16. 2003 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at 16. 2009 DALLAS COWBOYS
16. 2009 DALLAS COWBOYS
Record: 11-5
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 14th
Def: 2nd
1st NFC East
d. Eagles WC 34-14
Lost Vikings Div Rnd 34-3
HC: Wade Phillips, OC: Jason Garrett
Cowboys Stadium (roof closed)
Brad Sham/Babe Laufenberg
Offense
QB Tony Romo (29)
RB Marion Barber (26)
FB Deon Anderson (26)
WR Miles Austin (25)
WR Roy Williams (28)
TE Jason Witten (27)
LT Flozell Adams (34)
LG Kyle Kosier (31)
C Andre Gurode (31)
RG Leonard Davis (31)
RT Marc Colombo (31)
Defense
LDE Marcus Spears (26)
NT Jay Ratliff (28) All Pro
RDE Igor Olshansky (27)
LOLB Anthony Spencer (25)
LILB Bradie James (28)
RILB Keith Brooking (34)
ROLB DeMarcus Ware (27) All Pro
LCB Terence Newman (31)
RCB Mike Jenkins (24)
SS Gerald Sensabaugh (26)
FS Ken Hamlin (28)
K Nick Folk (25)
P Mat McBriar (30)
KR Felix Jones (22)
PR Patrick Crayton (30)
We move to Region 3 - the 1996 Packers await the winner of the Play In Game. The '09 Cowboys won the coin flip and so we're headed to Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys are here on the backs of the 2nd best defense from 2009. 2 All Pros - 27 year old DeMarcus Ware and 28 year old Jay Ratliff combined for 17 sacks. Middling offense despite 5 Pro Bowlers; Tony Romo is 29, 26 scores and 9 picks. 25 year old Miles Austin had double digit TDs. Dallas already has moved teams forward in the first two regions.
16. 2003 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 2nd
Def: 20th
1st AFC South
d. Broncos WC 41-10
d. Chiefs Div Rnd 38-31
Lost AFC Title 24-14
HC: Tony Dungy, OC: Tom Moore, DC: Ron Meeks
Offense
QB Peyton Manning (27) All Pro
RB Edgerrin James (25)
WR Marvin Harrison (31)
WR Reggie Wayne (25)
TE Dallas Clark (24-R)
TE Marcus Pollard (31)
LT Tarik Glenn (27)
LG Rick DeMulling (26)
C Jeff Saturday (28)
RG Steve Sciullo (23-R)
RT Ryan Diem (24)
Defense
LDE Raheem Brock (25)
LDT Larry Tripplett (24)
RDT Montae Reagor (26)
RDE Dwight Freeney (23)
LLB Marcus Washington (26)
MLB Rob Morris (28)
RLB David Thornton (25)
LCB Walt Harris (29)
RCB Nick Harper (29)
SS Mike Doss (22-R)
FS Idrees Bashir (25)
K Mike Vanderjagt (33) All Pro
P Hunter Smith (26)
KR Brad Pyatt (23)
PR Troy Walters (27)
The 2nd ranked defense from '09 face the 2nd ranked offense from '03. The Colts are the Cowboys inverse, top offense, bad defense. Peyton Manning's 27 (I've decided not to list the alma mater for these play in games) and he's an All Pro, 29 scores, 10 picks. Double digit scores for 31 year old Marvin Harrison and 25 year old Edgerrin James. On defense, Dwight Freeney's 23 and had 11 sacks. It's Colts offense v. Cowboys defense - Region 3 is underway, let's head to Dallas.
First Qtr
Dallas opens at the 19.
1/10 Marion Barber opens by running into the line.
2/10 - Tashard Choice gets an early carry and blasts his way for a dozen.
Dallas nets 8 yards on the next 3 plays. Colts will start at the 34. 11:51.
1/10 - Edgerrin James for 3.
2/7 - Peyton Manning finds Reggie Wayne, 9 yard gain.
Indy nets 5 yards on the next 3 plays. Cowboys will start at the 19. 8:14.
1/10 - Barber gets 1.
2/9 - Tony Romo hits Miles Austin for 19, Dallas out to the 39.
1/10 - Choice for 5.
2/5 - Felix Jones gets his first carry of the game and he goes for 7 and the first down.
1/10 - Choice for 10 - Dallas has these 3 backs and are showing early on a willingness to use all of them.
1/10 - Romo to Roy Williams for 6.
2/4 - Barber for 5 and another first down, Cowboys down to the Colts 28.
1/10 - Romo hits Patrick Crayton for a big 24 yard gain - Dallas has a 1st and goal at the Colts 4.
1/goal - Felix Jones loses a yard.
2/goal - Barber for 3.
3/goal - Romo play action - floats a ball to the corner -- Roy Williams is there -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - Big drive for Dallas, 11 plays, 81 yards - 7 minutes of clock - you match up a mediocre Dallas offense against a bad Colts defense and you get a nice, sustained touchdown scoring drive.
Colts to start at the 24.
Edge loses 3; on the second play Manning finds Marcus Pollard for 10 as the quarter ends.
2nd Qtr
Dallas up 7-0 on that long TD drive, Colts have a 3rd and 3 at their own 31.
Edge gets stacked up at the line - after the punt, Dallas opens at the 38.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Big play - Romo to Austin for 30 - Miles Austin is a real weapon in 2009 and he and Romo might torch this Colts secondary. Cowboys out to the 32.
The next 3 plays lose 2 yards on a Robert Mathis sack. Nick Folk then misses the long FG and the Colts take possession all the way out at their own 41.
And they go 3 and out. The Dallas defense showing up so far against this Colts attack.
Dallas will start at the 21. 10:01 left.
1/10 - 7 for Jones
2/3 - 6 for Barber, the multi-headed backfield continues to be effective.
1/10 - Romo finds Kevin Ogletree for 10 - Dallas out to their 44.
1/10 - 11 yard run for Felix Jones.
1/10 - Romo finds Austin again, 8 yards to the Colts 37. 6:33 left.
2/2 - Barber for 1 - third and short.
3/1 - Romo play action to Martellus Bennett, 12 yard gain - Dallas to the 24. Back to back offsides calls on the Colts move Dallas to the 14.
1/10 - Jones for 4.
2/6 - Tashard Choice scoots home - 10 yards to the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS and Dallas is really rolling today, 14-0 and the Colts will open at the 27 with 4:22 to go.
1/10 - DeMarcus Ware is in the backfield and he drops Manning for a 4 yard loss.
2/14 - Manning hits Troy Walters for 15 - and then an offsides call adds 5 more to move the Colts all the way to their own 43. 3:01 left.
1/5 - Manning to Reggie Wayne for 7. Holding on the next play backs the Colts they're at their own 40, 2:11 left.
1/20 - Manning to Wayne again, 16 yards. 2 minute warning.
2/4 - Manning picks up the first down, 5 to Walters. Indy at the Dallas 39, 1:54 left.
1/10 - Jay Ratliff barrels into the backfield, Manning is down with an 8 yard loss. Colts timeout.
2/18 - Manning to Marvin Harrison for 5.
3/13 - Big play - third and long, down 2 scores, near the end of the half - Manning finds Aaron Moorehead for 28 and
on the next play Edgerrin James blasts 14 yards into the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN COLTS - big sequence there going from possibly having to punt to two plays later finding the end zone for the first time today. Colts cut the deficit to 14-7.
Dallas will start at the 35, 1:24 left.
And on the first play - Tony Romo hits Patrick Crayton for the 34 yard strike - Dallas is at the Indy 31 yard line.
1/10 - Barber for 6.
2/4 - Jones for 4 - And another first down, Dallas at the Indy 21, using their second timeout, :53 left.
1/10 - Choice for 6.
2/4 - Romo finds Miles Austin underneath - Austin picks his way forward - Austin's Going to Find the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS -- in just 43 seconds, the Cowboys go 65 yards; Dallas's middling offense really taking it to the Colts terrible defense.
Indy gets it back at the 28. 36 seconds left.
1/10 - Edge for 3, Colts content to go to the locker room at this point.
2/7 - Except Edge busts one - Edge explodes into the line and goes 44 yards - all the way down to the Dallas 25 yard line with 16 seconds to go.
After the timeout, Manning takes one end zone shot - incomplete - and Mike Vanderjagt hits the FG at the end of the half. 21-10
Third Quarter -
24 points combined in the back half of the second qtr, Dallas up 11. Colts start at the 29.
1/10 - Edge picked up 44 yards the last time he carried the ball - he goes for 17 to open the third quarter.
1/10 - Manning with another big strike - 42 yards right down the heart of the Cowboys defense to Marvin Harrison, in 2 plays the Colts reach the Dallas 12.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - A run for someone who isn't Edge - it's Ricky Williams - he gets 2.
3/8 - Manning zips the ball through traffic and finds Reggie Wayne in the end zone -- TOUCHDOWN COLTS -- we got a good one here in the Region 3 Play In Game - after the XP it's 21-17 and now Dallas, which has had its way all day agains the Colts defense, gets the ball again. At their own 30. 12:34.
1/10 - Kevin Ogletree on a reverse, a gadget play by Wade Phillips - 2 yards.
2/8 - Back to a more bread and butter call, Barber goes off left tackle for 13.
1/10 - Romo to Austin for 2.
2/8 - Jones gets 1
3/7 - Romo finds Sam Hurd for a 10 yard gain and a first down - Dallas is at the Colts 42 yard line.
1/10 - 8 for Barber.
2/2 - Romo scrambles for a dozen yards - Dallas all the way to the Indy 22.
1/10 - Choice busts one, 20 yards -- all the way down to the Indy 2 yard line - big gainer gives the Cowboys the first and goal.
1/goal - Romo to Barber -- Barber in the end zone -- Marion Barber in the end zone for the TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS -- Dalas goes 70 yards in 10 plays and are up 11. After a penalty, Colts to start at their own 23, 1st and 15, 6:13 left in the third.
1/15 - 11 for Edge.
2/4 - 6 more for Edge and the first down.
1/10 - Manning to Harrison for 9.
2/1 - Manning to Dallas Clark for 17 yards - Colts now at the Dallas 34.
3 plays net 6 yards - Tony Dungy decides to kick the FG - Vanderjagt makes it - Dallas will take over at their own 14 yard line, 1:22 left in the third, leading the game 28-20
2 plays go nowhere -- but on the last play of the third quarter, Romo finds Roy Williams for 33, Dallas up near midfield when we hit the 4th.
4th Quarter
Dallas is up 8 and driving. At their own 47 yard line, first down.
3 plays lose a yard.
Colts at the 14. 13:14 left. 28-20 Dallas.
1/10 - Manning to Harrison. 11 yards.
1/10 - Manning to Brandon Stokley - it's 29 yards - the Colts are across midfield.
1/10 - Edge for 1.
2/9 - Edge for 9 and another first down.
1/10 - Ricky Williams goes for 5.
2/5 - Edge for 2.
3/3 - Edge is stopped dead at the line - again with the FG -- it's good - with just 8:21 left, Dallas's lead is now 5 points.
Dallas starts at the 28. Can the Colts get a stop?
1/10 - Romo to Jason Witten for a 10 yard gain - Phillips still throwing the ball, staying aggressive.
1/10 - Barber stopped at the line.
2/10 - Romo to Crayton for 4 - a false start makes it 3rd and 11 for Dallas at their own 37, 6:21 left.
3/11 - Romo goes over the middle, finds Witten - Witten's got the first down - when he's stripped by the rookie safety Mike Doss -- FUMBLE -- FUMBLE -- The Colts recover - The Colts take possession at their own 40 yard line - just 6:11 left in the game and the Colts get a chance - Manning gets a chance at a game winning drive.
It takes one play.
Manning goes deep to Brandon Stokley - he sprints to the end zone -- TOUCHDOWN COLTS - Peyton Manning 60 yards to Brandon Stokley gives the Colts their first lead of the game -- and a 2 point conversion from Manning to Ricky Williams makes it Indy 31 Dallas 28
This building is stunned - perhaps all of Dallas is stunned. The Cowboys have led this entire game, led by 5 points with the ball and a first down in Indianapolis possession....but a fumble and a 60 yard strike, an absolute strike have given the Colts the lead - wow, wow, what a game, wow.
5:52 left. Cowboys ball at the 29. 31-28 Colts.
1/10 Barber for 3.
2/7 - Incomplete
3/7 - Romo - big Romo play - 29 yards to Roy Williams - that takes the Cowboys to the Colt 39 with 4:19 to go. Big third down conversion for the Cowboys.
1/10 - 4 for Choice.
2/6 - Romo to Miles Austin - 33 yards and knocked out of bounds at the 2 yard line! Tony Romo to Miles Austin! 33 yards!
1/goal - Felix Jones is in the endzone with a TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS -- 7 plays, 71 yards - the Dallas Cowboys retake the lead! The XP makes it 35-31 Cowboys, the Colts, somehow, someway, need to do it again - Indy starts at their own 22, 2:08 to go, trailing 35-31.
Goddamn, what a game. Whew.
1/10 - Edge loses 2 and we reach the 2 minute warning.
2/12 - Manning picks it up -13 to Harrsion. Timeout.
1/10 - Manning to Ricky Williams out of the backfield for 6.
2/4 - Dungy calls a run -- it's Edge and he busts out 11 yards and gets out of bounds - the Colts are at midfield with 75 seconds left in the football game.
1/10 - Manning to Stokley - 13 yards, clock is rolling.
1/10 - Manning to Edge - 8 yards; Colts use their second timeout at the Dallas 29 yard line, 47 seconds left.
2/2 - Incomplete.
3/2 - Incomplete.
And here we are. 29 seconds left. Colts at the 29. 4th and 2. They need a touchdown to win this game.
4/2 - Dungy runs the ball - they put the rock in Edge's hands -- and he drags his way to a 6 yard gain and the huge first down! Manning running to the line - quick snap -
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - DeMarcus Ware with the huge, huge, huge sack - an 8 yard loss - the Colts are back at the Dallas 39 yard line, they use their final timeout, 3rd down and 18 yards to go with just 8 seconds to play.
Probably just time for one shot at it - Colts out of timeouts, probably too risky to try to get two plays here. So - 3rd down and 18 at the 39. 8 seconds left. Cowboys 35 Colts 31.
Here we go.
Manning's in the shotgun - Manning's looking downfield - this will be the last play of the game - Manning's throwing it to the endzone ----multiple jerseys clustered together - arms fly up -- MARCUS POLLARD! MARCUS POLLARD! TOUCHDOWN COLTS! TOUCHDOWN COLTS! PEYTON MANNING TO MARCUS POLLARD ON THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME! TOUCHDOWN COLTS!!
Pandemonium on the Colts sideline, players, coaches, streaming onto the field - grabbing Pollard, grabbing Manning - the Cowboys in stunned disbelief - the officials aren't going to be able to sort out getting to the XP - so that will be the final score --
Final Score: Colts 37 Cowboys 35
48 combined first downs. Dallas with nearly 9 more minutes time of possession, the one turnover was a backbreaker, the Witten fumble that allowed the Colts to get back in the game. Great, great game here in the play in round for Region 3 - Manning with the 39 yard hail mary, a sea of hands reception by Marcus Pollard to advance. Manning with the best QB performance in the tournament to date.
Manning: 21 of 25 343 yds 3 TD
Romo: 20 of 29, 304 yds 3 TD
James: 21 carries, 136 yds, 1 TD
Choice: 9 carries, 72 yds 1 TD
Harrison: 5 catches, 80 yds
Stokley 3 catches, 102 yds, 1 TD
Austin 6 catches 107 yds 1 TD
Ware: 2 sacks
Thornton: 10 tackles
James: 11 tackles
Player of the Game: Peyton Manning
