Season 14 - Week Three (Final Round of the Regular Season)

[Bob Davis]

Week 3 Games 

Another great set of games in the final week of the regular season. The playoffs are now set. The six division winners all get a bye and the four wildcard teams will compete this weekend.

Cleveland Browns (0-2) at Houston Oilers (0-2) 

The first game of the final week pitted two teams without any chance to make the playoffs. The Browns first drive starts with a S Vernon Perry blitz-sack of QB Bernie Kosar. After an incomplete pass, Kosar completes a pass to RB Mike Pruitt for a 21 yard gain. RB Charles White has back to back runs for 6 and 24 yards but then Mike Pruitt leaves the game with an injury.  Kosar goes back to the air completing to White who finds the endzone for the game’s first score. The Oilers first drive starts with back to back runs of 11 and 28 yards by RB Mike Rozier. QB Kenny Stabler, getting his first start of the year then scrambles for 12 yards and on the next play completes a pass to RB Tim Wilson for 26 yards and the tying TD. The first half comes to a close. The Oilers get the ball to start the second half but the drive ends as Stabler is sacked on third down forcing a punt. The Browns running game is stuffed but Kosar is able to complete a pass to Reggie Rucker for 28 yards. The run game is stuffed once again, and this time on third down Kosar is sacked by DE Bob Brazile. The Browns attempt a fake punt on 4th down but the pass falls incomplete. Stabler makes them pay for that gamble when he completes a 39 yard pass to WR Mike Renfro for the go-ahead TD. Coach Bum Phillips decides to go for the 2 point conversion to use up another play. Rozier is stuffed and the score remains 13-7 Oilers with only 3 plays remaining. The final Browns drive fails miserably as LB Elvin Bethey and Brazile each sack Kosar. The game ends with Kosar making a feeble attempt at a scramble and is run out of bounds.

Oilers 13 Browns 7

       

Denver Broncos (2-0) at San Francisco 49ers (0-2)               

Both teams first drives end quickly with the only play of note being rookie QB Joe Montana, in his first start completing a pass to Greg Pruitt for 35 yards.  The Broncos second drive features two QB Craig Morton passes to WR Haven Moses one netting 51 yards and the other 10 yards. The drive stalls and the Broncos settle for a Rick Steinfort 20 yard field goal. With time running low in the first half, Montana completes a pass to WR Freddie Solomon for 37 yards setting up K Ray Wershing’s monster boot, a 58 yard FG to tie the game at the half. The 49ers crank up their running game on their first drive of the second half netting 41 yards on 5 runs, but the Bronco defense clamps down and forces a 3^rd down Montana passing attempt where he is sacked. The long drive comes to end as the 49ers punt. The next Bronco drive ends with a Morton sack and a subsequent punt. The next 49er drive starts with a Montana to Pruitt completion of 28 yards, but then goes no where as the Bronco’s number one ranked defense clamps down and forcing a punt. With time running low, Morton completes a bomb to TE Riley Odoms for 53 yards setting up Steinfort’s 38 yard game winning field goal as time expires. The expansion Broncos have not only earned a playoff spot, but they win the NFC Central Division title and complete their inaugural regular season undefeated.

Broncos 6 49ers 3

 

Dallas Cowboys (0-2) at Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

The Cowboys start their first drive of the game with a run by RB Ron Springs of 14 yards. QB Roger Staubach follows that up with back to back passes to Butch Johnson of 12 and 35 yards. The drive ends however when the Vikings sack Staubach on third down. K Raphael Septien knocks home a 57 yard field goal to open the scoring. Chuck Foreman has a 53 yard kick off return setting up the Viking offense. But the Viking offense is stuffed as QB Fran Tarkenton is sacked on 3^rd and 5. Coach Bud Grant makes the bold call to go for it on 4^th down. Tarkenton’s pass falls incomplete and the Cowboys have a golden opportunity starting inside Viking territory. The drive is stuffed as the Vikings get back to back sacks of Staubach. Septien however boots a 59 yard field goal as time runs out in the first half. Cowboys 6, Vikings 0. The Vikings start the second half with a marathon 13 play drive that featured 7 runs for 46 yards and a Tarkenton to FB Bob Miller completion of 35 yards. On 4^th and goal at the Cowboy 7 yard line, the Vikings go for it. Tarkenton is intercepted in the endzone. After a Staubach scramble of 16 yards, the Cowboy drive is abruptly ended with yet another Vikings sack. After the Cowboys punt, Tarkenton completes to Miller for 26 yards. With only two plays remaining in the game, Tarkenton throws a pass that is tipped by a Cowboy defender right into the hands of WR Sammy White. White takes into the end zone for the tying TD. K Jan Stenarud breaks the tie with the extra point giving the Vikings the lead with only one play to left in the game. After the kickoff (plays involving a kick aren’t counted on the play total) the Vikings once again sack Staubach to end the game.

Vikings 7 Cowboys 6

 

 

 

Buffalo (0-2) at Philadelphia (1-1)

The Bills first drive is a disaster as QB Joe Ferguson is sacked twice the second for a safety. The Eagles offense constructs a 9 play marathon drive consisting of all running plays. RB Louie Giamona has 5 carries for 20 yards and RB Wilbert Montgomery has 4 carries for 19 yards. The drive stalls, and K Nick Mike-Meyer kicks a 46 yard field goal to increase the lead to 5-0. A poor kickoff return puts the Bills in a precarious position. LB Bill Bergey sacks Ferguson in the end zone for an unprecedented second safety. The Eagles second drive features QB Ron Jaworski passes to Giamona for 18 yards and to WR Harold Carmichael for 33 yards. Meyer boots a 30 yard field goal as time runs out in the first half. With two safeties and two field goals, the Eagles are up 10-0. The Eagles get the ball to start the second half. The drive ends quickly when Jaworski throws a third down interception. The Bills finally catch a break. Ferguson completes a pass to RB Joe Cribbs for 11 yards. The Bills are deep in Eagle territory. Ferguson’s next throw is intercepted and taken back 90 yards for a pick 6. The Eagles are up 17-0. Early in the next Bill’s drive, Ferguson falls down and is out of the game with an injury. Backup QB and 16 year veteran Bill Munson comes in on 3rd and 12 and throws a strike to TE Rubin Gant for 15 yards and a first down.  Following an 8 yard scramble, Munson unleashes a bomb to WR Frank Lewis covering 55 yards for a Bills TD. The Eagles start their next drive with an 11 yard run by Montgomery, but the drive goes nowhere after that and the Eagles are forced to punt. Frank Lewis takes the punt from deep in his own endzone and races 107 yards for another TD. The extra point is up and good. All of a sudden the Bills are within three points at 17-14. The Bills attempt an onside kick but it is recovered by the Eagles. The Eagles then run out the clock earning their second win of the season.

Eagles 17 Bills 14

 

Los Angeles Rams (2-0) at Oakland Raiders (2-0)

The Rams get the ball first and have a successful drive featuring QB Doug Williams passes to WR Ron Jessie for 11 yards and 29 yards and a 22 yard completion to TE Charlie Young. The drive stalls and K Frank Corral boots a 48 yard field goal to open the scoring. The Raiders first drive spans 8 plays featuring 6 runs by RB Mark Van Eaghan for 37 yards. QB Norris Weese was sacked on 3^rd down, and Errol Mann came on to attempt a 59 yard field goal. He misses wide right as time runs out in the first half. The Rams take a 3-0 lead into the locker room. The Raiders first drive of the second half is 8 plays long. The final play, a second 4^th down attempt ends with Weese being sacked for an 8 yard loss. The Rams first drive of the second half starts in the fourth quarter and ends in a three and out. The Raiders drive lasts the rest of regulation and Mann boots a 55 yard field goal to tie the game and send it into overtime. The Raiders win the toss and choose to receive. After a good return, Van Eaghan runs twice for 14 yards. The drive stalls and the Raiders punt. The Rams get stuffed on the first two plays, but then Williams hits the big pass to TE Charlie Young that goes for 78 yards to the 2 yard line of the Raiders. The Rams run two more plays but the Raiders defense hold them out of the endzone. For the second week in a row Frank Corral boots the game winning field goal as time runs out.  

Rams 6 Raiders 3 (OT)

 

 

Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0)

The Bengals first drive starts and ends with QB Art Schlichter being sacked. In between was a 22 yard completion to WR Isaac Curtis and a fumble by RB Archie Griffin that he recovered. The Bengals punt, and the Steelers take over. A third down completion from QB Terry Bradshaw to WR Anthony Carter covers 71 yards for a TD. The next Bengals drive is marred by incompletions and the Bengals punt again. The Steelers next drive features a third down Bradshaw to Carter completion for 47 yards. The drive stalls and K Matt Bahr boots a 47 yard field goal as the first half comes to a close. Steelers 10 Bengals 0. The Steelers start the second half with a bang as WR Jim Smith returns the kickoff 80 yards deep into Bengal territory. The Steeler offense manages to lose yardage however with a series of miscues and Matt Bahr then misses a 53 yard field goal attempt. The Bengals next drive starts with a sack of Schlichter by S Mike Wagner, but a third down pass to TE Pat McAnally covers 71 yards for a TD. The Steelers next drive starts slow but ends with a bang as Bradshaw completes a long pass to RB Franco Harris for 58 yards and a TD. Schlichter is intercepted by S Donnie Shell ending the Bengals next drive. The Steelers however return the favor on their next drive as Bradshaw is picked off by Louis Breeden who returns it 85 yards. K Chris Bahr boots the 31 yard field goal bringing the Bengals to within a touchdown. With time running short, the Steelers are able to convert on third down via a Bradshaw 18 yard scramble. From their they are able to run out the clock and end the season with a perfect 3-0 record.

Steelers 17 Bengals 10

 

Atlanta Falcons (1-1) at the New Orleans Saints (2-0)

The Falcons go three and out on their first drive. The Saints return the punt to midfield. After an 18 yard run by RB Chuck Muncie, QB Bobby Scott completes a pass to RB Tony Galbreath that nets 32 yards and a TD. The Falcons next drive features a QB Vince Ferragamo 43 yard pass to RB Bubba Bean and several incomplete passes leading to a 43 yard field goal by K Tim Mazzetti. The Saints second drive featured back to back completions to TE Henry Childs for 4 and 20 yards, and a completion to Muncie for 21 yards. K Morten Andersen misses a 58 yard field goal at the end of the half. Saints 7 Falcons 3. The Saints first drive of the second half features a 45 yard run by Muncie and a Scott to Muncie 7 yard completion. The drive stalls, and Andersen again misses on a 48 yard field goal attempt. On the Falcons next drive Ferragamo throws incompletions on first and second down. The third down pass is intercepted by LB Reggie Mathis who returns it 50 yards for a pick 6 giving the Saints a 14-3 lead.  TE Wallace Francis takes the ensuing kick off all the way to the Saints 12 yard line. RB Ray Strong runs it into the endzone for TD. The Falcons go for a two point conversion but Strong is stuffed for a loss. The score remains 14-9 Saints. With time running short, the Falcons go for the onside kick. The Saints however recover and are able to get a first down and run out the clock.

Saints 14 Falcons 9

 

New England Patriots (1-1) at New York Giants (2-0)

Pats RB Billy Simms takes the opening kickoff 60 yards nicely setting up the offense. The Giants defense stuffs the Pats running game and QB Tony Eason throws an incomplete pass on third down forcing a punt. The Giants first drive features runs of 13 and 15 yards by RB Earl Campbell, but the Pats defense stiffens forcing a 4^th and 4. The Giants go for it, but Campbell is stuffed behind the line and the Pats take over. The Pats next drive mirrors their first and they are forced to punt again. RB Billy Taylor returns the punt 38 yards giving the offense good field position. On a second and 3, QB Phil Simms scrambles and gets a first down but is hurt on the play. Backup QB Jeff Hostetler steps in. Campbell breaks a run for 22 yards, and Taylor follows it up with a 26 yard run for a TD. Billy Simms has another exceptional kickoff return on the ensuing of 46 yards as the Pats are left with one play before intermission. The Giants defense continues it’s domination sacking Eason for a 20 yard loss to end the half. Giants 7 Pats 0. The Giants begin the 2^nd half with an epic 11 play drive including two short 4^th down conversions and cap the drive with a 42 yard field goal by K Ali Hadji-Sheik. Eason comes to life on the Pats next drive completing passes to Billy Simms for 26 yards, WR Stanley Morgan for 22 yards and Craig James for 39 yards and a TD. The Pats go for and get a 2 point conversion on a plunge by James. The Giants are able to convert a 1^st down and run out the clock.

Giants 10 Patriots 8

 

Washington Redskins (0-2) at Baltimore Colts 2-0)

RB Clarence Harmon takes the opening kickoff and is stuffed at the 8 yard line. The run game is stuffed on 1^st and 2^nd down and Theismann throws an incomplete pass on 3^rd down forcing a punt. The Colts first drive is a three and out as QB Bert Jones is sacked on 3^rd down. The next Redskin drive is also a three and out forcing yet another punt. WR John Jefferson returns the punt 83 yards nicely setting up the Colts offense. The drive goes nowhere but K Tony Linhart boots a 46 yard field goal to open the scoring. On the Redskins next drive Theismann is sacked and then throws an interception. The defensive tone of this game continues as Jones is sacked and throws in incomplete pass. Linhart boots a 55 yard field goal as time runs out in the first half. Colts 6 Redskins 0. The Colts first drive of the second half ends quickly as the run game is stuffed and Jones is sacked again. RB John Riggins returns the punt 73 yards well into Colt territory. Backup QB Billy Kilmer has replaced Theismann but is ineffective throwing two incomplete passes. K Mark Mosley who missed a critical extra point last week misses on a 48 yard field goal attempt. The Colts take over, but the drive ends quickly as CB Lamar Parrish intercepts a second down pass by Jones and takes it to the house tying the game. Mosley converts the extra point giving the Redskins a 7-6 lead. Memorial Stadium falls silent. On the next Colts drive, Jones continues to struggle throwing two straight incompletions and yet another interception. Lamar Parrish returns his second interception to the Colts 3 yard line. The Colt defense stuffs the run game on 1^st and 2^nd down, and Kilmer throws another incomplete pass bringing up 4^th down. Mosley kicks a 27 yard field goal increasing the Redskin lead to 10-6. RB Rob Carpenter takes the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Redskin 41 yard line. With only two plays remaining Jones throws yet another incomplete pass bringing his stat line to 0 of 8 with two interceptions. On the final play of the game Jones heaves a pass toward the endzone that is tipped by CB Darryl Green and caught in the endzone by RB Joe Washington for the game winning score! The win propels the Colts to the number 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Last year the Redskins beat the Pats on the final play of the game to make the playoffs. This year they feel the other side of that experience.

Colts 13 Redskins 10

 

Final Regular Season Standings

AFC

Midlands Division Steelers* 3-0, Bengals** 1-2, Browns 0-3

Metro Division – Colts* 3-0, Eagles** 2-1, Redskins 0-3

North Division – Giants* 3-0, Patriots 1-2, Bills 0-3

NFC

Deep South Division – Saints* 3-0, Falcons 1-2, Oilers 1-2

West Coast Division – Rams* 3-0, Raiders** 2-1, 49ers 0-3

Central Division – Broncos* 3-0, Vikings** 1-2, Cowboys 0-3

* = Division Winner

** = Wildcard