12. 2014 GREEN BAY PACKERS AT 5. 1977 AFC CHAMPION DENVER BRONCOS
5. 1977 AFC CHAMPION DENVER BRONCOS
Record: 12-1
Pythag: 11-3
Off: 10th
Def: 3rd
1st AFC West
d. Steelers Div Rnd 34-21
d. Raiders AFC Title: 20-17
Lost Super Bowl Cowboys 27-10
HC: Red Miller, DC: Joe Collier
Mile High Stadium. 45 degrees
Offense
QB Craig Morton (34-Cal)
RB Otis Armstrong (27-Purdue)
FB Jon Keyworth (27-Colorado)
WR Jack Dolbin (29-Wake)
WR Haven Moses (31-S Diego St)
TE Riley Odoms (27-Houston)
LT Andy Maurer (29-Oregon)
LG Tom Glassic (23-UVA)
C Mike Montler (33-Colorado)
RG Paul Howard (27-BYU)
RT Claude Minor (26-S Diego St)
Defense
LDE Barney Chavous (26 S Carolina St)
NT Rubin Carter (25 Miami)
RDE Lyle Alzado (28 Yankton) ALL PRO
LOLB Bob Swenson (24 Cal)
LILB Joe Rizzo (27 Marines)
RILB Randy Gradishar (25 Ohio St) ALL PRO
ROLB Tom Jackson (26 Louisville) ALL PRO
LCB Louis Wright (24 S Jose St)
RCB Steve Foley (24 Tulane)
SS Bill Thompson (31 Md Eastern Shore) ALL PRO
FS Bernard Jackson (27 Wash St)
PK Jim Turner (36 Utah St)
P Bucky Dilts (24 UGA)
KR/PR Rick Upchurch (Minnesota)
Denver's the 5th seed in Region 1 on the strength of the Orange Crush; 4 All Pros. Vet QB Craig Morton is 34, he threw for 14 scores; he and Aaron Rodgers both went to Cal. Denver's unlikely to do much damage on offense.
12. 2014 GREEN BAY PACKERS
Record 12-4
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 1st
Def: 13th
1st NFC North
d. Cowboys Div Rnd 26-21
Lost Seahawks NFC Title 28-22
HC: Mike McCarthy, OC: Tom Clements DC: Dom Capers
Offense
QB Aaron Rodgers (31) ALL PRO
RB Eddie Lacy (24 Alabama)
WR Davante Adams (22-R Fresno St)
WR Randall Cobb (24 Kentucky)
WR Jordy Nelson (29 Kansas St)
TE Andrew Quarless (26 Penn St)
LT David Bakhtiari (23 Colorado)
LG Josh Sitton (28 Cen Florida)
C Corey Linsley (23-R Ohio St)
RG TJ Lang (27 E Michigan )
RT Bryan Bulaga (25 Iowa)
Defense
NT Leroy Guion (27 Florida St)
RDE Mike Daniels (25 Iowa)
LOLB Julius Peppers (34 UNC)
LILB AJ Hawk (30 Ohio St)
RILB Sam Barrington (24 S Florida)
ROLB Clay Matthews (28 USC)
LCB Tramon Williams (31 LA Tech)
RCB Sam Shields (27 Miami)
Nick Micah Hyde (24 Iowa)
SS Morgan Burnett (25 Geo Tech)
FS Ha Ha Clinton Dix (22-R Alabama)
PK Mason Crosby (30 Colorado)
P Tim Masthay (27 Kentucky)
KR DuJuan Harris (26 Troy)
PR Micah Hyde (24 Iowa)
The top offense in 2014 is Green Bay's; Aaron Rodgers is 31, 38 touchdown passes to just 5 picks; Randall Cobb's 24, Jordy Nelson's 29 and both caught nearly a hundred balls with double digit scores. We're going to see how a modern offense matches up against an excellent 1970s defense.
First Quarter
The Packers receive the kick - they open at the 23.
1/10 Eddie Lacy gains a yard.
2/9 Aaron Rodgers is flushed from the pocket, keeps the play alive - and finds James Starks alone on the sideline for a 46 yard pickup, all the way to the Denver 30.
1/10-Rodgers takes an end zone shot for Jordy Nelson - it's incomplete but a defensive holding call gives the Packers 5 yards and a first down.
1/10-Lacy for 3.
2/7- Incomplete
3/7-Incomplete, Louis Wright stepping in front of Randall Cobb and almost coming away with the INT. Mason Crosby hits a 39 yard FG and the Pack go up 3-0.
After the kick Denver takes over at the 27 with 12:22 left.
1/10-Craig Morton drops back. Incomplete
2/10- Otis Armstrong carry - 17 yards.
1/10- Armstrong for 1.
2/9-Jon Keyworth gets a carry and loses 2.
3/11- Julius Peppers rips Morton down with a sack. A huge 11 yard loss.
After the punt, the Pack take the ball at the 32, 9:14 left. 3-0
1/10-Rodgers to Lacy, 8 yards
2/2 - Incomplete
3/2-Lacy gets 2 and picks up the first down.
1/10-Lacy gets nothing.
2/10-Rodgers scrambles for a five yard gain.
3/5-Starks is stopped at the line. The Pack has to kick.
Packers punt, Denver will start at their own 18 with 5:34 left.
1/10-11 for Armstrong.
1/10-AJ Hawk forces an Armstrong fumble, but Denver recovers with a 2 yd loss.
2/12-Morton finds Haven Moses, it's a 15 yard gain and a Denver first down at their own 40, 2:49 left in the qtr.
1/10-Clay Matthews sacks Morton, 7 yard loss.
2/17- Morton hits Rick Upchurch on a fly pattern - Upchurch catches the ball in stride -- and Uphurch is going to go! Rick Upchurch streaks home -- all the way home -- 67 yards for a BRONCOS TOUCHDOWN Morton to Upchurch for a 67 yard touchdown and the Broncos go out in front 7-3 after the PAT.
Pack will start at the 24 with 1:46 left in the first trailing 7-3
A false start takes them back 5.
1/15- Rodgers to Jordy Nelson for 27. Pack to their own 46.
1/10-Lacy gets 1.
2/9-Starks gets 7 -- he fumbles, but the Pack recovers - it'll be 3rd and 5 at the Denver 49 when the second qtr begins.
Second Qtr
The Pack have 3rd and 5 at the Bronco 48. Down 7-3.
3/5 - An end around to Randall Cobb - but the Broncos aren't fooled, just two yards and the Pack will punt.
Denver will take over after the punt at their own 17, 13:59 left.
1/10-Keyworth gets 3
2/7 - Armstrong gets 1 that is called back on a Bronco hold.
2/17-Julius Peppers second sack of the game is a loss of 7
3/24 - incomplete.
Big punt return by Micah Hyde - all the way down to the Denver 31 with 12:20 left.
1/10-Lacy for 3.
2/7-incomplete, and then an illegal motion penalty takes the Pack back 5
3/12 - dump off pass to Starks who is lit up by Gradishar at the line of scrimmage - Mason Crosby lines up for a 50 yard FG....it is good...and it's 7-6 Denver
Denver will start at their own 29, 10:44 left.
1/10-Keyworth gets nothing.
2/10-Armstrong loses 2.
3/12 - Morton hits Rob Lytle for 18 - big first down for the Broncos, they're at their own 45 with 8:45 left in the half.
1/10-Armstrong gets 1
2/9-Keyworth gets a dozen - another first down, Denver at the Packer 42. 7:22 left.
1/10-Armstrong gets 2.
2/8-Morton to Keyworth, 13 more yards - Denver moving the ball here they reach the Packer 27. 5:56 left.
1/10-Armstrong gets seven, an illegal motion call on the next play wipes 5 away.
2/8-Morton finds Haven Moses...in the endzone...TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS - Craig Morton's second TD pass of the game -- Denver misses the XP so the lead is 13-6
Green Bay starts at their own 33, 5:04 left in the half, down 7.
1/10-Rodgers to Nelson, 14.
1/10-Lacy gets 2 and then there's a false start
2/13-Starks gets 3, third and long.
3/10-Rodgers converts, finds Lacy over the middle for a 14 yard pickup. Pack at the Bronco 39, 2:26 left.
1/10-Starks gets 2
2/8-Incomplete
3/8-Rodgers converts again, 9 yards to Nelson, he is out of bounds at the Bronco 28 yard line with 1:50 left.
1/10-Incomplete
2/10-Rodgers finds Randall Cobb for 18 - Packers at the Denver 10 for a first and goal with 1:35 left.
1/10-Rodgers hits Cobb on a fade pattern -- TOUCHDOWN PACKERS Green Bay marches down the field to match the Denver score, they hit the kick and we are tied at 13.
Denver will start all the way up at their 46 after a terrific return by Upchurch, 1:22 left.
1/10-Morton has to escape the rush, gets 2. Timeout.
2/8-Morton hits Lytle for 8, first down at the Packer 44, :53 seconds.
1/10-Morton in trouble again, he shovels a pass to Odoms for a yard and Denver uses their second timeout.
2/9-Incomplete
3/9-Morton finds Jack Dolbin over the middle for 17 yards - that's a first down, Denver uses their last timeout at 33 seconds at the Packer 26.
1/10-pitch to Keyworth gets a yard, he's out of bounds.
2/9-Morton to Armstrong...he's going to be just short of the first down - clock running - Morton's got to hurry to the line - Morton just spiikes the ball to stop the clock at 6 seconds left in the half. Jim Turner hits the short FG and we head to the locker room - the Broncos lead 16-13
Third Quarter
Denver starts at their own 36, up 16-13.
1/10-Lytle for 3.
2/7-Incomplete
3/7-Morton hits Lytle for 15 - the previous generation's Cal QB is matching the Hall of Fame Cal QB shot for shot today.
1/10-Keyworth gets nothing.
2/10-Lytle gets nothing, another third down.
3/10-Morton hits Rick Upchurch - he caught the big 67 yard bomb in the first quarter and he adds 19 here, the Broncos are at the Packer 27 yard line, 11:25 left.
1/10-Keyworth gets 3
2/7-Armstrong gets nothing and once again, third down.
3/7-And once again - Morton coverts, hits Armstrong for 10, Denver reaches the Packer 14, Craig Morton giving the Packer defense more than it wants today.
1/10-Lytle loses 2
2/12-Armstrong gets 8, another third down
3/4-Red Miller dials up a run play this time -- but the Packers are there, Lytle can only get back to the line of scrimmage, Denver's got 4th and 4 at the Packer 8 yard line...they kick the short FG. 19-13 Broncos
Denver takes the first 7:31 of the third for a drive that earns them a FG, after the kick, GB will start at the 10, 7:16 left.
3 and out.
They kick to Denver.
3 and out including Clay Matthews' second sack of the day.
The Pack regain possession at their own 18, 3:14 left.
1/10-Lacy gets 6 and a 15 yard face mask penalty tacks on 15
1/10-3 for Lacy
2/7-5 for Lacy
3/2-Rodgers finds Andrew Quarless, his TE, for 13 yards, that takes the Pack to the Denver 40 with 1:10 left in the third. Broncos by 6.
1/10-2 for Lacy.
2/8-Incomplete
3/8-Incomplete -- the Packers are at the Bronco 38 with a 4th and 8 down by 6 - McCarthy decides to punt, that's a very non 2022 decision for this 2014 team, it's a touchback.
Jon Keyworth gets in a five yard run as the clock expires.
Fourth Quarter
15 minutes of football left, Denver is up 19-13 and they have the ball, second and 5 at their own 25 yard line.
2/5-Armstrong for 1.
3/4-Morton again under huge pressure, he's hit by Clinton Dix on the safety blitz as he throws the ball, the pass is incomplete
Punt. Packers will get the ball at their own 37. 13:34 left. Down 6.
1/10-Rodgers to Starks - he makes his way for a 24 yard gain.
1/10-Lacy gets 7
2/3-Lacy gets 10 - Green Bay's at the Denver 22 yard line with 11:26 to play.
1/10-Lacy gets 1
2/9-Lacy gets 1
3/8-Rodgers converts - hits Quarless for 8 - the Pack is at the Denver 12 with 9:22 to play.
1/10-Rodgers to Nelson for 4.
2/6-Lyle Alzado breaks through - brings Rodgers down for a huge 7 yard loss - and here we are, 3rd and 13 at the Bronco 15 yard line, 8:07 left, Denver up by 6.
1/10-Rodgers drops back - fires over the middle - into the end zone -- Randall Cobb.....TOUCHDOWN PACKERS! Rodgers hits Randall Cobb and after the XP the Packers have taken the 20-19 lead.
After the kick, Denver starts at their own 36. 7:52 left.
And they go 3 and out. Mike Daniels gets Green Bay's 5th sack.
Pack at their own 40, 6:14 left, up a point.
1/10-Lacy gets 15.
1/10-Rodgers scrambles for 4.
2/6-Rodgers to Cobb for 4.
3/2-Play action - Rodgers to the air - find Cobb for 18 and a first....nope...it comes back on a huge holding call that brings up 3rd and 20 - Rodgers will hit Nelson for 14 but that still leads to a punt and here we go.
Denver at their own 17. 3:10 left. Packers 20 Broncos 19.
1/10- Armstrong, nothing.
2/10-Armstrong, nothing.
3/10-Incomplete
4/10 - 1:53 left, Denver's down one. They go for it.
Incomplete.
The Broncos unable to pick up a first down in the 4th quarter, the Pack takes over at the Denver 17 yard line, they run the ball into the line 3 times, burn all the Bronco time outs, Mason Crosby kicks a chip shot FG to make it 23-19 --- and with 87 seconds to play, Denver will get one last shot from their own 32 yard line.
1/10- Morton finds Haven Moses for a 34 yard gain! Denver is at the Packer 34 yard line - Morton spikes the ball with 62 seconds left.
2/10-Incomplete.
3/10-Incomplete
4/10 - here it is, Denver at the Packer 34 yard line, 47 seconds remaining in the game - down by 4 - 4th and ten.
Morton finds Otis Armstrong on the sideline for a 14 yard gain and a first down!
Armstrong is out of bounds with 36 seconds left - the Broncos have a first down and Morton comes back to the line.
Morton to the endzone.....incomplete.
2nd and 10. 30 seconds. Morton to the endzone....PICKED OFF BY SAM SHIELDS! SAM SHIELDS INTERCEPTS CRAIG MORTON IN THE END ZONE AND THE GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE GOING TO ADVANCE!!!
Rodgers takes one knee and it is done.
Final: PACKERS 23 BRONCOS 19
We have a 12/5 upset, the '14 Packers come into Mile High and knock off the '77 Broncos. Each game of the tournament has been very close, but the more modern team has won every game so far.
Rodgers: 14-23 224 yards, 2 TDs
Morton: 13-25 258 2 TDs 1 Int
Lacy: 18 carries, 63 yds
Armstrong: 14 carries, 49 yds
Nelson: 5 catches, 68 yds
Cobb: 3 catches, 43 yds, 2 TDS
Lytle: 3 catches 41 yds
Julius Peppers, Clay Matthews - 2 sacks
Player of the game - Randall Cobb
