NFL playoffs, 1997-98

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

The NFL playoffs following the 1997 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXII.

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Kansas City Chiefs (West winner) San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
2 Pittsburgh Steelers (Central winner) Green Bay Packers (Central winner)
3 New England Patriots (East winner) New York Giants (East winner)
4 Denver Broncos Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5 Jacksonville Jaguars Detroit Lions
6 Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings

Contents

[edit] Wild Card playoffs

[edit] December 27, 1997

[edit] NFC: Minnesota Vikings 23, New York Giants 22

1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 0 3 7 13 23
Giants 6 13 0 3 22

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

The Vikings scored 10 points (a Jake Reed 30-yard touchdown pass from Randall Cunningham and a field goal) in the final 90 seconds of the game to stun the Giants.

  • Scoring
    • NYG - FG Daluiso 43
    • NYG - FG Daluiso 22
    • NYG - Pierce 2 pass from Kanell (Daluiso kick)
    • NYG - FG Daluiso 41
    • MIN - FG Murray 26
    • NYG - FG Daluiso 41
    • MIN - Hoard 4 run (Murray kick)
    • MIN - FG Murray 26
    • NYG - FG Daluiso 22
    • MIN - Reed 30 pass from Cunningham (Murray kick)
    • MIN - FG Murray 24

[edit] AFC: Denver Broncos 42, Jacksonville Jaguars 17

1 2 3 4 Total
Jaguars 0 7 10 0 17
Broncos 14 7 0 21 42

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Denver ran over the Jaguars with 310 rushing yards and 511 total yards of offense. Denver running back Terrell Davis rushed for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns, while running back Derek Loville racked up 103 yards and 2 scores on just 11 carries. Broncos quarterback John Elway completed 16 of 24 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • DEN - Davis 2 Run (Elam kick)
    • DEN - Smith 43 pass from Elway (Elam kick)
    • DEN - Davis 5 Run (Elam kick)
    • JAC - Means 2 run (Hollis kick)
    • JAC - FG Hollis 38
    • JAC - Davis 29 blocked punt return
    • DEN - Loville 25 run (Elam kick)
    • DEN - Loville 8 run (Elam kick)
    • DEN - Hebron 6 run (Elam kick)

[edit] December 28, 1997

[edit] AFC: New England Patriots 17, Miami Dolphins 3

1 2 3 4 Total
Dolphins 0 0 0 3 3
Patriots 0 7 10 0 17

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

The Patriot defense held Miami to 162 total yards of offense, 42 rushing yards and forced three Dolphins turnovers. Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino was held to just 17 of 43 completions for 141 yards and was intercepted twice.

  • Scoring
    • NE - Brown 24 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)
    • NE - Collins 40 interception return (Vinatieri kick)
    • NE - FG Vinatieri 22
    • MIA - FG Mare 38

[edit] NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Detroit Lions 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Lions 0 0 3 7 10
Buccaneers 3 10 7 0 20

at Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Tampa Bay won their first playoff game since 1979 with quarterback Trent Dilfer's 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Horace Copeland, running back Mike Alstott's 31-yard touchdown run, and two field goals.

  • Scoring
    • TB - FG Husted 22
    • TB - Copland 9 pass from Dilfer (Husted kick)
    • TB - FG Husted 42
    • TB - Alstott 31 run (Husted kick)
    • DET - FG Hanson 33
    • DET - Vardell 1 run (Hanson kick)

[edit] Byes

[edit] Divisional playoffs

[edit] January 3, 1998

[edit] AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 7, New England Patriots 6

1 2 3 4 Total
Patriots 0 3 0 3 6
Steelers 7 0 0 0 7

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Quarterback Kordell Stewart's 40-yard touchdown run made the difference in a defense-dominated game.

  • Scoring
    • PIT - Stewart 40 run (Johnson kick)
    • NE - FG Vinatieri 31
    • NE - FG Vinatieri 46

[edit] NFC: San Francisco 49ers 38, Minnesota Vikings 22

1 2 3 4 Total
Vikings 7 0 7 8 22
49ers 7 14 10 7 38

at 3Com Park, San Francisco

49ers running back Terry Kirby ran for a career-high 120 yards and two touchdowns and 49ers receiver J.J. Stokes caught a career-high nine passes for 101 yards.

  • Scoring
    • SF - Floyd 1 run (Anderson kick)
    • MIN - Carter 66 pass from Cunningham (Murray kick)
    • SF - Kirby 1 run (Anderson kick)
    • SF - Norton 23 interception return (Anderson kick)
    • SF - FG Anderson 34, 8:17.
    • MIN - Carter 3 pass from Cunningham (Murray kick)
    • SF - Owens 15 pass from Young (Anderson kick)
    • SF - Kirby 1 run (Anderson kick)
    • MIN - Hatchette 13 pass from Cunningham (Walsh pass from Cunningham)

[edit] January 4, 1998

[edit] NFC: Green Bay Packers 21, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7

1 2 3 4 Total
Buccaneers 0 0 7 0 7
Packers 7 6 0 8 21

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers running back Dorsey Levens, rushed for a team playoff record of 112 yards and a touchdown while also catching 4 passes for 29 yards as the Green Bay defense held Tampa Bay to 90 rushing yards and forced two interceptions.

  • Scoring
    • GB - Chmura 3 pass from Favre (Longwell kick)
    • GB - FG Longwell 21
    • GB - FG Longwell 32
    • TB - Alstott 6 run (Husted kick)
    • GB - Levens 2 run (Favre run)

[edit] AFC: Denver Broncos 14, Kansas City Chiefs 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Broncos 0 7 0 7 14
Chiefs 0 0 10 0 10

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Denver running back Terrell Davis ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Broncos to victory. Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac threw for 260 yards, but his team could only score 10 points.

  • Scoring
    • DEN - Davis 1 run (Elam kick)
    • KC - FG Stoyanovich 20
    • KC - Gonzalez 12 pass from Grbac (Stoyanovich kick)
    • DEN - Davis 1 run (Elam kick)

[edit] Conference Championships

[edit] January 11, 1998

[edit] AFC: Denver Broncos 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 21

1 2 3 4 Total
Broncos 7 17 0 0 24
Steelers 7 7 0 7 21

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Denver forced three interceptions and a fumble from Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart. After Pittsburgh cut the lead to 24-21 with 2:46 left in the game, the Broncos were able to run out the clock. Terrell Davis rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • DEN - Davis 8 run (Elam kick)
    • PIT - Stewart 33 run (N. Johnson kick)
    • PIT - Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
    • DEN - FG Elam 43
    • DEN - Griffith 15 pass from Elway (Elam kick)
    • DEN - McCaffrey 1 pass from Elway (Elam kick)
    • PIT - C. Johnson 14 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)

[edit] NFC: Green Bay Packers 23, San Francisco 49ers 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Packers 3 10 0 10 23
49ers 0 3 0 7 10

at 3Com Park, San Francisco

Green Bay opened the game by driving to the 3-yard line before fullback William Henderson dropped a would-be touchdown, forcing the Packers to settle for a field goal. Later in the first half, Packers safety Eugene Robinson intercepted Steve Young's pass and returned it 38 yards in what turned out to be a crucial play. Quarterback Brett Favre would then find wide receiver Antonio Freeman slicing across the middle on a slant for a 29-yard touchdown to give the Packers a 10-0 lead. The Packers led 13-3 at the half and although the 49ers would manage a field goal in the second quarter, they would not manage a touchdown until the closing minutes of the game on a kickoff return by Chucky Levy. Favre finished the game with 16 of 27 pass completions for 222 yards, while the Green Bay defense held the 49ers to 33 rushing yards and forced two turnovers. Running back Dorsey Levens recorded a then-playoff team record of 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, while also catching 6 passes for 37 yards. And in addition to his touchdown reception, Freeman caught 4 passes for 107 yards.

  • Scoring
    • GB - FG Longwell 19
    • GB - Freeman 29 pass from Favre (Longwell kick)
    • SF - FG Anderson 28
    • GB - FG Longwell 43
    • GB - FG Longwell 25
    • GB - Levens 5 run (Longwell kick)
    • SF - Levy 95 kickoff return (Anderson kick)

[edit] Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XXXII

Denver Broncos (AFC) 31, Green Bay Packers (NFC) 24, at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

[edit] Bracket

  Wild Card Playoffs Divisional Playoffs Conference Championships Super Bowl XXXII
                                     
5  Detroit 10  
4  Tampa Bay 20  
  4  Tampa Bay 7  
    2  Green Bay 21  
      
        
  2  Green Bay 23  
NFC
  1  San Francisco 10  
6  Minnesota 23  
3  N.Y. Giants 22  
  6  Minnesota 22
    1  San Francisco 38  
      
        
  N2  Green Bay 24
  A4  Denver 31
5  Jacksonville 17  
4  Denver 42  
  4  Denver 14
    1  Kansas City 10  
      
        
  4  Denver 24
AFC
  2  Pittsburgh 21  
6  Miami 3  
3  New England 17  
  3  New England 6
    2  Pittsburgh 7  
      

[edit] References

  • Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
Preceded by:
NFL playoffs, 1996-97		 NFL playoffs
1997-98		 Succeeded by:
NFL playoffs, 1998-99
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../n/f/l/NFL_playoffs%2C_1997-98_9bed.html"