NFL playoffs, 1985-86
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
following the 1985 NFL season
led up to Super Bowl XX
.
Because the Jets
and Giants
both used Giants Stadium
as their home field, the two wild card playoff games were held on different days.
, the Patriots dominated the Jets by forcing 4 turnovers and 5 sacks. New England jumped to 3-0 lead in the first quarter after Tony Franklin made a 33-yard field goal. Then after New York scored on quarterback Ken O'Brien
's 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Johnny Hector
, Franklin kicked his second field goal for 41 yards. Late in the second quarter, safety Fred Marion
intercepted a pass from O'Brien to set up Tony Eason
's 36-yard touchdown pass to Stanley Morgan
, giving New England a 13-7 halftime lead. In the third period, Franklin made a 20-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 16-7 lead and on the ensuing kickoff, Hector was stripped of the ball by LB Johnny Rembert
, who then picked up the fumble and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown, which gave the Patriots a commanding 23-7 lead, but the Jets cut the lead to 23-14 late in the 3rd quarter when Pat Ryan
, in at QB for the injured Ken O'Brien
, threw a 12 yard TD pass to Mickey Shuler
. Late in the 4th quarter, Franklin later made his fourth field goal of the game, a 26-yarder, to close out the scoring.
catching 8 passes for 120 yards, the Giants defense limited San Francisco to only one field goal the entire game, a 21-yard field goal by Ray Wersching
in the 2nd quarter. Meanwhile, New York running back Joe Morris
rushed for 141 yards. The Giants scored on their opening possession of the game with kicker Eric Schubert's 47-yard field goal. Then in the second quarter, New York defensive back Terry Kinard
intercepted a pass from 49ers quarterback Joe Montana
to set up Phil Simms
' 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Bavaro
. A 77-yard drive in the third quarter was capped by Simms' 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Don Hasselbeck
which capped off the scoring for the day.
. Cleveland later marched 82 yard to score on quarterback Bernie Kosar
's 16-yard pass to tight end Ozzie Newsome
. In the second quarter, Browns defensive back Don Rogers intercepted Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino
, setting up a 21-yard rushing touchdown by running back Earnest Byner
. Byner then ran for a 66-yard touchdown in the third quarter, the longest play in Cleveland's post season history, to give Cleveland a 21-3 lead. However, Miami then controlled the rest of the game. A 74-yard drive was capped by Marino's 6-yard touchdown pass to Nat Moore
. Then running back Ron Davenport scored on a 31-yard touchdown. Davenport's winning touchdown, a 1-yard run with 1:57 remaining in the game, capped a 73-yard possession.
Byner finished the game with 161 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on just 16 carries, while also catching 4 passes for 25 yards. Miami running back Tony Nathan
rushed for 21 yards and caught 10 passes for 101 yards.
led the Rams to a victory by scoring two touchdowns and recording a playoff record 248 rushing yards. After the first half ended with a 3-0 Los Angeles lead, Dickerson scored on a 55-yard touchdown run early in the third period. On the ensuing kickoff, Kenny Duckett fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Vince Newsome
to set up kicker Mike Lansford
's second field goal. In the fourth period, Tony Hunter
recovered a fumbled punt to set up Dickerson's 40-yard rushing touchdown.
was sacked 7 times during the game, 3½ of them coming from Chicago defensive end Richard Dent
. Chicago's first touchdown resulted on a New York punt attempt from their own 12-yard line. The wind caught the ball just enough for punter Sean Landeta
to completely miss it, and Shaun Gayle
picked it up and ran 5 yards for a touchdown. Gayle's run was the shortest punt return touchdown in NFL history. Bears quarterback Jim McMahon
later threw two touchdown passes in the third period, both to Dennis McKinnon
. McMahon finished the game with 216 passing yards, while running back Walter Payton
rushed for 94 yards.
's 13-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Tony Eason
. Los Angeles then scored 17 unanswered points: a 29-field goal by Chris Bahr
, a 16-yard touchdown reception by Jessie Hester
, and Marcus Allen
's 11-yard rushing touchdown. New England then scored with James' 2-yard run, and later tied the game, 17-17, after Ronnie Lippett
's interception set up Tony Franklin's 45-yard field goal. But Bahr kicked a 32-yard field goal with 6 second left in the half to give the Raiders a 20-17 lead. In the third period, Franklin made a 32-yard field goal to tie the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Sam Seale
fumbled and Jim Bowman recovered the loose ball in the end zone for the game-clinching touchdown.
to 46 yards, and holding quarterback Dieter Brock
to 10 out of 31 completions for 66 passing yards. Los Angeles only gained 130 yards of total offense. The Rams had a chance to get back in the game as they got inside the Bears' 15 yard line in the waning moments of the first half. But poor play calling and clock management resulted in the clock running out. Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon
scored on a 16-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and later threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Willie Gault
in the third quarter. Kicker Kevin Butler
kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first period. In the fourth quarter, defensive lineman Richard Dent
forced Brock to fumble, and linebacker Wilber Marshall
picked up the loose ball and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown.
fumbled, and Patriots defensive end Garin Veris
recovered the ball to set up Tony Franklin's 23-yard field goal. The Dolphins then marched on an 80-yard drive to score on quarterback Dan Marino
's 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dan Johnson
. But New England responded on a 66-yard possession to score on quarterback Tony Eason
's 4-yard touchdown to Tony Collins
. A fumble by Dwight Stephenson
then led to Eason's 1-yard touchdown to Derrick Ramsey
to give the Patriots a 17-7 lead. Just before halftime Miami missed the chance to cut the deficit down to 3 points when tight end Dan Johnson
dropped a pass from Marino in the end zone on a 1st and 10 from the Patriots' 16. As the next two plays fell short of a first down, Miami settled for a field goal from the Patriots' 14 yards, but Fuad Reveiz' kick sailed wide to the right after a badly taken snap. Miami's Lorenzo Hampton
then lost a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half, and Eason converted the turnover into a 2-yard touchdown pass to running back Robert Weathers
. The Dolphins finally scored again in the final period with Nathan's 10-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 24-14, but New England's Mosi Tatupu
later recorded a 1-yard touchdown to close out the scoring. Patriots running back Craig James was their main contributor on offense, rushing for a career postseason high 105 yards of the Patriots 255 total rushing yards in a game played in a steady rain. The win was the first for the Patriots at the Orange Bowl since 1966, the Dolphins inaugural season, ending a string of 18 consecutive losses by the Patriots in Miami and earning the Patriots their first trip to the Super Bowl
in franchise history.
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 1985 NFL season
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
led up to Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
.
Because the Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
both used Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
as their home field, the two wild card playoff games were held on different days.
AFC: New England Patriots 26, New York Jets 14
In the NFL's first ever playoff game at Giants StadiumGiants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, the Patriots dominated the Jets by forcing 4 turnovers and 5 sacks. New England jumped to 3-0 lead in the first quarter after Tony Franklin made a 33-yard field goal. Then after New York scored on quarterback Ken O'Brien
Ken O'Brien
Kenneth John O'Brien is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. When he retired he was the only Jets quarterback to have ever been the top ranked passer in a season. He held the team record for most...
's 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Johnny Hector
Johnny Hector
Johnny Lyndell Hector , was a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 200 lb. running back from Texas A&M, Hector played 10 NFL seasons for the New York Jets from 1983-1992...
, Franklin kicked his second field goal for 41 yards. Late in the second quarter, safety Fred Marion
Fred Marion
Fred Donald Marion , is a former American football defensive back who was selected by the New England Patriots in the 5th round of the 1982 NFL Draft. A 6'2". 192 lbs. defensive back from the University of Miami, Marion played for the Patriots, from 1982-1991...
intercepted a pass from O'Brien to set up Tony Eason
Tony Eason
Charles Carroll "Tony" Eason, IV is a former quarterback. He played college football for the University of Illinois and professional football for the New England Patriots and New York Jets .-Early years:Eason grew up in Walnut Grove, California, and attended Delta High School in Clarksburg,...
's 36-yard touchdown pass to Stanley Morgan
Stanley Morgan
Stanley Douglas Morgan is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the New England Patriots. Morgan was selected out of the University of Tennessee in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft . He also played one season for the Indianapolis Colts in 1990...
, giving New England a 13-7 halftime lead. In the third period, Franklin made a 20-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 16-7 lead and on the ensuing kickoff, Hector was stripped of the ball by LB Johnny Rembert
Johnny Rembert
John Lee "Johnny" Rembert is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for ten seasons for the New England Patriots. Rembert was a key member of the 1986 American Football Conference Champions who played the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX in New Orleans...
, who then picked up the fumble and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown, which gave the Patriots a commanding 23-7 lead, but the Jets cut the lead to 23-14 late in the 3rd quarter when Pat Ryan
Pat Ryan
Patrick J. C. Ryan is a Canadian curler originally from Edmonton, Alberta. Ryan is a former World Champion skip, and three time Brier champion. Ryan currently lives in Toronto....
, in at QB for the injured Ken O'Brien
Ken O'Brien
Kenneth John O'Brien is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. When he retired he was the only Jets quarterback to have ever been the top ranked passer in a season. He held the team record for most...
, threw a 12 yard TD pass to Mickey Shuler
Mickey Shuler
Mickey Charles Shuler Sr. , is a former professional American football tight end from 1978 to 1991. He played in 181 games over 14 seasons in the National Football League for the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles...
. Late in the 4th quarter, Franklin later made his fourth field goal of the game, a 26-yarder, to close out the scoring.
NFC: New York Giants 17, San Francisco 49ers 3
In the Giants first home playoff game since 1962, despite the fact that the 49ers recorded 362 yards of total offense, with receiver Dwight ClarkDwight Clark
Dwight Edward Clark is a former American Pro Bowl wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1987...
catching 8 passes for 120 yards, the Giants defense limited San Francisco to only one field goal the entire game, a 21-yard field goal by 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:...
in the 2nd quarter. Meanwhile, New York running back Joe Morris
Joe Morris (American football)
Joseph Edward Morris is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants from 1982 to 1988. Initially noted for his diminutive stature — 5' 7", Morris was a key member of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI in 1987...
rushed for 141 yards. The Giants scored on their opening possession of the game with kicker Eric Schubert's 47-yard field goal. Then in the second quarter, New York defensive back Terry Kinard
Terry Kinard
Alfred "Terry" Terance Kinard , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New York Giants in the 1st round of the 1983 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 200-lb...
intercepted a pass from 49ers 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...
to set up Phil Simms
Phil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
' 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Bavaro
Mark Bavaro
Mark Bavaro is a former American football tight end who played for the New York Giants , Cleveland Browns , and Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League...
. A 77-yard drive in the third quarter was capped by Simms' 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Don Hasselbeck
Don Hasselbeck
Donald William "Don" Hasselbeck is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League for the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and the New York Giants....
which capped off the scoring for the day.
AFC: Miami Dolphins 24, Cleveland Browns 21
The Browns jumped to a 21-3 lead midway through the third period, but the Dolphins then scored 21 unanswered points—the final touchdown with 1:57 left to play. Miami scored on their first drive with a 51-field goal by Fuad ReveizFuad Reveiz
Fuad Reveiz is a former placekicker for the Miami Dolphins, the San Diego Chargers, and the Minnesota Vikings. He played for Miami Sunset Senior High and was voted one of the top high school football players from Miami of all time by the Miami Herald...
. Cleveland later marched 82 yard to score on quarterback Bernie Kosar
Bernie Kosar
Bernard Joseph "Bernie" Kosar, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Kosar played for the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1993 and then finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.-Early life and high school career:A Hungarian-American...
's 16-yard pass to tight end Ozzie Newsome
Ozzie Newsome
Ozzie Newsome Jr. and a 1974 graduate of Colbert County High School in Leighton, Alabama, is a former American football tight end for the Cleveland Browns, an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the current General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens.-College career:Before his NFL career,...
. In the second quarter, Browns defensive back Don Rogers intercepted 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...
, setting up a 21-yard rushing touchdown by running back Earnest Byner
Earnest Byner
Earnest Alexander Byner is a former American football running back in the National Football League and is currently a running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars...
. Byner then ran for a 66-yard touchdown in the third quarter, the longest play in Cleveland's post season history, to give Cleveland a 21-3 lead. However, Miami then controlled the rest of the game. A 74-yard drive was capped by Marino's 6-yard touchdown pass to Nat Moore
Nat Moore
Nathaniel "Nat" Moore is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for thirteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. Moore played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for...
. Then running back Ron Davenport scored on a 31-yard touchdown. Davenport's winning touchdown, a 1-yard run with 1:57 remaining in the game, capped a 73-yard possession.
Byner finished the game with 161 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on just 16 carries, while also catching 4 passes for 25 yards. Miami running back 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...
rushed for 21 yards and caught 10 passes for 101 yards.
NFC: Los Angeles Rams 20, Dallas Cowboys 0
Running back Eric DickersonEric 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:...
led the Rams to a victory by scoring two touchdowns and recording a playoff record 248 rushing yards. After the first half ended with a 3-0 Los Angeles lead, Dickerson scored on a 55-yard touchdown run early in the third period. On the ensuing kickoff, Kenny Duckett fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Vince Newsome
Vince Newsome
Vince Newsome was an American football safety who played ten seasons in the National Football League. He currently works in the front office for the Baltimore Ravens....
to set up kicker Mike Lansford
Mike Lansford
Mike Lansford is a former National Football League placekicker from 1982-1990 for the Los Angeles Rams. In 1989, he led the league with 51 extra points. He is one of seven barefooted kickers in NFL history...
's second field goal. In the fourth period, Tony Hunter
Tony Hunter (American football)
Tony Wayne Hunter is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams. He was drafted out of the University of Notre Dame in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Bills, ahead of Jim Kelly.-External links:*...
recovered a fumbled punt to set up Dickerson's 40-yard rushing touchdown.
NFC: Chicago Bears 21, New York Giants 0
The Bears defense dominated the game by allowing only 32 rushing yards and sacked Giants quarterbacks for 60 yards. Giants quarterback Phil SimmsPhil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
was sacked 7 times during the game, 3½ of them coming from Chicago defensive end Richard Dent
Richard Dent
Richard Lamar Dent is a former American football defensive end, who played primarily for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX...
. Chicago's first touchdown resulted on a New York punt attempt from their own 12-yard line. The wind caught the ball just enough for punter Sean Landeta
Sean Landeta
Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League...
to completely miss it, and Shaun Gayle
Shaun Gayle
Shaun Lanard Gayle is a former American football cornerback/safety in the NFL. He played twelve seasons, eleven for the Chicago Bears , and one for the San Diego Chargers . He was a member of the Bears squad that won Super Bowl XX in 1985. He was also a member of the "Shuffling Crew" in the video...
picked it up and ran 5 yards for a touchdown. Gayle's run was the shortest punt return touchdown in NFL history. Bears quarterback Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
later threw two touchdown passes in the third period, both to 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....
. McMahon finished the game with 216 passing yards, while 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...
rushed for 94 yards.
AFC: New England Patriots 27, Los Angeles Raiders 20
New England running back Craig James rushed for 104 yards, caught 3 passes for 48 yards and scored a touchdown while the Patriots converted 6 Raiders turnovers into 17 points. In the first quarter, a fumble by Raiders punt returner Fulton Walker set up Patriots tight end Lin DawsonLin Dawson
for the Kansas City Chiefs Hall Of Fame quarterback, see Len DawsonJames Linwood Dawson is the current athletic director at Grambling State University he is also a former professional American football player who played tight end for nine seasons for the New England Patriots in the National...
's 13-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Tony Eason
Tony Eason
Charles Carroll "Tony" Eason, IV is a former quarterback. He played college football for the University of Illinois and professional football for the New England Patriots and New York Jets .-Early years:Eason grew up in Walnut Grove, California, and attended Delta High School in Clarksburg,...
. Los Angeles then scored 17 unanswered points: a 29-field goal by Chris Bahr
Chris Bahr
Chris Bahr is a former professional American football and soccer player. He was a placekicker in the National Football League and played midfielder in the North American Soccer League.-Soccer:...
, a 16-yard touchdown reception by Jessie Hester
Jessie Hester
Jessie Lee Hester is a former professional American football wide receiver who played 11 years in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Raiders, the Atlanta Falcons, the Indianapolis Colts, and the St. Louis Rams from 1985 to 1995...
, and Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen
Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former American football player and, until recently, was affiliated with CBS as a game analyst. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,412 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997...
's 11-yard rushing touchdown. New England then scored with James' 2-yard run, and later tied the game, 17-17, after Ronnie Lippett
Ronnie Lippett
Ronald Leon Lippett , is a former American professional football player who played eight seasons with the New England Patriots of the National Football League from 1983–1988 and 1990-1991. A 5'11", 180 lbs...
's interception set up Tony Franklin's 45-yard field goal. But Bahr kicked a 32-yard field goal with 6 second left in the half to give the Raiders a 20-17 lead. In the third period, Franklin made a 32-yard field goal to tie the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Sam Seale
Sam Seale
Samuel Ricardo Seale was a cornerback who played ten seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Los Angeles Raiders.-References:...
fumbled and Jim Bowman recovered the loose ball in the end zone for the game-clinching touchdown.
NFC Championship: Chicago Bears 24, Los Angeles Rams 0
The Bears defense dominated the game by limiting Rams running back Eric DickersonEric 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:...
to 46 yards, and holding quarterback Dieter Brock
Dieter Brock
Ralph "Dieter" Brock , is a former Canadian Football League and National Football League player and now works as a coach...
to 10 out of 31 completions for 66 passing yards. Los Angeles only gained 130 yards of total offense. The Rams had a chance to get back in the game as they got inside the Bears' 15 yard line in the waning moments of the first half. But poor play calling and clock management resulted in the clock running out. Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
scored on a 16-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and later threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to 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...
in the third quarter. Kicker Kevin Butler
Kevin Butler (American football)
Kevin Gregory Butler is a former professional American football placekicker. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, and then played professionally for the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League...
kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first period. In the fourth quarter, defensive lineman Richard Dent
Richard Dent
Richard Lamar Dent is a former American football defensive end, who played primarily for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX...
forced Brock to fumble, and linebacker Wilber Marshall
Wilber Marshall
Wilber Buddyhia Marshall is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League for twelve seasons during the 1980s and 1990s...
picked up the loose ball and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown.
AFC Championship: New England Patriots 31, Miami Dolphins 14
In an upset, the Patriots converted 6 Dolphins turnovers into 24 points. On Miami's first offensive play, running back Tony NathanTony 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...
fumbled, and Patriots defensive end Garin Veris
Garin Veris
Garin Lee Veris was an American football defensive end in the National Football League, mainly for the New England Patriots....
recovered the ball to set up Tony Franklin's 23-yard field goal. The Dolphins then marched on an 80-yard drive to score on 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...
's 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson (American football)
Dan Johnson is a former professional American football player who played tight end for seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins....
. But New England responded on a 66-yard possession to score on quarterback Tony Eason
Tony Eason
Charles Carroll "Tony" Eason, IV is a former quarterback. He played college football for the University of Illinois and professional football for the New England Patriots and New York Jets .-Early years:Eason grew up in Walnut Grove, California, and attended Delta High School in Clarksburg,...
's 4-yard touchdown to Tony Collins
Tony Collins
Anthony Collins is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League and the Arena Football League.-Early years:...
. A fumble by Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Stephenson
Dwight Eugene Stephenson is a former American football offensive lineman and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 1998...
then led to Eason's 1-yard touchdown to Derrick Ramsey
Derrick Ramsey
Derrick Ramsey is a former professional American football player who played tight end for nine seasons for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions....
to give the Patriots a 17-7 lead. Just before halftime Miami missed the chance to cut the deficit down to 3 points when tight end Dan Johnson
Dan Johnson (American football)
Dan Johnson is a former professional American football player who played tight end for seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins....
dropped a pass from Marino in the end zone on a 1st and 10 from the Patriots' 16. As the next two plays fell short of a first down, Miami settled for a field goal from the Patriots' 14 yards, but Fuad Reveiz' kick sailed wide to the right after a badly taken snap. Miami's Lorenzo Hampton
Lorenzo Hampton
Lorenzo Timothy Hampton is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for five seasons in the 1980s...
then lost a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half, and Eason converted the turnover into a 2-yard touchdown pass to running back Robert Weathers
Robert Weathers
Robert James Weathers is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft...
. The Dolphins finally scored again in the final period with Nathan's 10-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 24-14, but New England's Mosi Tatupu
Mosi Tatupu
Mosiula Faasuka Tatupu was a National Football League special teamer and running back who during a fifteen year professional career played for the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. His tenure with the Patriots lasted from 1978 to 1990...
later recorded a 1-yard touchdown to close out the scoring. Patriots running back Craig James was their main contributor on offense, rushing for a career postseason high 105 yards of the Patriots 255 total rushing yards in a game played in a steady rain. The win was the first for the Patriots at the Orange Bowl since 1966, the Dolphins inaugural season, ending a string of 18 consecutive losses by the Patriots in Miami and earning the Patriots their first trip to the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
in franchise history.