6. 2006 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at 3. 1997 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DENVER BRONCOS
3. 1997 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DENVER BRONCOS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 1st
Def: 6th
2nd AFC West
d. Jags WC 42-17
d. Chiefs Div Rnd 14-10
d. Steelers AFC Title 24-21
d. Packers 31-24 Super Bowl
d. '09 Colts 38-34 (PotG-John Elway)
HC: Mike Shanahan, OC: Gary Kubiak, DC: Greg Robinson
Mile High Stadium 45 degrees
Dave Logan
Offense:
QB John Elway (37 Stanford) 27 td/11 int 55.5% 7.2 y/a 227.2 y/g 87.5 1 rush td
RB Terrell Davis (25 UGA) All Pro 1750 yds 4.7 y/a 42 catches, 287 yds 15 td
FB Howard Griffith (30 Illinois) 34 yds 11 catches, 55 yds
WR Ed McCaffrey (29 Stanford) 45 ctch 590 yds 8 td
WR Rod Smith (27 Mo Southern) 70 ctch 1180 yds 16.9 y/c 12 td
TE Shannon Sharpe (29 Sav St) 72 ctch 1107 yds 15.4 y/c 3 td
LT Gary Zimmerman (36 Oregon)
LG Mark Schlereth (31 Idaho)
C Tom Nalen (26 B College)
RG Brian Habib (33 Wash)
RT Tony Jones (31 W Carolina)
Defense
LDE Neil Smith (31 Nebraska) 8.5 sacks
LDT Keith Traylor (28 C Okla) 1 int 2 sacks
RDT Maa Tanuvasa (27 Hawaii) 8.5 sacks
RDE Alfred Williams (29 Colorado) 8.5 scks
LLB Bill Romanowsi (31 B College) 1 int 2 scks
MLB Allen Aldridge (25 Houston)
RLB John Mobley (24 Kutztown) All Pro 1 int 4 scks
LCB Ray Crockett (30 Baylor) 4 int
RCB Darrien Gordon (27 Stanford) 4 int 2 sacks td
SS Tyrone Braxton (33 N Dakota St) 4 int .5 scks
FS Steve Atwater (31 Arkansas) 2 int sack td
K Jason Elam (27 Hawaii)
P Tom Rouen (29 Colorado)
KR Vaughn Hebron (27 Va Tech)
PR Darrien Gordon (27 Stanford) 3 TD
Mike Shanahan's Broncos bring the best offense from 1997 into the field. John Elway is 37 - 27 scores, 11 picks. He'll be handing the ball off to the All Pro, 25 year old Terrell Davis, who ran for 1700+ yards with 15 scores. Shannon Sharpe is 29 and he's an All Pro, with 72 receptions. The defense is fine, 6th best in '97, 24 year old LB John Mobley is an All Pro; 31 year old Neil Smith/29 year old Alfred Williams combined for 17 sacks. Elway threw for 4 scores in defeating the '09 Colts in rnd 1. This is the first half of Denver's back to back champs; the '98 team is also a third seed, in Region 10, and also safely into round 2.
6. 2006 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 7th
Def: 2nd
1st AFC East
d. Jets WC 37-16
d. Chargers Div Rnd 24-21
Lost Colts AFC Title 38-34
d. '17 Vikings 20-10 (PotG-Kevin Faulk)
HC: Bill Belichick OC: Josh McDaniels, DC: Dean Pees
Gillette Stadium, Avg Temp 55 degrees
Announcers: Gil Santos/Gino Cappelletti
Offense
QB Tom Brady (29 Michigan) 24 td/12 int 61.8% 6.8 y/a 220.6 y/g 87.9
RB Corey Dillon (32 Wash) 812 yds 4.1 y/a 15 catch 147 yds 13 td
WR Troy Brown (35 Marshall) 43 ctch 384 yds 8.9 y/a 4 td
WR Reche Caldwell (27 Florida) 61 ctch 760 yds 12.5 y/c 4 td
TE Daniel Graham (28 Colorado) 21 ctch 235 yds 11.2 y/c 2 td
TE Ben Watson (26 UGA) 49 ctch 643 yds 13.1 y/c 3 td
LT Matt Light (28 Purdue)
LG Logan Mankins (24 Fres St)
C Dan Koppen (27 B College)
RG Steve Neal (30 C St Bakersfield)
RT Nick Kaczur (27 Toledo)
Defense
LDE Ty Warren (25 Tex A&M) 7.5 scks
NT Vince Wilfork (25 Miami) 1 sck
RDE Richard Seymour (27 UGA) 1 int 4 scks
LOLB Rosevelt Colvin (29 Purdue) 8.5 scks
LILB Junior Seau (37 USC) 1 sck
RILB Tedy Bruschi (33 Arizona) 1 int 1.5 scks
ROLB Mike Vrabel (31 Ohio St) 3 int 4.5 scks
LCB Asante Samuel (25 Cen Florida) 10 int
RCB Ellis Hobbes (23 Iowa St) 2 int
SS Rodney Harrison (34 W Illinois) 1 int 1 sck
FS Artrell Hawkins (30 Cincinnati) 1 int
K Stephen Gostkowski (22 Memphis)
P Ken Walter (34 Kent)
KR Laurence Maroney (21 Minnesota)
PR Kevin Faulk (31 LSU)
Lost the AFC Title game to the Colts and are the 6th seed in the region on the backs of the 2nd bes defense from 2006. Not a single All Pro on the roster. Ty Warren's 25, Rosevelt Colvin 29 they combined for 16 sacks. Asante Samuel is 25, he picked off 10 balls. Brady's 29, threw for 29 scores and a dozen picks. 13 scores for 32 year old Corey Dillon. New England really struggled to move the ball in round 1, only 8 first downs against the '17 Vikes, but they still came away with the win.
Denver's giving 8 points in this one; let's head to Mile High for the kick.
1st Qtr
Patriots at the 31.
1/10 - New England opens with a pass - Tom Brady to Troy Brown, 16 yards.
1/10 - Corey Dillon 3 yard gain.
2/7- Incomplete
3/7 - Brady hits Reche Caldwell for a 14 yard pickup and the Pats are at the 36.
1/10 - Dillon 7 yds.
2/3 - Laurence Maroney stopped at the line.
3/4 - Brady downfield to Ben Watson - New England has a first down at the 11.
1/10 - Dillon for 1.
2/9 - Maroney 5 yards and it's 3rd and 4 at the 5.
3/4 - Maroney....Laurence Maroney Is ------Into The End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS - 10 plays, 69 yards, Maroney, the rookie from Minnesota, is into the end zone and the Patriots take the early lead.
Broncos at the 34.
1/10 - John Elway opens with a pass - rifling a shot to Shannon Sharpe, 20 yards.
1/10- Elway rolling out -- again, firing to Sharpe, 17 yards to the 29.
1/10- Elway again, Rod Smith - just a great ball, 16 yards and the Broncos are at the 13 yard line!
The drive dies here, Elam FG makes it 7-3.
Patriots start at the 48, Maroney with the big return.
3 and out - Neil Smith gets a sack.
Denver starts at the 21.
1/10 - Elway forced to run, 7 yards.
2/3 - Terrell Davis first down.
1/10 - Elway -- Rod Smith, he's got a step and it's a first down to the 48.
1/10 - Vaughn Hebron gets a carry, 2 yards.
2/8 - 5 for Davis.
3/3 - Hebron takes a pitch left, 38 yards - busts all the way to the 7 yard line.
That's the end of the quarter, the Broncos will have a first and goal as the 2nd qtr gets underway.
2nd Qtr: Patriots 7 Broncos 3
New England's got the lead after that opening drive, but the Broncos have a first and goal.
1/goal - Davis is stopped at the line.
2/goal - Davis....Davis busts his way Into The End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS - 7 yard TD run for TD and it's now 10-7.
Patriots are at the 24.
1/10 - Alfred Williams sacks Brady.
2/14 - Dillon stopped at the line.
3/14 - Brady to Maroney, he's got a step -- Maroney's got a 20 yard pickup.
1/10 - 5 for Maroney to the 45.
2/5 - Dillon for 4.
3/1 - Maroney hammers away, 12 yards to the Bronco 39.
1/10 - Dillon stopped at the line.
2/10 - Brady to Brown -- Troy Brown, 10 yards.
1/10 - Maroney 5 yards.
2/5 - Brady to Reche Caldwell, 9 yards to the 15.
1/10 - 7 yard run by Maroney.
2/3 - Brady sacked - John Mobley with Denver's third sack of the day.
3/5- Give to Dillon, Dillon...Corey Dillon is Gonna Go Into The End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS -- New England Regains the Lead - 14-10 Pats.
Denver is at the 28.
3 and out. The Pats get the ball back, 3 minutes left in the half, up 4.
1/10 - Maroney 6 yards.
2/4 - Brady is flushed - he goes for 3 and is out of bounds.
3/1 - Maroney picks it up - Pats first down at their own 43, 2 minute warning.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Brady to Caldwell, 7 yards.
3/3 - Brady to Maroney and again - Laurence Maroney does it, he goes for 20, Pats first down at the Bronco 30.
1/10 - 10 for Maroney, another first down.
1/10 - Brady to Chad Jackson, 6 yard pickup -- Denver at the 14.
2/4 - Brady --- End Zone --- PICKED OFF - Bill Romanowski Picks Brady - Romanowski Picks off Brady.
That will the half, Denver gets a first down, Rosevelt Colvin sacks Elway and it's halftime.
3rd Qtr: Patriots 14 Broncos 10
Round 2, Region 2 - the '85 Bears safely advanced in the top half of the region, the bottom half starts here; New England in Denver, trying to take out the Super Bowl Champs.
Broncos at the 32.
1/10 - Elway to Davis out of the backfield, Davis breaking tackles, 20 yards across midfield.
1/10 - 6 for Davis to the 42.
2/4 - Incomplete
3/4 - Give to Davis -- Rodney Harrison in the Backfield on the run blitz --- FUMBLE -- FUMBLE - FUMBLE -- New England recovers, that's a big play, Harrison forces a fumble and the Patriots take the ball at their own 40 yard line.
3 plays later, Steve Atwater blitzes Brady -- Rocks Him -- FUMBLE -- FUMBLE -- It's a strip sack - And Denver regains possession at the Patriots 47 yard line.
1/10 - Davis busts it -- 20 yard pickup and Denver's at the 27.
The drive ends here --- Elam....Misses....the FG and New England gets the ball back at their own 26 halfway through the third, still up 14-10.
1/10 - 4 for Dillon
2/6 - Maroney picks it up.
The drive ends here - Neil Smith gets his second sack, Denver's 5th sack of the day - after the kick, Denver regains at the 39.
3 and out.
Patriots at the 32.
1/10 - Brady 3 to Dillon.
2/7 - Brady goes back to Dillon, 10 yards to the 45.
1/10 - Maroney for 4.
2/6 - Maroney for 4.
And that's the end of the quarter.
4th Qtr: Patriots 14 Broncos 10
Scoreless 3rd qtr, 15 minutes left in the ballgame - Pats 3rd and 2 at the Denver 47 up by 4.
They don't pick it up. John Mobley with the 6th Bronco sack.
Denver regains at their own 15.
Another 3 and out - Denver with no offense at all in the second half.
Patriots at the 49 after the Faulk return.
1/10 - Dillon for 1.
2/9 - Brady --- Brady Going Deep -- Chad Jackson - It's a Big Shot - Jackson's got it -- 46 yards all the way to the 4 yard line! Patriots first and goal at the Denver 4!
1/goal - Dillon....Into The End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS - and the '97 Super Bowl Champs are up against it now, 11 and a half left and it is an 11 point game.
Denver at the 30.
1/10 Davis for 1
2/9 - Davis for 2. Big 3rd down.
3/7 - Elway --- ropes a balll to Willie Green, 15 and the first.
1/10 - Elway to Davis, 9 yards to the NE 43.
2/1 - Hebron picks it up.
1/10 - Elway --- Elway looking for the Home Run --- He Catches Rod Smith in Stride and He's Gonna Go! TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS -- John Elway with the big shot - 42 yards - Denver will fail in its attempt at the 2 pt conversion, so with less than 8 to play, it's New England 21 Denver 16.
Patriots at the 28. Winning time, who is going to the Regional Semi-Final?
1/10 - Brady to Caldwell, 4 yards.
2/6 - Brady is sacked - Keith Traylor, it's Denver's 7th sack of the day and it is 3rd and 10.
3/10 - Brady finds Ben Watson and Watson's got the big gain! 21 yards to the 49!
1/10 - Brady to Brown, 9 yrds - there's less than 6 minutes, left, New England up 5 and driving. Denver has got to get a stop. But they jump offsides, and it's a first down.
That's all -- Gostkowski hits the 50 yd FG -- there's 3 minutes left, it's an 8 pt gm.
Denver at the 29. Can Elway drive down and force OT?
1/10 - Davis for 6.
2/4 - Incomplete
3/4 - Elway in trouble, he's able to escape and pick up the first down.
1/10 - Elway -- ASANTE SAMUEL PICKS HIM OFF -- SAMUEL PICKS OFF ELWAY - New England is at the Denver 39, less than 2 minutes left in the football game.
3 running plays - burning all 3 Denver timeouts - New England looks to end the game -- but the Gostkowski FG attempt is Blocked -- Blocked - Denver lives - there's 43 seconds left in regulation, Denver is at the New England 49 yard line!
1/10 - Elway to Sharpe, 12 yards, clock running - Elway has to spike the football, clock stops with 27 seconds left and Denver is at the Patriot 37.
Touchdown and a 2 pt conversion needed. 27 seconds. Can Elway pull this off?
He can't. 3 incomplete passes later the game is over.
Final: Patriots 24 Broncos 16
The 3rd seeds in region 2 are gone; the '06 Patriots survive 7 sacks to beat the '97 Broncos; New England with a 13 minute lead in time of possession.
Brady: 17 for 27 218 yds int
Elway: 13 for 26 194 yds td/int
Maroney 18 carries, 81 yds, TD, 2 catches, 40 yds
Davis: 17 carries, 66 yds td
Brown: 4 carries, 42 yds
Smith: 4 catches, 74 yds, td
Player of the Game: Asante Samuel
