Championship Sunday Memories

An article by Rob V.    2 Comments

Tomorrow is Championship Sunday in the NFL. I know some people feel like it’s unimportant since the Cowboys are not playing, but for me it’s still one of the top days in sports. It’s the chance to go on to the Super Bowl. A chance that some of these players may never have again. Over the years there have been some horrible games as far as blowouts. But there have also been a handful of games that have left a lasting memory. I wrote a list of my most memorable AFC/NFC Championship games.

AFC

1982 – Miami over Jets, 14-0

This game was sloppy from the muddy field at the Orange Bowl. Neither team gained more then 200 yards of offense and they combined for 9 turnovers. Dolphin quarterback David Woodley threw for only 87 yards and three interceptions. Jets quarterback Richard Todd didn’t do much better throwing for just 103 yards and five interceptions. Three of Todd’s interceptions were by linebacker AJ Duhe and he returned one for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

1986 – Denver over Cleveland, 23-20 OT

Great game that went back and forth all game long. Bernie Kosar vs John Elway in this match-up. With Cleveland winning 20-13 late in the fourth quarter, Elway led his offense to the tieing score. This became known as “The Drive”. In overtime Elway once again positioned his offense for the winning field goal.

1987 – Denver over Cleveland, 38-33

A rematch from a year earlier only this time the game took place in Denver. The Broncos took a 21-3 lead at halftime and then Cleveland fought their way back into the game. With Denver leading 38-31 and 1:12 left in the game it looked as though Earnest Byner would tie the game. But Byner was stripped of the ball at the two yard line and Denver recovered. This became known as “The Fumble”.

2001 – New England over Pittsburgh, 24-17

This was the start for Tom Brady. When the Patriots were underdogs to the powerful Steelers. The Patriots were in control for most of the game as they took a 21-3 third quarter lead. The Steelers battled back, but they could not recover from their four turnovers. Steeler quarterback Kordell Stewart threw three interceptions on the day. The Patriots offense was led by both Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe who took over for Brady after he left the game with an injury.

2006 – Indianapolis over New England, 38-34

Great game as New England took a 21-6 lead into halftime. The second half was classic as the Colts battled back to tie the game three different times before they finally took the lead late in the game and won. The Colts gained 455 yards on offense and Peyton Manning threw for 349 yards.

NFC

1981, San Francisco over Dallas, 28-27

Not the greatest Dallas memory, but still a great game. There were seven lead changes in the game. The Cowboys defense forced six turnovers which included three Joe Montana interceptions. With the Cowboys leading 27-21, the 49ers put together an 89 yard drive which ended with a Montana to Dwight Clark incredible touchdown pass. This play became  known as “The Catch”. So with 51 seconds left in the game and two timeouts, the Cowboys received the kickoff. Danny White connected with Drew Pearson for a 31 yard gain that put Dallas at the 49ers 48 yard line. Amazing enough was that Pearson’s catch was his only one of the game. On the next play White got caught in a crowd of 49ers linemen and fumbled the ball which ended the game. Some believe that White’s arm was going forward on the play and it should have been called an incomplete pass.

1992 – Dallas over San Francisco, 30-20

Dallas was back at Candlestick Park in San Francisco 11 years after “The Catch”. This time led by coach Jimmy Johnson. The Cowboys defense controlled the favored 49ers and Steve Young during the game as they forced four turnovers. It seemed as though the 49ers gained the momentum when they scored to get within 24-20 of the Cowboys with only a few minutes remaining. The Cowboys got the kickoff and everyone thought they would just try to run and gain some first downs. But offensive coordinator Norv Turner decided to end the game. On first down Troy Aikman connected with a streaking Alvin Harper. The 49ers finally knocked Harper out of bounds, but not after Harper gained 70 yards on the play and reached the 49ers ten yard line. Dallas sealed the game with an Aikman to Kelvin Martin touchdown.

1995 – Dallas over Green Bay, 38-27

This was the Cowboys third straight season playing the Packers in the playoffs. They took an early 14-3 lead on the Packers in the first quarter, before the Packers started to battle back.  Green Bay actually took a 27-24 lead into the fourth quarter. Then the Cowboys took over scoring twice on Emmitt Smith touchdown runs. Smith scored three times in the game and rushed for 150 yards. The Cowboys defense harassed Brett Favre during the fourth quarter as they sacked him three times and forced one of his two interceptions.

1998 - Atlanta over Minnesota, 30-27 OT

The Falcons traveled to Minnesota to take on the high powered Vikings offense. The Vikings took a 20-7 second quarter led and then a 27-17 fourth quarter lead on the Falcons. But the Falcons would not give up and continued to fight back. They were led by quarterback Chris Chandler who threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Chandlers last touchdown pass tied the game at 27-27 to force overtime. Then Morten Anderson sealed the overtime victory with a field goal.

I know three of the four NFC Championship games involved the Cowboys on my list, but let’s face it they are America’s Team and have been involved in many of these games. Not to mention that if you look back over the Championship games from around 1980 there have been many blowouts and non-memorable games. I mention 1980 because that is when I really started to get obsessed with the Cowboys and the NFL. Maybe there are other Championship games that others remember more for their own reasons. These are the owns that stand out to me. Hope you enjoyed the journey back in time.