16. 2006 NFC CHAMPION CHICAGO BEARS at 1. 2004 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
1. 2004 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Record: 14-2
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 4th
Def: 2nd
1st AFC East
d. Colts Div Rnd 20-3
d. Steelers AFC Title 41-27
d. Eagles Super Bowl 24-21
d. 2013 Saints 19-10
HC Bill Belichick OC Charlie Weis DC Romeo Crennel
Gillette Stadium: 45 degrees
Gil Santos/Gino Cappelletti
Offense
QB Tom Brady
RB Corey Dillon
WR Deion Branch
WR David Givens
WR David Patten
TE Daniel Graham
LT Matt Light
LG Joe Andruzzi
C Dan Koppen
RG Steve Neal
RT Brandon Gorin
Defense
LDE Ty Warren
NT Keith Traylor
RDE Richard Seymour All Pro
LOLB Willie McGinest
LILB Ted Johnson
RILB Tedy Bruschi
ROLB Mike Vrabel
LCB Ty Law
RCB Randall Gay 22-R
SS Rodney Harrison
FS Eugene Wilson
K Adam Vinatieri All Pro
P Josh Miller
KR Bethel Johnson
PR Kevin Faulk
3 Pats teams - '06, '07, '14 have advanced. The 8th overall seed in the tournament is the '04 Super Bowl Champs; 2nd in defense, 4th in offense. 25 year old Richard Seymour is the All Pro on defense; he and 33 year old Willie McGinest combined for 14.5 sacks. 32 year old Adam Vinatieri also is an All Pro. On offense, Brady's 27, 28 scores and 14 picks. Big year for 30 year old Corey Dillon, 1600 yards rushing and 13 scores.
16. 2006 CHICAGO BEARS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 3rd
1st NFC North
d. Seahawks Div Rnd 27-24
d. Saints AFC Title 39-14
lost Super Bowl Colts 29-17
HC Lovie Smith OC Ron Turner DC Ron Rivera
Offense
QB Rex Grossman 26 Florida
RB Thomas Jones 28 UVA
FB Jason McKie 26 Temple
WR Bernard Berrian 26 Fresno St
WR Muhsin Muhammad 33 Michigan St
TE Desmond Clark 29 Wake
LT John Tait 31 BYU
LG Ruben Brown 34 Pitt
C Olin Kreutz 29 All Pro Wash
RG Roberto Garza 27 A&M Kingsville
RT Fred Miller 33 Baylor
Defense
LDE Adewale Ogunleye 29 Indiana
LDT Tommie Harris 23 Oklahoma
RDT Tank Johnson 25 Wash
RDE Alex Brown 27 Florida
LLB Hunter Hillenmeyer 26 Vandy
MLB Brian Urlacher 28 All Pro N Mexico
RLB Lance Briggs 26 Arizona
LCB Peanut Tillman 25 Louisiana
RCB Nathan Vasher 25 Texas
SS Chris Harris 24 La Monroe
FS Danieal Manning 24-R Ab Christian
K Robbie Gould 24 All Pro Penn St
P Brad Maynard 32 Ball St
KR/PR Devin Hester 24 All Pro Miami
Don't sleep on the '06 Bears, they're stuck in this play in game - but maybe they shouldn't be, 2nd best offense, 3rd best defense and two All Pros on special teams. That feels like a team that should have been in the field. 26 year old Rex Grossman had 23 scores and 20 picks; 28 year old Thomas Jones rushed for 1200 yards. 29 year old Olin Kreutz was an All Pro. 28 year old All Pro Brian Urlacher leads the defense. Robbie Gould and Devin Hester are both 24 and All Pro, Hester returned 5 kicks for scores. 5 sacks took out the '13 Saints in the play in.
There hasn't been a 16/1 upset -- can Chicago pull the first? Let's head to New England for the kick.
1st Qtr
Bethel Johnson returns the opening kick to the 48, Patriots start there.
1/10 - Corey Dillon gets the first carry, goes for 6.
2/4 - Tom Brady quick pass to David Givens at the sideline, first down at the Bear 39.
1/10 - Dillon stopped at the line.
2/10 - Brady - Deion Branch, just short of the first down.
3/1 - Brady - back to Givens - a dozen yards, Pats at the Bears 18.
That's where it stops - Tommie Harris gets a third down sack -- Vinatieri with the short FG and it's 3-0.
Bears start at the 35.
1/10 - Rex Grossman throws on first down - 11 to Thomas Jones.
And that's all. Patriots will take over at the 20.
3 and out. Bears with good field position at their own 49.
1/10 - Jones stacked up.
2/10 - Grossman is buried by Willie McGinest, third and long.
3/18 - Rex picks it up - hits Justin Gage, right at the sticks -- the Bears are at the Pats 39.
1/10 - Thomas Jones big gain, a dozen, Chicago's at the 27.
1/10 - Jones another big gain -- Jones inside the ten-- Fumble -- Fumble -- Rodney Harrison strips Jones - Fumble -- the Pats take over with 2 minutes left in the qtr with the 3 point lead. Big Rodney Harrison forced turnover.
3 and out - the quarter ends before the punt.
2nd Qtr: Patriots 3 Bears 0
Big Patriots defensive play near the end of the qtr, Pats will punt from their own 10.
Bears start at the 43.
They get a first down - Grossman to Jason McKie, 14 yards -- but the drive leads to no points when Gould misses a 50 yard FG.
Pats start at the 35 - 3 and out.
Bears at the 15. 3 and out.
Patriots at their own 49, 10 left in the half. 3-0 Bears. All defense.
1/10 - Dillon for 3.
2/7 - Brady -- Daniel Graham - big gainer, he rumbles for 28 yards all the way to the Bear 20.
1/10 - Dillon - off left - one cut -- and Dillon's Gonna Go -- Corey Dillon bursts 20 yards -- right into the Bear end zone -- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS - in just 3 plays New England goes 51 yards and they take the 10-0 lead.
Bears at the 36.
1/10 - Jones for 5.
2/5 - Benson is just shy of the first.
3/1 - Grossman. Play action. Rex is going deep -- Rex - Deep sideline -- Muhsin Muhammad -- he's got him! Huge Strike -- 54 yards from Grossman to Muhammad - he's out of bounds at the goal line - the official rules he was out of bounds before crossing the goal line -- just a great throw by Grossman, deep strike for a first and goal.
1/goal - Play action again - Grossman - Bernard Berrian -- TOUCHDOWN BEARS - Chicago comes right back at NE, 65 yards in 4 plays -- the two sides exchanging quick scoring drives and it's 10-7 Pats with less than 6 in the half.
Pats at the 23.
1/10- Brady to David Patten, 14 yards.
1/10 - Brady to David Givens - 29 yards - the first quarter was prelude, these two QBs slinging now. Pats at the Chicago 34.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Dillon, through the line - cuts to the outside -- Dillon turns the corner and Dillon is Gonna Go! Dillon is Gonna Go! ---- 34 yard TD run for Corey Dillon and NE takes the 17-7 lead. 4 minutes left in the half.
2 TD runs for Corey Dillon here in the first half.
Bears at the 35. 3 and out.
Pats at the 20, little more than 2 minutes left. Up 10.
1/10 - Brady to Dillon, 14 yards and it's the 2 minute warning.
1/10 - Dillon stopped at the line, Pats timeout.
2/10 - Brady to Graham, 13 yards - out of bounds at the 47.
1/10 - Dillon gets 3, Pats keep the clock moving.
2/7 - Faulk gets 4, that's the second timeout, 1 minute left in the half, 3rd and 3 at the 46.
3/3 - Brady picks it up - Troy Brown's first reception - it's 14 yards, NE is at the Chicago 32, they use their final timeout, 44 seconds left in the half.
1/10 - Brady to Patten - 15 yards, clock still moving, Brady spikes the ball. Pats at the 17 yard line, 29 seconds left.
It ends here - Viatieri will hit the FG at the gun and it's 20-7 at the half.
Third Qtr: Patriots 20 Bears 7
NE having their way right now, Corey Dillon really rolling, Pats with the 2 score lead. Good return from Devin Hester, Bears will start at the 41.
1/10 - Jones stopped at the line.
2/10 - Grossman - Desmond Clark - 17 yards and the Bears are quickly across midfield.
1/10 - Incomplete.
2/10 - Back to Clark - Clark's going to ramble all the way to the Pats 29 yard line, Bears moving the ball.
1/10 - Benson gets 5
2/5 - Jones for 3 -
3/2 - Jones picks it up, Chicago is at the 16 yard line, first down.
1/10 - 6 more for Jones
2/4 - Grossman...in trouble...Grossman across the line, gets a couple. 3rd and 2.
3/2 - Benson is stuffed - loses a yard - it's 4th and 3 at the 9.
Well, here's a gutsy call from Lovie Smith - down 20-7, middle third -- 3rd and 3, it's a healthy 3 - he's gonna go for it.
Gotta like it - 16th seed, here against a 1, let's empty the clip.
4/3 - It's a give to Jones....he is.....he's got it! Jones picks up the first down, it's first and goal at the 6.
1/1goal - Benson gets to the 2.
2/goal - Incomplete
3/goal - Jones...Thomas Jones is into the End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN BEARS - Chicago takes 8 minutes off the third quarter clock, drives and scores, they trail now just 20-14.
Pats at the 23.
3 and out. Bears at their own 43. Chicago is in this football game.
1/10 - Grossman to Gage for 9.
2/1 - Jones picks it up - Chicago is into Patriot territory.
1/10 - Cedric Benson goes for 13 --- Chicago has all the momentum now, they are at the 34.
1/10 - Thomas Jones gets 11 -- the Bears at the Patriot 23.
1/10 - Benson gets 9 and Chicago's at the 14.
2/1 - Grossman -- to Muhammad -- Muhammad is going to be tackled at the 4 yard line! The Chicago Bears - down 6 have a first and goal at the Patriot 4 yard line!
1/goal - Benson gets 1.
2/goal - Jones is stopped. Big 3rd and goal at the 3.
3/goal - It's McKie...but he's stopped dead in the backfield. Loses a yard.
That's the last play of the qtr.
4th Qtr
New England had the ball for a total of 3 offensive plays in the entire third quarter, the Bears have cut the deficit to 20-14, it's now 4th and goal at the 4 yard line...Lovie will take the points, Gould chip shot and it's 20-17.
Good return for NE, they open at the 42. 20-17 Patriots.
1/10 - Brady to Patten for 9.
2/1 - Incomplete.
3/1 - Dillon picks it up.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Dillon gets 1 - third and 9 now for the NE.
3/9 - Brady finds David Givens, he's all the way to the Bear 34 yard line, first down for NE.
1/10 - Dillon - Dillon headed right - AND COREY DILLON'S GONNA GO AGAIN - Corey Dillon blasts through the Bear defense, 34 yards -- Corey Dillon's third TD run of the day -- the Patriots come right back and reassert themselves, TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS 27-17 Patriots, 10:29 left, Bears start at the 26.
1/10 - Benson gets 8.
2/2 - Grossman finds Clark - 15 yards to the 49, Chicago really found something at the half and they are clicking.
1/10 - Grossman to Berrian - that's a 17 yard gain - Chicago is at the Patriot 34 yard line.
1/10 - Jones gets 4.
2/6 - Grossman to Muhammad, 9 yards and the Bears are at the 21 -nice drive here by Chicago, they refuse go go quietly against the top seeded Pats.
1/10 - Benson gets 5
2/5 - McKie gets 2, it's 3rd down.
3/3 - Grossman picks it up - Berrian gets to the 8, first and goal.
1/goal - Grossman. Muhammad. End zone TOUCHDOWN BEARS - Rex Grossman leads Chicago 74 yards -- and with a little more than 5 minutes to go, the Bears have sliced the deficit to 3 points, 27-24.
Pats will start at the 19. Can Chicago get a stop?
1/10 - Brady -- over the middle to a wide open Graham! Graham has open field -- Graham has open field -- Graham will be caught from behind - 56 yard gain -- the Patriots just take Chicago's soul - 56 yards from Brady to Graham and the Pats are at the Bear 25.
1/10 - Dillon....COREY DILLON'S GONNA DO IT AGAIN - Dillon just exploding through the line -- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS - that's 4 Corey Dillon scores - it takes only 2 plays for the Pats to go 81 yards and extend that lead to 10 points with a little more than 4 minutes to go.
Bears at the 20.
1/10 - Jones gets 6.
2/4 - Incomplete
3/4 - defensive holding, automatic first down.
1/10 - Grossman to Clark, 8 yards. Now under 4 left.
2/2 - Benson picks it up - Bears at the 44. 3:30.
1/10 - Grossman to Jones - 14 yards, Jones is out of bounds at the Pats 42.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Grossman to McKie -- McKie has a 14 yard gain, Chicago taking it's first timeout at 2:48, Chicago at the Pats 27.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Incomplete
This is it. 4th down, 2:09 left. 34-24 Patriots.
4/10 - Grossman picks it up - 10 yards to Thomas Jones, 2 minute mark, Bears at the 17.
1/10 - Grossman to Mckie - 9 yards - Bears use their second timeout at the 8.
2/2 - Grossman - Endzone -- Berrian -- TOUCHDOWN BEARS -- 80 yard TD drive in less than 3 minutes for Chicago, there's 1:42 left in the game, 34-31, Bears have just 1 timeout. Here comes the onside kick.
Pats recover. And that's it - the Bears have to burn their final timeout - the Pats burn the rest of the clock - and they advance
Final: Patriots 34 Bears 31
Chicago had 10 more first downs, 11 more minutes of possession - but they fall short in their attempt to knock off the top seeds in region 8
Brady: 14 for 20, 226 yds
Grossman: 23 for 33, 286 yds, 3 TD
Dillon: 20 carries, 160 yds, 4 TD
Jones: 21 carries, 91 yds, 1 TD
Graham: 3 catches, 97 yds
Muhammad 5 catches, 80 yds 1 TD
Player of the Game: Corey Dillon
