The Official NFL Playoffs Thread...

[MAX]

Thanks folks.

As for the "Elway" jokes, go fuck yourselves. lmao :p

PA,

I'm sorry bro and I do mean that cos I do like The Pats and the pass interference call was bogus. Even I can admit that. Still, it wouldn't have changed the outcome IMO. We were going to win, I just knew it at the half. I was all decked out in Bronco geeya. I even had on my decade old, exact and "lucky" Elway jersey I wore during SB XXXII and my huge, foam horse-head Bronco hat. Also, sorry for not replying when you were online but things got a little crazy this evening. I started to but... lol We haven't been this crazy since '99. Gosh, I cannot believe it's been that long ago? :eek:
Needless to say, a few of us did a bit of drinkin'.

Now, I fucking hope The Steelers knock off Indy tomorrow. It would be cool to have another AFC Championship re-match, sort of a deja vu of the '97 season when we beat them to go on and get our first title. lol :p

If not, I hope we can thump The Colts and get their collective playoff monkey off our back once and for all.

Poj,

I'll agree about both games bein' beyond a bit boring today. However, the few fuckin' big plays in Denver had a few of us bouncing off the walls. lol

Best of luck to The Steelers tomorrow for you two hombres. I'll fuckin' be rooting for them like no other.

Again, props to The Pats as well. Class act team fo sho.

Do you believe? Don't you trust me?

Mile High Magic!!!

[MAX]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
1. Never count on Jake The Flake

2. Done.

LMAO!!!

I would say congrats but with you old AFC WEST motherfuckers, you'll never learn. :p

Bash The Boz 2006 style.

Hopefully we can get the next one and you can too...

Just so we can thump your collective asses just like the old days.

Anyway and seriously, nice win Kippy.

[POJO_Risin]

Originally posted by MAX
Now, I fucking hope The Steelers knock off Indy tomorrow. It would be cool to have another AFC Championship re-match, sort of a deja vu of the '97 season when we beat them to go on and get our first title. lol :p

Best of luck to The Steelers tomorrow for you two hombres. I'll fuckin' be rooting for them like no other.

Ah yes...the lucky win...remember it well...lmfao...

and be very careful what you wish for...

[MAX]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
Ah yes...the lucky win...remember it well...lmfao...

and be very careful what you wish for...

"Lucky win" my ass.

I STILL remember Krydell throwing that pick and Romo saying right to his face "STUPID!!! STUPID!!! STUPID!!!" lmao

[POJO_Risin]

Some good Colt memories....

Redemption
1995 AFC Championship Game
vs. Indianapolis Colts
January 14, 1996

After the debacle in the 1994 Championship Game, the Steelers devoted the entire 1995 season to redeeming that loss to the Chargers. The goal and theme for the year was "three more yards", because the Steelers had been stopped on the three yard line the year before. The 1995 season started off slowly, but the Steelers came back and finished with an 11-5 record. The Kansas City Chiefs finished with a 13-3 record, so they had the homefield advantage in the AFC. However, in the divisional playoffs the Chiefs were upset by the upstart Indianapolis Colts. Behind QB Jim Harbaugh, the Colts put together a cinderella season, and to the surprise of everyone they were going to play for the right to go to the Super Bowl. The Steelers got to host the Championship Game for the second straight year, but it there was an eerie feeling of deja' vu surrounding this game. It was very similar to the previous year. The Steelers were the heavy favorites and everyone expected them to win. Still, they couldn't let tragedy strike two years in a row, could they? As the game progressed, it became apparent that the Steelers were in for a tough game. At halftime, the Steelers grabbed a 10-7 lead thanks to a late 5 yard TD pass from Neil O'Donnell to Kordell Stewart. There was controversy on the play. The replay showed that Stewart had stepped out of bounds in the back of the endzone, and then had come back in to make the catch (illegal touching). It was difficult to determine if Stewart had stepped out or if he was pushed out. Anyway, there was no flag and the TD stood. The Colts and Steelers traded FG's in the third quarter.

As the game wound down to the final 10 minutes, nobody wanted to speak of the horror of the previous year's game. In that game, the Steelers led the Chargers 13-10 in the 4th when Stan Humphries hit Tony Martin for a 43 yard TD bomb which cost the Steelers the AFC Championship. To the complete shock of everyone watching, it happened again. With just under nine minutes remaining, Jim Harbaugh threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Floyd Turner. The Colts had taken the lead - it really was deja' vu. The Steelers were in dismay. All the focus on "three more yards" and now it had come down to this again! However, the Steelers were unable to put a drive together. The Colts got the ball back and began attempting to run down the clock. On a key third and 1 play, CB Willie Williams tackled Colts FB Lamont Warren from behind as he was ready to run through a wide open hole. Had Williams not made this incredible tackle, the Colts would have got a huge gain, and would have probably been able to run out the clock. So the Steelers got the ball back with a chance to finish off the drive they failed on the previous year. Neil O'Donnell and his great group of receivers began stringing together some plays, but at midfield the drive began to stall. Amazingly, the Steelers were faced with 4th and 3. O'Donnell hit Hastings for a 9 yard gain to the Colts 38. On the very next play, O'Donnell threw a bomb down the right sidelines which was pulled in at the one yard line by Ernie Mills. Two plays later Bam Morris ran it in for the touchdown. The Steelers had done it! They had avenged last year's loss...but the game was not over yet. The Colts still had just over one minute left and they had "Captain Comeback" Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh led a furious drive to the Steelers 35, a drive that included a big 4th down conversion. With just a few seconds left in the game and down by 4, the Colts only had only one option - throw the Hail Mary. Harbaugh dropped back and threw it into the corner of the endzone. The ball was tipped several times before it fell to Colts receiver Aaron Bailey, who nearly closed his hands around the ball. Instead the ball fell to the ground. The game was over and the Steelers had won. This was possibly the most dramatic NFL game of the decade. It was certainly one of the great games in Steelers history and their game of the 90's.
Final Score: 20-16


The Aftermath: As we all know, the Steelers would go on to lose Super Bowl XXX. Yes, the Steelers failed in their ultimate goal, but imagine for a moment what it would have been like if the Steelers had lost this game to the Colts. We would have had two years in a row of total disaster. This may be a bit extreme, but if the Steelers had not won this game, it may have had a chain effect of destruction on the franchise. What would they have done the following year for redemption? Would it have ultimately effected the stadium issue which would come about two years later? I don't even want to think about what would have become of the Pittsburgh Steelers had they lost this game. These two teams would meet again in the 1996 playoffs, but it was much less dramatic. The Steelers easily won 42-14.

[POJO_Risin]

1997 AFC Championship Game

Steelers 21, Broncos 24
Elway and Broncos end great Steelers season

Too many mistakes cost the Steelers their shot at playing in their sixth Super Bowl. The thing that really sucked about this game is that we outplayed Denver for the most part and at one point in the game it just seemed like we had them beaten. This game began with a Kirkland interception but Norm Johnson missed a 38 yard field goal, one of many upcoming Pittsburgh mistakes. Denver then drove down the field behind Terrell Davis, who became the first rusher in a while to rack up 100 yards on the Steelers defense. It was 7-0 Broncos, but the Steelers came right back and capped a drive with another Kordell Stewart long run, just like last week. This one was from 33 yards out. Feeling the momentum the Steelers recovered a fumble and again proceeded to drive down the field for a Bettis TD. This was the point of the game where it looked like we had them. Denver kicked a field goal but the Steelers were driving again. That's when it all began to fall apart.

Stewart threw into double coverage in the endzone and was picked off. Then, with under two minutes left, John Elway drove the Broncos down the field for a touchdown not once, but twice. He was aided in this process by two of the cheapest pass interference calls ever. The refs screwed us over all day. If you watched the NFC Championship game, you saw that those refs screwed over the 49ers all day. The NFL wanted Green Bay vs. Denver in the Super Bowl - they wanted Elway vs. Favre. But I'm not going to blame the loss on those calls. The Steelers defense still broke down and allowed both TD's, so nobody write me and get angry because I said the refs cheated us. This is where Pittsburgh lost this game. With 1:47 left in the first half, we were up by four. When time expired, we were down by 10! I could hardly believe it.

As shocking and depressing as the end of the first half was, the start of the second half was important to the Steelers comeback chances, but they managed to shock us even worse then they had already done. After a long drive to open the half, the Steelers had 1st and goal from the Denver 5 yard line. After a failed run, Kordell Stewart for some reason threw a pass right into the middle of three Broncos defenders, and the drive was over with no points at all. This broke the team's spirit. The rest of the half went by quickly, as neither team could put together a drive. Finally, with about 3 minutes left in the game, Kordell hit CJ on a nice 15 yard TD pass, but it was too little too late. Denver got the ball back and ran out the clock. John Elway gets another shot at the Super Bowl, while the Steelers and we, the fans, ponder next season. The young Kordell Stewart could not pull it off today, but he'll have plenty of chances to redeem himself in the future. Although the Steelers really did beat themselves, Denver played great and deserved to win. I won't stoop to their level and cry like they did last time about how if some things would have been different we would've won. None of that can be changed now, so maybe now Denver will finally bring the AFC a Super Bowl win. The Steelers had a great season regardless. Here's the numbers for the game:

Kordell Stewart 18-36 for 201 yards, 1 TD pass, 1 TD rush, 4 turnovers
Jerome Bettis: 23 rushes, 105 yards
Yancey Thigpen: 6 rec, 92 yards.


AFC Championship 1 2 3 4 Final
Denver 7 17 0 0 24
Steelers 7 7 0 7 21


I remember late in the game...Pittsburgh had scored...and had Denver deep in Denver's territory...like 3rd and 7...I remember saying..."if they stop them here...they'll win the game..."

Denver got the first down...game was over...

fucking Stewart...

[MAX]

Bro,

Believe me... I have a lot of those games on tape. Fuckin' magical season.

Seriously man, my fuckin' fingers are crossed for you guys tomorrow. Not just cos I don't wanna play Indy but I too respect The Steelers and Cowher.

I say bring on Indy though as well. As much as The Broncos are disrespected anyway, I'd hate to hear "Oh, the ONLY reason Denver won anything is cos they didn't have to play The Colts..."

Just like when we beat ATL instead of The Viqueens in '99.

Regardless, the ONLY two teams I give a rat's ass about are my Broncs (of course) and Pits. The NFC ain't winning it all no matter what and mark my fucking words.

[POJO_Risin]

This just has a feeling of a strange year though Max...

watch out for the NFC...

in particular...Carolina...

if the Panthers manage to beat the best D tomorrow...and goto Seattle and beat the "best" O in the NFC...

they bring Super Bowl experience (almost...shoulda won)...

a tough D..

and potentially...a great O...if that's the O that shows up...

[MAX]

Poj,

I know the "feeling" for sure and absolutely. With that being said, I also just have a gut feeling that the SB XL Champs are going to be one of the last three AFC teams.

Seriously, I just know it. As thrilled as I am with today's win, I know that next week's game will be bigger and tougher than IF we were to even get to The Super Bowl.

[MAX]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
I remember late in the game...Pittsburgh had scored...and had Denver deep in Denver's territory...like 3rd and 7...I remember saying..."if they stop them here...they'll win the game..."

Denver got the first down...game was over...

Have to rub some salt in your old wounds but I just read your "homo" remarks about Shannon.

It was #84 who caught that first down pass. :p

[Take 'Em]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
This just has a feeling of a strange year though Max...

watch out for the NFC...

in particular...Carolina...

if the Panthers manage to beat the best D tomorrow...and goto Seattle and beat the "best" O in the NFC...

they bring Super Bowl experience (almost...shoulda won)...

a tough D..

and potentially...a great O...if that's the O that shows up...

No way. Da Bears!!!!

[POJO_Risin]

Rex Grossman is the unknown...

I still think the Panthers win this game...

and I don't think it will be close...

[POJO_Risin]

anyone else with thoughts on this game?

I say Carolina wins by at least 7....

[POJO_Risin]

7-0 Carolina...

Steve Smith on a short out...

then bam...

post burns Tillman...

[Dave's PA Rental]

Originally posted by Dave's PA Rental
Steelers will win tomorrow Pojo.

Call it in...

This is why I was #200-something in the country at Pick 'Em...

I just had a feeling...

MAX...Denver was the better team and deserved to win...

Patriots players I blame for the loss...
1. Corey Dillon...I swear to god, he fell down after initial contact with the line of scrimidge like he was shot...
2. Special Teams...two fumbles and a missed field-goal...
3. The Defensive line for letting Jake the Snake make a fucking sandwich while he decided which reciever to throw too...