Probably, I hold off the next round until the top of the year. My plan is to do it like I did the basketball tournament, so, as opposed to doing all of the next round's games - instead I combine two rounds, so in Region 1, I'll play the first 2 round of 128 games -- and then immediately the two winners will play their round of 64 game (regional semi final). I'll do that all the way through, leaving us with the final 32 teams.
Probably...we'll see how it goes, but the hope is that this allows for a reasonable inclusion of teams from the 2022 season, I'd like to give the four best teams of the current season a chance to work their way in, and I can do that if there are still regions at the 128 team round.
Here's what's left.
Super Bowl Champions Still Alive:
1968 Jets
1969 Chiefs
1971 Cowboys
1973 Dolphins
1974 Steelers
1975 Steelers
1976 Raiders
1977 Cowboys
1978 Steelers
1979 Steelers
1983 Raiders
1984 49ers
1985 Bears
1986 Giants
1988 49ers
1989 49ers
1991 Redskins
1992 Cowboys
1993 Cowboys
1994 49ers
1995 Cowboys
1996 Packers
1997 Broncos
1998 Broncos
1999 Rams
2001 Patriots
2002 Bucs
2004 Patriots
2008 Steelers
2009 Saints
2013 Seahawks
2014 Patriots
2015 Broncos
2021 Rams
3 organizations have double digit teams moving to rnd 2: San Francisco (13) Dallas (11) New England (10) The Packers have 9, the Rams 8.
Here's the matchups.
Region 1:
9. 2015 Chiefs at 1. 2007 Patriots
12. 2014 Packers at 4. 2002 Bucs
11. 1975 Dolphins at 3. 1967 Raiders
7. 2012 49ers at 2. 2019 Ravens
If seeding holds - that regional semi-final in the upper half should be a good one, the top overall seed, the '07 Patriots hosting that all time great '02 Bucs defense.
Region 2
9. 2007 Chargers at 1. 1985 Bears
5. 2015 Seahawks at 4. 1968 Chiefs
6. 2006 Patriots at 3. 1997 Broncos
7. 1998 Falcons at 2. 1993 Cowboys
If seeding holds - check out the bottom half of the region, the front half of back to back champs, the '97 Broncos facing the back half of back to back champs, the '93 Cowboys
Region 3
9. 1987 Browns at 1. 1996 Packers
12. 2019 Saints at 4. 1999 Rams
6. 1954 Lions at 3. 1978 Cowboys
10. 1960 Browns at 2. 1970 Vikings
2 Browns teams still alive in the region; possible regional semi between the Greatest Show on Turf and the 3rd overall seeded '96 Pack
Region 4
9. 2016 Falcons at 1. 1991 Redskins
12. 2021 Rams at 4. 1978 Steelers
14. 2007 Cowboys at 6. 1970 Lions
15. 1976 Colts at 10. 2015 Broncos
Wild difference between the upper and lowe halves of the region - in the top we get a battle of Super Bowl Champions in the round of 128 with the '21 Rams facing the '78 Steelers - and the winner there is on track to face the 4th overall seeded '91 Redskins. In the bottom half - underdogs abound, 3 of the four surviving teams are double digit seeds.
Region 5
8. 2014 Broncos at 1. 1962 Packers
13. 2008 Eagles at 12. 2000 Titans
6. 2004 Colts at 3. 1971 Cowboys
15. 1995 Chiefs at 7. 1962 Lions
Looks like smooth sailing for the '62 Pack in the upper half; the winner of this region likely to be a team at least 50 years in the past.
Region 6
8. 2020 Saints at 1. 1968 Colts
12. 1982 Dolphins at 4. 1953 Browns
6. 1994 Cowboys at 3. 1986 Giants
7. 2002 Raiders at 2. 2014 Patriots
Tough road for the '86 Giants, they've got to knock off a '94 Cowboys team that is the core of that early 90s Dallas multi-time champs - and if they do, perhaps face a Super Bowl Champion Patriots team.
Region 7
8. 1968 Jets at 1. 1975 Steelers
12. 1996 49ers 4. 1967 Rams
11. 2005 Seahawks at 3. 1961 Packers
15. 1951 Giants at 7. 1979 Chargers
Battle of Super Bowl Champs coming in the next round, Namath's '68 Jets at the 7th overall seed, the '75 Steelers
Region 8
9. 1993 49ers at 1. 2004 Patriots
12. 1988 Vikings at 4. 1984 Dolphins
6. 2005 Broncos at 3. 1955 Browns
7. 1997 Packers at 2. 1998 Vikings
Young-Rice and the '93 Niners against the 8th overall seeded '04 Patriots to start the region; at the bottom the battle of late 90s NFC Central rivals Packers and Vikings.
Region 9
9. 1966 Chiefs at 1. 1973 Dolphins
5. 2011 Patriots at 4. 1976 Raiders
6. 1958 Colts at 3. 1992 49ers
7. 1998 Rams at 2. 1969 Vikings
Look at how seeding held in round 1 - only the 8/9 game went to the dog -- that leaves us with a hot round 2/3 - if seeding holds the Super Bowl Champion Raiders will head to Miami to face the Super Bowl Champion Dolphins.
Region 10
8. 2001 Eagles at 1. 1984 49ers
12. 1975 Raiders at 4. 2014 Seahawks
6. 1973 Rams at 3. 1998 Broncos
7. 1973 Cowboys at 2. 1979 Steelers
The Raider team the year before they won the SB against the Seahawk team the year after they won the SB. We get the 70s Cowboys/Steelers rivalry game. If seeding holds, a region semi between the back to back Super Bowl Champion Broncos and the back to back Super Bowl Champion Steelers
Region 11
8. 2004 Steelers at 1. 1992 Cowboys
5. 2013 Broncos at 4. 1954 Browns
14. 1953 Eagles at 6. 1991 49ers
15. 1984 Seahawks at 10. 2009 Patriots
The early 90s Cowboys and Niners went to war in 3 straight NFC Title games - we might see another battle in the Region 11 Finals.
Region 12
9. 2020 Bills at 1. 2013 Seahawks
13. 2013 Patriots at 12. 1988 49ers
6. 1965 Packers at 3. 1995 Cowboys
10. 1976 Rams at 2. 1950 Browns
Brady heads to San Francisco to face Montana in the next round, if the Packers can upset Dallas there's a possible Lombardi v. Brown matchup in the regional semi.
Region 13
16. 1991 Oilers at 9. 1992 Eagles
13. 1966 Cowboys at 5. 1995 49ers
6. 1963 Packers at 3. 2012 Patriots
7. 1983 Raiders at 2. 2001 Rams
The Rams face Los Angeles -- the '83 Super Bowl Champion LA Raiders go to St Louis to meet the Rams. We get Lombardi v. Belichick - and this is the region where the top seed is gone, wide open at the top.
Region 14
8. 1974 Steelers at 1. 1994 49ers
13. 1964 Packers at 5. 2011 Saints
6. 2006 Chargers at 3. 1987 49ers
15. 2001 Patriots at 7. 1968 Cowboys
If seeding holds, the regional final will be Montana and the '87 Niners at Young and the '94 Niners, with Rice being really the only commonality. First though, the '94 Niners have to beat the '74 Steelers in a battle of Super Bowl Champs
Region 15
9. 1985 49ers at 1. 1969 Chiefs
12. 2002 Eagles at 4. 2008 Steelers
14. 1985 Patriots at 6. 1977 Cowboys
10. 1998 49ers at 2. 1983 Redskins
The Niners really packed in the last couple of regions; that Cowboy/Redskin game would be a super intense rivarly matchup.
Region 16
9. 1975 Vikings at 1. 1976 Steelers
13. 1970 Cowboys at 12. 1997 Chiefs
14. 1984 Raiders at 6. 2009 Saints
10. 1968 Rams at 2. 1989 49ers
Nearly a Super Bowl rematch right at the top of the region - looks like a collison course between the heart of the Steelers and Niners dynasties in the regional final.
