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Old 06-03-2006, 11:55 AM   #56
revrew
Team Chaplain
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Just outside Des Moines, IA
The first week of playoffs was our bye week, and one we desperately needed. Not only did we have players on the mend (QB Turtschin's throwing thumb was severely sprained and swollen up like a Louisiana lobster), but we needed some of our opponents to suffer some attrition before they got to us. Notably, our first opponent, Tampa Bay.

The Tampa/Birmingham rivalry had really heated up over the past two years, as our two teams were widely considered the best in the NFC, unfortunately planted in the same division. The previous year, their division win forced us to play wildcard, even though we had the second best record in the conference. This year, we had done the same to them.

Tampa's passing game had eaten us up in previous years, but the Buccs were without tight end Tony Gonzalez (due to injury), enabling us to get by them, 26-15. Our QB, Turtschin passed 18-26 for 269 yards and a pair of TDs, despite his thumb. Turtschin's leadership on the field and grit-iron persona had made him Rebel fans' most celebrated and honored hero. Looking back, Turtchin's numbers were never exceptional, his talent was always a bit questioned, but like many other great quarterbacks, his intangibles and charisma with the fans cause his name to live on in reverence to this day.

Our second game was against Minnesota, the Vikings coming to town for our second consecutive Birmingham-hosted NFC Championship game. The game itself was really rather dull, despite its 45-13 score. Our defense dominated Minnesota, pinning them deep and creating turnovers that consistently gave our offense a short field. Don't let the 45 points fool you; the Rebels had become a defensive superpower. Many people knew the names of our offensive stars, but the defense--DEs John Abraham and Charles Grant, LBs Daryl Smith and C.J. Atkins, our three-headed safety monster of Smith, Grant, and Brown, and many others--was the heart and soul of that Rebel team.

The 45-13 drubbing we gave the Vikings had us riding high. Even Jeffrey Davis was loosening up his scowl and enjoying the success.

Davis would have a whole new reason to scream and shout, however, following the AFC Championship game. Since week 2 of the regular season, the animosity and political uproar over the New England Patriots/"Yankees" vs. the Birmingham Rebels/"Graycoats" had never stopped raging. Though the Rebel players abided by their own gag order, that didn't stop the media and politicians from making all kinds of commentary. Now the commentary would heat up again.

After winning the NFC Championship game, the Rebels had earned the right to play in the SuperBowl...against the New England Patriots.
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Winner of 6 FOFC Scribe Awards, including 3 Gold Scribes
Founder of the ZFL, 2004 Golden Scribe Dynasty of the Year
Now bringing The Des Moines Dragons back to life, and the joke's on YOU, NFL!
I came to the Crossroad. I took it. And that has made all the difference.
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