1992–93 NFL playoffs

1992–93 NFL playoffs
← 1991–92 1993–94 →

The National Football League playoffs for the 1992 season began on January 2, 1993. The postseason tournament concluded with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII, 52–17, on January 31, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Participants

Within each conference, the three division winners and the three wild card teams (the top three non-division winners with the best overall regular season records) qualified for the playoffs. The three division winners were seeded 1 through 3 based on their overall won-lost-tied record, and the wild card teams were seeded 4 through 6. The NFL did not use a fixed bracket playoff system, and there were 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 hosted the sixth seed wild card, and the fourth seed hosted the fifth. The 1 and 2 seeds from each conference then received a bye in the first round. In the second round, the divisional playoffs, the number 1 seed hosted the worst surviving seed from the first round (seed 4, 5 or 6), while the number 2 seed played the other team (seed 3, 4 or 5). The two surviving teams from each conference's divisional playoff games then meet in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, hosted by the higher seed. Although the Super Bowl, the fourth and final round of the playoffs, was played at a neutral site, the designated home team was based on an annual rotation by conference.

Playoff seeds
Seed AFC NFC
1 Pittsburgh Steelers (Central winner) San Francisco 49ers (West winner)
2 Miami Dolphins (East winner) Dallas Cowboys (East winner)
3 San Diego Chargers (West winner) Minnesota Vikings (Central winner)
4 Buffalo Bills New Orleans Saints
5 Houston Oilers Philadelphia Eagles
6 Kansas City Chiefs Washington Redskins

Bracket

                                   
Jan. 3 – Rich Stadium   Jan. 9 – Three Rivers Stadium          
 5  Houston  38
 4  Buffalo  24
 4  Buffalo  41*     Jan. 17 – Joe Robbie Stadium
 1  Pittsburgh  3  
AFC
Jan. 2 – Jack Murphy Stadium  4  Buffalo  29
Jan. 10 – Joe Robbie Stadium
   2  Miami  10  
 6  Kansas City  0 AFC Championship
 3  San Diego  0
 3  San Diego  17   Jan. 31 – Rose Bowl
 2  Miami  31  
 
Jan. 3 – Louisiana Superdome  A4  Buffalo  17
Jan. 10 – Texas Stadium
   N2  Dallas  52
 5  Philadelphia  36 Super Bowl XXVII
 5  Philadelphia  10
 4  New Orleans  20     Jan. 17 – Candlestick Park
 2  Dallas  34  
NFC
Jan. 2 – Humphrey Metrodome  2  Dallas  30
Jan. 9 – Candlestick Park
   1  San Francisco  20  
 6  Washington  24 NFC Championship
 6  Washington  13
 3  Minnesota  7  
 1  San Francisco  20  

* Indicates overtime victory; see The Comeback (American football)

Wild Card playoffs

January 2, 1993

NFC: Washington Redskins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Redskins 3 14 7024
Vikings 7 0 007

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Although Minnesota scored on their opening drive of the game, they were quickly crushed by the Redskins, who massively outgained them in total yards 358-148, rushing yards 162-75, and time of possession 42:43 to 17:17. Vikings quarterback Sean Salisbury was held to just 6 of 20 completions, intercepted twice, and sacked four times (three by defensive end Fred Stokes).

The Vikings scored first on a 74-yard opening drive, featuring a 42-yard completion from Salisbury to Cris Carter, that ended with Terry Allen's 1-yard touchdown run. However, Washington controlled the game from that point on. Redskins defensive back Martin Mayhew's 44-yard interception return set up their first score on Chip Lohmiller's 44-yard field goal with 53 seconds left in the first quarter. Then less than five minutes into the second quarter, Redskins safety Brad Edwards picked off a pass from Salisbury and returned it 6 yards to the Vikings 33, and Washington cashed in on this turnover with Earnest Byner's 3-yard rushing touchdown, giving them a 10-7 lead.[1]

Late in the second quarter, the Redskins faced 4th down and 4 at the Minnesota 44-yard line. Running back Brian Mitchell rushed for 38 yards on a fake punt to give the team a first down, and later finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Mark Rypien's 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Gary Clark in the third period closed out the scoring.

Mitchell, who had only 24 career rushing attempts coming into this game, led the Redskins with 109 rushing yards and 100 total yards on receptions and punt/kickoff returns.

AFC: San Diego Chargers 17, Kansas City Chiefs 0

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 000
Chargers 0 0 10717

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego

The Chargers shut out the Chiefs, outgaining them in total yards 342-251 and rushing yards 192-61. Kansas City never moved the ball farther than the Chargers 34-yard line. This was San Diego's first playoff win since the 1982 season.

The game remained scoreless until 5:53 remained in the third period when the Chargers faced 2nd and 2. On the next play, running back Marion Butts took a pitch, ran through a large hole in the right side of the line, evaded a tackle attempt from safety Charles Mincy, and outraced the rest of the defense for a 54-yard rushing touchdown.[2]

San Diego defensive lineman Leslie O'Neal intercepted a pass from Dave Krieg at the Chiefs 26-yard line on Kansas City's next drive to set up kicker John Carney's 34-yard field goal. In the final period the Chargers put the game away with a 90-yard drive, featuring a 44-yard completion from Stan Humphries to Anthony Miller (Miller fumbled at the end, but it was recovered by running back Ronnie Harmon, who gained an additional 11 yards). Linebacker Steve Hendrickson, who lined up as a running back, finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.[3]

In addition to his interception, O'Neal also had two sacks. Chargers defensive ends Shawn Lee and Burt Grossman also had 4.5 sacks between them (2 for Lee, 2.5 for Grossman). Butts finished the game with 119 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries, along with 2 receptions for 17 yards. Humphries threw for 199 yards without any interceptions.

January 3, 1993

AFC: Buffalo Bills 41, Houston Oilers 38 (OT)

Game summary
1 2 34OTTotal
Oilers 7 21 73038
Bills 3 0 287341

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

For more details on this topic, see The Comeback (American football).

Known as The Comeback, the Bills mounted the greatest comeback in NFL history, overcoming a 35–3 (32-point) deficit against the Oilers. The Bills were without future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly (who was injured in the last game of the season, a loss to the Oilers) and All-Pro linebacker Cornelius Bennett, and they lost Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas to a hip injury in the second half.

Houston dominated the game early, as quarterback Warren Moon completed 19 of 22 passes for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns in the first half, while the Oilers held the ball for 21:12, keeping the Bills' high-powered offense off the field for most of the first two quarters. On the opening drive of the first quarter, Moon completed 6 of 7 passes on an 80-yard scoring drive that took over 9 minutes off the clock and ended it with his first touchdown throw to wide receiver Haywood Jeffires for 3 yards to give the Oilers a 7–0 lead. Buffalo responded on their ensuing drive, as Kenneth Davis returned the kickoff 33 yards to the 44-yard line. Frank Reich subsequently led the Bills to the Oilers 18-yard line where Steve Christie made a 36-yard field goal, to cut the score to 7–3. But Moon struck right back, leading the Oilers on a second quarter scoring drive that was nearly identical to their first one, completing 6 of 7 passes on another 80-yard drive and finishing it with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Webster Slaughter. Then after forcing the Bills to a three-and-out, Moon threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Duncan. Later on, with 1:15 left in the half, the Oilers drove for another touchdown, aided by an encroachment call against the Bills on fourth down and 1. Moon completed the drive with his second touchdown pass to Jeffires, this one a 27-yarder, and the Oilers went into their locker room with a 28–3 halftime lead.

1:41 into the third quarter, Reich threw a pass that bounced off the hands of tight end Keith McKeller and went into the arms of defensive back Bubba McDowell, who returned the interception 58 yards for a touchdown, increasing the Houston lead to 35–3. However, on the kickoff, the wind shifted the ball just before it was kicked by Al Del Greco. As a result, it became an unintentional squib kick that the Bills recovered with great field position at midfield. Buffalo then drove 50 yards in 10 plays, including a pass to Pete Metzelaars that went right through the hands of linebacker Eddie Robinson, and scored with a 1-yard touchdown run by Davis, cutting the deficit to 35–10. On the drive, Reich completed a 24-yard pass to tight end Metzelaars and a 16-yard strike to Andre Reed, while Davis kept the drive going with a 5-yard run on fourth down and 2 before finishing it off with a touchdown run with 8:52 left in the 3rd quarter.

Christie then recovered his own onside kick and the Bills scored on the fourth play of their ensuing drive with Reich's 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Don Beebe. One of Beebe's feet went partially out of bounds during the run before he made the catch, and it should have been ruled by the officials as an illegal touching of the football; this was pointed out on ESPN's "NFL Primetime" postgame recap as well as by Todd Christensen on the NBC broadcast. This made the score 35–17 with 7:46 left in the third quarter.

Houston was then forced to punt for the first time in the game on their next drive, and Greg Montgomery's 25-yard kick gave Buffalo the ball at their own 41-yard line. Reich started out the ensuing drive with an 18-yard completion to James Lofton. Davis gained 20 yards on a screen pass and then Reich threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Reed, trimming the lead to 35–24. Then on the first play of the Oilers' ensuing possession, Moon's pass was tipped off the hands of Slaughter; Bills' safety Henry Jones intercepted the pass from Moon and returned it 15 yards to the Houston 23-yard line. Three plays later, Buffalo faced fourth down and five on the 18-yard line. Rather than attempt a field goal, Reich connected with Reed for the touchdown. With the score (including the extra point), the Bills had cut their deficit from 32 points to four in a span of just 6:52. On the Oilers' next drive, linebacker Darryl Talley forced a fumble from Moon while sacking him. Houston recovered the fumble, but they were forced to punt, and Montgomery's 24-yard kick gave Buffalo the ball at its 48-yard line.

This time, the Bills could not take advantage of their excellent starting field position and had to punt. Moon's run and shoot offense began to move the ball effectively again. Despite two sacks by Jeff Wright on the drive, Houston reached the Buffalo 14-yard line. Del Greco attempted a field goal to increase the Oilers' lead, but Montgomery fumbled the snap and Talley recovered the ball on the 26-yard line. After two plays, the Bills faced third down and four. With Houston's defense dropping back and expecting a pass, Reich handed the ball off to Davis, who stormed through the line and took off for a 35-yard gain. Then Reich went back to passing the ball, completing a short pass to Reed at the Oilers' 17-yard line on third down and two for the first down. With just 3:08 left in the fourth quarter, Reich threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Reed, giving Buffalo its first lead of the game 38–35 (after the extra point); for the first time all season, the Houston defense (ninth in fewest points allowed that season) had allowed over 29 points. But Moon led Houston downfield on a 63-yard drive to score the tying 26-yard field goal from Del Greco to send the game into overtime. A key play on the drive was an 18-yard completion to Slaughter on fourth down and four from the Bills' 34-yard line.

Houston won the coin toss and got the ball at its 20-yard line. Three plays later, Moon was intercepted by Nate Odomes, enabling Christie to kick a field goal and win the game.

Reich finished the game with 21 of 34 pass completions for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Reed had 8 catches for 136 yards and 3 touchdowns. Davis rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 2 passes for 25 yards and returning a kickoff for 33. Moon recorded 36 of 50 completions for 371 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 2 interceptions. His 36 completions set a playoff record that would stand until broken by Drew Brees's 39 completions in 2010 (Brees's New Orleans Saints also lost that game). Givens caught 9 passes for 117 yards. Jeffires recorded 8 catches for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns.

NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 36, New Orleans Saints 20

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Eagles 7 0 32636
Saints 7 10 3020

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans

The Eagles overcame a 20–10 Saints lead late in the third quarter by scoring 26 points in the final period, just one point short of the NFL posteason record set by the Chicago Bears in 1934.[4]

New Orleans scored first on running back Craig Heyward's 1-yard touchdown run, but it was countered with Philadelphia quarterback Randall Cunningham's 57-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Fred Barnett. The Saints then went ahead 17–7 before halftime with kicker Morten Andersen's 35-yard field goal and wide receiver Quinn Early's 7-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Bobby Hebert. The two teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, and the score was 20–10, New Orleans, going into the final period.[5]

The Saints final six drives of the second half resulted in an interception, a punt, another interception, a safety, another interception, and time expiring in the game. Meanwhile, Cunningham closed the gap to 20-17 with a 35-yard touchdown completion to Barnett with less than 11 minutes left in regulation. Then on the first play of the Saints' next possession, Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner intercepted a pass from Herbert and returned it 14 yards to the Saints 26 to set up running back Heath Sherman's 6-yard touchdown, giving Philadelphia the lead, 24–20. After New Orleans got the ball back, Eagles defensive lineman Reggie White sacked Hebert in the end zone for a safety. Philadelphia kicker Roger Ruzek then added a 39-yard field goal, and 19 seconds later, defensive back Eric Allen intercepted Hebert and returned the ball 18 yards for a touchdown.

Cunningham finished the game 19/35 for 219 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 19 yards. Sherman rushed for a 105 yards and a touchdown, while also catching 2 passes for 17 yards. Barnett had 4 receptions for 102 yards and two scores. Allen had 2 interceptions. This was Philadelphia's first playoff win since the 1980 season.

Byes

Divisional playoffs

January 9, 1993

AFC: Buffalo Bills 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 3

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bills 0 7 71024
Steelers 3 0 003

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh

The Bills forced 4 fumbles, 3 turnovers, and 7 sacks as they held the Steelers to just a field goal. Buffalo quarterback Frank Reich threw for 160 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions; while running back Kenneth Davis rushed for 104 yards. Steelers running back Barry Foster rushed for 104 yards and caught a pass for 7. Pittsburgh had led the NFL with 43 takeaways during the season, but they were not able to force any in this game.

On the opening drive of the game, the Bills drove to the Pittsburgh 46-yard line. But on 4th and 1, fullback Carwell Gardner was stuffed by linebackers David Little and Hardy Nickerson for no gain. The turnover on downs led to Gary Anderson's 38-yard field goal to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead. However, Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell, who had missed the last three games of the season with a leg injury, ended up turning the ball over three times on the team's next four drives. First he threw a pass that was deflected by Phil Hansen into the arms of Nate Odomes for an interception. Following a punt from each team, Bruce Smith forced a fumble from O'Donnell, which Bills defensive lineman Phil Hansen recovered on the Bills 41-yard line. Buffalo then advanced 59 yards, including a 19-yard catch by receiver Don Beebe on the Steelers 1-yard line. On the next play, the team scored on Reich's 1-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Frerotte, an eligible offensive lineman playing out of the fullback position. Although there would be no more scoring in the first half, Pittsburgh's struggles would continue. On their next drive, O'Donnell was intercepted by defensive back James Williams.

On the opening drive of the second half, the Bills moved the ball 80 yards and scored with Reich's 17-yard touchdown pass to James Lofton, increasing their lead to 14-3. On the play before the touchdown, Riech had thrown the ball right into the hands of defensive back Richard Shelton while trying to connect with Beebe, but Shelton dropped the pass, costing his team what would have been an easy touchdown return. "`I was just running before I caught the ball, and that really hurt,`` Shelton said after the game. ``I could have had six.``[6]

In the final period, a botched Steelers field goal attempt set up a 44-yard drive that ended with Bills kicker Steve Christie's 43-yard field goal. The next time Buffalo got the ball, they drove 86 yards and scored on a 1-yard run from Gardner.

NFC: San Francisco 49ers 20, Washington Redskins 13

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Redskins 3 0 3713
49ers 7 10 0320

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

Despite committing 4 turnovers, 49ers quarterback Steve Young passed for 227 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 73 yards, to beat the Redskins.[7]

On their first drive, San Francisco advanced 83 yards, including a 35-yard reception by Jerry Rice and a 22-yard catch by tight end Brent Jones, to score on Young's 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Taylor that went off the hands of Redskin safety A.J. Johnson. The 49ers seemed to be in prime position to score again when Kelly Goodburn's 29-yard punt gave them a first down on the Washington 49, but Fred Stokes eventually stripped the ball from Young and safety Brad Edwards recovered the fumble. Washington then drove 61 yards to cut the score to 7-3 on a 19-yard field goal by Chip Lohmiller.[8]

San Francisco responded with a 23-yard field goal from Mike Cofer to go up 10-3 in the second quarter. Then after forcing a punt, they moved the ball from their own 1-yard line to Redskins 29, but lost another turnover when Johnson intercepted Young's pass at the 5. However, Washington promptly gave the ball back when running back Brian Mitchell lost a fumble that was recovered by defensive back Dave Whitmore with 1:09 left in the half. Four plays later, Young threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jones, who fumbled the ball when hit by Edwards at the 1, but managed to recover it in the end zone to give San Francisco a 17-3 halftime lead.

In the second half, Washington converted two Young fumbles into 10 points. The 49ers got a great scoring opportunity after Whitmore intercepted a pass from Mark Rypien in the third quarter. But while scrambling for a first down, Young lost a fumble without being touched and linebacker Monte Coleman recovered it. This led to a 71-yard drive finished off by Lohmiller's 32-yard field goal, cutting Washington's deficit to 17-6. On the next series, the ball again slipped out of Young's hands, this time on a pass attempt, and Redskins lineman Charles Mann recovered it on the San Francisco 15-yard line. Three plays later, Rypien scored on a 1-yard sneak, knocking the score down to 17-13 early in the fourth quarter.[9]

Following a 49ers punt, Washington moved the ball 52 yards to the 49ers 23-yard line. But with 9:52 left, Mitchell fumbled a botched handoff attempt by Rypien and linebacker Mike Walter recovered the fumble. San Francisco then marched 59-yards in 14 plays, featuring a 16-yard completion from Young to Rice on 3rd and 10, on a drive that consumed more than seven minutes off the clock and scored on Mike Cofer's game-clinching 33-yard field goal, making the score 20-13. Washington got the ball back with 2:15 remaining and one last chance to drive for a tying score, but they could only advance a few yards before turning the ball over on downs, as Rypien's final two passes were dropped by wide open targets, receiver Ricky Sanders and tight end Ron Middleton.[10]

49ers running back Ricky Watters was the game's top rusher with 83 yards, while also catching 2 passes for 19. Defensive end Pierce Holt had 3 of San Francisco's 5 sacks. Redskins receiver Gary Clark caught 7 passes for 100 yards. This was the last game of Joe Gibbs' first tenure as Redskins head coach.

January 10, 1993

NFC: Dallas Cowboys 34, Philadelphia Eagles 10

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Eagles 3 0 0710
Cowboys 7 10 10734

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

The Cowboys defense had 5 sacks (two each by linemen Russell Maryland and Tony Tolbert), and held the Eagles offense for 178 yards and 10 points.

Philadelphia scored on the opening drive of the game, holding the ball for 7 minutes on the way to a 32-yard field goal by kicker Roger Ruzek, but then Dallas scored 34 consecutive points. Kelvin Martin returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards to the Eagles 46, sparking a 10-play drive that ended on Troy Aikman's 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Derek Tennell, who had been signed by the team as a free agent only a week before this game. After the next three drives from each team ended in punts, Aikman completed a 41-yard pass to Alvin Harper on the Philadelphia 14-yard line with 1:04 left in the half. Following an 8-yard scramble by Aikman, he finished the 67-yard drive with a 6-yard scoring pass to tight end Jay Novacek. Then Cowboys defensive back Darren Woodson forced a fumble from Via Sikahema on the following kickoff, which Thomas Everett recovered for Dallas on the Eagles 29. This enabled Lin Elliott to kick a 20-yard field goal before halftime that put them up 17-3.

In the third quarter, Dallas held the ball for more than 12 minutes and gained 176 yards, while holding the Eagles to -16. Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith, who finished the game with 114 rushing yards, scored a 23-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the second half. Elliott later later kicked a 43-yard field field goal to put the team up 27-3.[11]

Late in the fourth quarter, Smith was taken out of the game and got to watch Derrick Gainer carry the ball 9 times for 29 yards on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended on Gainer's 1-yard touchdown run. Meanwhile, all the Eagles could do was score a meaningless touchdown on Randall Cunningham's 18-yard pass to Calvin Williams with 50 seconds left in the game.[12]

Aikman completed 15/25 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Cunningham finished the game 17/30 for 160 yards and one touchdown, along with 25 rushing yards.

"There was a lot of talking before this game", said Cowboys linebacker Ken Norton Jr. "We did our talking on the field. I don't think they have too much they can say right now."[13]

AFC: Miami Dolphins 31, San Diego Chargers 0

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 0 000
Dolphins 0 21 01031

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

The Dolphins defense shut out the Chargers, holding San Diego quarterback Stan Humphries to just 18 of 44 completions for 140 yards and intercepting him four times as they snuffed out San Diego's 8-game winning streak. Overall, San Diego gained just 202 yards and 10 first downs, while losing 5 turnovers. The Chargers had 7 sacks in their wildcard win against Kansas City, but none in this game.[14]

Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino threw 3 touchdown passes in the second quarter, all of them set up by interceptions. With 11:30 remaining in the second quarter, rookie defensive back Troy Vincent intercepted a pass from Humphries and returned it 2 yards to the San Diego 48. 9 plays later, Miami cashed in with Marino's 1-yard scoring pass to Tony Paige. With less than 2 minutes left in the half, Humphries threw a pass that slipped out of the hands of receiver Nate Lewis and was picked off by Vincent on the Chargers 37. Marino threw a 28-yard completion to Mark Duper on the next play, and finished the drive with a 9-yard touchdown toss to tight end Keith Jackson. Then on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, linebacker Bryan Cox intercepted a pass intended for Shawn Jefferson and returned it 7 yards to the San Diego 42. Four plays later, Marino's 30-yard touchdown pass to Jackson gave Miami a 21-0 halftime lead.[15][16]

In the second half, Miami relied primarily on their running game to protect their lead. Running back Aaron Craver led the team with 8 carries for 72 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown burst in the fourth quarter. Before that, the Dolphins also scored on a 22-yard field goal from kicker Pete Stoyanovich. The final score of 31-0 marked a record setting day for the Dolphins offense, who had scored just 6 touchdowns in the last six games. Their 21 points was the highest single quarter amount they had ever scored in a playoff game, and their 31-point margin of victory was also a franchise postseason record.

Marino finished the game with 167 passing yards and three touchdowns. Running back Bobby Humphrey rushed for 71 yards and caught 3 passes for 30. Miami also got a big performance out of punter Reggie Roby, who planted 4 of his 8 punts inside the Chargers 20-yard line, including three that were inside the 7. Lewis gained 130 all-purpose yards, including 4 kickoff returns for 111. San Diego rookie linebacker Junior Seau had 18 tackles.

Conference championships

January 17, 1993

AFC Championship: Buffalo Bills 29, Miami Dolphins 10

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bills 3 10 10629
Dolphins 3 0 0710

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

The Bills intercepted Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino twice, recovered 3 fumbles, forced 4 sacks, and held Miami to just 33 rushing yards. Although the Buffalo offense had trouble getting into the end zone because with a rusty Jim Kelly back in command of the offense for the first time in the postseason, kicker Steve Christie made an NFL playoff record-tying 5 field goals. Thurman Thomas, who had been knocked out the game in both the Bills prior two playoff contests, rushed for 96 yards and caught 5 passes for 70, while Kenneth Davis added 61 rushing yards and 4 receptions for 52.

Midway through the first quarter, Bills lineman Bruce Smith forced a fumble from Marino while sacking him, and linebacker Darryl Talley recovered it, setting up a 21-yard field goal by Steve Christie. Miami struck back on their next drive with a 51-yard field goal from Pete Stoyanovich. After the ensuing kickoff, Kelly led the Bills 64 yards in 7 plays and finished the drive with a 17-yard touchdown to Thomas early in the second quarter. Later on, Buffalo defensive end Phil Hansen intercepted a pass from Marino on the Dolphins 24-yard line, setting up Christie's second field goal and giving the Bills a 13–3 lead by the end of the first half.

On the opening kickoff of the second half, Miami returner Mike Williams fumbled the ball while being tackled by Mark Pike, and Buffalo's Carwell Gardner recovered it at the Dolphins 25-yard line. Five plays later, Davis scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, giving the Bills a 20–3 lead. Buffalo's defense took over the rest of the third quarter, holding the Dolphins offense to 2 offensive yards while Christie added two more field goals to increase their lead to 26–3. Marino completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Duper in the final period. However, Christie kicked his 5th field goal of the game to clinch the victory.

This was the second straight year the Bills defeated a future Hall of Fame quarterback to advance to the Super Bowl as they beat John Elway and his Denver Broncos 10–7 a season earlier.

NFC Championship: Dallas Cowboys 30, San Francisco 49ers 20

Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cowboys 3 7 71330
49ers 7 3 3720

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco

Even though the Cowboys had only one more yard of total offense than the 49ers (416–415), Dallas forced four critical turnovers that helped them earn the win. On San Francisco's first drive of the game, a holding penalty on offensive lineman Guy McIntyre nullified a 63-yard touchdown completion from quarterback Steve Young to wide receiver Jerry Rice, and the 49ers had to punt. Despite a 19-yard reception from Michael Irvin on the Cowboys first play, they also had to punt, but returner Alan Grant fumbled the football after a hit from Dixon Edwards and Dallas fullback Daryl Johnston recovered it on the 49ers 22. The Cowboys restarted their drive with a completion to Irvin, this one a 21-yard gain to the 1-yard line. But the San Francisco defense managed to hold them up on three consecutive plays, forcing Dallas to settle for Lin Elliot's 20-yard field goal.

San Francisco 49ers running back Marc Logan returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the Cowboys 48-yard line. Aided by a 16-yard run from Ricky Watters, San Francisco drove 48 yards and scored with Young's 1-yard touchdown run to take a 7–3 lead. Dallas was forced to punt on their next drive after Troy Aikman was sacked twice (one by Bill Romanowski and the other by Martin Harrison) for 19 total yards, and Grant returned the football to the Cowboys 47-yard line. San Francisco then drove to the Dallas 29-yard line, but the drive stalled there and Mike Cofer missed a 47-yard field goal try. After a punt, Watters lost a fumble that was recovered by defensive back Kevin Smith. Aided by a defensive holding call against Pierce Holt for holding up running back Emmitt Smith at the line on third down (the 49ers objected, stating that Holt was fooled by a fake handoff into thinking Smith actually had the ball), Dallas took a 10–7 lead with Smith's 4-yard touchdown run. A 21-yard reception by Rice sparked a 49ers drive to the Cowboys 10-yard line where Cofer made a 28-yard field goal to tie the game with less than two minutes left in the second quarter. Cofer's kickoff went out of bounds, giving Dallas a chance to score before the end of the half. Aikman managed to lead them to the 49ers 25-yard line, but Elliot's 43-yard field goal attempt went wide right and it was tied at 10 going into halftime.

After receiving the second half kickoff, the Cowboys marched 78 yards, featuring a 38-yard leaping catch by Alvin Harper over defensive back Eric Davis, to score on running back Johnston's 3-yard touchdown run to take a 17–10 lead.

The 49ers struck back with a 35-yard completion from Young to Rice that set up a 43-yard field goal by Cofer, cutting the score to 17–13. However, Dallas put together a 79-yard drive which consumed nine minutes with a key 31-yard reception by tight end Jay Novacek. This second long drive was capped by Aikman's 16-yard touchdown pass to Smith, giving the Cowboys a 24–13 advantage.

On the ensuing drive for San Francisco midway into the fourth, Cowboys linebacker Ken Norton Jr intercepted a pass from Young and returned it to the 49ers 45-yard line, and Dallas subsequently marched to the 7. Rather than attempt a field goal on 4th down and 1, Smith attempted to run for the first down, but was tackled by linebacker Mike Walter for no gain. The 49ers then drove 93 yards to score on Rice's 5-yard touchdown reception, cutting the lead to 24–20 with 4:22 left in the game. But on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Aikman threw a 14-yard pass to Harper, who ended up running for a 70-yard gain to the San Francisco 9-yard line. Three plays later, wide receiver Kelvin Martin scored on a 6-yard touchdown reception, making it 30–20 (the extra point was blocked) with 3:43 to play. The 49ers attempted one last drive to come back, but Young was intercepted, this time by free safety James Washington at the 2:00 warning, thus ending any hope of a 49er comeback.

Aikman threw for 322 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. Smith rushed for 24 carries and 114 yards, caught 7 passes for 59 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns. Harper caught 3 passes for 117 yards. Defensive tackle Tony Casillas recorded 3 sacks. Meanwhile, Young recorded 313 passing yards and one touchdown, but threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter. Rice caught 8 passes for 123 yards and a score. Watters rushed for 69 yards and caught 6 passes for 69. In the Cowboys post-game locker room speech cameras caught coach Jimmy Johnson saying "How Bout Them Cowboys" which has become a popular expression.

This was later featured on NFL's Greatest Games as Changing of the Guard.

Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17

Further information: Super Bowl XXVII
Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bills (AFC) 7 3 7017
Cowboys (NFC) 14 14 32152

at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/03/sports/pro-football-vikings-score-quickly-but-it-doesn-t-unsettle-the-veteran-redskins.html
  2. ↑ http://www2.ljworld.com/news/1993/jan/03/chiefs_eliminated_170/
  3. ↑ http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930103&slug=1677918
  4. ↑ http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930104&slug=1678147
  5. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/04/sports/pro-football-bills-eagles-turn-mountains-into-molehill-philadelphia-blitzes.html
  6. ↑ http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-01-10/sports/9301020787_1_steelers-cornerback-buffalo-territory-darryl-talley
  7. ↑ http://articles.dailypress.com/1993-01-10/sports/9301100203_1_candlestick-park-mark-rypien-opened
  8. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/10/sports/pro-football-49ers-and-young-almost-mess-up-in-the-mud.html
  9. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/1993-01-10/sports/sp-1461_1_fourth-quarter
  10. ↑ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-01-10/sports/1993010130_1_washington-redskins-francisco-49ers-san-francisco
  11. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/1993-01-11/sports/sp-1063_1_philadelphia-eagles
  12. ↑ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-01-11/sports/1993011130_1_eagles-cowboys-yards
  13. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/11/sports/pro-football-a-dominant-dallas-rings-philadelphia-s-bell.html
  14. ↑ http://newsok.com/dolphins-d-shocks-chargers/article/2418016/?page=2
  15. ↑ http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-01-11/sports/1993011131_1_dolphins-miami-ring
  16. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/11/sports/pro-football-dolphins-disregard-the-rain-pressure-and-chargers.html
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