NFL Playoff Recap
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Miami 24, Buffalo 17
People all over the country were caught up in watching Doug Flutie making his NFL comeback this season. After an eight year absence he made his return in Buffalo where he gave the football crazy city something to cheer about again.
But even the Comeback Player of the Year couldn't save the Bills on January 2 in Miami. His fourth-quarter rally came up just short as the Dan Marino and the a Miami Dolphins topped Flutie and the Buffalo Bills 24-17 to advance into the next round.
Arizona 20, Dallas 7
Some people thought that $29 million was a lot of money to spend on quarterback Jake Plummer, but as time would show, they were wrong.Plummer led Arizona to their first playoff appearance since 1982 and with their 20-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on January 2, he handed the franchise first post-season victory since 1947. Those same people that thought $29 million was a lot to spend now think it was a steal.
Jacksonville 25, New England 10
Quarterback Mark Brunell was limping from a five-week old ankle injury but running back Fred Taylor stepped up, running for 162 yards and a touchdown.Late in the fourth quarter a hurting Brunell hit Pro Bowler Jimmy Smith for a 37-yard touchdown that all but put away the Patriots as Jacksonville stopped New England 25-10.
San Francisco 30, Green Bay 27
If it wasn't crazy enough seeing the San Francisco 49ers playing the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game, the game itself would prove even crazier.When Brett Favre hit Antonio Freeman for a 15-yard touchdown with under two minutes to go in the game it looked like the game was over.
San Francisco's quarterback Steve Young, however, had other plans. Young led the 49ers to a nine-play, 76 yard drive and hit Terrell Owens for the game-winning touchdown with just three second left in the game as San Francisco knocked out Green Bay 30-27.
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Atlanta 20, San Francisco 18
Steve Young led San Francisco to a miracle victory over Green Bay last weekend in the wild-card game but in the divisional playoffs against Atlanta he fell apart, throwing three interceptions and only one touchdown.On the other side of the line, the Falcons' Jamal Anderson ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns as coach Dan Reeves, in his first game back since heart surgery, and the Atlanta Falcons beat San Francisco 20-18.
Denver 38, Miami 3
In a game in which two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks took the field, it was a running back that took control of the game. On the very day that Terrell Davis was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player, Davis ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns.Denver's defense however held the Dolphins to just 14 rushing yards as the Denver advanced with a 38-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
N.Y. Jets 34, Jacksonville 24
Just two years after going 1-15 in the regular season, the New York Jets roared into the playoff with a 13-4 record, thanks to head coach Bill Parcells.Quarterback Vinny Testaverde threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Keyshawn Johnson and Curtis Martin scored two touchdowns each, and the Jets' defense had three interceptions to led the New York Jets past Jacksonville 34-24.
Minesota 41, Arizona 21
Arizona's wild season finally came to an end on Sunday but not without a fight. It took the Randall Cunningham and the highest scoring team in NFL history to stop the Cardinals. Cunningham completed 17-of-27 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns and Leroy Hoard ran for two more TDs as Minnesota took care of Arizona 41-21. |  |
Atlanta 30, Minnesota 27 (OT)
Minnesota set the NFL record this season for the most points scored and kicker Gary Anderson set a record for going an entire season without missing a field goal or an extra point. One of those records proved to be a bad omen. Anderson's first miss of the year proved to be the difference of the game.The miss gave Atlanta a chance late in the fourth quarter and Chris Chandler came through in the clutch with his third touchdown pass of the day to send the game into overtime. That's when the Falcons' kicker Morten Andersen kicked a 38-yard field goal to send Atlanta to the Super Bowl with a 30-27 overtime victory over Minnesota.