NFL playoffs, 1998-99
Encyclopedia
The NFL playoffs
following the 1998 NFL season
led up to Super Bowl XXXIII
.
's fumble at the Miami 5-yard line with 17 seconds left in the game. Buffalo's wide receiver Eric Moulds
set an NFL postseason record with 240 receiving yards, including a 32-yard touchdown catch.
The Bills twice erased deficits before falling behind 24-14, then rallied again. Late in the fourth quarter, the Bills drove the Dolphins 1-yard line, but receiver Andre Reed
's unsportsmanlike conduct foul pushed them back 15 yards and forced them to settle for Steve Christie
's 33-yard field goal with 1:47 left. Buffalo subsequently recovered an onside kick and drove 64 yards in 10 plays to the Dolphins 5-yard line. But as Flutie stepped up to make a throw, he lost the ball while being sacked by Miami's Trace Armstrong
and lineman Shane Burton
recovered the fumble.
passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns as he led the Cardinals to their first playoff victory since 1947. Their victory was especially satisfying against the Cowboys, who defeated them twice during the season. Arizona running back Adrian Murrell
rushed for 95 yards and caught 2 passes for 16 yards and a touchdown, while their defense sacked Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman
four times (twice by linebacker Jamir Miller
) and intercepted three of his passes (two by defensive back Aeneas Williams
).
On the Cardinals second possession of the game, Plummer completed a 59-yard pass to receiver Frank Sanders, setting up Murrell's 11-yard touchdown catch a few plays later. Later on, the Cardinals increased their lead to 10-0 with Chris Jacke
's 37 yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the half.
On the first play of the second half, Murrell took off for a 74-yard run to the Cowboys 3-yard line. It was the longest postseason run ever surrendered by the Cowboys in their 52-postseason game history. On the next play, Plummer threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to fullback Larry Centers
, making the score 17-0. In the fourth quarter, Arizona defensive back Aeneas Williams
recorded his second interception from Aikman, setting up a 46-yard field goal by Jacke. Meanwhile, all Dallas could do was avoid a shutout on Aikman's 6-yard touchdown pass to Billy Davis with 3:33 left in the game.
It was the last time ABC aired a game between these two teams, after six games on Monday Night Football
. ESPN has yet to show these teams playing on Monday night (though they did meet on Sunday night on ESPN
once).
contributed 4 field goals. Patrtiots running back Robert Edwards, who rushed for 1,115 yards and 9 touchdowns during the season, was held to 28 yards on 17 carries.
The Patriots, playing without starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe
, receiver Terry Glenn
and linebacker Ted Johnson
due to injuries, could not score any points in the first half. Hollis opened up the scoring with two field goals. The second one was set up by a 46-yard run by Taylor and followed two overthrown passes by quarterback Mark Brunell
to receiver Keenan McCardell
and running back George Jones, who were both wide open in the end zone. Brunell struggled throughout most of the game, finishing with just 14 of 34 completions for 161 yards. Later in the second quarter, Taylor's 21-yard run gave his team a first down on the Patriots 34-yard line. Four plays later, he scored on a 13-yard touchdown run, giving his team a 12-0 lead after a failed 2-point conversion attempt.
But in the third quarter, Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak
managed to spark a rally. First he led New England 85 yards on a drive that consumed 8:48 off the clock and ended with a 1-yard touchdown run from Edwards. Then on the Patriots next possession, he led them to Jacksonville's 9-yard line. Following a dropped pass by tight end Lovett Purnell
on third down, Adam Vinatieri
's 27-yard field goal cut the score to 12-10. But on the Jaguars ensuing possession, quarterback Mark Brunell, threw a pass to receiver Jimmy Smith, who managed to break past defensive back Ty Law
and make a 37-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. On the Patriots next drive, Jacksonville lineman Joel Smeenge
forced and recovered a fumble, setting up Hollis' third field goal. He added a fourth field goal to close out the scoring after the Patriots turned the ball over on downs deep in their own territory on their next possession.
Both teams took advantage of each other's turnovers and mistakes throughout the game. In the first quarter, Green Bay safety Pat Terrell
's recovery of a fumble from receiver Terrell Owens
set up a 48-yard drive that ended with a Ryan Longwell
field goal. But later in the period, 49ers lineman Chris Doleman
recovered a fumble from Dorsey Levens
on the Packers 17-yard line. Two plays later, Steve Young threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Clark, giving San Francisco a 7-3 lead. The Packers offense responded by driving 62 yards in 9 plays, and Levens made up for his miscue with a 22-yard run to the 49ers 2-yard line on fourth down and 1. On the next play, quarterback Brett Favre
finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman
4 seconds into the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, 49ers defensive back R. W. McQuarters
returned a punt 19 yards to the 47-yard line. Running back Garrison Hearst
then rushed 3 times for 28 yards on a 37-yard drive that ended with a field goal by Wade Richey
, tying the game at 10. But before the half ended, the Packers retook the lead with a 9-play, 83-yard drive, aided by two 15-yard penalties against San Francisco. Levens finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, giving Green Bay a 17–10 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, 49ers linebacker Lee Woodall
intercepted a pass from Favre and returned it 17 yards to the Packers 33-yard line. Four plays later, Owens dropped a pass in the end zone, but Young threw his second touchdown pass to Clark on the next play, tying the score at 17. Then after forcing a punt, they took the lead by driving 48 yards and scoring with a 48-yard field goal by Richey.
In the fourth quarter, the Packers drove 60 yards in 11 plays, featuring a 33-yard reception by fullback William Henderson, and scored a 37-yard field goal to tie the game. But on the 49ers ensuing drive, a 34-yard completion for Young to Owens set up another Richey field goal to put them back in the lead, 23–20. With 6:16 left in the game, 49ers defensive back Darnell Walker
intercepted a pass from Favre and returned it to the Packers 40-yard line, giving his team a chance to put it out of reach. But after two runs by Hearst failed to make a significant gain, Owens dropped a potential first-down catch, his fourth drop of the day, and San Francisco had to punt.
Taking the ball back at their own 11-yard line with 4:19 remaining, Favre led the Packers back to retake the lead on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Freeman at the end of an 89-yard drive, featuring a 47-yard completion to seldom-used rookie receiver Corey Bradford
. But San Francisco responded with an equally impressive drive, in which Jerry Rice
visibly fumbled on his first reception of the game, but was ruled down by contact even though replays clearly showed the ball came out before his knee hit the ground. The use of instant replay challenges was not in effect until the following year, allowing the drive to continue behind Young, who completed 7 of 9 passes on a 76-yard drive for the winning score. Owens, who had dropped four passes and lost a fumble, caught the 25-yard winning touchdown pass with eight seconds left in the game.
Hearst finished the game with 128 rushing yards and 3 receptions for 15 yards. Levens rushed for 116 yards, caught 6 passes for 37 yards, and scored a touchdown. Favre threw for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Young passed for 182 yards and 3 scores. Both Young and Favre were intercepted twice.
This game was later featured on the NFL's Greatest Games
as The Catch II.
. This would eventually prove to be the final postseason game in Young's hall of fame
career.
On the first play of the game, the 49ers suffered a major setback when running back Garrison Hearst
suffered a broken ankle. This turned out to be a devastating injury that would prevent Hearst from playing another game until the 2001 season. Two touchdown runs by Anderson gave the Falcons a 14-0 first half lead. Late in the second quarter, backup running back Terry Kirby
fumbled a pitch from Young. After several players scrambled for it, the ball bounced up in the air and was picked up by Atlanta's Chuck Smith, who returned it for an apparent touchdown. However, line judge Ron Baynes ruled that Kirby briefly gained possession of the ball and his knee was down when touched by Atlanta linebacker Henri Crocket, and the 49ers regained possession. A few plays later, Young threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Rice
, cutting the score to 14-7. Then on the Falcons ensuing possession, linebacker Charles Haley
deflected a pass from Chris Chandler
into the arms of defensive end Junior Bryant
, who returned the interception to the Falcons 36-yard line. On the final play of the half, Wade Richey
kicked a 36-yard field goal to cut the 49ers deficit to 14-10 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the 49ers drove all the way to the Falcons 3-yard line. But safety Eugene Robinson
intercepted a pass from Young and returned it 77 yards, setting up Morten Andersen
's 29-yard field goal. Later in the quarter, the 49ers drove deep into Falcons territory again, only to have Young throw an interception to William White, who returned the ball 14 yards with a personal foul on the 49ers adding another 15. At the end of Atlanta's ensuing drive, Andersen kicked his second field goal, giving his team a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
With 2:57 left in the regulation, Young scored on an 8-yard touchdown run. Backup quarterback Ty Detmer
fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt, but he picked up the ball and threw it to tight end Greg Clark for a successful 2-point conversion, making the score 20-18. San Francisco managed to force a punt and got the ball back with 34 seconds but no timeouts left. William White's interception at midfield as time expired sealed the victory. This was the last game for Jerry Markbreit as he retired from officiating NFL football.
. Then after forcing a punt, they moved the ball much faster, driving 66 yards in four plays and scoring with Davis' second touchdown on a 20-yard burst. Miami managed to respond with a 22-yard field goal from Olindo Mare
. However, the Broncos stormed right back, driving 87 yards in 11 plays and scoring with Derek Loville
's 11-yard touchdown run, giving them a 21-3 lead by halftime
On the first play of the second half, Davis took off for a 62-yard run, setting up Jason Elam
's field goal to make the score 24-3. Miami managed to prevent Denver from scoring for the rest of the period, but in the fourth quarter, Broncos quarterback John Elway
threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith. Then on Miami's ensuing drive, defensive end Neil Smith
closed out the scoring by returning a fumble 79 yards for a touchdown.
Terrell Davis ran for 199 yards, caught a pass for 7 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns. Elway threw for 182 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 19 yards. Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino
threw for 243 yards, but could not lead his team to a single touchdown and was intercepted twice. This was the only time that Hall of Famers Elway and Marino (both members of the famous 1983 draft class) faced each other in the playoffs; Elway was in his last season, and Marino in his next-to-last.
passed for 284 yards as the Jets held the ball for 39:16. Receiver Keyshawn Johnson
caught 9 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a pass on defense near the end of the game when he was brought in as an extra defensive back. Jets running back Curtis Martin
rushed for 124 yards, caught 6 passes for 58 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns. Jacksonville receiver Jimmy Smith caught 5 passes for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Mark Brunell
threw 3 touchdown passes, but was held to just 12 of 31 completions for 156 yards and intercepted 3 times.
Johnson's 21-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive of the game was the only score from either team in the first quarter. Most of the second quarter belonged to the Jets, who held the ball for all but 51 seconds of the period and added 10 points to their lead. First, John Hall
made a 51-yard field goal. Then on New York's next drive, Martin lost a fumble that safety Chris Hudson
initially recovered on the Jaguars 18-yard line. But during the return, he fumbled while attempting a lateral to teammate Dave Thomas as he was being tackled by Testaverde, and Johnson recovered the ball on New York's 34-yard line. The Jets then drove back into Jacksonville territory and scored with Johnson's 10-yard run. However, Brunell threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Smith on the last play of the half, cutting the score to 17-7.
Early in the third quarter, Jets defensive back Corwin Brown
intercepted a pass from Brunell on third down and returned it 40 yards. On the ensuing drive, Testaverde's 23-yard completion to Johnson set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Martin. However, Jacksonville's Reggie Barlow
returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards, setting up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Brunell to Keenan McCardell
and cutting their deficit to 24-14. New York struck right back, with Testaverde throwing for 70 yards on a six minute drive then ended with Martin's second touchdown to put them up 31-14 going into the fourth quarter.
But Jacksonville refused to give up. First, Brunell threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Then a fumble from Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet
set up a field goal from Mike Hollis
, bringing the Jaguars to within one touchdown, 31-24. New York responded by driving inside the Jacksonville 20-yard line. With 2:30 left in the game, rookie safety Donovin Darius
intercepted a pass from Testaverde in the end zone, but instead on kneeling down for a touchback, he attempted to return the ball and was tackled at the one yard line. Jacksonville was unable to get a first down on their ensuing drive and turned the ball over on downs. A few plays later, Hall kicked a field goal to put the game away.
scored franchise playoff record 3 touchdowns, while quarterback Randall Cunningham
completed 17 of 27 passes for 236 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer
threw for more yards than Cunningham, but was intercepted twice by Robert Griffith
. Running back Mario Bates
scored 3 touchdowns, but had only 4 rushing yards.
Hoard's 1-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the game gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead. Later in the period, the Vikings drove all the way to the Cardinals 7-yard line, but on the first play of the second quarter, defensive back Aeneas Williams
intercepted a pass intended for Randy Moss
in the end zone. However, Griffith recorded interceptions on each of the Cardinals next two possessions, setting up Cunningham's 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Glover and a 34-yard field goal by Gary Anderson. his gave the Vikings a 17-0 lead before Arizona had made a single completion or gained a first down. Arizona managed to respond with a 1-yard touchdown run from Bates, but Smith's 45-yard run on the ensuing drive set up Hoard's 16-yard touchdown reception, increasing the Vikings lead to 24-7 by halftime.
Leading 27-14 late in the third quarter, Minnesota took advantage of a fumbled snap by Plummer by converting it into Cunningham's third touchdown pass of the day, a 3-yard pass to Moss. Arizona responded with another touchdown run from Bates, but the Vikings struck back with Hoard's 6-yard touchdown run at the end of a 12-play drive to seal the victory.
Atlanta took the opening kickoff and stormed down the field, scoring with Chris Chandler
's 5-yard pass to Jamal Anderson
. Aided by a 30-yard pass interference penalty on Falcons defensive back Ray Buchanan
, Minnesota struck right back on their first drive with Randall Cunningham
's 31-yard scoring strike to Randy Moss
. In the second quarter, the Vikings converted an Atlanta fumble into a Gary Anderson field goal. Then after forcing a punt, Cunningham's 1-yard touchdown run increased his team's lead to 17-7 with 5 minutes left in the half. Atlanta lost another fumble on their next possession, giving the ball back to Minnesota again. The Vikings blew a chance at another touchdown when Moss dropped a pass in the end zone, but Anderson kicked another field goal to make the score 20-7. After forcing another Atlanta punt, the Vikings attempted to increase their lead more before halftime, but this time Falcons lineman Chuck Smith forced a fumble from Cunningham and Atlanta recovered the ball deep in Vikings territory, setting up Chandler's 14-yard touchdown pass to Terance Mathis
to cut their deficit to 20-14 by the end of the half. It was the turning point for the Falcons, as the game's momentum began to shift their way (albeit subtly).
Atlanta forced the Vikings to punt on the opening drive of the second half, and two plays by receiver Tim Dwight
, a 26-yard punt return and a 21-yard run, set up Morten Andersen
's 27-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 3 points. The Vikings countered on their ensuing possession, driving 82 yards in 15 plays and scoring on Matthew Hatchette
's 5-yard reception to make the score 27-17 with just over 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta responded by driving inside the Vikings 10-yard line and scoring with Andersen's 24-yard field goal, narrowing the gap to 27-20. Minnesota took the ensuing kickoff and marched down to the Falcons 30-yard line, but lost their scoring opportunity when Cunningham fumbled a snap and Atlanta recovered the ball. The Falcons subsequently marched deep into Vikings territory, but also failed to score when Chandler's incomplete pass on a fourth down and 2 attempt turned the ball over on downs with 6 minutes left in regulation.
Minnesota then drove to the Falcons 20-yard line, setting up a 38-yard field goal attempt for Gary Anderson, who had not missed a field goal all season. Another successful kick would have all but wrapped up the NFC title for Minnesota, but Anderson's kick sailed wide left, giving the ball back to Atlanta with 2:07 left and new life. Chandler then led his team down to the Vikings 16-yard line. Following a near interception by Minnesota LB Dwayne Rudd
, Mathis' 16-yard touchdown catch tied the game with 49 seconds left. Vikings coach Dennis Green then chose to kneel down and sent the game into overtime.
After the first 3 possessions of overtime ended in punts, Chandler, on a bad ankle, led his team 70 yards to set up Andersen's 38-yard field goal with 3:08 remaining that put Atlanta in the Super Bowl for the first time in team history.
Chandler had one of the best games of his career, throwing for 340 yards and 3 touchdowns. Receiver Tony Martin caught 5 passes for 129 yards. Cunningham also had a solid performance, throwing for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for 13 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Numerous references to this game are made in "Little Minnesota
", an episode from the television series How I Met Your Mother
.
's last home game of his career, he completed only 13 of 34 passes. However, running back Terrell Davis
, the NFL MVP in 1998, ran for 167 yards and a touchdown, and Denver capitalized on 6 turnovers (two interceptions by defensive back Darrien Gordon
and four fumbles) by the Jets to overcome a 10-0 deficit. Jets running back Curtis Martin
was held to just 14 rushing yards on 13 carries. New York quarterback Vinny Testaverde
threw for 356 yards, but no touchdowns and was intercepted twice.
Both teams blew scoring opportunities throughout the first half. The Jets took the opening kickoff and drove deep into Denver territory, only to have John Hall miss a 42-yard field goal attempt. New York forced the Broncos to punt on their ensuing possession, and Dave Meggett
gave his team good field position with a 33-yard return. However, Martin lost a fumble on the Broncos 44-yard line and defensive back Tyrone Braxton
recovered it. Then Denver took the ball and drove all the way to the Jets 1-yard line, only to give it back when linebacker Mo Lewis
deflected Elway's pass on a fourth down conversion attempt.
In the second quarter, Broncos punter Tom Rouen
fumbled a snap and was downed on the Denver 43-yard line. New York subsequently drove to the 18-yard line, but then fullback Keith Byars
fumbled the ball and linebacker John Mobley
recovered it. On their next drive, New York opened up the scoring with Hall's 32-yard field goal. Then early in the second half, the Jets tight end Blake Spence blocked a punt and recovered it on the Broncos 1-yard line. On the next play, Martin scored a 1-yard touchdown run to increase their lead to 10-0.
However, Denver stormed back with 23 unanswered points. On their ensuing possession, Elway completed a 47-yard pass to Ed McCaffrey
. Two plays later, his 11-yard touchdown pass to Howard Griffith
cut the score to 10-7. Then the Broncos caught a lucky break when the ensuing kickoff bounced back in their direction and was recovered by linebacker Keith Burns, setting up Jason Elam
's 44-yard field goal to tie the game. The next time Denver got the ball, Elam kicked another field goal, giving the Broncos their first lead of the game.
With time running out the third quarter, Gordon's 36 yard punt return gave the Broncos great field position. A few plays later, Davis' 31-yard touchdown burst 18 seconds into the fourth quarter gave them a 20-10 lead. Later in the quarter, Elam kicked a 35-yard field goal to close out the scoring.
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 1998 NFL season
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
led up to Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...
.
Bracket
- Indicates overtime victory
AFC: Miami Dolphins 24, Buffalo Bills 17
The Dolphins forced five Bills turnovers, including Buffalo quarterback Doug FlutieDoug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
's fumble at the Miami 5-yard line with 17 seconds left in the game. Buffalo's wide receiver Eric Moulds
Eric Moulds
Eric Shannon Moulds is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills 24th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State...
set an NFL postseason record with 240 receiving yards, including a 32-yard touchdown catch.
The Bills twice erased deficits before falling behind 24-14, then rallied again. Late in the fourth quarter, the Bills drove the Dolphins 1-yard line, but receiver Andre Reed
Andre Reed
Andre Darnell Reed is a former professional American football player. He played wide receiver in the National Football League for 16 seasons, 15 with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Washington Redskins .Reed ranks tenth in NFL history in total career receptions with 951.-Football career:Reed...
's unsportsmanlike conduct foul pushed them back 15 yards and forced them to settle for Steve Christie
Steve Christie
Geoffrey Stephen Christie is a former Canadian American football placekicker in the National Football League, who, as a member of the Buffalo Bills, became known for his ability to kick clutch field goals, even in poor weather.-Early career:Christie, who grew up in nearby Oakville, Ontario,...
's 33-yard field goal with 1:47 left. Buffalo subsequently recovered an onside kick and drove 64 yards in 10 plays to the Dolphins 5-yard line. But as Flutie stepped up to make a throw, he lost the ball while being sacked by Miami's Trace Armstrong
Trace Armstrong
Raymond Lester "Trace" Armstrong, III is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League for fifteen seasons from the late 1980s to the early 2000s...
and lineman Shane Burton
Shane Burton
Franklin Shane Burton is a former American football defensive tackle who played eight seasons in the National Football League. He was a member of the Miami Dolphins, the Chicago Bears, the New York Jets, and the Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Tennessee.Born in Logan, West...
recovered the fumble.
NFC: Arizona Cardinals 20, Dallas Cowboys 7
Quarterback Jake PlummerJake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns as he led the Cardinals to their first playoff victory since 1947. Their victory was especially satisfying against the Cowboys, who defeated them twice during the season. Arizona running back Adrian Murrell
Adrian Murrell
Adrian Byran Murrell is a former professional American football running back who was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft after playing collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers...
rushed for 95 yards and caught 2 passes for 16 yards and a touchdown, while their defense sacked Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
four times (twice by linebacker Jamir Miller
Jamir Miller
Jamir Malik Miller is a former professional American football linebacker with the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns of the NFL.-College career:He played for the UCLA Bruins from 1991 through 1993...
) and intercepted three of his passes (two by defensive back Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Demetrius Williams is a former American football cornerback and free safety, who played with the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Williams attended Fortier High School, where he played football on a team with three future NFL players. Although he was admitted to Dartmouth College,...
).
On the Cardinals second possession of the game, Plummer completed a 59-yard pass to receiver Frank Sanders, setting up Murrell's 11-yard touchdown catch a few plays later. Later on, the Cardinals increased their lead to 10-0 with Chris Jacke
Chris Jacke
Christopher Lee Jacke is a former professional American football placekicker best known for playing for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League....
's 37 yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the half.
On the first play of the second half, Murrell took off for a 74-yard run to the Cowboys 3-yard line. It was the longest postseason run ever surrendered by the Cowboys in their 52-postseason game history. On the next play, Plummer threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to fullback Larry Centers
Larry Centers
Larry Eugene Centers is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for 14 seasons, mostly for his first team, the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals...
, making the score 17-0. In the fourth quarter, Arizona defensive back Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Demetrius Williams is a former American football cornerback and free safety, who played with the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Williams attended Fortier High School, where he played football on a team with three future NFL players. Although he was admitted to Dartmouth College,...
recorded his second interception from Aikman, setting up a 46-yard field goal by Jacke. Meanwhile, all Dallas could do was avoid a shutout on Aikman's 6-yard touchdown pass to Billy Davis with 3:33 left in the game.
It was the last time ABC aired a game between these two teams, after six games on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
. ESPN has yet to show these teams playing on Monday night (though they did meet on Sunday night on ESPN
ESPN Sunday Night Football
ESPN Sunday Night Football is the ESPN cable network's weekly television broadcasts of Sunday evening National Football League games. The first ESPN Sunday night broadcast occurred on November 8, 1987, while the last one aired on January 1, 2006....
once).
AFC: Jacksonville Jaguars 25, New England Patriots 10
Running back Fred Taylor ran for 162 yards and a touchdown as the Jaguars won their first home playoff game in team history. Jacksonville kicker Mike HollisMike Hollis
Michael Shane Hollis is a former professional American football placekicker. He spent most of his nine-year professional career playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League , kicking for the team from 1995–2001 and setting several team records...
contributed 4 field goals. Patrtiots running back Robert Edwards, who rushed for 1,115 yards and 9 touchdowns during the season, was held to 28 yards on 17 carries.
The Patriots, playing without starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
, receiver Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
and linebacker Ted Johnson
Ted Johnson
Ted Curtis Johnson is a former American football player in the National Football League. He grew up in Carlsbad, California where he graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1991. From there he attended the University of Colorado and was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1995 NFL...
due to injuries, could not score any points in the first half. Hollis opened up the scoring with two field goals. The second one was set up by a 46-yard run by Taylor and followed two overthrown passes by quarterback Mark Brunell
Mark Brunell
Mark Allen Brunell is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the New York Jets. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
to receiver Keenan McCardell
Keenan McCardell
Keenan Wayne McCardell is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and current wide receivers coach for the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Redskins in the 12th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
and running back George Jones, who were both wide open in the end zone. Brunell struggled throughout most of the game, finishing with just 14 of 34 completions for 161 yards. Later in the second quarter, Taylor's 21-yard run gave his team a first down on the Patriots 34-yard line. Four plays later, he scored on a 13-yard touchdown run, giving his team a 12-0 lead after a failed 2-point conversion attempt.
But in the third quarter, Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak
Scott Zolak
Scott David Zolak is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for nine seasons...
managed to spark a rally. First he led New England 85 yards on a drive that consumed 8:48 off the clock and ended with a 1-yard touchdown run from Edwards. Then on the Patriots next possession, he led them to Jacksonville's 9-yard line. Following a dropped pass by tight end Lovett Purnell
Lovett Purnell
Lovett Shaizer Purnell is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. Purnell attended Seaford High but graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Pennsylvania before attending West Virginia University...
on third down, Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
's 27-yard field goal cut the score to 12-10. But on the Jaguars ensuing possession, quarterback Mark Brunell, threw a pass to receiver Jimmy Smith, who managed to break past defensive back Ty Law
Ty Law
Tajuan "Ty" Law is a retired football cornerback of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
and make a 37-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. On the Patriots next drive, Jacksonville lineman Joel Smeenge
Joel Smeenge
Joel Andrew Smeenge is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played 11 seasons in the NFL from 1990-2000. He played college football at Western Michigan University...
forced and recovered a fumble, setting up Hollis' third field goal. He added a fourth field goal to close out the scoring after the Patriots turned the ball over on downs deep in their own territory on their next possession.
NFC: San Francisco 49ers 30, Green Bay Packers 27
The 49ers defeated the Packers, who had eliminated them from the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, in one of the wildest back-and-forth games in league history.Both teams took advantage of each other's turnovers and mistakes throughout the game. In the first quarter, Green Bay safety Pat Terrell
Pat Terrell
Patrick Christopher Terrell is a former American football safety in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and Green Bay Packers...
's recovery of a fumble from receiver Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
set up a 48-yard drive that ended with a Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
field goal. But later in the period, 49ers lineman Chris Doleman
Chris Doleman
Christopher John Doleman is a former American Football defensive end who played in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers from 1985 to 1999. He was an 8-time Pro Bowl selection and a 3-time First-team All-Pro during his playing days, recording 150⅓ career sacks...
recovered a fumble from Dorsey Levens
Dorsey Levens
Herbert Dorsey Levens is a retired American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame and later Georgia Tech.In his career, Levens also played for the...
on the Packers 17-yard line. Two plays later, Steve Young threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Clark, giving San Francisco a 7-3 lead. The Packers offense responded by driving 62 yards in 9 plays, and Levens made up for his miscue with a 22-yard run to the 49ers 2-yard line on fourth down and 1. On the next play, quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman
Antonio Freeman
Antonio Michael Freeman is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League, most notably for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, dominating his high school conference. Freeman played college football at Virginia Tech...
4 seconds into the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, 49ers defensive back R. W. McQuarters
R. W. McQuarters
Robert William McQuarters, II, born December 21, 1976 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an American football cornerback who most recently played for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
returned a punt 19 yards to the 47-yard line. Running back Garrison Hearst
Garrison Hearst
Gerard Garrison Hearst is a former National Football League running back who last played for the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2004. He had previously played for the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers...
then rushed 3 times for 28 yards on a 37-yard drive that ended with a field goal by Wade Richey
Wade Richey
Wade Richey is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League.-Career:He played from 1998-2001 for the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers, and attempted a comeback in 2003 for the Baltimore Ravens. He retired after the 2004 season. Wade began his career at...
, tying the game at 10. But before the half ended, the Packers retook the lead with a 9-play, 83-yard drive, aided by two 15-yard penalties against San Francisco. Levens finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, giving Green Bay a 17–10 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, 49ers linebacker Lee Woodall
Lee Woodall
Lee Artis Woodall is a former professional American football player who was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 230-lb. linebacker from West Chester University, Woodall played in 8 NFL seasons from 1994 to 2001...
intercepted a pass from Favre and returned it 17 yards to the Packers 33-yard line. Four plays later, Owens dropped a pass in the end zone, but Young threw his second touchdown pass to Clark on the next play, tying the score at 17. Then after forcing a punt, they took the lead by driving 48 yards and scoring with a 48-yard field goal by Richey.
In the fourth quarter, the Packers drove 60 yards in 11 plays, featuring a 33-yard reception by fullback William Henderson, and scored a 37-yard field goal to tie the game. But on the 49ers ensuing drive, a 34-yard completion for Young to Owens set up another Richey field goal to put them back in the lead, 23–20. With 6:16 left in the game, 49ers defensive back Darnell Walker
Darnell Walker
Darnell Walker is a former cornerback in the NFL. He played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions from 1993-2000....
intercepted a pass from Favre and returned it to the Packers 40-yard line, giving his team a chance to put it out of reach. But after two runs by Hearst failed to make a significant gain, Owens dropped a potential first-down catch, his fourth drop of the day, and San Francisco had to punt.
Taking the ball back at their own 11-yard line with 4:19 remaining, Favre led the Packers back to retake the lead on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Freeman at the end of an 89-yard drive, featuring a 47-yard completion to seldom-used rookie receiver Corey Bradford
Corey Bradford
Corey Lamon Bradford is a former American football wide receiver. He played for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, and Detroit Lions.-High school years:...
. But San Francisco responded with an equally impressive drive, in which Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
visibly fumbled on his first reception of the game, but was ruled down by contact even though replays clearly showed the ball came out before his knee hit the ground. The use of instant replay challenges was not in effect until the following year, allowing the drive to continue behind Young, who completed 7 of 9 passes on a 76-yard drive for the winning score. Owens, who had dropped four passes and lost a fumble, caught the 25-yard winning touchdown pass with eight seconds left in the game.
Hearst finished the game with 128 rushing yards and 3 receptions for 15 yards. Levens rushed for 116 yards, caught 6 passes for 37 yards, and scored a touchdown. Favre threw for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Young passed for 182 yards and 3 scores. Both Young and Favre were intercepted twice.
This game was later featured on the NFL's Greatest Games
NFL's Greatest Games
NFL's Greatest Games is a series of 90-minute television programs that air on NFL Network, ESPN and related networks. They are condensed versions of some of the most famous games in the history of the National Football League, using footage and sound captured by NFL Films, as well as original...
as The Catch II.
Byes
- AFC: Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New York JetsNew York JetsThe 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... - NFC: Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
NFC: Atlanta Falcons 20, San Francisco 49ers 18
Atlanta running back Jamal Anderson rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns, while the Falcons defense intercepted three passes from quarterback Steve Young as they barely escaped with a victory in the first playoff game ever played at the Georgia DomeGeorgia Dome
The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...
. This would eventually prove to be the final postseason game in Young's hall of fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
career.
On the first play of the game, the 49ers suffered a major setback when running back Garrison Hearst
Garrison Hearst
Gerard Garrison Hearst is a former National Football League running back who last played for the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2004. He had previously played for the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers...
suffered a broken ankle. This turned out to be a devastating injury that would prevent Hearst from playing another game until the 2001 season. Two touchdown runs by Anderson gave the Falcons a 14-0 first half lead. Late in the second quarter, backup running back Terry Kirby
Terry Kirby
Terry Gayle Kirby , is a former professional American football player who played ten seasons in the NFL from 1993 to 2002. A 6'1" running back from the University of Virginia...
fumbled a pitch from Young. After several players scrambled for it, the ball bounced up in the air and was picked up by Atlanta's Chuck Smith, who returned it for an apparent touchdown. However, line judge Ron Baynes ruled that Kirby briefly gained possession of the ball and his knee was down when touched by Atlanta linebacker Henri Crocket, and the 49ers regained possession. A few plays later, Young threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
, cutting the score to 14-7. Then on the Falcons ensuing possession, linebacker Charles Haley
Charles Haley
Charles Lewis Haley is a former American football linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys . He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL Draft out of James Madison University...
deflected a pass from Chris Chandler
Chris Chandler
Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...
into the arms of defensive end Junior Bryant
Junior Bryant
Junior Bryant is a former professional American football defensive lineman who played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers. Bryant was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in 83 total regular season games, all with San Francisco, during his six year career. He registered...
, who returned the interception to the Falcons 36-yard line. On the final play of the half, Wade Richey
Wade Richey
Wade Richey is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League.-Career:He played from 1998-2001 for the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers, and attempted a comeback in 2003 for the Baltimore Ravens. He retired after the 2004 season. Wade began his career at...
kicked a 36-yard field goal to cut the 49ers deficit to 14-10 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the 49ers drove all the way to the Falcons 3-yard line. But safety Eugene Robinson
Eugene Robinson
Eugene Keefe Robinson is a former professional American football player who played free safety. He played collegiately at Colgate University...
intercepted a pass from Young and returned it 77 yards, setting up Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen , nicknamed "The Great Dane", is a former National Football League kicker. He holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in NFL history, as well as being the all-time leading scorer for two different teams; the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent 13 seasons, and...
's 29-yard field goal. Later in the quarter, the 49ers drove deep into Falcons territory again, only to have Young throw an interception to William White, who returned the ball 14 yards with a personal foul on the 49ers adding another 15. At the end of Atlanta's ensuing drive, Andersen kicked his second field goal, giving his team a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
With 2:57 left in the regulation, Young scored on an 8-yard touchdown run. Backup quarterback Ty Detmer
Ty Detmer
Ty Hubert Detmer is a former National Football League and NCAA quarterback. He starred at Brigham Young University, where he set many records and won the Heisman Trophy in 1990...
fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt, but he picked up the ball and threw it to tight end Greg Clark for a successful 2-point conversion, making the score 20-18. San Francisco managed to force a punt and got the ball back with 34 seconds but no timeouts left. William White's interception at midfield as time expired sealed the victory. This was the last game for Jerry Markbreit as he retired from officiating NFL football.
AFC: Denver Broncos 38, Miami Dolphins 3
Denver blew out Miami, outgaining them in rushing yards 250-14 and scoring touchdowns on each of their first three possessions. On their opening drive, they took 7:55 off the clock on the way to a 1-yard touchdown run by Terrell DavisTerrell Davis
Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing...
. Then after forcing a punt, they moved the ball much faster, driving 66 yards in four plays and scoring with Davis' second touchdown on a 20-yard burst. Miami managed to respond with a 22-yard field goal from Olindo Mare
Olindo Mare
Olindo Franco Mare is an American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
. However, the Broncos stormed right back, driving 87 yards in 11 plays and scoring with Derek Loville
Derek Loville
Derek Kevin Loville is a former American football running back who played 8 years in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos from 1990 to 1998. He played for Archbishop Riordan High School...
's 11-yard touchdown run, giving them a 21-3 lead by halftime
On the first play of the second half, Davis took off for a 62-yard run, setting up Jason Elam
Jason Elam
Jason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
's field goal to make the score 24-3. Miami managed to prevent Denver from scoring for the rest of the period, but in the fourth quarter, Broncos 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...
threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith. Then on Miami's ensuing drive, defensive end Neil Smith
Neil Smith (football player)
Neil Smith is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1988 to 1996, the Denver Broncos from 1997 to 1999, and the San Diego Chargers in 2000...
closed out the scoring by returning a fumble 79 yards for a touchdown.
Terrell Davis ran for 199 yards, caught a pass for 7 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns. Elway threw for 182 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 19 yards. 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 for 243 yards, but could not lead his team to a single touchdown and was intercepted twice. This was the only time that Hall of Famers Elway and Marino (both members of the famous 1983 draft class) faced each other in the playoffs; Elway was in his last season, and Marino in his next-to-last.
AFC: New York Jets 34, Jacksonville Jaguars 24
Quarterback Vinny TestaverdeVinny Testaverde
Vincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
passed for 284 yards as the Jets held the ball for 39:16. Receiver Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
caught 9 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a pass on defense near the end of the game when he was brought in as an extra defensive back. Jets running back Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
rushed for 124 yards, caught 6 passes for 58 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns. Jacksonville receiver Jimmy Smith caught 5 passes for 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Mark Brunell
Mark Brunell
Mark Allen Brunell is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the New York Jets. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
threw 3 touchdown passes, but was held to just 12 of 31 completions for 156 yards and intercepted 3 times.
Johnson's 21-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive of the game was the only score from either team in the first quarter. Most of the second quarter belonged to the Jets, who held the ball for all but 51 seconds of the period and added 10 points to their lead. First, John Hall
John Hall (American football)
John Hall is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League. He kicked for Port Charlotte High School and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While at Wisconsin, Hall played and won three bowl games...
made a 51-yard field goal. Then on New York's next drive, Martin lost a fumble that safety Chris Hudson
Chris Hudson
Christopher Reshard Hudson is a former professional American football safety who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons between 1995 and 2001. Hudson was the winner of the 1994 Jim Thorpe Award as a member of the Colorado Buffaloes.-References:...
initially recovered on the Jaguars 18-yard line. But during the return, he fumbled while attempting a lateral to teammate Dave Thomas as he was being tackled by Testaverde, and Johnson recovered the ball on New York's 34-yard line. The Jets then drove back into Jacksonville territory and scored with Johnson's 10-yard run. However, Brunell threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Smith on the last play of the half, cutting the score to 17-7.
Early in the third quarter, Jets defensive back Corwin Brown
Corwin Brown
Corwin Brown is an American football coach who was most recently the defensive backs coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
intercepted a pass from Brunell on third down and returned it 40 yards. On the ensuing drive, Testaverde's 23-yard completion to Johnson set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Martin. However, Jacksonville's Reggie Barlow
Reggie Barlow
Reggie Barlow is currently the head coach of the Alabama State Hornets football team. He is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played eight years in the league, five for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and two for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he...
returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards, setting up a 3-yard touchdown pass from Brunell to Keenan McCardell
Keenan McCardell
Keenan Wayne McCardell is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and current wide receivers coach for the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Redskins in the 12th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
and cutting their deficit to 24-14. New York struck right back, with Testaverde throwing for 70 yards on a six minute drive then ended with Martin's second touchdown to put them up 31-14 going into the fourth quarter.
But Jacksonville refused to give up. First, Brunell threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Then a fumble from Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet
Wayne Chrebet
Wayne Chrebet is a former football player who played 11 seasons as a wide receiver for the New York Jets of the NFL from 1995 to 2005.- High school and college career :...
set up a field goal from Mike Hollis
Mike Hollis
Michael Shane Hollis is a former professional American football placekicker. He spent most of his nine-year professional career playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League , kicking for the team from 1995–2001 and setting several team records...
, bringing the Jaguars to within one touchdown, 31-24. New York responded by driving inside the Jacksonville 20-yard line. With 2:30 left in the game, rookie safety Donovin Darius
Donovin Darius
Donovin Lee Darius is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars 25th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft, and played for nine seasons with the team. He played for the Miami Dolphins in 2007...
intercepted a pass from Testaverde in the end zone, but instead on kneeling down for a touchback, he attempted to return the ball and was tackled at the one yard line. Jacksonville was unable to get a first down on their ensuing drive and turned the ball over on downs. A few plays later, Hall kicked a field goal to put the game away.
NFC: Minnesota Vikings 41, Arizona Cardinals 21
Running back Robert Smith led the Vikings to a victory as he ran for a team-playoff-record 124 yards and caught 2 passes for 14 yards. Fullback Leroy HoardLeroy Hoard
Leroy Hoard is a retired American football running back who played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings of the NFL...
scored franchise playoff record 3 touchdowns, while quarterback Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
completed 17 of 27 passes for 236 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer
Jake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
threw for more yards than Cunningham, but was intercepted twice by Robert Griffith
Robert Griffith
Robert Otis Griffith is a former American football strong safety in the National Football League. He played thirteen seasons in the league, mostly for the Minnesota Vikings from 1994 to 2001...
. Running back Mario Bates
Mario Bates
Mario Doniel Bates was an American football running back in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, and the Detroit Lions. His brother, Michael also played in the NFL.-References:...
scored 3 touchdowns, but had only 4 rushing yards.
Hoard's 1-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the game gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead. Later in the period, the Vikings drove all the way to the Cardinals 7-yard line, but on the first play of the second quarter, defensive back Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Demetrius Williams is a former American football cornerback and free safety, who played with the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Williams attended Fortier High School, where he played football on a team with three future NFL players. Although he was admitted to Dartmouth College,...
intercepted a pass intended for Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
in the end zone. However, Griffith recorded interceptions on each of the Cardinals next two possessions, setting up Cunningham's 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Glover and a 34-yard field goal by Gary Anderson. his gave the Vikings a 17-0 lead before Arizona had made a single completion or gained a first down. Arizona managed to respond with a 1-yard touchdown run from Bates, but Smith's 45-yard run on the ensuing drive set up Hoard's 16-yard touchdown reception, increasing the Vikings lead to 24-7 by halftime.
Leading 27-14 late in the third quarter, Minnesota took advantage of a fumbled snap by Plummer by converting it into Cunningham's third touchdown pass of the day, a 3-yard pass to Moss. Arizona responded with another touchdown run from Bates, but the Vikings struck back with Hoard's 6-yard touchdown run at the end of a 12-play drive to seal the victory.
NFC Championship: Atlanta Falcons 30, Minnesota Vikings 27 (OT)
This was the first conference championship game to feature two teams who play their home games in domes. The 14-2 Falcons came into the game as 11 point underdogs, but managed to win an extremely competitive game late in overtime, making Minnesota the first 15-1 team ever to fail to reach the Super Bowl. The Vikings had set an NFL record with 556 points and won their nine previous home games by an average of 23 points, but they could not win this game despite maintaining a lead for nearly all of the time in regulation. Fox Sports ranked it the third most exciting NFC Championship Game ever.Atlanta took the opening kickoff and stormed down the field, scoring with Chris Chandler
Chris Chandler
Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...
's 5-yard pass to Jamal Anderson
Jamal Anderson
Jamal Sharif Anderson is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section...
. Aided by a 30-yard pass interference penalty on Falcons defensive back Ray Buchanan
Ray Buchanan
Raymond Louis Buchanan is a former American football player in the NFL. He was drafted out of Louisville in 1993 by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round , and subsequently played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Oakland Raiders.-High school career:At Proviso East High School in Maywood,...
, Minnesota struck right back on their first drive with Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
's 31-yard scoring strike to Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. In the second quarter, the Vikings converted an Atlanta fumble into a Gary Anderson field goal. Then after forcing a punt, Cunningham's 1-yard touchdown run increased his team's lead to 17-7 with 5 minutes left in the half. Atlanta lost another fumble on their next possession, giving the ball back to Minnesota again. The Vikings blew a chance at another touchdown when Moss dropped a pass in the end zone, but Anderson kicked another field goal to make the score 20-7. After forcing another Atlanta punt, the Vikings attempted to increase their lead more before halftime, but this time Falcons lineman Chuck Smith forced a fumble from Cunningham and Atlanta recovered the ball deep in Vikings territory, setting up Chandler's 14-yard touchdown pass to Terance Mathis
Terance Mathis
Terance Mathis is an American former Pro Bowl wide receiver in the NFL. Drafted in 1990 by the New York Jets, he played the majority of his career with the Atlanta Falcons. He last played in the NFL in 2002 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, then retired in 2004...
to cut their deficit to 20-14 by the end of the half. It was the turning point for the Falcons, as the game's momentum began to shift their way (albeit subtly).
Atlanta forced the Vikings to punt on the opening drive of the second half, and two plays by receiver Tim Dwight
Tim Dwight
Timothy Deutch Dwight, Jr. is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
, a 26-yard punt return and a 21-yard run, set up Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen , nicknamed "The Great Dane", is a former National Football League kicker. He holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in NFL history, as well as being the all-time leading scorer for two different teams; the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent 13 seasons, and...
's 27-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 3 points. The Vikings countered on their ensuing possession, driving 82 yards in 15 plays and scoring on Matthew Hatchette
Matthew Hatchette
Matthew Hatchette is a professional American football player who played wide receiver for six regular seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Jets, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. During his career, he caught 60 passes for 887 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 14.8 yards per catch...
's 5-yard reception to make the score 27-17 with just over 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta responded by driving inside the Vikings 10-yard line and scoring with Andersen's 24-yard field goal, narrowing the gap to 27-20. Minnesota took the ensuing kickoff and marched down to the Falcons 30-yard line, but lost their scoring opportunity when Cunningham fumbled a snap and Atlanta recovered the ball. The Falcons subsequently marched deep into Vikings territory, but also failed to score when Chandler's incomplete pass on a fourth down and 2 attempt turned the ball over on downs with 6 minutes left in regulation.
Minnesota then drove to the Falcons 20-yard line, setting up a 38-yard field goal attempt for Gary Anderson, who had not missed a field goal all season. Another successful kick would have all but wrapped up the NFC title for Minnesota, but Anderson's kick sailed wide left, giving the ball back to Atlanta with 2:07 left and new life. Chandler then led his team down to the Vikings 16-yard line. Following a near interception by Minnesota LB Dwayne Rudd
Dwayne Rudd
Dwayne Rudd is an American football linebacker who is a free agent in the National Football League, having not played in the NFL since 2003. During his career he played for the Minnesota Vikings, the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
, Mathis' 16-yard touchdown catch tied the game with 49 seconds left. Vikings coach Dennis Green then chose to kneel down and sent the game into overtime.
After the first 3 possessions of overtime ended in punts, Chandler, on a bad ankle, led his team 70 yards to set up Andersen's 38-yard field goal with 3:08 remaining that put Atlanta in the Super Bowl for the first time in team history.
Chandler had one of the best games of his career, throwing for 340 yards and 3 touchdowns. Receiver Tony Martin caught 5 passes for 129 yards. Cunningham also had a solid performance, throwing for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for 13 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Numerous references to this game are made in "Little Minnesota
Little Minnesota
"Little Minnesota" is the 11th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 75th overall. It originally aired on December 15, 2008.- Plot :...
", an episode from the television series How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
.
AFC Championship: Denver Broncos 23, New York Jets 10
In John ElwayJohn 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 last home game of his career, he completed only 13 of 34 passes. However, running back Terrell Davis
Terrell Davis
Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing...
, the NFL MVP in 1998, ran for 167 yards and a touchdown, and Denver capitalized on 6 turnovers (two interceptions by defensive back Darrien Gordon
Darrien Gordon
Darrien Jamal Gordon was born November 14, 1970 in Shawnee, Oklahoma) to James and Goldia Gordon. He graduated from Shawnee High School in 1989 where he was an All-State football player and two-time state champion wrestler as well as an honor student....
and four fumbles) by the Jets to overcome a 10-0 deficit. Jets running back Curtis Martin
Curtis Martin
Curtis James Martin, Jr. is a former American football running back. He is an alumnus of Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh...
was held to just 14 rushing yards on 13 carries. New York quarterback Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde
Vincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
threw for 356 yards, but no touchdowns and was intercepted twice.
Both teams blew scoring opportunities throughout the first half. The Jets took the opening kickoff and drove deep into Denver territory, only to have John Hall miss a 42-yard field goal attempt. New York forced the Broncos to punt on their ensuing possession, and Dave Meggett
Dave Meggett
David Lee Meggett is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants , New England Patriots , and the New York Jets . He played college football at Morgan State University and Towson University...
gave his team good field position with a 33-yard return. However, Martin lost a fumble on the Broncos 44-yard line and defensive back Tyrone Braxton
Tyrone Braxton
Tyrone Scott Braxton is a former American football defensive back who played for the Denver Broncos for most of his career from 1987 to 1999...
recovered it. Then Denver took the ball and drove all the way to the Jets 1-yard line, only to give it back when linebacker Mo Lewis
Mo Lewis
Morris "Mo" C. Lewis is a former American football player who played linebacker for the New York Jets from 1991 until 2003.-Career:...
deflected Elway's pass on a fourth down conversion attempt.
In the second quarter, Broncos punter Tom Rouen
Tom Rouen
Thomas Francis Rouen is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League in the 2005 season.-Early life:...
fumbled a snap and was downed on the Denver 43-yard line. New York subsequently drove to the 18-yard line, but then fullback Keith Byars
Keith Byars
Keith Alan Byars is an American sports broadcaster and former American football player in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets.-Early life:...
fumbled the ball and linebacker John Mobley
John Mobley
John Ulysses Mobley is a former American Football linebacker who played eight seasons for the Denver Broncos from 1996 through 2003 in the National Football League....
recovered it. On their next drive, New York opened up the scoring with Hall's 32-yard field goal. Then early in the second half, the Jets tight end Blake Spence blocked a punt and recovered it on the Broncos 1-yard line. On the next play, Martin scored a 1-yard touchdown run to increase their lead to 10-0.
However, Denver stormed back with 23 unanswered points. On their ensuing possession, Elway completed a 47-yard pass to Ed McCaffrey
Ed McCaffrey
Edward Thomas McCaffrey is a former American football wide receiver who played for the New York Giants , San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos of the National Football League...
. Two plays later, his 11-yard touchdown pass to Howard Griffith
Howard Griffith
Howard Griffith is a retired American football fullback who spent 11 seasons in the NFL . While at the University of Illinois, Howard set the NCAA record for touchdowns in a game with eight. It occurred on September 8, 1990 against Southern Illinois University...
cut the score to 10-7. Then the Broncos caught a lucky break when the ensuing kickoff bounced back in their direction and was recovered by linebacker Keith Burns, setting up Jason Elam
Jason Elam
Jason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
's 44-yard field goal to tie the game. The next time Denver got the ball, Elam kicked another field goal, giving the Broncos their first lead of the game.
With time running out the third quarter, Gordon's 36 yard punt return gave the Broncos great field position. A few plays later, Davis' 31-yard touchdown burst 18 seconds into the fourth quarter gave them a 20-10 lead. Later in the quarter, Elam kicked a 35-yard field goal to close out the scoring.