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I liked all the other sides, Bubba will be happy. X-box is going down this weekend, but of course, I will have to bet a parlay with my buddy x-box.
Playoff Fever Continues on Xbox.com
January 9, 2003 — Today, Microsoft announced the second week of its second season of Playoff Fever on Xbox.com. Playoff Fever is a simulated game summary (posted every Friday on www.xbox.com) that previews the upcoming NFL playoff games. All games are played in incredibly realistic replicas of NFL stadiums, using Microsoft Game Studios' NFL Fever 2003 for Xbox.
Last week's Wild Card Weekend was a winner for Playoff Fever, as the simulation narrowly missed perfection. Fever correctly predicted that the New York Jets would defeat the Indianapolis Colts, the Atlanta Falcons would upset the Green Bay Packers, and the Pittsburgh Steelers would score a last-second win against the Cleveland Browns. The San Francisco 49ers played the spoiler and came back from 24 down to beat Fever's pick, the New York Giants. Playoff Fever's record stands at 3–1 this season. The winning weekend improved Fever's all-time record to an impressive 33–12.
This week, Fever features the AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Simulated-Game Summaries
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
Coming from a bye week, the well-rested Titans started the game with a 65-yard touchdown on first possession, and by the end of the quarter, Tennessee expanded its lead 10–0 with a 33-yard field goal. The Steelers looked frustrated throughout most of the first and second quarters, but finally achieved a 14-yard touchdown just before the half, cutting the Titans' lead to 10–7. In the second half, the Steelers came right back with touchdowns of 29 and 80 yards, giving Pittsburgh a commanding 21–7 lead. Then, a 72-yard touchdown pass coupled with a two-point conversion brought Tennessee within three points, until the Steelers kicked a 47-yard field goal for a score of 24–18. In the fourth, Tennessee engineered a 13-play, 81-yard drive culminating with a 27-yard touchdown, which put the Titans ahead 25–24 with 1:20 to play. However, much like last week, Maddox ran the no-huddle to perfection for a game-winning, 38-yard field goal as time expired.
The Steelers' last-minute, 27–25 win meant they would have to wait until Sunday evening to see if they would play the Jets at home or the Raiders in Oakland.
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles, NFC's number-one seed, started the game strong with a first-quarter scoring drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown pass. But, not to be outdone, Atlanta broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7–7. Then, just before the end of the half, Philadelphia took a 10–7 lead with a 33-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Eagles built the lead to 17–7 with a 11-yard touchdown, but Atlanta wouldn't go away quietly. In the final quarter, the Falcons narrowed Philly's lead to 17–14 with a 13-yard touchdown pass. Feeling threatened, Philadelphia played more conservatively, hoping to take some time off the clock, but a fumble on the handoff between McNabb and Staley gave Atlanta the chance they needed. It took only two plays for the Falcons to lead the game 21–17. But, with 1:01 left on the clock, Philadelphia refused to see its season end. On a play action fake, the Eagles achieved a 81-yard bomb to pull out a thrilling, last-second, 23–21 Eagles victory.
Philadelphia will play its final game at "The Vet" next week against the winner of the San Francisco and Tampa Bay game.
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
San Francisco, high off its 24-point, come-from-behind shocker against the Giants, had a far more difficult opponent this week: Tampa Bay and the league's number-one defense. But, that didn't seem to bother the 49ers, as the team proceeded to pick apart Tampa's all-pro secondary, scoring three unanswered touchdowns on three consecutive possessions. Then, behind 21–0, the Bucs awoke, scoring a 29-yard touchdown shortly before the half, another touchdown to start the third, and a 49-yard run to knot the game at 21. However, San Francisco was not dead yet. The 49ers drove the length of the field, and in the waning moments of regulation, a missed, 49-yard field goal—that would have otherwise resulted in a win—forced the game into overtime. San Francisco won the overtime toss, and Jeff Garcia led the Niners down the field for a 38-yard field goal.
San Francisco escaped Tampa's 21-point rally and advanced to next week's game against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
New York Jets at Oakland Raiders
This rematch of Week Ten's NFL Fever on Monday Night match-up turned out to be more of a defensive game than many had planned. The high-flying Jets were shut out of the first quarter, and the Raiders only tallied three points with a 25-yard field goal. After entering the red zone for the first time in the game, New York took the lead with a 13-yard touchdown; however, just before the half, Oakland cut the Jets' lead 7–6 with a second field goal. Neither team scored in the following defense-driven third quarter. But, finally, New York broke the scoring drought and gained an eight-point lead. Oakland began its last drive with two consecutive first-down passes, but New York managed a game-sealing interception, resulting in a victory for the Jets of 14–6.
The New York Jets will advance to Pittsburgh next week for the AFC Championship at Heinz Field against the Steelers.
Playoff Fever Continues on Xbox.com
January 9, 2003 — Today, Microsoft announced the second week of its second season of Playoff Fever on Xbox.com. Playoff Fever is a simulated game summary (posted every Friday on www.xbox.com) that previews the upcoming NFL playoff games. All games are played in incredibly realistic replicas of NFL stadiums, using Microsoft Game Studios' NFL Fever 2003 for Xbox.
Last week's Wild Card Weekend was a winner for Playoff Fever, as the simulation narrowly missed perfection. Fever correctly predicted that the New York Jets would defeat the Indianapolis Colts, the Atlanta Falcons would upset the Green Bay Packers, and the Pittsburgh Steelers would score a last-second win against the Cleveland Browns. The San Francisco 49ers played the spoiler and came back from 24 down to beat Fever's pick, the New York Giants. Playoff Fever's record stands at 3–1 this season. The winning weekend improved Fever's all-time record to an impressive 33–12.
This week, Fever features the AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Simulated-Game Summaries
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
Coming from a bye week, the well-rested Titans started the game with a 65-yard touchdown on first possession, and by the end of the quarter, Tennessee expanded its lead 10–0 with a 33-yard field goal. The Steelers looked frustrated throughout most of the first and second quarters, but finally achieved a 14-yard touchdown just before the half, cutting the Titans' lead to 10–7. In the second half, the Steelers came right back with touchdowns of 29 and 80 yards, giving Pittsburgh a commanding 21–7 lead. Then, a 72-yard touchdown pass coupled with a two-point conversion brought Tennessee within three points, until the Steelers kicked a 47-yard field goal for a score of 24–18. In the fourth, Tennessee engineered a 13-play, 81-yard drive culminating with a 27-yard touchdown, which put the Titans ahead 25–24 with 1:20 to play. However, much like last week, Maddox ran the no-huddle to perfection for a game-winning, 38-yard field goal as time expired.
The Steelers' last-minute, 27–25 win meant they would have to wait until Sunday evening to see if they would play the Jets at home or the Raiders in Oakland.
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles, NFC's number-one seed, started the game strong with a first-quarter scoring drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown pass. But, not to be outdone, Atlanta broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7–7. Then, just before the end of the half, Philadelphia took a 10–7 lead with a 33-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Eagles built the lead to 17–7 with a 11-yard touchdown, but Atlanta wouldn't go away quietly. In the final quarter, the Falcons narrowed Philly's lead to 17–14 with a 13-yard touchdown pass. Feeling threatened, Philadelphia played more conservatively, hoping to take some time off the clock, but a fumble on the handoff between McNabb and Staley gave Atlanta the chance they needed. It took only two plays for the Falcons to lead the game 21–17. But, with 1:01 left on the clock, Philadelphia refused to see its season end. On a play action fake, the Eagles achieved a 81-yard bomb to pull out a thrilling, last-second, 23–21 Eagles victory.
Philadelphia will play its final game at "The Vet" next week against the winner of the San Francisco and Tampa Bay game.
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
San Francisco, high off its 24-point, come-from-behind shocker against the Giants, had a far more difficult opponent this week: Tampa Bay and the league's number-one defense. But, that didn't seem to bother the 49ers, as the team proceeded to pick apart Tampa's all-pro secondary, scoring three unanswered touchdowns on three consecutive possessions. Then, behind 21–0, the Bucs awoke, scoring a 29-yard touchdown shortly before the half, another touchdown to start the third, and a 49-yard run to knot the game at 21. However, San Francisco was not dead yet. The 49ers drove the length of the field, and in the waning moments of regulation, a missed, 49-yard field goal—that would have otherwise resulted in a win—forced the game into overtime. San Francisco won the overtime toss, and Jeff Garcia led the Niners down the field for a 38-yard field goal.
San Francisco escaped Tampa's 21-point rally and advanced to next week's game against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
New York Jets at Oakland Raiders
This rematch of Week Ten's NFL Fever on Monday Night match-up turned out to be more of a defensive game than many had planned. The high-flying Jets were shut out of the first quarter, and the Raiders only tallied three points with a 25-yard field goal. After entering the red zone for the first time in the game, New York took the lead with a 13-yard touchdown; however, just before the half, Oakland cut the Jets' lead 7–6 with a second field goal. Neither team scored in the following defense-driven third quarter. But, finally, New York broke the scoring drought and gained an eight-point lead. Oakland began its last drive with two consecutive first-down passes, but New York managed a game-sealing interception, resulting in a victory for the Jets of 14–6.
The New York Jets will advance to Pittsburgh next week for the AFC Championship at Heinz Field against the Steelers.
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