81-DET 31, 08-SDC 3

The 81 Detroit Lions continue to be the surprise team of the tournament. No one (certainly not their manager) expected them to be both an offensive juggernaut and a defensive power. But they continue to dominate opponents. In this semifinal round versus Rob's tough 2008 Chargers team, the Lions won handily by the score of 31-3.

This game starting off looking like it would be a defensive struggle. No score after quarter one, and the Chargers actually had more total yards than the Lions, with Philip Rivers moving the team downfield with his passing prowess. But after running the ball with Billy Sims and friends, QB Eric Hipple tossed a 12 yard touchdown strike to Freddy Scott to make 7-0 Lions in the second. It was 10-3 at the half and looked to be a close battle.

It was still close in quarter three, as both teams were driving but couldn't capitalize. Sims finally got the scoring going with a four yard run on a draw play late int the quarter to make it 17-3 Lions. Then, in the fourth, the Lions scored 14 more unanswered points, as Dexter Bussey continued to be a touchdown machine (he has four) with a four yard scamper. It was over when LB Ken Fantetti ran back a fumble recovery 43 years to make it 31-3.

San Diego had plenty of opportunities, as the pass-happy Rivers went 22 for 36 for 242 yards. But the Lions D was extremely aggressive and pushed the team back on many of its drives. Rivers was sacked seven times in the game, with two apiece from Bubba Baker, Dave Pureifory and Stan White.  Baker now has seven sacks in the four games and White has four.

Sims led all rushers with 91 yards on 17 attempts (a 5.4 average), while Scott had 75 yards and a TD. Overall, the Lions have scored 187 total points, with the opposition scoring 40 in the four games played.

The Lions will get fed some more red meat while awaiting their finals opponent.

Joe P. (81 Lions)

81-ATL 31, 15-ATL 24

Due to overconfidence by A15, A81 almost pulled out at least a tie. With 10 seconds left in the game, A15 was winning 31-17. A81 had the ball on their own 46 yard line. A15 had been playing a prevent defense. However, they then switched to a 4-3 basic figuring the game was out of reach. Bartkowski then throws a 54 yard TD pass to Jenkins. Luckily A15 recovered the on-side kick

The teams were evenly matched as A15 gained 392 yards to 394 for A81.  Both QB's had great days. Ryan completing 27 passes in 36 attempts for 260 yards and a 113.2 completion average and 2 TD'S while Bartkowski went 20-36 for 303 yards and 3 TD passes.

Although double teamed for most of the game, WR J.Jones caught 11 passes for 128 yards. RB D.Freeman gained 112 yards on 22 caries for a 5.1 average and 2 TD'S.

Meanwhile the A15 defense could not stop RB William Andrews who gained 102 yards on 15 attempts for a 6.8 average 

Thanks to AL for the game

--Marc Becker--

'81 DET 41, '74 CIN 14

The 81 Lions continue to roll up the points in the tourney.  But while they scored more than 60 in the first round and more than 50 in the second, this round only saw them score 42. They're backsliding!  In this quarterfinal series, the 81 Lions defeat the 74 Bengals 42-14 and move on.

As with the other games, the Detroit tabbies put the game away fairly early, putting up 21 first quarter points before the Bengals figured out what freight train had hit them. Less-heralded running back Dexter Bussey (the Lions also featured Billy Sims as its other rusher with more than 1,000 yards that year) scored all three TDs on running plays through the Bengals line, the third after an INT off QB Kenny Anderson.

Two missed Eddie Murray field goals in quarter two at least gave the Bengals a chance to get back in the game. Anderson responded with a 12 play, 71 yard drive early in the quarter to cut it ton 21-7. But the Lions applied the dagger late with another long drive featuring Sims and Bussey, capped by Sims' three yard end zone run to make it 28-7 at the half.

But the Bengals attempted another comeback, as Anderson found Charlie Joiner for a 15 yard TD pass early in the third to cut the lead to 14. But that's as close as it got. The Lions again found breathing room when QB Gary Danielson hit Leonard Thompson with a 50 yard TD pass to make it 35-14.

The Lions had 205 total rushing yards, splitting the difference between Bussey and Sims. Danielson tossed two TD passes. Notably, Bengals QB Anderson rushed for 62 yards himself. 

--Joe Pryweller--

1974 Cincinnati 58 Dallas 2013 21

On the 2nd play from scrimmage the Bengals coughed up the ball on their own 35. 5 plays later DeMarco Murray put the Cowboys up 7-0. On Cincinnati's next possession QB Ken Anderson connected with WR Isaac Curtis on a long cross that he took 61 yards to the house to tie the game at 7, this was a combination that would sting Dallas throughout the game. Cincinnati would not trail again. The next time Anderson had the ball, he found WR Charlie Joiner in the end zone to put the Bengals on top 14-7. A Tony Romo pick setup Cincinnati with a short field and a few plays later RB Boobie Clark went over the top to put the Bengals up 21-7 late in the 1st.

On the next drive Murray picked up 42 yards on 7 carries and brought the Cowboys within 1 score 21-14. Another Romo interception setup Anderson on the Dallas 8 and he found Curtis in the end zone to re-establish a 2 TD lead 28-14. On the next Cincinnati possession, Anderson once again found Curtis on a bomb post for a 65 yard TD and 35-14 Cincinnati lead. The next Cincinnati drive stalled and they settled for a FG to finish the half leading 41-14.

Murray ran for another TD on the opening drive of the 2nd half to cut the lead to 20, 41-21. Another Horst Muhlmann FG made it 44-21. Clark ran for another 6 to close out the 3rd quarter 51-21.

Clark added another TD on the ground in the 4th to finish the scoring 58-21.

The Cowboys showed a complete lack of discipline, taking 12 penalties, many at key moments when they might've stopped a drive. Game MVP Kenny Anderson took full advantage throwing for 343 yards, 5 TDs and nearly perfect QB rating of 151.4.

The 1974 Bengals can really light it up.

Solid play calling by Bill and a nice victory.

--submitted by Brian Minaj--

'08-SD 23, '67-NYG 21

Fran Tarkenton fumbled the ball after being blindsided on a sack on the first play of the game.  The Chargers recovered on NY's 24, but had to settle for a 28 yard Kaeding FG to open the scoring.  On a 3rd and 3 Tarkenton connected with Homer Jones for a 73 yard bomb to put thrill the Yankee Stadium crowd.  SD answered back with a 9 play drive that culminated in a Rivers to Jackson 20 yard hook up.  With no score in the second quarter both teams headed to the locker room with SD leading 10-7.  A 3 yard TD run by Minniear at the 8:32 mark of the 3rd gave NY a 14-10 lead.  SD answered back with a 51 yard Kaeding FG four minutes later to make it a 14-13 game.  After a long drive a 19 yard Kaeding FG at the 9:07 mark of the 4th put the Chargers up 16-14.  New York then went 3 and out.  The Chargers didn't fare much better.  Tark and crew took over at the 5:07 mark on their own 4 needing points.  Tark was at his HOF best driving the G-men down the field.  First with a 16 yard toss to Joe Morrison, then a 17 yard strike to Jones.  Ernie Koy cut off tackle for 12 vs a defense keying the pass.  Koy then caught one for 10.  NY lost a challenge on the ball placement, which cost them a time out.  Still the Gmen were on the march.  Tark hit Tucker Frederickson with a 17 yard out to get to SD's 2.  On the next play Triplet dove in for the score to make it 21-16 New York.  The only problem:  NY scored too fast and left 1:38 on the clock for Phillip Rivers and company, who wen from their own 30 to paydirt in just about a minute.  Rivers was flat out en fuego hitting Floyd for 18, Sproles for 12, Jackson for 14 and finally Antonio Gates for a 30 yard TD strike vs a defense that knew what was coming, but just couldn't stop it.  The city that never sleeps flatlined at the :38 second mark.  NY got the ball back with 21 seconds left to go, but Sir Francis had no more magic left in his arsenal.  SD moves on to round 3 and the Giants head to Stan's on 161 st and River to drown their sorrows in beer.  Congrats to Robert and GL in rd 3.

Round 02: '02-STL 30, '93-CLE 7

The Rams who slipped by the 1986 Cowboys in a classic OT game in Rnd 1 faced off against the 1993 browns who crushed the 2015 Bills 30-5.The browns were favored by 13 points. Coach fisher knew his team had to play well on both sides of the ball to win this game. Played well they did as they held the Browns offense to 7 points in a 30-7 win. Todd Gurley toted the rock 23 times for 132 yard and 2 TD's, but it was the Rams "D" the got the game ball as they used a bend but don't break strategy against the Browns talented runners and forced 3 turnovers.

--Al Michaels--

81 Lions 63, 14 Panthers 13

A good old fashioned spanking took place in the Motor City in the first round of the tournament. The 1981 Lions dominated in all facets of the game from the get go in the 63-13 rout of the 2014 Panthers.

The offense scored 21 points in EACH of the first three quarters, before coach Pryweller took out all the starters. Billy Sims rushed for 133 yards on only 14 carries (9.5 yards per carry) and scored three touchdowns, while WR Freddie Scott led receivers with 114 yards and a TD. Detroit's great rushing attack netted 212 total yards to only 250 passing yards.  Detroit alternated between QB's Eric Hipple and Gary Danielson, with Hipple tossing three short TD passes.

Meanwhile, Carolina could get nothing done, settling for six points until a TD late in the game with the scrubs playing. Carolina was guilty of five fumbles, and Cam Newton was intercepted twice before being pulled for Derek Anderson. The Panthers only managed 121 passing yards and 221 total yards.

The Lions will try to keep restoring the roar in the next round.

Joe P.