16. 1964 NFL CHAMPION CLEVELAND BROWNS

Record 10-3-1

Pythag: 10-4

1st NFL East

Off: 2nd

Def: 5th

d. Colts NFL Title 27-0

HC: Blanton Collier, DC: Howard Brinker

Offense

QB Frank Ryan (28 Rice)

HB Ernie Green (26 Louisville)

FB Jim Brown (28 Syracuse)  All Pro

WR Gary Collins (24 Maryland)

WR Paul Warfield (22-R Ohio St) 

TE Johnny Brewer (27 Ole Miss)

LT Dick Schafrath (27 Ohio St) All Pro

LG John Wooten (28 Colorado)

C John Morrow (31 Michigan)

RG Gene Hickerson (29 Wyoming)

RT John Brown (25 Syracuse)

Defense

LDE Paul Wiggin (30 Stanford)

LDT Dick Modzelewski (33 Maryland)

RDT Jim Kanicki (23 Michigan St)

RDE Bill Glass (29 Baylor)

LLB Jim Houston (27 Ohio St)

MLB Vince Costello (32 Ohio)

RLB Galen Fiss (33 Kansas)

LCB Bernie Parrish (28 Florida)

LS Larry Benz (23 Nwestern)

FS Bobby Franklin (28 Ole Miss)

K Lou Groza (40 Ohio St)

P Gary Collins (24 Maryland)

KR Walter Roberts (22 San Jose St)

PR Leroy Kelly (22 Morgan St)

Couple of 10-3-1 teams meeting in the play in game for Region 2; Cleveland wasn't quite the regular season team New York was, 2nd in offense, 5th in defense, but where the Giants got blown out in the title game - the Browns cruised; 27-0 over the Colts.  Paul Brown's not on the Cleveland sideline, but 28 year old Jim Brown is in the backfield with 1446 yards rushing. Gary Collins and Paul Warfield, in his rookie season, combined for 17 scores.  

16. 1961 NEW YORK GIANTS

Record 10-3-1

Pythag: 11-3

1st NFL East

Off: 2nd

Def: 1st

Lost NFL Title Packers 37-0

HC: Allie Sherman, DC: Harland Svare 

Yankee Stadium: 50 degrees

Marty Glickman/Joe Hasel /Al DeRogatis

Note - game temperature is a factor plugged into the simulation, I get it by averaging each of the home games played by the home team that season; home team is chosen by better seed, in the case of play in games, it's a coin flip.  The Giants won this coin flip, so we're going to Yankee Stadium.  Local announcers for home team are given; I could do both teams for separate broadcasts, but that would be silly.

Offense

QB YA Tittle (35 LSU) 

FB Alex Webster (30 NC St) 

RB Bob Gaiters (23 N Mexico St)

WR Del Shofner (27 Baylor) All Pro

WR Joe Walton (26 Pitt)

WR Kyle Rote (33 SMU)

LT Rosey Brown (29 Morgan St) All Pro

LG Darrell Dess (26 NC St)

C Ray Wietecha (33 Nwestern)

RG Jack Stroud (33 Tennessee)

RT Greg Larson (22-R Minnesota)

Defense

LDE Jim Katcavage (27 Dayton) All Pro

LDT Dick Modzelewski (30 Maryland)

RDT Rosey Grier (29 Penn St)

RDE Andy Robustelli (36)

LLB Cliff Livingston (31 Arnold)

MLB Sam Huff (27 W Virginia)

RLB Tom Scott (31 UVA)

LCB Erich Barnes (26 Purdue) All Pro

RCB Dick Lynch (25 N Dame)

LS Dick Nolan (29 Maryland)

RS Jimmy Patton (28 Mississippi) All Pro

K Pat Summerall (31 Arkansas)

P Don Chandler (27 Florida)

KR Bob Gaiters (23 N Mex St)

PR Bill Stits (30 UCLA)

Here's Allie Sherman and the '61 Giants; 2nd in offense, 1st in defense; they got blown out in the title game or they wouldn't be relegated to the play in game. Tittle's 35, 17 scores, 12 picks, he'll look for Del Shofner, 27 year old All Pro end with his 11 scores.  Barnes/Lynch/Patton in the secondary combined for 24 picks. Sam Huff's in his prime as is Rosey Brown.  The Giants are ready to go.

We're all ready to go.  Let's head to Yankee Stadium for the kickoff to the Region 2 Play in Game - the winner will turn right around and head to Soldier Field, 1985, for a date with the 2nd overall seed in the tournament, the Bears.  

First Quarter

The Browns open at the 32.

1/10 - Jim Brown's first carry of the tournament goes for 6.

2/4 - Brown's stopped at the line.

3/4 - Frank Ryan throws a pick.  The All Pro corner, Erich Barnes, returns it to th Cleveland 40 and the Giants are in business.  

3 plays get 8 yards and Pat Summerall misses a long FG.  Less than 4 minutes into the game, Cleveland has the ball back at their own 39.

1/10 - Nothing for Brown.

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Ryan's flushed - manages to scramble for a 12 yard pickup and a first down at the New York 49.

1/10 - Brown for 9.

2/1 - Brown for 2 and the first down.  

1/10 - Ernie Green gets a carry, he goes for a yard.

2/9 - Green stopped at the line.  

3/9 - An end around to Warfield  is sniffed out and the Browns punt.  It's shanked - and the Giants will start at their own 36.  6:18 left.

1/10 - YA Tittle's first completed pass is to Kyle Rote for 1 16 yard gain to the Brown 48.

The next 3 plays gain 5 yards and the Giants kick, Cleveland starts at the 11 with 3:36 left.

3 and out including a Jim Catcavage sack.  Cleveland punts on the last play of the quarter, Giants start at their own 46.

Second Quarter

Defensive minded first quarter, neither side able to generate offense; Giants start a new possession near midfield.

1/10 - Tittle to Del Shoftner for 10.  

1/10 - Alex Webster runs for 2

2/8 - Bob Gaiters runs for 15 and the Giants are at the 27

1/10 - Joel Wells stacked up

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Tittle to Kyle Rote for 11 and New York reaches the 16, 11:28 left.

1/10 - Tittle to Joe Walton for 6.

2/4 - Webster for 3.  

3/1 - Tittle to the end zone for Gaiters - knocked away by Bernie Parrish

4/1 - Giants have 4th and short at the 7 - Sherman's conservative, it's 1961, it's a short FG for Summerall to give New York the 3-0 lead.

Cleveland will open at the 25.  9:47 left.

1/10 - 22 yard run for Brown

1/10 - Green is stacked up.

2/10 - Brown gets 2

3/8 - Ryan finds Gary Collins for 16 - the Browns at the New York 16.

1/10 - Sweep to Green - he gets a little daylight and is Popped by Sam Huff - the ball is loose and the Giants recover the fumble.  New York takes over at their own 31, 6:54 left.

3 and out.

Browns open at the 28.  4:50.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Ryan to Collins for 11.

1/10 - Brown gets 1

2/9 - Brown gets 7

3/2 - Ryan to Paul Warfield for 10 yards - first down, Cleveland to the Giants 43 at the 2 minute warning.  

1/10 - Leroy Kelly for 2. Timeout.

2/8 - Incomplete

3/8 - Incomplete - and the Giants will get the ball back with 1:36 left after the punt at their own 11.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Gaiters for 11, New York stops the clock

1/10 -Webster for 14 and the Giants reach the 39.  

1/10 - Tittle to Rote for 6 and the second Giants timeout.

2/4 - Tittle to Shofner for 7 - first down at the Browns 48, 32 seconds left.  Out of bounds.

1/10 -Gaiters busts one -- 33 yards right up the gut - Giants all the way to the Cleveland 15 and they use their final time out.  

1/10 - Tittle to Webster to the 8 yard line - Tittle has to run to the line and spike the ball just before the end of the half - Summerall with the chip shot makes it 6-0 at the half.

Third Quarter

Defense here in the first half; neither team with much of a passing game today. Toughminded 1960s football here in the play in game.  Giants start at the 30.

3 and out.

Browns to start at the 39, 12:41.

1/10 - Brown is stacked up.

2/10 - Kelly gets 1

3/9 - Ryan finds Warfield, tapdancing on the sideline for a 15 yard pickup.

1/10 - 5 for Brown

2/5 - 8 for Brown - Cleveland's got a first down at the NY 32.  

1/10 - Green gets 4.

2/6 - 1 for Brown

3/5 - Charlie Scales gets his first carry - its a 2 yard gain, but the Browns are forced to try a 42 yard Lou Groza FG - it's good - and the Giants lead is 6-3.  7:20 left in the third.

Giants start at the 36.

3 and out.

So Cleveland takes possession at the 24.  5:33.

1/10 - 7 for Brown.

2/3 - Green gets 3 and the first.

1/10 - Brown for 2N

2/8- Ryan is flushed, gets back to the line.  

3/8- Incomplete. 

Another punt - Giants will take over at their own 39, 2:42 left.

1/10 - Joel Wells gets his first carry, 16 yards.

1/10 - Tittle finds Walton for 8.

2/2 - Tittle finds Walton for 6 and another first down, Giants down to the 31.

1/10 - Webster gets 2 and that's the end of the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Giants lead is 6-3, second and 8 at the Browns 29.  

2/8 - Tittle finds Shofner for 11, Cleveland then is backed up 5 on an offsides. 

1/5 - Bill Glass sacks Tittle for a loss of 6.

2/11 - Tittle to Webster for 8.  

3/3 - Alex Webster following Rosey Brown - Webster -- is going to burst into the endzone!  TOUCHDOWN GIANTS -- New York goes up 13-3; Cleveland will get the ball at their own 38;  12:42 to play.

3 and out.  Big stop here and New York regains with a 10 pt lead.  24 yard line, 10:37 left.

1/10 - Webster loses 2.

2/12 - Tittle finds Rote for 12 - clock keeps moving.  

1/10- Tittle to Shofner for 24 - that's a huge play, New York all the way to the Browns 39; with just 8:24 left and a 10 pt lead, the Giants are in good shape today.

1/10 - Gaiters gets 2.

2/8 - Gaiters gets 2

3/8 - Incomplete; so the Giants are in between; 3rd and 6 at the Browns 35 - it would be a 52 yard FG for Summerall....Allie Sherman decides to go for it.  

Gutsy call here, Sherman looking for the killshot.  

3/8 - He gets it - Tittle finds Kyle Rote for 16 yards - Giants at the Browns 19 and that's a first down.  That's as far as it goes, 3 plays gain 6 yards and Summerall kicks a 30 yard it's 16-3 Giants Cleveland opens at their 28, 4:44 left and needing 2 scores.  

1/10 - Ryan passes to Jim Brown, he makes his way for 24.

1/10 - Ryan to Collins for 20.  Just like that Cleveland's at the New York 28 yard line.

But that's it - they go all 4 downs and lose a total of a yard on Katcavages second sack.  New York regains possession -- but two plays later Wells turns it over on a fumble.  Cleveland's got the ball back with 2:20 left.  ---- and two plays later Erich Barnes intercepts his second pass of the day - the Giants take the ball back at their own 26 with just over 2 minutes left and they're able to kill the rest of the clock for the final score.

Final: GIANTS 16 BROWNS 3

Defense only in this one; turnovers, field goals - the Giants are the team left standing.

Tittle: 15-21 157 yards

Ryan: 8-17   98 yds   2 INT

Gaiters 10 carries, 75 yards

Brown: 19 carries, 87 yards

Rote: 5 catches, 64 yds

Warfield: 4 catches, 27 yds

Katcavage - 2 sacks

Erich Barnes - 2 picks

Player of the Game - ERICH BARNES

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 1/Round 1/ 2019 Baltimore Ravens v. 2008 New York Giants

'12 Niners v. '50 Eagles

15. 2008 NEW YORK GIANTS at 2. 2019 BALTIMORE RAVENS

2. 2019 BALTIMORE RAVENS

Record: 14-2

Pythag: 13-3

Off: 1st

Def: 3rd

1st AFC North

Lost in Div Rnd Titans 28-12

HC: John Harbaugh, OC: Greg Roman, DC: Wink Martindale

M&T Bank Stadium. 55 degrees

Gerry Sandusky/Jarret Johnson

Offense

QB Lamar Jackson (22 Louisville) All Pro

RB Mark Ingram (30 Alabama)

FB Patrick Ricard (25 Maine)

WR Miles Boykin (23-R N Dame)

WR Willie Snead (27 Ball St)

TE Nick Boyle (26 Delaware)

LT Ronnie Stanley (25 N Dame) All Pro

LG Bradley Bozeman (25 Alabama)

C Matt Skura (26 Duke)

RG Marshal Yanda (35 Iowa)

RT Orlando Brown (23 Oklahoma)

Defense

LDE Brandon Williams (30 Mo Southern)

NT Michael Pierce (27 Samford)

RDE Chris Wormley (26 Michigan)

LOLB Jaylon Ferguson (24-R La Tech)

LILB Josh Bynes (30 Auburn)

RILB LJ Fort (29 No Iowa)

ROLB Matt Judon (27 Gr Valley)

LCB Marlon Humphrey (23 Alabama) All Pro

RCB Brandon Carr (33 Gr Valley)

SS Earl Thomas (30 Texas)

FS Chuck Clark (24 Va Tech)

K Justin Tucker (30 Texas) All Pro

P Sam Koch (37 Nebraska)

KR Justice Hill (22 Okla St)

PR De'Anthony Thomas (26 Oregon)

One game left in Region 1, Round 1 - the 2nd seed in the Region is the Ravens; that makes them the 32nd seed in the field.  First in offense, third in defense in 2019. 36 touchdowns passing, 7 rushing for 22 year old Lamar Jackson. 10 touchdowns rushing and 5 receiving for 30 year old Mark Ingram.  27 year old edge rusher Matt Judon had 9.5 sacks - 3 All Pros on this club, the LT Ronnie Stanley, the LCB Marlon Humphrey and the kicker, Justin Tucker.  If the Ravens win this matchup they will host the Niners in a Harbaugh v. Harbaugh fight.  

15. 2008 NEW YORK GIANTS

Record: 12-4

Pythag: 11-5

1st NFC East

Off: 3rd

Def: 5th

Lost in Div Rnd Eagles 23-12

HC: Tom Coughlin, OC: Kevin Gilbride, DC: Steve Spagnuolo

Offense:

QB Eli Manning (27  Ole Miss)

RB Brandon Jacobs (26 So Illinois)

FB Madison Hedgecock (27 UNC)

WR Plaxico Burress (31 Mich St)

WR Amani Toomer (34 Mich)

TE Kevin Boss (24 W Oregon)

LT David Diehl (28 Illinois)

LG Rich Seubert (29 W Illinois)

C Shaun O'Hara (31 Rutgers)

RG Chris Snee (26) All Pro

RT Kareem McKenzie (29 B College)

Defense

LDE Justin Tuck (25 N Dame) All Pro

LDT Barry Cofield (24 Nwestern)

RDT Fred Robbins (31 Wake)

RDE Mathias Kiwanuka (25)

LLB Danny Clark (31 B College)

MLB Antonio Pierce (30 Arizona)

RLB Chase Blackburn (25 Akron)

LCB Aaron Ross (26 Texas)

RCB Corey Webster (26 LSU)

SS James Butler (26 Geo Tech)

FS Michael Johnson (24 Arizona)

PK John Carney (44 N Dame)

P Jeff Feagles (42 Miami)

KR Ahmad Bradshaw (22 Marshall)

PR Domenik Hixon (24 Akron)

Quick note on special teams - the combined ages of these two kickers is 86 - does the '08 Giants have the oldest combined K/P in NFL history?  And both of them made the Pro Bowl.  New York's top 5 in both offense and defense; Eli's 27, 21 scores and 10 picks. Brandon Jacobs is on the bench of that Niners team who just advanced, 4 years prior he's the lead back for New York, 15 rushing touchdowns. Justin Tuck is 25, he had a dozen sacks and was an All Pro, as was the RG Chris Snee

We're off to Baltimore.  Last game in Region 1 before we skip on over to Region 2.  

First Quarter

The Giants open the game at their own 36.

1/10 - Eli Manning to Amani Toomer.  11 yards. A holding call on the next play takes the Giants back 10.

1/20 - Brandon Jacobs pounds out 13.

2/7-Derrick Ward gets a change of pace carry and goes for 5, an illegal motion call takes NY back 5.

3/7 - Incomplete.  

Giants punt, Ravens start at their own 13. 12:38 left.

1/10 - Lamar Jackson airs it out - 46 yrds to Mark Andrews, all the way to the Giant 41.

1/10 - Jackson to Nick Boyle for an 8 yard gain.  

2/2 - Justin Tuck busts through the line for a 7 yard sack.  

3/9 - Incomplete

Ravens punt and the Giants will open at their own 2.  10:04 left.

1/10 - Another big gain for Jacobs, 19 yards.

1/10 - Manning finds Plaxico Burress for 13.  

1/10 - Brandon Jacobs just ripping off monster runs, 28 yards to the Raven 38.  

1/10 - Madison Hedgecock picks up 1

2/9 -  Jacobs again - 15 more yards. Wow!

1/10 - Hedgecock gets 1.

2/9 - Draw play to Ward - he goes for 14 all the way to the Ravens 7- New York opening up big holes in that line of scrimmage.

1/goal - Brandon Jacobs bounces outside and steamrolls into the endzone - TOUCHDOWN GIANTS - a 98 yard TD drive in under 5 minutes, Brandon Jacobs just rolling over the Ravens defense.  NY misses the XP

Baltimore starting out at the 42 yard line, nice run back from Justice Hill.  5:03.

3 and out.  

After the punt, New York starts at the 18.  3:28 left.

 1/10 - Eli goes downfield - to Kevin Boss for 34.  

1/10 - Incomplete

2/9 - A yard for Ward.

3/9 - Incomplete.  

After the punt, Ravens at their own 19.  1:43.

1/10 - Planned run for Jackson but he is brought down at the line by Barry Cofield.

2/10 - Mark Ingram's first carry, he gets 3.

3/7 - Ingram again - he goes for 14 yards and the first down as the quarter ends.

Second Quarter

The Ravens trail 6-0, they've got a first down at their own 36.  

1/10 - Jackson goes for 32 yards to Andrews; Baltimore at the Giants 32.

1/10 - Ingram is stoned at the line.

2/10 - Jackson going downfield again, Willie Snead for 13 yards to the 19; an illegal motion then goes back 5.  

1/15 - Ingram gets 1.

2/14 - Incomplete

3/14 - Incomplete

Justin Tucker nails a 40 yarder.  6-3 Giants

New York will start at their own 32.  11:17.

3 and out.

Baltimore gets it back at their own 26. 9:11.

3 and out.  

New York starts at their own 30.  6:59 left.

1/10 - Jacobs loses 3.

2/13 - Manning to Boss for 20 - New York at their own 47.

1/10 - Matt Judon comes off the edge to nail Eli; he's dropped after a 7 yard sack.

2/17 - Ward goes for 2.

3/15 - Incomplete.  

Another punt, the Ravens to start at their own 31, 3:54 left.  

1/10 - Jackson to Melvin Ingram for a gain of 7.  

2/3 - Planned run for Jackson, he gains 5. 

1/10 - A yard for Ingram.

2/9 - Jackson finds Hollywood Brown for a 24 yard gain to the Giants 32.  

1/10 - Tuck is again in the Ravens backfield for a five yard sack.  

2/15 - Incomplete. 

3/15 - Tuck is hounding Jackson, he is able to pick up 3 yards.  51 yard FG by Tucker sails through the uprights and it's tied at 6.

Giants will start at their own 21, 49 seconds left.

1/10 - Manning to Burress for 11.

1/10 - Matt Judon gets his second sack of the day, 7 yards - Giants call timeout with 37 seconds left.  

2/17 - Incomplete

3/17 - A huge strike - Eli to Toomer for 52 yards - Toomer's out of bounds at the New York 23.

1/15 - A false start call makes it first and 15, Jacobs then gets 4, timeout with 17 seconds left.

2/11 - Eli can't find a receiver, tick, tic, tick, dump off the Jacobs who slips out of bounds with just 5 seconds left.  

Coughlin isn't waiting until 4th down - John Carney kicks a 39 yard field goal at the gun.

To the locker room we go - New York is thirty minutes away from a huge 15/2 upset, they lead 9-6.

Third Quarter

Baltimore had the best offense in football in 2019, but they muster just 6 points against the 5th best 2008 defense and trail 9-6.  Ravens open the third at their own 19.

1/10 - Ingram gets 11 to open the half.

1/10 - Jackson finds Boyle for 8.

2/2 - Jackson hits Snead over the middle, he breaks into open field and is finally brought down after a 38 yard gain, all the way down to the Giants 24.

1/10 - Jackson run gets 5

2/5 - Jackson finds Snead again - a dozen yards and a first and goal at the 7.

1/goal - 6 for Ingram

2/goal - Incomplete

3/goal - Patrick Ricard plows his way home TOUCHDOWN RAVENS and Baltimore has gone 81 yards in less than 4 and a half minutes to take their first lead 13-9.

New York starts at their 30, 10:23 - on the first play Jacobs is met with an enormous shot from Earl Thomas, he fumbles - picked up by Baltimore and the Ravens have the ball at the New York 37 yard line with 10:18 to go.  A holding call takes them back 10.

1/20 - Ingram gets a yard.

2/19 - Gus Edwards gets 12.

3/7 - Jackson finds Hollywood Brown, a dozen yards to the Giant 22 and a first down.

1/10 - Ingram for 4.

2/6 - Edwards is stopped at the line.  

3/6 - Kiwanuka is in the backfield - he sacks Jackson - it forces a 42 yd Tucker FG - it's good and Baltimroe takes the 16-9 lead.

New York starts at the 30, 5:57 left in the third, trailing by 7.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Derrick Ward finds a seam - Derrick Ward into the secondary - he bowls over Chuck Clark -- Derrick Ward is going to go!  Derrick Ward is going to go!  70 yards to the house! TOUCHDOWN GIANTS Derrick Ward with the 70 hard touchdown run and the New York Giants have tied the game at 16!  70 yard TD run for Derrick Ward!!  

Baltimore ball at the 29, 4:59 left in the third.  16-16.

1/10 - Kiwanuka picks up his second sack - loss of 4.

2/14 - Ingram gets nothing.

3/14 - Jackson finds Seth Roberts for 19 yards - big conversion for the Ravens to the delight of the crowd.

1/10 - Jackson 5 yards to Edwards.

2/5 - Edwards gets a yard - an offsides call then gives Baltimore a first down at the New York 45, 1:43 left.  

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Ingram gets 6 and it's another 3rd down.

3/4 - Jackson to Brown for a big 20 yard gain - Baltimore is at the New York 19 yard line as the quarter ends.

Fourth Quarter

15 minutes to go.  Ravens 16 Giants 16.  Baltimore at the New York 19.  1st down.

1/10 - Edwards gets 5

2/5 - Jackson to Andrews for 2.

3/3 - Jackson is flushed - Jackson pulls it down and runs - Jackson does a full dive - extends the ball to the goal line as he's hit by Antonio Pierce --- TOUCHDOWN RAVENS - Lamar Jackson with a 12 yard touchdown run on third and 3 to give Baltimore the lead!!

Giants at the 26. 13:22.

3 and out.

Ravens at the 35. 12:23.  

1/10 - Mark Ingram busts one - 54 yards down the right sideline, forced out of bounds at the Giants 11 yard line!

1/10 - Edwards loses a yard.

2/11 - Jackson planned run - Jackson is going to walk into the end zone!! TOUCHDOWN RAVENS!! 2 Lamar Jackson TD runs in 2 minutes has given Baltimore a 2 score lead!!  

Giants ball at their own 34.  30-16 Ravens.  10:41 left.

1/10 - Jacobs gets 6.

2/4 - Derrick Ward again has open field -- DERRICK WARD IS GOING TO GO TO THE HOUSE AGAIN!  DERRICK WARD WITH A 60 YARD SCORE TO FOLLOW HIS 70 YARD SCORE TOUCHDOWN GIANTS!  Derrick Ward having an all time great game and the Giants cut the deficit to 30-23!

Baltimore ball. 9:42 left.  30-23 Ravens.

1/10 - Renaldo Wynn sacks Jackson, loss of 4.

2/14 - Edwards 16 yard run and a first down.

1/10 - Jackson to Andrews for 12.  Ravens to their own 41.  7:43 left.  Up a score.

1/10 - 3 for Ingram

2/7 - Edwards is buried in the backfield by Fred Robbins, loss of 5.  

3/12 - Jackson to Miles Boykin for 27 yards - huge first down pick up - Ravens to the Giants 34, 5:33 left.  

1/10 - Jackson sacked by Danny Clark, loss of 5.

2/15 - 2 yards for Edwards.

3/13 - Incomplete.  The Giants force the punt.

3:58 left.  New York takes possession at their own 20 yard line, down a score.  

3 plays nets 8 yards leadig to a 4th and 2.  Coughlin goes for it.  Manning sacked by Jaylon Ferguson on the biggest play of the game - that turns over the ball on downs - after an offsides call the Ravens have a 1st and 5 on the Giants 16 yard line, just 2:58 to play with a 7 point lead.  Big decision to go for it on 4th down does not pay off and now the Ravens look to put this one away.

1/10 - Jackson to Brown for 10.

1/goal - Incomplete

2/goal - 5 yards for Edwards.

3/goal - Jackson dives over the top  TOUCHDOWN RAVENS  -- Lamar Jackson's 3rd TD run in the 4th Quarter -- the Baltimore Ravens go up 37-23 with under 2 minutes to play.

And that's it - the Giants go four and out and the the Ravens run out the clock.  Wild one here in Baltimore.

FINAL: RAVENS 37 GIANTS 23

Some wild individual performances here - 3 running backs go for over 100 yards; Eli Manning completes only 6 passes on the day - and Lamar Jackson runs for 3 4th Quarter scores to move the Ravens into Round 2.

Jackson: 17-24, 295 yards, 38 yards rushing 3 TDs

Manning: 6-18 141 yards

Ingram: 18 carries, 113 yards

Ward: 9 carries, 161 yards, 2 TD

Jacobs: 12 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD

Andrews: 4 catches, 92 yards

Brown: 4 catches, 66 yards

Tuck/Kiwanuka/Judon - 2 sacks each

Tucker - 3 FG

Player of the Game: LAMAR JACKSON

And that wraps Region 1 - the bottom half winners:

1967 Raiders

1975 Dolphins

2012 Niners

2019 Ravens  

We will see Harbaugh v. Harbaugh in round 2.  

Region 1 is done.  

When we return:

2015 Chiefs at 2007 Patriots

2014 Packers at 2002 Bucs

1975 Dolphins at 1967 Raiders

2012 49ers at 2019 Ravens

ROUND 1 REGION 1 MVP - LAMAR JACKSON

Onto Region 2.  

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 1/Round 1/2012 San Francisco 49ers v. 1950 Philadelphia Eagles

 

'15 Cardinals v. '75 Dolphins

10. 1950 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at 7. 2012 NFC CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

7. 2012 NFC CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 

Record: 11-4-1

Pythag: 11-5

Off: 11th

Def: 2nd

1st NFC West

d. Packers Div Rnd 45-31

d. Falcons NFC Title 28-24

Lost Super Bowl Ravens 34-31

HC: Jim Harbaugh, HC Greg Roman, DC Vic Fangio

Candlestick Park. 60 degrees

Ted Robinson/Eric Davis

Offense

QB Colin Kaepernick (25 Nevada)

RB Frank Gore (29 Miami)

FB Bruce Miller (25 C Florida)

WR Michael Crabtree (25 T Tech)

WR Mario Manningham (26 Michigan)

TE Vernon Davis (28 Maryland)

LT Joe Staley (28 C Michigan)

LG Mike Iupati (25 Idaho) All Pro

C Jonathan Goodwin (34 Michigan)

RG Alex Boone (25 Ohio St)

RT Anthony Davis (23 Rutgers)

Defense

LDE Ray McDonald (28 Florida)

NT Isaac Sopoaga (31 Hawaii)

RDE Justin Smith (33 Missouri)

LOLB Ahmad Brooks (28 UVA) 

LILB NaVorro Bowman (24 Penn St) All Pro

RILB Patrick Willis (27 Ole Miss) All Pro

ROLB Aldon Smith(23 Missouri) All Pro

LCB Carlos Rogers (31 Auburn)

RCB Tarell Brown (27 Texas)

SS Donte Whitner (27 Ohio St)

FS Dashon Goldson (28 Washington) All Pro

K David Akers (38 Louisville)

P Andy Lee (30 Pitt) All Pro

KR LaMichael James (23 Oregon)

PR Ted Ginn (27 Ohio St)

Our first 49ers team is the Harbaugh squad that lost the Super Bowl; middling offense, 2nd best defense in football with 4 All Pros - 27 year old Patrick Willis, 24 year old NaVorro Bowman, 23 year old Aldon Smith and 28 year old Dashon Goldson.  Smith had 19.5 sacks. Andy Lee was also the All Pro punter in the NFL in '12. 25 year old Colin Kaepernick took over the QB job midseason from Alex Smith; who knows - we may see both of them at some point. 29 year old Frank Gore rushed for 1200 yds.  The Niners lone offensive All Pro is 25 year old Mike Iupati who will go on to play for that Cardinals team we just saw lose to Miami.  The third receiver on this club is 35 year old Randy Moss, who is already in the second round with the Patriots.

10. 1950 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Record: 6-6

Pythag: 10-2

Off: 7th

Def: 1st

3rd American Division

Did not make playoffs

HC: Greasy Neale

Offense

QB Tommy Thompson (34 Tulsa)

RB Steve Van Buren (30 LSU)

RB Frank Ziegler (27 Geo Tech)

FB Jack Myers (26 UCLA)

WR Jack Ferrante (34 N/A)

WR Pete Pihos (27 Indiana)

LT Vic Sears (32 Ore St)

LG Duke Maronic (29 None)

C Vic Lindskog (36 Stanford)

RG Bruce Kilroy (29 Temple)

RT Al Wistert (30 Michigan)

Defense

LDE John Green (29 Tulsa)

MG Walt Barnes (32 LSU)

RDT Mike Jarmoluk (28 Temple)

RDE Jay MacDowell (31 Wash)

LLB Joe Muha (29 VMI)

RLB Chuck Bednarik (25 Penn)  All Pro

LDH Russ Craft (31 Alabama)

RDH Joe Sutton (26 Temple)

LS Neill Armstrong (24 Okla St)

RS Pat McHugh (31 Geo Tech)

K Cliff Patton (27 TCU)

P Frank Reagan (31 Penn)

KR/PR Russ Craft (31 Alabama)

There won't be a team in the field older than this team, the '50 Eagles were just 6-6 but had a 10-2 pythagorean record and the best defense in football, led by a 25 year old Chuck Bednarik.  34 year old Tommy Thompson threw for 11 scores...but 22 picks and we'll see how a 1950s squad fares against a team from 60+ years in the future.  The Eagles head to Candlestick - let's kick it off.

First Quarter

Niners start at the 24.

1/10 - Frank Gore for a yard.

2/9 - Colin Kaepernick finds Michael Crabtree for 7.

3/2 - Gore gets 5 and the first down.

1/10 - Gore for 2.

2/8 - Incomplete

3/5 - Called run for Kaepernick, Chuck Bednarik is there, holding Kap to a 3 yard gain and the Niners punt.

Eagles at their own 26.  11:08 left.

1/10 - Steve Van Buren with the carry, it's 5 yards.  

2/5 - Incomplete

3/5 - Van Buren gets 6 and the first.

1/10 - Frank Ziegler gets a carry, he goes for 5. 

2/5 - 3 for Van Buren, 

3/2 - Ziegler gets 5, that brings the Eagles to midfield, 1st down with 7:45 left.

1/10 - 4 for Van Buren

2/6 - 1 for Van Buren -

3/5 - Very conservative from Greasy Neale, Ziegler gets stuffed at the line and the Eagles punt.

Niners at their own 8.  5:38 left.

1/10 - Gore for 7 - this feels like a real grind it out game here.

2/7 - Bruce Miller gets 13 and the first.

1/10 - LaMichael James comes in as a change of pace back and he gets 13.  Niners to the 41.

1/10 - Kaepernick designed run goes for 5.

2/5 - It's an end around to Michael Crabtree, he's got 4.  2:14 left.

3/1 - Kaepernick with the sneak for the first to the Eagle 49.

1/10 - 6 for Gore.

2/4 - Kaepernick throws his first pass of the drive, it's 7 yards to Crabtree and a first down at the 36.

1/10 - Kaepernick to Mario Manningham for 14 as the qtr ends.

Second Quarter

Scoreless first qtr - Niners at the 22, first down.

1/10 - Ten more for Gore.  

1/10- James with 3. 

2/7 - Gore is stacked up and it's a 3rd and 7 that becomes a 3rd and 12 after a false start.

3/12- Kaepernick fires over the middle to Vernon Davis who muscles his way into the endzone for a TOUCHDOWN 49ERS -- 13 plays, 97 yards - the Niners are on the board.

Eagles open at the 31, 12:42 left.  

3 and out.

Niners take the punt and will start at their own 44, 11:32 left.  

1/10 - Kaepernick to Davis for 3.

2/7 - Kaepernick to Delanie Walker for 8.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Kaepernick finds Manningham, its a 16 yard gain, Niners at the Eagle 29, 9:27 left.

1/10 - Gore loses a yard.

2/11 - Kaepernick run - he gets 12 and the Niners are at the 18. 

1/10 - Kaepernick to Manningham, just a yard.

2/9 - Gore gets 1

3/8 - Kaepernick to Crabtree, only 2 yards, Niners decide to kick the short FG, David Akers makes it 10-0.

Eagles start at their own 17.  3 and out.

Niners take over at their own 43, but turn it over, after Gore gains 2 - Bruce Miller fumbles, the Eagles regain at their own 45 with 3:32 left.

1/10 - Steve Van Buren for 14.  

1/10 - Ziegler gets 1

2/9 -Van Buren gets 1

3/9 - Incomplete - another punt, Niners will start at their own 6, 1:44 left.  

1/10 - Kaepernick to Davis for 8 and a timeout.  

2/2 - Incomplete

3/2 - Gore loses 2 yards - the Eagles stop the clock and the Niners will be punting from their own 12 - have to question the clock management here; Niners will now be punting from deep in their own end.

Eagles start at their own 46. 1:19 left.

1/10 - Van Buren gets nothing and the Eagles stop the clock again.

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Thompson completes a pass -- it's to Ziegler for a dozen and the Eagles are at the Niner 42 with 51 seconds left.  

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Thompson finds Pete Pihos for 17.  The Eagles are at the 25 with 37 seconds left and they call their final timeout.  

1/10 - Ziegler gets 2

2/8 - Thompson hits Jack Ferrante for a 8 yards and a first down and he's out of bounds at the 23.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Thompson scrambles for 2 yards out of bounds - the Eagles kick a short FG as the time expires.  We go into the locker room - Niners 10 Eagles 3

Third Quarter

The Eagles scored just before the half to cut the deficit to 7 - the start the second half with the ball at the 29.

1/10 - Incomplete and an illegal motion backs the Eagles 5.

2/15 - Thompson to Jack Ferrante for 8.

3/7 - Thompson to Pihos for 14.  

1/10- Incomplete.

2/10 - Van Buren loses a yard.  Another third down.

3/11 - Thompson to Pihos again - this time for 17 yards to the Niner 38 yard line.

1/10 - Incomplete.

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Thompson's sacked by Aldon Smith - Eagles are forced to punt - Niners will take over at their own 19.  10:49 left.  

1/10 - Kaepernick to Crabtree for 8.

2/2 - James gets 3 and the first.

1/10 - Gore for 4.

2/6 - Crabtree end around for 4.

3/2 - Kaepernick is sacked by Bednarik - and the Niners punt.  

Eagles take over at their own 21, 7:23 left.  

3 and out.

Niners get a good punt return by Ted Ginn and open at the Eagles 37, 5:39 left. 

1/10 - Kaepernick to James for 14.

1/10- Walt Barnes busts through the line for a sack, Niners lose 6.

2/16 - Incomplete

3/16 - Kaepernick is picked off by Neill Armstrong - Eagles will start at their own 21, 3:55 left.  Kaepernick took a big shot there by Bednarik and leaves the field staggered.

3 and out.  Real defensive struggle here.  Niners take over at their own 44.  2:17 left.

Alex Smith is on for the injured Kaepernick.  

1/10 - Screen to Crabtree loses a yard. 

2/11 - Frank Gore busts a 41 yard run - rumbling to the Eagle 16.

1/10 - James for 2.

1/8 - Gore gets three as the quarter ends.  

Fourth Quarter

Niners holding onto the 10-3 lead, they've got 3rd and 5 at the Eagle 11 - Kaepernick has been knocked out, Alex Smith on for San Francisco.  

3/5 - Smith to Manningham for 5 and the first at the 6 yard line.

1/goal - Gore gets 3.

2/goal - James gets 1

3/goal - Smith rolls out - finds Bruce Miller in the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN 49ERS - Alex Smith comes off the bench and throws a TD pass to Miller; Niners up 14.

Eagles at the 27, 12:49 left, Niners by 14.

Another 3 and out.  The Niner defense just not allowing Philly an inch today.

Niners start at their own 36.  11:11.  Kaepernick is back on the field.  

1/10 - James gets 5.

2/5 - Gore gets 5 and the chains move for the Niners.

1/10 - Joe Muha with the big shot on Kaepernick; another sack.  

2/15 - Miller gets 3.

3/12 - Kaepernick finds Manningham for 9, but that's short of the first down, and the Niner punt leads to Philly starting at their own 11.  7:30 left.

1/10 - Ziegler gets 15.

1/10 - Van Buren gets 4.  Eagles go back 5 on an illegal motion.

2/11 - Van Buren gets 2

3/9 - Incomplete - but a late hit by Donte Whitner is a 15 yard penalty and a first down, Eagles are at their own 42 yard line with 6:10 left - still trailing by 14.

1/10 - Incomplete.

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10-  Incomplete

4/10 - Incomplete

And that should do it.  Niners take over at the Eagle 42.  5:20 left.  

3 and out.  Eagles will start at their own 15.  4:17 left.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Thompson his Ziegler for 10.  

1/10 - Thompson hits Ferrante for 8. 

2/2 - Incomplete

3/2 - Incomplete

4/2 - Incomplete

Again, the Niners turn the Eagles over on downs, San Francisco regains possession at the Eagle 33.

And on the first play LaMichael James fumbles.  Eagles recover- they're gasping at life, but there is still some breath remaining - Eagles regain at their own 30, 3:39 left - they are going to the bench for the backup QB, third year man out of Nevada, Bill Mackrides, comes on, can he spark something for these Eagles?

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Incomplete

4/10 - Mackrides hits Ferrante for 12, first down and a timeout.

1/10 - 12 more Mackrides to Ferrante - the Eagles have reached the Niner 46. 2:49 left.

1/10 - Mackrides is flushes - he breaks contain - Mackrides goes for 19 yards and the Eagles are at the Niner 27 yard line with 2:26 to go. 

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Incomplete

4/10 - Mackrides hits Pihos on a crossing route - he's at the sticks - but Dashon Goldson's tackle is going to keep is close.  On the measurement.....the Eagles do not make it.  

And that's that - the Niners will pick up one last first down on a Gore run and run out the clock.

Final: 49ERS 17 EAGLES 3

When the second best from 2012 meets the best defense from 1950 and each side has middling offense, this is a reasonable outcome.  It opens up a concern about teams from the 50s as the Eagles just weren't offensively competitive here, but they're a 10th seed, on the road, that didn't make the playoffs in their own season, so they aren't necessarily reflective of what we'll get from the Paul Brown teams.

Kaepernick: 13-21 110 1 TD/1 INT, 3 carries/20 yds

Thompson: 7-30 84 yds

Gore: 18 carries, 129 yds

Ziegler: 14 carries, 51 yds

Crabtree: 5 catches, 23 yds

Ferrante: 5 catches, 48 yds

Player of the Game - FRANK GORE

1/4 Done - 2022 MLB All Stars

 

32 man rosters, 20 position players, 9 SP, 3 RP - when I do this at the 80 game mark I'll do it with every team getting 1 rep, for this exercise it's strictly best players over 40 games. 

AL

C J.Heim Tex 

   A.Kirk Tor 

1B T.France Sea 

      O.Miller Cle 

2B  A.Gimenez Cle 

       J.Altuve Hou 

 

SS  J.Pena Hou 

       JP Crawford Sea 

       T.Anderson CWS 

3B J.Ramirez Cle 

      R.Devers Bos 

  

LF      A.Hays Bal 

         

CF  M.Trout LAA  - AL MVP

       B.Buxton Min 

       M.Straw Hou 

RF    A.Judge NYY 

        T.Ward LAA 

        K.Tucker Hou 

  

DH   Y.Alvarez Hou 

         G.Stanton NYY

SP  J.Verlander Hou  - Cy Young

      D.Cease CWS  

      N.Cortes NYY 

      P.Blackburn Oak 

      L.Gilbert Sea 

      M.Perez Tex 

      A.Manoah Tor 

      K.Gausman Tor 

      S.Ohtani LAA (DH/SP)

RP  J.Lopez Balt 

      C.Holmes NYY 

      D.Jimenez Oak 

   

NL

C W.Contreras Chi 

    W.Smith LAD 

  

1B  F.Freeman LAD 

     P.Goldschmidt Ari 

     CJ Cron Col 

     P.Alonso NYM 

 

2B T.Edman StL 

      J.Chisholm Mia 

      J.McNeil NYM

  

SS F.Lindor NYM 

     HS Kim SD

3B M.Machado SD MVP

      N.Arenado StL 

LF   J.Profar SD 

CF B.Nimmo NYM 

      D.Varsho Ari 

RF  M.Betts LAD  

       H.Renfroe Mil 

       J.Soto Wash 

DH  B.Harper Phi 

        

P P.Lopez Mia  - Cy Young

    Z.Gallen Ari 

   K.Wright Atl 

   S.Alcantara Mia 

   C.Burnes Mil 

    C.Bassitt NYM

    M.Scherzer NYM 

    L.Webb SF  

     M.Mikolas StL 

 

RP  J.Hader Mil

       D.Bednar Pit 

       T.Rogers SD 

      

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 1/Round 1/ 2015 Arizona Cardinals v. 1975 Miami Dolphins

'67 Raiders v. '15 Patriots 

11. 1975 MIAMI DOLPHINS at 6. 2015 ARIZONA CARDINALS 

6. 2015 ARIZONA CARDINALS

Record: 13-3

Pythag: 12-4

Off: 2nd

Def: 7th

1st NFC West

d. Packers Div Rnd 26-20

Lost NFC Title Panthers 49-15

HC: Bruce Arians, OC: Harold Goodwin, DC: James Bettcher

University of Phoenix (roof closed)

Dave Pasch/Ron Wolfley

Offense

QB Carson Palmer (36 USC) 

RB Chris Johnson (30 E Carolina)

WR John Brown (25 Pittsburg St)

WR Larry Fitzgerald (32 Pitt)

TE Darren Fells (29 UC Irvine)

TE Jermaine Gresham (27 Oklahoma)

LT Jared Veldheer (28 Hillsdale)

LG Mike Iupati (28 Idaho)

C Lyle Sendlein (31 Texas)

RG Jonathan Cooper (25 UNC)

RT Bobby Massie (26 Mississippi)

Defense

LDE Calais Campbell (29 Miami)

NT Rodney Gunter (23-R Delaware St)

RDE Frostee Rucker (32 USC)

LOLB LaMarr Woodley (31 Michigan)

LILB Kevin Minter (25 LSU)

RILB Deonte Bucannon (23 Wash St)

ROLB Alex Okafor (24 Texas)

LCB Patrick Peterson (25 LSU) All Pro

RCB Jerraud Powers (28 Auburn)

SS Rashad Johnson (29 Alabama)

FS Tyrann Mathieu (23 LSU) All Pro

K Chandler Catanzaro (24 Clemson)

P Drew Butler (26 Georgia)

KR David Johnson (24 N Iowa)

PR Patrick Peterson (25 LSU)

2015 is heavily represented in region 1 - the Chiefs have advanced to round 2, the Bengals/Patriots did not.  Here's Arizona, the 2nd best offense, 7th best defense from 2015. Arizona throws the ball; Carson Palmer is 36, threw for 35 scores and 11 picks.  Larry Fitzgerald is 32 and headed to the Hall of Fame, he caught 109 balls.  The 2 Cardinal All Pros are both in the secondary - 25 year old Patrick Peterson, 23 year old Tyrann Mathieu.  

11. 1975 MIAMI DOLPHINS

Record: 10-4

Pythag: 11-3

Off: 6th

Def: 4th

Did not make playoffs

HC: Don Shula, OC: Howard Schnellenberger 

Offense:

QB Bob Griese (30 Purdue)

RB Mercury Morris (28)

FB Don Nottingham (26)

WR Nat Moore (24)

WR Howard Twilley (32)

TE Andre Tillman (23-R)

LT Wayne Moore (30)

LG Bob Kuechenberg (28)

C Jim Langer (27) All Pro

RG Larry Little (30) All Pro

RT Norm Evans (33)

Defense:

LDE Vern Den Herder (27)

LDT Randy Crowder (23)

RDT Don Reese (24)

RDE Bill Stanfill (28)

LLB Doug Swift (27)

MLB Mike Kolen (27)

RLB Bob Matheson (31)

LCB Tim Foley (27)

RCB Curtis Johnson (27)

SS Charlie Babb (25)

FS Jake Scott (30)

K Garo Yepremian (31)

P Larry Seiple (30)

KR/PR Freddie Solomon (22-R Tampa)

Miami's '72 and '73 teams are top seeds in other regions; a couple of years removed is this squad that missed the playoffs despite going 10-4 and being top 6 in offense and defense. The strength is in the middle of the OL, where 30 year old Jim Langer and 30 year old Larry Little are both All Pros. The trigger man is Bob Griese, now 30 years old, 14 scores and 13 picks. 26 year old Don Nottingham ran for double digit scores.  6 picks for Jake Scott on defense.  

50 years separate these 2 squads - the winner will head to Oakland to play the '67 Raiders; let's head to Glendale.  

First Quarter

Miami will open at the 29.

1/10- The first carry goes to Mercury Morris, he goes for 11.

1/10-Morris for 2

2/8-Norm Bulaich gets a carry. Loses 2.

3/10- Bob Griese finds the rookie Freddie Solomon for a 15 yard gain.  Dolphins to the Cardinal 45.

1/10-Morris gets 3

2/7- Griese to Jim Mandich for 22 -- Dolphins now at the Cardinal 20.

1/10- 4 more for Morris

2/6 - Griese is looking for Nat Moore in the end zone...Picked Off by Patrick Peterson!  Peterson runs it out to the Cardinal 12 -- Griese intercepted by Peterson!

9:59 left in the first as the Cards take possession.

3 and out.  

After the punt, Miami starts in Cardinal territory, at the 40, 7:48 left.  

1/10-Morris gets 1

2/9- Don Nottingham's first carry, he gets 15 to the Cardinal 24.
1/10-3 for Nottingham

2/7-3 for Morris

3/4- Griese finds Howard Twilley for 15 - he's out of bounds at the 3 - first and goal for the Dolphins.

1/goal - Nottingham between Langer and Little on the right side -- and into the end zone TOUCHDOWN DOLPHINS - after the XP it is 7-0

7-0 Dolphins, 3:40 left.  1st Quarter.  Cards start at their own 31.

1/10- Incomplete

2/9-Chris Johnson 1 yard run.

3/9- Carson Palmer 11 yards to Larry Fitzgerald.

1/10-Palmer to Fitzgerald again, 10 yards, they're into Miami territory at the 49.  2:10 left.

1/10-Chris Johnson loses 3.

2/13-Incomplete

3/13-Incomplete.

Dolphins will start at their own 16 with 33 seconds left -- and on the last play of the first quarter, Don Nottingham again follows Larry Little through the middle of the Cardinal line, breaks a couple of tackles and he is in the open field!   Notttingham has daylight!  Notthingham is caught from behind by Peterson all the way at the Cardinal 29 yard line - a 55 yard run by Nottingham as the qtr ends.

Second Quarter

Dolphins up 7-0 at the Cardinal 29, first down.

1/10-Griese to Nat Moore for 6.

2/4-Incomplete

3/4-Norm Bulaich gains 3.  Now, here's a thing - 4th and a long 1 at the Cardinal 20, Shula's not coaching in 2022 or even 2015 - Shula's coaching in 1975 -- but he's going for it.  

4/1-And it works - Mercury Morris busts one to the outside, turns on the jets - and Mercury Morris is in the endzone with a TOUCHDOWN DOLPHINS Shula's guts pay off here - on a 4th down Miami passes up the FG - and Mercury Morris takes it to the house.

Dolphins 14-0.  Arizona starts at their own 29.  13:15 left.

1/10-Incomplete

2/10-David Johnson on now for the Cards, he picks up 11.

1/10-David Johnson a yard.

2/9-David Johnson busts one - 42 yards takes it all the way to the Miami 17 yard line.  

1/10-3 more for Johnson

2/7-Incomplete

3/7- Palmer finds Larry Fitzgerald on the sideline, he tiptoes to stay in bounds, sticks to ball over the goal line --- TOUCHDOWN CARDINALS two minutes after Miami went up two scores, Arizona cuts that to 14-6 when they miss the XP.  

Miami starts at their 29, up 14-6, 10:05 left.

1/10-2 for Morris

2/8-Griese finds Nottingham on a screen, Nottingham picks up 19 and the first down.

1/10- Arizona has no answer for this Miami ground attack- the middle of the Miami line just controlling the LOS, 21 more for Nottingham, Miami at the Cardinal 29.  8:06 left.

1/10-1 for Morris

2/9- 1 for Nottingham

3/8 - Griese finds Nat Moore for 17 - that will give the Dolphins a first and goal at the 10.

1/goal - nothing for Morris

2/goal - 3 for Nottingham

3/goal - Calais Campbell breaks through, getting the sack on Griese - Garo Yepremian hits a 30 yd FG and it is 17-7 Dolphins

Arizona starts at the 31, 3:56 left.  Down 10.

3 and out including a Vern Den Herder sack.

Miami takes over at their own 25, 1:51 left. 

1/10-Griese to Mandich for 11.  

1/10-Griese to Bulaich for 13 and a timeout - Miami near midfield.

1/10-Griese to Nat Moore for 24 - Miami just moving at will today agains the Cardinals.

1/10-Incomplete

2/10-Incomplete

3/10-Griese finds Howard Twilley for 13 - taking Miami all the way to the Arizona 14 yard line with 51 seconds left and a timeout.  

1/10-incomplete

2/10- Griese finds Freddy Solomon who makes an acrobatic end zone grab---TOUCHDOWN DOLPHINS - just a tremendous catch by Solomon; the 1975 Dolphins have done whatever they wanted to the 2015 Cardinals today, the 40 years between them no obstacle and it is 24-6.

Arizona starts at their own 40, 33 seconds left.

1/10- Palmer to Michael Floyd - 14 yards.  Timeout.

1/10-Palmer to John Brown.  9 yards.  Timeout.  

2/1-David Johnson picks up the first down with a 4 yard run and the Cards stop the clock with 3 seconds left looking to kick a 50 yard FG.

No good.  Halftime.

Third Quarter

Just out and out domination in the first half, the 11th seeded Dolphins on the road just kicking the hell out of Arizona 24-6.

Arizona starts at the 25.

1/10-Chris Johnson back in the game, he loses 1

2/11- 2 for Johnson

3/9 - Palmer to Fitzgerald for 10.

1/10-Johnson gets nothing.

2/10-Andre Ellington gets a carry, he gets 4.

3/6-Palmer picks it up again, 19 to John Brown, Arizona at the Miami 41. 

1/10 -Chris Johnson for 5.

2/5 - Arians now mixing Ellington in - he gets 19, Arizona at the Miami 17 yard line.

1/10-Johnson loses a yard.

2/11-Johnson goes for 10 - that takes the Cardinals down to the Dolphin 8 yard line with 8:13 left in the third.

3/1-Palmer to Ellington for 7, Arizona has the first and goal.

1/goal-Palmer to Ellington out in the flat, makes one man miss and he is into the endzone TOUCHDOWN CARDINALS 

After the XP, Cards kick, Dolphins will start at the 22, leading 24-13 with 6:38 left. 

1/10 - 5 for Morris.

2/5- 5 for Morris.  1st down.

1/10 - Miami goes back 10 on a holding call.

1/20 - Nottingham again - 26 more for Nottingham, another Dolphin first down.  Line of scrimmage dominance.  

1/10- A dozen for Morris.  After that, another holding call on the next play.

1/20 - 1 for Nottingham.

2/19 - 1 for Morris. 

3/18 - Arizona just can't keep this Miami offense down - they convert a 3rd and 13, Griese hitting Nat Moore for a 28 yard gain; Miami at the Cardinal 20 yard line with 1:29 left in the third.  

1/10- Nottingham gets 9.  

2/1 - Incomplete, Griese takes an end zone shot.  

3/1- Griese finds Andre Tillman for 7 - that's a first down as the quarter ends.  

Fourth Quarter

Miami has led the whole way; it's 24-13 and they have first and goal at the Cardinal 4.

1/goal - Nottingham gets stacked up.

2/goal - Morris gets stacked up.

3/goal - Play action - Morris runs into the line but Griese is passing the ball - wide open in the back of the end zone is Howard Twilley - the Dolphins are going to miss the XP, but it's now 30-13.

13:27 left, Arizona at the 38 trailing 30-13

1/10 - David Johnson back on for Arizona, tries to run wide and is forced out of bounds at the line.

2/10- Ellington gets 5.

3/5 - Palmer to Fitzgerald for 9.  

1/10- 4 for Ellington.

2/6 - Incomplete

3/6 - Palmer to John Brown --- 27 yards and the Cards are down to the Dolphin 17.  10:23 left.

1/10- Palmer to Malcolm Floyd, 14 yards.  

1/goal - David Johnson scoots into the endzone - TOUCHDOWN CARDINALS and after the XP it's 30-20.

Miami will start at their own 30, Cards still need two scores and decide to rely on their defense.

3 and out.  Miami runs the ball 3 times and punts.  

Cards at their own 17 after an illegal block on the return - 7:30 left.  Down 10.

1/10 - Palmer to David Johnson for 6.

2/4 - Palmer to John Brown for 28!  Cardinals have crossed midfield - still 6:17 left. 

1/10 - Handoff - David Johnson busting for 22 as the Dolphins play the pass - and now Arizona is at the 27.  Offsides on the next play.

1/5 - Incomplete

2/5 - Incomplete

3/5 - Incomplete

Needing 2 scores Arians settles for the FG - it's 30-23 Dolphins.

Miami takes over at their own 31.  The lead is down to 7.  4:50 left.

1/10 - 13 yards for Mercury Morris.  

1/10-Nottingham is stopped at the line.

2/10 - Morris gets a yard. 

3/9 - Bulaich is hit by Campbell at the line -- FUMBLE --- FUMBLE --- recovered by the Cardinals!  Arizona recovers the Bulaich fumble and with 2:45 to go they have the ball at the Miami 47!!

This Phoenix crowd is alive for the first time all game - the Cardinals have scored the last 10 points and now have the ball again at the Miami 47 yard line with 2:45 to play.

1/10 - Palmer to Fitzgerald.  13 yards.  Cards at the 34.

1/10 - Palmer to David Johnson out of the backfield for 2.  

2/8 - Incomplete

3/8 - Palmer under pressure, scampers out of bounds at the line of scrimmage, and with 1:56 left after the 2 minute warning, we have a big 4th down.

4/8 - Palmer to Malcolm Floyd for 11 yards and he's out of bounds with a first down at the Miami 21 yard line with 1:51 to play.  Oh man --- oh....man.  

1/10 - Arians tries to cross Miami up again with a run - this time David Johnson is brought down for no gain and the Cards use their first time out.  An offsides call brings the ball to the 16 yard line.  

1/5 - Incomplete

2/5 - A give to Ellington -- and Bill Stanfil is there to stop him in the backfield - a 3 yard loss.

3/8 - Incomplete.  So - we're here again.  Another 4th and 8.  1:26 to play.  Arizona is at the Miami 19 yard line down 7.

4/8 - Palmer looks to the end zone - looking for Larry Fitzgerald - fires --- broken up by Jake Scott!  The pass is incomplete - the Dolphins take over on downs - the Cards are going to burn through their last 2 time outs, Miami will run out the clock after picking up a first down on a Morris run.  

Final: DOLPHINS 30 CARDINALS 23

Great comeback from the Cardinals falls short; the '75 Dolphins advance to face the '67 Raiders in Round 2.  

Griese: 14-20 208 yrds 2 TD/1 INT

Palmer: 17-26 198 2 TD

Nottingham 14 carries 141 yards 1 TD

Morris 19 carries 97 yards 1 TD

David Johnson 12 carries/60 yards 1 TD

Moore: 4 catches, 75 yards

Fitzgerald 6 catches, 67 yds 1 TD

Campbell 10 tackles/sack

Player of the Game: DON NOTTINGHAM

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 1/Round 1/ 3. 1967 Oakland Raiders v. 14. 2015 New England Patriots

'02 Bucs v. '15 Bengals 

14. 2015 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at 3. 1967 AFL CHAMPION OAKLAND RAIDERS

3. 1967 AFL CHAMPION OAKLAND RAIDERS 

Record: 13-1

Pythag: 12-2

Off: 1st 

Def: 2nd

d. Oilers AFC Title 40-7

Lost Super Bowl Packers 33-14

HC: John Rauch

Oakland Alameda County Coliseum  60 degrees

Bill King/Van Amburg

Offense

QB Daryle Lamonica (26 N Dame) All Pro

RB Clem Daniels (30 Prairie View)

FB Hewritt Dixon (27 Florida A&M)

WR Fred Biletnikoff (24 Florida St)

WR Bill Miller (27 Miami)

TE Billy Cannon (30 LSU) All Pro

LT Bob Svihus (24 USC)

LG Gene Upshaw (22-R Tex A&M Kingsville)

C Jim Otto (29 Miami) All Pro

RG Wayne Hawkins (29 Pacific)

RT Harry Schuh (25 Memphis)

Defense

LDE Ike Lassiter (27 St Augustine)

LDT Dan Birdwell (27 Houston)

RDT Tom Keating (25 Michigan) All Pro

RDE Ben Davidson (27 Washington) All Pro

LLB Bill Laskey (24 Michigan)

MLB Dan Conners (26 Miami)

RLB Gus Otto (24 Missouri)

LCB Kent McCloughan (27 Nebraska) All Pro

RCB Willie Brown (27 Grambling)

LS Rodger Bird (24 Kentucky)

RS Howie Williams (31 Howard)

K George Blanda (40 Kentucky)

P Mike Eischeid (27 Upper Iowa)

KR Dave Grayson (28 Oregon)

PR Rodger Bird (24 Kentucky)

This game will be another important marker.  It's a 3/14; Oakland was 1st in offense, 2nd in defense in the AFL in 1967 (only 9 teams in the AFL) the only game they lost all year (before the Super Bowl) was the Heidi Game to the Jets.  They're playing a run of the mill Patriots team, there are a ton of them in the tournament.  But a half century separates these two teams - in the baseball tournament, that would have been fine, modern teams didn't have outsized success.  In the basketball tournament, no one from the 60s had a chance against a modern team - and ultramodern teams ran through the field (which isn't to say that's "inaccurate" just not as fun as having wider unpredictability).  

30 scores for the Mad Bomber (and 20 picks, it was a different time) he's one of 6 All Pros on the roster. On defense, Willie Brown had 7 picks.  

14. 2015 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Record: 12-4

Pythag: 12-4

Off: 3rd

Def: 10th

1st AFC East

d. Chiefs Div Rnd 27-20

Lost AFC Title Broncos 20-18

HC: Bill Belichick OC: Josh McDaniels DC: Matt Patricia

Offense

QB Tom Brady (38 Michigan)

RB Dion Lewis (25 Pitt)

WR Julian Edelman (29 Kent)

WR Keshawn Martin (25 Michigan St)

TE Rob Gronkowski (26 Arizona) All Pro

TE Michael Williams (25 Alabama)

LT Sebastian Vollmer (31 Houston)

LG Shaq Mason (22-R Geo Tech)

C David Andrews (23-R Georgia)

RG Tre Jackson (23-R Florida St)

RT Marcus Cannon (27 TCU)

Defense

LDE Rob Ninkovich (31 Purdue)

LDT Alan Branch (31 Michigan)

RDT Malcolm Brown (21-R Texas)

RDE Chandler Jones (25 Syracuse)

LLB Jamie Collins (26 So Miss)

MLB Jerod Mayo (29 Tenn)

RLB Dont'a Hightower (25 Alabama)

LCB Malcolm Butler (25 W Alabama)

RCB Logan Ryan (24 Rutgers)

SS Patrick Chung (28 Oregon)

FS Devin McCourty (28 Rutgers)

K Steven Gostkowski (31 Memphis) All Pro

P Ryan Allen (25 La Tech)

KR Keshawn Martin (25 Michigan St)

PR Danny Amendola (30 T Tech)

3rd best offense in 2015 - Brady's 38, 36 scores and 7 picks - Gronkowski is an All Pro with 11 scores; 3 rookies right in the middle of the OL.  Double digit sacks for Chandler Jones.

Intriguing game early in the tournament.  Let's head to Oakland and kick it off.

First Quarter

Oakland starts off at the 35.  

3 and out.  Good punt, Patriots will start at the 13.

1/10-Brady to Dion Lewis who breaks upfield for a 22 yard game.

1/10-Brady to Julian Edelman for 8.

2/2-Lewis gets 2, that's a first down at the Pats 45.  10:33

1/10-LeGarrette Blount gains a yard.

2/9-Blount picks up 2 more.  

3/7-Incomplete.  Raiders force a punt - Oakland will start at their own 15, 9 left.

1/10-Clem Daniels gets 2 yards.

2/8-holding will take the next play back, half the distance to the goal

2/16-Hewritt Dixon 15 yard run.

3/1-Daryle Lamonica finds Billy Cannon for a 12 yard gain, Raiders out to their own 36, 6:11 left.

1/10-14 yard run for Daniels.

1/10-Dixon gets a yard.  

2/9-Daniels is stacked up.

3/9-Lamonica goes deep to the speedster Warren Wells, 42 yards and a first and goal for the Raiders at the 7. 4:09 left.

1/goal-Daniels gets 6 and is about a foot away from the end zone. 

2/goal-Pete Banaszak right over the middle - TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS the XP makes it 7-0

After the kick, the Pats open at their own 17.  3:16 left.

3 and out - including Ben Davidson's sacking Tom Brady.

Patriots punt -- Is Blocked - Warren Powers blocks the Ryan Allen punt - Raiders will take possession at the Patriots 5 yard line, already up 7-0.  1:31 left.

1/10 - Lamonica fade to the corner of the end zone to Biletnikoff - TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS Oakland with 14 points in the last 2 minutes to take a 14-0 lead.

The Patriots will open at their own 33, 1:18 left.

1/10-2 yards for Blount.  

2/8 - Brady to Gronk for 20 yards as the quarter ends.  

Second Quarter

14-0 Raiders, Patriots have 1st down at their own 45.  

1/10-Tom Keating sacks Brady for a loss of 7.

2/17-Brady to Lewis, 10 yards.

3/7-Brady to Danny Amendola for 18 - Pats at the Oakland 24 12:59 left.  

1/10-Brady to Gronk, 14 yards to the 10

1/goal-- Brady sacked for the 3rd time, Ike Lassiter gers him for a 6 yard loss.  

2/goal - Brady finds Amendola over the middle - he's into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS - - the XP makes it 14-7.

The Raiders start at their own 22, 11:22 left.

3 and out.  

Patriots regain possession at their own 44, 8:54 left.  

1/10-Brady to Keshawn Martin for a couple of yards.

2/8-Blount gets 1

3/7-Brady to Amendola for 8 yards and a first down at the Raider 45. 6:47 left.

1/10 - Brady to Edelman for 9 yards.

2/1- Brady to Edelman for 16 yards - Pats down to the Raider 20 with 5:24 to go.  

1/10 - Lewis loses a yard

2/11-Lewis gains 2

3/9- Brady finds Brandon LaFell in the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS the XP is good and the Patriots have tied this up at 14.  

Oakland at the 32, 3:48 to go.

1/10- Dixon gets a dozen.  

1/10-Daniels gets 4.

2/6 - Pete Banaszak busts one - Pete Banaszak gets a seam -- and he is gonna go --- Pete Banaszak busts a 52 yard run into the end zone TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS The longest run of the tournament so far - Pete Banaszak with his second TD of the day and it's 21-14 Oakland and we've got a wild one here in Oakland.

Patriots at the 20.  2:11 left.  

1/10-Lewis loses a yard.

2/11-Brady to Edelman for 12.  Pats at their own 31. 1:53 left.

1/10-Incomplete.

2/10-Incomplete

3/10-Brady hits Gronk for 17 - but he's hit with offensive pass interference and the resulting 3rd and long is incomplete.

After the punt and a false start, Oakland has 1st and 15 at their own 45, 1:15 left.  

1/15- Incomplete

2/15-Lamonica to Dixon for 17 and a first down at the New England 38 and a time out.

1/10- Incomplete

2/10- Lamonica goes to Billy Cannon for 20 yards and another timeout at the 18, :46 seconds left.

1/10-Incomplete

2/10-Incomplete

3/10 - Chandler Jones sacks Lamonica for a 3 yard loss - Oakland calls their final time out - Blanda hits a 38 yards FG; New England is going to gert a couple of plays off including an 11 yard Brady to Martin, but we head to the locker room OAKLAND 24 NEW ENGLAND 14

Third Quarter

Game of runs so far - 14 for Oakland, then 14 for New England - Oakland scores the last 10 and they're up 24-10 as the third quarter begins.

Patriots start at the 21.  3 and out.

Raiders at the Patriots 33 after a nice Rodger Bird return.

3 plays get 4 yards.  And then Blanda misses a 46 yard FG.  

Patriots regain possession at their own 36, 11:28 left in the qtr.

1/10-A long Lewis run comes back with a holding call

1/20-Incomplete

2/20- Stephen Jackson gets 1

3/19 - Brady to Amendola for 25 yards - big play for the Patriots as they cross midfield.

1/10 - Lewis gets 2

2/8-Blount is stacked up.

3/8-Brady to Gronk for 12 yards - another first down for the Patriots, they're at the Raider 34 with 8:07 left. 

1/10- Blount gets 1

2/9- Brady to LaFell for a yard.

3/8 - Incomplete, this time the Raiders hold and Gostkowski is left to kick a long 49 yard FG - he does, and it's 24-17. 

Oakland will open at their own 27. 6:31 left.  

1/10-Dixon gets 3 yards.

2/7- 4 more for Dixon

3/3- Lamonica to Dixon -- 13 yards and a first down.

1/10- Lamonica to Bill Miller for 6.

2/4 - Incomplete

3/4- Daniels gets 4 yards - that's a first down at the Pats 47, 3:49 left in the qtr.  Oakland goes back 5 yards on a false start.

1/15 - Lamonica to Biletnikoff for 7.

2/8 - Dixon loses 2

3/10- Lamonica escapes the pocket on a busted play - Lamonica doesn't slide, it's 1967 - Lamonica takes a shot and stays on his feet - Lamonica has 17 yards and a huge first down at rhe Patriots 26 with 58 seconds to go in the third.

1/10- Daniels is stopped at the line

2/10- Lamonica to Dixon for 8 as the qtr ends.  

Fourth Quarter

Raiders up a touchdown and driving, 3rd and 2 at the New England 18. 

3/2 - It's Dixon - he picks up a dozen yards and the Raiders have first and goal.  

1/goal - Incomplete

2/goal - Clem Daniels bounces off tackle and is in the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS - Oakland is in the end zone it is 31-17. 

New England starts at their own 31, 13:59 left. They need two scores.  

1/10 - Bount picks up 4.

2/6 - Brady to Edelman for 12.  

1/10 - Brady to Edelman - he catches it in traffic and is smacked by Dan Conners -- it's a fumble --  Oakland recovers!  The Raiders take possession at their own 44 yard line with 12:39 to go and a two score lead.

1/10 - Lamonica to Daniels for 6.

2/4 - Dixon is shut down.

3/4 - Daniels gets 4 - first down and the clock keeps moving.

1/10- Daniels loses 1

2/11-Dixon gets 3

3/8-Incomplete

Patriots regain possession back at their own 14.  8:59 left.  Down 14.

1/10- Lewis gets 1

2/9- Blount gets 2

3/7 - Brady to Gronk - 18 yards.  

1/10- Blount loses a yard

2/11 - Blount gets it back.

3/11 - Brady to Amendola for 19 - Pats at the Oakland 46. 

1/10 - Blount gets 3.

2/7 - Ben Davidson powers through with his second sack = loss of 7 and an illegal motion penalty drops the Pats back 5 more.

3/19 - Incomplete

4/19 - 4:46 left and down two scores - Belichick is going for it -- and its incomplete.

Raiders regain on downs at the Patriot 45.  4:39 left.  

3 and out.  Patriots will start at their 20 with 3:21 to go.

1/10 - Brady to Lewis for 2

2/8- Incomplete

3/8-Incomplete

4/8 - Brady to Martin for 36 yards to the Oakland 42.  2:48 left.

1/10- Brady to Gronk for 10.  Timeout.

1/10-Brady to Lafell for 6. Out of bounds.

2/4-Incomplete

3/4-Brady to Lewis for 3 - he's dropped right at the sticks - Pats just short on the measurement.

4/1-Brady sneak.  First down.  Oakland 22, 2:06 left.  

1/10-Tom Keating gets his second sack of the day - a 7 yard loss at the 2 minute mark.

2/17-Brady 7 yards to Lewis who gets out of bounds.  

3/10- Incomplete

4/10 - Brady hits LaFell for a 15 yard gain - Pats call timeout at 1:25 left with a first and goal at the 7.

1/goal - Incomplete

2/goal - Brady to Edelman at the goal line - he's just inches short - Pats running to the line -

3/goal - Incomplete

4/goal - Brady over the top -- and he is met dead on by Conners - Brady is short - and that will end it - Oakland runs out the clock and that's our final.

Final Score: RAIDERS 31 PATRIOTS 17

A really good result from a tournament perspective; a team from 50 years prior beating a modern team and doing it pretty easily.  Following the '02 Bucs win - the concerns are satsified and all the lights are green. 2 rushing attempts in the game for Banaszak.  2 scores.  

Lamonica- 12/21  152 yds 1 TD

Brady - 28/42       352 yds 2 TD

Daniels - 16 carries/56 yds 1 TD

Banaszak - 2 carries/53 yds  2 TD

Blount - 7 carries/20 yds

Dixon - 3 catches, 39 yds

Edelman - 7 catches, 54 yds

Keating/Davidson - 2 sacks each

Player of the Game - PETE BANASZAK