16. 1983 DALLAS COWBOYS at 1. 2007 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
1. 2007 AFC CHAMPION NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Record: 16-0
Pythagorean Record 14-2
Offense: 1st
Defense: 4th
d. Jags Divisional Rnd 31-20
d. Chargers AFC Title 21-12
Lost Super Bowl Giants 17-14
HC: Bill Belichick, OC: Josh McDaniels, DC Dean Pees
Gillette Stadium, Avg Temp 45 degrees
Announcers: Gil Santos/Gino Cappelletti
Offense:
QB Tom Brady (30) ALL PRO
RB Kevin Faulk (31)
RB Randy Moss (30) ALL PRO
WR Wes Welker (26)
TE Kyle Brady (35)
TE Ben Watson (27)
LT Matt Light (29) ALL PRO
LG Logan Mankins (25)
C Dan Koppen (28)
RG Steve Neal (31)
RT Nick Kaczur (28)
Defense:
LDE Ty Warren (26)
NT Vince Wilfork (26)
RDE Jarvis Green (28)
LOLB Mike Vrabel (32) ALL PRO
LILB Adalius Thomas (30)
RILB Teddy Bruschi (34)
ROLB Rosevelt Colvin (30)
LCB Asante Samuel (26) ALL PRO
RCB Ellis Hobbs (24)
SS Rodney Harrison (35)
FS James Sanders (24)
PK Stephen Gostkowski (23)
P Chris Hanson (31)
KR Ellis Hobbs (24)
PR Wes Welker (26)
1983 DALLAS COWBOYS
Record: 12-4
Pythag Record: 11-5
Offense: 2nd pts/gm
Defense: 20th pts/gm
2nd NFC East
Lost WC Rams 24-17
d. '74 Vikings 26-21
HC: Tom Landry, DC: Ernie Staunter
Offense (Pro Bowl in bold, All Pro designated)
QB Danny White (31)
RB Tony Dorsett (29)
FB Ron Springs (27)
WR Tony Hill (27)
WR Drew Pearson (32)
TE Doug Cosbie (27)
LT Pat Donovan (30)
LG Herbert Scott (30)
C Tom Rafferty (29)
RG Kurt Petersen (26)
RT Jim Cooper (28)
Defense
LDE Too Tall Jones (32)
LDT John Dutton (32)
RDT Randy White (30) ALL PRO
RDE Harvey Martin (33)
LLB Mike Hegman (30)
MLB Bob Breunig (30)
RLB Anthony Dickerson (26)
LCB Everson Walls (24) ALL PRO
RCB Dennis Thurman (27)
SS Dexter Clinkscale (25)
FS Michael Downs (24)
PK Rafael Septien (30)
P John Warren (23-Rookie)
The '83 Cowboys won a very exciting Play In Game over the '74 Vikes to open up the tournament and they turn around and head to New England to face the top overall seeded Patriots.
First Quarter
Dallas kicks. Patriots start off at their own 27.
1/10-2 yards for Laurence Maroney
2/8-Maroney stacked up at the line
3/8-Tom Brady hits Wes Welker for 10. First down at the 39. 12:52 left.
1/10-Brady to Randy Moss for 15. First down at the Cowboys 46.
1/10-Kevin Faulk goes for 4.
2/6-Maroney sweeps for 17. First down at the 25. 10:46.
1/10-Maroney gets 2. Illegal motion backs the Pats 5 yds.
2/13-Brady to Welker for 18 yards and another first down. Pats have first and goal at the 10 with 9:28 left in the first.
1/goal-Randy White pounds through the line for a sack and a 6 yd loss.
2/goal-Brady to Moss, 4 yards to the 12.
3/goal- Too Tall Jones drills Brady for a strip sack - it's recovered by the Cowboys! Two sacks and a fumble recovery and the Cowboys take possession at their own 18, 8:03 left.
1/10-Danny White to Tony Hill for 11. First down.
1/10-White to Cosbie for 13. First down. Dallas at their own 42.
1/10-White to Dorsett for 6, Cowboys come out throwing the ball.
2/4-Ron Springs sweeps left for 6 - that's a first down - and tack on 15 for a personal foul face mask on Rodney Harrison - the Cowboys are down to the New England 31 with 5:39 left in the qtr.
1/10-Incomplete
2/10- Danny White threw 2 picks in the play in game -- Junior Seau, the 38 year old veteran - steps in front of a ball - that's an interception -- and Seau starts to rumble - Seau has open field - Seau gets a block - and Junior Seau is going to go! Junior Seau returns the interception 82 yards for a TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS the PAT makes it 7-0, after a penalty on the receiving team on the kickoff, Dallas will start all the way back at their own 2 yard line with 5:04 to go in the qtr.
1/10-White just barely escapes a safety, throws it away.
2/10-Springs gets a yard - but a holding call brings that back. Dallas in the shadow of their own end zone.
2/11-White finds Tony Hill for 33 yards and a first down.
1/10-Springs for 8 yards, a 5 yard face mask call gives Dallas a first down at their own 47 with 3:31 left.
1/10-Tony Dorsett takes a pitch 28 yards.
1/10-Springs for 7.
2/3- Vince Wilfork pounds through the line for a sack, loss of 4.
3/7-White picks it up, finds Butch Johnson for 9. Dallas at the Pats 22 with 1:24 left.
1/10-Drew Pearson didn't catch a ball in the play in game, he gets 6 yards here.
2/4-White 6 yards to Cosbie, that's a first down all the way to the Patriots 1 yard line as the qtr ends. Dallas has driven 97 yards in 5 minutes.
Second Quarter
Patriots 7 Cowboys 0, Dallas has first and goal at the 1.
1/10 - White finds Tony Hill in the back of the end zone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS, they tie the score 7-7 with the XP, tremendous drive from Dallas, after the kic, the Patriots will start at their own 23 with 14:55 to go.
1/10-Maroney gets 1.
2/9-Brady finds Donte Stallworth for 11, Patriots to the 35.
1/10-Faulk gets 1.
2/9-Maroney gets 1
3/8-Brady finds Welker for 10, the Patriots are out to their own 47. 11:20 left.
1/10-Brady hits Faulk in the flat, he breaks a tackle and is brought down after a 15 yd gain. The Cowboys are then hit with an offsides penalty so the Pats have 1st and 5 at the Dallas 33, 10:37 left.
1/5: Faulk goes for 8 and another first.
1/10-Brady to Moss for 8
2/2-Brady to Welker for 9- Pats have a first and goal at the 8 with 8:25 left.
1/goal at the 8---Brady to Jabar Gaffney, thats a 5 ayrd gain to the 3.
2/goal - Sammy Morris gets the carry, picks up 1. Third and goal at the 2.
3/goal-Brady finds Morris over the middle in the end zone for the score TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. 14-7 After the PAT and the kickoff and then an offsides call, the Cowboys have a first and 5 at their own 42 with 6:54 left.
1/5 White cant find a primary, dumps to Dorsett who gets 3.
2/2 White again, again to Dorsett, he's got 15 and a first down at the Patriot 41. 5:31 left
1/10-Springs gets 1
2/9-Incomplete - but there's a defensive holding call and an automatic first down.
1/10-Incomplete
2/10-Dorsett goes for 14, Dallas is at the 21 with 4:03 left.
1/10-Springs gets 3
2/7-Dorsett stacked up a the line
3/7-Incomplete; 4th and 7 at the 18, Rafael Septien hits the 35 yard FG and the score is Patriots 14 Cowboys 10. After the kick, the Pats take over at their own 33, 2:28 left.
1/10-6 yards for Maroney, last play before the 2 min warning.
2/4-Morris gets 4. First down at thr 43, Pats stop the lock at 1:55.
1/10-Morris loses 3 when Randy White stuffs him in the backfield
2/13-Brady to Stallworth for 8..
3/5-Incomplete - New England punts it away, Dallas takes over at their own 28 with a minute to go.
1/10-White to Butch Johnson for 7, he's out of bounds and stops the clock.
2/3-Incomplete
3/3-Incomplete, Dallas ran off just 18 seconds - and now they punt it away - and Welker breaks a good return, Welker returns it back 42 yards all the way to the Cowboy 32, where the Patriots take back over at 34 seconds left.
1/10-Incomplete
2/10-Brady to Moss for 15; he goes out of bounds at the 17 with 22 seconds left.
1/10-Brady to Faulk for 6 - time out. 16 seconds.
2/4-Belichick calls a run play - Faulk rumbles into the end zone - TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. That'll end the half, 21-10 Patriots.
Third Quarter
Patriots 21 Cowboys 10 Dallas starts at their own 34 after the kick.
1/10-Dorsett 3 yds.
2/7-White finds Billy Joe Dupree for 11. Cowboys at their own 48.
1/10-Dorsett gains 16. Dallas is at the Patriot 36.
1/10-Newsome 1 yard.
2/9-Incomplete
3/9-14 yard catch by Drew Pearson; Dallas to the 21 with 11:17 left in the third.
1/10-Dorsett 5 yards
2/5-Springs 1 yard
3/4-Dorsett 3 yards.
Down 11 at the Patriot 15 with a 4th and 1, a modern decision would clearly be to go for it - Landry does not do that, he settles for the Septien 29 yard FG and the score is Patriots 21
Cowboys 13.
After the kick, New England takes over on their 30 at 9:03 - the Pats go 3 and out, the drive ending on a Bill Bates safely blitz sack. After the punt it's Cowboy ball on their own 41 at 6:56 left.
1/10-Wilfork stacks up Dorsett.
2/10-Incomplete
3/10-White finds Tony Hill despite Asante Samuel being draped all over him, it's a 16 yard gain and a declined pass interference call. Dallas is at the New England 43, 5:30 left.
1/10-Springs goes for 14 and the Cowboys are at the 29.
1/10-Dorsett. No gain.
2/10-White to Pearson for 8.
3/2-Dorsett runs for 14 - big conversion, the Cowboys have 1st and goal at the 7 with 2:38 left in the qtr.
1/goal-Springs loses 1
2/goal-incomplete
3/goal-Landry calls a screen pass, 'cause it's 1983 - to Butch Johnson - Mike Vrabel isn't fooled and he's stopped at the line of scrimmage, 4th and goal from the 8. 25 yard FG for Septien - and he misses the kick! Such a brutal result here for Dallas - down 8 late third with first and goal and they come away with nothing.
1/10-Morris gets back to the line.
2/10 - Morris is drilled by Bob Breunig after a gain of 2 --- he fumbles - and the Cowboys recover at the 17! Dallas misses the chip shot FG - but then force a Sammy Morris fumble and take over at the 17 yard line - Dallas gets one play off before the end of the third, White is flushed from the pocket and is able to pick up a yard and we head to the 4th qtr.
Fourth Quarter
Patriots 21 Cowboys 13, Dallas at the New England 16, second and 9.
2/9-Springs for 4.
3/5-Dorsett for 4. And here we are again - the Cowboys kicked the FG in this spot, then missed a FG just a few minutes ago on a 4th and goal - again, Landry with the decision to make.
They're going for it.
4/1- It's Dorsett - and he's into the end zone with a TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS. Down 2, they go for the 2 point conversion, it's the give to Springs --- and he's into the end zone and with 13:33 left -- the Dallas Cowboys have tied this game at 21.
After the kick, Patriots start at their 31.
1/10- Brady to Welker for 6.
2/4-Maroney gets 2 and it's a big 3rd and 2 with 12:06 left.
3/2-Brady goes downfield - to Moss - 22 yards and a gutsy first down at the Cowboy 39.
1/10-Morris gets 4
2/6-Brady to Morris over the middle, Morris breaks a tackle and has a 20 yard gain all the way to the Dallas 15 yard line with 9:56 left.
1/10: Brady finds Jabar Gaffney in the end zone - TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS. It takes less than 4 minutes, New England is in the end zone, the kick makes it 28-21, Dallas takes over at their own 15 with 9:45 to go after the kick off.
And they go 3 and out. New England has the ball again inside Dallas territory at their 44 with 8:09 left after the punt.
1/10-Maroney for 3.
2/7-Faulk loses a yard.
3/8-Brady again finds Moss, 22 more yards - they get it when they need it and they're at the Cowboy 20. 6:06 left, up by a touchdown. That might be the dagger.
1/10-Morris gets 5
2/5-Maroney is stopped at the line
3/5-Morris picks up 2 yards, this time there's no conversion on 3rd down - good stop by the Cowboys, Gostkowski hits a 30 yard FG to extend the lead PATRIOTS 31 COWBOYS 21 after the kick off, Dallas starts at their own 39 with just 4:06 to go and needing 2 scores.
1/10- White to Hill for 22. Timeout, Dallas at the Patriots 39. 3:57 left.
1/10-Dorsett gets 7
2/3-White to Donley for 13. Cowboys at the 19.
1/10-White gets flushed from the pocket, is able to scramble out of bounds.
2/6-White finds Doug Donley in the endzone TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - Dallas scores in under a minute, the XP makes it 31-28 Patriots. Dallas kicks it deep, New England will take possession at 3:14 at their 26.
1/10-Morris gets 4.
2/6-Incomplete. That stops the clock at 2:31. Big play here.
3/6-Morris gets 2 yards - that's going to run the clock down to the 2 minute warning and the Patriots have to punt it away. The Cowboys will take over at their own 38 yard line, 1:51 left to go, down by 3.
Are we about to see the top overall seed fall in round one?
1/10-Springs gets a yard, goes out of bounds.
2/9-White to Billy Joe DuPree - Dupree at midfield - DuPree is stripped by Vrabel - Bruschi recovers! So, so big - Billy Joe DuPree had the first down at midfield, huge plat by Vrabel and Brschi and the Patriots regain possession at their own 47 with 1:36 to go.
1/10-Maroney for 2. Cowboys timeout.
2/8-Morris for 5. Cowboys last timeout.
3/3-Morris gets to the sticks....there's a measurement...short.
4th and inches at the Cowboy 46.
Punt.
Belichick not risking it, Dallas takes over with just 27 seconds left and no time outs at their own 13.
Incomplete.
Jarvis Green sack.
White to Donley - Dallas tries to lateral the ball multiple times - eventually it ends.
PATRIOTS 31 COWBOYS 28
And that's it - the number one seed in a 256 team tournament had to hang on by the skin of their teeth, but they advance. Hell of a game from Brady, just 3 incompletions.
Brady: 19-22, 221 yards. 2 TDs
White: 21-33 263 yards 2 TDs/1 Int
Maroney: 13 carries/38 yds
Dorsett: 15 carries/99 yards/1 TD
Moss 6 catches/86 yards
Hill: 5 catches/83 yards 1 TD
Seau INT/TD
Player of the Game - Tom Brady
