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QuikSand · 03-16-2008, 07:18 AM

2034 postseason narrative

Okay, we are in decent health – TE is the only position where we are really clipped, with a guy off the street stepping in to play for us a bit. The week off helped, though, in many slots to get guys up from Q to P.

Divisional Playoff: Waashington (10-7) at Tampa Bay (15-1)

Not the game we had in mind… early fireworks set the stage, and the game was dominated by big plays. We get a big lead and withstand a late rush to hold on, 41-31. DR Darren Newman posts game MVP numbers with 2.5 sacks and 3 hurries. He’s becoming a real force for us.

Conference Title Game: San Francisco (9-9) at Tampa Bay (16-1)

Some kind of joke, right? We are 12 point favorites, and need to show it. It’s a sluggish start, but we get a 10-0 lead, and then strangle them from there. A 30-7 win, completely dominating, sends us on to our second championship game berth.

Championship Game: Tennessee (15-3) vs. Tampa Bay (17-1)

We are favored here, but it looks pretty even to me, really. RB Bennie Thornton is the workhorse back for the Titans, and is still getting it done. First play from scrimmage he rips off a 29 yard carry to set the tone early. They drive for an opening TD, and pick us off on our opening possession, to get ahead by 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.

We connect on one of two FG tries in the second quarter, an Tennessee kicks one of their own just before the half to lead 13-3. Not a dramatic difference in yardage, but we need to get some points on the board if we want to get this one back in reach, obviously.

The third quarter is more give and take, but we fumble a punt and give the Titans a great chance to stretch things out. A one play, 9-yard drive makes it 20-3, and we are close to panic mode now. We respond with our first TD drive of the game – 10 points is a lot better than 17, but time is now starting to loom as the 3rd quarter ends.

We come close to stopping them a couple times, but they convert the big third downs and get into position to kick a FG, to make the score 23-10. We need our offense to click once again to have any hope – but instead we go three and out, and then let the Titans roll right into scoring position again. Their possession eats a ton of clock, and we are dying on defense now. They finish with a 56 yard FG, which is good, but the clock is all the way down to 2 minutes and we trail by 16.

So, what would be nice? How about a kickoff return TD? Done. Two pointer? Done. Game on? Maybe.

We try an onside kick, but Tennessee gets it. And we lack the timeouts to do much – so, all that phony late excitement was really for naught. It’s a 26-18 final, but wasn’t really that close.

RB Bennie Thornton watches their 4/4 kicker get the game MVP award (getting lots of credit for that late 56-yarder that really made no difference, I guess), but he himself posted 134 yards rushing, 29 more receiving, and was clearly the most outstanding player in the game. So it goes – we couldn’t keep him, so we’re glad he could do well elsewhere, I guess, just wish it hadn’t come against us.

03-16-2008, 07:18 AM	#99
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	2034 postseason narrative Okay, we are in decent health – TE is the only position where we are really clipped, with a guy off the street stepping in to play for us a bit. The week off helped, though, in many slots to get guys up from Q to P. Divisional Playoff: Waashington (10-7) at Tampa Bay (15-1) Not the game we had in mind… early fireworks set the stage, and the game was dominated by big plays. We get a big lead and withstand a late rush to hold on, 41-31. DR Darren Newman posts game MVP numbers with 2.5 sacks and 3 hurries. He’s becoming a real force for us. Conference Title Game: San Francisco (9-9) at Tampa Bay (16-1) Some kind of joke, right? We are 12 point favorites, and need to show it. It’s a sluggish start, but we get a 10-0 lead, and then strangle them from there. A 30-7 win, completely dominating, sends us on to our second championship game berth. Championship Game: Tennessee (15-3) vs. Tampa Bay (17-1) We are favored here, but it looks pretty even to me, really. RB Bennie Thornton is the workhorse back for the Titans, and is still getting it done. First play from scrimmage he rips off a 29 yard carry to set the tone early. They drive for an opening TD, and pick us off on our opening possession, to get ahead by 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. We connect on one of two FG tries in the second quarter, an Tennessee kicks one of their own just before the half to lead 13-3. Not a dramatic difference in yardage, but we need to get some points on the board if we want to get this one back in reach, obviously. The third quarter is more give and take, but we fumble a punt and give the Titans a great chance to stretch things out. A one play, 9-yard drive makes it 20-3, and we are close to panic mode now. We respond with our first TD drive of the game – 10 points is a lot better than 17, but time is now starting to loom as the 3rd quarter ends. We come close to stopping them a couple times, but they convert the big third downs and get into position to kick a FG, to make the score 23-10. We need our offense to click once again to have any hope – but instead we go three and out, and then let the Titans roll right into scoring position again. Their possession eats a ton of clock, and we are dying on defense now. They finish with a 56 yard FG, which is good, but the clock is all the way down to 2 minutes and we trail by 16. So, what would be nice? How about a kickoff return TD? Done. Two pointer? Done. Game on? Maybe. We try an onside kick, but Tennessee gets it. And we lack the timeouts to do much – so, all that phony late excitement was really for naught. It’s a 26-18 final, but wasn’t really that close. RB Bennie Thornton watches their 4/4 kicker get the game MVP award (getting lots of credit for that late 56-yarder that really made no difference, I guess), but he himself posted 134 yards rushing, 29 more receiving, and was clearly the most outstanding player in the game. So it goes – we couldn’t keep him, so we’re glad he could do well elsewhere, I guess, just wish it hadn’t come against us.