NFL FOOTBALL - 2005
Pre-Season - Denver Broncos (20) @ (14) Houston Texans - The Broncos passed for 266 yards using the combination of Jake Plummer, Bradlee Van Pelt and Matt Mauck. Mauck had a 92 yard TD pass. New Broncos WR Jerry Rice caught 1 pass for 6 yards (9, 1 Disc, KTRK - Meyers/Tillman/Allen, NTSC)
Regular Season - Indianapolis Colts (40) @ (21) New England Patriots - Colts QB Peyton Manning (28-37-321-3) finally won at Foxboro after 7 previous losses. He had help from RB Edgerrin James (34-104-1) and WR's Marvin Harrison (9-128-2) and Reggie Wayne (9-124-1). Patriots QB Tom Brady (22-33-265-3) was herioc in defeat (9, 2 Discs, ABC - Michaels/Madden, PAL)
Regular Season - New England Patriots (31) @ (21) New York Jets - In ABC's final Monday Night Football game, Patriots LB Mike Vrabel ended up as the unlikely star with 2 TD receptions while playing TE on offense. The Patriots dominated the game with an edge in total yardage (321-171) and time of possession (43.21 minutes). Jets QB Vinny Testaverde's (3-7-63-1) TD pass set the record for most consecutive seasons throwing a TD pass (19) (9, 2 Discs, ABC - Michaels/Madden, PAL)
01/01/06 - Miami Dolphins (28) @ (26) New England Patriots - In the final game of the regular season for both teams, the Dolphins put one over on their rivals and ended their season with a 6 game win streak. The Patriots rested most of their starters ready for the playoffs. Patriots QB Tom Brady only played the 1st quarter and RB Corey Dillon didn't play at all. Back-up QB Matt Cassel (11-20-168-2) had a big game but the star of the game was 3rd string QB Doug Flutie who successfully completed a drop kick for a 4th quarter extra point, the first successful drop kick since 1941. The Dolphins were led by QB Gus Frerotte (22-35-239-1) and RB Ricky Williams (28-108-1). Flutie's drop kick was his last in-game action as he retired in the off-season (9, 1 Disc, CBS - Harlan/Cross, PAL)
AFC Divisional Playoff - Pittsburgh Steelers (21) @ (18) Indianapolis Colts - The Steelers completely out-played the favoured Colts, building a 21-3 4th quarter lead. But then the Colts scored 2 TD's to pull within a FG. The Steelers defense then forced the Colts to give up the ball on a failed 4th down with 1 minute to go. The Steelers Jerome Bettis then fumbled the ball which was seemingly being returned for the winning score when Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger made the game saving tackle at midfield. The Colts still had a chance to force overtime with a 46 yard FG but Mike Vanderjagt missed the kick and the Steelers held on for the win (8, 3 Discs, CBS - Enberg/Dierdorf/Keteyian, PAL)