NFL 2015-2016 AFC-NFC Title Games Recap
For leatherheads, the games before the Super Bowl are a very big deal. The Vince Lombardi Trophy for winning Super Bowl 50 will have to wait. There is some serious football to be played before that game.
The Conference Title Games are upon us.
Here are the Conference Title Games Recap.
AFC Title Game: New England Patriots at Denver Broncos — Brady vs Manning XVII was the talk, as was the chess match between Peyton Manning and Bill Bellichick. Yet the key to this game was Wade Phillips, and whether Denver’s defensive line could overwhelm New England’s offensive line in the trenches like they did in the AFC Title Game two years ago.
New England got one first down but then punted. Denver took over at their own 17. Rather than try an establish a running game, Gary Kubiak had Peyton Manning come out throwing. On 3rd and 10, Manning hit Emanuel Sanders for 11 and the Broncos moved. On 3rd and 6 from the Denver 44, Manning threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 14 more yards. Manning threw a 21 yard touchdown pass to Owen Daniels for a 7-0 Broncos lead.
The defenses settled in, and late in the first quarter the Broncos were at their own 28. Manning threw a lateral that was dropped. The referees blew the play dead, thinking it was an incomplete pass. A New England player picked up the loose ball and ran for a touchdown that was waived off. The refs blundered twice. First, they blew the play dead when it was clearly a backward pass. Yet they then allowed the play to be challenged when it should not have been reviewable.
On further review, the play was ruled a lateral and New England got the ball at the Denver 22. Tom Brady hit Bolden for 20 and Stephen Jackson got in from the one for the touchdown. Normally 2 wrongs does not make a right, but this time it somehow did. By reviewing a non-reviewable play, the refs accidentally made the right call the second time. However, the whistle should have blown the play dead. After all of that, Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point as the Patriots trailed 7-6.
Denver got it back and soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 26. Manning threw deep and looked like he was throwing an interception to Malcolm Butler. Yet Sanders out jumped Butler and ripped it out of Butler’s hands for a 34 yard gain. Despite the catch, the Broncos punted again.
The second quarter began with the Patriots taking over after a punt at their own 13. On 2nd and 10, a short pass by Brady was intercepted by Von Miller, who made a spectacular jump of the route. On 3rd and 6 from the New England 12, Manning threw a perfect fade to the corner of the end zone to Daniels for their second touchdown connection and a 14-6 Broncos lead.
The Patriots moved from their own 24. On 3rd and 9 from their 44, Brady threw incomplete but illegal contact on the defense kept the drive alive. On 3rd and 10 from the Denver 40, Brady scrambled for 11 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the Denver 22, Brady was sacked by DeMarcu Ware and Von Miller for a 6 yard loss. Gostkowski hit the 46 yard field goal as the Patriots trailed 14-9 midway through the second quarter.
Denver went 3 and out and committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the punt, giving the Patriots excellent field position at their own 41. On 3rd and 5, Brady got rocked as soon as he threw a deep ball into double coverage. Stewart intercepted Brady as the Broncos took over at their own 44 with 4 minutes left in the half. A sack of Manning had Denver punting again and New England taking over at their own 11 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half.
New England went 3 and out as the Broncos took over at their own 44 with 1:46 left. On 3rd and 4 from the New England 34, Manning threw incomplete. With 38 seconds left, Brandon McManus came in for a 52 yard field goal try. The kick was good as the Broncos led 17-9 at the half.
Denver got the ball to start the second half and Manning was immediately sacked for a 13 yard loss back at his own 7 yard line. Denver punted and the Patriots took over at their own 33. After 4 straight Brady completions meant 1st and 10 from the Denver 20, 3 straight incompletions meant a 38 yard field goal try. Again Gostkowski was good as the Patriots trailed 17-12.
Broncos moved from their own 20 to a 3rd and 1 at the New England 46. Kubiak called a pitchout, but a great tackle stopped the play. On 4th and 1, Kubiak took no chances and punted. The Patriots took over at their own 8 yard line.
Brady was sacked by Von Miller, who grabbed his own crotch as part of his sack celebration. He was lucky not to get a penalty flag. The Broncos got it back at their own 44. On 2nd and 7, Manning was sacked for a 12 yard loss. Denver’s defense was playing well but the offense was wasting great field position and failing to put the game away. Fantastic punt coverage had the Patriots backed up to their own 4 yard line. Again Miller sacked Brady and again the Broncos had excellent field position at their own 40 as the third quarter ended.
Last time on 3rd and 1, a gimmick play failed. This time on 3rd and 1 from just shy of midfield, Gary Kubiak played textbook power football. CJ Anderson appeared stopped short but broke through and raced for a 30 yard gain. Another carry by Anderson gained 8 more. On 3rd and 2 from the New England 14, Manning hit Sanders for 4 more.
Running North and South was working. Yet another East-West run lost 3 yards. On 3rd and goal from the 13, Manning threw to a wide open Norwood in the end zone. The ball was just overthrown beyond Norwood’s diving reach. McManus hit the 31 yard field goal for a 20-12 Broncos lead with 10 minutes left in regulation.
After a touchback, a personal foul for a helmet to helmet hit on the defense had New England on the move. On 3rd and 10 from the Denver 44, Brady rifled a pass to Rob Gronkowski for a 19 yard gain. On 3rd and 11 from the Denver 26, Brady threw a short pass to Woodhead, who got blasted by 2 defenders separately and somehow stayed standing. On 4th and 1 from the 16, Bill Bellichick decided to go for it. Rather than play smash mouth, Bellichick went finesse and paid for it. Brady threw short of the marker, which is hard to do when needing one yard. Edelman caught the ball and was swarmed by the Denver defense for a one yard loss.
With 6 minutes left, Denver’s offense again had a chance to end the game. Again, Denver’s offense could not gain a first down. With 4 1/2 minutes left, the Patriots took over at their own 28 yard line. Brady hit White for 15 and Gronkowski for another 28 yards to the Denver 28. An incompletion on 2nd and 5 was wiped away due to defensive holding. With 2 1/2 minutes left, on 3rd and 1 from the 9, Brady tried the quarterback sneak and was stopped. Yet a false start on the offense actually benefited New England. On 3rd and 6, Brady fired a completion to Amendola for a first down, but Amendola then had the ball ripped out. Denver celebrated the recovered fumble, but it was ruled an incomplete pass.
Before the 4th and 6 play, with 2:25 left, Gary Kubiak challenged the call. It was a very dicey challenge, because the officials could have ruled it was a completion and that Amendola was down. Kubiak got lucky. The incompletion stood and everything came down to 4th and 6. Wade Phillips brought the house. Brady threw off his back foot to the back of the end zone. Gronkowski was surrounded by 3 defenders, and the ball was deflected incomplete. The Patriots still had all 3 timeouts and the 2 minute warning. Denver’s offense desperately needed one first down.
On 3rd and 10, rather than run the ball and force the Patriots to take their last timeout, Kubiak called a pass play. Manning threw incomplete. The Patriots got it back at midfield with 1:52 to go and one timeout. 17 seconds later, after a couple near sacks, it was 4th and 10. Brady went for the bomb into double coverage and Gronkowski caught it for a 40 yard gain to make it 1st and goal at the 10 with one minute left.
On 3rd and goal from the 4, Brady again barely avoided a sack and threw incomplete. With 17 seconds left, one play and four yards would decide the AFC Title Game. The Patriots took their final timeout. Under heavy pressure, Brady fired to the very back of the end zone. Gronkowski out-muscled 2 defenders and caught the ball. He did not step on the end line. Now it was a 2-point game. The Broncos called their final timeout with 12 seconds left as everything came down to the 2 point conversion.
Wade Phillips sent the house. Brady fired over the middle. The ball was deflected high in the air and intercepted by Aqib Talib. Talib tried to run it all the way the other way, was stripped of the ball, and the Patriots recovered. Yet that ended the play. The onside kick failed. The Evil Empire of Football led by Hoodie Bill Bellichick and Tom Brady will not be going to Super Bowl 50. Denver won the Lamar Hunt Trophy. Peyton Manning has at least one more game, and a nasty defense on his side. This was an instant classic. 20-18 Broncos
NFC Title Game: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers — These teams met last year in the NFL playoffs. The Cardinals were the far better team but were playing with their fourth string quarterback due to a set of devastating injuries. Carolina had a losing record but the home field advantage since they won their division. The Panthers won that game 27-16. Arizona feels they were cheated last year, and came in healthy and seeking revenge. Bruce Arians is the most aggressive NFL play-caller on offense and defense, and today’s battle would see if that boldness would be rewarded. Politicians holding a rally now in South Carolina might be thinking it is a bad idea. Snow didn’t shut South Carolina down, but the NFC Title Game does.
Arizona went 3 and out and the Panthers moved from their own 34 to a 3rd and 2 at the Arizona 27. Cam Newton threw incomplete. Graham Gano hit the 45 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Panthers. Arizona punted again and Ted Ginn Jr. returned it 33 yards just past midfield. From the Arizona 22, Ginn took an end around all the way to the left side of the field, came all the way back across the right side and picked up some fantastic blocks for a touchdown and a 10-0 Panthers lead.
Arizona gained a couple first downs on their next drive but punted again. The Panthers quickly faced 3rd and 8 from their own 14. Newton went bombs away to Cory Brown, who broke a tackle and raced for an 86 yard touchdown with less the one minute left in the opening quarter. Just as they had one week earlier, the Panthers exploded out of the gate for a 17-0 lead.
In the second quarter the Cardinals moved from their 20 to a 1st and 10 at the Carolina 37. On 3rd and 10, Palmer was slammed to the ground and fumbled as the Panthers recovered. Although it appeared Palmer was down, the call stood. This time the Arizona defense forced the Panthers into a 3 and out, and the Cardinals got it back at their own 21.
On 3rd and 11, Palmer found Nelson for 15 yards. A defensive facemark a few plays later kept the drive moving. David Johnson ran up the middle for a one yard touchdown. With 6 minutes left in the half the Cardinals were within 17-7.
Carolina again went 3 and out and punted, but disaster struck Arizona when star cornerback Patrick Peterson fumbled the punt. The Panthers took over at the Arizona 46. Runs of 17 and 23 by Stewart had the Panthers at the one. On 3rd and goal from the one at the 2 minute warning, Cam Newton went airborne, stretched the ball out, and got knocked back. The Cardinals thought they stopped him but replay clearly showed the ball broke the plane of the goal. The Panthers led 24-7, but the final 2 minutes were crazy.
After a touchback, Palmer was sacked and fumbled. After a wild scramble, the Panthers took over at the Arizona 31. Two plays later, Newton went deep and was intercepted by Peterson at the Arizona 6 yard line. Peterson was one block away from a touchdown the other way, but he still managed a 72 yard return to the Carolina 22 with one minute left. Palmer immediately fired to the end zone into double coverage and was intercepted by Coleman. 4 Arizona turnovers had the Cardinals still down 24-7 at halftime.
Last week Carolina nearly blew a 31-0 halftime lead. This time they sought to put the game away early. In the third quarter they moved from their own 17 to a 1st and goal at the 9. From the 6, Newton was sacked for an 11 yard loss. On 3rd and goal at the 17, Newton found Greg Olsen, but only for 14 yards. Garo hit the 21 yard field goal as the 11 play, 80 yard, 7 minute drive made it 27-7 Panthers. Arizona soon faced 3rd and 2 at their own 28. Palmer threw a short pass to Larry Fitzgerald, who inexplicably dropped it.
The Panthers moved from their own 21 to the Arizona 23. On 3rd and 10, Newton scrambled and received a very favorable spot for an 11 yard gain. He may have been short of the marker but the spot was not challenged. On the next play from the 12, Newton scrambled again and went airborne for another touchdown. Late in the third quarter, the Panthers had a 34-7 lead.
The Cardinals did move from their 20 to a 3rd and 2 at the Carolina 29. A short pass to Darren Fells was dropped. Bruce Arians went for it on 4th and 2. Palmer hit David Johnson for 8. On the next play Palmer found Fells for the 21 yard touchdown. Arians decided to go for 2. Nelson rushed around the end, shook a tackle, and dove past the pylon. The Cardinals were down 34-15 only 45 seconds into the final quarter.
Carolina quickly went 3 and out and the Cardinals got it back at their own 36. A pair of completions followed by a pair of incompletions had the Cardinals facing 3rd and 10 just past midfield. Palmer went for it all and came up snake eyes. A bomb to the end zone into double coverage was intercepted by Coleman at the one yard line. A personal foul for a facemask on the tackle only added insult to injury on Arizona’s fifth turnover. 12 minutes still remained, but the fourth quarter was just a formality.
Facing 3rd and 3 at their own 23, Ron Rivera went for the kill shot. Newton threw a bomb to Greg Olsen for a 54 yard gain. After that, it was time to just chew up some clock. On 3rd and 10, Newton scrambled up the middle for a 14 yard gain. On 3rd and goal from the 5, Newton fired to Funchess for the touchdown. Up by 25, Rivera went for the 2 point try. Newton hit Tolbert for the score to make it 42-15 Panthers.
15 seconds later, Palmer was intercepted by Luke Kuechly, who returned it 16 yards for another touchdown. Arizona’s sixth turnover made it 49-15 Panthers. With 5 minutes left, it was time for the coronation. It began when Palmer was intercepted yet again for Arizona’s seventh turnover. With 4 1/2 minutes left, Newton went to the sideline and let Derek Anderson take a few snaps.
Last year, Ron Rivera was nearly fired as the Panthers were 3-8-1. They won 4 straight, won their division with a losing record (one year after winning it with a 12-4 record), and won their Wild Card playoff game over Arizona. This year they are a 15-1 machine holding the George Halas NFC Championship Trophy after setting an NFC Championship record for points scored. 49-15 Panthers
Super Bowl 50 is now set: AFC Denver Broncos at NFC Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have been to one Super Bowl, losing on the final play. The Broncos have won two Super Bowls, but are the only NFL team to have lost five Super Bowls. All of those losses were by at least 17 points.
In one week, on Sunday, January 31, the NFL Pro Bowl takes place in Honolulu, Hawaii. Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice are the team captains. Andy Reid and Mike McCarthy are the coaches.
In two weeks, on Sunday, February 7, the Super Bowl takes place in the San Jose Bay Area of California in Santa Clara at Levi’s Stadium. CBS is broadcasting the game. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.