|
 Their combined winning percentage of .944 is the best for two
teams playing each other this deep in the season since 1969, when
the Minnesota Vikings (10-1) met the Los Angeles Rams (11-0). The
combined winning percentage of those teams was .954 coming into the
game on Dec. 7 in the year before the AFL and NFL merged. The Purple
People Eaters prevailed over the Fearsome Foursome, 20-13.
That it has taken 44 years for a repeat of something even close
shows what a chance occurrence that sort of matchup really is.
Indeed, even had they played in the opening week, Denver (8-1) and
Kansas City (9-0) might still be a combined 17-1 coming into this,
Week 11 of the NFL schedule. But had that game come on opening day,
nobody would've recognized it for what it was.
But here they are, getting ready to play twice in the span of three
weeks over a stretch that will go far in determining who wins the
AFC West and, quite possibly, who sets themselves up best for a run
to the Super Bowl.
Here's a Pick 6 of other "Games of the Year" from seasons past.
Requirement to make this list: Both teams had to be at least eight
games into the season.
HOUSTON (7-1) at WASHINGTON (8-0), .938, 1991: Um, that would be the
Houston Oilers, not the Texans, who didn't come along for another
decade or so. These Oilers were coached by Jack Pardee and
quarterbacked by Warren Moon. Moon cracked the 400-yard mark twice
that season and the Oilers won the AFC Central for the first time
since the merger. Houston drove 79 yards to tie this game late, then
recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. But Ian Howfield, who had
missed three extra points the week before, missed a 33-yard kick
that would've won it and the Redskins, on their way to the Super
Bowl title, took the game into overtime, where they won 16-13.
GREEN BAY (10-1) at DALLAS (10-1), .909, 2007: It was the latest of
the many big games between these two teams. Brett Favre came into
the game 0-8 in Texas Stadium and a loss would set up a good chance
he'd have to return there in the playoffs. As it turned out, Favre
didn't make it through the game, replaced by Aaron Rodgers because
of injuries to his elbow and shoulder. Dallas won 37-27 behind 309
yards and four touchdowns from Tony Romo. But the Packers didn't
have to return to Dallas. They fell to New York in the NFC title
game the week after the Giants knocked Dallas out of the postseason,
as well.
[to top of second column] |
NEW YORK GIANTS (10-1) at SAN FRANCISCO (10-1),
.909. 1990: Joe Montana and Phil Simms combined to put up 10
points. Hard to believe. But that's how good the defenses were.
Montana threw for the game's only touchdown in San Francisco's
7-3 win — a Monday night game in front of what was, at the time,
the biggest crowd to attend a game at Candlestick Park. Simms
finished with 153 yards and Montana had 152. Ronnie Lott and
Darryl Pollard broke up passes when the Giants reached the
Niners 9 with about 4 minutes left and Bill Parcells chose to go
for the touchdown on fourth down. The Giants got into field goal
range again later but couldn't kick the winning points because
they'd passed up the easy 3 earlier.
BALTIMORE (9-1) at DENVER (9-1), .900, 1977: The first year of
the Orange Crush. But Baltimore, led by Bert Jones, came in as
pick 'em in most sports books — based on a tough defense and
much more proven squad than the Broncos had at the time. With
the Colts driving and trailing 14-13, Tom Jackson stepped in
front of a Jones pass and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown,
then celebrated by tossing the ball in the stands. The Broncos
won 27-13. Craig Morton completed only eight passes while Jones
went 27 for 46.
INDIANAPOLIS (13-1) at SEATTLE (12-2), .893, 2005: This game
came three days after Colts coach Tony Dungy's son took his
life. The Colts had already clinched home-field advantage
through the playoffs, so Peyton Manning played only a quarter
and most of Indy's best players sat. After the game, the Colts
traveled cross-country to Tampa, Fla., to be with Dungy. The
Seahawks won 28-13 to clinch home-field in the NFC.
INDIANAPOLIS (9-0) at Cincinnati (7-2), .889, 2005: This one,
played five weeks before the Colts faced the Seahawks, lived up
to the hype. Manning threw for 365 yards in a 45-37 win. The
first six possessions resulted in five touchdowns and a field
goal and both quarterbacks — Manning and Carson Palmer —
compiled perfect 158.3 passer ratings over that span. Palmer's
only mistake, an interception in the fourth quarter, led to a
field goal that gave Indy a 45-34 lead with 6:16 left. "You've
got to be perfect," said Palmer, not the first or the last to
talk about the strains of trying to match a Manning-led offense.
"It's unbelievable what they do."
___
AP NFL website:
http://www.pro32.ap.org/
[Associated
Press; EDDIE PELLS, AP National Writer]
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