NFL playoffs, 1984-85
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...

 following the 1984 NFL season
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....

 led up to Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX was an American football game played on January 20, 1985 at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1984 regular season...

.

The two wild card games were held on different days because both venues were in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. The NFL did not schedule prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...

 playoff games on the east coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...

 until 2002. Normally, playoff games started at either 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time/9:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time or 4 p.m. EST/1 p.m. PST. A 9:30 a.m. PST game was considered too early to be played on the west coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...

.

AFC: Seattle Seahawks 13, Los Angeles Raiders 7

The Seahawks ran for 205 rushing yards while Seattle's defense forced 2 interceptions and 6 sacks. Although Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg
David Michael Krieg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended Milton College and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent...

 only completed 4 passes in 10 attempts, he threw a 26-yard touchdown to Daryl Turner
Daryl Turner
Daryl Turner was a professional American football player that played wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League for four years. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans....

. Meanwhile, running back Dan Doornink
Dan Doornink
Daniel Glenn Doornink is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League who played one season for the New York Giants and seven for the Seattle Seahawks. Seahawks fans gave him the nicknames of "Dr. Dan" for his medical career, and "Mr...

 recorded 29 carries for 126 rushing yards, and kicker Norm Johnson
Norm Johnson
Norman Douglas "Norm" Johnson is a former professional American football placekicker who played for 18 seasons in the National Football League. During that time, he played for the Seattle Seahawks , Atlanta Falcons , Pittsburgh Steelers , and the Philadelphia Eagles...

 made two field goals. Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...

 threw a 46-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but his team could not overcome his 2 interceptions or Seattle's ball control offense.

NFC: New York Giants 16, Los Angeles Rams 13

In a defensive struggle, the Giants ended up scoring one more field goal than the Rams. Giants kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh
Ali Haji-Sheikh
Ali S. Haji-Sheikh is a former American football placekicker for the University of Michigan and for three National Football League teams. Haji-Sheikh spent three seasons playing for the New York Giants. He had a superb rookie season, kicking 35 of 42 field goals and setting a then NFL record...

 made 3 field goals while the Rams' Mike Lansford made 2. In the first quarter, New York defensive back Bill Currier
Bill Currier
William Frank Currier is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers, New England Patriots, and New York Giants. He played college football at the University of South Carolina and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1977 NFL Draft...

 recovered a fumble at Los Angeles 23-yard line, setting up running back Rob Carpenter's touchdown run. Running back Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...

 recorded a 14-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

AFC: Miami Dolphins 31, Seattle Seahawks 10

The Dolphins ran off 70 plays, gained 405 yards of total offense, and scored 17 unanswered points in the second half. Miami scored first with Tony Nathan
Tony Nathan
Tony Curtis Nathan is an American football coach and former running back.Nathan was a running back from Alabama who was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played from 1979-1987...

's 14-yard touchdown run, but the Seahawks responded with a field goal. In the second quarter, Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...

 threw a 34-yard pass to wide receiver Jimmy Cefalo
Jimmy Cefalo
James Carmen Cefalo, , is an American sportscaster, game show host and former professional American football wide receiver.-High school:Cefalo attended Pittston Area High School in Pittston, Pennsylvania...

, but Seattle wide receiver Steve Largent
Steve Largent
Steven Michael "Steve" Largent is a retired American football player, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a former U.S. Congressman, having served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma from 1994 until 2002...

 recorded a 56-yard touchdown reception, and Miami only lead 14-10 before halftime. However, the Dolphins dominated the Seahawks in the second half. Marino threw two touchdown passes in the third period: a 3-yard pass to tight end Bruce Hardy
Bruce Hardy
Bruce Alan Hardy , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 9th round of the 1978 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 232 lbs. tight end from Arizona State University, Hardy played his entire NFL career with the Dolphins from 1978-1989...

, and a 33-yarder to wide receiver Mark Clayton after the Dolphins recovered a fumble.

NFC: San Francisco 49ers 21, New York Giants 10

Quarterback Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...

 threw for 309 yards and 3 touchdown passes as he led the 49ers to a victory, while receiver Dwight Clark
Dwight Clark
Dwight Edward Clark is a former American Pro Bowl wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987...

 caught 9 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers defense also played exceptionally well, holding the Giants offense to a single field goal even though Montana was intercepted 3 times. On San Francisco's first drive of the game, Montana completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Clark. Then defensive back Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his crushing hits on opposing players...

 intercepted a pass to set up Montana's 9-yard pass to Russ Francis
Russ Francis
Russell Ross Francis , is a former professional football player who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1st round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He grew up in Hawaii. A 6'6", 242 lbs. tight end from the University of Oregon, Francis played in 13 NFL seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then...

. In the second quarter, New York kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh
Ali Haji-Sheikh
Ali S. Haji-Sheikh is a former American football placekicker for the University of Michigan and for three National Football League teams. Haji-Sheikh spent three seasons playing for the New York Giants. He had a superb rookie season, kicking 35 of 42 field goals and setting a then NFL record...

's 46-yard field goal and linebacker Harry Carson
Harry Carson
Harold Donald Carson is a former American football inside linebacker who played his entire professional career for the NFL's New York Giants...

's 14-yard interception return for a touchdown cut the score, 14-10. But Montana responded with a 29-yard touchdown to Freddie Solomon
Freddie Solomon
.Freddie Solomon , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2nd round of the 1975 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 184-lb. wide receiver from the University of Tampa, Solomon played in 11 NFL seasons for the Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers from 1975 to 1985...

. Both defenses then controlled the rest of the game, allowing no points in the second half.

NFC: Chicago Bears 23, Washington Redskins 19

The Bears upset the two-time NFC champion Redskins with clutch plays and a stout defense that forced 3 turnovers and 7 sacks. Chicago's victory was Washington's first-ever playoff defeat at RFK Stadium.

With the scored tied 3-3 in the second quarter, the Bears executed a halfback option play
Halfback option play
The halfback option play is an unorthodox play in American football. It resembles a normal running play, but the running back has the option to throw a pass to a wide receiver or tight end before crossing the line of scrimmage....

 at the Redskins' 19-yard line, with running back Walter Payton
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football...

 throwing a 19-yard touchdown to Pat Dunsmore
Pat Dunsmore
Pat Dunsmore is a former professional American football player who played tight end for two seasons for the Chicago Bears. He is a graduate of Ankeny High School in Ankeny, Iowa and Drake University....

. Then on the second play in the third period, Bears wide receiver Willie Gault
Willie Gault
Willie James Gault is a former American football wide receiver and Olympic athlete. Gault played in the National Football League for 11 seasons for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders. He was a member of the Bears team that won Super Bowl XX, and was also a member of the U.S. Olympic team...

 caught a short pass from quarterback Steve Fuller, evaded Redskins defensive back Darrell Green
Darrell Green
Darrell Ray Green is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play football...

 who was too aggressive in trying to make an interception, and turned upfield for a 75-yard touchdown. Redskins running back John Riggins
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel", is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992....

 capped off a 74-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run then cut the lead, 16-10. But a roughing the passer penalty call against Ken Coffey
Ken Coffey
Kenneth Eugene Coffey is a former professional American football defensive back who played safety for four seasons for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League...

 set up Dennis McKinnon
Dennis McKinnon
Dennis Lewis McKinnon is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys....

's 16-yard reception to cap a Chicago 77-yard scoring drive to push their lead back to 13 at 23-10.

Washington attempted a comeback late in the third quarter. Rich Milot recovered a Fuller fumble at the Chicago 36-yard line, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by Riggins to cut the Bears lead to six. Then after being backing up deep in their own territory on fourth down with eight minutes left in the game, Chicago punter Dave Finzer stepped out of the end zone and give the Redskins an intentional safety to make it 23-19. Washington then advanced to the Bears 24-yard line, but quarterback Joe Theismann
Joe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...

 threw three straight incompletions and Mark Moseley
Mark Moseley
Mark DeWayne Moseley is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Houston Oilers , the Washington Redskins , and the Cleveland Browns . He won the Most Valuable Player Award during the strike-shortened 1982 season...

 missed a 41-yard field goal attempt. Two other Washington possessions went nowhere and Chicago moved on to the NFC championship game.

Payton finished the game with a career postseason high 104 rushing yards, and caught one pass for 12.

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Denver Broncos 17

The Broncos scored first after linebacker Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson (American football)
Thomas Louie "Tom" Jackson, also referred to as "TJ" or "Tommy", is an NFL analyst for ESPN and a former Pro Bowl linebacker for the Denver Broncos.-College:...

's fumble recovery set up quarterback John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...

's 9-yard touchdown pass to Jim Wright. But Pittsburgh then scored 10 unanswered points in the second quarter, including running back Frank Pollard
Frank Pollard
Frank Pollard is a former professional American football player who played running back for nine seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers....

's 1-yard touchdown. Denver tied the game in the third period with a 21-yard field goal. Then Elway completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Steve Watson
Steve Watson (American football)
Steve Ross Watson is a former American football wide receiver and current wide receivers coach.After high school at St. Mark's High School in Wilmington, Delaware, Watson attended Temple University and entered the National Football League as an undrafted free agent in 1979...

 to take the lead. But the Steelers tied the game with a quarterback Mark Malone
Mark Malone
Mark M. Malone is a former American football quarterback in the NFL.-Playing career:Malone was the nation's most recruited quarterback in 1975 out of El Cajon Valley High School near San Diego, California...

's 10-yard touchdown to Louis Lipps. With 3 minutes left in the game, Steelers safety Eric Williams returned an interception to the Broncos' 2-yard line to set up Pollard's winning touchdown. Malone finished the game with 227 passing yards and a touchdown. This was Elway's first playoff game as a starter; because of the Broncos' elimination, he was denied the opportunity to play in the only Super Bowl to be held at his college home field, Stanford Stadium
Stanford Stadium
Stanford Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium on the Stanford University campus, the home of Stanford Cardinal college football team. It originally opened in 1921 as a football and track stadium, an earthen horseshoe with wooden bleacher seating and flooring upon a steel frame...

.

AFC Championship: Miami Dolphins 45, Pittsburgh Steelers 28

In a shootout, quarterback Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...

 led the Dolphins to a victory by throwing for 421 yards and 4 touchdowns with 1 interception. Steelers quarterback Mark Malone
Mark Malone
Mark M. Malone is a former American football quarterback in the NFL.-Playing career:Malone was the nation's most recruited quarterback in 1975 out of El Cajon Valley High School near San Diego, California...

 recorded 312 yards and 3 touchdowns, but was intercepted 3 times. Miami scored first on Marino's 40-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Clayton, but Pittsburgh countered with running back Rich Erenberg
Rich Erenberg
Richard Mark Erenberg is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He currently resides in Peters Township, Pennsylvania....

 7-yard rushing touchdown. Then after Dolphins kicker Uwe von Schamann
Uwe von Schamann
Uwe Detlef Walter von Schamann is a former professional American football placekicker. He played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, from 1979 to 1984.-Early life:...

 made a 26-yard field goal, the Steelers took the lead, 14-10, with wide receiver John Stallworth
John Stallworth
Johnny Lee Stallworth is a former American football wide receiver who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at Alabama A&M, and was the Steelers' fourth-round draft pick in 1974. Stallworth played in six AFC championships,...

's 65-yard touchdown reception. Marino threw a 41-yard touchdown to wide receiver Mark Duper
Mark Duper
Mark Super Duper is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League from 1982 to 1992. He played collegiately at Northwestern State University and was selected by the Dolphins in the 2nd round of the 1982 NFL Draft...

, and an interception then set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Tony Nathan
Tony Nathan
Tony Curtis Nathan is an American football coach and former running back.Nathan was a running back from Alabama who was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played from 1979-1987...

 to give Miami a 24-14 lead before halftime. On the opening drive of the second half, Marino completed a 36-yard touchdown to Duper. Then after Stallworth caught a 19-yard touchdown, the Dolphins scored two more touchdowns, including Marino's fourth score, to clinch the victory. Malone threw a 29-yard touchdown pass in the final period to close out the scoring.

Duper finished the game with 5 receptions for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns. Clayton caught 4 passes for 95 yards and a score. Nathan rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 8 passes for 114 yards. Stallworth caught 4 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns in the final postseason game of his Hall of Fame career.

NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 23, Chicago Bears 0

The 49ers passed for 228 yards while limiting the Bears to only 37 passing yards and no points. San Francisco kicker Ray Wersching
Ray Wersching
Raimund "Ray" Wersching is an Austrian former placekicker in the National Football League . He played in the NFL for a span of 15 years, stretching from 1973 through 1987.-NFL career:...

 made 3 field goals, running back Wendell Tyler
Wendell Tyler
Wendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...

 scored on a 9-yard touchdown on the 49ers first possession of the third quarter, and quarterback Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...

 threw a 10-yard score to Freddie Solomon
Freddie Solomon
.Freddie Solomon , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2nd round of the 1975 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 184-lb. wide receiver from the University of Tampa, Solomon played in 11 NFL seasons for the Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers from 1975 to 1985...

 early in the fourth quarter. Chicago quarterback Steve Fuller threw one interception and was sacked 9 times. Bears safety Gary Fencik
Gary Fencik
John Gary Fencik is a former professional American-football free safety and currently an executive with Adams Street Partners. Fencik played twelve seasons with the Chicago Bears and is their all-time leader in interceptions and total tackles. He was the team's defensive captain through the 1980s...

 intercepted Montana twice in the first half, but Chicago could not convert those turnovers into points.

Super Bowl

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK