9. 2012 DENVER BRONCOS at 8. 2001 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
8. 2001 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Record: 11-5
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 9th
Def: 2nd
1st NFC East
d. Bucs WC 31-9
d. Bears Div Rnd 33-19
Lost NFC Title Rams 29-24
HC Andy Reid OC Rod Dowhower DC Jim Johnson
Veterans Stadium: 55 degrees
Merrill Reese/Mike Quick
Offense
QB Donovan McNabb 25 Syracuse
RB Duce Staley 26 S Carolina
FB Cecil Martin 26 Wisc
WR Todd Pinkston 24 So Miss
WR James Thrash 26 Mo South
TE Chad Lewis 30 BYU
LT Tra Thomas 27 Florida St
C Hank Fraley 24-R R Morris
RG Jermaine Mayberry 28 Tex A&M Kings
RT Jon Runyan 28 Mich
Defense
LDE Brandon Whiting 25 Cal
LDT Corey Simon 24 Florida St
RDT Hollis Thomas 27 N Illinois
RDE Hugh Douglas 30 Cen St
LLB Mike Caldwell 30 Midd Tenn
MLB Jeremiah Trotter 24 SFA
RLB Carlos Emmons 28 Ark St
LCB Troy Vincent 31 Wisc
RCB Bobby Taylor 28 N Dame
SS Damon Moore 25 Ohio St
FS Brian Dawkins 28 All Pro Clemson
K David Akers 27 All Pro Louisville
P Sean Landetta 39 Towson
KR/PR Brian Mitchell 33 Louisiana
The '08 Eagles are the only Philly team currently moving forward; the 8th seed from Region 10 is the 2001 team with the 2nd best defense in football. 24 year old Corey Simon and 30 year old Hugh Douglas combined for 17 sacks. 28 year old Brian Dawkins was an All Pro (as was the kicker, 27 year old David Akers). It's an Andy Reid team (ton of future head coaches on this Eagle staff including Harbaugh/Rivera). Donovan McNabb is 25, 27 scores and a dozen picks.
9. 2012 DENVER BRONCOS
Record: 13-3
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 4th
1st AFC West
Lost Ravens 38-35
HC John Fox OC Mike McCoy DC Jack Del Rio
Offense
QB Peyton Manning 36 All Pro Tenn
RB Willis McGahee 31 Miami
WR Eric Decker 25 Minn
WR Demaryius Thomas 25 G Tech
TE Jacob Tamme 27 UK
TE Joel Dreessen 30 Col St
LT Ryan Clady 26 All Pro Boise
LG Zane Beadles 26 Utah
C Dan Koppen 33 B College
RG Manuel Ramirez 29 TTech
RT Orlando Franklin 25 Miami
Defense
LDE Derek Wolfe 22 R Cincinnati
NT Kevin Vickerson 29 Mich St
RDE Justin Bannan 33 Colorado
LOLB Elvis Dumervil 28 Louisville
LILB Von Miller 23 All Pro Tex A&M
RILB Keith Brooking 37 Geo Tech
ROLB Wesley Woodyard 26 UK
LCB Champ Bailey 34 UGA
RCB Chris Harris 23 Kansas
SS Mike Adams 31 Delaware
FS Rahim Moore 22 UCLA
K Matt Prater 28 C Florida
P Britton Colquitt 27 Tenn
KR/PR Trindon Holliday 26 LSU
The '97 Broncos, the '15 Broncos, the '14 Broncos, the '05 Broncos have all advanced - this 2012 team was 2nd in offense/4th in defense. Peyton Manning's a 36 year old All Pro, 37 scores and 11 picks. The two 25 year old receivers both had big years, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas combined for nearly 180 catches, 2500 yards, 23 scores. 26 year old Ryan Clady was an All Pro. On defense, 23 year old Von Miller was an All Pro, he and 28 year old Elvis Dumervil combined for 29.5 sacks.
The '84 Niners will host the winners of this one - we head to Philly for the kick.
1st Qtr
Broncos open this one at the 34.
They get a first down - Peyton Manning 22 yards to Demaryius Thomas.
But the drive ends with a Corey Simon sack. After the punt, Eagles at the 14.
They go 3 and out - Denver gets the Elvis Dumervil sack.
Back to Denver - in good field position at the Eagle 46.
1/10 - Willie McGahee gets 2
2/8 - Nothing for McGahee
3/8 - Manning to Eric Decker, 13 yards and the first down.
1/10 - Manning -- right down the heart of the defense to Joel Dreessen - Dreessen bounces off a tackler and goes into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS Manning hits Dreessen with the 31 yard scoring strike and Denver goes on top.
Eagles at the 26.
They get a first down on a home run - Correll Buckhalter goes for 52 big, big yards -- but Von Miller gets Denver's second sack and the Eagles settle for the Akers FG.
Denver at the 23. 3 and out.
Eagles open at their own 47. 3 plays get nothing - the qtr expires before the punt.
1st Qtr: Broncos 7 Eagles 3
Manning's TD pass is gives Denver the lead - an Eagle punt opens the qtr and Denver regains at the 34.
1/10 - Knowshon Moreno gets 2, a false start makes it 2nd and 13.
2/13 - McGahee is stopped.
3/13 - Manning to Moreno -- he's gonna make his way to the sticks -- Broncos are at the 46.
1/10 - Manning downfield to Thomas - 20 yards and Denver's at the 34.
1/10 - Moreno gets 3.
2/7 - Manning downfield again - Eric Decker, 25 yards, Manning having his way with the long ball today.
But that's all - Prater FG makes it 10-3.
9 minutes left in the half, Eagles start at the 28.
1/10 - Duce Staley gets zero.
2/10 - Buckhalter for 10.
1/10 - Staley busts one -- it's Eagle running v Bronco passing today - 44 yards and the Eagles are at the 18.
1/10 - Donovan McNabb over the middle to Chad Lewis -- Lewis is gonna get all the way to the 4 yard line -- Eagles with a first and goal.
1/goal - McNab - in motion -- endzone -- James Thrash -- TOUCHDOWN EAGLES - McNabb 4 yard TD pass to Thrash and with less than 6 to play in the half we are all tied at 10.
Denver at their own 12.
1/10 - McGahee gets 5.
2/5 - Moreno is just short.
3/1 - Moreno picks it up.
1/10 - 6 yards for Moreno, another 5 on a penalty and Denver's at the 34.
1/10 - 3 for McGahee.
2/7 - Manning -- Jacob Tamme - 18 yards across midfield. We are at the 2 minute warning.
But the drive ends here - Hugh Douglas sack takes Denver back and after the punt, the Eagles take over with a minute left at their own 14.
1/10 - McNabb - looking to go up top -- Intercepted by Champ Bailey -- Bailey goes All The Way to the 4 yard Line! There's just 38 seconds left in the half - and that's the big blow - Champ Bailey picks off McNabb and Denver's got a first and goal at the 4.
1/goal - Manning. Endzone. Tamme. TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS - Manning 4 yards to Jacob Tamme - the Broncos go up 17-10 - Elvis Dumervill will get his second sack it ends the half.
3rd Qtr: Broncos 17 Eagles 10
Manning's got 2 TD passes, Champ Bailey with the big pick late in the half - Denver up a score.
Eagles to start at the 38.
1/10 - McNabb to Staley - 10 yards and the Eagles near midfield.
But - that's all - the Eagles will punt - and that punt will be downed inside the Denver 1 yard line - great Eagle punt, Denver is at their own goal line.
3 and out. Great punt by Colquitt -- rolls dead at the Eagle 41.
3 and out. Eagles give it back to Denver, Broncos at the 17.
3 and out. Nothing but defense in the third qtr, still 17-10, Eagles in good field position at the Bronco 45 yard line.
1/10 - Staley loses 4 yards.
2/14 - McNabb to Thrash - 14 yards, that's a first down to the Denver 35.
1/10 - Thrash again - again 14 yards -- the Eagles are at the 21.
1/10 - Staley gets 3.
2/7 - McNabb - to Lewis and that's a 13 yard gain, Eagles now with 1st and goal at the 5.
1/goal - Buckhalter for 1.
2/goal - Brian Mitchell's first carry - he gets right to the goal line - the Eagles have 3rd and goal, just inches to go to tie this game, a minute left in the qtr - this Philly crowd is roaring.
3/goal - McNabb over the top -- But He is Smacked Short -- McNabb stopped dead at the goal line.
4th and goal. Inches to go. Less than a minute left in the third. 17-10 Denver.
Andy Reid's going for it.
4/goal -- Give to the fullback -- Cecil Martin --- He is Into the Endzone --- TOUCHDOWN EAGLES -- We are all tied at 17. That's a big play call by Andy Reid to tie this score.
Denver at the 15 - last play of the qtr is Manning to Thomas, 11 yards, Denver at the 26.
4th Qtr: Broncos 17 Eagles 17
We are all tied up with 15 minutes left in this one - Denver with a 1st down at their own 26.
1/10 Moreno gets 1.
2/9 - Manning -- downfield again, Thomas, 21 yards and Denver is near midfield.
1/10 Moreno gets 1
2/9 - McGahee gets 4.
3/5 Manning to Eric Decker -- Denver at the Eagle 39 yard line, first down.
But that's it - and Corey Simon picks up his second sack of the day - Denver punts - Eagles get the ball back at their own 14, 10 minutes left in the game.
1/10 - McNabb to Lewis -- 11 yards and the first down.
1/10 - Staley gets 1
2/9 - Buckhalter with another big gain - 32 yards, Eagles are across midfield.
1/10 - Staley gets 1
2/9 - McNabb is in trouble -- but he escapes - pulls it down -- McNabb scrambles for a first down at the Denver 25 yard line! Big play for McNabb and the Eagles are in FG range.
Which they need to attempt -- Von Miller's second sack ends the drive -- David Akers hits the FG and the Eagles take the 20-17 lead with under 5 minutes to go in the game.
Here comes Manning. FG to tie. TD to win. 4:45 to go.
Denver at the 36.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Manning - Brandon Stokley - 12 yards and the Broncos near midfield.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Give to McGahee, he's got a half dozen, third down.
3/4 - Incomplete.
Broncos now with a decision, it's 4th and 4 at the Eagle 46 - too much for the FG - but with 2:45 left and down 3 - John Fox decides to go for it.
Big spot.
4/4 - Manning - goes over the middle to McGahee -- he is Dropped by the big shot by Jeremiah Trotter and he is going to be ---- just short of the sticks -- the Eagles take over on downs at their own 43. Oooooh, boy.
1/10 - Play action - Denver sniffs it out - broken play -- McNabb keeps it alive with his legs - he finds a wide open Duce Staley -- Staley with the 24 yard gain - Staley is all the way down to the Denver 31 yard line!
1/10 - Staley gets 4 - that takes us to the 2 minute warning. Eagles up 3 and driving.
2/6 - Buckhalter gets just shy of the first down, Denver stops the clock. 1:52 left, Eagles with the 3rd and 1 at the 22.
Denver's got to get the stop. Got to get the stop. 3rd down and a yard to go.
3/1 - Give to Staley....and he Picks Up the First Down! Denver has to use their second timeout, it's 1st down for the Eagles now at the Denver 20 yard line, Denver can only stop the clock one more time -- and that's not enough -- Eagles able to run out the clock and it is done.
Final: Eagles 20 Broncos 17
Philly shuts out Denver in the second half and they move on.
McNabb: 9 for 13, 104 yds, 1 TD/1 INT
Manning: 18 for 24, 235 yds, 2 TD
Buckhalter: 8 carries, 112 yds
McGahee: 15 carries, 24 yds
Simon/Dumervil: 2 sacks
Woodyard: 10 tackles
Player of the Game: Corey Simon
