16. 2011 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS at 1. 1976 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
1. 1976 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Record: 10-4
Pythag: 13-1
Off: 5th
Def: 1st
1st AFC Central
d. Colts Div Rnd 40-14
lost Raiders AFC Title 24-7
HC Chuck Noll DC Bud Carson
Three Rivers Stadium: 40 degrees
Jack Fleming/Myron Cope
Offense
QB Terry Bradshaw 28 La Tech
RB Rocky Bleier 30 N Dame
RB Franco Harris 26 Penn St
WR Frank Lewis 29 Grambling
WR Lynn Swann 24 USC
TE Randy Grossman 24 Temple
LT Jon Kolb 29 Oklahoma St
LG Sam Davis 32 Allen
C Mike Webster 24 Wisconsin
RG Jim Clack 29 Wake
RT Gerry Mullins 27 USC
Defense
LDE LC Greenwood 30 Ark PB
LDT Joe Greene 30 N Texas
RDT Ernie Holmes 28 Tex Southern
RDE Dwight White 27 Tex A&M Commerce
LLB Jack Ham All Pro 28 Penn St
MLB Jack Lambert 24 All Pro Kent St
RLB Andy Russell 35 Missouri
LCB JT Thomas 25 Florida St
RCB Mel Blount 28 Southern
SS Mike Wagner 27 W Illinois
FS Glen Edwards 29 Florida A&M
K Roy Gerela 28 N Mex St
P Bobby Walden 38 UGA
KR Ernest Pough 24 Tex Southern
PR Theo Bell 23 Arizona
The 16th overall seed in the field, the final top seed left to play, is the '76 Steelers. Best defense in football, 5th best offense. 2 All Pros on defense (8 Pro Bowlers including the full secondary) 28 year old Jack Ham, 24 year old Jack Lambert. On offense, 28 year old Terry Bradshaw started 8 games, had 13 scores and 9 picks. Both 30 year old Rocky Bleier and 26 year old Franco Harris rushed for more than a thousand yards. Franco also had 14 TDs.
16. 2011 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS
Record 9-7
Pythag: 8-8
Off: 9th
Def: 25th
1st NFC East
d. Falcons WC 24-2
d. Packers Div Rnd 37-20
d. Niners NFC Title 20-17
d. Packers Super Bowl Title 21-17
d. '83 Dolphins 28-23
HC Tom Coughlin OC Kevin Gilbride DC Perry Fewell
MetLife: 55 degrees
Bob Papa/Dick Lynch/Carl Banks
Offense
QB Eli Manning 30 Ole Miss
RB Ahmad Bradshaw 25 Marshall
RB Brandon Jacobs 29 S Illinois
WR Hakeem Nicks 23 UNC
WR Victor Cruz 25 Mass
TE Jake Ballard 24 Ohio St
LT Will Beatty 26 UConn
LG David Diehl 31 Illinois
C David Baas 30 Michigan
RG Chris Snee 29 B College
RT Kareem McKenzie 32 Penn St
Defense
LDE Justin Tuck 28 N Dame
LDT Linval Joseph 23 E Carolina
RDT Chris Canty 29 UVA
RDE Jason Pierre Paul All Pro 22 S Florida
LLB Mathias Kiwanuka 28 B College
MLB Michael Boley 29 S Miss
LCB Corey Webster 29 LSU
RCB Aaron Ross 29 Texas
SS Kenny Phillips 25 Miami
FS Antrel Rolle 29 Miami
DB Deon Grant 32 Tennessee
K Lawrence Tynes 33 Troy
P Steve Weatherford 29 Illinois
KR Devin Thomas 25 Mich St
PR Aaron Ross 29 Texas
A half dozen Super Bowl Champs remain - we'll see them all in Region 16, starting here with the 2011 Champs. Neither offense or defense provided a lot in the regular season, there's one All Pro, 22 year old Jason Pierre Paul who had 16.5 sacks. Eli Manning is 30, 30 scores and 16 picks. 25 year old Ahmad Bradshaw had 11 TDs, 23 year old Hakeem Nicks had over 1100 yards receiving. The Giants knocked off the '83 Dolphins in the play in round - as the 16th seed, obviously they are sizeable underdogs in Pittsburgh - but they are a Super Bowl winning team and you have to think they're dangerous. Let's go to Three Rivers for the kick.
1st Qtr
Steelers start at the 32.
One first down - on the first play of the game, Franco busts a 42 yard run right up the gut.
But that's it - and Gerela misses the FG - Giants take over at the 27.
3 and out - New York might struggle to move the ball today. LC Greenwood with the sack.
Steelers at the 47.
1/10 - Terry Bradshaw is in trouble, pulls the ball down and gains 11.
1/10 - Bradshaw's first completion is to Ernest Pough - downfield for the 30 yard pickup to the Giants 12.
1/10 - Rocky Bleier gets a yard.
2/9 - Bleier---- Rocky Bleier just following Mike Webster right Into The End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS - 11 yard Bleier run for the score, 7-0.
Giants at the 28.
1/10 - Brandon Jacobs for 1.
2/9 - Ahmad Bradshaw for 1.
3/8 - Eli Manning picks it up, 9 yards to the 39.
1/10 - Manning in trouble -- gets a couple on the scramble.
2/8 - Manning dropped hard by Mean Joe Greene.
3/12 - Incomplete...but a roughing the passer on Greene gives the Giants a first down -- Eli stays in the game, but he's clearly rattled.
1/10 - End around -- Victor Cruz gains 13 yards to the Steeler 31.
1/10 - Jack Ham sacks Manning - that's 3 Steeler sacks.
2/14 - Eli picks it up - finds Bradshaw in space, he gains 16 - the Giants are at the 18.
1/10 - Joe Greene again - that is 4 Steeler sacks in the first quarter and a violent roughing the passer penalty. There really isn't a second QB on the active roster, if Eli can't continue, it's going to be a struggle.
2/14 - Manning -- Eli Manning running for his life -- Manning -- Manning's got some Room -- Manning's --- Eli Manning Is Gonna Go Into the End Zone! TOUCHDOWN GIANTS - Eli Manning with a desparate 25 yard scramble for the score -- the Giants tie this game.
Steelers at the 30, time just for one play - and the Giants get a sack, Jason Pierre Paul had 3 in the play in round and gets one here.
2nd Qtr: Steelers 7 Giants 7
Pittsburgh has 4 sacks and has been in the Giants backfield repeatedly - but a 25 yard Eli Manning TD scramble tied this game. Steelers have a second and 15 at the 25.
2/15 - Franco gets a couple.
3/13 - Bradshaw to Franco -- Franco breaks a tackle - Franco goes all the way to the Steeler 47 yard line.
But -- the drive ends here. after the punt, Giants at the 17.
3 and out.
Steelers in good shape at the NY 48.
3 and out. Giants at the 14.
1/10 - Nothing for Jacobs.
2/10 - Eli again running -- Eli goes for 10 yards - Eli Manning has another first down.
1/10 - Manning to Hakeem Nicks in space - Nicks with a step - and he's got a 23 yard pickup to the 47.
1/10 - 8 for Bradshaw
2/2 - NY tries the Cruz end around again - Lambert sniffs it out.
3/5 - Manning to Nicks, 7 yards and the Giants are at the Steeler 37.
The drive ends here - Tynes hits the long FG and just a little ahead of the 2 minute warning, the Giants have the 10-7 lead.
Steelers at the 36. 3 and out.
With 1:19 left - the Giants have the ball at their own 40 yard line, nice Aaron Ross return.
1/10 - Bradshaw gets 4.
2/6 - Incomplete
3/6 - Manning to Nicks - 8 yards to the Steeler 46, he is out of bounds, there's 56 seconds left, Giants have all 3 timeouts.
1/10 - Manning to Cruz - 15 yard pickup, the Giants stop the clock at 44 seconds at the 31.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Manning to Nicks -- 10 yards -- New York uses its second timeout, 31 seconds left in the half.
That's as far as it goes -- but Tynes hits a FG at the whistle -- and as we go the locker rooms the 16th seeded Giants are up 13-7 on the top seeded Steelers.
3rd Qtr: Giants 13 Steelers 7
There's something about the 2011 Super Bowl Champs, they lead here at the half despite giving up 4 first quarter sacks.
Giants get a big Devin Thomas return and open the half at their own 41.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Ahmad Bradshaw 2 yard pickup.
3/8 - Eli goes downfield -- acrobatic catch made by Victor Cruz, the Giants are at the Steeler 37.
1/10 - Manning scrambling -- Manning gains 7.
2/3 - Manning to Victor Cruz on a crossing route and Cruz outruns the secondary -- Victor Crys all the way to the Steeler 6 yard line! The Giants, up 6, first and goal! Oooh, we got one here in Pittsburgh.
But --- that will end the drive - Giants another FG, it is 16-7.
Steelers at the 22.
1/10 - Bradshaw screen ti Bleier -- the Rock's got a caravan and he goes for 22.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Franco is stopped.
3/11 - Big pickup for Bradshaw -- Plough with the 23 yarder, the Steelers reach the 34 yard line.
And that is all -- JPP gets his second sack -- and the Steelers Miss a long FG - with 6 left in the third quarter New York takes over at their own 39 -- with a 9 point lead and to say there are some anxious faces here at chilly Three Rivers is an understatement.
1/10 - Bradshaw for 5
2/5 - Bradshaw for 4.
3/1 - Bradshaw picks it up - Lambert forces a fumble but the Giants maintain possession at the Pittsburgh 47.
The drive ends - Dwight White with the 5th Steeler sack of the day - Giants punt - Steeler ball at their own 14.
1/10 - Bradshaw has to run, 4 yards.
2/6 - It's the first reception for John Stallworth - 10 yards to the 28.
1/10 - Franco gashes the defense for 11. The Steelers are at the 39 as the qtr ends.
4th Qtr: Giants 16 Steelers 7
15 minutes left - big, big upset alert -- Steelers have a first down at their own 39.
1/10 - 1 for Bleier.
2/9 - Incomplete.
3/9 - Bradshaw knifes a ball to Randy Grossman, 17 yard pickup, that's a big conversion at this point in the game.
1/10 - 4 for Bleier.
2/6 - 14 for Franco - the Steelers are at the 25 yard line.
1/10 - 1 for Bleier, false start on the next play backs them 5.
2/14 - Bleier busts one, 17 yards -- big spot, Rocky to the 12 yard line.
The defense stiffens - the Steelers are forced to settle for the FG.
There's 8 and a half minutes left in the game. It's 16-10 Giants. Touchback.
1/10 - Nothing for Bradshaw.
2/10 - Manning --- Picked Off By Mel Blount! Picked Off by Mel Blount! He is dragged down at the 7 yard line! That's the big play the Steelers needed - Blount has given the Steelers a first and goal to go.
But -- the Giants turn them back -- it's a short Roy Gerela FG. With 4:45 to play, the Giants regain possession at their own 32, now clinging to a 3 point lead.
1/10 - 5 for Jacobs.
2/5 - Manning to Manningham, 10 yards to the 47.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Manning Goes Downfield --- He finds Victor Cruz! It's a 25 yard gain for the Giants! New York is at the 26 yard line!
The drive ends -- at the 2 minute warning Trynes hits a FG. It is 19-13 New York with 2 minutes left.
Man, oh man. 2 minutes left. Here comes Bradshaw, the Steelers start at the 31. They need to go 69 yards to survive.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Franco for 5 - they lose it on a penalty on the next play so it is 3rd and 10.
3/10 - Bradshaw to Franco -- he fights his way for the 15 yard gain, the Steelers at their own 46.
1/10 - Bradshaw.... Bradshaw's Going Deep --- Deep over the Midd -- It's Swann! Lynn Swann catches the ball in stride! Lynn Swann Is Gonna Go Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN STEELERS - Terry Bradshaw with the picture perfect 56 yard TD pass to Lynn Swann - and just like that -- the Steelers go up 20-19 with a minute left in this football game!
Giants at the 33. A FG will win this game, they have all 3 timeouts and a full minute left.
1/10 - Eli flushed - he gets 6 yards and goes out of bounds.
2/4 - Brandon Jacobs picks it up, Giants call timeout and their own 43 with 44 seconds left.
1/10 - Eli is sacked for the 6th time -- Joe Greene picks up his third sack of the day - the Giants have to stop the clock they are back at the 37 with 28 seconds left and now just 1 timeout.
2/16 - Manning -- Hakeem Nicks, good pickup to the 46, but he can't get out of bounds -- it's 3rd and 7, New York forced to use their final timeout now with 18 seconds left in the game.
3/7 - Incomplete
This is it. 4th and 7, Giants have no timeouts - they have to get...probably at the very least to the Steeler 35 for a FG attempt but right now they need 7 yards. Wind howling, crowd howling, defense howling.
4/7 - Incomplete.
And it is done.
Final: Steelers 20 Giants 19
By the skin of their steel teeth, the Steelers survive.
Bradshaw: 11 for 19 195 yards TD
Manning: 19 for 30 192 yards TD/INT
Franco: 13 carries, 85 yds
Bradshaw: 16 carries 28 yards
Swann: 2 catches 60 yds TD
Nicks: 7 catches, 78 yds
Greene: 3 sacks
JPP: 2 sacks
Player of the Game: Mean Joe Greene
