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Re: Most "Epic" game you've been a part of?
I was using my Chiefs. It was the AFC Championship game against Peyton Manning and the Colts. My offense, with it's massive offensive line, bruising running game, and tall possession receivers capable of making tough catches over the middle, seemed tailor made to demolish the undersized Colts defensive front. My blitz happy 4-3 Spagnulo pressure defense was similar to the one that helped beat the 07 Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Our offense got the ball first. Dane Morrow, who had efficiently managed games in his second season as a starter, I assumed would be able to pick apart the simple Cover 2 zone scheme the Colts tended to sit back in through deep posts to the WRs and seam routes to TE Drew Goldman, but the rookie had butterflies in his stomach and was erratic early, throwing 3 INTs. The defense, though only average in the secondary, through a relentless pass rush and stoutness against the one back running sets of the Colts held Peyton Manning in check for most of the game.
After Morrow seemingly tried to throw the game in the first quarter, I kept to my offense's bread and butter, the power running game, to the tune of 280 yards rushing. Through a solid defense that prospered in the red zone and a ball control offense that kept the ball away from the other team's future Hall of Famer, we had managed to stay within a field goal of Peyton Manning going into the final five minutes of the fourth quarter. We, like had done for most of the game, pounded the rock inside from the I, Strong, and 2 TE Singleback formations until we made it to the redzone. Though my rookie had done nothing all give to lead me to believe he could be counted on, I put the ball in his hands for three straight plays. Like many Cover 2 defenses in real life, the Colts tended to toughen up, against the pass especially in the redzone. Almost predictibly, Morrow couldn't complete a pass, so we settled for OT.
Much to my delight, we managed to win the OT coin toss and got the first shot at scoring. Like I had done all game, I unleashed Larry Johnson, Leron James, Casey Barone, and JR Meyers all the way on to the cusp of field goal range. It was a cold, windy day and we were kicking into the wind when Leron James fumbled on the 28 yard line. Peyton Manning completed several huge third and longs, when on our 30 yard line Brandon Flowers intercepted Peyton Manning.
With the ball back in my offense's hands with 8 minutes to go, we rushed our way back into FG range. We were on the fifteen yard line when I finally buckled and just let Star Christiansem take a shot. Naturally, he missed. With four minutes to go and the ball in Peyton Manning's hands, I assumed defeat was immanent, but kept my blitzes coming. Derek Johnson, who had 9 sacks that year, came zooming off the edge and stripped Peyton Manning. We managed to get the ball back on the Colts' 45.
With two minutes to go and my QB who had attempted 8 passes over this entire game, I let him air it out. He hit Dwayne Bowe on a deep post for a 20 yard gain. With all my timeouts still in hand, I allowed my running game to take us all the way inside the 5 yard line and let Star Christiansen redeem himself with the game winning FG.
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05-01-2009, 09:55 PM
