2005–06 NFL playoffs

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The NFL playoffs following the 2005 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XL.

After scrutiny in the Wild Card and Divisional rounds, the league reversed a three-year precedent, and returned to "all star" officiating crews for the Conference Championship games. Since 2003-04, postseason officiating had been done by entire crews from the regular season.

Six visiting teams won playoff games during this season (Pittsburgh three times, Carolina twice and Washington), the most since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.

For the first time, both #6 seeds advanced to the Divisional Playoffs.

The NFC playoffs featured four matchups between teams that had never faced each other in the postseason before (Carolina-N.Y. Giants, Carolina-Chicago, Carolina-Seattle, and Seattle-Washington), the most since the 1970 merger. The AFC has first seen four first-time matchups during the 1981-82 playoffs.

Within each conference, the four division winners and the top two non-division winners with the best overall regular season records) qualified for the playoffs. The four division winners are seeded 1–4 based on their overall won-lost-tied record, and the wild card teams are seeded 5–6. The NFL does not use a fixed bracket playoff system, and there are no restrictions regarding teams from the same division matching up in any round. In the first round, dubbed the wild-card playoffs or wild-card weekend, the third-seeded division winner hosts the sixth-seed wild card, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. The 1 and 2 seeds from each conference received a first-round bye. In the second round, the divisional playoffs, the number 1 seed hosts the worst-surviving seed from the first round (seed 4, 5, or 6), while the number 2 seed will play the other team (seed 3, 4, or 5). The two surviving teams from each conference's divisional playoff games met in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, hosted by the higher seed. Although the Super Bowl, the championship round of the playoffs, is played at a neutral site, the designated home team is based on an annual rotation by conference.[1]

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Indianapolis Colts (South winner) Seattle Seahawks (West winner)
2 Denver Broncos (West winner) Chicago Bears (North winner)
3 Cincinnati Bengals (North winner) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (South winner)
4 New England Patriots (East winner) New York Giants (East winner)
5 Jacksonville Jaguars (wild card) Carolina Panthers (wild card)
6 Pittsburgh Steelers (wild card) Washington Redskins (wild card)


Wild Card playoffs

Saturday January 7, 2006

NFC: Washington Redskins 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 14 3 0 0 17
Buccaneers 0 3 7 0 10

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Although the Redskins gained only 120 yards on offense, the lowest total in NFL playoff history for a winning team[2], they converted two turnovers into touchdowns. Midway through the first quarter, Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington's 21-yard interception return set up running back Clinton Portis' six-yard touchdown run. Then, Redskins linebacker Marcus Washington recovered Tampa Bay running back Carnell Williams' fumble and returned it seven yards before losing it himself – into the arms of safety Sean Taylor who then ran 51 yards for the Redskins' second touchdown.

Early in the second quarter, Tampa Bay drove 38 yards to the Redskins 24-yard line where Matt Bryant kicked a 43-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 14-3. The Redskins responded with an 10-play, 40-yard drive and scored with 40-yard field goal from John Hall.

In the third quarter, Mark Jones gave the Buccaneers good field position by returning a punt 24 yards to the 49-yard line. Tampa Bay's offense took full advantage of the return, marching on a seven play, 51-yard drive that ended with quarterback Chris Simms' two-yard touchdown run. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay drove to the Redskins 19-yard line, but Washington made a huge stand. First, linebacker Lemar Marshall tackled fullback Mike Alstott for no gain on third down and 1, and then Simms threw an incomplete pass on fourth down.. However, Buccaneers defensive back Brian Kelly gave his team another chance to drive for the tying touchdown by intercepting a pass from Mark Brunell and returning it the Redskins 35-yard line. With 3 minutes left in the game, Tampa Bay wide receiver Edell Shepherd caught what appeared to be a 35-yard touchdown reception, but he lost control of the ball as he was coming down in the end zone. The Buccaneers got one last chance to tie the game when they received a punt at their own 46-yard line with 1:05 left in regulation, but Simms threw a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage and went into the arms of Washington for an interception.

This game was widely regarded by commentators as an "ugly" performance by both teams' offenses, rendering it a largely defensive game[3][4].

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • WAS - Portis 6 run (Hall kick), 8:40. Redskins 7-0. Drive: 1 play, 6 yards, :05.
      • WAS - Taylor 51 fumble return (Hall kick), Redskins 14-0.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • TB - FG Bryant 43, 4:15. Redskins 14-3. Drive: 11 plays, 38 yards, 5:28.
      • WAS - FG Hall 47, 10:02. Redskins 17-3. Drive: 10 plays, 40 yards, 4:28.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • TB - Simms 2 run (Bryant kick), 9:40. Redskins 17-10. Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 3:23.
    • 4th Quarter
      • None.

AFC: New England Patriots 28, Jacksonville Jaguars 3

1 2 3 4 Total
Jaguars 0 3 0 0 3
Patriots 0 7 14 7 28

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Patriots, who for the first time in their dynasty would have to win three games to advance to the Super Bowl, crushed the Jaguars 28-3. Linebacker Willie McGinest set an NFL playoff records for sacks in a game (4.5, 1 sack ahead of the old record held by Richard Dent and Rich Milot) and career postseason sacks (16, two ahead of the old record held by Bruce Smith), while quarterback Tom Brady threw for 201 yards and three touchdown passes.

The first half was dominated by both teams defense. The Jaguars recorded four sacks and held New England to 126 yards, while the Patriots defense recorded two sacks, gave up only 115 yards, and didn't allow a first down until 9:40 remained in the second period. Neither team could score in the first quarter, but early in the second, New England receiver Tim Dwight returned Chris Hanson's 46-yard punt 27 yards to the Jaguars 37-yard line. Two 4-yard runs by Corey Dillon and an 18-yard burst from Kevin Faulk then moved the ball to the 11-yard line, and Brady capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Troy Brown. On Jacksonville's ensuing possession, Jimmy Smith's 19-yard reception his team a first down for the first time in the game and moved the ball to the Patriots 44-yard line. But on the next play, a devastating tackle from safety Eugene Wilson caused Alvin Pearman to fumble the ball, and defensive lineman Richard Seymour recovered it. However, the Patriots could not take advantage of the turnover; Jacksonville managed to force a punt and then drove into scoring range for the first time in the game. Quarterback Byron Leftwich completed five passes for 59 yards on the drive, and Josh Scobee finished it with a 36-yard field goal, cutting their deficit to 7-3. After the kickoff, Faulk's 21-yard reception moved the ball to midfield and gave the Patriots a chance to increase their lead before halftime, but receiver Deion Branch dropped a wide open pass from Brady at the Jaguars 10-yard line with 19 seconds left.

After forcing Jacksonville to punt on the opening drive of the second half, Brady led the Patriots 81-yards in 12 plays. On the 11th play, they nearly turned the ball over when tight end Ben Watson fumbled the ball on the Jaguars 5-yard line, but receiver Andre Davis recovered the ball, and Brady threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to David Givens on the next play. Then after forcing a punt, Brady threw a short pass to Watson who broke several tackles enroute to a 63-yard score, increasing New England's lead to 21-3. After the kickoff, Leftwich led his team to the Patriots 32-yard line, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, defensive back Asante Samuel intercepted Leftwich's pass and took off for 73-yard touchdown return, making the score 28-3. After that, Jacksonville mounted two more scoring threats, but could not come away with any points. First they drove to the Patriots 8-yard line. But on third down and 2, McGinest sacked Leftwich for a 15-yard loss and Scobee missed a 41-yard field goal attempt on the next play. Then after forcing a punt, they drove to the Patriots 6-yard line, but ended up turning the ball over downs with 5 minutes left in the game.

This game also marked three career playoff records: Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick set records for 10 straight postseason victories, eclipsing Vince Lombardi's run with the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s.

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • None.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • NE - Brown 11 pass from Brady (Vinatieri kick), 12:08. Patriots 7-0. Drive: 6 plays, 37 yards, 2:05
      • JAX - FG Scobee 36, 1:05. Patriots 7-3. Drive: 12 plays, 56 yards, 5:45.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • NE - Givens 3 pass from Brady (Vinatieri kick), 7:13. Patriots 14-3. Drive: 12 plays, 81 yards, 6:42.
      • NE - Watson 63 pass from Brady (Vinatieri kick), 3:03. Patriots 21-3. Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 2:53.
    • 4th Quarter
      • NE - Samuel 73 interception return (Vinatieri kick), 14:46. Patriots 28-3.

Sunday, January 8, 2006

NFC: Carolina Panthers 23, New York Giants 0

1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 0 10 7 6 23
Giants 0 0 0 0 0

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

The Panthers forced five turnovers, limited the Giants to only 109 yards of total offense, and became the first club to shut out a home playoff team since the Los Angeles Rams shut out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1980 NFC Championship Game. Although the Giants entered the game with a more vaunted rushing attack behind Pro Bowler Tiki Barber, the Panthers running game, featuring DeShaun Foster and Nick Goings, outgained the Giants 223 yards to 41 on the ground. Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith caught 10 passes for 84 yards and scored two touchdowns, a 22-yard reception and a 12-yard run, while kicker John Kasay added three field goals and Foster rushed for 151 yards. Meanwhile, quarterback Eli Manning threw three interceptions in his first playoff start.

After the first five possessions of the game ended with punts, Carolina drove 77 yards in 12 plays and scored with Jake Delhomme's 22-yard touchdown pass to Smith. On Carolina's next possession, they were forced to punt, but New York safety Gibril Wilson muffed the kick and Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley recovered the ball at the Giants 15-yard line, setting up a 31-yard Kasay field goal to increase the lead to 10-0.

Carolina dominated the second half, intercepting Eli Manning three times. Midway through the third quarter, Ken Lucas intercepted a pass from Manning and returned it 14 yards to the Giants 12-yard line, setting up Delhomme's 12-yard touchdown pass to Smith on the next play. On New York's next drive, a 17-yard pass interference penalty on Lucas nullified his second interception and gave the Giants a first down at the Panthers 43-yard line. But two plays later, Manning's pass was intercepted by Marlon McCree at the 18. On the Panthers ensuing drive, Foster rushed three times for 44 yards, and Delhomme completed a 25-yard pass to Keary Colbert, moving the ball to the Giants 27-yard line where Kasay's 45-yard field goal made the score 20-0. Then five plays after the kickoff, McCree recorded his second interception on the Panthers 44-yard line. Carolina subsequently closed out the scoring with a 14-play, 55 yard drive that ended with Kasay's third field goal with 2:40 left in the game.

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • None.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • CAR - Smith 22 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), 9:41. Panthers 7-0. Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards, 7:46.
      • CAR - FG Kasay 31, :30. Panthers 10-0. Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, :58.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • CAR - Smith 12 run (Kasay kick), 6:57. Panthers 17-0. Drive: 1 play, 12 yards, :06.
    • 4th Quarter
      • CAR - FG Kasay 45, 13:33. Panthers 20-0. Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 6:07.
      • CAR - FG Kasay 18, 2:40. Panthers 23-0. Drive: 14 plays, 55 yards, 8:55.

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Cincinnati Bengals 17

1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 14 14 3 31
Bengals 10 7 0 0 17

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

The Bengals' first playoff appearance in 15 years ended in disappointment as their pro bowl quarterback Carson Palmer was knocked out of the game on their opening drive. They still managed to build an early 10 point lead, but collapsed later in the game, giving up 24 unanswered points and losing three turnovers.

On the Bengals second offensive play of the game, Palmer suffered a season-ending knee injury after being hit by Pittsburgh's Kimo Von Oelhoffen, but his 66-yard pass to wide receiver Chris Henry (who was also injured on the play) set up kicker Shayne Graham's 23-yard field goal, after backup quarterback Jon Kitna's third down pass to wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh failed to gain the first down. Then after forcing a punt, Kitna completed 3 consecutive passes for 40 yards and rushed for 11, while running back Rudi Johnson finished the drive with a 20-yard touchdown burst, increasing their lead to 10-0. Steelers defensive back Ike Taylor returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to the 40-yard line. Aided by a 15-yard penalty on cornerback Tory James, the Steelers subsequently drove 60 yards in 8 plays and scored with Ben Roethlisberger's 19-yard touchdown pass to Willie Parker. The Bengals stormed right back. First Tab Perry returned the kickoff 32 yards to his own 43-yard line, and then the Bengals drove 57 yards in 14 plays. Kitna completed the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to T. J. Houshmandzadeh, retaking their 10-point lead, 17-7. But on the Steelers ensuing drive, Roethlisberger's 54-yard completion to Cedrick Wilson set up his 5-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward, cutting the score to 17-14 at halftime.

Cincinnati took the second half kickoff and advanced the ball 62 yards to the Steelers 15-yard line. Graham attempted a 34-yard field goal but center Brad St. Louis' high snap sent the ball over holder Kyle Larson's head. Graham recovered the fumble, but the Steelers took over on the 34-yard line. They had trouble moving the ball on their ensuing possession, but on 7th play of the drive, defensive back Kevin Kaesviharn committed 40-yard pass interference penalty on the Bengals 5-yard line, and Jerome Bettis ran the ball into the end zone on the next play.

Aftter Cincinnati was forced to punt, Pittsburgh receiver Antwaan Randle El took a direct snap, ran to his right, and threw the ball back to Roethlisberger — who then connected with Wilson for a 43-yard touchdown reception that increased their lead, 28-17. Then on the Bengals next drive, linebacker James Farrior intercepted a pass from Kitna and returned it 22 yards to the Bengals 40-yard line, setting up a 23-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. Later on in the fourth quarter, the Bengals managed to drive to the Steelers 43-yard line, but safety Troy Polamalu ended the drive with an interception and the Steelers offense ran out the rest of the clock.

Roethlisberger finished the game with 14 of 19 completions for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns. Wilson caught 3 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • CIN - FG Graham 23, 6:54. Bengals 3-0. Drive: 9 plays, 84 yards, 4:25.
      • CIN - R. Johnson 20 run (Graham kick), 1:09. Bengals 10-0. Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 3:26.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • PIT - Parker 19 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), 13:11. Bengals 10-7. Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 2:58.
      • CIN - Houshmandzadeh 7 pass from Kitna (Graham kick), 6:13. Bengals 17-7. Drive: 14 plays, 57 yards, 6:58.
      • PIT - Ward 5 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), 3:48. Bengals 17-14. Drive: 6 plays, 76 yards, 2:25.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • PIT - Bettis 5 run (Reed kick), 5:12. Steelers 21-17. Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 4:39.
      • PIT - Wilson 43 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), 1:13 Steelers 28-17. Drive: 3 plays, 50 yards, 1:25.
    • 4th Quarter
      • PIT - FG Reed 21, 10:29. Steelers 31-17. Drive: 6 plays, 37 yards, 2:56.

Divisional playoffs

Saturday January 14, 2006

NFC: Seattle Seahawks 20, Washington Redskins 10

1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 0 3 0 7 10
Seahawks 0 7 7 6 20

at Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington

The Seahawks overcame an early injury (concussion) suffered by NFL MVP and rushing champion Shaun Alexander, and three turnovers, to end their 21-year playoff victory drought. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck led the offense, completing 16 out of 26 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 21 yards and another score. Despite the loss of Alexander, Seattle still dominated Washington on the ground, outgaining them in rushing yards 119 to 59 and holding Clinton Portis, who rushed for over 1,500 yards during the season, to just 41 yards on 17 carries.

The Seahawks took the opening kickoff and drove to the Redskins 11-yard line, but then Alexander lost a fumble without being touched, and linebacker Lemar Marshall recovered it. After that, the two teams were forced to punt on all their possessions in first quarter, and with 5:28 remaining, Alexander was knocked out of the game.

Washington scored first in the second quarter after a muffed punt set up John Hall's 26-yard field goal. Seattle responded by driving 74 yards in 12 plays and scoring with Hasselbeck's 29-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Jackson.

After forcing the Redskins to punt on the opening drive of the third quarter, Hasslebeck led the Seahawks on an 81-yard scoring drive, completing four passes for 54 yards and finishing it with a 9-yard touchdown run to give his team a 14-3 lead. Washington responded with a drive to the Seahawks 33-yard line, but on a fourth down conversion attempt, quarterback Mark Brunell lost a fumble while being sacked by Bryce Fisher, and defensive lineman Grant Wistrom recovered it. One play later, Hasslebeck's 37-yard comepltion to Jackson set up a 33-yard field goal by Josh Brown on the second play of the fourth quarter, making the score 17-3.

After the ensuing kickoff, Brunell's 52-yard completion to Chris Cooley moved the ball to Seattle's 24-yard line. Three plays later, he threw a 20-yard touchdown pass Santana Moss, a throw that bounced off the shoulder of Seattle cornerback Andre Dyson into Moss' arms. Washington got a great chance to tie the game when Hall recovered a fumble from Josh Scobee at the Seahawks 40-yard line on the ensuing kickoff. But the Redskins drive stalled at the 18-yard line and ended with no points when Hall missed a 36-yard field goal attempt

Seattle then drove to the game-clinching field goal, led by fullback Mack Strong's career-long 32-yard run. The Seahawks' win was their first since a 1984 AFC Wild Card playoff win over the then-Los Angeles Raiders. Alexander would return for the NFC Championship Game the following week. Jackson finished the game with 9 receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown. Moss caught 7 passes for 103 yards and a score. Brunell completed 22 of 37 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • None.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • WAS - FG Hall 26, Redskins 3-0. Drive: 10 plays, 32 yards, 5:02.
      • SEA - D. Jackson 29 pass from Hasselbeck (Brown kick), Seahawks 7-3. Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards, 5:37.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • SEA - Hasselbeck 6 run (Brown kick), Seahawks 14-3. Drive: 10 plays, 81 yards, 4:20.
    • 4th Quarter
      • SEA - FG Brown 33, Seahawks 17-3. Drive: Six plays, 48 yards, 2:39.
      • WAS - Moss 20 pass from Brunell (Hall kick), Seahawks 17-10. Drive: Four plays, 76 yards, 2:17.
      • SEA - FG Brown 31, Seahawks 20-10. Drive: Nine plays, 60 yards, 5:07.

AFC: Denver Broncos 27, New England Patriots 13

1 2 3 4 Total
Patriots 0 3 3 7 13
Broncos 0 10 7 10 27

at INVESCO Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

The Broncos converted four out of five turnovers into 24 points as they eliminated the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Patriots, 27-13, and won their first playoff game since defeating the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. This game also ended New England's league-record ten-game postseason winning streak and gave quarterback Tom Brady his first ever postseason loss.

Early in the second quarter, the Broncos drove deep into Patriots territory, only to turn the ball over on downs after failing to convert a fourth down and 1 on New England's 3-yard line. Then after forcing a punt, Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer threw a pass that was intercepted by Asante Samuel. On the next play, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw a 51-yard completion to Andre Davis setting up Adam Vinatieri's 40-yard field goal to give New England a 3-0 lead.

With New England leading 3-0 with less than two minutes left in the first half, Broncos linebacker Ian Gold recovered a fumble from Kevin Faulk on the Patriots 40-yard line. After that, a controversial pass interference penalty on Samuel moved the ball to the 1-yard line, and then Mike Anderson scored a 1-yard touchdown run on the next play. On the ensuing kickoff, Ellis Hobbs fumbled that and kicker Todd Sauerbrun recovered the ball on the Patriots 39-yard line, setting up kicker Jason Elam's 50-yard field goal to give Denver a 10-3 halftime lead.

Early in the third quarter, the Patriots drove 58 yards in 11 plays and scored with a 32-yard field goal from Vinatieri, cutting their deficit to 10-6. With less than a minute to go in the third quarter, New England reached the Denver 5-yard line. However, Brady was intercepted for the first time in the playoffs since Super Bowl XXXVIII. The interception was returned by Champ Bailey for 101 yards before New England tight end Ben Watson knocked the ball out of bounds at the New England 1-yard line. The Patriots challenged (via instant replay) whether the ball was actually knocked through and out of the end zone, thus creating a touchback and giving the ball back to New England at the 20-yard line. But the original call stood as there was no clear angle to prove otherwise. Mike Anderson then ran for another one-yard touchdown on the next play to increase Denver's lead, 17-6. Then on New England's next drive, the usually accurate Vinatieri missed a 42-yard field goal, his first in 21 field goal attempts in the playoffs. Later in the fourth quarter, Troy Brown muffed a Denver punt and the Broncos recovered it on New England's 15-yard line, setting up Rod Smith's four-yard touchdown pass from Plummer.

With 8:33 left in the game, Brady completed a 73-yard pass to Deion Branch and then followed it up with a 4-yard touchdown pass to David Givens, cutting the score to 24-13. But on the Broncos ensuing possession, Plummer's 42-yard completion to Smith set up another Elam field goal. Denver then all but clinched the game when safety John Lynch intercepted Brady's desperation pass with less than 3 minutes remaining.

Brady finished the game completing 20 out of 36 passes for 341 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, but lost his first NFL postseason game. Also, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick lost his first postseason game since taking over the team in 2000. Branch caught 8 passes for 153 yards, while Rod Smith caught 6 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • None.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • NE - FG Vinatieri 40, Patriots 3-0. Drive: Seven plays, 67 yards, 2:22.
      • DEN - Mike Anderson 1 run (Elam kick), Broncos 7-3. Drive: Two plays, 40 yards, 18 seconds.
      • DEN - FG Elam 50, Broncos 10-3. Drive: Four plays, seven yards, 59 seconds.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • NE - FG Vinatieri 32, Broncos 10-6. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 5:31.
      • DEN - Mike Anderson 1 run (Elam kick), Broncos 17-6. Drive: One play, one yard, four seconds.
    • 4th Quarter
      • DEN - Smith 4 pass from Plummer (Elam kick), Broncos 24-6. Drive: Three plays, 15 yards, 1:32.
      • NE - Givens 4 pass from Brady (Vinatieri kick), Broncos 24-13. Drive: Two plays, 77 yards, 33 seconds.
      • DEN - FG Elam 34, Broncos 27-13. Drive: Eight plays, 61 yards, 4:45.

Sunday January 15, 2006

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Indianapolis Colts 18

at RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 14 0 7 0 21
Colts 0 3 0 15 18

The Steelers became the first #6 playoff seed (since the league expanded to a 12-team playoff format in 1990) to defeat a #1 seed, and also the first #6 seed to reach a conference championship game. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had a solid statistical performance with 290 passing yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough to win.

The Steelers stunned the Colts home crowd at the RCA dome by driving 84 yards and scoring on their opening possession. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed six consecutive passes for 76 yards, including a 36-yard completion to tight end Heath Miller and a 6-yard touchdown pass to Antwaan Randle El. Later in the first quarter, Roethlisberger's 45-yard completion to Hines Ward moved the ball to the Colts 8-yard line, and they scored another touchdown with his 7-yard pass to Miller, increasing the Steelers lead to 14-0.

Five minutes into the second quarter, Indianapolis managed to get a good drive going, advancing the ball 96 yards to the Steelers 2-yard line and taking 9:39 off the clock, but were forced to settle for a field goal from Mike Vanderjagt, cutting their deficit to 14-3.

Late in the third quarter, Steelers linebacker James Farrior (who finished the game with 8 tackles and 2.5 sacks) sacked quarterback Peyton Manning at the Colts 1-yard line on third down, and Randle El returned Hunter Smith's ensuing punt 20 yards to the Indianapolis 30. Five plays later, Jerome Bettis scored a 1-yard touchdown run, making the score 21-3. But this time, Indianapolis struck back, driving 72 yards in six plays and scoring with Manning's 50-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Clark. The Steelers were forced to punt on their ensuing drive, but only after taking over 7 minutes off the clock, leaving just 6:03 left in the game by the time Indianapolis got the ball back.

One play after the punt, an interception by Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu was overturned by instant replay (a reversal that the league would later admit was a mistake[5]). Taking advantage of his second chance, Manning completed a 9-yard pass to Clark, a 20-yard pass to Marvin Harrison, and a 24-yard pass to Reggie Wayne, moving the ball to the Steelers 3-yard line. Running back Edgerrin James finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, and then Manning threw a pass to Wayne for a successful 2-point conversion, cutting the Colts deficit to 21-18. The Steelers were forced to punt on their ensuing drive. But with 1:20 left in the game, Manning was sacked on fourth and 16 at the Colts' 2-yard line, and the ball was turned over to the Steelers on downs.

At this point, the game appeared to be over. However, the Steelers were forced to advance the ball towards another score instead of taking a quarterback kneel because the Colts still had three timeouts remaining. But on Pittsburgh's first play, in which Bettis tried to punch it in for an insurance touchdown, he fumbled for the first time all season when linebacker Gary Brackett popped it from Bettis' hands with his helmet. Indianapolis defensive back Nick Harper recovered the ball and appeared to be on his way for an Indy touchdown that would have given the Colts the lead when Roethlisberger made a season saving tackle at the Colts' 42-yard line, spinning around and grabbing his ankle. Eventually, the Colts then advanced to the Pittsburgh 28-yard line, but Vanderjagt, who had been perfect at home in the playoffs, missed a 46-yard game-tying field goal attempt wide right with 17 seconds remaining, and the Steelers ran out the clock.

Roethlisberger's game-saving tackle would later be known as "The Immaculate Tackle".

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • PIT - Randle El 6 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), Steelers 7-0. Drive: 10 plays, 84 yards, 5:35.
      • PIT - Miller 7 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), Steelers 14-0. Drive: Seven plays, 72 yards, 2:53.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • IND - FG Vanderjagt 20, Steelers 14-3. Drive: 15 plays, 96 yards, 9:39.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • PIT - Bettis 1 run (Reed kick), Steelers 21-3. Drive: Six plays, 30 yards, 3:21.
    • 4th Quarter
      • IND - Clark 50 pass from Manning (Vanderjagt kick), Steelers 21-10. Drive: Six plays, 72 yards, 2:17.
      • IND - James 3 run (Wayne pass from Manning), Steelers 21-18. Drive: Six plays, 80 yards, 1:39.

NFC: Carolina Panthers 29, Chicago Bears 21

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 9 7 6 29
Bears 0 7 7 7 21

The Panthers recorded 434 yards of total offense, and avenged a 13-3 regular season defeat by the Bears, to advance to their third NFC Championship Game in their eleven-year existence. Carolina receiver Steve Smith shredded Chicago's defense, which was ranked #2 during the regular season, catching 12 passes for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns, the first coming 55 seconds into the contest, and rushing for 26 yards. Panthers kicker John Kasay contributed three second-quarter field goals, while quarterback Jake Delhomme threw for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns. Although the Panthers lost key running back DeShaun Foster to a broken ankle in the third quarter, the team managed to hold off the Bears.

The Panthers got the ball first and scored quickly. Jamal Robertson returned the opening kickoff 34 yards to the 40-yard line, and one play later, Delhomme threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Later on, Smith's 46-yard reception set up a 20-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter, increasing their lead to 10-0. On their next drive, Carolina had a chance to increase their lead even more after Delhomme completed passes to Drew Carter for gains of 14 and 29 yards, moving the ball to the Bears 23-yard line. But linebacker Brian Urlacher ended the drive by intercepting a pass from Delhomme at the 10. However, the Pathers forced another punt and scored with a second field goal from Kasay. After being completely dominated up to this point, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman led his team back, completing 5 passes for 62 yards on a 67-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Adrian Peterson cutting the score to 13-7. But Carolina stormed right back, driving 51 yards and scoring with Kasay's third field goal on the last play of the first half.

After the second half kickoff, a 24-yard run by Bears halfback Thomas Jones moved the ball to the Panthers 41-yard line. Then Grossman went to work, completing two passes to Bernard Berrian for 29 yards before finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Desmond Clark. But after an exchange of punts, Delhomme threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Smith, and the Panthers retook their 9-point lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, Chicago's Jason McKie scored a 3-yard touchdown run to cut their deficit to 23-21. But Delhomme led the Panthers right back, completing five passes for 45 yards and scoring with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kris Mangum. After an exchange of punts, the Bears drove into Carolina territory, but defensive back Ken Lucas put the game away by intercepting a pass from Grossman on the Panthers 22-yard line.

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • CAR - Smith 58 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), Panthers 7-0. Drive: Two plays, 60 yards, 55 seconds.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • CAR - FG Kasay 20, Panthers 10-0. Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards, 4:01.
      • CAR - FG Kasay 38, Panthers 13-0. Drive: Eight plays, 40 yards, 4:26.
      • CHI - Peterson 1 run (Gould kick), Panthers 13-7. Drive: Nine plays, 67 yards, 4:29.
      • CAR - FG Kasay 37, Panthers 16-7. Drive: Eight plays, 51 yards, 1:57.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • CHI - Clark 1 pass from Grossman (Gould kick), Panthers 16-14. Drive: Eight plays, 68 yards, 3:39.
      • CAR - Smith 39 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), Panthers 23-14. Drive: Five plays, 56 yards, 3:24.
    • 4th Quarter
      • CHI - McKie 3 run (Gould kick), Panthers 23-21. Drive: 11 plays, 66 yards, 4:44.
      • CAR - Mangum 1 pass from Delhomme (kick failed), Panthers 29-21. Drive: Seven plays, 62 yards, 4:19.

Conference Championships

This was the first time since the 1989-90 playoffs that neither conference championship game took place in the Eastern or Central time zones. During that previous season, the Conference Championship Games were changed from the then-traditional starting times of 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST respectively. This was to accommodate the fact that the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers hosted the 1989-90 AFC and NFC championship games in the Mountain Standard Time Zone and Pacific Standard Time Zone, respectively — thus avoiding a locally played game at 9:30 a.m. PST / 10:30 a.m. MST, but also forcing the networks to change or move their prime time lineups in a moment's notice. When the league changed the traditional starting times for the 2002-03 playoffs to 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. EST, it eliminated the future possibility of having to reschedule.

Sunday January 22, 2006

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Denver Broncos 17

1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 3 21 0 10 34
Broncos 0 3 7 7 17

at INVESCO Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

The Steelers forced four turnovers and jumped to a 24-3 halftime lead en route to advancing to their sixth Super Bowl in team history. In doing so, Pittsburgh became the first #6 playoff seed (since the league expanded to a 12-team playoff format in 1990) to advance to the Super Bowl. Second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, already in his fifth career playoff game, completed 21 of 29 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns (one each to Cedrick Wilson and Hines Ward) and ran for a third. Steelers running back Jerome Bettis rushed for the other touchdown.

Pittsburgh scored on their opening drive, moving the ball 62 yards in 12 plays and ending it with a Jeff Reed field goal. Three plays after the kickoff, Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer lost a fumble while being sacked by Joey Porter and Steelers lineman Casey Hampton recovered it at the Denver 39-yard line. Four plays later, Roethlisberger's 12-yard touchdown pass to Wilson increased the Steelers lead to 10-0 on the first play of the second quarter. The Broncos responded by driving 55 yards and scoring with a field goal from Jason Elam. But Pittsburgh stormed right back, marching 80 yards in 14 plays and scoring with Bettis' 3-yard touchdown run to take a 17-3 lead. Then on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, defensive back Ike Taylor intercepted a pass from Plummer on the Broncos 39-yard line. Four plays later, a Bettis touchdown run was called back because a penalty on Ward. But Ward made up for his mistake by catching a touchdown pass on the next play, giving the Steelers a 24-3 lead with 7 seconds left in the half.

In the third quarter, Plummer finally got the Broncos moving by completing four consecutive passes for 80 yards, the last one a 30-yard touchdown pass to Ashley Lelie. But Wilson caught 2 passes for 45 yards on Pittsburgh's next possession, setting up Reed's second field goal to make the score 27-10.

In the fourth quarter, a 38-yard reception by Lelie and a 22-yard pass interference penalty on Taylor set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Mike Anderson, cutting Denver's deficit to 27-17. But after a Steelers punt, defensive end Brett Keisel forced a fumble from Plummer and his teammate Travis Kirschke recovered it the Broncos 17-yard line. Four plays later, Roethlisberger ended any chance of a Denver comeback with a 4-yard touchdown run.

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • PIT - FG Reed 47, Steelers 3-0. Drive: 12 plays, 62 yards, 6:29.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • PIT - Wilson 12 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), Steelers 10-0. Drive: Five plays, 39 yards, 2:53.
      • DEN - FG Elam 23, Steelers 10-3. Drive: 12 plays, 55 yards, 5:31.
      • PIT - Bettis 3 run (Reed kick), Steelers 17-3. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 7:28.
      • PIT - Ward 17 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), Steelers 24-3. Drive: Four plays, 38 yards, 1:41.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • DEN - Lelie 30 pass from Plummer (Elam kick), Steelers 24-10. Drive: Five plays, 80 yards, 2:24.
    • 4th Quarter
      • PIT - FG Reed 42, Steelers 27-10. Drive: Eight plays, 47 yards, 4:58.
      • DEN - Anderson 3 run (Elam kick), Steelers 27-17. Drive: Seven plays, 85 yards, 3:47.
      • PIT - Roethlisberger 4 run (Reed kick), Steelers 34-17. Drive: Five plays, 17 yards, 1:53.

NFC: Seattle Seahawks 34, Carolina Panthers 14

1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 0 7 0 7 14
Seahawks 10 10 7 7 34

at Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington

The Seahawks forced four turnovers, and allowed only 36 rushing yards and 14 points, as they advanced to their first Super Bowl trip in the team's 30-year history. Meanwhile, running back Shaun Alexander proved he was fully recovered from his injury in the divisional round by rushing for a franchise playoff record 134 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Midway through the first quarter, the Seahawks drove 57 yards in five plays, featuring a 28-yard reception by Seneca Wallace, and scored with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's 17-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevens. Then three plays after the ensuing kickoff, linebacker Lofa Tatupu intercepted a pass from Jake Delhomme and retunred it 22 yards to the Panthers 20-yard line, setting up a field goal from Josh Brown. The next time Carolina got the ball, Delhomme was intercepted again, this time by Marquand Manuel, who returned it 32 yards to the Panthers 17-yard line, setting up Alexander's 1-yard touchdown run that increased Seattle's lead to 17-0 on the first play of the second quarter. The Panthers eventually cut the score to 17-7 on Steve Smith's 59-yard punt return for a touchdown with 9:56 left in the first half. The return was notable for the rare case of the officials waving off a blocking in the back penalty.

Regardless of that controversy, the Seahawks dominated the rest of the game, scoring another 17 unanswered points. On their first drive after the punt return touchdown, that moved the ball 57 yards and scored with a 39-yard field goal from Brown. Brown missed a field goal on the Seahawks next possession, but on the first drive of the second half, they score with Hasslebeck's 20-yard touchdown pass Darrell Jackson. Then in the fourth quarter, they put the game completely out of reach with a 53-yard drive that ended with Alexander's second touchdown. Carolina responded with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Delhomme to receiver Drew Carter, cutting the score to 34-14, but by then there was only 5 minutes left in the game.

  • Scoring
    • 1st Quarter
      • SEA - Stevens 17 pass from Hasselbeck (Brown kick), Seahawks 7-0. Drive: Five plays, 57 yards, 2:16.
      • SEA - FG Brown 24, Seahawks 10-0. Drive: Six plays, 14 yards, 2:41.
    • 2nd Quarter
      • SEA - Alexander 1 run (Brown kick), Seahawks 17-0. Drive: Four plays, 17 yards, 57 seconds.
      • CAR - Smith 59 punt return (Kasay kick), Seahawks 17-7.
      • SEA - FG Brown 39, Seahawks 20-7. Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:59.
    • 3rd Quarter
      • SEA - Jackson 20 pass from Hasselbeck (Brown kick), Seahawks 27-7. Drive: Eight plays, 65 yards, 3:51.
    • 4th Quarter
      • SEA - Alexander 1 run (Brown kick), Seahawks 34-7. Drive: Eight plays, 53 yards, 4:48.
      • CAR - Carter 47 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), Seahawks 34-14. Drive: Four plays, 80 yards, 51 seconds.

Super Bowl XL

Further information: [[:Super Bowl XL]]

Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC) 21, Seattle Seahawks (NFC) 10 at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan.

Bracket

January 8 - Giants Stadium January 15 - Soldier Field
5 Carolina 23
5 Carolina 29
4 N.Y. Giants 0 January 22 - Qwest Field
2 Chicago 21
NFC
January 7 - Raymond James Stadium 5 Carolina 14
January 14 - Qwest Field
1 Seattle 34
6 Washington 17 NFC Championship
6 Washington 10
3 Tampa Bay 10 February 5 - Ford Field
1 Seattle 20
Wild Card playoffs
Divisional playoffs
January 8 - Paul Brown Stadium N1 Seattle 10
January 15 - RCA Dome
A6 Pittsburgh 21
6 Pittsburgh 31 Super Bowl XL
6 Pittsburgh 21
3 Cincinnati 17 January 22 - INVESCO Field
1 Indianapolis 18
AFC
January 7 - Gillette Stadium 6 Pittsburgh 34
January 14 - INVESCO Field
2 Denver 17
5 Jacksonville 3 AFC Championship
4 New England 13
4 New England 28
2 Denver 27


See also

Team season pages

References

  1. ^ "NFL Playoff Procedures and Tiebreakers". Yahoo! Sports. December 31, 2006. Archived from the original on January 1, 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/07/AR2006010700671.html
  3. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/07/AR2006010701520.html
  4. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/07/AR2006010701494.html
  5. ^ http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9168866

Sources


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