DSFL 6 Week 17 Recap
The regular season ends with the game of the year: Cowboys @ Giants
Dallas sends the ‘80s Giants packing with an 18-point comeback win.
Lets take a look at the two marquee games from week 17:
Troy Aikman’s (#8) final pass of the regular season is the game-winning touchdown to Alexander Wright.
90’s Cowboys 29, 80’s Giants 28
East Rutherford, NJ - Phil Simms finds tight end Mark Bavaro for a 6 yard touchdown to put the Giants up 28-10 in the 3rd quarter. At that moment, the Giants (+3) had a 99.1% chance of winning the game (per Pro Football Reference). After that Bavaro touchdown, Dallas would put together one of the greatest comeback performances in DSFL history.
The ensuing Cowboys possession went 9 plays and 74 yards, chewing up 3 minutes and 11 seconds. The end result is amazing since Lawrence Taylor strip sacked Aikman on the first play on that drive. That fumble was recovered by Erik Williams for a 7 yard loss. It may have been that stroke of luck that led the way for the Cowboys’ late game magic.
After a Giants punt, Aikman marched the Cowboys downfield again, capping another 9 play march with a touchdown to Michael Irvin. Dallas would miss the 2-point conversion, keeping their deficit at 28-23 with 4:15 to go.
Phil Simms would begin the next Giants drive with a 22 yard pass to Mark Bavaro. But New York would go 3 & out from that point, setting the stage for the miraculous finish to this game.
The 1990’s Cowboys drive 7 plays and 82 yards in under a minute. And the final Aikman pass of the regular season is a 53 yard dagger to 5th-string WR Alexander Wright. That’s right. The game-winning touchdown was to a player who hadn’t caught a pass in any other game all season. That pass also was the deciding game in this conference, awarding the 1-seed to Dallas and pushing Seattle down to #3.
Total Offense w/ 3:27 rem. in 3rd Quarter: Giants (337), Cowboys (189) || Since: Cowboys (241), Giants (66)
Garo Yepremian (#1) kicks the game-winning field goal in overtime, clinching Miami’s wildcard berth.
70’s Dolphins 24, 90’s Bills 21
Buffalo, NY - The 1970’s Miami Dolphins finish the regular season with an incredible performance in Buffalo. It was an incredible mess.
Bob Griese threw 2 interceptions and lost 2 fumbles in the game. Larry Csonka also lost a fumble (his only one of the year) and the Dolphins still somehow won the game. Credit certainly belongs to the no-name defense and the coaching of Don Shula. Then, in overtime, the offense finally wakes up and wins the game on a field-goal drive on their opening OT possession.
With the win, Miami secured the 5-seed and will visit the 70’s Raiders in the wildcard round. Oakland came back to beat the Dolphins in week 16 of the regular season.
Wildcard Schedule:
#7 - Chiefs @ #2 - Colts
#6 - Broncos @ #3 - Steelers
#5 - Dolphins @ #4 - Raiders
#7 - Seahawks @ #2 - 49ers
#6 - Lions @ #3 - Saints
#5 - Rams @ #4 - Packers