.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;} <$BlogRSDURL$>

The Donnybrook
Monday, September 4, 2006
 
Ultimate Super Bowl Tournament Sweet 16
1972 Dolphins (14-0) vs. 1978 Steelers (14-2): It’s a shame these two heavyweights are meeting this early but that’s what happens in a random draw tournament. Here’s the thing with the 72 Dolphins. Most of the players from that team cock off that just because they went undefeated they are the best team ever. I disagree. As I said last round, they beat two teams with winning records in the regular season and both were 8-6. Then they win their three playoff games by six, four and seven points. Don’t get me wrong, this was a great team that was solid in all areas but I don’t think they are as deep as the 78 Steelers. The Steelers had a better passing game and while Miami’s running game and offensive line were dominant the Steelers were outstanding in those areas too. And while the Dolphins had a rock-solid defense, the Steelers had the Steel Curtain where Hall of Famers were lining up all over the field. I don’t think Miami would be able to pound the ball against that front four so Bob Griese would have to beat them through the air. While Griese was a great quarterback I don’t see him doing a lot with Mel Blount and Donnie Shell manning the corners. Yes, Dolphins you went undefeated and the Steelers didn’t. But those were different years and in this game, the Dolphins unbeaten streak comes to an end.
OUTCOME: Just too much Steelers power. Steelers 24, Dolphins 13.
1969 Chiefs (11-3) vs. 1995 Cowboys (12-4): I think a lot of people look at this game and think Dallas walks away with it. I also feel like this Chiefs team is vastly underrated in the annals of NFL history. Remember, the Vikings were huge favorites in Super Bowl IV and the Chiefs just decimated them. This was a dominant defensive team that shut down three straight playoff opponents, while allowing just 13 points to the Jets and Raiders the previous two AFL champions. It would take a dominant defensive effort to beat the 95 Cowboys and this team would be up for the task. Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell and Curley Culp combined for a staggering 31 Pro Bowl appearances. Something else to think about is that this was not a dominant Cowboys team as the 92 and 93 squads. The 49ERS embarrassed them at Texas Stadium during the regular season and they nearly suffered a three-game losing streak late in the season. And if not for Neil O’Donnell’s inexplicable interception to Larry Brown when the Steelers were trying to take the lead in the Super Bowl, Pittsburgh might have won that year as they outplayed the Cowboys throughout the second half. The Cowboys would put some points on the board, but the Chiefs featured a strong offense led by Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson who did not make many mistakes. Mike Garrett and Robert Holmes keyed a good running game and Otis Taylor was one of the game’s top receivers. And here’s the X factor–The Chiefs were coached by Hall of Famer Hank Stram. The Cowboys were coached by Barry Switzer. Put it all together and I smell an upset.
OUTCOME: This game goes back and forth but Dawson leads a late drive and the Chiefs keep their Cinderella run going into the Elite 8. Chiefs 21, Cowboys 17.
2004 Patriots (14-2) vs. 1973 Dolphins (12-2): I said during the first round that this Dolphins team might have actually been better than the 72 team. Between 72 and 73, the Dolphins won 18 straight games, a record they shared with a few teams for a long time–until the Patriots came along. The Patriots a likely never to be broken 20 straight games between 2003 and 2004. What makes that even more impressive than what Miami did is that the Patriots did it in the age of parity and free agency when it’s impossible to keep a team together. And whatever adversity struck the Patriots, they always overcame it with amazing depth at seemingly every position. Like the Dolphins, the Patriots were solid in all areas. But one can argue that the Patriots played better competition since these days any team has a chance to go from bad to great in a year whereas in the 70s the good teams usually remained good and the bad usually remained bad, meaning that a team like the Dolphins might have some near automatic wins before the season even started. What I really like about the Patriots is that this team added Corey Dillon and he was a beast, rushing for over 1,600 yards. Key on him and Tom Brady just picked you apart. I think the Dolphins were a great team and it would stun me if beforehand somebody said they would not reach the Elite 8. But it’s hard to bet against Tom Brady in a big game. The guy is Joe Montana’s clone and the bigger the game the better he plays. He started his career 10-0 in the playoffs which is just crazy. The Dolphins would throw everything at the Patriots but Brady would find a way to shoot them down.
OUTCOME: This game resembles the Panthers-Patriots Super Bowl as it is a see-saw battle won in the end by New England on a field goal from Adam Vinatieri, the NFL’s best clutch kicker ever.. Patriots 27, Dolphins 24.
1999 Rams (13-3) vs. 1993 Cowboys (12-4): This might be one of the tournament’s most entertaining games to watch. The Greatest Show on Turf against one of the most balanced offenses fans could hope to see. Like the 69 Chiefs, I feel like the Rams are an underrated champion. Most people think about Kurt Warner and his amazing passing that year, but the player that stands out is Marshall Faulk who was virtually unstoppable. Stop him running and he caught passes and beat you there. The thing about the Rams is that they had so much speed on offense. But Dallas was one of the league’s quickest defenses and had some dominant players up front like Charles Haley and Leon Lett. As I said before, people tend to think that the Rams were not a good defensive team in 99 but that is not true. They were very solid but they would have their hands full against one of the greatest offensive lines in NFL history that sent three players, four if you count fullback Darryl Johnston as an extra linemen, to the Pro Bowl. And when Troy Aikman had time to throw and had targets like Michael Irvin and Alvin Harper and Jay Novacek to throw to...and you have a warrior like Emmitt Smith running the ball, you have a dominant football team.
OUTCOME: The Rams score some points, but the Cowboys wear them down up front and keep Warner and Faulk off the field for large chunks of time in the second half. Cowboys 38, Rams 24.
1985 Bears vs. 1966 Packers: This is a great showdown between one of the greatest single-season teams and one of the great dynasties in NFL history. The Packers dominated the 60s, winning five championships in seven years but they never had to play a team like the 85 Bears. During one seven-game stretch in 85, the Bears defense allowed just 39 points, an average of less than six per game. The 46 defense was something Buddy Ryan had used before but it became a weapon when he had players like Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and Steve McMichael up front along with Mike Singletary, Otis Wilson and Wilbur Marshall at linebacker. That unit thrived on stuffing the run and harassing the quarterback so the Packers stout offensive line would have to be at the top of its game. The Packers also could dominate defensively with Hall of Famers like Willie Davis, Ray Nitschke and Herb Adderly headlining the unit. If the Packers could contain Walter Payton the Bears could have problems since they did not have outstanding receivers, although they did have a great deep threat with Willie Gault.
OUTCOME: This game is all about defense. The Packers lead late, but Jim McMahon orchestrates a late-game touchdown drive and Singletary then forces a Bart Starr fumble that leads to a field goal as the Bears escape. Bears 13, Packers 7.
1974 Steelers vs. 1982 Redskins: The Hogs have their work cut out for them here against a Steel Curtain defense that allowed 27 points in three playoff games as the only six points the Vikings scored in the Super Bowl came on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone. The Redskins loved pounding the ball up the middle with hulking fullback John Riggins but that would be tough against the likes of L.C. Greenwood, Joe Greene, Dwight White, Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. The Vikings also had a solid ground game with Chuck Foreman leading the way but the Steelers completely stifled it along with scrambling quarterback Fran Tarkenton. The Redskins might also have trouble throwing the ball as other than Art Monk, they featured some smaller receivers like 5-10 Charlie Brown and 5-7 Alvin Garrett. The Redskins played good defense and could take advantage of Terry Bradshaw who was still mistake-prone at that time. However, Bradshaw was one of those great quarterbacks who always rose to the occasion in big games and with Franco Harris opening up he could take advantage of that defense.
OUTCOME: The Redskins take an early lead but Bradshaw connects on some long pass plays and changes the game complexion as the Steelers defense settles down and wears out the Hogs. Steelers 16, Redskins 10.

1976 Raiders (13-1) vs. 1989 49ERS (14-2):
This was a high-scoring Raiders offense headlined by Ken Stabler connecting with Cliff Branch on the long bomb. But as they showed in the Super Bowl against the Vikings, the Raiders also could pound the ball with Mark Van Eeghen and Clarance Davis behind an imposing offensive line. And the Raiders would need to bring their best offensive game against an 89 Niners team that was unstoppable for much of the season. This was Joe Montana at the top of his game and Jerry Rice and John Taylor near the top of theirs. It was a quick and athletic offensive line clearing the way for Roger Craig and it was Tom Rathman providing crushing blocks as well as over 70 receptions out of the backfield. Nobody came close to doing anything against them in the playoffs as they ambushed the Vikings, Rams and Broncos. You have to play dominant defense to beat this team and while the Raiders were great in the playoffs that year, they finished just 12th overall and were susceptible to allowing a lot of points as indicated by a 48-21 loss to the Patriots. The Raiders also nearly lost to that same Patriots team in the playoffs before taking advantage of a controversial pass interference call and winning, 24-21. The Raiders keep this close, but Ronnie Lott makes a big third-quarter interception, Rice bounces off of Jack Tatum who instead of trying to wrap him up tries to drill him with a hard hit and scores a game-breaking 65-yard touchdown.
OUTCOME: This was a great Raiders team but the Niners were a machine in 89. 49ERS 31, Raiders 20.
1984 49ERS (15-1) vs. 1997 Broncos (12-4): The Broncos can’t seem to catch a break in this tournament. The 98 team draws the second team to ever go 15-1 in the first round and the 97 team draws the first team to do so. That’s potential bad news for the Broncos since the 98 team was better than the 97 squad which finished second to Kansas City in the AFC West and won the Super Bowl as a wild card. The Broncos won tough road games in the playoffs against the Chiefs and Steelers by seven combined points before stunning defending champion Green Bay 31-24 in the Super Bowl. John Elway had an outstanding season, throwing 27 touchdown passes against only 11 interceptions. But it was Terrell Davis who made this offense go, running for over 1,750 yards and 15 touchdowns behind an efficient and solid offensive line. The defense too was solid but it also was vulnerable to great offenses. The Packers scored 24 points against them while the 49ERS beat them 34-17 in their second-to-last regular season game. They were especially vulnerable in the secondary which is bad news when you’re playing Joe Montana who threw for 28 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions that season while topping 3,600 yards. Montana had plenty of time to throw behind a dominant offensive line that sent three players to the Pro Bowl. Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig were a nightmare out of the backfield combining for over 1,900 yards and 14 touchdowns. And did I mention the defense? The Niners led the NFL in defense, allowing just 227 points and sent five players to the Pro Bowl, including all four defensive backs. Add in pass-rushing fiend Fred Dean and you have a stingy unit to say the least.
OUTCOME: Elway thinks he is playing the 89 Niners again as he is riddled by the secondary and throws three costly interceptions. The Niners offense takes control in the second half and San Francisco cruises to the win. 49ERS 35, Broncos 14.
Elite 8 Pairings
1978 Steelers vs. 1969 Chiefs
2004 Patriots vs. 1993 Cowboys
1985 Bears vs. 1974 Steelers
1989 49ERS vs. 1984 49ERS



|

Powered by Blogger