Alternate NFL Playoff History

[Hurkman]

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) vs. New York Giants (9-7)
Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

For the first time since 1963 and the days of Y.A. Tittle, the New York Giants had made the NFC playoffs. With a young, hungry defense, led by linebackers Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor, the Giants had given up just 257 points on the season, which was enough to survive the loss of their starting quarterback, Phil Simms, midway through the season. Backup Scott Brunner had performed well, as halfback Rob Carpenter had stepped up his performance to provide Brunner with support. Facing New York would be the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, who, despite a down season from quarterback Ron Jaworski, rode into the playoffs on the strength of one of the best defenses in the NFL.

From the start of the game, it became clear what the Giants' plan was to stop the Eagles. Halfback Wilbert Montgomery had rushed for over 1,400 yards during the regular season, and was seen as the spark plug of the Philadelphia offense. What New York decided to do was stop Montgomery, and make Jaworski beat them. Early on, the plan worked to perfection. Montgomery was surrounded every time he touched the ball, and Jaworski was unable to find open receivers. However, the Giants were also unable to move the football, as Brunner and Carpenter found themselves bogged down by the least scored upon defense in football. Late in the first quarter, the Eagles finally got moving, as Jaworski found the rhythm that he had been lacking. Charlie Smith came down with a Jaworski 10 yard touchdown early in the second quarter, and the Eagles had the lead. New York still could not get moving, only crossing the 50 yard line once in the first half. However, that drive ended in points, as kicker Joe Danelo amazingly nailed a 58 yard field goal as time ran out in the first half, cutting the Philadelphia lead to four points.

Throughout the third quarter, both teams again found themselves struggling to find any sort of offensive groove. Montgomery still could not get himself going for Philadelphia, while Brunner and Carpenter seemed to be buckling under the pressure of the playoffs. After a scoreless third quarter, Jaworski and the Eagles took over deep in their own territory, as the game had become a battle of punts and field position. This time, however, Jaworski was able to break free of the New York defense, first hitting Keith Krepfle for 21 yards, then nailing the finishing blow: a 60 yard touchdown to backup halfback Hubie Oliver that accounted for more receiving yards than he had during the entire regular season. However, with a larger lead, the Eagle defense began to sag, and the Giants were finally able to mount a drive deep into Philadelphia territory. With just five and half minutes to go, Brunner hit Johnny Perkins on a quick two yard touchdown pass to put New York back into the game.

The only problem was that the Giants had to give the ball back to Philadelphia. Once the Eagles got the ball back, they would not give it up again, as Montgomery earned the toughest of his yards running out the clock against a strong New York defense. Jaworski needed to throw just one more pass, and it was enough for the final first down. The Eagles were able to run out the clock, while New York was left to sit and think about next season.

Final Score: Philadelphia-14 New York Giants-10

Real Life Score: New York Giants-27 Philadelphia-21

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Dallas Cowboys (12-4) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

Just two seasons after being shocked and embarassed at home by the Buccaneers, the Dallas Cowboys had a shot at revenge. Led once again by a solid defense and the potent combination of Danny White, Tony Dorsett and Tony Hill on offense, the Cowboys were again one of the best teams in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Bucs had stumbled since reaching the Super Bowl, but quarterback Doug Williams bounced back in 1981 with 3,500 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Jerry Eckwood rushed for over 700 yards to fill the hole that the mysteriously injured Ricky Bell had left.

In the first half, much like the first half of their NFC Championship matchup, defense ruled the day. After Williams was intercepted on Tampa's first drive, Dallas marched down to the four yard line, only to have Ron Springs fumble the ball back to the Bucs. From there, the first half turned into a battle for field postion, as the Tampa defense showed why it was one of the best in the NFL, and Dallas showed why they weren't that far back, either. Neither quarterback could find anyone to throw the football to, and every halfback that was brought out onto the field was stuffed by defenders. As the first quarter ran down, the Bucs were the first team to catch a break, as Williams found Theo Bell open in the middle of the field. Bell, whose defender slipped, caught the pass and made it 38 yards before being brought down. From there, Williams was able to hit Jerry Eckwood in the end zone with a ten yard pass, putting Tampa ahead and making Dallas fans very uneasy. The Cowboys did little to settle their fans, as their offense could not move the football in the first half. White seemed incapable of passing the ball to receivers, while 1,600 yard rusher Tony Dorsett looked baffled behind a wall of defenders. The first half came to an end with Tampa still up by the same 7-0 score.

As the second half got underway, Dallas was looking for something to go their way, and on their second drive, they finally got it. Following a Tampa punt, the Cowboys started with the ball at their own 27 yard line. On the first play, White finally had time to scan the field and found slot receiver Butch Johnson open. Johnson caught the bullet pass and made it 39 yards into Tampa territory before being tackled. Although they only gained another five yards, the Cowboys were in field goal range, and kicker Rafael Septien did not disappoint, nailing the 46 yard kick to put Dallas on the board. On their next drive, the Cowboys, now armed with momentum, moved downfield quickly, as White and Dorsett were both finally able to get going on the same drive. As the fourth quarter began, White found Billy Joe Dupree with a pass. Dupree shook a tackle and would run for a 37 yard touchdown that gave Dallas the lead for the first time on the day. With the defense now holding Tampa in check, the Cowboys struck quickly on their next drive, as backup fullback Ron Springs was able to break loose for a 42 yard run, and finished the drive with a one yard touchdown. Though Tampa was able to score on their next drive, thanks to a James Wilder touchdown catch, Bill Capece missed the extra point, and the next time the Bucs got the ball, Dallas had added another Septien field goal, and there were just ten seconds remaining. Williams' desperate hail mary pass fell short, and Dallas had their revenge over Tampa Bay.

Final Score: Dallas-20 Tampa Bay-13

Real Life Score: Dallas-38 Tampa Bay-0

San Francisco 49ers (13-3) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

For the first time since Steve Spurrier was behind center, the San Francisco 49ers had made the playoffs. Head coach Bill Walsh had managed to turn a 2-14 team into a 13-3 team in just three seasons, thanks in large part to a disciplined defense and a solid young quarterback by the name of Joe Montana. In just his third season, and his first as a full time starter, Montana passed for over 3,500 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was supported by a solid halfback in Ricky Patton, as well as excellent receivers in Dwight Clark and Freddie Solomon, all of whom would have their hands full against the Philadelphia Eagles and their defense.

If San Francisco was nervous about their first playoff game in almost a decade, it certainly did not show in the first half. Following a Philadelphia punt on their opening possession, it took Montana just two plays for his first playoff touchdown, as Freddie Solomon broke loose for a 49 yard touchdown catch. The 49ers would score on their next drive as well, as kicker Ray Wersching knocked through a 31 yard field goal to put the 49ers up 10-0. Philadelphia still could not even get started on offense, as halfback Wilbert Montgomery had the same problems against San Francisco that he had against New York the week before. The second quarter was not much better for the Eagles, though they did at least add a Tony Franklin field goal early on to cut the lead to seven points. Unfortunately for them, San Francisco had no intention of cutting short their scoring quite yet. Following the Philadelphia field goal, Montana again moved the 49ers, this time finishing the drive with a 17 yard touchdown pass to Charle Young, putting San Francisco up by 14 points. Wersching would add his second field goal as time expired in the first half, giving the 49ers a 20-3 lead at the half.

In the second half, the 49ers were more than willing to let their talented defense do most of the work, and it did just that. Philadelphia was unable to move the ball at all throughout the half, with the Eagles managing just six plays inside San Francisco territory. Meanwhile, the San Francisco offense switched their focus from passing to running, as Ricky Patton and backup halfback Earl Cooper battered the Philadelphia front seven. When San Francisco was forced to pass, Montana was accurate, and he finished the day with just four incomplete passes. In the end, the 49ers almost doubled Philadelphia's time of possession, and while they did not score a point in the second half, there was no need to, as their defense dominated the Eagles, holding Ron Jaworski to 8/25 passing and allowing Wilbert Montgomery to gain just 53 yards on the ground. For the first time since the 1972 season, the 49ers were on their way to the NFC Championship.

Final Score: San Francisco-20 Philadelphia-3

Real Life Score: San Francisco-38 New York Giants-24

NFC Championship Game

Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco 49ers (13-3) vs. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)

The two best teams in the NFC squared off in San Francisco to determine who would face San Diego in Super Bowl XVI. While the Dallas Cowboys had an amazing amount of playoff experience and skill, the 49ers had heart, an excellent defense, and a quarterback in Joe Montana that seemingly refused to buckle under the pressure. One way or another, this game looked like it was going to be one for the ages even before it began.

In the first half, it seemed like both defenses had adoped a bend, but don't break, system of thinking. Dallas got deep into San Francisco territory on their opening drive, with Tony Dorsett doing most of the damage. However, Danny White was unable to get the passing game moving, and the Cowboys had to settle for a Rafael Septien 43 yard field goal to open the scoring. San Francisco would not take long to counter, as Montana led the 49ers downfield on their opening drive, getting deep into Dallas territory before being stopped inside the five yard line. Ray Wersching kicked a 20 yard field goal, and the game was tied headed into the second quarter.

The second quarter was dominated by defense, as both teams clamped down on the opposing offense and their attacks. With the game now looking like a defensive struggle, it predictably turned into a battle for field postion, and it was Dallas that was able to take advantage of that. James Jones returned a 49er punt to the San Francisco 35 late in the second quarter, and from there, Dallas turned to their workhorse. Tony Dorsett carried the ball five times on an eight play drive, including an eight yard touchdown with just under a minute to go that gave the Cowboys the lead heading into halftime. Though they were trailing, San Francisco was not worried, especially with Joe Montana rallying the troops as they hit the locker room.

Sure enough, San Francisco came out in the second half and looked like a different team on offense. On their first possession of the half, Montana moved them right downfield, using shorter passes to set up the running game, then usung Ricky Patton to break through the Dallas defense for large gains. Though San Francisco had to settle for a second Wersching field goal, the now believed momentum was on their side. For the most part, they were right, as the Cowboys could not move the football for most of the second half. The only problem was that San Francisco's offense could not move either, and the fourth quarter began with the 49ers still down by four points to the Cowboys.

The fourth quarter looked a lot like the third quarter, at least from a defensive stand point. Neither team could move the ball much at all, with Dallas content to sit on their lead and the 49ers trying as hard as they could to score again. With just under six minutes to go, Montana got San Francsico moving once again, using the shorter passes that Bill Walsh taught him to get the 49ers downfield. Dwight Clark caught a 28 yard pass that brought San Francisco down to the Dallas seven yard line with just a minute and a half to go, and in the face of a ferocious Dallas pass rush, Montana stepped back and calmly delivered a touchdown pass to Charlie Young that put San Francisco ahead, 13-10. Facing defeat in the NFC Championship again, Dallas surged forward, thanks in large part to an excellent kick return. Starting at their own 41 yard line, the Cowboys moved just close enough to get into field goal range, thanks to a White 25 yard pass to Tony Hill, and as time expired, Septien nailed a 35 yard kick to tie the game and send the NFC Championship into overtime.

San Francisco knew if they were to get the ball in the overtime period that they would advance to the Super Bowl, so the Cowboys did everything in their power to ensure that would not happen. Dallas won the coin toss, giving them the ball to start the overtime period, and from there, they moved quickly, thanks in large part again to Danny White, who hit Butch Johnson with a 39 yard pass on the opening play of the period. From there, Dallas gave the ball to Dorsett five times in a row before sending Septien onto the field. Facing a short, 26 yard kick, he changed little to his normal warm-up, and the kick sailed through the uprights, sending Dallas to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1976 season. On this day, there would be no miracle for San Francisco, though most people argued that they would be an excellent team for quite some time to come.

Final Score: Dallas-16 San Francisco-13/OT

Real Life Score: San Francisco-28 Dallas-27 (The Catch)

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl XVI

Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, MI

San Diego Chargers (10-6)


Head Coach: Don Coryell
478 Points Scored
390 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Dan Fouts


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Miami, 24-21: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Cincinnati, 26-10: AFC Championship



Dallas Cowboys (12-4)


Head Coach: Tom Landry
367 Points Scored
277 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Danny White


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Tampa Bay, 20-13: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated San Francisco, 16-13/OT: NFC Championship



The Game

For the first time in five years, the perennial playoff bound Dallas Cowboys had reached the Super Bowl. Riding a still very strong defense, and using the arm of Danny White and the legs of Tony Dorsett, the Cowboys had once again risen to the top of the NFC. Matching up against them would be the defending Super Bowl champion San Diego Chargers. Still using the "Air Coryell" plan on offense, the Chargers had an even more potent offense in 1981, scoring almost 30 points a game, with halfback Chuck Muncie tying the NFL record for touchdowns in a single season. Quarterback Dan Fouts threw for an NFL record 4,802 yards through the air, and had 33 passing touchdowns, the most since Daryl Lamonica threw 34 in 1969. It would Dallas' solid defense against San Diego's record setting offense, and something would have to give for one of these teams to become Super Bowl champion.

Early in the first quarter, it was the defenses of both teams that were able to hold strong. Even though Tony Dorsett was able to break off several decent runs against the San Diego defense, Danny White was unable to get on track, as it appeared nerves were getting the best of him early. Meanwhile, the Chargers were the exact opposite, as they had their passing game going well, but their running game was stuck in reverse. Without a balance, the Cowboys were free to focus on the passing game, making Chuck Muncie's failure to get on track early a point of importance for the Chargers. Late in the quarter, Dallas was finally able to get moving, after a good punt return had the offense starting at their 45 yard line. White finally found an open receiver, and hit Tony Hill for 22 yards. Dorsett gained another five, and Rafael Septien booted a 48 yard kick to put Dallas on the board first. However, San Diego was able to find an answer, as their prolific passing attack was able to compensate for a lack of running. Dan Fouts had completions of 15, 13, 18 and 13 yards, setting the Chargers up for a Rolf Benirschke field goal that tied the score just as the first quarter ended.

On Dallas' first drive of the second quarter, Danny White was intercepted by Mike Williams. With the ball once again, the Chargers looked like they were in great position to score. However, with their running game still unable to do anything but gain three yards a carry, and the Cowboy defense rushing Fouts on almost every passing play, San Diego was forced to try a long field goal. This time, Benirschke pushed the kick to the right, and Dallas took over. With the ball and the benefit of seeing the Chargers leave points on the board, the Cowboys attacked the San Diego defense with the running of Dorsett and backup Ron Springs. The Chargers seemed unable to stop them unless they loaded the tackle box with defenders, and when that happened, White was able to pass over everyone and find open receivers. White was able to finish the drive with a 19 yard touchdown pass to Tony Hill on a play action fake that fooled everyone on the San Diego defense. With a 10-3 lead, Dallas had confidence, and stopped San Diego cold on their next drive. The Cowboys moved downfield again, but this time, White was intercepted in the San Diego end zone, ending the threat, and keeping the Dallas lead at seven points headed into the half.

As the second half started, San Diego knew they would need some big plays on defense in order to win their second straight Super Bowl, and on the first Dallas possession, they managed to get one of those plays. After a San Diego punt pinned the Cowboys at their own 11 yard line, the Charger defense stonewalled Dorsett for a four yard loss before bringing White down in his own end zone for a safety that cut the lead to five points. After a great safety free kick return gave the Chargers the ball at the Dallas 42, the San Diego offense was able to wake up. Chuck Muncie finally found some running room, and broke off a huge 17 yard run that set up the first touchdown of the game for San Diego, when Fouts hit Wes Chandler on a four yard slant. However, the snap was low on the extra point, and Benirschke missed the PAT, putting the Chargers ahead just by the score of 11-10. Down for the first time in the game, Dallas responded with a scoring drive of their own. Dorsett and White both attacked the San Diego defense, with Dorsett pounding at the Charger defenders, wearing them down and making them easy pickings when White needed time to find open receivers. When White found Drew Pearson for a 15 yard touchdown late in the third quarter, Dallas once again had the lead, and this time, the defense wanted to make sure it would hold up.

The Chargers had the football twice in the fourth quarter, and both times they were able to drive deep into Dallas territory. The only problem was, once they got their, the Cowboy defense would step up and stop the Chargers dead in their tracks. The first time, San Diego settled for a second Benirschke field goal to cut the lead to 17-14. Once again, Dallas came down the field for a response, this time almost entirely on the legs of Tony Dorsett. The NFL's second leading rusher battered the Chargers on defense, picking up large pieces of real estate while eating up clock and keeping the San Diego offense off the field. Six times on the nine play drive Dorsett touched the football, the last being on a five yard touchdown that put the stamp on the day for the Cowboys. San Diego's next possession would again go deep into Dallas territory, but this time, needing points, the Chargers went for a conversion on fourth down. Fouts' pass fell incomplete, giving the ball back to Dallas. The Cowboys, again relying on Dorsett, were able to run out the clock, and became the third team to win four Super Bowl titles.

Final Score: Dallas-24 San Diego-14

MVP: Tony Dorsett: 24 carries, 96 yards, 2 catches, 10 yards, 1 TD

[Mattingly120]

Is this still going on?

[Hurkman]

Yeah, it's still going on. I've got the next set of playoffs all simmed, but work has been a burden lately, what with me having to earn a living a what not. Of course, then there's the fact that the 1982-83 playoffs are just a pain in themselves, since 8 teams from each conference made it, thanks to the strike that year.

It should be up this weekend, so fear not.

[Mattingly120]

ok, wow, they reconfigurated the playoffs for one year because of the strike? 16 teams! Wow, that's gotta be a pain to write up the summary for all of those games.

[Hurkman]

The 1982 NFL regular season was one of the strangest in history. Not only did the Oakland Raiders pack up and move to Los Angeles, but a 57 day player strike in the middle of the season cut the total number of games from 16 to just 9. With that in mind, the NFL adopted a 16 team tournament for the 1982 playoffs, with 8 teams from each conference getting in. Division standings were ignored, and teams were seeded based on overall record during the shortened season.

(I'm going to be doing an even shorter recap for the first round games, since there's four of them, and every team played.)

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Los Angeles Raiders (8-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-5)
LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

In the first season in Los Angeles, the Raiders found themselves right at home, finishing the shortened season with the best record in the AFC. Quarterback Jim Plunkett led an offense that finished second in the league in scoring, while rookie halfback Marcus Allen paced all backs with 11 rushing touchdowns. On the other hand, Cleveland was just lucky enough to get into the playoffs, thanks to the eight team AFC side of the tournament. On the season, they were outscored by 42 points, with the lone bright spot being tight end Ozzie Newsome finishing the year as an All-Pro.

From the get go, it was obvious that the Browns did not belong on the same field as the Raiders on this day. Los Angeles dominated the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense, leaving huge holes for Marcus Allen to rush through, and pressuring Cleveland quarterback Paul McDonald into several poor throws. Allen started the slaughter with a 36 yard touchdown run on Los Angeles' second possession. On the next drive, Cliff Branch would finish things off with a two yard touchdown reception that would put the Raiders ahead for good.

In the first half, the Browns managed just a Matt Bahr field goal, and when the second half began, the Raiders opened the flood gates. Allen and Branch each scored again in the third quarter, and then Chris Bahr added two field goals of his own to put the Raiders up by 31 points. By the time the Browns found the end zone, the Raiders and their new found Los Angeles fans were already celebrating a second round appearance, as the seemingly invincible Raiders trambled over the dominated Browns.

Final Score: Los Angeles Raiders-34 Cleveland-10

Real Life Score: Los Angeles Raiders-27 Cleveland-10

Miami Dolphins (7-2) vs. New England Patriots (5-4)
The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

After last season's disappointing playoff loss to the Chargers, the Miami Dolphins were back in the playoffs again, and this time, they were ready to stay for a while. Despite a subpar season from quarterback David Woodley, the Dolphins were one of the top teams in the AFC, thanks to the "Killer Bees" defense and a running attack that featured halfback Andra Franklin. The Patriots were hoping to counter that with the skills of quarterback Steve Grogan and a defense that had the fourth best turnover differencial in the league.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, on this day, there would be no upset. Miami ran the ball early and often, keeping the game out of Woodley's hands until there was no question as to who would win. Miami would score on their first three possessions, thanks to two Uwe Von Schamann field goals and a Woodley touchdown pass to Jimmy Cefalo. From there, it was all Andra Franklin and the defense. Franklin would finish the day with 169 yards on 25 carries, while the Killer Bees held the Patriots to just 120 total yards. Woodley made up for a poor regular season with a two touchdown game, as he found Bruce Hardy in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

When all was said and done, the Patriots could not stop the running attack of the Dolphins, even though they allowed just one rushing touchdown to Tony Nathan in the third quarter. The Dolphin run attack kept the New England defense on the field for almost 40 minutes, and that alone was enough to secure a victory and a spot in the second round.

Final Score: Miami-27 New England-0

Real Life Score: Miami-28 New England-13

Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) vs. New York Jets (6-3)
Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Just one year removed from their loss in the AFC Championship, the Bengals were back in the playoffs. Quarterback Ken Anderson was the head of a high powered offense that still managed to rack up 232 points in just nine games. Anderson himself threw for 2,495 yards, which was good for third in the NFL. If the Bengals did have a weakness, however, it was their defense, which allowed almost 20 points a game. The New York Jets and their offense would be looking to exploit that defense, especially with halfback Freeman McNeil, who led the NFL in rushing, while quarterback Richard Todd threw for 14 touchdowns during the shortened season.

While the Jets were looking to exploit the defense of the Bengals, very few people believed that they could do as much damage as they ended up doing. About the only time they did not score often was in the first quarter, but after that, it was all New York. Freeman McNeil had a field day, as his blockers opened up running room for him on almost every single play. He scored twice in the first half, once on a 25 yard run, and again on a 4 ayrd burst in the second quarter. Cincinnati could only counter with a Jim Breech field goal, but the Jets would not stop.

In fact, the only thing that seemed to stop the Jets was themselves. Placekicker Pat Leahy missed three extra points on the day, but that was about the only thing that went wrong for New York. McNeil would score twice more in the second half, on 60 and 21 yard runs, and he finished the day with 221 yards on the ground to go along with his four touchdowns. Richard Todd had an excellent day as well, completing all but four of his passes, including a 64 yard touchdown to Johnny Jones on the first drive of the third quarter. Aside from McNeil, Mike Augustyniak added another rushing touchdown, while Leahy made ammends for his missed extra points with a late field goal. The Bengals finally got into the end zone late in the fourth quarter, but by then, the only people left to see it were the Jets fans that made their way from New York. Just one year after hosting the AFC Championship, Cincinnati was done in one game in the playoffs.

Final Score: New York Jets-42 Cincinnati-10

Real Life Score: New York Jets-44 Cincinnati-17

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) vs. San Diego Chargers (6-3)
Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Much like the last three seasons, the San Diego Chargers focused on one thing in 1982: offense. Their 288 points scored was tops in the NFL, and quarterback Dan Fouts somehow still managed to throw for almost 3,000 yards. Wes Chandler had a 1,000 yard receiving season to lead the NFL, and halfback Chuck Muncie added almost 800 total yards and nine touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers looked to be on their last legs. The dominant team of the 1970s was now old and gray, though the parts were still there. The defense allowed the fourth fewest points in the NFL, and quarterback Terry Bradshaw enjoyed a turn around season amid rumors of his impending retirement.

At the start of this game, it looked like the Chargers were going to be able to force Pittsburgh into playing their kind of football. San Diego drew first blood on their opening drive with a Charlie Joiner touchdown catch, but Pittsburgh was quick to answer thanks to a Franco Harris three yard touchdown run. From there, though, the first half belonged to the Chargers. Fouts was on point the entire half, picking apart the aging Steel Curtain with accurate throws that would have shredded a young defense. Kellen Winslow and Wes Chandler each came down with touchdown passes, and despite a missed extra point by Rolf Benirschke and a late Pittsburgh field goal, San Diego felt good going into the half with a 10 point lead.

All those good feelings would soon be gone, however, as the Steelers came out in the second half and played like it would be the last time this team would be together. The Steelers scored on the opening drive of the second half on a Frank Pollard run, then took the lead thanks to a Dwayne Woodruff interception return for a touchdown on the opening San Diego possession of the half. San Diego would answer back, however. First, Benirschke nailed a 24 yard field goal to pull the Chargers to within one. On their next possession, San Diego marched downfield on the Steelers before Chuck Muncie found the end zone from six yards out, giving the Chargers a slim 29-24 lead.

With little time left, and with his career potentially on the line, Bradshaw moved the Steelers as if he were ten years younger. His passes had more zip on them than the entire season, and the Chargers seemed unable to stop him or the rest of the Pittsburgh offense. With just four minutes remaining, Bradshaw found Jim Smith, Jr. in the end zone from 16 yards away, giving the Steelers the lead once again. However, Gary Anderson missed the extra point, giving the Chargers a chance to win with a field goal. That chance never came, however, as the Pittsburgh defense dug down deep and stopped the Chargers cold on four plays, ending the game and sending Pittsburgh on to the second round of the playoffs.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-31 San Diego-29

Real Life Score: San Diego-31 Pittsburgh-28

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Los Angeles Raiders (8-1) vs. New York Jets (6-3)
LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

After impressive first round wins by both teams in the AFC playoffs, the Raiders and Jets now turned their attentions to each other for the Divisional Round of play. Oakland was hoping that their high powered offense and home field advantage would be enough to topple the road weary Jets, while New York was banking on another solid game from Freeman McNeil, and mistake free football from quarterback Richard Todd.

As the first half got underway, neither team seemed able to do anything against the opposing defense. Throughout the first quarter, both offenses were able to gain yardage, but as soon as they got close to scoring, they slowed down and were unable to come away with any points. Freeman McNeil was under constant attack from the Raider front seven, while Marcus Allen was finding running room just as hard to find against the New York defense. As the second quarter started, the Raiders looked to have a drive going, getting down to the Jet 3 yard line. However, the New York defense stiffened, and stopped the Raiders on fourth down from the one. The only problem with that was the Raider defense was able to pin its ears back, and Matt Millen ended up sacking Richard Todd in the end zone for a safety. After a good free kick return put the Raiders into New York territory, Los Angeles added a Chris Bahr field goal to make the score a baseball like 5-0.

On the next New York possession, Millen struck again, this time intercepting a Todd pass and setting up a second Bahr field goal that put the Raiders up by eight. The Jets were still finiding offense hard to come by, and the Raiders were finally starting to gain ground, with Bahr adding his third field goal of the half with just a half minute to go. Heading into the locker room, the Raiders look quite confident with their 11-0 lead. They just needed their defense to stand up for another 30 minutes, and they would be hosting the AFC Championship.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, the third quarter did not start well. After stopping McNeil the entire first half, the Los Angeles defense allowed him to break off a 66 yard run on the second play of the half. Two plays later, Bruce Harper scored the first touchdown of the game from eight yards out, and the Jets were back in the ballgame. The Raiders were able to mount a response late in the third quarter after stopping the Jets on their next possession. Quarterback Jim Plunkett finally had some time to throw the football, and he found Cliff Branch for a 31 yard reception that put the Raiders into field goal range. Bahr's fourth kick was good, and as the fourth quarter began, Los Angeles now held a 14-7 lead.

Once again that wouldn't be enough, as Freeman McNeil found his stride in the fourth quarter. On the opening drive of the quarter for the Jets, McNeil punished the Raider defense, and finished things off with a 21 yard touchdown run that tied the game. Following punts by both teams, the Raiders seemed to be driving for at least a go ahead field goal. However, the Jets managed to strip the ball away from Todd Christensen, and five plays later, McNeil was in the end zone for the second time. Pat Leahy missed another extra point, however, and the New York lead was just 20-14 with under two minutes to play. Any chance the Raiders had of coming back died on the very next play, when Plunkett was intercepted by Bobby Jackson deep in Los Angeles territory. Leahy added a late field goal, and the shocked Raiders were once again forced to watch as another team advanced past them int the playoffs.

Final Score: New York Jets-23 Los Angeles Raiders-14

Real Life Score: New York Jets-17 Los Angeles Raiders-14

Miami Dolphins (7-2) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)
The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

For a team that looked to be on its last legs, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed a lot of life in their first round win over the San Diego Chargers. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins and their Killer Bee defense were looking to shut down another opponent with the same attack they used to shut out the New England Patriots the week before.

From the start, it looked like the Steelers were the younger team, as they moved down the field almost at will early against the Dolphin defense. On their opening drive, the Steelers battered Miami with hard nosed running thanks to Franco Harris. Harris gained 42 yards on the drive, with most of it coming on a 31 yard touchdown run to open the scoring up. Pittsburgh would get the ball back quickly, thanks to their defense. On Miami's fourth play, halfback Andra Franklin was stripped of the ball, and the Steelers recovered. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw got Pittsburgh close with a 23 yard pass to John Stallworth, then Harris finished off the quick scoring drive with an eight yard run.

After the opening scoring frenzy, the Miami defense was finally able to slow down Pittsburgh. The only problem was that the Dolphins could not move the ball at all on offense. The rushing attack that proved so effective against New England was stalled out against the Steelers and their seemingly ageless front four. By the time the Dolphins finally got a drive going in the first half, it was midway through the second quarter, and then they had to settle for a Uwe Von Schamann field goal. As the first half ended, very few could believe the dominance that the Steelers were showing.

Without a solid running attack, the second half of the game would fall squarely on the shoulders of Miami quarterback David Woodley. The youngster, in just his third year as a starter, seemed to buckle under the pressure of the Pittsburgh pass rush, throwing his second interception of the game on the first possession of the half. Miami's defense was able to keep Pittsburgh in check, though, and the Dolphins managed a field goal on their next drive to cut the lead to eight. However, the Steelers responded on their next drive like only they could. They held onto the ball for eight minutes and 14 plays, with just five of them being designed passes. When Miami started looking for the pass, Bradshaw simply threw it over their heads, and it worked to the tune of an 11 yard John Stallworth touchdown catch that put the game out of reach. Miami could not get their offense going again, and the Steelers would eventually score once more on a second Bradshaw touchdown pass, this one to Jim Smith, Jr. As the final gun sounded, the veteran Steelers were once again headed to the AFC Championship.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-28 Miami-6

Real Life Score: Miami-34 San Diego-13

AFC Championship Game

Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) vs. New York Jets (6-3)

For the first time since Joe Namath was behind center, the New York Jets had made it to the AFC Championship game. Thanks to the legs of Freeman McNeil and a combined effort on defense, the Jets had managed to win back to back road games on their way to Pittsburgh. Now, they had to face possibly the oldest team in the NFL, with Terry Bradshaw, John Stallworth and the Steel Curtain playing like it was 1973. It would certainly not be an easy task.

From the start of the game, it was clear that the Steelers had one thing in mind: stop Freeman McNeil. On the first New York possession, Pittsburgh had eight men up at the line of scrimmage on almost every play to stop the elusive Jet halfback. The plan seemed to work, even with one on one coverage against the New York receivers. The Jets were forced to punt, and the Steelers quickly moved downfield against the New York defense, which had rarely been challenged in the playoffs. Terry Bradshaw hit John Stallworth with a 43 yard strike to put Pittsburgh in field goal range, and Gary Anderson finished the drive with a 45 yard boot to put the Steelers on top. From there, neither team could move much for the rest of the first half, until the Jets finally got a drive going. Bruce Harper broke off a 66 yard run on a sweep play that put New York deep in Pittsburgh territory. Richard Todd found Wesley Walker in the end zone for a touchdown, and the Jets had the lead early in the second quarter. After a Jack Lambert interception of Todd on the next New York possession, the Steelers were able to get back on track on offense, and Anderson booted a second field goal to cut the New York lead to one.

The Jets would carry that lead with them into the locker room, and throughout the third quarter, they attempted to keep it. Much of the third quarter was a defensive struggle, as both teams began to settle down, with neither one wanting to make a mistake that might cost their team the game. After a good New York punt return set the Jets up inside Pittsburgh territory, the Jets were able to move on offense again. Freeman McNeil finally found some running room, and New York brought the ball all the way to the Pittsburgh 11. However, the Steeler defense held strong, and the Jets were forced to settle for a Pat Leahy field goal and a 10-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

With the game and possibly his career on the line, Terry Bradshaw again took matters into his own hands. Following the field goal, Bradshaw led the Steelers deep into New York territory and as the fourth quarter began, he found Frank Pollard in the end zone for the go ahead touchdown. With the lead, the Pittsburgh defense once again came down hard on the Jets, keeping McNeil from finding any running room, and pressuring Todd on almost every passing down. The fourth quarter seemed like it would eventually turn into a battle for field position, and it did, especially when a poor New York punt gave the Steelers excellent field position midway through the fourth quarter. It took just two plays for Pittsburgh to score, thanks to a 21 yard Bradshaw pass to John Stallworth. New York would get one last chance to score and make the game close again, but the Steelers again came up big and stopped the Jets at the six yard line, capping an amazing playoff run and sending Pittsburgh to their fifth Super Bowl in ten years.

Final Score: Pittsburgh-20 New York Jets-10

Real Life Score: Miami-14 New York Jets-0 (In Miami)

[Hurkman]

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Washington Redskins (8-1) vs. Detroit Lions (4-5)
RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

After an 8-8 season in 1981, the Washington Redskins and second year head coach Joe Gibbs emerged as the top team in the NFC during 1982. Halfback John Riggins led a punishing attack on offense, while quarterback Joe Theismann passed for over 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Redskin defense was also the best in football, allowing just 128 points over the nine game season. The Detroit Lions were another, completely different, story. Though they made the playoffs for the first time since 1970, quarterback Gary Danielson struggled, and the offense went through Pro Bowl halfback Billy Sims.

From the start, the Redskins imposed their will on the weaker Lions. After forcing Detroit to punt on their opening possession, Washington returner Mike Nelms broke free down the sideline and went 72 yards untouched for the opening score of the contest. On the next Washington possession, Theismann set the pace with quick throws that were able to free the Detroit defenders. John Riggins finished things off with a 22 yard catch and run that gave the Redskins a 14-0 lead just eight and half minutes into the game. From there, the rest of the first half was a defense slugfest, with Washington allowing Billy Sims to get his yards, but keeping Danielson and the passing game grounded. Meanwhile, the Redskin offense was more than willing to use Riggins for the rest of the half, and aside from field goals by both Detroit and Washington, there was no more scoring throughout the half.

The second half was almost identical to the first in terms of defensive strengths. The first four possessions of the third quarter ended with turnovers, and the Lions broke the trend with a second Bob Thomas field goal that cut the Redskin lead to 13. However, Detroit would get no closer, as Washington dominated the time of possession battle in the second half, using Riggins, as well as Joe Washington to pound the Lion defense and eat up large chunks of clock. When all was said and done, despite the close score, the Redskins had registered an impressive victory.

Final Score: Washington-17 Detroit-6

Real Life Score: Washington-31 Detroit-7

Dallas Cowbys (6-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

For the second year in a row, and the third time in four seasons, the Cowboys and Buccaneers would square off in the playoffs. This time, however, the Cowboys were the defending Super Bowl champions, while Tampa, despite their trip to the playoffs, had a less than stellar season. Neither the offense nor the defense for the Bucs was that solid, and the Cowboys boasted Danny White, who threw for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, as well as Tony Dorsett, who rushed for almost 800 yards and scored 5 times.

While the previous two meetings between the Bucs and Cowboys had been close encounters, this one was not from the start. Tampa's defense failed to stop Dallas from the start, benefitting in the first quarter from a missed Rafael Septien field goal in the first quarter. From there, however, it was all Cowboys. On three straight drives in the second quarter, Dallas was able to put points on the board. First, Dorsett was the recepient of a Danny White ten yard touchdown pass. Then, Dorsett did it himself, breaking free for a 37 yard touchdown run. Finally, Dorsett and White drove Dallas into field goal range, and this time, Septien booted the kick through. Meanwhile, Dallas' imposing defense had the Bucs looking for any place that wasn't filled with Cowboy defenders. Tampa quarterback Doug Williams was under pressure the entire half, and Tampa seemed relieved that they were only down 17-0 at the half.

If the Bucs thought the second half would be an easier, they were sadly mistaken. After stopping the Cowboys on the opening possession of the half, Williams was picked off on Tampa's second offensive play. Six plays later, White had another touchdown as he found Drew Pearson for a two yard score. From there, Dallas was content to let Dorsett run all over the Buccaneer defense, and he did just that, capping the day with a 47 yard touchdown gallop midway through the fourth quarter. Dorsett finished the day with 172 yards rushing and 29 yard receiving, which was almost as much as Tampa had as a team. When the gun sounded, Dallas had dominated another opponent, and looked well on their way back to the Super Bowl.

Final Score: Dallas-31 Tampa Bay-0

Real Life Score: Dallas-30 Tampa Bay-17

Green Bay Packers (5-3-1) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (5-4)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

For the first time since their Super Bowl VII appearance a decade ago, the Green Bay Packers qualified for the NFC playoffs. Former quarterback and Packer great Bart Starr had managed to turn the team around in the image of his former coach Vince Lombardi. While quarterback Lynn Dickey struggled at times during the season, receiver James Lofton was there to bail him out, as was halfback Eddie Lee Ivery. St. Louis, on the other hand, was making their first playoff trip since 1975, and despite one of the losest scoring offenses in all of football, had a solid running attack featuring Ottis Anderson.

It did not take long for the poor Cardinal offense to show up. Quarterback Neil Lomax was intercepted on his first pass, giving the Packers excellent field position. They would not waste it, as Jan Stenerud booted a 24 yard kick to put Green Bay on the board first. Stenerud would get more work in the first quarter, kicking a 38 yard kick on the next Packer possession. At the same time, the Green Bay defense was bottling Ottis Anderson up and forcing Lomax to attempt to beat them with his arm, and it was not looking good for the Cardinals' quarterback. St. Louis finally got things going with a long drive late in the first half, but they had to settle for a Neil O'Donoghue field goal as time expired, putting them down 6-3 at the half.

The third quarter was known more for mistakes by the Cardinals than anything else. On two St. Louis drives in that quarter, they ended up deep in Green Bay territory, but could not score. First, O'Donoghue missed a 34 yard kick that would have tied the game. Then, on their next possession, Lomax and Anderson got the Cardinals to the Green Bay one yard line, only for Lomax to be intercepted in the end zone by the Packers. Lomax was intercepted again on the next St. Louis possession, but this was deep in Cardinal territory, and it took one play for Lynn Dickey to hit James Lofton in the end zone for a back breaking touchdown. Stenerud would add another field goal late in the quarter, and despite a St. Louis touchdown on their next drive, the Cardinals ran out of gas, and the Packers had their first playoff win in a decade.

Final Score: Green Bay-16 St. Louis-10

Real Life Score: Green Bay-41 St. Louis-16

Minnesota Vikings (5-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-4)
The Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN

After watching the 1981 playoffs at home, both the Falcons and Vikings returned to the playoffs in 1982, with similar stories. Minnesota had a good offense, with quarterback Tommy Karmer passing for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Viking defense, while unspectacular, did manage to force 28 turnovers, with several coming at key points of games. Meanwhile, the Falcons had Steve Bartkowski and William Andrews running an effective offense, as well as a defense that was just good enough to win the Falcons the NFC West.

Before this game began, most people believed that these two teams were the most evenly matched in the playoffs, and it showed throughout the first half. On their opening possession, the Vikings drove downfield, thanks mostly to a Ted Brown 51 yard run on the first play of the game. After that, however, the offense stalled, and they had to settle for a Rick Danmeier field goal that gave them an early lead. Atlanta's offense, on the other hand, had trouble out of the gate, but as the first quarter wound down, Bartkowski and the Falcons were able to finally move the football, with William Andrews doing much of the leg work on the ground. It was Bartkowski that ended the drive with a 20 yard touchdown strike to Alfred Jenkins that silenced the Metrodome crowd. The Falcons struck again on their next drive, moving downfield slowly, but surely, eating up over half the second quarter along the way. In the end, Bartkowski struck again, this time finding Andrews on a 13 yard pass that put Atlanta up 14-3. Backed into a corner, Kramer and the Vikings came out swinging, with Kramer moving Minnesota downfield late in the half. The Viking quarterback completed two of three passes on a short Minnesota drive, and Ted Brown finished things with a four yard touchdown that made the Atlanta lead just four points at the half.

As the second half started, the Falcons picked up right where they left off on their long touchdown drive, with Bartkowski and Andrews moving them downfield once more. However, just as they had during much of the regular season, the Minnesota defense came up huge, intercepting Bartkowski at the four yard line and ending the Falcon threat. With momentum on their side now, the Minnesota offense took the field and ran right at the Atlanta defense. Ted Brown punished Falcon defenders, and when they began to anticipate runs, Kramer simply threw the ball over their heads to open receivers on crossing routes. After 13 plays and 96 yards, the Vikings got into the end zone on an 11 yard pass from Kramer to Ahmad Rashad, giving Minnesota the lead once again. Now, it was the Falcons turn to answer back, but for much of the second half, the Minnesota defense held them in check. Late in the fourth quarter, it would be a the Viking offense that would give the Falcons one last chance, as the Vikings elected to go for a conversion on fourth down and 17 at the Atlanta 34, rather than attempt a long field goal. Kramer's pass fell incomplete, and the Falcons had one last chance. Bartkowski guided Atlanta downfield on one last drive, and with just under a minute to go, kicker Mick Luckhurst nailed a 40 yard field goal that sent the contest into overtime.

The overtime would not nearly be as exciting as the rest of the game. After winning the coin toss, the Falcons moved downfield once again, as the exhausted Minnesota defense could do little to stop them. It took just eight plays to move into field goal range, and Luckhurst's aim was true once again, sending the Falcons through to the second round and leaving the Vikings wonder what could have been once again.

Final Score: Atlanta-20 Minnesota-17/OT

Real Life Score: Minnesota-30 Atlanta-24

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Washington Redskins (8-1) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-4)
RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Fresh off their thrilling overtime win over the Vikings, the Falcons came into RFK Stadium as heavy underdogs to the Washington Redskins. Not only were the Redskins much more potent on offense than the Vikings, but their defense was the toughest to score on in all of football. However, the Falcons knew that if they could play the same kind of game that they did against the Vikings, with Bartkowski making few mistakes and running Andrews as much as possible, that they might have a chance against the dominant Redskins.

The first quarter went exactly as planned for the Falcons. Despite a Washington opening drive that made it into Atlanta territory, the Falcon defense held strong, and forced a punt. With the ball, the Atlanta offense did exactly what they wanted to do, as Andrews was able to make headway against the tough Redskin front four, and when Bartkowski had to pass, he did so with short, crisp passes that reached their targets quickly. The drive eventually stalled, but not after taking seven and a half minutes off the clock and moving Atlanta into field goal range. Mick Luckhurst nailed the 29 yard kick, and the Falcons had the early lead.

However, after a good kick return gave the Redskins solid field position, Joe Theismann and John Riggins began to lead Washington down the field. This time, it was Theismann doing much of the work, completing five of six passes on the drive, including a 10 yard touchdown pass to Don Warren that put the Redskins ahead. Once again, the Falcons were able to answer with another long, time consuming drive, as Bartkowski matched Theismann with passes of 27 and 20 yards on back to back plays. However, the Falcons stalled out again and had to settle for a second Mick Luckhurst field goal. After a Washington punt on their next drive, the Falcons looked like they had momentum, but Bartkowski was intercepted on the first play of Atlanta's drive, and Lecharls McDaniel returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. However, NFL MVP Mark Moseley (Seriously, a KICKER won MVP this year...a KICKER!!) missed the extra point, leaving the score 13-6, and it remained that way as the half ended.

The Falcons got the ball first in the second half, and for the third time, they moved downfield with a series of runs by Andrews and short passes by Bartkowski. However, they again stalled out before reaching the end zone, and they had to settle for a third Luckhurst field goal. On the next Atlanta possession, the Falcons were again driving, but Lynn Cain fumbled the ball away, and the Redskins recovered. It took Theismann just four plays to put the nail in Atlanta's coffin, hitting Don Warren for a 27 yard touchdown. Another missed Moseley extra point followed, but the Washington defense made sure it did not matter, as they stopped the Falcons cold for the rest of the fourth quarter. The Redskins would get on the board again with a late Riggins touchdown run, but by then the game had been decided, and the Redskins were headed to the NFC Championship.

Final Score: Washington-26 Atlanta-9

Real Life Score: Washington-21 Minnesota-7

Dallas Cowboys (6-3) vs. Green Bay Packers (5-3-1)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

The explosive Dallas offense returned to the field one week after putting up 31 points on Tampa Bay to take on the Green Bay Packers. While Green Bay did have a better defense than the Bucs, most people believed that Danny White, Tony Dorsett and the rest of the Dallas offense would be enough to overpower the Packers on defense, while the Dallas defense would dominate the Green Bay offense.

However, in the first half, it was both defenses that flexed their muscles, with neither one wanting to yield to the opposing offense. After Dallas was able to move downfield on their opening drive and kick a 22 yard field goal, the Green Bay defense held firm for the rest of the first half, keeping Dorsett and White bottled up as best as any team had during the regular season. Meanwhile, Lynn Dickey and the Green Bay offense were having problems of their own against the Dallas defense. Dickey was intercepted twice in the first half, with the second coming deep in Dallas territory. However, White was picked off on the very next play, and while the Packers could not get into the end zone, a Jan Stenerud field goal tied the game at the half.

As the second half started, the Cowboys knew they had to make a move soon, unless they wanted momentum to stick with the Packers. Sure enough, on the opening drive of the half, Dallas struck with a drive that would take up over half of the third quarter. Danny White and Tony Dorsett did the majority of the work on the 13 play, 72 yard drive, but once again, the Cowboys were unable to put the ball into the end zone. Instead, they had to settle for a second Rafael Septien field goal and a slim three point lead. This time, the Packers were able to respond, with a good kick return setting up Lynn Dickey and Eddie Lee Ivery. Like the Cowboys, the Packers were unable to get into the end zone, but Stenerud's second field goal of the game tied things up once again, and the two long drives exhausted much of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter began with the still tired Green Bay defense getting manhandled by the Dallas running game. On the second play of the quarter, Tony Dorsett finally found some room in the defensive fron of the Packers and broke a 41 yard run to the Green Bay two yard line. Ron Springs scored on the very next play for the first touchdown of the game, and the Cowboys took a 13-6 lead. Once again, the Packers were able to respond, with Ivery countering Dorsett's running with some solid runs of his own, including a 33 yard run on third and 16. Yet again the Packers were unable to get to the end zone, and Stenerud was called on for his third field goal. This time, Ron Springs did the damage for Dallas on their next drive, picking up 46 yards on a sweep, and the Cowboys added Rafael Septien's third field goal of the game to restore a six point lead. With just three and a half minutes to play, Dickey began to move the Packers down the field for one last shot at the end zone, but the Cowboys held on defense, and after a fourth down pass fell to the ground, the Cowboys were headed back to the NFC Championship for a second straight season.

Final Score: Dallas-16 Green Bay-9

Real Life Score: Dallas-37 Green Bay-26

NFC Championship Game

RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Washington Redskins (8-1) vs. Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

Once again, the Dallas Cowboys had landed in the NFC Championship. The defending Super Bowl champions had survived Green Bay after dominating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their way to Washington. The Redskins, on the other hand, had taken care of Detroit, then withstood the best shot that the Falcons had to offer. Both teams boasted solid defenses and offenses that could score at a moments notice, and though the Cowboys had been the only team to beat Washington during the regular season, the Redskins still believed that this game was theirs to lose.

On the opening drive of the game, Dallas made sure to set the tone for how they would play on this day. The Cowboys used a mix of run and pass to batter the Redskins, sending the usually dominant front seven into retreat. Danny White did the most damage through the air, finding Drew Pearson for 27 yards and Doug Cosbie for 15 more yards just two plays later. After Tony Dorsett got Dallas close, Timmy Newsome finished things off with a six yard touchdown run and an early Cowboy lead. Washington would not take things lying down, however, and after forcing Dallas to punt on their next drive, Joe Theismann moved the Redskins downfield, thanks in large part to a 22 yard pass to Art Monk. However, the Redskins could not get into the end zone and settled for a Mark Moseley 29 yard field goal late in the first quarter.

After the two teams traded punts to start the second quarter, the Cowboys took the ball and once again attacked the Washington defense, going 83 yards in 16 plays with another solid mix of run and pass. White finished things off this time with an 11 yard pass to Doug Cosbie that put Dallas up 14-3 with just a minute to play in the half. Not wanting to go into the half down by two scores, the Redskins embarked on a quick drive of their own, with Theismann utilizing the sideline to stop the clock while moving the ball downfield at the same time. With just eight seconds remaining, Washington moved into field goal range, and Moseley showed why he was named MVP in 1982, booting a 40 yard kick through the uprights as time expired, giving the Redskins hope going into the locker room.

Though the Redskins had hope of a come from behind victory in the second half, the Cowboys soon extinguished any flicker of life that Washington had. After trading punts for the first half of the third quarter, the Dallas offense came to life once again, with Tony Dorsett picking up 55 yards on a 67 yard drive that ended with a one yard touchdown sneak by Danny White. Everson Walls picked Theismann off on the next Redskin possession, and it took just three plays for Dallas to strike again, this time with White hitting Drew Pearson for a nine yard touchdown and a 28-6 Dallas lead. Any hope the Redskins had of even making the game close faded out on the next Cowboy drive, which started with a 46 yard screen pass from White to Ron Springs, and ended with a Dorsett one yard touchdown run. With the game and a chance at the Super Bowl out of reach, the Redskins did little for the rest of the second half. Dallas would add insult to injury with one last touchdown late, courtsey of a Timmy Newsome four yard run, and the defending Super Bowl champions were headed back to see if they could hold onto their crown.

Final Score: Dallas-42 Washington-6

Real Life Score: Washington-31 Dallas-17

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl XVII

The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)


Head Coach: Chuck Noll
204 Points Scored
146 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Terry Bradshaw


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated San Diego, 31-29: AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated Miami, 28-6: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated New York Jets, 20-10: AFC Championship



Dallas Cowboys (6-3)


Head Coach: Tom Landry
226 Points Scored
145 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Danny White


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Tampa Bay, 31-0: NFC Wild Card Playoffs
Defeated Green Bay, 16-9: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Washington, 42-6: NFC Championship



The Game

For the second time in Super Bowl history, two teams were facing off against each other in a rematch. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the dominant team of the 1970s, winning four championships, including three in a row. Their offense, while now looking a little bit long in the tooth, was still able to strike at a moment's notice, with Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris and John Stallworth leading the way. Meanwhile, their defense was still considered one of the best in the NFL, allowing just 16 points a game during the regular season. The Dallas Cowboys were the defending Super Bowl champions, and while they had not won the NFC East this year, they returned a team that was almost identical to their championship team from the year before. Danny White and Tony Dorsett led a powerful offense, while Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Harvey Martin and Everson Walls were the heart of an intimidating defense. Both teams were looking for their fifth Super Bowl title, and the winner would be the first to get there.

In the first quarter, it was the defense of both teams that set the tone. Steelers' quarterback Terry Bradshaw was unable to get anything going in the face of a relentless Dallas pass rush, but Danny White could do nothing for Dallas. However, the Cowboy defense was able to force a mistake on the second Pittsburgh possession, when Franco Harris coughed up the football. The Cowboys recovered the loose ball, and it took just two plays for Tony Dorsett to show why he is one of the best running backs in football, as he took the White handoff up the middle for 51 yards and a Dallas touchdown. When Pittsburgh got the ball back, the offense that had been solid throughout the playoffs continued to stall, as the Cowboy defense held their ground, keeping Harris locked up in the backfield and forcing Bradshaw into quick, inaccurate throws.

Without the offense being able to move, the Steelers needed to rely on their defense to keep them in the game as the second quarter began, but even the famed "Steel Curtain" began to buckle at the powerful running style of Tony Dorsett. Throughout the quarter, the Cowboys punished the Pittsburgh front seven with run after run. Eventually, even the mighty Steelers began to tire, and when they did, White was quick to act, finding Preston Pearson on a 44 yard pass completion midway through the second quarter that set up a Rafael Septien 32 yard field goal. Pittsburgh finally got moving on their next drive, but after Bradshaw was sacked on third down, Gary Anderson missed a 42 yard field goal attempt, and the Cowboys began to move again. This time, Pittsburgh was expecting Dallas to pass with such little time remaining in the half, but they were unable to stop White from finding open receivers. Dallas' offensive line was giving White plenty of time to hit his targets, and he went four for five on the drive, including a two yard touchdown pass to Tony Hill that put the Cowboys up 17-0. Shocked at the score, and the total ineffectiveness of the offense, the Steelers ran out the clock in the first half and went to the locker room hoping to come out motivated for the next 30 minutes of play.

What ended up happening early in the third quarter was the exact opposite of what the Steelers wanted and needed to happen. Dallas received the opening kickoff and held onto the ball for the first six minutes of the quarter. White and Dorsett still could not be caught by the Pittsburgh defenders, and the one time that they did catch up to Dorsett, the play was a designed fake pitch to him, and Timmy Newsome ran practically untouched for a 32 yard touchdown that put the Cowboys up by 24 points. With their backs now completely against the wall, the Steelers needed an answer, and they finally got it thanks to their defense. On the next Dallas drive, White was intercepted by Dwayne Woodruff, and Bradshaw needed just six plays to reach the end zone, finding Lynn Swann for a five yard touchdown. The Steelers weren't completely out of the game yet, but as the fourth quarter began, they knew they were going to need some help.

Unfortunately for the Steelers, that help never arrived. Although they were able to score early in the fourth quarter on an Anderson field goal, Dallas then took the football and drove 84 yards, eating up almost eight minutes of the clock. Dorsett and Newsome punished the now exhausted Pittsburgh defense on almost every play, leaving White to pass only when he had to. Butch Johnson finished things off with a four yard touchdown pass that put the final nail in the Pittsburgh coffin. Bradshaw was unable to even move the ball a single yard on the last Steeler possession, and the Dallas Cowboys, thanks in large part to the running of Tony Dorsett, were the first five time Super Bowl champions in NFL history.

Final Score: Dallas-31 Pittsburgh-10

MVP: Tony Dorsett: 23 carries, 150 yards, 2 catches, 19 yards, 1 TD

[Hurkman]

Sorry I haven't been around guys. My car's engine decided to blow on me this past week, and I've been spending most of my time deciding whether or not to replace it, or just get another car. It's been real fun, let me tell you, and has taken up much of my time. Once I get everything resolved with that, I'll be back to this, I just wanted to let you all know.

[Hurkman]

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Seattle Seahawks (9-7) vs. Denver Broncos (9-7)
The Kingdome, Seattle, WA

For the first time in their history, the Seattle Seahawks not only had made the playoffs, but were hosting a playoff game as well. Former Los Angeles Ram head coach Chuck Knox came into Seattle and installed his style of football, and along with rookie halfback Curt Warner and quarterback Dave Krieg, turned the Seahawks into a competitive football team. Wide receiver Steve Largent gave Krieg a consistant target, and helped the Seahawks score 403 points on the season.

The Denver Broncos were making their first playoff appearance since the 1979 season. Rookie quarterback John Elway had taken his lumps during the regular season, prompting Denver head coach Dan Reeves to sit him in favor of Steve DeBerg for the game against Seattle. While the offense was a question mark, the defense was solid, with Steve Foley and Steve Wilson each recording five interceptions.

Despite coach Reeve's decision that DeBerg start the playoff game over Elway, it was the older quarterback who made the first mistake of the game. After guiding the Broncos to the Seattle 14 yard line, DeBerg was intercepted on a bad pass by Kerry Justin. Once the Seahawks got the ball, it was clear what their game plan would be on this day. Krieg would attempt to pick apart the Broncos with passes to Largent, while Warner would punish any defender foolish enough to get in their way. It worked on their first drive to perfection. Krieg completed his first pass of the game to Largent, then Warner broke a 49 yard run all the way to the Denver 13. From there, fullback David Hughes finished things with a 13 yard touchdown, giving the Seahawks the lead. Denver would not take long to respond, however, as DeBerg found his passing stroke on the next Bronco possession. DeBerg went 4/4 on the drive, which ended in a Dan Preston six yard touchdown that tied the score late in the first quarter.

After the two teams traded punts to start the second quarter, the Seahawk offense again came to life, thanks to the three headed monster of Krieg, Warner and Largent. Warner first pounded the front seven of the Denver defense, which in turn gave Krieg time to throw to open receivers, since the Broncos were focusing on stopping Largent. Finally, Largent got in on the action, grabbing a seven yard touchdown pass and putting the Seahawks back on top. However, the Broncos were once again able to respond, in large part to the arm of DeBerg. His crisp passing put Denver into Seattle territory, but they had to settle for a Rich Karlis field goal that cut the Seattle lead to four. After the Bronco defense forced a Seattle punt with just under two minutes remaning in the half, DeBerg had another chance to lead Denver to points, but instead threw his second costly interception of the game. With the ball at the Bronco 42 yard line, the Seahawks were able to conserve time, and moved well into field goal range. Norm Johnson ended the half with a 30 yard field goal, putting Seattle up by seven going into the half.

As the second half started, it was the Denver defense that made an impact early. On the second Seattle play of the half, the Bronco pass rush finally rattled Krieg, and he was intercepted by Mike Harden. With the ball deep in Seattle territory, the Broncos moved down inside the ten, but could get no further, and settled for a second Karlis field goal. When Seattle got the ball back, their plan of attack remained the same. Warner and Largent made up for most of the Seahawk yards on the drive, which ended with a Norm Johnson field goal to put Seattle up by seven once again. From there on in the third quarter, the defenses of both teams finally held firm, and as the fourth quarter got underway, both teams were once again exchanging punts. On their second possession of the fourth quarter, Krieg was once again able to get time in the pocket and found Byron Walker for 25 yards. The Denver defense held their ground after that, however, and Seattle was forced to settle for a third Johnson field goal and a ten point lead.

Down by ten, with less than ten minutes remaining, the Broncos needed a few good breaks to get back into the game, and they got them on their next drive. Dave Preston picked up 18 yards on a second down and 17, setting up the Broncos deep in Seattle territory. After that, a sack of DeBerg was called off due to a defensive holding penalty, and though the Broncos settled for another Karlis field goal, they had cut the lead to seven points. With just five minutes remaining, Seattle was looking to run out the clock, but Largent made his first mistake of the game and fumbled away the football, giving Denver the ball at their own 44 yard line. From there, DeBerg moved Denver downfield with skill and poise, and with just two minutes to go, found Rick Upchurch for a 32 yard touchdown strike that tied the score. However, there was still time on the clock, and once again, Krieg rallied the Seahawk offense, moving them downfield with quick, strong passes. With just 20 seconds remaining, Norm Johnson's fourth field goal of the game sailed through the uprights, giving Seattle the lead once again. Three long pass attempts by DeBerg fell harmlessly to the turf, and the Seattle Seahawks were able to celebrate their first ever postseason win.

Final Score: Seattle-26 Denver-23

Real Life Score: Seattle-31 Denver-7

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Los Angeles Raiders (12-4) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

After last season ended with an embarassing loss to the New York Jets in the playoffs, the Los Angeles Raiders returned in 1983 with a new drive and motivation to win the franchise's first Super Bowl title. Second year running back Marcus Allen rushed for over 1,000 yards, and quarterback Jim Plunkett, even at age 36, passed for almost 3,000 yards, thanks in large part to tight end Todd Christensen, who caught 92 passes for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdowns. Meanwhile, age seemed to finally catch up with the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Terry Bradshaw was replaced by Cliff Stoudt, and his 21 interceptions had Steeler fans begging for Bradshaw to come back. Franco Harris rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time since 1979, but looked to be on his last legs, while John Stallworth played in just four games and had eight catches on the season.

From the start of this game, the Raiders wanted to make it clear that this contest would not have the same result as many of the epic Steeler and Raider playoff matchups of the 1970s had. On their second possession, the Raiders stormed down the field, with Christensen catching two long passes from Plunkett. Eventually, Plunkett would hit Malcolm Barnwell with a 28 yard laser for a touchdown. On the next Los Angeles possession, the Raiders would strike again. After battering the Pittsburgh defense with Marcus Allen, Plunkett was able to find Cliff Branch open in the end zone from 12 yards away, giving the Raiders a 14-0 lead. Pittsburgh was finally able to respond on their second possession of the second quarter, getting a Gary Anderson 35 yard field goal to put them on the board, but Los Angeles responded with a scoring drive of their own, this time letting Chris Bahr boot a 28 yard kick as time expired in the first half.

The second half didn't start out much better for the Steelers, as the Raiders once again punished their defense with Marcus Allen and Jim Plunkett. On their second drive of the third quarter, the Raiders let loose with a flurry of passes into the heart of the Pittsburgh defense, stopping only three times to let Allen batter their front four even more. Though they settled for a second Chris Bahr field goal, Los Angeles knew they had the Steelers on the ropes. After Odis McKinney intercepted Stoudt on the next Pittsburgh drive, the Raiders were able to add another Bahr field goal late in the third quarter, but that was nothing compared to what the fourth quarter would bring.

On their first three fourth quarter possessions, Los Angeles was able to put more points on the board. First, Plunkett found Christensen for a seven yard touchdown pass. Then, after a questionable decision by Pittsburgh to go for a fourth down conversion attempt at their own 26 yard line, Chris Bahr added his fourth field goal of the game. Finally, after another fourth down stop by the Raiders, Frank Hawkins ran the ball in from five yards out. When all was said and done, Los Angeles had scored 40 points on the defending AFC champions, and had held them to just 176 yards of total offense. It was clear, at least on this day, that the torch had not just been passed, but ruthlessly taken from the top team in the AFC.

Final Score: Los Angeles-40 Pittsburgh-3

Real Life Score: Los Angeles-38 Pittsburgh-10

Miami Dolphins (12-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

After a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers ended their 1982 season, the Miami Dolphins pledged that they would not only make it back to the playoffs in 1983, but avenge that loss as well. After David Woodley got off to a poor start, rookie quarterback Dan Marino took over, and was nothing short of excellent, throwing for 2,200 yards and 20 touchdowns in just nine regular season starts. The Miami defense was even better than that, allowing just 250 points on the season, which led the NFL. That solid defense would have its hands full on this day, if they wanted to stop the triple threat of Dave Krieg, Curt Warner and Steve Largent from Seattle.

It took just one play for everyone in Miami to see how talented the Seattle offense was. After a false start penalty on the first play of the game set the Seahawks back to their own 20 yard line, Krieg dropped back in the pocket and threw a perfect strike to Largent, who was wide open down the sidelines. Eighty yards later, the Seahawks were on the board, and the Miami crowd was in a state of shock. For the rest of the first quarter though, the two defenses won the day. Marino looked nervous in his first playoff start, and the pressure being put on by Seattle's defense made it even more difficult for the young quarterback. Fortunately for him, the second quarter started out much better than the first one did, as Andrea Franklin broke loose from the Seattle defense and scored on a 28 yard run up the middle. After the two teams exchanged punts, Seattle was able to respond, as Krieg passed the Seahawks down to the Miami 13 yard line before Curt Warner scored on a draw play, giving Seattle the lead back headed into the half.

As the second half got underway, most Miami fans were hoping that the Dan Marino they had seen during the regular season was going to make an appearance. On Miami's second possession of the half, their hopes were answered. Marino passed for 59 yards on the four play drive, including a 30 touchdown pass to Nat Moore that tied up the score. However, the Seahawks were once again able to penetrate the tough Miami defense, as the "Killer Bs" had no answer for the running of Warner coupled with the arm of Krieg. Norm Johnson drilled a 33 yard field goal as the third quarter ended, putting the Seahawks ahead once again.

After the Dolphins were forced to punt on their first possession of the fourth quarter, Seattle quickly moved downfield once again in an attempt to put the game out of reach. Krieg used Warner not only as a runner on the drive, but as a receiver out of the backfield as well, finding him for a key 17 yard catch and run early on in the drive. Once again, it was Largent that finished things off, this time catching a one yard lob from Krieg to put Seattle up by ten points. Not to be outdone, the Dolphin running game came to life on their next drive, with Tony Nathan picking up 51 yards on the drive, including a 40 yard touchdown run that made the score 24-21. However, the Seahawks once again had an answer, this time moving slowly down the field to eat up most of the remaining clock before bringing Norm Johnson on for his second field goal of the game. With just a minute remaining, Marino guided the Dolphins into Seattle territory, but three shots at the end zone were incomplete, and for the second straight season, Miami was shocked at home in the playoffs by a lesser team.

Final Score: Seattle-27 Miami-21

Real Life Score: Seattle-27 Miami-20

AFC Championship Game

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Raiders (12-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

On paper, the AFC Championship game looked like a complete mismatch. Not only did the Los Angeles Raiders have one of the best offenses in the NFL, but the week before they had destroyed Pittsburgh in the divisional round of the playoffs. Marcus Allen, Jim Plunkett and Todd Christensen formed a powerful trio that seemed to match what Seattle's group of Dave Krieg, Curt Warner and Steve Largent could do. However, two of the four losses the Raiders were given during the regular season came at the hands of the Seahawks, giving the Cinderella team from Seattle hope going into their first ever AFC title game.

On this day however, there would be no Cinderella story for the Seahawks. Their first two plays from scrimmage resulted in a sack of Krieg and an interception by Vann McElroy that turned into a Chris Bahr field goal. Just as they had done throughout the playoffs, Seattle was able to respond with a Norm Johnson field goal of their own to cap off a 10 play, 65 yard drive, but from that point on, there was no stopping the Los Angeles Raiders on this day. On their next drive, the running back duo of Marcus Allen and Kenny King assaulted the Seattle defense and set up a Jim Plunkett seven yard touchdown to Cliff Branch. Their first drive of the second quarter had similar results, as Marcus Allen was on the receiving end of a Plunkett pass that ended up going 57 yards for another touchdown. With the Seahawks already down 14 points, Seattle basically gave up on the running game, and Krieg began to air it out on every play. It worked on their next possession, with Krieg finding Paul Johns for a touchdown, but once again the Raiders were able to storm back. Marcus Allen finished an 11 play, 80 yard drive with a five yard touchdown, then Chris Bahr added his second field goal of the half as time expired on the first half of play.

Down 27-10, the Seahawks needed a break to start off the second half, and they got one as Ray Guy's punt was blocked and recovered by Seattle at the Los Angeles 14 yard line. However, the Seahawks could not move the ball a single yard, and had to settle for another Norm Johnson field goal. After that, it was all Raiders. Chris Bahr kicked his third field goal of the game on the next Los Angeles possession, then Calvin Muhammad brought in a 42 yard touchdown pass on the next Raider drive. The fourth quarter was more of the same, as Bahr added a fourth field goal, and Muhammad finished off the scoring with a 20 yard touchdown catch. When all was said and done, the Raiders had completely embarassed a second straight team in the playoffs, and had advanced to their first Super Bowl in 13 years.

Final Score: Los Angeles-47 Seattle-13

Real Life Score: Los Angeles-30 Seattle-14

[Hurkman]

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Dallas Cowboys (12-4) vs. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX

The two time defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys once again found themselves in the playoffs in 1983. Quarterback Danny White had another solid season, throwing for almost 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns, while two time Super Bowl MVP Tony Dorsett rushed for 1,321 yards and eight touchdowns to help balance the offense. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams were returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1980. Quarterback Vinve Ferragamo returned to the starting lineup full time, and threw for almost 3,300 yards and 22 touchdowns. Meanwhile, rookie sensation Eric Dickerson was a force in the backfield, rushing for an NFL leading 1,808 yards and 18 touchdowns.

If the Rams were nervous about facing off against the two time defending champions, they certainly did not show it early. On their first drive, Los Angeles rode the horse that got them to the playoffs in Eric Dickerson. The rookie touched the ball four times on the five play drive, including a 43 yard run and a nine yard touchdown to put Los Angeles ahead. However, Dallas was able to respond in kind, using Danny White and Tony Dorsett to attack the suspect Los Angeles defense. White and Dorsett moved Dallas downfield with plays underneath the secondary, and when the corners began to shift up towards the line, Dallas attacked with fullback Ron Springs, who burst through the middle for a 24 yard game tying touchdown.

The offensive highlights did not stop in the second quarter, either. After the two teams traded turnovers on back to back possessions, the Rams were able to mount another drive in the face of a stiff Dallas pass rush. They could not get into the end zone, however, and settled instead for a Mike Lansford field goal. Yet again Dallas was able to answer back, with White finding Tony Hill for 20 yards on a swing pass, and Dorsett picking up 24 yards of his own before Robert Newhouse found the end zone on fourth and goal from the one yard line. The Cowboys wouldn't stop there, as Rafael Septien booted a 34 yard kick on the next Dallas drive to put the Cowboys up 17-10 at the half.

The second half would be a completely different story for the Cowboys. They went into the half with momentum and the ball coming out of the locker room, but were unable to move on their first possession. Then, the John Warren punt was blocked, giving the Rams the ball at the 24 yard line. It took just one play for Dickerson to score his second touchdown of the game and tie the score. On the next Dallas possession, Ron Springs fumbled and Los Angeles recovered. This time, it was Ferragamo leading the way, and he finished the drive with an 11 yard touchdown to Mike Barber that put the Rams ahead. After a Dallas punt on their next possession, Los Angeles struck again. Dickerson picked up 60 yards on the first play of the drive, then Ferragamo struck again, hitting George Farmer in the end zone from three yards away to put the Rams up 31-17 going into the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys were desperate, but could not catch a break, even in their home stadium. Septien missed a 50 yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, and the Rams scored again on their next drive, with Dickerson now playing the role of receiver on a one yard touchdown catch that put the final nail in the Cowboys' coffin. Dallas could do nothing the rest of the game, and the Rams continued to run the ball at their now tiring defense. Dickerson finished the day with 182 yards and three total touchdowns, while Ferragamo threw for 204 yards and three scores. After a late Mike Lansford field goal put the Rams up 41-17, there was no doubt that on who was the better team on this day.

Final Score: Los Angeles-41 Dallas-17

Real Life Score: Los Angeles-24 Dallas-17

NFC Divisional Playoffs

San Francisco 49ers (10-6) vs. Detroit Lions (9-7)
Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

After a poor 1982 season, the San Francisco 49ers bounced back nicely in 1983. Quarterback Joe Montana passed for 3,900 yards and 26 touchdowns, and halfbacks Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler had impressive seasons out of the backfield, rushing for a combined 1,580 yards and 12 touchdowns. The defense was also extremely strong, allowing just 293 points. Third year cornerback Eric Wright led the way, intercepting seven passes and returning two of them for touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions, who barely snuck into the playoffs at 4-5 last season, improved enough to win the NFC Central division in 1983. Halfback Billy Sims led the charge on offense, rushing for 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns, but it was the defense that stole the show, allowing 286 points for the season.

Though the Lions had made the playoffs the season before, there were very few people that thought they stood a chance against the powerful 49ers. Through most of the first half, those people were right. The Detroit offense had problems from the start against the strong San Francisco defense, and the 49er offense was able to move the ball early against the proud Lion defenders. On their first drive, the 49ers moved downfield quickly, thanks in large part to a Roger Craig 63 yard catch and run on San Francisco's first play. Montana finished the drive with a touchdown pass to Dwight Clark, and the 49ers were on the board. They would add more points on their next possession, thanks to a Ray Wersching 29 yard field goal, but from there, the Lions were able to hold the 49ers scoreless for the rest of the half. At the same time, the Detriot offense was finally able to get moving. Quarterback Eric Hipple, knowing that San Francisco would be focusing on stopping Sims, was able to find open receivers. Though he could not get the Lions into the end zone, he was able to set them up for two Eddie Murray field goals in the second quarter that made the score 10-6 heading into the half.

In the third quarter, the Lions figured out the secret to stopping San Francisco was keeping their offense off the field. The only Detroit possession of the quarter lasted for 12 plays and almost seven and a half minutes. The running game that had been stuck in the garage for most of the first half suddenly came to life, and Billy Sims was able to punish San Francisco defenders that had almost forgotten about the 1,000 yard rusher. With the Lions looking at a fourth and goal to go at the San Francisco two yard line, everyone's focus was on Sims. Instead, it was Dexter Bussey who got the ball and ran into the end zone untouched for the go ahead score. The 49ers were behind, but not for long. On their next drive, Montana moved his team downfield with the precision and skill of a veteran quarterback, and in the end, it was Wendell Tyler who finished the drive off, scoring on a 14 yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter to put San Francisco ahead again. On the next 49er possession, Montana used a 43 yard Roger Craig run to set up another touchdown drive, this one ending with a Freddie Solomon 12 yard touchdown catch. The Lions would attempt to make a comeback, and would get close, as Dexter Bussey scored his second touchdown of the day on a 37 yard run. However, Eddie Murray missed the extra point, and the Lions would never see the ball again, as San Francisco ran out the clock and advanced to their second NFC Championship in three seasons.

Final Score: San Francisco-24 Detroit-19

Real Life Score: San Francisco-24 Detroit-23

Washington Redskins (14-2) vs. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

For the second straight season, the Washington Redskins were kings of the NFC regular season. During the regular season, they lost a two games by a total of two points and scored an NFL leading 541 points on the season. Quarterback Joe Theismann threw for 3,700 yards and 29 touchdowns, while halfback John Riggins scored an NFL record 24 touchdowns. Wide receivers Art Monk and Charlie Brown helped keep all the attention off of Riggins, and the Redskin defense had a solid season as well, with Mark Murphy leading the NFL in interceptions with nine. The Washington defense would have their hands full on this day as they attempted to stop rookie phenom Eric Dickerson and the tough Los Angeles Ram offense, which knocked off the two time defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys just a week ago.

After being embarassed at home in the NFC Championship game last season, the Redskins were determined to at least host the game for a second straight season, and they got off to a great start. After the Rams moved downfield, but missed a 40 yard field goal, the Washington offense took the field and attacked the Los Angeles defense with a force that the Rams had not seen that season. Theismann was able to find Charlie Brown for 35 yards on the drive, and though the Redskins had to settle for a Mark Moseley field goal, they had set the tone for their offense. That trend continued in the second quarter, when, after the Rams tied the game following a Riggins fumble, the Redskins were able to score twice in two minutes. First, Theismann found Art Monk for a 14 yard touchdown with just one minute and ten seconds remaining in the half. Then, Mark Murphy intercepted Vince Ferragamo on the first play of the Los Angeles possession, and Theismann struck again just 40 seconds later, hitting Alvin Garrett with a four yard touchdown to put the Redskins up 17-3 at halftime.

Just like their game the week before against Dallas, the Rams got an early break in the second half against Washington. After forcing a three and out against the Redskin offense, the Rams were able to block the Jeff Hayes punt, putting them in scoring position. This time, however, Dickerson was unable to find any running room, and the Rams would have to settle for a second Mike Lansford field goal. Washington was able to respond quickly on their next two drives, as Moseley added two more field goals to put the Redskins up 23-6 going into the fourth quarter. It got no better for the Rams there, as after a third Lansford field goal, the Redskins used Riggins to pound away at the clock. Riggins was also able to add a 14 yard touchdown to effectively end the game, though the scoring didn't end until the next Washington drive, when Theismann found Alvin Garrett for a 36 yard touchdown pass that put the cap on the Washington victory. For the second straight season, the Washington Redskins would be hosting the NFC Championship, and this time, they were hoping that the result would be much, much different.

Final Score: Washington-37 Los Angeles-9

Real Life Score: Washington-51 Los Angeles-7

NFC Championship Game

RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Washington Redskins (14-2) vs. San Francisco 49ers (10-6)

The top two teams in the NFC were set to square off for the right to go to Super Bowl XVIII. For the Washington Redskins, it was a chance to prove that last season's embarassing defeat to the Cowboys was in the past and their team this season was one of the best in NFL history. Meanwhile, the 49ers were looking to prove that their own defeat to the Cowboys in the NFC Championship two seasons ago was behind them. Though no one knew who was going to end up on top, one thing was certain: the game would be one of the most exciting of the season.

Most of the talk leading up to the game had been about each offense and the ability it had to put up points almost at will on opposing defenses. However, through the first quarter, it was the defenses of both San Francisco and Washington that proved they could handle any caliber offense. Neither team could get started for much of the quarter, as the San Francisco pass rush disrupted Joe Theismann and John Riggins, while the Redskins were able to keep Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig contained. Finally, the 49ers caught a break late in the quarter when a poor Washington punt set them up at the Redskin 38 yard line. It took just five plays for Tyler to find the end zone, and the 49ers were up 7-0. However, the Redskins were able to find a secret weapon on offense, and exploited the San Francisco defense with it on their very next drive.

With so much attention being put on John Riggins, the Redskins realized that another halfback might go unnoticed by the aggressive San Francisco defense. Sure enough, backup running back Joe Washington found a hole in the 49er front seven on the next Washington possession and ran 57 yards for a game tying touchdown early in the second quarter. From there though, neither team could move again for much of the remainder of the half, with San Francisco finally getting going late in the quarter on the arm of Joe Montana. He found Roger Craig for 24 yards, then Dwight Clark for 19 more, setting up Ray Wersching's 33 yard field goal as time expired in the half.

The second half started with the Redskins once again breaking out Joe Washington against an unsuspecting San Francisco defense. On a third and seven, with most of the 49ers again focusing in on Riggins, the Redskins slipped the ball to Washington, who broke a tackle and then took the ball 50 yards for his second touchdown of the game. On the next Redskin possession, they would not need Washington to carry the ball, but the result was still the same. This time, Theismann was finally able to get some time in the pocket, and he used it to pick apart the 49er secondary. He passed for 81 yards on the 84 yard drive, including a six yard touchdown pass to Art Monk that put the Redskins up 21-10 going into the fourth quarter.

The final quarter did not start much better for the 49ers, as the Redskins were again able to move downfield, this time using the legs of John Riggins as well as the arm of Theismann. It would again be the Washington quarterback doing the damage in the end, finding Alvin Garrett for another eight yard touchdown and a seemingly insurmountable 18 point Washington lead. However, Joe Montana had started to make a living off of impossible comebacks, and it began to look like he was going to lead the 49ers on another one on this day. On the next San Francisco possession, he moved the 49ers downfield quickly, but calmly, using short passes before luring the Washington secondary in and throwing deep to Freddie Solomon, who caught the pass and ran 57 yards for a 49er touchdown. On the second play of Washington's next drive, Theismann was intercepted by Eric Wright, and Montana again moved San Francisco down the field quickly. The Washington defense, which was able to put a stop to Montana the entire game, now seemed powerless to stop him, and he struck again with a 14 yard touchdown pass to Solomon to cut the lead to just four points. However, Montana could not do everything, and he had to watch from the sidelines as Washington was able to pound the San Francisco defense with John Riggins. The bulldozer of a back ate up the rest of the clock, preserving a Washington victory and redeeming the Redskins for their defeat the year before.

Final Score: Washington-28 San Francisco-24

Real Life Score: Washington-24 San Francisco-21

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl XVIII

Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FL

Los Angeles Raiders (12-4)


Head Coach: Tom Flores
442 Points Scored
338 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Jim Plunkett


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Pittsburgh, 40-3: AFC Divisional Playoff
Defeated Seattle, 47-13: AFC Championship



Washington Redskins (14-2)


Head Coach: Joe Gibbs
541 Points Scored
332 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Joe Theismann


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Los Angeles Rams, 37-9: NFC Divisional Playoff
Defeated San Francisco, 28-23: NFC Championship



The Game

For the first time since Super Bowl XV, two teams were facing off for a chance to win their first Super Bowl title. The Los Angeles Raiders had not been to the Super Bowl for 13 years, while the Washington Redskins had to wait nine years in between appearances. The Raiders boasted an impressive record through the playoffs in 1983, scoring 40 points in back to back playoff games as the trio of Jim Plunkett, Marcus Allen and Todd Christensen destroyed opposing defenses. Meanwhile, the Washington Redskins had the highest scoring offense in the NFL during the regular season, and faced much stiffer competition during the playoffs, espeically Joe Montana and the 49ers in the NFC Championship. No matter what would happen on Super Bowl Sunday, one team was going to walk away with their first Super Bowl trophy.

From the start, both teams knew that the strength of their opposition came from their running game, but neither defense was prepared for the passing attack that came from both quarterbacks. The Redskins started with the ball, and with the Raiders thinking run, Theismann was quick to attack the middle of the field over top of the Los Angeles linebackers, using receivers Art Monk and Charlie Brown to gain yards on their opening drive. The Raiders eventually adjusted, however, and Washington was forced to settle for a Mark Moseley field goal and a 3-0 lead. On their first possession, Los Angeles wasted no time in moving downfield, with Plunkett leading the way. On the second play of the drive, Plunkett found Cliff Branch for 24 yards, then three plays later, he hit Calvin Muhammad for 39 yards down to the Washington one yard line. From there, Marcus Allen did the dirty work, scoring on a one yard touchdown run and giving the Raiders the lead.

The second quarter was more of the same for the Raiders, as their defense continued to baffle the normally dominant Washington offense. Meanwhile, Plunkett was still finding room to throw the ball to open receivers against the Redskin defense. On the first Los Angeles drive of the quarter, Plunkett was able to exploit the soft Washington coverage for three straight plays before finding his favorite target in Todd Christensen for an 18 yard touchdown and a 14-3 Raider lead. The Redskins could not move the ball for much of the second quarter, and an excellent Los Angeles punt pinned them down at their own five yard line late in the half. For some reason, Washington coach Joe Gibbs believed he could move the ball from that spot on the field, but the Raider pass rush was ready, and defensive end Howie Long brought Theismann down in the end zone for a safety. The ensuing Los Angeles possession started with great field position on the safety punt and ended with a Chris Bahr field goal that capped the scoring in the first half.

The Redskins needed some luck to get back into the game following halftime, but the Los Angeles defense was not willing to give them anything. The first two possessions for both teams ended in punts before Washington was finally able to move the ball again. The Redskins first used John Riggins to attack the Los Angeles front seven, and then, when they were expecting run, Theismann used the play action pass to freeze the defense and move the ball downfield for the first time since the first quarter. Passes to Art Monk and Charlie Brown got the Redskins deep into Los Angeles territory, and when the Raiders were thinking pass, the Redskins thought run, and John Riggins finished the drive with an eight yard touchdown that made the score 19-10 late in the third quarter.

As the fourth quarter started, the Redskins made the score even closer. The Washington defense, which had been broken down in the second quarter, came to life in the second half, and stopped the Raiders on every drive in the third quarter. Late in the third quarter, the Raiders punted the ball back to Washington and the Redskins again moved the ball downfield. Riggins was finally able to find open space, and when Los Angeles was expecting run, Theismann went for short passes. Finally, Charlie Brown ended the drive, thanks to a 14 yard touchdown pass for Theismann, and the score was 19-17 in favor of Los Angeles.

However, the rested Raider offense was not ready to give in just yet, and the ageless Jim Plunkett had one more drive left in him. Taking the Raiders down the field in nine plays, Plunkett showed his experience, handing off to both Marcus Allen and Kenny King during the drive, and not throwing poor passes that could lead to interceptions and a possible lead change. With Allen and King finally breaking free of the tough Washington defense, Los Angeles was able to eat up large chunks of clock, and though they had to settle for a Bahr field goal, they left the Redskins with just three minutes remaining. From there, the Redskins would get nothing, as the Los Angeles defense clamped down on anything that Washington was going to throw at them. Howie Long picked up a second sack as he brought down Theismann on a key second down pass, and after the Redskins could not convert on fourth down, the Raiders were free to celebrate their first Super Bowl championship.

Final Score: Los Angeles-22 Washington-17

MVP: Howie Long: 8 tackles, 2 sacks


(Yes, this was the first set of playoffs to go entirely like it did in real life. Quite frankly, I was getting tired of Pittsburgh, so I'm glad this came up like it did.)

[Hurkman]

For those of you that remember this thread, Merry Christmas. It's about time that I got this going again, now that the real NFL season is almost over. So, let's see how far I get this time, shall we?

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Seattle Seahawks (12-4) vs. Los Angeles Raiders (11-5)
The Kingdome, Seattle, WA

In a rematch of the AFC Championship from the year before, the Seattle Seahawks now found themselves hosting the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Raiders. Seattle relied strongly on the passing of Dave Krieg to get back to the playoffs, while the Raiders had Pro Bowl running back Marcus Allen and a dominant defense that was poised to capture another title.

The Raiders had rotated quarterbacks all season, switching between Jim Plunkett and Marc Wilson, and in this game, it would be the ageless Plunkett who would get the start. In the first quarter, he started out looking like his old self, hitting Malcolm Barnwell with a 19 yard touchdown pass to open up the scoring. After the opening drive for Los Angeles, however, Seattle took control of the game, utilizing Krieg's passing, as well as the legs of running backs Dan Doornink and Eric Lane. The second quarter featured two Seattle touchdowns; one by Lane on a 36 yard run, and the other on a Krieg 4 yard shovel pass to Daryl Turner, giving the Seahawks a 14-7 lead at the half.

The third quarter featured both defenses hitting their stride. The Raiders managed to score three points on a Chris Bahr 31 yard field goal early in the quarter, but after that neither team could establish anything offensively in the quarter. Los Angeles relied heavily on Marcus Allen, while the Raider pass rush was finally getting to Krieg, forcing him to hurry his throws and breaking up the precise timing of the Seattle offense. That pressure came into play in the fourth quarter when, following a Norm Johnson field goal to make the score 17-10, Krieg threw a costly interception deep in Seattle territory. It only took the Raiders one play to tie the game, as Plunkett struck again, this time hitting Todd Christensen on a 25 yard pass.

The Seahawks were reeling, and it didn't help matters when they went three and out on their next possession. However, the defense came through for Seattle, picking off Plunkett at the Los Angeles 43 with just four and a half minutes to play. The Seahawks looked to be stopped early in the drive, but a defensive holding call on third and ten gave them new life. With 36 seconds to play, Krieg found Steve Largent in the end zone for the game winning touchdown. The defending Super Bowl champions had been eliminated, and Seattle was quickly establishing itself as a potential fixture in the AFC playoffs for years to come.

Final Score: Seattle-24 Los Angeles-17

Real Life Score: Seattle-13 Los Angeles-7

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Denver Broncos (13-3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO

The Denver Broncos hosted a playoff game for the first time since their Super Bowl winning season in 1977, thanks in large part to the three headed attack of John Elway, Sammy Winder and Steve Watson on offense, and having one of the NFL's best defenses. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers hardly resembled the powerhouse that had dominated the NFL over the past decade. Young Mark Malone was given the reigns at quarterback, and responded with a decent season, though Rookie of the Year Louis Lipps certainly made his job easier, quickly becoming the number one target for the Steelers.

On this day, however, Lynn Swann and Terry Bradshaw could have been playing for Pittsburgh, and it would have made little difference. The Broncos completely outplayed the Steelers in every aspect of the game. The scoring started slowly, with only a Rich Karlis field goal in the first quarter, but the Broncos had established their gameplan early. They would run the ball with Winder down the throat of the Pittsburgh defense, and when that wouldn't work, Elway would just pass it over the men at the line of scrimmage. Denver would strike twice in the second quarter, first on an Elway six yard touchdown to Steve Watson, then on a 19 yard run by Rick Perros. About the only thing that went wrong in the first half was that Karlis missed an extra point, only giving the Broncos a 16-0 lead at the half.

The second half was just more of the same for Denver. While they scored no points in the third quarter, they held the ball for almost 10 minutes, keeping Pittsburgh's offense off the field and preventing them from even attempting to tie the game. Their defense kept Mark Malone scrambling all day long, and the running game never got started for the Steelers. Karlis added two more field goals in the fourth quarter for Denver, who celebrated it's first playoff win in five years.

Final Score: Denver-22 Pittsburgh-0

Real Life Score: Pittsburgh-24 Denver-17

Miami Dolphins (14-2) vs. Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

Once again, the Seahawks found themselves facing a familiar foe in the AFC playoffs. Last year's upset over the Dolphins still hit nerves in Miami, and this year, the Dolphins believed they were more than ready for the challenge. Second year quarterback Dan Marino propelled himself to the top of the position, throwing for a record 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns in a season for the ages. Miami scored an NFL leading 513 points, and was looking to enact some revenge on the team that knocked them out of the playoffs the year before.

The game got off to an excellent start for the Dolphins. Their opening drive led to points, as Marino hit Mark Clayton for a 17 yard touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. However, the rest of the first half would belong to Seattle. Much like they did the week before against the Raiders, the Seahawks came out running the football. While they weren't picking up large chunks of yards, they were keeping the dangerous Miami offense off the field while wearing out the Miami defense. The strategy worked perfectly in the second quarter, when the Seahawks scored on all three of their possessions. First, Randall Morris scored from seven yards out, then Dan Doornink finished an 11 play drive with a six yard touchdown run. Finally, Norm Johnson booted a 40 yard field goal with just under a minute to play, putting the Seahawks up 17-7 at the half and stunning the crowd in Miami.

The second half started the same way the first half ended, with Johnson kicking another field goal to increase Seattle's lead to 20-7. Miami would fight back, however, as Marino was finally able to get going again, once again finiding Mark Clayton for a six yard touchdown to make it a six point Seattle lead. From there on, however, it was all Seattle. Johnson kicked a third field goal early in the fourth quarter, and Miami's three possessions in the quarter ended in an interception, and missed field goal and a turnover on downs. For the second straight season, Seattle had come into Miami and shocked the Dolphins, while Dan Marino and his record setting season came to a close.

Final Score: Seattle-23 Miami-14

Real Life Score: Miami-31 Seattle-10

AFC Championship Game

Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO

Denver Broncos (13-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (12-4)

The Seahawks, fresh off their upset of the Miami Dolphins, were playing in their second consecutive AFC Championship, while the Denver Broncos were looking to head to their first Super Bowl in seven seasons and let John Elway play one more game on his college field.

While the first two games that the Seahawks had played in the postseason this year resembled defensive battles, this game was a shootout from the opening kickoff. Seattle started things off with a touchdown drive that ended when Dave Krieg hit Steve Largent with an 11 yard touchdown pass. Denver responded with a long scoring drive of its own, capping it off with a four yard Sammy Winder touchdown run. Things hardly slowed down in the second quarter, as Seattle added three points on their next possession. Denver would then take advantage of a good punt return later in the quarter, and Winder found the end zone for the second time in the half. Later in the quarter, the Broncos would drive downfield again, and Winder would score his third touchdown of the half with just 12 seconds left to play, putting the Broncos up 21-10 at the half.

With a second straight defeat in the AFC Championship staring them in the face, the Seahawks came out in the third quarter and hit the Broncos right in the mouth. Their first drive of the second half ended with a Norm Johnson field goal, and their second possession would be even better, as David Hughes scored on a four yard run to cut the Denver lead to just one point. The Broncos were able to answer back, though, as Sammy Winder scored his fourth touchdown of the game, this time on a six yard pass from John Elway that put the Broncos up 28-20. Seattle would punt on their next drive, and Denver would add a Rich Karlis field goal to go up by 11. The Seahawks would make one more run, with Krieg finding Largent once again, but Johnson would miss the extra point, and the Broncos grabbed the onside kick, sending them to the Super Bowl for the first time in seven years, while the Seahawks came so close yet again, but just missed.

Final Score: Denver-31 Seattle-26

Real Life Score: Miami-45 Pittsburgh-28 (In Miami)

[The Professor]

Too bad. I always wish my favorite player (Krieg) had been able to get into a Super Bowl.

[Hurkman]

Well, he's still got a chance in 1987 and 1988. I haven't gotten to those yet, but I've got some time off now until the new year, so I'll be working on it.

[Hurkman]

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

Los Angeles Rams (10-6) vs. New York Giants (9-7)
Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CA

Much like last season, the Los Angeles Rams found themselves involved in the Wild Card round of the NFC playoffs. Running back Eric Dickerson led the way for the Rams, rushing for an NFL record 2,105 yards, as well as 14 touchdowns. The New York Giants were back in the playoffs for the first time since 1981, and Phil Simms finally began to look like a solid NFL quarterback, passing for over 4,000 yards and 20 touchdowns for the first time in his career.

Despite New York's concerns about Dickerson, it was the Giants that were able to strike on the ground first, with Joe Morris running 35 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Ali Haji-Sheikh missed the extra point, however, and the Giants led 6-0. The scoring would not stop there, as both teams exchanged field goals, putting New York up 9-3 until late in the second quarter, when quarterback Jeff Kemp guided the Rams downfield. Dwayne Crutchfield scored on a one yard run, and it looked as if the Rams would take the lead into the half. Phil Simms had other ideas, though, and on the last play of the half, Simms launched a Hail Mary that was answered, as the pass landed in the hands of Byron Williams 53 yards downfield for a touchdown and a 16-10 Giant lead at the half.

If Los Angeles was stunned about the end of the half, they certainly didn't show it on their first possession of the third quarter. Eric Dickerson pounded the New York defense until finally breaking through for a 21 yard touchdown run, giving the Rams the lead again. The Giants were quick to answer, as Simms moved them down the field on a seven play drive that ended with his second touchdown pass of the game. The Giants would never trail again, despite 222 yards from Dickerson. Haji-Sheikh drilled a field goal late in the fourth quarter for the final score, and the Giants were able to overcome a powerful running attack to win their first playoff game since the 1960s.

Final Score: New York-26 Los Angeles-17

Real Life Score: New York-16 Los Angeles-13

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Washington Redskins (11-5) vs. Chicago Bears (10-6)
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

The defending NFC Champion Washington Redskins once again were part of the playoffs, and very little had changed from the team that stood atop the conference just last year. Joe Theismann passed for 23 touchdowns, and the ageless John Riggins rushed for over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. For the Chicago Bears, defense was the name of the game in 1984. Other than Walter Payton on offense, the game flowed through the Chicago defense, which was young and cocky, but very good, featuring three players with double digit sack totals.

Despite not having starting quarterback Jim McMahon for the game, the Bears believed that backup Steve Fuller could do a good enough job to beat the Redskins. However, his interception early in the first quarter helped set up the first Washington score of the game when Theismann hit Calvin Muhammad with a pass. The Redskins would score again on their next drive, thanks to a Mark Moseley field goal, but the Bears were able to answer back, as Fuller found Emery Moorehead for an eight yard touchdown strike. From that point on, though, it was all Washington. The Redskins stacked the line of scrimmage, daring the Bears to beat them through the air. The extra defenders helped score a safety for the Redskins, putting them up 12-7 at halftime.

It was more of the same in the second half. Washington used short passes from Theismann and runs from Riggins to eat up the clock, keeping Walter Payton on the sidelines. When the All-Pro did get on the field, he was constantly surrounded by several members of the Washington defense. While the Redskins were only able to score two field goals in the third quarter, they wore down the vaunted Chicago defense and brought it to its knees in the fourth. Theismann threw his second touchdown of the day, this one to Charlie Brown, and Moseley added his fourth field goal of the game to cap the scoring. With Payton being held in check, the pressure fell to Steve Fuller, and he was not up to the challenge today. The Redskins won convincingly and headed to their second straight NFC Championship.

Final Score: Washington-28 Chicago-7

Real Life Score: Chicago-23 Washington-19

San Francisco 49ers (15-1) vs. New York Giants (9-7)
Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

After coming up short in the NFC Championship last season, the San Francisco 49ers came into the 1984 season knowing that they could be better. Boy, were they ever better. Joe Montana had a career year, passing for over 3,600 yards and 28 touchdowns, while Wendell Tyler rushed for over 1,200 yards to give balance to the second highest scoring team in the NFL. The defense was nothing to sneeze at, either, allowing the fewest points in football.

In the first half, it was that defense that flexed its muscles, keeping the Giants off the board while the San Francisco offense tried to find its groove. The 49ers did strike early, getting a Ray Wersching field goal on their opening drive, but they were kept out of the end zone for much of the first half. Midway through the second quarter, Joe Montana finally got the San Francisco offense moving, leading them down the field with short passes to Roger Craig and Earl Cooper. Finally, Freddie Solomon found a hole in the New York defense, and Montana struck, nailing him with a perfect, 13 yard touchdown pass that put the 49ers up 10-0. The lead would stay that way until the half.

Unfortunately for the Giants, the second half started out the same way, as the 49ers took the opening kickoff and marched downfield, slowly gaining yards as Montana chewed up the New York passing defense. It was the running game that finished things off, however, as Roger Craig punched it in from two yards out, giving San Francisco a 17-0 lead. New York would not go away so easily, though. Phil Simms finally found his rhythm, guiding the Giants deep into San Francisco territory. Joe Morris finished off the drive with a two yard touchdown run, and on the next play, Terry Kinard picked Montana off. The Giants were quick to capitalize, though they could only manage a field goal from Ali Haji-Sheikh to make the score 17-10 heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged to the 49ers. Perhaps worried about a possible upset, San Francisco came out swinging in the final quarter, driving deep into New York territory on three straight drives and scoring on two of them. Derrick Harmon finished off one drive with a touchdown run, and Ray Wersching capped the scoring with a 22 yard field goal, ending any hope of a New York comeback, and putting the 49ers into the NFC Championship for the second straight season, earning them a rematch with the team that knocked them out last year.

Final Score: San Francisco-27 New York-10

NFC Championship Game

Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco 49ers (15-1) vs. Washington Redskins (11-5)

For the second straight season, the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins were set to face off in the NFC Championship. This year however, it was the 49ers who were at home, with one of the best offenses in football. Despite an early season loss to San Francisco, the Redskins knew that they could play on the same level as the 49ers, so long as their defense was able to hold the powerful San Francisco offense in check.

In the first quarter, the Washington defense was not up to the challenge. San Francisco's second possession resulted in a 48 yard Wendell Tyler touchdown catch and run, and the following drive ended with a Ray Wersching 38 yard field goal, putting the 49ers up 10-0 early. It didn't get any better in the second quarter when Ronnie Lott intercepted Joe Theismann. One play later, Montana hit Freddie Solomon with a 22 yard pass that put San Francisco up 17-0. The Redskins were finally able to get something going on offense on their next drive, as John Riggins pounded the middle of the San Francisco defense. Theismann finished things off with a six yard touchdown pass to Calvin Muhammad, but the 49ers were able to answer, tacking on another field goal. Washington took advantage late in the half thanks to a Tyler fumble, but they could only get a Mark Moseley field goal out of the turnover as time expired in the first half, putting them down 20-10.

The third quarter featured both defenses settling down and dictating the flow of the game. Neither Washington nor San Francisco were able to get anything going on offense, with the Redskins finally capitalizing on a short field thanks to a Joe Montana interception. However, just like in the first half, the Redskins could only muster a Moseley field goal, cutting the San Francisco lead to seven points. The 49ers, once again feeling slight pressure from a potential upset, put their foot down after that, going on a 13 play, eight minute drive that took up large parts of the third and fourth quarters. It was finished with a Wersching field goal, and a second long, time consuming drive ended the same way, as Wersching added his third kick of the game with just a minute to play. The clock ran out on the Redskins, and the 49ers were headed to their first ever Super Bowl.

Final Score: San Francisco-26 Washington-13

Real Life Score: San Francisco-23 Chicago-0

[Hurkman]

Super Bowl XIX

Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA

Denver Broncos (13-3)


Head Coach: Dan Reeves
353 Points Scored
241 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: John Elway


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated Pittsburgh, 22-0: AFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Seattle: 31-26: AFC Championship



San Francisco 49ers (15-1)


Head Coach: Bill Walsh
475 Points Scored
227 Points Allowed

Starting Quarterback: Joe Montana


Road to the Super Bowl:
Defeated New York, 27-10: NFC Divisional Playoffs
Defeated Washington, 26-13: NFC Championship



The Game

Though it wasn't the San Francisco/Miami matchup that everyone wanted to see when the playoffs began, people were still excited for Super Bowl XIX, which instead featured John Elway's return to his college stadium to face the powerful San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco had dominated the league during the regular season, and that continued through the postseason to this point, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 53-23. Of course, the Denver Broncos didn't get to the Super Bowl on luck. They too dominated in the postseason, shutting out the Pittsburgh Steelers before winning a shootout with the Seattle Seahawks. Second year quarterback John Elway looked like everything the Broncos wanted him to be when they traded for him last season, and while he didn't put up the flashy numbers of Dan Marino, he had guided the Broncos to their first Super Bowl in seven seasons.

While both teams had played well to get to the Super Bowl, they both seemed to be struck with a case of nerves throughout the first quarter. San Francisco lost their first possession on a Wendell Tyler fumble, then the Broncos gave the ball right back on a John Elway interception at the 49er four yard line. Three plays later, the 49ers gave it right back on a Montana interception, and this time, the Broncos managed to hold on to the ball, with Rich Karlis kicking a 38 yard field goal for the first points of the game. Trailing for the first time in the playoffs, San Francisco finally got their act together, answering Denver with a 10 play, 72 yard drive that ended with a Montana 17 yard pass to Freddie Solomon, putting San Francisco on top.

Super Bowl XIX had been advertised as a battle of two great offenses, but throughout the first half, it was the defenses of both teams that were making themselves known. Neither team could get much established in terms of offense for most of the first half. San Francisco's vaunted offense was struggling in the face of Denver's defense, while the Broncos were more content to attempt to run the ball with Sammy Winder and Gerald Willhite, keeping the offense of the 49ers off the field for long periods of time. However, cracks began to form in the Denver defense, and following a short punt, San Francisco got back on track, with running backs Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig gashing the Denver front four for large pieces of real estate. While the 49ers could not score on the drive, they did manage to get into position for a Ray Wersching 34 yard field goal that put them up 10-3 as the first half ended.

Down by a touchdown coming into the third quarter, the Broncos knew they had to find a way to get on the board, and they were able to do just that. Gerald Willhite did the most damage on a 58 yard draw play, but it was Sammy Winder that finished things off, running into the end zone from 14 yards out to tie the game at 10. Once again, the 49ers were able to respond, driving right down the field before the Broncos finally put a halt to the drive at their own ten yard line. Wersching added a second field goal, putting San Francisco on top again. The 49ers went on the move again on their next drive, gashing the Denver defense on an 11 play drive that ended with Montana's second touchdown pass of the game, this one to Roger Craig early in the fourth quarter to give the 49ers a 20-10 lead.

Denver was able to strike back, but they did so with a long, time consuming drive that was only able to get them three points on Karlis' second field goal of the game. With little time left, they needed a stop, but their defense could not come through, allowing San Francisco to move down the field again. Roger Craig found the end zone for the second time, this time on a one yard plunge, and the 49ers began to celebrate. Elway was able to guide the Broncos back for another Sammy Winder touchdown, but Denver was unable to recover the necessary onside kick, and three Montana knees later, the San Francisco 49ers were celebrating their first ever Super Bowl championship.

Final Score: San Francisco-27 Denver-20

MVP: Joe Montana: 15-24, 188 yards, 2 TD

[Hurkman]

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

New York Jets (11-5) vs. New England Patriots (11-5)
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

For the first time since the strike shortened season of 1982, both the Jets and the Patriots were able to claim playoff spots. While the Jets reached the AFC Championship that season, the Patriots were knocked out in the first round, and were hoping for a better result this time around. New England was banking on a solid ground attack, led by Craig James, as well as a solid defense to get them past the Jets. Meanwhile, New York's powerful offense was still led by Freeman McNeil and his 1,300 rushing yards and seconded by young quarterback Ken O'Brien, who passed for almost 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The teams split their regular season matchups in close, well played games, and early on it appeared as if that would be the trend again. The Jets took the opening kickoff and marched into New England territory, but were stopped and had to settle for a Pat Leahy field goal. New England answered with a long drive of their own that ended in a 12 yard touchdown pass from Tony Eason to Tony Collins. The second quarter continued the scoring trend, as the teams alternated scores on their first three drives. New York added a second field goal, only to be answered by a Tony Franklin field goal for the Patriots. Finally, Freeman McNeil found the end zone, putting the Jets up 13-10 at halftime.

New York didn't have to wait long for a chance in the second half, as Eason's first pass was intercepted and returned all the way back to the Patriot four yard line. However, the New England defense proved too tough, and Leahy added his third field goal of the game. Neither team could move the ball very well after that, as both defenses finally settled down. The Patriots sustained one drive, but a Franklin field goal attempt was blocked, ending the threat. The fourth quarter would prove more successful for the Patriots, as they took their first possession of the final quarter all the way down the field, and Tony Collins hit paydirt for the second time on the day, this time on a 12 yard run, putting the Patriots up by a point.

With their backs up against the wall, O'Brien and the Jets looked to get into field goal range, but when they were forced to punt with just under three minutes left, things looked grim. However, the New York defense came up with a quick stop, and a good punt return set the Jets up at their own 47 yard line with one timeout. O'Brien got the Jets into field goal range, thanks to passes to Wesley Walker and Johnny Hector. Leahy's fourth kick of the game sailed through the uprights, giving the Jets the lead with just 53 seconds to play. The Patriots tried for one last gasp, but three Eason passes from the New England 40 fell to the turf, and the Jets had survived a tight battle with a division foe.

Final Score: New York-19 New England-17

Real Life Score: New England-26 New York-14

AFC Divisional Playoffs

Miami Dolphins (12-4) vs. Cleveland Browns (8-8)
The Orange Bowl, Miami, FL

For two straight seasons, the Miami Dolphins were upset in the second round of the AFC playoffs. This season, the Dolphins looked to be out of the playoffs, going 5-4 through nine weeks, but a seven game winning streak, including the only defeat of the Chicago Bears all season, launched Miami into the playoffs again. Dan Marino, while not up to his record setting numbers of last season, still passed for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns were just lucky to get into the playoffs. Winners of the worst division in football, the Browns actually gave up more points than they scored. Young rookie Bernie Kosar led the team at quarterback, but the real strength of the offense was the two 1,000 yard rushers, Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner.

As stated before, the Dolphins had been knocked out of the playoffs, at home, in the past two seasons. This year, they looked like they could finally break the streak, and they started early. Dan Marino marched the Dolphins downfield on their first drive, capping it with a 21 yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton, and from there, the rout was on. Clayton would score again in the quarter, this time on a five yard touchdown pass, and again in the second quarter on a three yard running play. Miami would also add a Fuad Reveiz field goal and head into the half up 24-0.

The last chance Cleveland had of coming back vanished early in the third quarter, as their first two drives ended with punts. After a 50 yard Marino pass to Bruce Hardy got them to the goal line, Woody Bennett finished things with a one yard touchdown. Now down 31-0, the Cleveland rushing attack of Byner and Mack was unable to get going, as young Kosar was forced to pass on almost every play. The fourth quarter didn't go much better, as Miami scored on their first drive, this time with Marino finding Mark Duper on a 21 yard touchdown. Cleveland finally did get on the board, with two rushing touchdowns from Mack, but it was far too little, far too late, especially when the Dolphins scored again on a Tony Nathan 39 yard run. Miami had finally gotten through to the AFC Championship, while Cleveland was left to pick up the pieces of a horrible playoff performance.

Final Score: Miami-45 Cleveland-14

Real Life Score: Miami-24 Cleveland-21

Los Angeles Raiders (12-4) vs. New York Jets (11-5)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

After a down season in 1984, the Los Angeles Raiders were once again kings of the AFC West, finishing the year with a 12-4 record. Despite having problems at quarterback, the Raiders finally settled on Marc Wilson, and most of the time, he just handed the ball off to All-Pro running back Marcus Allen. Allen, the most important weapon for the Raiders, finished the season with 1,759 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Backing him up were wide receiver Dokie Williams and tight end Todd Christensen, who both finished with over 900 yards receiving. Los Angeles also sported a powerful defense, with three starters finishing the year with double digit sacks.

Most people expected a defensive struggle between these two teams, and they got what they wanted throughout the first half. Aside from a one yard Marcus Allen touchdown catch on Los Angeles' first drive, neither team could move the ball much in the first quarter, and while each team had long drives in the second quarter, neither team could find the end zone. Chris Bahr added two field goals for the Raiders, while Pat Leahy kicked two of his own for the Jets, leaving Los Angeles up 13-6 at the end of a very defensive minded first half.

The defensive trend continued in the second half. Only New York was able to get anything going on offense, but Leahy missed a 44 yard field goal, putting an end to the scoring threat. Both teams were content to let their powerful running backs punish each other and eat up large pieces of the clock as each waited for a break to fall their way on defense. The Jets got that break at the end of the third quarter, when Marc Wilson's pass was picked off by Kerry Glenn. New York finally drove deep into Los Angeles territory, but after being stopped three times inside the five yard line, decided to go for it on fourth and goal from the one yard line. Ken O'Brien's pass was off the mark, and the Raiders survived their first scare of the game. They would have to endure one more after a good New York punt return gave the Jets the ball on the Los Angeles 34 yard line. After once again getting to the one yard line, O'Brien faltered and his pass was intercepted by Lester Hayes with just under two minutes to play. The Raiders were able to run out the clock, and had survived to host the AFC Championship against the Dolphins.

Final Score: Los Angeles-13 New York-6

Real Life Score: New England-27 Los Angeles-20

AFC Championship Game

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Raiders (12-4) vs. Miami Dolphins (12-4)

For the first time since 1982 and for only the third time ever, the Miami Dolphins found themselves in the AFC Championship game. Facing off against them would be a team that had been this far ten previous times in the Los Angeles Raiders. Miami would have to hope that Dan Marino could pass his way to his first Super Bowl, while the Raiders were banking on the legs of Marcus Allen and a strong defense to carry the day.

Early on, it was actually the running game of the Dolphins that was able to lead the way. On their first drive of the game, running back Tony Nathan broke a 52 yard run down to the Los Angeles 36 yard line. From there, Marino took over, passing Miami inside the ten yard line before having to settle for a Fuad Reveiz field goal. The Raiders answered on their next drive, with Marc Wilson hitting Todd Christensen on a two yard pass to put them in front. The two teams exchanged field goals on their next two drives, putting Los Angeles up 10-6 at the half.

The second half started much like the first half did, with the Dolphins using their run game to attack the Los Angeles defense. The Raiders had been expecting a heavy passing attack from Miami, but the Dolphins relied more upon Tony Nathan and Ron Davenport, putting pressure on the Los Angeles front seven. Miami's strategy paid off on their first drive of the third quarter, as Davenport broke a 27 yard touchdown run to put Miami on top 13-10. The Raiders could not get anything going on offense for most of the second half, and after Reveiz added another field goal and Los Angeles was stopped on the Miami three yard line with under two minutes to play, the game looked to be over. Appearances can be deceiving, however.

With two timeouts to work with, the Raiders needed a defensive stop, and they got it, stuffing Tony Nathan on three straight plays. With 35 seconds to play, Fulton Walker of the Raiders caught the Miami punt at the Dolphin 48 yard line and raced, untouched, for a go ahead touchdown. Now up 17-16 with just 18 seconds to play, Los Angeles could taste another Super Bowl appearance, but Dan Marino wasn't done just yet. With the Dolphins 78 yards away from the Los Angeles end zone, Marino knew there was time for just one last prayer. He found Nat Moore over the middle at about the 50 yard line, which is right where the Raiders wanted him. However, Moore had other plans, breaking two tackles and picking up key blocks from Mark Clayton and Mark Duper. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Moore plunged into the end zone, stunning the Raiders and their fans, and sending a shocked Miami Dolphins team to their second Super Bowl.

Final Score: Miami-22 Los Angeles-17
(Yes, that's actually how the game ended. A punt return for a TD, followed by a completed Hail Mary...all within the last minute of the game. This sucker would be airing on ESPN Classic and the NFL Network forever.)

Real Life Score: New England-31 Miami-14 (In Miami)

[Jestor]

Love the ending to that Dolphins/Raiders AFC championship. Those two first round upset losses to the Seahawks in Marino's first two seasons were killing me.

Now let's get Marino the ring he deserves!

[Hurkman]

NFC Wild Card Playoffs

New York Giants (10-6) vs. San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

One year after having one of the best seasons in NFL history, the San Francisco 49ers found themselves falling back to earth with a 10-6 season. Joe Montana and Roger Craig still had solid seasons, and rookie wide receiver Jerry Rice led the team with 927 receiving yards, but the main problem was San Francisco's inability to win close games. Five of their six losses were by seven points or less. Meanwhile, the New York Giants were starting to look like a very dominant team. Phil Simms almost passed for 4,000 yards, and running back Joe Morris rushed for over 1,300 yards and an NFL leading 21 touchdowns. New York's real strength was on defense, with three players compiling double digit sack totals.

While the focus was on New York's defense coming into the game, San Francisco also had a solid defense, and it kept the Giants at bay for much of the first half. Of course, the 49er offense had problems against the New York defense as well, finally getting started on a long drive late in the first quarter. Wendell Tyler took a handoff and finished the drive with a ten yard touchdown run in the second quarter for the first points of the game. The Giants were able to answer, however, with Phil Simms guiding them downfield and hitting Lionel Manuel with a two yard touchdown pass to tie the game. The defenses again took charge after those two drives, and the score remained tied at the half.

The defensive theme seemed to stick through most of the second half as well. San Francisco moved down the field on their opening drive of the third quarter, but Joe Montana was intercepted by Elvis Patterson in the New York end zone. The Giants were unable to do any damage following the turnover, and San Francisco moved downfield again before settling for a Ray Wersching field goal. While the 49ers were finally able to get their offense moving, the Giants still seemed to be spinning their wheels until midway through the fourth quarter, when Joe Morris finally found openings in the San Francisco front seven and Simms found open receivers for the first time all day. The drive eventually stalled, however, and New York settled for an Eric Schubert field goal that tied the game. The 49ers needed only three plays to answer, and they broke through the New York defense with a 67 yard touchdown pass from Montana to Russ Francis with just under two minutes to play. Simms was able to get the Giants moving on one last drive, but time had become a factor, and a desperation pass into the end zone sailed over Lionel Manuel's hands, ending New York's season and sending the 49ers to Chicago.

Final Score: San Francisco-17 New York-10

Real Life Score: New York-17 San Francisco-3

NFC Divisional Playoffs

Los Angeles Rams (11-5) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CA

One year after missing the playoffs for the first time since 1974, the Dallas Cowboys were once again champions of the NFC East, and were facing a familiar foe. The Los Angeles Rams were back in the playoffs on the strength of a solid running game and a good defense. Eric Dickerson rushed for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns and the defense limited opponents to just 17 points per game. On the other side, the Cowboys main weapons were starting to age, but were still effective. Danny White threw for 21 touchdowns, and Tony Dorsett rushed for 1,300 yards to help compliment an aggressive defense.

Of course, all the talk about the Los Angeles defense didn't scare the Cowboys, who came out on their first drive and gashed the Rams on the ground with Dorsett and Timmy Newsome. Danny White only needed to complete two passes on the drive, and Dorsett finished things with a five yard touchdown run. Los Angeles was able to answer later in the first quarter, with Barry Redden and Eric Dickerson taking their turn attacking the Dallas defense. Dieter Brock, the 34 year old former CFL star, capped the drive with a 13 yard touchdown pass to Ron Brown, tying the score. The next Los Angeles drive brought points as well, with Ray Lansford adding a 31 yard field goal, giving the Rams the lead. However, it would not take long for Dallas to retake the lead, as Tony Hill brought in a long White pass and took off for a 75 yard touchdown on the next Cowboy possession. The Cowboys would add a Rafael Septien field goal later in the quarter to take a 17-10 lead at the half.

Unfortunately for the Rams, things did not get any better for them in the second half. Septien added a second field goal on Dallas' first possession of the third quarter, then the Cowboys found the end zone again after a Brock interception. Timmy Newsome's eight yard touchdown put Dallas up 27-10, and there was no looking back for the Cowboys. Dorsett and Newsome pounded the Los Angeles defense for most of the second half and the defense was solid, allowing only a Lansford field goal late in the third quarter. The Cowboys controlled the clock for most of the fourth quarter, and the Rams were unable to score again. Dallas had gotten revenge for its embarassing playoff defeat two seasons ago, and was once again headed to the NFC Championship.

Final Score: Dallas-27 Los Angeles-13

Real Life Score: Los Angeles-20 Dallas-0

Chicago Bears (15-1) vs. San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

There have been confident teams in NFL history, and then there were the 1985 Chicago Bears. Midway through the season, the Bears put out "The Super Bowl Shuffle" music video, essentially stating that they would make it to Super Bowl XX. Of course, with the second highest scoring offense and least scored upon defense in the NFL, they had a right to be confident. Running back Walter Payton had another great season, rushing for 1,551 yards and the Chicago defense was in sync all season, with Richard Dent leading the league with 17 sacks. A 26-10 win against San Francisco also gave the Bears reason to be confident heading into their showndown with the 49ers.

It didn't take long for the Bears to strike in the first quarter. On their first possession, Payton started things off with a 12 yard run, then quarterback Jim McMahon found Emery Moorehead for a 40 yard pass down to the San Francisco 11. Payton got the ball to the one, and McMahon hit Dennis McKinnon for the touchdown. Chicago followed almost the same pattern on their first drive of the second quarter, with Payton starting the drive with a good run, then McMahon finiding Moorehead, then Payton breaking a long run to the San Francisco two yard line, only for McMahon to find McKinnon for his second touchdown of the game. Meanwhile, the San Francisco offense was having problems even getting started. Joe Montana was under constant pressure, and their usually reliable running game was being punished by the Chicago defenders. Montana finally got the 49ers moving late in the first half, but they had to settle for a Ray Wersching field goal, and that came after the Bears added a Kevin Butler field goal of their own, making the score 17-3 at the half.

The 49ers came out in the second half and used the momentum they had from their last scoring drive to move down the field once again. This time, their running game was able to pound the Chicago front seven, and Wendell Tyler finished the drive with a five yard touchdown run, putting the 49ers within seven points. However, the Bears had no intention of letting San Francisco back into the game. Walter Payton and fullback Matt Suhey did most of the work for Chicago in the second half, with Payton finishing the day with 138 rushing yards. The Bears never scored again, but their running game ate up most of the remaining time in the third and fourth quarters and their defense kept Montana and the San Francisco offense in check. The 49ers had one last chance, but Montana was sacked on third and fourth down, finishing the game and sending the Bears to their second NFC Championship game.

Final Score: Chicago-17 San Francisco-10

Real Life Score: Chicago-21 New York-0

NFC Championship Game

Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Chicago Bears (15-1) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

For the second straight week, the Bears were facing a team that they had beaten in the regular season. Chicago's 44-0 defeat of the Cowboys was not only one of the worst losses in Cowboys' history, it also happened with backup Steve Fuller at quarterback for the Bears. While Dallas was in its twelfth NFC Championship, the Bears looked like the more confident team on this day.

Though the Bears looked like the confident team, it was the Cowboys that came out and actually had early success against the Chicago defense. Danny White was able to find holes in the Chicago secondary, and Tony Dorsett attacked the Bears' defensive line with wreckless abandon. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Timmy Newsome was stripped of the football at the Chicago 26 yard line, and Mike Singletary fell on top of it, ending a chance for Dallas to take momentum away from the Bears. However, Chicago was unable to do much with the ball on offense either, with Walter Payton being contained and the Cowboys basically daring Jim McMahon to beat them with his arm. Midway through the second quarter, he did just that, hitting Emery Moorehead with a 24 yard pass that loosened up Dallas' front seven enough for Payton to break off runs of 11 and 12 yards. Fullback Matt Suhey finished the drive with a 12 yard touchdown run, putting the only points on the board in the first half.

The second half started much like the first half had for both teams: short runs, incomplete passes and punts on the opening possessions for both teams. However, the Bears were able to break out of that pattern on their second drive, thanks again in large part to the running of Walter Payton and the hands of Emery Moorehead, who once again had a long catch that put the Bears into Dallas territory. For the second time in the game, Matt Suhey was able to break through the Cowboy defense and into the end zone, this time on a 22 yard touchdown run to put the Bears up 14-0. Dallas would benefit from an excellent kickoff return to the Chicago 18, but actually lost yards on the possession and had to settle for a Rafael Septien field goal. For the Cowboys, it would be the last time they would make it into Chicago territory. For the second straight week, the Chicago defense found another gear, and punished the opposing offense for the rest of the game. The Bears would add a Kevin Butler field goal midway through the fourth quarter after a blocked punt to end the scoring. For the first time in their history, the Chicago Bears were headed to the Super Bowl.

Final Score: Chicago-17 Dallas-3

Real Life Score: Chicago-24 Los Angeles-0