Week 19: WILD CARD PLAYOFF Results

19  New Orleans 10 at San Francisco 18
The game was tight, as the Saints defense played stout most of the game. Good drives by Wade Wilson came close to scoring but were stymied by TO's or penalties. Jerry Rice proves to be a Titan among men in this one. Congrats to Keith White on making the playoffs and a fun season.

19 Buffalo 14 at   Denver  17
Denver won 17-14 over Buffalo in a thrilling first round matchup at Mile High stadium. This one was epic!

After a scoreless first quarter, the two teams traded touchdowns as Robert Delpino ran one in for Denver and Thurman Thomas duplicated the feat for Buffalo. In a harbinger of things to come, the Thomas touchdown was set up by a 46 yard bomb from Jim Kelly to Andre Reed. More on that later.

Denver put together an 11 play, 6+ minute drive in the 3rd quarter capped by Delpino's second touchdown to give Denver a 14-7 lead. The score remained there until late in the 4th quarter. Denver put together a 7:40 drive that finally stalled on Buffalo's 17 with a little over 2:00 left in the game. Denver lined up for what was likely to be the game deciding field goal, but incredibly holder Tommy Maddox couldn't handle the snap and Buffalo had a chance.

Buffalo mixed runs and a couple short passes to reach their own 44 yard line with only 23 seconds left. Buffalo switched to a 5 wr formation, Denver countered with a dime defense, and Kelly took the snap. Incredibly Copeland caught a 56 yard bomb from Kelly to tie the score.

Buffalo won the coin flip but their initial drive stalled in OT. Denver mixed short passes with Delpino and Rivers runs to advance to Buffalo's 9, when a Jason Elam 26-yard field goal won the game for Denver.

Thomas and Delpino both reached 100 yards. Pundits expecting an offensive show from the two explosive offenses were proven wrong, as the gritty battle evolved into a defensive struggle instead.

Great game called by Paul.

19  Los Angeles(A) 27 at Miami  35
The Raiders came into Joe Robbie Stadium and on their first possession went 43 yards in one play on a Hostetler to Jett 43 yard TD pass to take a 7-0 lead.

Miami answered with a 7 play 74 yard drive ending with a Mark Higgs 3 yard TD run to tie the game 7-7.

LA mounted a long 6+ minute 12 play 79 yard drive with Hoestetler hitting Horton on a 2 yd TD pass, however, Chuck Klingbeil blocked the PAT and the Raiders had a 13-7 lead, the missed PAT would loom large for LA.

After a Miami punt LA scored another TD on a Hoestetler to Steve Smith 6 yard scoring strike to give the Raiders a 20-7 advantage.

On the next drive Miami went 72 yards in 3:41 to cut the lead to 20-14 at the half.

Miami got their first lead in the 3rd on a Mitchell to Ingram 16 yard pass 21-20.

The Raiders regained the lead with 10:18 left in the 4th on another Hoestetler to Jett TD pass, this one a 66 yard bomb. 27-21

Miami responded with another Mitchell to Ingram TD pass to take a 28-27 lead.

After trading punts, LA took over on their own 6 with :59 remaining and down by 1. Bryan Cox sealed the victory with a pick-6 to give Miami the 35-27 victory.

Good hard fought game by RaiderBill!!!

19  Phoenix 16 at New York(N) 17
IN ANOTHER THRILLING GAME BETWEEN THE NY GIANTS AND P. CARDINALS, THE GIANTS WERE ABLE TO PREVAIL WITH A 17-16 VICTORY
THE GIANTS JUMPED OFF TO A QUICK 10-0 LEAD. WITH 13 SECONDS LEFT IN THE FIRST HALF, THE CARDS HAD THE BALL ON THE GIANTS 41 YARD LINE.
GIANTS WERE IN A PASS DEFENSE. CARDS J. BAILEY THEN RAN FOR A 41 YARD TD.

THE SCORE WAS 17-16 GIANTS WITH LITTLE TIME LEFT IN THE GAME. THE CARDS HAD THE BALL ON THEIR OWN 34 YARDS LINE. IN 4 PLAYS THE CARDS
ADVANCED INTO GIANT TERITORY. WITH UNDER A MINUTE LEFT, GIANT SAFTEY GREGG JACKSON INTERCERPTED A STEVE BEUERLEIN PASS TO SEAL THE VICTORY FOR THE GIANTS.

THE GIANTS 3 VICTORIES OVER THE CARDS THIS YEAR WERE BY A TOTAL OF
5 POINTS. THANKS TO SCOTT FOR 3 VERY EXCITING GAMES