Ultimate NFL Tournament: Dolphins Stadium Regional Overview (part 1)
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by user False Prophet
| The Ultimate NFL Championship |
| Intro/Brackets |
| Stadium Overviews |
| LA Coliseum Regional Overview (Part 1) |
| LA Coliseum Regional Overview (Part 2) |
| Dolphins Stadium Regional Overview (Part 1) |
| Aaron Schatz's reseeding of the teams |
| Round 1 Results |
| Round 2 Results |
So now, it's on to the Dolphin Stadium Regional Overview. this entire region's theme is...All team!!! that's right, ever wanted to know wether the '92 or '93 Cowboy team was better? Now's you chance. Let's get on with it:
'79 Steelers
The 1979 season was the last season of the dynasty. Bradshaw threw for over 3,700 yards and 26 touchdowns and John Stallworth had 1183 yards receiving. The Steelers finished 12-4, once again tops in the AFC Central. In the playoffs they defeated the Dolphins 34-14 and the Oilers 27-13, to meet the Los Angeles Rams in their fourth Super Bowl. The Rams played the Steelers tough for three quarters. Bradshaw threw three interceptions, but also had two long touchdown passes in the second half (one to Swann and one to Stallworth). The Rams couldn't counter and Pittsburgh won 31-19. The team's success in this era led to the expansion of its fanbase beyond its geographic region. Even today, Pittsburgh remains among the league leaders in merchandise sales, and draws fans from across the country to its games. This loyal fan following is sometimes called Steeler Nation (predating the similarly popular '70s powerhouse, the Oakland Raiders Raider Nation), the term was coined by NFL Films as the producers studied the phenomenon of fans swarming Three Rivers from all directions and pronounced them the 'Steeler Nation,'. They are known for employing the terrible towel as its unofficial symbol, and as a rallying sign during Steeler's games.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Pittsburgh_Steelers#The_1970.27s:_The_Steel_Curtain_Dynasty
'05 Steelers
Despite losing Plaxico Burress to free agency (he would end up with the New York Giants), the Steelers took some steps to ensure a return to the postseason. They first selected TE Heath Miller from the University of Virginia in the 2005 NFL Draft. Other picks included Florida St. CB Bryant McFadden, Northwestern University OG Trai Essex, Georgia University WR Fred Gibson, and Temple University LB Rian Wallance. In 2005, the Steelers hoped to make another post-season run. Injuries to Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley forced Willie Parker to become the Steelers' starter at running back, and he acquitted himself very well in two convincing wins against the Tennessee Titans (34-7) and Houston Texans (27-7) to open the season. In the next game, however, the visiting New England Patriots handed Ben Roethlisberger his first regular season loss as the Steelers lost the much-hyped rematch of the 2004 AFC Championship Game 23-20. Two weeks later, Pittsburgh came back to defeat the throwback-clad San Diego Chargers 24-22 on a 40-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. The victory proved costly as Roethlisberger suffered an injury when he was hit on his left knee by the helmet of Chargers rookie lineman Luis Castillo. So, Tommy Maddox was named starter for their home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers struggled throughout the game, as Maddox threw two interceptions through regulation, but they managed to tie at 17 going into OT. Unfortunately, Maddox threw a costly interception to Jags DB Rashean Mathis, who returned it 41 yards for a touchdown, as the Steelers fell 23-17. Maddox's off-field arguments with head coach Bill Cowher cost him his #1 back-up spot. Fortunately, "Big Ben" was able to play in their next road game against their division rival, the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite winning 27-13, his left knee would need surgery. Big Ben fought through a lot of pain in the Steeler's 20-19 Monday Night victory over the Baltimore Ravens but reaggravated his knee injuries. Charlie Batch was named the starter and he provided victories over the struggling Green Bay Packers (20-10 on the road), and against their rust belt rival, the Cleveland Browns (34-21 at home), where during the game, wide receiver Hines Ward set the Steelers record for most career receptions (543), breaking Hall of Famer John Stallworth's mark of 537. Unfortunately, Batch broke his hand, which forced him to the sidelines. Tommy Maddox was given the start for their road game against the Ravens, but again, he showed his inefficiency, as the Steelers fell in overtime 16-13. After Roethlisberger's return, the Steelers lost their first two games against the then-undefeated Indianapolis Colts (26-7 on the road) and at home against the resurgent Bengals (38-31), but recovered to win the last four regular season games (21-9 vs. Bears, 18-3 @ Vikings, 41-0 @ Browns, and 35-21 vs. Lions) to clinch the sixth and last seed in the AFC playoffs. [D]uring the last game of the regular season in Pittsburgh, the Steeler fans gave Jerome Bettis a standing ovation when he was taken out of the game in the fourth quarter by Bill Cowher. It was the last game in Pittsburgh for Bettis, as he announced his retirement after the Steelers' ultimate victory in Super Bowl XL. Bettis finished the game with 41 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns, and gave the team a boost after the Lions had taken a 14-7 first quarter lead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Pittsburgh_Steelers#2005_Season:_One_For_The_Thumb.21
'69 Vikings
During the late 1960s, the Vikings were building a powerful defense known as the Purple People Eaters, led by Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, and Jim Marshall. In 1968, that stingy defense earned the Vikings their first Central Division Title and their first playoff berth. In 1969 the Vikings earned a 12-2 record, the best in the NFL. An opening game one-point loss the New York Giants, quarterbacked by former Viking Fran Tarkenton, was followed by twelve consecutive wins. The Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns 27-7 in the NFL Championship Game on January 4, 1970, at Metropolitan Stadium. Minnesota became the first modern NFL expansion team to win an NFL Championship Game, which earned the team a berth in Super Bowl IV. The heavily favored Vikings lost that game to the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-7.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Minnesota_Vikings#1960s
'74 Vikings
The Vikings won the Central Division again in 1974 with a 10-4 record. In the playoffs, they built on their cold weather reputation, defeating both the St. Louis Cardinals 30-14 and the Los Angeles Rams 14-10 in frozen Metropolitan Stadium. The Vikings played in their 2nd straight Super Bowl, Super Bowl IX (3rd overall), losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-6, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans on January 12, 1975.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Minnesota_Vikings#1970s
'91 Bills
The Bills steamrolled through the 1991 regular season as well, finishing 13–3 again and with Thurman Thomas winning the Offensive Player of the Year award. They also had an easy time with the Kansas City Chiefs in their first playoff game and beat the Denver Broncos in a defensive struggle in the AFC Championship. The Bills looked to avenge their heartbreaking Super Bowl loss a year earlier by playing the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI, but it was not to be. The Redskins opened up a 24–0 halftime lead and never looked back, handing the Bills a 37–24 loss.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Buffalo_Bills#1986.E2.80.931997._Levy.E2.80.93Kelly_era
'93 Bills
The Bills won the AFC East championship in 1993 with a 12–4 record, and again won playoff games against the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, setting up a rematch with the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII on January 30, 1994 . The Bills became the only team ever to play in four straight Super Bowls, and looked ready to finally win one when they led at halftime. A Thurman Thomas fumble returned for a touchdown by James Washington tied the game, with Super Bowl MVP Emmitt Smith taking over the rest of the game for the Cowboys and the Bills were stunned again, 30–13.
see citation for '91 bills
'81 Chargers
Team Record: 10-6
Team Offense:
|---------- PASSING -----------||----- RUSHING -----| TOTAL
CMP ATT YD YPA TD INT ATT YD YPA TD YD
368 629 4873 7.75 34 18 481 2005 4.17 26 6878
NFL rank ---> 2 2 1 5 1 7 21 16 10 1 1
Team Defense:
|---------- PASSING -----------||----- RUSHING -----| TOTAL
CMP ATT YD YPA TD INT ATT YD YPA TD YD
313 571 4695 8.22 22 23 491 1825 3.72 25 6520
NFL rank ---> 25 28 28 27 15 11 9 5 7 27 27
'82 Chargers
The 1982 season was shortened by a strike, so all the information deals with the playoffs On January 2, 1982 the Chargers were involved in a memorable overtime playoff game against the Miami Dolphins that became known as The Epic In Miami, ultimately winning 41-38. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts and Dolphins quarterback Don Strock both threw for more than 400 yards, and Chargers tight end Kellen Winslow caught 13 passes for 166 yards and blocked a crucial field goal despite suffering from heat-induced fatigue and cramps. The game began with San Diego building a 24-0 lead and then losing all of it by early in the third quarter. The Chargers then went from the heat of Miami to the bitter cold of Cincinnati, losing the AFC Championship Game to the Bengals in the Freezer Bowl on January 10, by a score of 27-7. It is considered the coldest game ever played in NFL history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_San_Diego_Chargers#1982
Next up, part 2 of the Dolphins stadium regional Overview
