256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 5/Semi Final 1: 2014 Denver Broncos v. 2008 Philadelphia Eagles

'00 Titans v. '08 Eagles 

13. 2008 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at 8. 2014 DENVER BRONCOS

8. 2014 DENVER BRONCOS 

Record: 12-4

Pythag: 11-5

Off: 2nd

Def: 16th

Lost Div Rnd Colts 24-13

d. '75 Rams 24-10 (PotG-Peyton Manning)

d. '62 Packers 16-10 (PotG-Von Miller)

HC: John Fox, OC Adam Gase, DC Jack del Rio

Sports Authority Field: 60 degrees

Dave Logan/Ed McCaffrey

Offense

QB Peyton Manning (38 Tennessee)             39td/15 int  66.2  7.9 y/a 295.4 y/g 101.5 

RB CJ Anderson (23 Cal)                              849 yds  4.7 y/c  34 ctc  324 yds  9.5 y/c  10 td

WR Demaryius Thomas (27 G Tech)           111 ctch  1619  yds  14.6 y/c  11 td

WR Emmanuel Sanders (27 SMU)              101 ctch  1404  yds  13.9 y/c  9 td

WR Wes Welker (33 TTech)                             49 ctch  464 yds  9.5 y/c  2 td

TE Julius Thomas (26 Port St)                     43 ctch  489 yds  11.4 y/c  12 td

LT Ryan Clady (28 Boise)

LG Orlando Franklin (27 Miami)

C Manuel Ramirez (31 T Tech)

RG Louis Vasquez (27 T Tech)

RT Chris Clark (29 So Miss)

Defense

DE Sylvester Williams   (26 UNC)

NT Terrance Knighton (28 Temple)         2 scks

DE Derek Wolfe (24 Cincinnati)             1.5 sck

LB Von Miller (25 Tex A&M)                14 scks

LB Brandon Marshall (25 Nevada)         int 2 scks

LB Nate Irving (26 NC St)                     sck

LB DeMarcus Ware (32 Troy)                int  10 scks

CB Chris Harris (25 Kansas)                3 int  sck

CB Aqib Talib (28 Kansas)                   4 int  2 td  sck

SS TJ Ward (28 Oregon)                      2 int  2scks 

FS Rahim Moore (24 UCLA)                  4 int

K Brandon McManus (23 Temple)

P Britton Colquitt (29 Tenn)

KR Omar Bolden (26 Ariz St)

PR Isaiah Burse (23 Fresno St)

Second best offense in football, it's 38 year old Peyton Manning's last year being Peyton Manning.  39 scores.  15 picks. Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas are both 27, both with over a hundred catches. Mediocre defense. Von Miller's 25, DeMarcus Ware is 32 and they combined for 26 sacks. John Fox was replaced after the season, so whenever Denver loses, that ends his run with the Broncos.  Manning ripped up the '75 Rams for 312 yds; in round 2 it was the defense who came through in an upset of the top seeded '62 Packers

13. 2008 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Record: 9-6-1

Pythag: 11-5

Off: 6th

Def: 4th

2nd NFC East

d. Vikes WC 26-14

d. Giants Div Rnd 23-11

Lost Cards NFC Title 32-25

d. '67 Colts 20-17 (PotG-Donovan McNabb)

d. '00 Titans 17-6 (PotG-Asante Samuel)

HC: Andy Reid, OC: Marty Mornhinweg DC Jim Johnson

Offense

QB Donovan McNabb (32)                   23td/11 int   60.4  6.9 y/a  244.8 y/g 86.4  2 td rush

RB Brian Westbrook (29)                      936 yds  4.0 y/a  54 ctch 402 yds 7.4 y/c  14 td

WR Kevin Curtis (30)                            33 ctch  390 yds 11.8 y/c  2td

WR DeSean Jackson (22-R)                  62 ctch 912 yds  14.7 y/r 3td

TE Brent Celek (23)                               27 ctch 318 yds 11.8 y/a td

TE LJ Smith (28)                                   37 ctch 298 yds 8.1 y/a  3td

LT Tra Thomas (34)

LG Todd Herremans (26)

C Jamaal Jackson (28)

RG Max Jean Gilles (25)

RT Jon Runyan (35)

Defense

LDE Juqua Parker (30)                int  5 scks

LDT Mike Patterson (25)            int  .5 sck

RDT Brodrick Bunkley (25)           2 scks

RDE Trent Cole (26)                       9 scks

LLB Chris Gocong (25)               2 sck

MLB Stewart Bradley (25)               int  sck

RLB Omar Gaither (24)                 2.5 sck

LCB Asante Samuel (27)             4 int

RCB Sheldon Brown (29)             int  sck

SS Quintin Mikell (28)                   3 int 2 sck

FS Brian Dawkins (35)                int  3 scks

K David Akers (34)

P Saverio Rocca (35)

KR Quintin Demps (23)               td

PR DeSean Jackson (22-R)           td

 6th in offense/4th in defense in '08; that defensive rank slides the Eagles into the tournament, as they lost in the NFC Title game.  No All Pros, the two Pro Bowlers are both in the secondary, 27 year old Asante Samue/35 year old Brian Dawkins. 26 year old Trent Cole had 9 sacks. McNabb's 32, 25 total TDs and 11 picks. 29 year old Brian Westbrook scored 14 times.  The 13th seeded Eagles knocked out the 4th seeded '67 Colts in rnd 1.  This team won just 9 regular season games but they are here in the regional semi after knocking off the '00 Titans in round 2.  

We've got an upset winner coming, the 13th seed against the 8th seed - whomever comes out of the top half of region 5 will have played above their seeding.  This game is a full pick 'em, lets go to Mile High.

1st Qtr

Eagles at the 31

1/10 - On the first play, DeMarcus Ware sacks Donovan McNabb - this middling Bronco defense just steamrolled the '62 Pack and they get it going here in front of the home crowd.

2/17 - TJ Ward comes through on a safety blitz and sacks McNabb - it is 3rd and 22.

3/22 - McNabb- just flings it downfield to Kevin Curtis -- he's got it - out of bounds at midfield - huge gainer, first down for the Eagles -- back to back sacks and then the huge McNabb throw.

The drive ends - Eagles punt - Denver starts at the 12.

1/10 - Peyton Manning to CJ Anderson out of the backfield, 6 yds

2/4 - Manning over the middle to Demaryius Thomas, 14 yards to the 32.

1/10 - Anderson for 1

2/9 - Manning crossing route to Emmanuel Sanders and he is wide, wide open - 28 yards to the Eagle 39.  Big Manning play - big play call by Adam Gase.

That ends the drive - Brian Dawkins gets a sack - McManus hits a loooooong FG and it is 3-0.

Eagles at the 26.

1/10 Brian Westbrook 3 yards

2/7 - McNabb to Westbrook, 5 yds

3/2 - Westbrook bursts through the line -- Westbrook into the secondary, 29 yards and the Eagles are at the 37.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - McNabb to Westbrook, 6 yards.

3/4 - DeSean Jackson was shut out in the Titan game - he gets involved here, first down at the 26 and an illegal contact call on the next play makes it first down at the 21.

The drive stalls - Akers FG ties this up.

Denver at the 23.

1/10 - Nothing for Hillman

2/10 - Dawkins gets his second sack of the game -- 8 yards -- the qtr ends.

2nd Qtr: Broncos 3 Eagles 3

All tied up here - region 5 is just blown wide open, seeds 1,2,4 all gone - one of these teams about to win the first region 5 semi.  3rd and long for Denver.

3/18 - Manning - beautiful pass - beautiful to Sanders - 26 yards to the 41.

1/10 - Manning hits Wes Welker, 8 yards

2/2 - Anderson 1 yd

3/1 - Hillman picks it up, Denver crosses midfield

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Manning to Sanders again - 19 yards, Manning connecting with Sanders here to the 30.

But - it ends the drive - Omar Gaither with the third Eagle sack - McManus with his 2nd FG and it is 6-3.

Eagles at the 23.  3 and out.  Denver with the solid return, they are at the Philly 41.

1/10 - Manning to Thomas, 12 yards.  Holding on the next play makes it 1st and 20 at the 39.

1/20 - Hillman for 3

2/17 - Manning 2 yards to Thomas.

3/15 - Manning - Hillman -- oh, Ronnie Hillman's runnin' -- Ronnie Hillman's runnin -- first down, Knocked out of bounds at the 5 yard line!  Hell of a run for Hillman on the reception.  First and goal.

1/goal - Manning - End Zone -- Sanders -- TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS - Peyton Manning 5 yards to Emmanuel Sanders -- Denver goes up 13-3.

Eagles at the 40, good return - Eagles in good field position with 4 minutes left in the half.

1/10 - 2 for Westbrook

2/8 - Incomplete

3/8 - McNabb hits Curtis - 13 yards and thats a first down.

1/10 - Correll Buckhalter 3 yards, it's the 2 min warning, Eagles at the Bronco 42.

1/10 - McNabb to Buckhalter, he's got 10 yards, out of bounds at the 32.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - McNabb in trouble, dumps to Smith, out of bounds - third and 9.

3/9 - McNabb-----just knifes in a ball to Curtis, first down at the 20 - Eagles stop the clock here, there's 1:28 left in the half.

The next 3 plays - back to back Von Miller sacks and a TJ Ward interception in the end zone -- the Denver defense comes up huge and that effectively ends the half.

3rd Qtr: Broncos 13 Eagles 3

Denver had the 16th ranked defense in '14 -- but they have been stalwart in the tournament - 4 sacks and a pick in the first half.

Broncos at the 31.

1/10 - Hillman, nothing.

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Manning to Thomas, he lunges for the sticks and gets it.

1/10 - 2 for Hillman

2/8 - Ronnie Hillman bursting across midfield, Hillman to the Eagle 40.

1/10 - Hillman again - Hillman again, 14 yards to the Eagle 26 yard line!

The drive stalls - McManus hits another one, it is 16-3 Denver.

Eagles at the 32.

1/10 - 1 for Westbrook, an offsides makes it 2nd and 4

2/4 - Westbrook slithers through a hole and look at him go -- 36 yards for Brian Westbrook to the Denver 26 - Eagles needed a big play and Brian Westbrook gets them one.

1/10 - 2 for Buckhalter

2/8 - McNabb to Jackson, 11 yards and a first down at the 13.

1/10 - 4 for Buckhalter

2/6 - Westbrook....Brian Westbrook Is Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN EAGLES - 6 plays in 3:35, Philly marches down the field and Brian Westbrook is in the end zone, it's 16-10 Denver.

Broncos at the 20.

1/10 - 1 for Anderson

2/9 - Manning 7 yards to Welker

3/2 - Manning to Hillman, first down at the 34.

1/10 - 1 for Hillman

2/9 - Incomplete

3/9 - Manning to Hillman - 15 yard gain to midfield.

The drive ends - Trent Cole sacks Manning - and as the 3rd qtr ends - the Eagles will take over at the 19.

4th Qtr: Broncos 16 Eagles 10

Philly is back in the game, they score, stop Denver and have the ball again.

1/10 - Buckhalter goes for 10

1/10 - McNabb to Westbrook - 12 more to the 41, Eagles moving the ball now

1/10 - McNabb - PICKED OFF by Asante Samuel -- Samuel Intercepts McNabb - the Broncos are at their own 40.  Once again - the Denver defense comes through in the big spot.

3 and out.  Eagles take over at their own 11 yard line.  11 minutes left in the game.  16-10 Broncos.

1/10 - McNabb 4 to Smith

2/6 - Westbrook bursts through, 24 yards and a first down

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Carry for Booker, nothing.

3/10 - McNabb to Curtis - big play downfield -- 23 yard pickup -- Eagles are at the Denver 38 yard line.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - McNabb -- deep -- PICKED OFF by Chris Harris -- Picked Off By Chris Harris -- Harris down at the Denver 9 - the Denver defense has intercepted McNabb 3 times, with only 7 minutes left in the game the Broncos regain possession at the 9.

1/10 - Anderson gets 1

2/9 - 15 yard gain for Anderson, all the way to the 25.

That ends the drive - with 4 minutes left, the Eagles get the ball back at their own 35.

Here we go - Eagles at the 35 - 65 yards away, it is 16-10, tough day for McNabb - can he drive the Eagles for this win?

1/10 - 3 for Westbrook

2/7 - McNabb to Curtis, 3.

3/4 - McNabb to LJ Smith, 9 yards and the Eagles are at midfield.  

1/10 - Westbrook gets 6 yards and it is the 2 minute warning.

2/4 - Incomplete

3/4 - Incomplete

So - big spot here, 1:46 left in the game - Eagles with 4th and 4 at the Denver 44.

4/4 - Incomplete.  Denver turns Philly over on downs - Denver takes over - they burn through the Eagles 3 timeouts - they squeeze out a first down  and it ends the game.

Final: Broncos 16 Eagles 10

That Denver defense, improbably, has led them to the Region 5 finals.

Manning: 17 for 22 209 yds TD

McNabb: 20 for 38 217 yds 3 INT

Hillman: 14 carries, 44 yds, 4 ctches 55 yds

Westbrook: 16 carries 119 yds TD, 5 ctches 50 yds

Sanders: 4 ctches, 78 yds TD

Curtis: 4 ctches 68 yds

Miller/Dawkins: 2 sacks

Ward: sck/int 

Player of the Game: Von Miller

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 5/Rnd 2: 2000 Tennessee Titans v. 2008 Philadelphia Eagles

 '62 Packers v. '14 Broncos

13. 2008 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at 12. 2000 TENNESSEE TITANS

12. 2000 TENNESSEE TITANS

Record: 13-3

Pythag: 13-3

Off: 13th

Def: 2nd

lost Ravens Div Rnd 24-10

d. '21 Bills 20-16 (PotG-Eddie George)

HC: Jeff Fisher, OC Mike Heimerdinger DC Gregg Williams

Adelphia Coliseum: 55 degrees

Mike Keith/Pat Ryan

Offense

QB Steve McNair (27 Alcorn St )                    15td/13 int  62.6% 7.2 y/a 177.9 y/g 83.2 

RB Eddie George (27 Ohio St) All Pro           1509 yds  3.7 y/a  50 ctch 453 yds  9.1 y/r 16 td

WR Derek Mason (26 Michigan St) All Pro   63 ctch  895 yds 14.2 y/c 5td

WR Chris Sanders (28 Ohio St)                         33 ctch  536 yds  16.2 y/c  

TE Erron Kinney (23-R Florida)                        19 ctch  197 yds  TD

TE Frank Wycheck (29 Maryland)                70 ctch 636 yds 9.1 y/c 4td

LT Brad Hopkins (30 Illinois)

LG Bruce Matthews (39 USC) All Pro

C Kevin Long (25 Florida St)

RG Benji Olson (25 Wash)

RT Fred Miller (27 Baylor)

Defense

LDE Jevon Kearse (24 Florida)

LDT John Thornton (24 W Virginia)

RDT Jason Fisk (28 Stanford)

RDE Kenny Holmes (27 Miami)

LLB Greg Favors (26 Miss St)

MLB Randall Godfrey (27 Georgia)

RLB Eddie Robinson (30 Alabama St)

LCB Denard Walker (27 LSU)

RCB Samari Rolle (24 Florida St) All Pro

SS Blaine Bishop (30 Ball St)

FS Marcus Robertson (31 Iowa St)

K Craig Hentrich (29 N Dame)

P Al Del Greco (38 Auburn)

KR/PR Derek Mason (26 Mich St)              td

This team is led by the #2 defense in 2000; 24 year old Samari Rolle is an All Pro. He had 7 picks.  24 year old Jevon Kearse/27 year old Kenny Holmes combined for 19.5 sacks. On offense Steve McNair is 27, 15 scores/13 picks. Big year for Eddie George, he's 27, nearly 2000 all purpose yards, 16 scores.  He's an All Pro, as is 26 year old Derek Mason and 39 year old Bruce Matthews.  The 12th seeded Titans knocked off the 5th seeded '21 Bills 20-16 in round 1, Eddie George running for 182 yards.  This will be the first round 2 game hosted by a team that did not have home field advantage in round 1.  This Titans crowd should be absolutely rabid.  

13. 2008 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Record: 9-6-1

Pythag: 11-5

Off: 6th

Def: 4th

2nd NFC East

d. Vikes WC 26-14

d. Giants Div Rnd 23-11

Lost Cards NFC Title 32-25

d. '67 Colts 20-17 (PotG-Donovan McNabb)

HC: Andy Reid, OC: Marty Mornhinweg DC Jim Johnson

Offense

QB Donovan McNabb (32)                   23td/11 int   60.4  6.9 y/a  244.8 y/g 86.4  2 td rush

RB Brian Westbrook (29)                      936 yds  4.0 y/a  54 ctch 402 yds 7.4 y/c  14 td

WR Kevin Curtis (30)                            33 ctch  390 yds 11.8 y/c  2td

WR DeSean Jackson (22-R)                  62 ctch 912 yds  14.7 y/r 3td

TE Brent Celek (23)                               27 ctch 318 yds 11.8 y/a td

TE LJ Smith (28)                                   37 ctch 298 yds 8.1 y/a  3td

LT Tra Thomas (34)

LG Todd Herremans (26)

C Jamaal Jackson (28)

RG Max Jean Gilles (25)

RT Jon Runyan (35)

Defense

LDE Juqua Parker (30)                int  5 scks

LDT Mike Patterson (25)            int  .5 sck

RDT Brodrick Bunkley (25)           2 scks

RDE Trent Cole (26)                       9 scks

LLB Chris Gocong (25)               2 sck

MLB Stewart Bradley (25)               int  sck

RLB Omar Gaither (24)                 2.5 sck

LCB Asante Samuel (27)             4 int

RCB Sheldon Brown (29)             int  sck

SS Quintin Mikell (28)                   3 int 2 sck

FS Brian Dawkins (35)                int  3 scks

K David Akers (34)

P Saverio Rocca (35)

KR Quintin Demps (23)               td

PR DeSean Jackson (22-R)           td

 6th in offense/4th in defense in '08; that defensive rank slides the Eagles into the tournament, as they lost in the NFC Title game.  No All Pros, the two Pro Bowlers are both in the secondary, 27 year old Asante Samue/35 year old Brian Dawkins. 26 year old Trent Cole had 9 sacks. McNabb's 32, 25 total TDs and 11 picks. 29 year old Brian Westbrook scored 14 times.  The 13th seeded Eagles knocked out the 4th seeded '67 Colts in rnd 1.

The top half of region 5 is busted wide open, the top seeded Packers are gone, the winner here heads to Denver to face the '14 Broncos.  The Eagles are favored by 3 despite being the road team here. We are off to Nashville for the kick.

1st Qtr

Titans at the 39.

1/10 Rodney Thomas gets 2 yards.

2/8 - Brodrick Bunkley is through the line and drags Steve McNair down for a huge loss.

3/17 - McNair -- moving in the pocket -- Huge Strike Downfield to Derek Mason - it's a 46 yard gain for Mason, huge play for McNair. 

The drive ends, short FG and it's 3-0 Titans.

Eagles at the 26

3 and out, including a Jevon Kearse sack - the Titans will take over at the 31.

1/10 - Eddie George is dropped for a loss.

2/13 - McNair under huge pressure -- PICKED OFF by Asante Samuel -- Samuel takes it back to the Titan 15 yard line!  Big Pick for Samuel and the Eagles take over at the 15.

They go 3 and out - Kearse getting his second sack - and Philly settles for a game tying FG.

Titans will open again at the 31.

1/10 - McNair is sacked for the second time - huge pass rushes early on, Trent Cole getting home.

2/14 - McNair finds Frank Wycheck for the first down = Titans at the 41.

1/10 - 4 for George.

2/6 - McNair hits Mason for 3.

3/3 - Eddie George powers his way for a 10 yard gain to the Eagle 42.

But the drive ends here - the punt is a good one, Eagles to start at the 6.

1/10 - A yard for Brian Westbrook

2/9 - 4 for Westbrook as the qtr ends

2nd Qtr: Eagles 3 Titans 3

All defense, 4 sacks and a pick - Eagles have a third down from deep in their own end.

3/5 - Donovan McNabb picks it up, 9 yards to LJ Smith.

But the drive ends here - and after a punt, Titans at the 30.  

1/10 - McNair to George, 10 yards.

1/10 - A dozen for George and the Titans cross midfield.

1/10 - George gets 4 - an offsides penalty then makes it 2nd and 1.

2/1 - Lorenzo Neal is stopped in the backfield.

3/2 - Incomplete

4/2 - Titans going for it in 4th and 2 - they pick it up - McNair to Chris Sanders, big gain to the 25, gutsy call and the Titans are in business.  

But the drive stalls - and after the Del Greco FG it is 6-3 halfway through the 2nd.

Eagles at the 21.

1/10 - Nothing for Correll Buckhalter

2/10 - Nothing for Westbrook

3/10 - Westbrook busts a 14 yarder for the first down.

The drive stalls here - the Eagles kick - Tennessee at the 33, less than 4 left in the half.

1/10 - McNair 4 to Mason.

2/6 - Eddie George FUMBLES -- the Eagles have it - Eagle ball with 3 minutes left at the Titan 46 yard line -  Brian Dawkins punches the ball from George and it is Philly ball.

1/10 - 16 for Westbrook

1/10 - 2 for Westbrook, 2 minute warning

2/8 - Incomplete

3/8 - McNabb to Smith -- he is just short of the first down, Eagles stop the clock at 1:43, 4th and 1 at the Titan 23.

They decide to go for it --

4/1 - Buckhalter -- Has the first down - and Buckhalter gets all the way to the 9 yard line. First and goal for the Eagles.

1/goal - Incomplete

2/goal - Incomplete

3/goal - McNabb - Buckhalter....Buckhalter is Going to Go Into the end Zone --- TOUCHDOWN EAGLES -- Correll Buckhalter is into the End Zone --- and when the Titans are unable to move the ball in the final seconds it is halftime.

3rd Qtr Eagles 10 Titans 6

Andy Reid with the big 4th down call, Eagles convert and go in for the score.  Winner moves on to the first region 5 semi-final.

Eagles at the 31.

1/10 Westbrook opens with a 12 yard pickup.

And that's all - Titans will take over after a punt at the 19.

3 and out.  Eagles to start at their own 32.

3 and out.  Titans at the 32.

1/10 - Eddie George 12 yard run, the drive stalls here, after the punt, Eagles at the 34.

They get a first down on a face mask call - but Jevon Kearse picks up his 3rd sack - after the punt, it's Titans at the 11, 2 minutes left in the qtr.

1/10 - McNair to Wychrck for 7

2/3 - George is short

3/1 - George picks it up - Titans at the 22.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - George gets 4 as the qtr ends

4th Qtr: Eagles 10 Titans 6

All defense in the third quarter and defense has dominated this game - Titans are down 4 and have a third down.  Winner goes to Denver.

They don't pick it up, After the punt, Eagles at the 38.

3 and out.  Titans ball at their own 13 with 12 minutes to go.  

1/10 - McNair finds Erron Kinney, 10 yards and a first down.

But the drive ends with Trent Colt's second sack - after the punt, it's Eagle ball at their own 48 with 9 minutes left and a 4 pt lead.  A Philly drive for a score here might end this thing.

1/10 - 3 for Westbrook

2/7 - Incomplete

3/7 - McNabb's biggest completion of the day - Kevin Curtis - 20 yards to the 29 yard line!  Eagles in position now to end this thing.

1/10 - 4 for Westbrook

2/6 - 4 for Buckhalter.  Big third down.  

3/2 - Lorenzo Booker gets the carry - he picks it up and with just 6 minutes to play in the game, Philly has a 4 pt lead and a first down at the 17.

1/10 - Westbrook 2 yards

2/8 - McNabb planned run, he gets a yard.  

3/7 - McNabb with another big completion to Curtis - 12 yards and the Eagles have a first and goal at the Titan 2!!!

1/goal - McNabb sneak - stopped.

2/goal - McNabb - in motion -- End Zone -- Curtis - --- TOUCHDOWN EAGLES - that's the dagger - that's the dagger - with only 3 minutes left in the game it is 17-6 Philly.

Titans at the 24 and theyve got to go.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - McNair to George, Eddie George doing it -- George goes 19 yards to the 44.

3 plays later Asante Samuel PICKS OFF - McNair -- and that is that.

Final: Eagles 17 Titans 6

Just 11 first downs for the Titans - the 2008 Eagles are headed to the Region 5 Semi-Finals.

McNabb: 12 for 20 130 yds 2 TD

McNair: 12 for 24 132 yds 2 INT

Westbrook: 18 carries 96 yds

George: 20 carries, 69 yds

Curtis: 5 ctches, 52 yds TD

Mason: 3 catches, 53 yds

Cole/Kearse: 2 sacks

Samuel: 2 INT

Player of the Game: Asante Samuel

2023 Royal Rumble Preview/Every Royal Rumble Match Ranked

 

Royal Rumble 2023 is Saturday from San Antonio.  Here's the card.

UNDISPUTED TITLE: ROMAN REIGNS v. KEVIN OWENS

RAW WOMEN'S TITLE: BIANCA BELAIR v. ALEXA BLISS

PITCH BLACK MATCH: BRAY WYATT v. LA KNIGHT

MENS RUMBLE MATCH

WOMENS RUMBLE MATCH

The Bloodline is a great program; I say some variation of this every quarter - I am predisposed to disliking long WWF talking segments; I understand them - I understand almost all drawn out wrestling angles, there's a lot of TV time to fill, once you hit a story that makes sense, moving away from that story can be challenging - but I'm a workrate guy, just stick two guys in the ring and let them fight, thanks -- but, the Bloodline is consistently good TV; the ability to absorb the Zayn/Owens multi-promotional story to give another set of legs to the Bloodline has just been so deftly handled, Zayn's performance is transencendent -- it is above the fold quality for each of these PPV previews.

Reigns, of course, has both of the WWE primary title belts; he may have taken one from Bruno, who can remember - and that's worked, at least for me as a consumer - they have created an all time dominant champion and good on them.  Reigns will still be champion at the end of the night in what should be a very good match against Owens.

(3 1/2 - good, the big postmatch angle, w/Zayn turning babyface completely subsumes the match)

As much as I like the Bloodline, I can't be bothered at all - I mean - at all - with the Bray Wyatt Multiverse, so whatever is going to happen in the lights out match and whatever convoluted finish will get Bliss the belt I just have zero thoughts about.  Belair/Bliss will probably not be good and there's not a circumstance where Wyatt/Knight will be good.  Do not watch those matches.  

(Awful)

And then there are the two Rumble matches, which are good even when they aren't good, it's a near foolproof gimmick.  My working assumption is Ripley wins the women's match - who makes the most sense to win the men's is Zayn (in fact, of guys currently on the roster, only Zayn and Rhodes make sense, I'd say Austin/Rock would be my next two guesses).  

(3 3/4 stars, mens match, 3 stars womens match, Cody and Ripley win, it's a high level men's Rumble, it's a run of the mill women's)

I've got a wrestling counterfactual I'm been writing for more than 15 years (I'm stopping at end of 2025, sunrise, sunset) a couple years ago I did a pre Rumble angle where Nakamura's stable kicked him out in violent fashion and he came back as the 30th entrant and whipped his former stablemates to win the Rumble.  If the Owens/Reigns match is before the Rumble - should the evening culminate in a Zayn win, that would not surprise (maybe he is supposed to sacrifice his chance to win...but he does not)

So, you watch this show - it's the Rumble, you watch the Rumble, and Reigns/Owens will almost certainly be good and also advance story.  

I've seen every WWE/F PPV contemporaneously, because I'm old.  Here are my Rumble rankings, times are approx.

   1.    '03 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Chris Benoit 20 min 5

   2     '15 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Seth Rollins/John Cena 23 min 4 1/2

   3.    ’00 WWF Title HHH d. Cactus Jack 27 min 4 ¼

   4  ’01 IC Ladder: Chris Jericho d. Chris Benoit 19 min 4 ¼

   5. '17 WWF Title: John Cena d. AJ Styles 24 min 4 1/4

   6. '16 IC Falls Count Anywhere: Dean Ambrose d. Kevin Owens 21:30 4 1/4 

   7  ’04 Rumble Match: (Chris Benoit) 61:30 4

   8 ’92 WWF Title: Rumble Match (Ric Flair) 62 min 4

   9. '18 Rumble Match (Shinsuke Nakamura) 65:30 min 4 

   10 '14 Bray Wyatt d. Daniel Bryan 22 min 4

   11. '17 RAW Title: Kevin Owens d. Roman Reigns 23 min 4

   12 ’91 Rockers d. Orient Express 19 min 4

   13 ’95 WWF Title: Diesel draw Bret Hart 27 min 4

   

   14. '19 Smackdown Womens Title: Asuka d. Becky 17 min 3 3/4 stars

 15. '20 Rumble Match (McIntyre) 61 min 3 3/4

  16. '10 Rumble Match (Edge) 49:30 3 ¾

      17.      '00 Tables Hardys d. Dudleys 10:30 3 ¾

   18.  ’94 Tags: Quebecers d. Bret/Owen 16:30 3 ¾

   19. ’04 WWF Title: HHH draw HBK 22:30 3 ¾

   

   20   '11 World: Edge d. Dolph Ziggler 20:30 3 ½  

   21  ’02 WWF Title: Chris Jericho d. Rock 19 min 3 1/2 

   22 ’98 WWF Title: Casket Match: Shawn Michaels d. Undertaker 22 min 3 ½

   23 ’07 WWF Title: Last Man Standing: John Cena d. Umaga 22:30 3 ½

   24. '19 Universal Title: Brock Lesnar d. Finn Balor 9 min 3 1/2 

   25 ’99 WWF Title: I Quit Match: Rock d. Mankind 22 min 3 ½

   26 ’93 WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Razor Ramon 18 min 3 ½

   27 ’11 Rumble Match (Alberto del Rio) 69 min 3 1/2 

   28 ’90 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 59 min 3 ½

   29 ’97 Rumble Match(Steve Austin) 50:30 3 ½

   30. '21 Rumble Match (Edge) 58:30 3 1/2

   31 '18 Women's Rumble (Asuka) 59 min 3 1/2

   32. '19 RAW Women's Title: Ronda d. Sasha 14 min 3 1/2 

   33. '17 Cruiser Title: Neville d. Rich Swann 13 min 3 1/2

   34. '18 WWF Title: AJ Styles d. Owens/Zayn 16 min 3 1/2

   35. '20 Universal Title: The Fiend d. Daniel Bryan 17:30  3 1/2

   36 ’01 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. HHH 24:30 3 ¼

   37 ’13 WWF Title: Rock d. CM Punk 23:30 3 ¼  

   38 ’93 IC Shawn Michaels d. Marty Jannetty 14:30 3 ¼

   39 ’05 Edge d. Shawn Michaels 18:30 3 ¼

   40. '18 Smackdown Tags: Usos d. Gable/Benjamin 14 min 3 1/4

   41 ’09 WWF Title: Edge d. Jeff Hardy 19:30 3 ¼

   42  '16 WWF Title Rumble Match (HHH) 61:30 3 1/4

   43 ’12 Rumble Match (Sheamus) 55 min 3 ¼

   44 ’05 Rumble Match (Batista) 51:30 3 ¼

   45 ’03 Rumble Match(Brock Lesnar) 53:30 3 ¼

   46 ’00 Rumble Match(Rock) 52 min 3 ¼

   47 ’01 Rumble Match(Steve Austin) 62 min 3 ¼

   48 ’06 Rumble Match (Rey Mysterio) 62 min 3 ¼

   49 ’07 Rumble Match (Undertaker) 56:30 3 ¼

   50 ’89 Rumble Match(John Studd) 64 min 3 ¼

   51 ’98 Rumble Match (Steve Austin) 55:30 3 ¼

   52 ’08 Rumble Match (John Cena) 51:30 3 ¼

   53. '21 Women's Rumble Match (Belair) 59 min 3 1/4

   54. '19 WWF Title: Daniel Bryan d. AJ Styles 24:30  3 1/4

   55 '14 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. John Cena 21 min 3 1/4 

   56 ’10 World: Undertaker d. Rey Mysterio 11 min 3 ¼

   57. '20 RAW Women's: Becky d. Asuka 16:30 3 1/4

   58. '21 Universal Title: Reigns d. Owens 25 min 3 1/4 

   59 ’11 WWF: Miz d. Randy Orton 20 min 3 ¼  

   60 ’05 World: HHH d. Randy Orton 21:30 3 ¼

   61 ’07 Hardys d. MNM 15:30 3 ¼

   62 ’12 WWF Title: CM Punk d. Dolph Ziggler 14 min 3

   63. '22 Universal Title: Seth Rollins d. Roman Reigns 14:30 3 

   64 ’01 Tags: Dudleys d. Edge/Christian 10 min 3

   65 ’08 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. Jeff Hardy 14 min 3

   66 ’92 Owen/Anvil d. Orient Express 17 min 3

   67 ’95 Tags: Bob Holly/123 Kid d. Tatanka/Bam Bam Bigelow 15:30 3

   68 ’02 Rumble Match(HHH) 69:30 3

   69 ’94 Rumble Match: (Bret/Lex) 55 min 3

   70 ’93 Rumble Match: (Yokozuna) 66:30 3

   71 ’91 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 65 min 3

   72 ’96 Rumble Match(Shawn Michaels) 59 min 3

   73. '19 Rumble Match (Rollins) 57:30 min 3

   74. '20 Women's Match: (Charlotte) 54:30 3

   75. '22 Women's Match: (Rousey) 59:30 3

   76 ’99 Rumble Match (Vince McMahon) 56:30 3

   77 ’95 Rumble Match (Shawn Michaels) 39 min 3

   78 ’09 Rumble Match (Randy Orton) 58:30 3

   79 '14 Rumble Match (Batista) 55 min 3

   80 ’13 Rumble Match (John Cena) 55 min 3

   81 '15 Rumble Match (Reigns) 59 min 3

   82 '17 Rumble Match (Orton) 3

   83. '22 Rumble Match (Lesnar) 51 min 3

   84. '19 Women's Rumble Match (Becky) 72 min 3

   85 ’88 Rumble Match (Jim Duggan) 33:30 3 

   86 ’02 IC: William Regal d. Edge 10 min 3

   87 ’04 Eddy Guerrero d. Chavo Guerrero 8 min 3

   88. '22 WWF Title: Bobby Lashley d. Brock Lesnar 10:30 

   89 ’13 World: Last Man Standing: Alberto del Rio d. Big Show 17 min 3

   90 ’09 ECW: Jack Swagger d. Matt Hardy 10:30 3

   91 ’96 Tags: Smoking Gunns d. Bodydonnas 11 min 3

   92 ’03 Tags: Dudleys d. Regal/Storm 7:30 3

   93 '16 US: Kalisto d. Del Rio 11:30 3

   94. '17: Women's Title: Charlotte d. Bayley 13 min 3

   95 ’97 WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Sid 14 min 3

   96 ’89 Haku d. Harley Race 9 min 3

   97 ’97 IC: HHH d. Goldust 17 min 3

   

   98 ’06 Jr.: Gregory Helms d. Kash, Funaki, Noble, Nunzio, London 7:30

   99 ’88 Jumping Bomb Angels d. Glamour Girls 14 min

   100 ’89 Hart Foundation/Duggan d. Dino Bravo/Rougeaus 16 min

   101 ’96 WWF Title: Undertaker d. Bret Hart 29 min

   102. ’90 Ronny Garvin d. Greg Valentine 17 min

   103 ’08 World: Edge d. Rey Mysterio 12:30

   104 ’88 Ricky Steamboat d. Rick Rude 17 min

   105 ’00 Taz d. Kurt Angle 3 min

   106 ’02 Ric Flair d. Vince McMahon 15 min

   107 ’98 IC Rock d. Shamrock 11 min

   108 ’05 WWF Title: JBL d. Big Show/Kurt Angle 12 min

   109 ’06 WWF Title: John Cena d. Edge 14

   110 ’97 Vader d. Undertaker 13 min

   111 ’13 Tags: Hell No d. Rhodes Scholars 9:30 

   112 ’93 Steiners d. Beverlys 10:30 

   113. '18 RAW Tags: Sheamus/Cesaro d. Rollins/Jordan 13 min.

   114. ’07 World: Batista d. Ken Kennedy 10:30

   115. '16 Women: Charlotte d. Becky 11:30

   116. '20 Roman Reigns d. King Corbin 21:30

   117. ’10 ECW: Christian d. Ezekial Jackson 12 min

   118 ’88 Islanders d. Young Stallions 14 min

   119 ’02 Tags: Taz/Spike Dudley d. Dudleys 5 min

   120  '16 Tags: New Day d. Usos 11 min

   121 ’12 World: Cage: Daniel Bryan d. Big Show/Mark Henry

   122 '19 Smackdown Tags: Miz/Shane d. The Bar 13:30 min

   123 ’00 IC: Chris Jericho d. Chyna d. Bob Holly 7:30

   124 ’08 JBL d. Chris Jericho 9:30

   125 ’10 US: Miz d. MVP 7:30 

   126 ’97 Garza/Aguayo/Canek d. Estrada/Metal/.Guerrera 11 min

   127 ’04 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Bob Holly 6:30

   128 '18 Universal Title: Lesnar d. Kane/Strowman 11 min

   129 '15 Tags: Usos d. Miz/Mizdow 9:30

   130 ’03 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 6 min

   131 Euro: '99 Sean Waltman d. Gangrel 6 min

   132 ’98 Vader d. Goldust 8 min

   133 ’95 IC Jeff Jarrett d. Razor Ramon 18 min

   134 ’99 IC: Ken Shamrock d. Billy Gunn 14:30

   135 ’04 Jr. Rey Mysterio d. Jamie Noble 3:30

   136  ’91 Boss Man d. Barbarian 14 min

   137 '14 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 2 min

   138’92 IC: Roddy Piper d. Mountie 5:30

   139 ’08 Ric Flair d. MVP 8 min

   140 ’98 Mini/Mosaic/Nova d. Battalion/Torito/Tarantula 8 min

   141 ’97 Ahmed Johnson d. Farooq 9 min

   142 ’96 Ahmed Johnson d. Jeff Jarrett 6:30

   143 ’10 WWF: Sheamus d. Randy Orton 12:30

   144 ’07 ECW: Bobby Lashley d. Test 7:30

   145 ’04 Tags: Evolution d. Dudleys 4:30

   146 ’03 World Title: Scott Steiner d. HHH 18:30

   147 ’09 World John Cena d. JBL 15:30

   148 ’99 Boss Man d. Road Dogg 12 min

   149 ’90 Hacksaw Duggan d. Big Boss Man 10:30

   150  ’91 Ted DiBiase/Virgil d. Dusty/Dustin 10 min

   151 ’00 Tags: New Age Outlaws d. Acolytes 2:30

   152 ’94 Tatanka d. Bam Bam Bigelow 8

   153  ’94 IC: Razor Ramon d. IRS 11:30

   154 ’96 IC: Goldust d. Razor 14:30

   155. '22 RAW Women's Title: Lynch d. Doudrop 13 min

   156. Edge/Beth d. Miz/Maryse 12:30

   157. '21 Smackdown Women's Title: Banks d. Carmella 10:30

   158. '20 Smackdown Women: Bayley d. Lacey 9:30

   159 ’89 Rockin Robin d. Judy Martin 6:30

   160 ’11 Women: Eve d. Natalya/Layla/Michelle McCool 5 min

   161 '15 Bellas d. Paige/Natty 8 min

   162 ’12 Bellas/Beth/Natalya d. Kelly/Eve/Alicia/Tamina 5:30

   163 ’02 Women: Trish d. Jazz 4 min

   164 ’09 Women: Melina d. Beth Phoenix 6:30

   165 ’92 Tags: Natural Disasters d. LOD 9:30

   166 ’98 Tags: LOD d. New Age Outlaws 8 min

   167 ’91 Mountie d. Koko 9

   168 ’05 Casket: Undertaker d. Heidenreich 13:30

   169 ’91 WWF Title: Sgt. Slaughter d. Ultimate Warrior 12:30

   170 ’06 World: Kurt Angle d. Mark Henry 9:30

   171  ’93 Bam Bam Bigelow d. Big Boss Man 10 min

   172  WWE Title: Drew McIntyre d. Goldberg 2:30

   173 ’95 Undertaker d. IRS 12:30

   174 '15 Ascension d. New Age Outlaws 5:30

   175 ’01 Women: Ivory d. Chyna 3:30

   176 ’99 Women: Sable d. Luna 4:30

   177 ’12 Brodus Clay d. Drew McIntyre 1 min

   178  ’06 Boogeyman d. JBL 2 min

   179  ’90 Bushwackers d. Rougeaus 13:30

   180 ’12 John Cena draw Kane 11

   181  ’90 Brutus Beefcake draw Lanny Poffo 11 min

   182  ’92 Beverlys d. Bushwackers 15 min

   183  ’10 Women: Mickie James d. Michelle McCool :30

   184 ’03 Torrie Wilson d. Dawn Marie 3:30

   185 ’06 Women: Mickey James d. Ashley 7:30

   186. '94 WWF Title: Yokozuna d. Undertaker 14:30

      

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 5/Rnd 2: 1962 Green Bay Packers v. 2014 Denver Broncos

 '78 Cowboys v. '60 Browns

8. 2014 DENVER BRONCOS at 1. 1962 NFL CHAMPION GREEN BAY PACKERS

1. 1962 NFL CHAMPION GREEN BAY PACKERS

Pythag: 13-1

Off: 1st

Def: 1st

d. Giants NFL Title 16-7

d. '72 Raiders 20-17 (PotG-Jim Taylor)

HC Vince Lombardi, DC Phil Bengston

Lambeau Field: 50 degrees

Ray Scott/Tony Canadeo

Offense

QB Bart Starr (28 Alabama )               12td/9 int   62.5%  8.6 y/a  174.1 y/g  90.7 td rush

RB Paul Hornung (27 N Dame)              219 yds 3.8 y/a  9 ctches, 168 yds  7td

FB Jim Taylor (27 LSU) All Pro          1474 yds  5.4 y/a  22 ctch  106 yds  19 td

WR Boyd Dowler (25 Colorado)            49 ctch  724 yds 14.8 y/c 2 td

WR Max McGee (30 Tulane)                  49 ctch  820 yds  16.7 y/c  3 td

TE Ron Kramer (27 Mich) All Pro      37 ctch  555 yds  15 y/c  7 td

LT Bob Skoronski (28 Indiana)

LG Fuzzy Thurston (29 Valpo)

C Jim Ringo (31 Syracuse ) All Pro

RG Jerry Kramer (26 Mich) All Pro

RT Forrest Gregg (29 SMU) All Pro

Defense

LDE Willie Davis (28 Grambling) All Pro      13 scks  td

LDT Dave Hanner (32 Ark)                                int  3 scks

RDT Henry Jordan (27 UVA) All Pro             int  8.5 scks

RDE Bill Quinlan (30 Mich St)                         int  4 scks

LLB Dan Currie (27 Mich St)

MLB Ray Nitschke (28 Illinois)                       4 int  2 scks

RLB Bill Forester (30 SMU) All Pro            7 scks

LCB Herb Adderley (23 Mich St) All Pro     7 int  td

RCB Jesse Whittenton (28 UTEP)                   3 int

LS Hank Gremminger (29 Baylor)                    5 int

RS Willie Wood (26 USC)                             9 int

K Jerry Kramer (26 Mich )

P Boyd Dowler (25 Colo)

KR Herb Adderley (23 Mich St)   td

PR Willie Wood (26 USC)

The 5th overall seed in the tournament is our first Lombardi team; the '62 Pack was 1st in offense and defense. Bart Starr is 28, 13 scores and 9 picks. There are 5 All Pros on the offense - 27 year old Jim Taylor who rushed for over 1400 yards and scores 19 times; 27 year old Ron Kramer with 7 scores and 3 OLinemen, 31 year old Jim Ringo, 26 year old Jerry Kramer, 29 year old Forrest Gregg. And then 5 more on defense - 28 year old Willie Davis/27 year old Henry Jordan on the DLine. 27 year old Dan Currie and 30 year old Bill Forester in the LB corps and 23 year old corner Herb Adderley, with 7 picks.  In the regular season, they had a game where they outgained the Eagles by 574 yds. The Packers are ready to smash some mouths.  Tight round 1 win over the '72 Raiders paced by a 158 yard Jim Taylor rushing game.

8. 2014 DENVER BRONCOS 

Record: 12-4

Pythag: 11-5

Off: 2nd

Def: 16th

Lost Div Rnd Colts 24-13

d. '75 Rams 24-10 (PotG-Peyton Manning)

HC: John Fox, OC Adam Gase, DC Jack del Rio

Sports Authority Field: 60 degrees

Dave Logan/Ed McCaffrey

Offense

QB Peyton Manning (38 Tennessee)             39td/15 int  66.2  7.9 y/a 295.4 y/g 101.5 

RB CJ Anderson (23 Cal)                              849 yds  4.7 y/c  34 ctc  324 yds  9.5 y/c  10 td

WR Demaryius Thomas (27 G Tech)           111 ctch  1619  yds  14.6 y/c  11 td

WR Emmanuel Sanders (27 SMU)              101 ctch  1404  yds  13.9 y/c  9 td

WR Wes Welker (33 TTech)                             49 ctch  464 yds  9.5 y/c  2 td

TE Julius Thomas (26 Port St)                     43 ctch  489 yds  11.4 y/c  12 td

LT Ryan Clady (28 Boise)

LG Orlando Franklin (27 Miami)

C Manuel Ramirez (31 T Tech)

RG Louis Vasquez (27 T Tech)

RT Chris Clark (29 So Miss)

Defense

DE Sylvester Williams   (26 UNC)

NT Terrance Knighton (28 Temple)         2 scks

DE Derek Wolfe (24 Cincinnati)             1.5 sck

LB Von Miller (25 Tex A&M)                14 scks

LB Brandon Marshall (25 Nevada)         int 2 scks

LB Nate Irving (26 NC St)                     sck

LB DeMarcus Ware (32 Troy)                int  10 scks

CB Chris Harris (25 Kansas)                3 int  sck

CB Aqib Talib (28 Kansas)                   4 int  2 td  sck

SS TJ Ward (28 Oregon)                      2 int  2scks 

FS Rahim Moore (24 UCLA)                  4 int

K Brandon McManus (23 Temple)

P Britton Colquitt (29 Tenn)

KR Omar Bolden (26 Ariz St)

PR Isaiah Burse (23 Fresno St)

Second best offense in football, it's 38 year old Peyton Manning's last year being Peyton Manning.  39 scores.  15 picks. Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas are both 27, both with over a hundred catches. Mediocre defense. Von Miller's 25, DeMarcus Ware is 32 and they combined for 26 sacks. John Fox was replaced after the season, so whenever Denver loses, that ends his run with the Broncos.  Manning ripped up the '75 Rams for 312 yds.  

We've skipped Region 4, holding it off to see if we can incorporate some 2022 teams into the tournament, there's a plan in place. So - we start with this first region 5 round 2 game - the Pack are 7 pt favorites and we are headed to GBay for the kick.

1st Qtr

Denver to start at the 21.

1/10 - Peyton Manning throwing the ball - 14 yards to Emmanuel Sanders, can Manning move the ball against this Packer defense?  

1/10 - Botched snap - Manning recovers.  

2/11 - Manning downfield -- hits Demaryius Thomas for a 25 yard pickup - Denver is quickly at the Packer 38.

1/10 - CJ Anderson for 3.

2/7 - Incomplete

3/7 - Manning finds Wes Welker, 9 yards and a first down at the 26.

1/10 - Manning in trouble -- dumps it to Sanders, 1 yard.

2/9 - Ronnie Hillman 5 yard gain.  

3/4 - Manning hits a wide open Sanders - Sanders running free - he's knocked out of bounds at the 1 yard line.

1/goal - Incomplete

2/goal - Anderson is --- Into The End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS thats a 79 yard scoring drive for Manning and the Broncos - great drive for Denver, 6 minutes and 79 yards.

Packers at the 17.  

1/10 - Jim Taylor 1 yard.

2/9 - Bart Starr finds Max McGee, 10 yard gain.

1/10 - Jim Taylor just Barrels Through the Line -- Jim Taylor rumbling, rumbling, rumbling all the way to the Denver 8 yard line ---- it is a 64 yard Jim Taylor run, Taylor dragged down at the 8 yard line - the Pack has a first and goal at the 8.

1/goal - Give to Paul Hornung...the Golden Boy is Into The End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN PACKERS - Green Bay comes Right Back -- that Huge Taylor run leads to the Hornung score, the Pack come right back and this game is tied at 7.

Broncos at the 33.

1/10 - Manning finds Hillman out of the backfield, 16 yard pickup.

1/10 - Nothing for Hillman

2/10 - Nothing for Anderson

3/12 - Manning finds Cody Latimer, Denver's 5th receiver - the Pack is not ready for a team to spread them out with 5 receivers - Denver to the Packer 27 yard line.

1/10 - 1 for Anderson

2/9 - 3 for Anderson

3/6 - Manning finds Welker, 10 yards to the Packer 13 yard line!

The drive ends here - Denver kicks the FG and it is 10-7.

Pack will open at the 30 as the qtr begins.

2nd Qtr: Broncos 10 Packers 7

Offense in the first quarter - scores on each possession.  Pack at the 30, first and ten.

1/10 - Taylor for 2.

2/8 - Starr to Boyd Dowler, 8 yards to the 40.

The drive ends - GB punts - Denver starts at the 22.

1/10 - Manning keeps hitting his receivers, 14 to Sanders.

1/10 - Manning again, 14 to Thomas and the Broncos are again across midfield.

The drive ends here - Willie Davis sacks Manning on third down - Denver punts, Pack at the 12.

1/10 - Taylor for 2.

2/8 - Starr to McGee, 8 yards to the 24.

1/10 - Starr finds his third receiver, Gary Barnes, 8 yards.

2/2 - Starr to Dowler, big play - GB opening it up here, 24 to the Bronco 44.

1/10 - Taylor for 3.

2/7 - Hornung for 1.

3/6 - Starr to Taylor and Jim Taylor breaks tackles -- 13 yards to the Denver 25.

The drive ends - with 3 minutes left in the half, the GB FG ties this game at 10.

Denver at the 37.

1/10 - Hillman gets 2.

2/8 - Anderson for 1 and it is the 2 minute warning.

3/7 - Manning to Hillman out of the backfield - breaks a tackle and flies down the sideline for 20 yards to the Packer 40.

1/10 - Manning to Thomas - he takes the huge shot but holds on - 18 yards.  

1/10 - Hillman for 4.  

2/6 - Hillman for 1, Denver stops the clock here with a minute left.  

3/5 - Manning to Hillman -- Hillman  makes his way for a 12 yard gain, out of bounds and it is a first and goal to go for the Broncos with 47 seconds left in the half.

The drive ends here - Henry Jordan sacks Manning, Denver uses its last time out with 3 seconds left - McManus breaks the tie and we go to the locker room at 13-10.

3rd Qtr: Broncos 13 Packers 10

Top seeded Packers in a fight, they've struggled with the Bronco passing attack - the weather conditions are deteriorating, GB will get the ball at the 21.

3 and out - Von Miller gets home and sacks Starr.

Denver will take over at the Packer 49.

1/10 - 5 for Hillman

2/5 - Manning to Anderson, he gains 6.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Give to Anderson and he busts a big gainer, Anderson to the 14 yard line!

But that's it - Denver is forced to kick, McManus with his 3rd FG and it is 16-10.

Pack at the 26.

1/10 - 1 for Taylor.

2/9 - Nothing for Hornung

3/9 - Starr finds Dowler, 16 to the 43.

And that's all -the Pack has to punt, Denver at the 13, 5 left in the third, up 6 pts in this rnd 2 matchup.

1/10 - Manning to Thomas, 13 yards to the 27.

1/10 - 2 for Hillman

2/8 - 7 for Hillman

3/1-  Manning to Anderson, he has the first down, Denver at the 38 with 2 left in the third.

1/10 - Hillman 7 yard gain

2/3 - Manning to Welker at the sticks, Denver is at midfield - the Broncos, seeded 8th in the region, are up and driving as the qtr nears an end.

1/10 - 3 for Hillman

2/7 - Anderson for 5 and the qtr ends

4th Broncos 16 Packers 10

The 5th overall seeded Pack is in danger now, down 16-10, Denver with a pivotal, a pivotal 3rd and 2 at the Packer 42.

They don't pick it up - Fox decides to punt - Packers take over at the 10.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Jim Taylor with a 15 yard gain

The drive ends here - GB forced to punt, with 12 minutes left in the game, the Broncos regain possession, they are at their own 32.  16-10.

1/10 - 1 for Hillman

2/9 - Hillman loses 2

3/11 - Oh man, a huge play for Manning - he just floats a ball right into the arms of Thomas, it's 31 yards, the Broncos are at the 38.

The drive ends there - Denver punts, the Packers have 9 minutes to play, they are at the 17, they trail by 6.  This crowd trying to will their Pack down the field.

1/10 - 1 for Taylor.

2/9 - Nothing for Taylor,

3/9 - Starr to Taylor, Taylor dragging defenders to the sticks - first down.

1/10 - Nothing for Hornung

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Starr to Lew Carpenter -- great play call - Carpenter wide open and the Pack are at their own 46 yard line, little more than 5 minutes left in the game.

But --- that's it.  And with 4 minutes to play, the Packers have to punt, Denver ball at their own 20.  Still 16-10.  Man oh man.  

1/10 - CJ Anderson bursts a 21 yard run!  Denver at the 41!

The drive ends - Ray Nitschke with a third down sack.  The Pack uses 2 timeouts, we are just before the 2 mintue mark and after the punt, the Packers are at their own 20.

So - here we are.  Denver 16 GBay 10.  2:04 left in the game.  First down for GB at their own 20.  80 yards to go.  Someone is going home.  

1/10 - Taylor gets 1.  2 minutes.

2/9 - Incomplete

3/9 - Starr picks it up - he finds McGee for a 20 yard gain --- but it is coming back.  Holding.

Oof.  Such a huge call there.  Lombardi is apoplectic.  

3rd and 19.  Pack way back at their own 11.  1:49 left.

3/19: Incomplete

So - now it's here, 4th and 19 - Packers have just one time out left, they can't really give the ball back.  

4/19 - Starr is in trouble -- Miller all over him - he throws ----

Incomplete

Incomplete.

The Broncos take over on downs - There's 1:36 left, the Pack can only stop the clock once - they do -- but that's not enough and Denver is able to run out the clock and this game is over.

Final: Broncos 16 Packers 10

Denver had the 16th ranked defense in 2014 - but that's why they play the games; they hold the Pack to 12 first downs and send the top seeds in the region home in rnd 2.

Manning: 18 for 24 240 yds

Starr: 10 for 22 128 yds

Anderson: 14 carries 62 yds TD

Taylor: 16 carries, 109 yds

Thomas: 5 catches, 104 yds

Dowler: 3 catches, 48 yds

Player of the Game: Von Miller

256 Team NFL Tournament - Region 3/ Semi-final 2: 1978 Dallas Cowboys v. 1960 Cleveland Browns

1970 Vikings v. 1960 Browns 

10. 1960 CLEVELAND BROWNS at 3. 1978 NFC CHAMPION DALLAS COWBOYS

3. 1978 NFC CHAMPION DALLAS COWBOYS

Record: 12-4

Pythag: 13-3

Off: 1st

Def: 3rd

1st NFC East

d. Falcons Div Rnd 27-20

d. Rams NFC Title 28-0

Lost Steelers Super Bowl 35-31

d. '89 Broncos 27-3 (PotG-Randy White)

d. '54 Lions 24-7 (PotG-Tony Dorsett)

HC: Tom Landry OC: Dan Reeves, DC: Ernie Stautner

Frank Gleiber/Verne Lunquist/Brad Sham

Texas Stadium 60 degrees

Offense

QB Roger Staubach (36 Navy)         25 TD/16 INT 55.9% 7.7 y/a 212.7 y/g 84.9 1 td rush

RB Tony Dorsett (24 Pitt)                 1325 yds 4.6 y/a 37 ctch 378 yds 10.2 y/c 9 td

FB Robert Newhouse (28 Houston)    584 yds 4.2 y/a  20 ctch  176 yds 8.8 y/c 10 td

WR Tony Hill (22 Stanford)             46 ctch 823 yds 17.9 y/c 6 td

WR Drew Pearson (27 Tulsa)             44 ctch 714 yds 16.2 y/c 3 td

TE Billy Joe DuPree (28 Mich St)   34 ctch 509 yds 15 y/c 9 td

LT Pat Donovan (25 Stanford)

LG Herbert Scott (25 Va Union)

C John Fitzgerald (30 B College)

RG Tom Rafferty (24 Penn St)

RT Rayfield Wright (33 F Valley St)

Defense

LDE Too Tall Jones (27 Tenn St)                               9.5 scks

LDT Jethro Pugh (34 Eliz City St)                            sck

RDT Randy White (25 Maryland) All Pro              16 scks

RDE Harvey Martin (28 Tex A&M Comm)            14.5 scks  int

LLB Hollywood Henderson (25 Langston)               2.5 scks

MLB Bob Breunig (25 Ariz St)                                  int   sck

RLB DD Lewis (33 Miss St)                                       2.5 scks

LCB Benny Barnes (27 Stanford)                              5 int

RCB Aaron Kyle (24 Wyoming)                                   3 int

SS Charlie Waters (30 Clemson)                               4 int  .5 scks

FS Cliff Harris (30 Ouachita Baptist) All Pro            4 int  sck

K Rafael Septien (25 Louisiana)

P Danny White (26 Ariz St)

KR/PR Butch Johnson (24 UC Riverside)

 Dallas had the top offense in '78, Staubach's 36, 26 total scores and 16 picks. He was the top rated passer in the NFL. 1700 combined yards from scrimmage for 24 year old Tony Dorsett.  Both Cowboys All Pros are on the third ranked defense, 25 year old Randy White, 30 year old Cliff Harris. Dallas held the '89 Broncos to 8 first downs in rnd 1.  The defense again led the way in round 2, keeping the '54 Lions to an early TD  

10. 1960 CLEVELAND BROWNS

Record: 8-3-1

Pythag: 9-3

Off: 1st

Def: 4th

2nd NFL East

Did not make playoffs

d. '03 Patriots 50-14

HC: Paul Brown

Offense

QB Milt Plum (25 Penn St)                           21 td/5 int  60.4% 191.4 y/g 9.2 y/a 110.4 2 td rush

RB Bobby Mitchell (25 Illinois)                    506 yds 4.6 45 ctch 612 yds 13.6 y/c 11 td

RB Jim Brown (24 Syracuse) All Pro           1257 yds 5.8 y/a 19 ctch 204 yds 10.7 y/a 11 td

WR Ray Renfro (31 N Texas)                         24 ctch 378 yds 15.8 y/a 4 td

WR Rich Kreitling (24 Illinois)                        16 ctch 316 yds  19.8 y/ 3 td

WR Gern Nagler (28 S Clara)                           36 ctch 616 yds 17.1 y/ 3 td

LT Dick Schafrath (23 Ohio St)

LG Jim Ray Smith (29 Baylor) All Pro

RG Gene Hickerson (25 Ole Miss)

RT Mike McCormack (30 Kansas)

Defense

LDE Paul Wiggin (26 Stanford)               int  9 scks

LDT Bob Gain (31 Kentucky)                 1 int  1.5 scks

RDT Floyd Peters (24 S Francisco St)     sck

RDE Jim Marshall (23-R Ohio St)          2.5 scks

LLB Galen Fiss (29 Kansas)                   int

MLB Vince Costello (28 Ohio)

RLB Walt Michaels (31 Wash&Lee)           sck

LCB Bernie Parish (24 Florida)            6 int td

RCB Jim Shofner (25 TCU)                     8 int

LS Don Fleming (23-R Florida)                5 int

SS Bobby Franklin (24 Ole Miss)            8 int

K/P Sam Baker (31Ore St)

PR Bobby Mitchell (25 Illinois)

KR Jim Brown (24 Syr)

  Best offense in football, 25 year old Milt Plum had 23 combined scores and just 5 picks.  25 year old Bobby Mitchell had a dozen scores running/catching/returning/and even threw for a 13th. 24 year old Jim Brown is an All Pro, 1257 yards rushing in a dozen games.  The 28 year old LG Jim Ray Smith was also an All Pro. The defense is okay, 24 year old corner Bernie Parrish, 25 year old Jim Shofner, 23 year old Don Fleming combined for 19 picks.  Cleveland stomped the '03 Patriots in round 1, hanging 50 points on them.  In rnd 2, they went into Minnesota and beat the '70 Vikings, Jim Brown rushing for 184 yds. 

Cleveland's the 10th seed, they're headed to play the 3rd seeded Cowboys - but that Jim Brown/Bobby Mitchell combo makes them a +2.5 favorite.  Lets go to Texas Stadium.

1st Qtr:

Dallas starts at the 17.

1/10 - Robert Newhouse takes the first play 49 yards to the Browns 34.

1/10 - Nothing for Dorsett.

2/10 - Incomplete

3/10 - Roger Staubach picks it up -- 20 yards to Butch Johnson.

1/10 - Give to Newhouse and he just barrels his way Into the End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - 5 plays, 83 yards -- the Cowboys are into the endzone.  

Browns muff the kick and start at the 8.

1/10 - Milt Plum is sacked by Randy White.

2/14 - Milt Plum is sacked by Harvey Martin IN THE END ZONE -- it's a safety - Dallas quickly up 9-0.

Dallas to start at the Browns 46 after the free kick.

1/10 - Give to Dorsett -- AND HE IS GONE -- HE IS GONE -- TONY DORSETT ROMPING 46 YARDS TO THE END ZONE - TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - we are less than 3 minutes into the game and the Dallas Cowboys lead 16-0!!

Browns at the 35.

1/10 - Jim Brown 4 yards.

2/6 - Plum to Bobby Mitchell, 9 yard gain.

But the drive ends here - Dallas has it again at their own 20.

3 amd out.  Browns at their own 42.  3 and out.

Cowboys at their own 20.  

1/10 - Dorsett buried for a big loss.

2/15 - Staubach to Dorsett - Dorsett shaking, baking -- Dorsett out to the 42.

1/10 - Staubach going over the top --- Staubach finds Drew Pearson --- 37 yards - big, big shot - Dallas is up 16 and at the 21.  

1/10 - Newhouse---- he goes for 11, Dallas first and goal at the 10.

1/goal - Dorsett -- Dorsett Unstoppable -- TONY DORSETT IS INTO THE ENDZONE -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - Dallas with the 23-0 lead!!!

Browns at the 26.

On 3rd and 4 - Milt Plum is CRUNCHED - between Harvey Martin and Randy White - the ball pops into the air -- snatched by Hollywood Henderson -- AND HE RUNS IT BACK -- INTO THE END ZONE --- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - Dallas has scored 30 first quarter points -- The Dallas Cowboys have 30 first quarter points!!!

Browns at the 19 as the quarter ends.

2nd Qtr: Cowboys 30 Browns 0

This is already over; Dallas has just blown the doors clean off here in the first qtr -- they will almost certainly take this semi-final and move to the region 3 finals.

1/10 - 2 for Mitchell.

2/8 - 14 for Brown.

That's all.  Cowboys will take over at the 26.

1/10 - 15 for Dorsett.  That's all.  Browns at the 31.

3 and out.  Cowboys at the 43.

1/10 - Preston Pearson carries, stopped at the line.

2/10 - Newhouse gets 1.

3/9 - Billy Joe Dupree with his first catch, it's a first down, Dallas at the Browns 37, a false start makes it 1st and 15.

1/15 - Newhouse pounds out a 19 yard gain.

1/10 - There Goes Tony Dorsett!  There goes Tony Dorsett! 23 yards Into The End Zone -- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - 23 yard TD run for Dorsett - with 5 minutes left in the half, it is 37-0.

Browns at the 29.

1/10 - Milt Plum finds Leon Clarke for 6.

2/4 - Brown gets 6.

1/10 - Brown gets 1.

2/9 - Plum to Mitchell, he goes for 13.

1/10 - Mitchell for 1

2/9 - Plum to Brown - it's 16 yards to the 28.

1/10 for Brown

2/8 - Charlie Waters PICKS OFF MILT PLUM - At the 2 minute warning, Dallas regains the ball at their own 24.

1/10 - Staubach play action to Newhouse, it's 13 yards.

1/10 - Staubach downfield to Pearson, 20 yards and Dallas is at the Browns 43.

1/10 - Dorsett for 3.

2/7 - Incomplete

3/7 - Staubach to Dorsett, its 10 yards to the 30.

1/10 - Incomplete

2/10 - Dorsett stopped in the backfield, Dallas stops the clock at 22 seconds.  

3/14 - Staubach to Tony Hill, 18 yards, Dallas stops the clock again, first down at the Browns 17.

1/10 - Staubach -- END ZONE -- TONY HILL --- TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - 17 yards from Staubach to Hill -- 17 yards, 44-0, Dallas romping, absolutely romping today.

Jim Brown takes the kick back to the Cowboy 40 yard line - and Sam Baker hits a 57 yard FG to end the half.

3rd Qtr: Cowboys 44 Browns 3

The biggest half in the tournament to date, the '78 Cowboys hang 44 in the first half.

Cleveland gets the ball first, they pick up 3 first downs, hold the ball for 5 minutes, but eventually turn it over on downs.  

Dallas starts at their 34, 3 runs and they punt.  

Browns at their own 45.

1/10 - Big run for Mitchell, 19 to the Dallas 36.

1/10 - Plum finds Gern Nagler - 10 yards.

1/10 - 1 for Brown

2/9 - Prentice Gautt busts a 24 yard run, knocked out at the 1.

1/goal - Jim Brown Into the End Zone --- TOUCHDOWN BROWNS - less than 6 minutes left in the third and it's 44-10.

Dallas starts at the 14, they take the rest of the quarter to get to the Browns 24, it's 3rd and 7 as the qtr ends.

4th Qtr: Cowboys 44 Browns 10

Region 3 semis coming to an end - the third seeded Cowboys winning the bottom half of the region.

Dallas picks up the first down - and a couple plays later Dorsett is into the end zone on a 4 yard run - TOUCHDOWN COWBOYS - 13 minutes left and Dallas is up 51-10.

Browns start at the 32, 4 plays and they turn it over on downs.

Dallas ball at the Cleveland 41. Glenn Carano in at QB, they run the ball 3 times and punt it into the endzone.  8 minutes left, touchback.

They keep the ball for 4 minutes, getting 3 first downs, Randy White and Harvey Martin each getting sacks, they have 3 apiece, Browns again turn the ball over on downs, Cowboys taking possession at their own 27.  Carano remains in at QB, he'll throw one pass over the rest of the game, Dallas never gives the ball up.  

Final: Cowboys 51 Browns 10

Not as close as that; Dallas just lays it on the Browns.  

Staubach: 15 for 20 212 yds TD

Plum: 10 for 20, 114 yds INT

Dorsett: 22 carries, 144 yards, 3 catches, 48 yds, 4 TD

Newhouse: 15 carries, 173 yds TD

Brown: 18 carries, 59 yds TD

Hill: 3 catches, 35 yds, TD

Mitchell: 4 ctches, 57 yds

Martin/White: 3 sacks

Player of the Game: Tony Dorsett