|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
**REGULAR SEASON** **MFLA 2001 PLAYOFFS** AFC Wild Card Game NFC Wild Card Game AFC Conference Playoffs NFC Conference Playoffs AFC Conference Championship NFC Conference Championship MFLA SUPER BOWL III
MFLA Week Seven Offensive MFLA Week Seven Defensive 1 Interception
|
MFLA Week Seven Oakland 31, Denver 28
Janikowski's 33-yard Field Goal completes comeback win over Division-rival Broncos Vikings, Packers, Jaguars, Patriots, and Lions also win |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March 3, 2001 - Los Angeles MFLA Week Seven saw one previously winless team earn their first victory of the season, and included another contest which saw the greatest comeback in MFLA history recorded. DeMarrio "DMAN" Gray finally got his first win of the season as Coach of the MFLA Minnesota Vikings, when his team knocked off their NFC North Division rival, the MFLA Washington Redskins, coached by Tom Bout, 28-13. But without question, the most exciting contest of Week Seven belonged to the AFC North Division battle between Oscar Torres' MFLA Oakland Raiders, and Fred "King Mur" Castillo's MFLA Denver Broncos. The Broncos led the Raiders 28-0 early in the 3rd Quarter, but Torres' Raiders made an absolutely amazing comeback, outscoring the Broncos 31-0 in the last Quarter and a half to win 31-28. The 28-point deficit was the largest one overcome by far, exceeding the previous deficit of 17 points (which ironically, these same Raiders gave up) which took place in Week Four by the MFLA Baltimore Ravens. The Raiders win over the Broncos is the Week Seven "Game Of The Week." In other games, Defending Super Bowl Champion Jason Lewis, and his MFLA Green Bay Packers, won their fifth straight game, 31-14, over their NFC South Division rival, Brian Smith's MFLA Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Jeremy "Jerm Dog" Gardner and his MFLA Jacksonville Jaguars defeated Eric "Skew" Askew's Tennessee Titans 46-14 in an AFC Battle; and Kevin "K-Ham" Ham's undefeated MFLA New England Patriots routed Craig DeGraff's MFLA New York Jets 52-0. The contest between Tim "Bigg Badd Bevv" Beverly's MFLA Baltimore Ravens and Paul "Sweetness" Neve's MFLA Detroit Lions was rescheduled for sometime later on in the week. There are comebacks, and then there are COMEBACKS. What Oscar Torres and his MFLA Raiders accomplished may forever go down in history as the greatest comeback ever achieved by an MFLA member. Very rarely do you ever see a 28-point deficit overcome in even a casual scrimmage game, let alone a League game. King Mur's Broncos began this game as if they were on their way to blowing out their Division rival Raiders. They led 14-0 at Halftime, and after two interceptions were returned for touchdowns early in the 3rd Quarter by Bronco defensive backs, it surely looked dismal for Torres' Raiders. But fate had a different conclusion waiting than most would expect. The Raiders, led by the sharp passing of QB Rich Gannon, and a key interception by LB Junior Seau, made a monumental comeback that demonstrated the never-say-die character of Torres and his team. There wasn't much scoring done in the First Half, but it was Denver that got on the scoreboard first in the opening quarter. Broncos QB Trent Green found WR Joey Galloway wide open for a 65-yard touchdown. The Broncos led after |
one, 7-0. The remainder of the quarter saw each defense play great football while exchanging defensive stops on one another. The 2nd Quarter was similar, given that there was more good defensive football being played than great offensive football. The Broncos did manage to sustain a lenghty drive that was concluded when Green hit WR Eric Moulds on a 6-yard strike. The Broncos were able to go into the Halftime break with a commanding 14-0 lead. The Broncos defense scored both touchdowns in the 3rd Quarter. First, Broncos CB Ray Crockett intercepted an errant pass by Gannon, and returned it 55-yards for a touchdown. The Broncos lead was now 21-0. Bad luck struck the Raiders offense once again as Gannon once again threw a pass that was picked off. This one was stolen away by Broncos CB Sam Madison, and similar to Crockett's pick, this one was returned 29 yards for a touchdown, to give Denver a seemingly insurmountable lead at 28-0 about two minutes or so into the 3rd Quarter. Now most observers at this point would conclude that this game was in the bag for the AFC North Division-leading Broncos, and that the Raiders would just try to make it 'respectable.' No way. The Raiders finally got going, and boy oh boy, did they get going. First, Gannon led his offensive troops on a fairly quick drive that concluded when HB Napolean Kaufman ran in from the 1-yard line to make it 28-7. Then, after a defensive stop by the Raiders, Gannon once again led his team downfield, this time finding ace WR Jerry Porter open for a 55-yard strike. Porter's touchdown and Kicker Sebastian Janakowski's extra point cut Denver's lead to 28-14 at the end of three. The 4th and final Quarter saw Denver lose their composure, and Oakland complete their determined comeback. After another defensive stop by the Raiders, Gannon quickly found TE Rickey Dudley open for a 5-yard touchdown reception. The Broncos lead was now slim at 28-21. Denver's offense just could not get back into a groove, and soon, Oakland had possession of the ball again. Gannon worked his magic, and this time he tied the score when he found WR Tim Brown open for a 59-yard touchdown. Janikowski's PAT tied the score at 28-28. The Broncos had one last chance to preserve the victory, but it was not to be as Green threw an errant pass right into the hands of Raiders LB Junior Seau. Seau's only interception of the game turned out to be crucial, because it ultimately led to a 33-yard game-winning field goal by Janikowski to give Torres' the thrilling victory. "That was one helluva game!!" said an excited Torres afterwards. Torres' Raiders next visit Slayer Robertson's MFLA St. Louis Rams, while King Mur's Broncos must bounce back as they host K-Ham's MFLA New England Patriots.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Other MFLA Action. . . Minnesota 28, Washington 13
Newly acquired QB Charlie Batch threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns to lead the MFLA Minnesota Vikings to their first victory of the season. WR Marvin Harrison, also recently acquired in a trade with the MFLA Detroit Lions, had 116 yards receiving and one touchdown. DB Kevin Thibodeaux had two sacks to lead the defense. Redskins QB Brad Johnson threw for 157 yards and one touchdown in a losing effort. WR Marcus Robinson was held to 38 yards receiving and one touchdown.
Green Bay 31, Tampa Bay 14
Packers QB Brett Favre threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns, and WR Tony Martin had five receptions for 111 yards receiving and two touchdowns, to lead Green Bay to their fifth consecutive victory. HB Dorsey Levens rushed for 83 yards. CB Antuan Edwards had three sacks for the Packers defense. Bucs QB Donovan McNabb threw for 306 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted three times and sacked six times. Bucs TE Dave Moore had nine receptions for 153 yards and one touchdown.
Jacksonville 46, Tennessee 14
The MFLA Jacksonville Jaguars jumped out to a 23-6 Halftime lead, and never looked back, as they won their second game of the season. Jaguars QB Mark Brunell threw for 339 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for 12 yards and one touchdown, to lead the Jacksonville offense. WR Jimmy Smith had nine receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown, and WR Bobby Engram had 147 yards receiving and two touchdowns. LB Lonnie Marts had five sacks, and LB Kevin Hardy added four sacks to lead the defense. SS Rodney Harrison added two interceptions. Titans QB Steve McNair threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns, but was intercepted six times and sacked ten times. TE Frank Wycheck had nine receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown.
New England 52, NY Jets 0
The MFLA New England Patriots recorded their second straight shutout victory, and 22nd consecutive MFLA Regular Season victory, with their win over their AFC South Division rival, the MFLA New York Jets. QB Drew Bledsoe threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns, and WR Terry Glenn had 216 yards receiving and three touchdowns. HB Corey Dillon rushed for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, DE Willie McGinest had four sacks, and teammate DE Michael Strahan added three sacks. CB Aaron Beasley had one interception. Jets HB Curtis Martin had six receptions for 57 yards in a losing effort.
Detroit 23, Baltimore 13
Lions CB Bryant Westbrook had two key 2nd Half interceptions, and SS Kurt Schulz also had a pick in the 4th Quarter that set up Detroit's go ahead touchdown, to lead the MFLA Detroit Lions to their fifth victory in seven games. Lions QB Troy Aikman threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns, and WR Herman Moore had 106 yards and one touchdown. DE Robert Porcher had two sacks to help lead the defense. Ravens QB Peyton Manning threw for 187 yards and one touchdown, and also had one rushing touchdown. WR Jermaine Lewis had 62 yards receiving.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
