Who I rooted for when this game originally took place: I thought it was the Jaguars, but apparently not (see below)
Who I now wish had won: Jacksonville
What happened: Pittsburgh was trailing 28-10 at the start of the fourth quarter but scored three touchdowns and came back to take a 29-28 lead. Jacksonville kicked a field goal with thirty-seven seconds left towinthe game.
Notable players who appeared in this game for Jacksonville: David Garrard (see photo directly above), Maurice Jones-Drew (see photo at very top) , Fred Taylor, Vince Manuwai
Notable players who appeared in this game for Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Heath Miller, Santonio Holmes, James Farrior, James Harrison, Troy Polamalu
Controversial aspects of this game: None really-- the officiating could have been a bit better
Connection between this game and Todd Marinovich: None
Turnovers in this game: Three interceptions by Ben Roethlisberger (two by Rashean Mathis-- one of which was returned for a touchdown-- and one by Derek Landri, a defensive lineman); two interceptions in the second half by David Garrard; one fumble by Ben Roethlisberger on the second-to-last play of the game.
Important plays in this game: The Steelers scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 28-23. They successfully completed the two-point conversion, but it was called back on a possibly non-existent holding penalty. They tried again from the twelve yard line but failed.
Other important plays in this game: When Pittsburgh scored another touchdown to make it 29-28, they once again failed to make the two-point conversion. This time no penalties were involved.
The most famous and important play in this game: With under two minutes left and trailing 29-28, Jacksonville faced fourth down and two at the Steelers 43 yard line. The Jaguars called a quarterback draw and David Garrard ran the ball all the way down to the 11 yard line. (See video below)
Things I remembered incorrectly about this game: I clearly remember watching this game at a pizza place. The Jaguars were wearing their home blue jerseys (not true) and their quarterback was Byron Leftwich (not true-- Leftwich has been cut by Jacksonville before the start of the season). I also clearly remember having secretly rooted for the Jaguars because certain people I was eating with were Steelers fans. A check of my journal entry from the next day, however, reveals the following sentence-- "All four NFL wildcard round playoff games went against me." Other than the eating pizza part, I am not sure what is true anymore.
Below: Byron Leftwich pictured on the Jaguars 2007 schedule
What happened next: Jacksonville lost in the next round of the playoffs to the New England Patriots. The following season, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl.
Who I rooted for when this game originally took place: Chiefs (I think)
Who I now wish had won: Not sure
What happened: Five interceptions, three fumbles, two missed field goals, and a whole bunch of penalties at the very end. In addition, the game's only touchdown would not have counted under current rules. Barry Word (Chiefs-- 130 yards rushing) and Nick Bell (Raiders-- 107 yards rushing) provided most of the offense.
Notable players who appeared in this game for Kansas City: Steve DeBerg, John Alt, Dave Szott, Tim Grunhard, Christian Okoye (briefly), Derrick Thomas, Dan Saleaumua, Neil Smith, Deron Cherry (see photos above)
Notable players who appeared in this game for Los Angeles: Todd Marinovich (see photo below), Marcus Allen, Willie Gault, Steve Wisniewski, Don Mosebar, Max Montoya, Howie Long, Bob Golic, Greg Townsend, Winston Moss, Lionel Washington, Ronnie Lott, Eddie Anderson
Controversial aspects of this game: The previous week the Raiders had benched starter Jay Schroeder in favor of rookie Todd Marinovich. Despite the Raiders' loss, Marinovich had played well and was given the starter's job in the rematch against the Chiefs. Marinovich was the second-youngest quarterback to ever start an NFL playoff game up to that time.
Raiders head coach: Art Shell
Chiefs head coach: Marty Shottenheimer
Chiefs assistant coaches who would go on to become head coaches: Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, Herman Edwards
Connection between this game and Todd Marinovich: Marinovich played in this game.
Below: A post-game interview with Todd Marinovich
Playerswith enormous shoulder pads: Chiefs linebacker Tracy Simien (no photo available at this time)
Players who were 37 years old during this game: Steve DeBerg
Players who had won five consecutive games against the Raiders prior to this game: Steve DeBerg
Players with amazing play fakes on play-action passes: Steve DeBerg
Players who had to be rushed to the hospital with irregular heartbeats: Derrick Thomas (see photo below)
People associated with this game who resemble John Cleese: Kansas City place kicker Nick Lowery
Players who weighed 151 pounds during this game: Kansas City wide receiver J.J. Birden
Players who did not appear in this game but are nonetheless important to world history: Raiders third-string quarterback Vince Evans (see photo below)
Broadcasters: Mike Patrick, JoeTheismann, Paul Maguire
Who I rooted for when this game originally took place: Titans (I think)
Who I now wish had won: Titans
What happened: Tennessee led 12-0 at halftime. Buffalo came back to take a 13-12 lead early in the 4th quarter. Titan's kicker Al Del Greco kicked a 36 yard field goal with under two minutes left. Steve Christie kicked a 41 yard field goal with :20 left to give Buffalo the lead back. Tennessee returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to win the game. (Video below-- not the ABC announcers, however)
Notable players who appeared in this game for Buffalo: Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Steve Christie, Andre Reed, Peerless Price
Notable players who appeared in this game for Tennessee: Steve McNair, Eddie George, Jevon Kearse, Samari Rolle, Al Del Greco
Controversial aspects of this game: The final play; Bill's coach Wade Phillips's decision to start Rob Johnson (pictured below) at quarterback instead of Doug Flutie.
Connection between this game and Todd Marinovich: Prior to this game, there had been only three other occasions when a quarterback had started every game of the NFL season except the last game and then not started in the playoffs. One of the other times was in 1991, when Marinovich replaced Jay Schroeder as Raiders quarterback in back-to-back games against Kansas City.
People associated with this game who resemble Bob Newhart:Wade Phillips
Things I remembered incorrectly about this game: I thought that the game was played on astroturf, not grass. I also remembered there being a bit of snow on the field.
How this game would be remembered in an alternate universe: As the Rob Johnson shoe game, rather than as Music City Miracle. Johnson, who had been playing rather badly all game, led the Bills to a seemingly-victorious final drive as time wound down. At one point, Johnson had lost one of his shoes, but rather than spike the ball and stop the clock, he completed a crucial pass to bring Buffalo into easier field goal position.
What happened next: Tennessee won their nexttwo playoff games before losing in the Super Bowl. (Video below) Steve McNair was killed by his girlfriend in 2009. The Bills have only had one winning season since this game and have not made the playoffs once in that time.
A poem written around the time this game originally took place:
What happened: Italy defeated Ukraine in the quarterfinals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They advanced to the semifinals against Germany.
Players who appeared in the match and who had played at AC Milan during the previous season: Gattuso, Pirlo, Shevchenko
Players who appeared in the match and who would later play for AC Milan:Zambrotta, Oddo
Players who were on the bench for this match and who had played at AC Milan during the previous season:Inzaghi, Gilardino, Nesta
Players who were on the bench for this match and who would later play for AC Milan: None
Players who played in the match and who I wish played for Milan: Fabio Cannavaro
Players whose brothers played in this match and who I wish played for Milan: Paolo Cannavaro
Questions raised by this match: Was this GianlucaZambrotta's greatest career moment?
Who did I root for the first time I saw this match? Ukraine
Things the ESPN announcers did that were annoying: Mispronounce many names ( "Zambratto," "Purrlo," "Cam-rone-a-nay-see," probably almost all of the Ukraine players' names)
Injured former players/Juventus staff members whose recent scandal-related suicide attempts were frequently mentioned during the broadcast: GianlucaPessotto
Relatively amusing injuries to Italy players:Gattuso 14' (kneed in back), Gattuso 26' (wrist stomped on), Cannavaro 47' (hit in groin by ball after Ukraine player missed header), Buffon 50' (bumped head on goalpost making save)
Words to describe most of the Ukraine players' hair: long, blond, stringy, Owen Wilson-like
What this match teaches us: Why AC Milan insisted on acquiring Zambrotta (pictured at top) from Barcelona
Below: Ukraine captain and former Milan striker AndriyShevchenko
"Hockey ought to be sternly forbidden, as it is not only annoying but dangerous." Halifax Morning Sun, quoted in Michael McKinley's Hockey - A People's History
