NFL playoffs, 2000-01

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The NFL playoffs following the 2000 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXV.

Playoff seeds
Seed	AFC	NFC
1	Tennessee Titans (Central winner)	New York Giants (East winner)
2	Oakland Raiders (West winner)	Minnesota Vikings (Central winner)
3	Miami Dolphins (East winner)	New Orleans Saints (West winner)
4	Baltimore Ravens	Philadelphia Eagles
5	Denver Broncos	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6	Indianapolis Colts	St. Louis Rams

Contents 1 Wild Card playoffs 1.1 December 30, 2000 1.1.1 AFC: Miami Dolphins 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT) 1.1.2 NFC: New Orleans Saints 31, St. Louis Rams 28 1.2 December 31, 2000 1.2.1 AFC: Baltimore Ravens 21, Denver Broncos 3 1.2.2 NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 21, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 2 Divisional playoffs 2.1 January 6, 2001 2.1.1 NFC: Minnesota Vikings 34, New Orleans Saints 16 2.1.2 AFC: Oakland Raiders 27, Miami Dolphins 0 2.2 January 7, 2001 2.2.1 AFC: Baltimore Ravens 24, Tennessee Titans 10 2.2.2 NFC: New York Giants 20, Philadelphia Eagles 10 3 Conference Championships 3.1 January 14, 2001 3.1.1 NFC: Giants 41, Minnesota Vikings 0 3.1.2 AFC: Baltimore Ravens 16, Oakland Raiders 3 4 Super Bowl 5 Bracket 6 Notes 7 References

[edit] Wild Card playoffs

[edit] December 30, 2000

[edit] AFC: Miami Dolphins 23, Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Colts	3	11	0	3	0	17
Dolphins	0	0	7	10	6	23

at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 61 °F (Clear)
• TV announcers (ABC): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, and Paul Maguire
• Referee: Jeff Triplette
• Game Attendance: 73,193

Starting Quarterbacks:

• Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning 18
• Miami Dolphins - Jay Fiedler 9

The Dolphins overcame three first half turnovers as running back Lamar Smith set a playoff record with 40 carries for 209 yards, including the game winning 17-yard touchdown in overtime. The Colts scored first midway through the first quarter with a 32-yard field goal by kicker Mike Vanderjagt. Miami threatened to score late in the first period, but Indianapolis safety Chad Cota intercepted quarterback Jay Fiedler's pass in the end zone. Two more interceptions by the Colts in the second quarter led to 11 points, including quarterback Peyton Manning's 17-yard pass to Jerome Pathon to take a 14-0 lead by halftime. The Dolphins then took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 70 yards in 11 plays to score on Smith's 2-yard touchdown run to cut the lead in half. The teams then traded field goals, including Vanderjagt's 50-yard field goal with 4:55 remaining in the game. But Miami tied the game on Fiedler's 9-yard touchdown pass to Jed Weaver with 34 seconds left.

The Dolphins won the toss in overtime, but after a holding penalty they were forced to punt, and the Colts then advanced into Miami territory. Faced with a third down and 12 yards to go from the Dolphins 42-yard line, Manning completed an 11-yard pass to Marvin Harrison. The Dolphins were offside on the play, but the Colts elected to take the result of the play and attempt a 49-yard field goal on fourth down to win the game. However, Vanderjagt's kick was wide right. The Dolphins then marched 61 yards in 11 plays, ending with Smith's game winning touchdown.

• Scoring
  • IND - FG Vanderjagt 32
  • IND - FG Vanderjagt 26
  • IND - Pathon 17 pass from Manning (Dilger pass from Manning)
  • MIA - Smith 2 run (Mare kick)
  • MIA - FG Mare 28
  • IND - FG Vanderjagt 50
  • MIA - Weaver 9 pass from Fiedler (Mare kick)
  • MIA - Smith 17 run

[edit] NFC: New Orleans Saints 31, St. Louis Rams 28

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	7	0	0	21	28
Saints	0	10	7	14	31

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Indoors (Domed stadium)
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Dennis Miller, and Dan Fouts
• Referee: Gerald Austin
• Game Attendance: 64,900

Starting Quarterbacks:

• St. Louis Rams - Kurt Warner 13
• New Orleans Saints - Aaron Brooks 2

The Saints won their first playoff game in their 34-year history with quarterback Aaron Brooks' 266 passing yards and four touchdowns, and by holding off the Rams who scored three touchdowns in the final quarter. St. Louis scored on their first drive, marching 68 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead with quarterback Kurt Warner's 17-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce. But New Orleans then scored 31 unanswered points, beginning with Brooks' 12-yard touchdown pass to Robert Wilson on their ensuing possession. Sammy Knight's 52-yard interception return set up kicker Doug Brien's 33-yard field goal to give the Saints a 10-7 lead by halftime. Then early in the third quarter, Chris Oldham's interception setup Brooks' 10-yard touchdown pass to Willie Jackson. Two more touchdown receptions by Jackson gave the Saints a 31-7 lead with 11:57 remaining.

But the Rams cut the deficit to 31-13 on their ensuing drive after Warner's 17 pass to Ricky Proehl (the two-point conversion failed). With 6:28 left in the game, St. Louis had the ball inside the New Orleans 10-yard line but Knight recorded his second interception to halt the drive. However, the Saints were forced to punt and the Rams marched 62 yards on just 3 plays to score on running back Marshall Faulk's 25-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead 31-20 with 3:52 left. The Rams' Dre' Bly recovered the ensuing onside kick to set up Warner's 5-yard touchdown run. Faulk's reception on the two-point conversion cut the lead, 31-28, with 2:36 left. St. Louis failed to recover their second onside kick attempt but forced New Orleans to punt. However, the punt was muffed by Az-Zahir Hakim, and the Saints' Brian Milne recovered the ball to seal the victory. Jackson caught 6 passes for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns. Warner finished the game with 365 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, but was intercepted 3 times.

• Scoring
  • STL - Bruce 17 pass from Warner (Wilkins kick)
  • NO - Wilson 12 pass from Brooks (Brian kick)
  • NO - FG Brian 33
  • NO - Jackson 10 pass from Brooks (Brian kick)
  • NO - Jackson 49 pass from Brooks (Brian kick)
  • NO - Jackson 16 pass from Brooks (Brian kick)
  • STL - Proehl 17 pass from Warner (Two-point conversion failed)
  • STL - Faulk 25 pass from Warner (Wilkins kick)
  • STL - Warner 5 run (Faulk pass from Warner)

[edit] December 31, 2000

[edit] AFC: Baltimore Ravens 21, Denver Broncos 3

	1	2	3	4	Total
Broncos	0	3	0	0	3
Ravens	0	14	7	0	21

at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 37 °F (Clear)
• TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms
• Referee: Larry Nemmers
• Game Attendance: 69,638

Starting Quarterbacks:

• Denver Broncos - Gus Frerotte 12
• Baltimore Ravens - Trent Dilfer 8

The Ravens defense held the Broncos' offense to only 177 total yards, 42 rushing yards, 9 first downs, and 3 points. Baltimore also recorded five sacks and held running back Mike Anderson, who rushed for over 1,500 yards during the season, to 40 yards on 15 carries.

Baltimore scored first early in the second quarter with running back Jamal Lewis' 1-yard touchdown run. Broncos kicker Jason Elam kicked a 31-yard field goal with 4:31 remaining in the first half to cut the lead 7-3. But on the Ravens' next drive, tight end Shannon Sharpe scored on a 58-yard touchdown reception after he caught a Dilfer pass that Lewis bobbled, and ran all the way into the end zone. Lewis then capped the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He finished the game with 110 rushing yards, one reception for 15 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

This was the first time the Broncos were ever prevented from scoring a touchdowns in 28 postseason games over a span of three decades.

• Scoring
  • BAL - Ja. Lewis 1 run (Stover kick)
  • DEN - FG Elam 31
  • BAL - Sharpe 58 pass from Dilfer (Stover kick)
  • BAL - Ja. Lewis 27 run (Stover kick)

[edit] NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 21, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3

	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	0	3	0	0	3
Eagles	0	14	0	7	21

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 35 °F (Cloudy)
• TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Referee: Mike Carey
• Game Attendance: 65,813

Starting Quarterbacks:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Shaun King 10
• Philadelphia Eagles - Donovan McNabb 5

The Eagles defense held Tampa Bay to only 199 total yards and 11 first downs. The Buccaneers scored first early in the second quarter with Martin Gramatica's 29-yard field goal. But late in the period, the Eagles' Hugh Douglas forced Tampa Bay quarterback Shaun King to fumble, and Mike Mamula recovered the loose ball at the Buccaneers 15-yard line. The turnover set up Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb's 5-yard touchdown run. Tampa Bay then punted on their next possession and the Eagles marched 69 yards on 8 plays to take a 14-3 on Na Brown's 5-yard touchdown reception with 12 seconds left in the half. Philadelphia then shut out the Buccaneers in the second half, while McNabb threw a 2-yard pass to Jeff Thomason with less than a minute left in the game to seal the victory.

• Scoring
  • TB - FG Gramatica 29
  • PHI - McNabb 5 run (Akers kick)
  • PHI - Brown 5 pass from McNabb (Akers kick)
  • PHI - Thomason 2 pass from McNabb (Akers kick)

[edit] Divisional playoffs

[edit] January 6, 2001

[edit] NFC: Minnesota Vikings 34, New Orleans Saints 16

	1	2	3	4	Total
Saints	3	0	7	6	16
Vikings	10	7	10	7	34

at Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST
• Game weather: Indoors (Domed stadium)
• TV announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen
• Referee: Walt Coleman
• Game Attendance: 63,881

Starting Quarterbacks:

• New Orleans Saints - Aaron Brooks 2
• Minnesota Vikings - Daunte Culpepper 11

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper led the Vikings to a victory with 305 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. Culpepper threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Randy Moss on the game's third play from scrimmage. Culpepper then recorded a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cris Carter and a 68-yard pass to Moss. Robert Tate's interception in the third quarter set up Robert Smith's 2-yard touchdown run to seal the victory. Meanwhile, the Saints could only score a field goal and two touchdown passes from quarterback Aaron Brooks. 35-year old Carter had the best postseason performance of his career, catching 8 passes for a career high 120 yards and a touchdown, while Moss recorded 121 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 2 receptions. Saints receiver Willie Jackson caught 9 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in the final postseason game of his career.

• Scoring
  • MIN - Moss 53 pass from Culpepper (Anderson kick)
  • NO - FG Brian 33
  • MIN - FG Anderson 24
  • MIN - Carter 17 pass from Culpepper (Anderson kick)
  • MIN - Moss 68 pass from Culpepper (Anderson kick)
  • NO - Stachelski 2 pass from Brooks (Brian kick)
  • MIN - FG Anderson 44
  • MIN - Smith 2 run (Anderson kick)
  • NO - Jackson 48 pass from Brooks (Two-point conversion failed)

[edit] AFC: Oakland Raiders 27, Miami Dolphins 0

	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	0	0	0	0	0
Raiders	10	10	7	0	27

at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: 59 °F (Clear)
• TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms
• Referee: Phil Luckett
• Game Attendance: 61,998

Starting Quarterbacks:

• Miami Dolphins - Jay Fiedler 9
• Oakland Raiders - Rich Gannon 12

The Raiders scored 20 points in the first half, recorded 140 rushing yards, and forced 4 turnovers to shut out the Dolphins. In the first period, Miami threatened to score first, but Tory James intercepted quarterback Fiedler's pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. Then, Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski scored two field goals on the team's next two possessions. Later, Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson recovered Dolphins running back Lamar Smith's fumble to set up quarterback Rich Gannon's 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver James Jett to increase the lead, 20-0. The Raiders then capped the scoring after taking the opening kickoff of the second half and marching 54 yards in 12 plays to reach the end zone on running back Tyrone Wheatley's 2-yard touchdown run.

• Scoring
  • OAK - James 90 interception return (Janikowski kick)
  • OAK - FG Janikowski 36
  • OAK - FG Janikowski 33
  • OAK - Jett 6 pass from Gannon (Janikowski kick)
  • OAK - Wheatley 2 run (Janikowski kick)

[edit] January 7, 2001

[edit] AFC: Baltimore Ravens 24, Tennessee Titans 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ravens	0	7	3	14	24
Titans	7	0	3	0	10

at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST
• Game weather: 55 °F (Cloudy)
• TV announcers (CBS): Dick Enberg and Dan Dierdorf
• Referee: Bernie Kukar
• Game Attendance: 68,527

Starting Quarterbacks:

• Baltimore Ravens - Trent Dilfer 8
• Tennessee Titans - Steve McNair 9

Even though they had only 134 yards of total offense and six first downs, the Ravens broke a 10-10 tie in the fourth quarter with Anthony Mitchell's 90-yard return of a blocked field goal and Ray Lewis' 50-yard interception return. The Titans scored first on the game's opening drive after marching 68 yards in 11 plays to reach the end zone on running back Eddie George's 2 yard touchdown run. But Baltimore tied the game early in the second quarter after quarterback Trent Dilfer's 56-yard pass to Shannon Sharpe set up running back Jamal Lewis's 1 -yard touchdown run. Tennessee kicker Al Del Greco attempted two field goals before halftime, but his 45-yarder was blocked and he missed a 31-yarder. The teams then traded field goals in the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Greco's field goal attempt was blocked, Mitchell caught the ball, and ran 90 yards to the end zone to give the Ravens a 17-10 lead. The Titans then had the ball near midfield with 6:55 remaining, but Ray Lewis' 50-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the victory for Baltimore.

• Scoring
  • TEN - George 2 run (Del Greco kick)
  • BAL - Ja. Lewis 1 run (Stover kick)
  • TEN - FG Del Greco 21
  • BAL - FG Stover 38
  • BAL - Mitchell 90 blocked field goal return (Stover kick)
  • BAL - R. Lewis 50 interception return (Stover kick)

[edit] NFC: New York Giants 20, Philadelphia Eagles 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	3	0	7	10
Giants	7	10	0	3	20

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 42 °F (Cloudy)
• TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Referee: Ed Hochuli
• Game Attendance: 78,765

Starting Quarterbacks:

• Philadelphia Eagles - Donovan McNabb 5
• New York Giants - Kerry Collins 5

The Eagles never recovered after the Giants' Ron Dixon returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Philadelphia failed to get a first down on their first three possessions. Then on the Eagles fourth drive, Torrance Small fumbled and Dave Thomas recovered the loose ball to set up Brad Daluiso's 37-yard field goal. Then late in the second quarter, cornerback Jason Sehorn's 32-yard interception return for a touchdown increased the Giants' lead, 17-0. After the teams exchanged field goals, the Eagles finally scored a touchdown during the game's final minutes on quarterback Donovan McNabb's 10-yard pass to Small.

• Scoring
  • NYG - Dixon 97 kickoff return (Daluiso kick)
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 37
  • NYG - Sehorn 32 interception return (Daluiso kick)
  • PHI - FG Akers 28
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 25
  • PHI - Small 10 pass from McNabb (Akers kick)

[edit] Conference Championships

[edit] January 14, 2001

[edit] NFC: Giants 41, Minnesota Vikings 0

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	0	0	0	0
Giants	14	20	7	0	41

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 40 °F (Cloudy)
• TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall and John Madden
• Referee: Tony Corrente
• Game Attendance: 79,310

Starting Quarterbacks:

• Minnesota Vikings - Daunte Culpepper 11
• New York Giants - Kerry Collins 5

Quarterback Kerry Collins led the Giants to a victory by throwing for 381 yards and 5 touchdowns, tying a postseason record for touchdown passes set by Sid Luckman in 1943. Meanwhile, the Giants shutout the Vikings by limiting them to only 114 offensive yards, sacking quarterback Daunte Culpepper 4 times, and forcing 5 turnovers. New York wide receiver Ike Hilliard had 10 receptions for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Minnesota sports community sometimes refers to this as "41–doughnut" after a post game comment from Randy Moss: "I was just talking to Daunte, and 41-to-doughnut, I think that's the worst defeat I've ever been in my life." ^[1] Culpepper completed only 13 of 28 passes for 78 yards, with 3 interceptions, while Moss caught only 2 passes for 18 yards.

Minnesota got off to a bad start and never recovered. After the opening kickoff, Collins led the Giants 74 yards in just 4 plays, scoring on a 46-yard touchdown pass to Hilliard to give them a 7–0 lead less than 2 minutes into the game. Then Vikings kick returner Moe Williams fumbled the ensuing kickoff at his own 18-yard line and Collins capitalized with an 18-yard touchdown pass to fullback Greg Comella on the next play, giving New York a 14–0 lead before the Vikings offense had even stepped onto the field. No one else was able to score for the rest of the first quarter, but in the second period, the Giants added 20 points to their lead with 2 field goals from Brad Daluiso and 2 more touchdown passes by Collins, one to Hilliard and one to Joe Jurevicius.

By the time the first half ended, New York had scored 34 points (more then they had scored in any of their regular season games) and gained 386 yards, while holding the Vikings to 45.

In the third quarter, Culpepper lost a fumble while being sacked by safety Shaun Williams, and Cornelius Griffin recovered the ball, setting up Amani Toomer's 7-yard touchdown reception to close out the scoring.

• Scoring
  • NYG - Hilliard 46 pass from Collins (Daluiso kick)
  • NYG - Comella 18 pass from Collins (Daluiso kick)
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 21
  • NYG - Jurevicius 8 pass from Collins (Daluiso kick)
  • NYG - FG Daluiso 22
  • NYG - Hilliard 7 pass from Collins (Daluiso kick)
  • NYG - Toomer 7 pass from Collins (Daluiso kick)

[edit] AFC: Baltimore Ravens 16, Oakland Raiders 3

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ravens	0	10	3	3	16
Raiders	0	0	3	0	3

at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California

• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: 55 °F (Clear)
• TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms
• Referee: Bill Carollo
• Game Attendance: 62,784

Starting Quarterbacks:

• Baltimore Ravens - Trent Dilfer 8
• Oakland Raiders - Rich Gannon 12

The Ravens forced 4 interceptions and held the Raiders offense to only 191 total yards, 17 rushing yards, and 3 points. Ravens kicker Matt Stover also made 3 field goals. Meanwhile, Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon was knocked out of the game by a ferocious hit from Baltimore defensive lineman Tony Siragusa. He returned briefly in the second half, but was ineffective and was replaced by Bobby Hoying.

Late in the first quarter, the Ravens had a great scoring opportunity when defensive back Robert Baily intercepted a pass from Gannon at the Raiders 19-yard line. But Baltimore could only gain one yard with their next three plays and then Stover hit the right upright on a 36-yard field goal attempt. Oakland was forced to punt on their ensuing possession, and Shane Lechler's 56-yard kick pinned the Ravens deep in their own territory. A few plays later, facing a third down and 18 yards to go from their 4-yard line, Baltimore tight end Shannon Sharpe caught a short pass and ran 96 yards for a touchdown.

Gannon was knocked out of the game and replaced by Hoying on the Raiders next drive. Ravens defensive back Duane Starks subsequently intercepted Hoying's first pass of the game, setting up Stover's 31-yard field goal to give his team a 10-0 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, Oakland drove to a first down on the Ravens 2-yard line. But they could not penetrate the end zone. First Tyrone Wheatley was dropped for a 1-yard loss. Then Gannon was sacked on second down by Jamie Sharper. On third down, Gannon's pass was incomplete and the Raiders had to settle for Sabastian Janikowski's field goal to cut the score to 10-3. The Ravens then took the ensuing kickoff and stormed right back, driving 51 yards and scoring with another field goal by Stover. Stover later kicked his third field goal to close out the scoring in the fourth quarter. With 4:30 left in the game, Raiders receiver Andre Rison caught a touchdown pass, but committed pass interference before making the catch and the score was called back.

• Scoring
  • BAL - Sharpe 96 pass from Dilfer (Stover kick)
  • BAL - FG Stover 31
  • OAK - FG Janikowski 24
  • BAL - FG Stover 28
  • BAL - FG Stover 21

[edit] Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XXXV

Baltimore Ravens (AFC) 34, New York Giants (NFC) 7 at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

[edit] Bracket

	December 30 - Pro Player Stadium					January 7 - Adelphia Coliseum
	5	Denver	3
						4	Baltimore	24
	4	Baltimore	21								January 14 - Network Associates Coliseum
						1	Tennessee	10
						AFC
	December 31 - PSINet Stadium										4	Baltimore	16
						January 6 - Network Associates Coliseum
											2	Oakland	3
	6	Indianapolis	17								AFC Championship
						3	Miami	0
	3	Miami	23													January 28 - Raymond James Stadium
						2	Oakland	27
	Wild Card Playoffs
						Divisional Playoffs
	December 30 - Louisiana Superdome															A4	Baltimore	34
						January 6 - Metrodome
																N1	N.Y. Giants	7
	6	St. Louis	28													Super Bowl XXXV
						3	New Orleans	16
	3	New Orleans	31								January 14 - Giants Stadium
						2	Minnesota	34
						NFC
	December 31 - Veterans Stadium										2	Minnesota	0
						January 7 - Giants Stadium
											1	N.Y. Giants	41
	5	Tampa Bay	3								NFC Championship
						4	Philadelphia	10
	4	Philadelphia	21
						1	N.Y. Giants	20

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Stroud, Rick (2001-01-15). Giants win 41–0, and even they can hardly believe it. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.

[edit] References

• 2000-01 NFL playoffs from CNNSI.com (Last accessed January 12, 2006)
• NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book (ISBN 0-7611-2480-2)