6. 2004 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at 3. 1971 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DALLAS COWBOYS
3. 1971 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DALLAS COWBOYS
Record: 11-3
Pythag: 11-3
Off: 1st
Def: 7th
1st NFC East
d. Vikes Div Rnd 20-12
d. Niners NFC Title 14-3
d. Dolphins Super Bowl 24-3
d. '17 Saints 24-22 (PotG-Bob Lilly)
HC: Tom Landry OC: Jim Myers
Texas Stadium: 55 degrees
Bill Mercer/Verne Lundquist
Offense
QB Roger Staubach (29 Navy) 15td/4 int 59.7% 8.9 y/a 144.8 y/g 104.8 2 td rush
QB Roger Staubach (29 Navy) 15td/4 int 59.7% 8.9 y/a 144.8 y/g 104.8 2 td rush
RB Duane Thomas (24 W Tex A&M) 793 yds 4.5 y/a 13 ctch 153 yds 11.8 y/r 13 td
FB Walt Garrison (27 Oklahoma St) 429 yds 3.4 y/a 40 ctch 396 yds 9.9 y/c 2 td
WR Lance Alworth (31 Arkansas) 34 ctch 487 yds 14.3 y/c 2 td
WR Bob Hayes (29 Florida A&M) 35 ctch 840 yds 35 ctch 840 yds 24 y/c 8 td
TE Mike Ditka (32 Pitt) 30 ctch 360 yds 12 y/a 1td
LT Ralph Neely (28 Oklahoma)
LG John Niland (27 Iowa) All Pro
C Dave Manders (30 Mich St)
RG Blaine Nye (25 Stanford)
RT Rayfield Wright (26 F Vall St) All Pro
Defense
LDE Larry Cole (25 Hawaii) 8 scks
LDT Jethro Pugh (27 Eliz City St) 13.5 scks
RDT Bob Lilly (32 TCU) All Pro 5 scks
RDE George Andrie (31 Marquette) 5 scks
LLB Dave Edwards (32 Auburn) 2 int
MLB Lee Roy Jordan (30 Alabama) 2 int sck
RLB Chuck Howley (35 W Virginia) 5 int
LCB Herb Adderley (32 Mich St) 6 int
RCB Mel Renfro (30 Oregon) 4 int
SS Cornell Green (31 Utah St) 2 int
FS Cliff Harris (23 Baptist) 2 int
K Mike Clark (31 Tex A&M)
P Ron Widby (26 Tenn)
KR/PR Cliff Harris (23 Ouachita Baptist)
Bottom half of region 5 starts in Dallas with the third seed in the region, the 1971 Super Bowl Champion. Best offense in football, Staubach's 29. 17 total scores, just 4 picks. Big names on the offense, 24 year old Duane Thomas who scored 13 times, Bullet Bob Hayes is 29, he scored 8 times and 31 year old Lance Alworth is on the other side. 2 All Pros on the line, 27 year old John Niland, 26 year old Rayfield Wright. The defense is just okay, but it's got an All Pro, 32 year old Bob Lilly, 32 year old corner Herb Adderley is headed to the HoF, he had 6 picks. Dallas is going to run the football. They pulled one out against the '17 Saints in round 1, Mel Renfro intercepting Drew Brees late. This is the first year the Cowboys played in Texas Stadium.
6. 2004 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Record: 12-4
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 1st
Def: 19th
1st AFC South
d. Broncos WC 49-24
lost Patriots Div Rnd 20-3
d. '81 49ers 28-27 (PotG-Peyton Manning)
HC: Tony Dungy OC Tom Moore DC Ron Meeks
RCA Dome
Bob Lamey/Mark Herrmann/Ted Marchibroda
Offense
QB Peyton Manning (28 Tennessee) All Pro 49td/10 int 67.7% 9.2 y/a 284.8 y/a 121.1
RB Edgerrin James (26 Miami) 1548 yds 4.6 y/a 51 ctch 483 yds 9.5 y/c 9 td
WR Marvin Harrison (32 Syracuse) 86 ctch 1113 yds 12.9 y/c 15 td
WR Reggie Wayne (26 Miami) 77 ctch 1210 yds 15.7 y/c 12 td
TE Dallas Clark (25 Iowa) 25 ctch 423 yds 16.9 y/c 5 td
TE Marcus Pollard (32 Bradley) 29 ctch 309 yds 10.7 y/c 6 td
LT Tarik Glenn (28 Cal)
LG Rick DeMulling (27 Idaho)
C Jeff Saturday (29 UNC)
RG Jake Scott (23-R Idaho)
RT Ryan Diem (25 N Illinois)
Defense
LDE Raheem Brock (26 Temple) 6.5 scks
LDT Montae Reagor (27 TTech) 5 scks
RDT Josh Williams (28 Michigan)
RDE Dwight Freeney (24 All Pro Syracuse)
LLB David Thornton (26 UNC) int
MLB Rob Morris (29 BYU) int 3 scks
RLB Cato June (25 Michigan) 2 int
LCB Nick Harper (30 F Vall St) 3 int
RCB Jason David (22-R Wash St) 4 int
SS Mike Doss (23 Ohio St) 2 int sck
FS Bob Sanders (23 Iowa)
K Mike Vanderjagt (34 WVA)
P Hunter Smith (27 N Dame)
KR Dominic Rhodes (25 MWestern St) td
PR Troy Walters (28 Stanford)
We've seen the Baltimore Colts advance to Rnd 2, we've seen Denver Bronco Peyton Manning advance to Rnd 2 - but prime Peyton has yet to move on. The '04 Colts are seeded 6th in Region 5 based on the best offense in football. Manning is 28, All Pro, 49 scores and 10 picks. 26 year old Edge ran for over 1500 yards. 32 year old Marvin Harrison and 26 year old Reggie Wayne combined for 27 scores. The defense is not much, but they do have an All Pro, 24 year old Dwight Freeney with 16 sacks. Manning had 2 late TD scores to beat the '81 Niners. Manning was the MVP in '04, he broke Marino's TD pass record. The 2014 Broncos survived the top half of the region - here's a younger Peyton Manning in the bottom half.
Dallas is the top seed still standing in region 5 - the path is suddenly really clear all the way to the Sweet 16 - they look to keep that going here, 6 pt favorites.
1st Qtr
Colts at the 21.
1/10 Peyton Manning going deep on the very first play - 30 yards to Brandon Stokley - let's go - Manning, Dungy, Tom Moore have a lot of offense to fire at these Cowboys.
The drive stalls here - Colts have to punt - Dallas will start at the 12.
1/10 - Duane Thomas carries for 11.
1/10 - Walt Garrison for 1
2/9 - Roger Staubach finds Lance Alworth, brought down inches from the sticks.
3/1 - Thomas picks it up, Dallas at the 35.
1/10 - Calvin Hill for 4.
2/6 - Walt Garrison gets a yard, an offsides call on the next play gives the Cowboys the first down.
1/10 - 1 for Thomas
2/9 - Thomas is stopped at the line, Dallas's third third down of the drive.
3/9 - Staubach finds Reggie Rucker - Rucker's Dallas's 4th receiver, played in just 2 games - but he gets 15 here and the Cowboys are at the Colt 39.
1/10 - 2 for Garrison
2/8 - 4 for Garrison and another 3rd down.
3/4 - Staubach rifles a ball to Alworth, 11 yards and a first down at the 22.
1/10 - 3 for Garrison
2/7 - 1 for Thomas -- Dallas has run on every first and second down, passed on third, it's worked so far - here's another third down
3/6 - Staubach is flushed out of the pocket -- escapes -- Staubach has a first down - all the way at the Colts 9 yard line and it is a first down.
1/goal - Thomas gets a yard.
2/8 - Play action -- Staubach -- Garrison -- Walt Garrison wide open in the end zone --- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS -- 17 plays, 83 yards, 10 minute drive -- Dallas ran on every single second down --- right up until they didn't, Walt Garrison catches the 8 yard Staubach pass on a play fake that fooled all of Indiana, and it is 7-0.
Colts at the 39.
1/10 - Manning to Edge -- James has nothing but grass -- 35 big yards for Edgerrin James, in one play the Colts are at the 26. Dallas takes 10 minutes to methodically walk down the field and the Colts are at the 26 after one play
1/10 - Manning to Marvin Harrison, that's 8
2/2 - Edge picks it up and the quarter ends
2nd Qtr: Cowboys 7 Colts 0
That long Dallas TD drive takes almost the entire first qtr - Colts have a first down at the Cowboy 15.
1/10 - Dominic Rhodes for 1
2/9 - Manning -- End Zone -- Reggie Wayne -- TOUCHDOWN COLTS Manning 14 yards to Reggie Wayne and we are all tied at 7.
Cowboys at the 37.
1/10 Calvin Hill for 4.
2/6 - 2 for Thomas
3/4 - Staubach to Hill, Calvin Hill sliding for 17 - Dallas is at the Colts 40 yard line and they've come right back, running the ball on first and second down, Staubach with the big third down conversion.
1/10 - Hill, getting a lot of action here, 3 yards and an offsides on the next play makes it 2nd and 2.
2/2 - Thomas picks it up, Dallas at the 29.
1/10 - Garrison stopped at the line
2/10 - Calvin Hill breaks one - Calvin Hill breaks one - 20 yard pickup for Hill -- Hill is down at the 9 yard line! First and goal for the Cowboys! Calvin Hill, what a drive!
1/goal - Incomplete, Dallas throws on first down for the first time today, but Staubach doesn't connect with Alworth.
2/goal - 4 for Thomas and it's 3rd and goal.
3/goal - Staubach -- End Zo --- PICKED OFF by Nick Harper - it's a touchback - Harper Picks Off Staubach in the End Zone and the Colts take over at their own 20.
They go 3 and out - Cowboys get it back with 6 left in the half at their own 35, 7-7.
They get a first down on a Pass Interference call - they wind up at midfield punting away - touchback.
Colts go 3 and out. Dallas starts at their own 47 and goes 3 and out, with a little less than 2 to go in the half it is Colts ball at the 14.
1/10 - Manning to Edge, Edge breaking tackles, its a 23 yard pickup, clock moving.
1/10 - Manning to Wayne, 8 yards, with 1:10 left, Colts call their second timeout.
2/2 - Incomplete
3/2 - Manning to Harrison - downfield for 19 to the Dallas 36, Manning hurrying to the line, trying to keep the last timeout -
1/10 - Manning to Reggie Wayne -- big gainer, 19 yards, he gets out of bounds with 25 seconds left, 1st down for the Colts.
1/10 - Manning to Brandon Stokley -- he's down at the 5 yard line - Colts use their final timeout, 12 seconds left in the half.
That's as far as it goes - there's an incompletion and at the whistle a FG makes it 10-7.
3rd Qtr: Colts 10 Cowboys 7
Manning just rips off a series of big gainers to end the half in a FG - Dallas will open the second half at their own 36.
3 and out including a Dwight Freeney sack.
Colts at the 27. Edge picks up a first down on the first play with a 12 yard run but then the drive stalls.
Cowboys at the 38.
1/10 - Thomas for 10
1/10 - Garrison for 11
1/10 - Hill all the way to the Colts 25, 3 plays all first down runs - a holding call on the next play makes it first and 20, Rob Morris will get a sack on third down to end the drive - and when Mike Clark misses a game tying FG, the Colts regain at the 33, 8 and a half minutes left in the third.
2 plays get 7 yards and on the third play Bob Lilly forces an Edgerrin James fumble - and the Cowboys take over at the Colt 38 yard line! Huge play for the Dallas defense.
1/10 - Staubach to Hill, 8 yards.
2/2 - Garrison to the Colts 24. 5 minutes left in the third.
1/10 - Staubach -- Alworth -- 15 yards and a first and goal at the 9.
1/goal - Thomas is stopped at the line
2/goal - Hill busts through -- Calvin Hill Is Going Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - 9 yard TD run by Hill gives the Cowboys the 14-10 lead.
Colt ball at the 33.
1/10 - Edge for 2.
2/8 - Rhodes for 3
3/5 - Manning to Stokley - 18 yards and the Colts cross midfield.
1/10 - Manning downfield to Wayne, 17 yards -- Colts at the 27.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Manning to Troy Walters, a dozen yards to the 15.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - 14 yard run for Edge -- he is knocked out of bounds just short of the end zone -- that's the last play of the qtr.
4th Qtr: Cowboys 14 Colts 10
15 minutes left, Dallas clinging to the 4 pt lead, Colts first and goal at the 1 - winner here will host the second region 5 semi.
1/goal - Incomplete
2/goal - Edge is In The End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN COLTS -- Indianapolis regains the lead at 17-14.
Dallas at the 23.
1/10 - Garrison for 3
2/7 - Garrison for 3
3/4 - Staubach picks it up - 19 yards to Alworth, Dallas is at the 48 with less than 13 to play.
The drive stalls out - Dwight Freeney with his second sack - Dallas punts, Colts have the ball at their own 18 and the lead at 17-14.
On third and 10, Herb Adderley PICKS OFF Peyton Manning - the veteran Adderley down at the 23 - Adderley comes up Huge for Dallas - this sold out crowd roaring - Dallas is down 3, 10 minutes left, at the 23.
1/10 - 11 yard gain for Thomas - Dallas is at the 12.
They don't move from there - Clark hits the game tying FG and halfway through the 4th we are tied.
Colts at the 33.
3 and out.
Dallas at the 19.
3 and out.
Colts at the Cowboy 47, good Troy Walters return - with just 4 minutes left, Peyton Manning is in Dallas territory in a 17-17 game.
1/10 - Edge goes for 18, big gainer to the 29.
But - Dallas holds - Mike Vanderjagt FG and it is 20-17, 2 and change left.
Dallas at the 27.
1/10 - Calvin Hill busts a 29 yard run, that will take us to the 2 minute warning, Dallas at the Colts 44.
1/10 - Hill is stopped at the line.
2/10 - Incomplete. Big spot here
3/10 - Staubach finds Alworth, 21 yards to the 23, Dallas uses its second timeout at 1:25.
1/10 - Staubach dumps to Thomas, 2 yards, out of bounds.
2/8 - Staubach - Garrison, breaking tackles, Garrison tackled at the 7 yard line! Dallas uses its final timeout, 57 seconds left - Dallas is at the 7, first and goal to go!!!
Cowboys trail 20-17, first and goal at the Colts 7. 57 seconds left. No timeouts.
1/goal - Staubach -- End Zone ---- Incomplete
2/goal - Staubach --- Staubach forced to run -- Staubach to the Goal -- Staubach is tackled just short of the goal! Bob Sanders with the Huge Stop -- Clock running - Dallas at the 1 - Clock running --
3/goal - Staubach, END ZONE ----- Incomplete.
6 seconds left, Dallas at the 1 yard line.
They decide to kick the FG and go into OT. They do. We go.
OT: Cowboys 20 Colts 20
Dallas had a first and goal - but settle for the FG and now it's sudden death and the Colts win the toss.
Colts at the 33.
1/10 - Nothing for Edge
2/10 - 2 for Edge.
3/8- Manning -- Harrison -- 24 yards and a first down at the 41.
1/10 - 2 for Rhodes
2/8 - Manning to Wayne, its a first down, the Colts at the Cowboy 31.
The drive ends here. Mike Vanderjagt lining up for the game winning 46 yard FG.
Colts have a chance to bounce Dallas right here - Vanderjagt can win the game right here.
Snap.
Hold.
Kick.
WIDE LEFT! WIDE LEFT! WIDE LEFT! Vanderjagt's kick sails left - Dallas takes over at their own 36, 9:25 left in this first OT - we are in sudden death.
Dallas goes 3 and out. They punt it back to the Colts - starting at their own 26, 7:13 left in sudden death OT, we will play until someone wins this game.
1/10 - Edge...EDGE BREAKS IT - EDGE BREAKS IT -- 38 yards for Edgerrin James, the Colts are at the Cowboy 39 yard line!
The next 3 plays net 7 yards and with 4:30 left in OT, here comes Vanderjagt again, 49 yard attempt to send the Colts into the second region 3 semi.
Snap.
Hold.
Kick.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!! GOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!
Mike Vanderjagt 49 yrd FG and the 6th seeded Colts swarm the Texas Stadium field -- Peyton Manning has already won the first region 5 semi as a 38 year old Bronco - the 28 year old Colt will be hosting the second region 5 semi.
Final: Colts 23 Cowboys 20
The top 5 seeds in region 5 are all gone - the 6th seeded Colts will host the winners of the next game in the second region 5 semi.
Manning: 15 for 29 263 yds TD/INT
Staubach: 12 for 20 157 yds TD/INT
James: 22 carries, 116 yds TD
Hill: 10 carries, 104 yds TD
Wayne: 5 catches, 68 yds TD
Alworth: 5 ctches 73 yds
Player of the Game: Edgerrin James
