Happy Wednesday friends, we will be keeping up the football playoffs theme and this week we move on to the best 12 divisional round games. I will embed clips of the game underneath. You will be sent to youtube for the games from the source. Enjoy the list, please comment below (and remember these are only games in my lifetime 90s and later). We want banter from the audience, thanks for the support and enjoy the list!! HOME TEAM in CAPS
#12 (1996) jaguars over BRONCOS 30-27
Broncos fans can forgive me for putting this on the list but who can it not be. The Jags were in their second year of existence and barely sneaked into the postseason at 9-7 and the Broncos were 13-3 (12-1 before resting many of their starters over a finishing 1-2 stretch of meaningless games). The Broncos would jump out to an early 12-0 lead and it appeared the Broncos would dismantle the 12.5 point underdogs from Duvall County. The Jags would bounce back with 13 unanswered before the half before shockingly taking over the game in the second half. The big play was a 16 yard sliding touchdown catch from Jimmy Smith from Mark Brunell late in the 4th to seal one of the biggest upsets in playoff history.
#11 (2003) panthers over RAMS 29-23 (2ot)
It wasn’t that long ago that the Rams were in St Louis and in 2003 they played a back and forth affair with the upstart Panthers. The game would go back and forth early with the Rams having three first half red zone drives stalling as the Panthers would go into the locker room up 10-9. The Panthers lead would grow to 23-12 after fullback Brad Hoover would run in a 7 yard touchdown early in the 4th. The Rams would fiercely come back with 11 unanswered capping off the rally with a 33 yarder from Jeff Wilkins as time expired to force ot. Late in the first ot after some stalled drives the Rams were nearing field goal range at the Panthers 38 but Ricky Manning would intercept Marc Bulger for the third time in the game stealing a potential chance for Wilkins to win it. On the ensuing drive In the first play of the second overtime Jake Delhomme (yes the Jake Delhomme!) threw a 69 yard touchdown to a streaking Steve Smith to seal up the first double ot win. Panthers at Rams was the first double overtime game since 1987 (Browns Vs Jets).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pe_O8eNn5A
#10 (2002) TITANS over steelers 34-31 (ot)
What a fun run for the 02 Steelers as they make our list in back to back game as they played at Tennessee in a divisional round thriller. The Titans would jump out to an early 14-0 lead before the Steelers would come back with 13 in the second quarter to make it a game going into the half. In the second half the game would go back and forth as each team would trade touchdowns before both teams exchanged field goals in the 4th to bring us to a 31 all tie. Steve McNair would get the Titans into field goal range to win the game at the horn but Joe Nedney’s kick sailed right as the game would go to overtime. Back in 2002 a field goal would only be needed for the team who wins the coin toss to win the game and the Titans went and marched right into field goal range. Joe Nedney lined up for a 31 yarder to win it and again the kick sailed wide right but the Steelers Dwayne Washington ran into the kicker (sort of) which gave Nedney another chance. Nedney would get redemption on the second try to give the Titans the win. Bill Cowher sprinting towards the referees and to say Bill was animated would be an understatement.
#9 (1997) broncos over CHIEFS 14-10
The following season the Broncos were back in the divisional round but this time as a 12-4 wildcard team as they headed to Kansas City to play the 13-3 Chiefs. The Chiefs won a thriller in arguably the best regular season game in 1997 when Pete Stoyanovich (remember that name later in this countdown) nailed a 55 yarder at the horn for a 24-22 win. The divisional round game was a defensive bruiser with very little offense on either side of the ball. If you liked old school football I recommend you checking this game out. Terrell Davis would run it in midway through the 4th to give the Broncos a 14-10 lead. The Chiefs would get one last shot but on 4th and 1 from the Broncos 20 with 16 second left but Darien Gordon just got his fingertips to deflect Elvis Grbac’s pass intended for Luke Dawson. The win would help vault the Broncos to their first of back to back Super Bowls.
#8 (2014) PATRIOTS over ravens 35-31
The Patriots haven’t won a super bowl in 10 years and many were doubting if Bill and Tom would ever hoist the Lombardi Trophy again. 2014 would be the year the Pats would get back on top with a thrilling come from behind win over the frisky Ravens. The Ravens would jump out to two different 14 point leads but the Patriots would come back twice. The big game changing play was a 51 yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Julian Edelman to Danny Amendola late in the third to tie up the game at 28. The Pats would take their first lead of the game with 5:13 to play when Tom Brady would hit Brandon Lefell from 23 yards out. Joe Flacco would throw an interception to Devin McCourty on the ensuing drive to seal the game for the Pats. The most memorable moment of the game was in a late game time out the fans since Charlie Blackmon’s walk up song (or the best walkup song in all of baseball!).
#7 (2016) packers over COWBOYS 34-31
This was one of the most memorable runs of Aaron Rodgers career as the Packers would recover from a 4-6 start to win their final six to win the NFC North. In the divisional round the Pack would head to lone star state to play the 13-3 Cowboys. The Packers would go up 28-10 in the third quarter before the Cowboys would make a furious comeback capped off by a Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant touchdown with four minutes to play to tie the game at 28. Teams would trade long field goals before Aaron Rodgers would make a ridiculous sideline pass to Jared Cook for 35 yards with 3 seconds remaining. The play would set up Mason Crosby for what would be a 51 yarder to win the game which would just sail in the left upright. You would see Aaron Rodgers and Mike Mcarthy having an emotional hug as the ball sailed through the uprights which many Packer fans would never believed happened with how that partnership would end.
#6 (2011) 49ERS OVER saints 36-32
The 49ers and Saints squared off in a classic in 2011 in a game which featured the best offense (Saints) against the best defense (49ers) in the league. The 49ers would jump out to a 14-0 lead early and would lead throughout the game before the Saints would finally come all the way back taking a 24-23 lead on a Drew Brees to Darren Sproles 44 yard touchdown with 4 minutes to play. Alex Smith would run it in on the ensuing drive a QB Sweep to put the 49ers back on top 29-24. The Saints would immediately respond with a 66 yard touchdown from Brees to Jimmy Graham with 1:36 left but left Alex Smith too much time on the clock. Alex Smith would hit Vernon Davis on a 47 yard dime to get into field goal range before hitting Davis on a second dime for the game winner with 14 seconds to play. It’s awesome to see many of these stars in this game still play today or just retired even though this game was almost ten years ago.
#5 (1994) CHARGERS OVER dolphins 22-21
We have to sing the San Diego Super Chargers song right? I had to go there with one of the most heartbreaking Dan Marino playoff losses. The Dolphins appeared to be in control going into the half up 21-6. But Stan Humphries and the Bolts would engineer a fierce second half comeback capped off with an 8 yard touchdown pass from Humphries to Mark Seay with 35 seconds left to go up 22-21. 35 seconds left was more than enough time to get Dan Marino into field goal range. But Pete Stoyanovich (remember him!!!) missed a 48 yarder at the horn wide right as the Phins would lose a heartbreaker.
#4 (2012) ravens over BRONCOS 38-35 (2ot)
In a game that was colder than cold (I know because I was there!!!) with temps at 1 degree at kickoff would be one of the longest and most thrilling divisional games of all time. The Ravens and Broncos would exchange touchdowns throughout the game. Trindon Holliday of the Broncos became the first and only player in history to have a punt and kickoff return for a touchdown in the same game. The Broncos would go up 35-28 early in the 4th on a Peyton Manning to Demaryius Thomas touchdown. It appeared the Broncos had the game wrapped up but Joe Flacco completed a 70 yard prayer to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds left when Jones somehow got behind safety Rahim Moore. Late in the first overtime Peyton Manning would throw an interception to Corey Graham which would setup a game winning 47 yarder by Justin Tucker (contrary to what Tucker did last week we all know Justin Tucker doesn’t miss!!). The moment of this one would be Ray Lewis diving onto the field in elation after the kick went through in what would be Lewis last year and eventually a championship run in the land of crab cakes.
#3 (2001) PATROITS over raiders 16-13 (ot)
In what is remember as the tuck rule game or what I like to call the snow game. This would be the game to start the legendary run by one Tom Brady. This was Tom’s first start and Tom would be down 13-3 to Jon Gruden’s Raiders (he was the Raiders coach back in 01 as well watch the video it’s true!!). Brady would run it in himself midway through the 4th to get within 3. The Pats would be driving down the field when Charles Woodson would strip sack Brady on a corner blitz with 1:50 to play with linebacker Greg Biekert. The play would be overturned when what was ruled that Brady pump faked and had the the ball hit out while he was tucking the ball giving the Pats a second chance. Adam Vinatieri would hit a 45 yarder in six inches of snow (or maybe the most memorable clutch field goal in history of game) to force overtime. The Pats would get the ball to start overtime and go down the field to give Vinatieri (remember any score on first possession of ot wins the game at this time) a much more favorable 23 yard field goal to win it.
#2 (2017) VIKINGS OVER saints 29-24
Any modern football fan likely remembers the end of this game in the Viking Den but let’s dissect anyways. The Vikings jumped out to a 17-0 halftime lead before the Saints would make a furious second half comeback. The Saints would eventually go on to 21-20 with 3 minutes to go on a 14 yard touchdown from Brees to Alvin Kamara. The Vikings and Saints would exchange field goals late. Unlike the 49ers game in 2011 the Vikings were left with only only 25 seconds to go and one timeout. The Vikings would would be at their own 39 with ten seconds left and no timeouts left when Case Keenum would throw the ball to Stefon Diggs on the sideline in the moment that would become known as the Mall of America miracle (kidding!!).
#1 (2015) CARDINALS OVER packers 26-20 (ot)
Six years after an epic wildcard game came a much lower scoring but even more insane divisional round game in the desert between the Packers and Cardinals. The Packers would be up 13-10 going into the 4th quarter when the game would change momentum on many turns. Carson Palmer would throw a devastating end zone interception to DeMarious Randall midway through the 4th to hold the slim lead for the Pack. Palmer would get another chance and would look to throw another end zone pick on a deflection when somehow the ball when over the Packers defenders into Cards receiver Michael Floyd’s hand to put the Cards on top. The Packers would be on their own endzone with under 2 minutes left down 20-13 when Aaron Rodgers would complete a 4th and 20 61 yard bomb to Jeff Janis. Then Rodgers on the last play of regulation would complete a 41 yard hailmary while getting tackled at the end of regulation to Janis with two Cards defenders draped on him to force overtime (that Rodgers throw was still the best I’ve ever seen). The Cards would win the coin toss but only after the referees had to flip the coin a second time because the first time the coin didn’t flip. Then on the first play of overtime Carson Palmer threw a pass across his body to Larry Fitzgerald who then would run 75 yards to the Packers 5. Two plays later Fitzgerald would score on a shovel pass in a game that even the broadcasters couldn’t put into words. I’m sure we are due for another crazy Cards Packers playoff game in 2021, we shall see.