NFL Tournament of Champions: Sweet Sixteen

The NFL Tournament of Champions will have the third round now and fourth round later tonight. By the end of the day, only four teams will remain going into the Final Four, which will take place next weekend. For now, here is the Sweet Sixteen.


1993 Dallas Cowboys 27 1988 San Francisco 49ers 10
At Candlestick Park
Player of the Game: WR Michael Irvin DAL: Five catches 97 yards one touchdown

It took a solid second half for the '93 Cowboys to pull away and knock off the rival 49ers at a rainy Candlestick. Dallas scored 13 unanswered in the second half, with a Troy Aikman to Michael Irvin touchdown pass putting the capper on the game. A Joe Montana to Jerry Rice pass was the lone San Fran touchdown.


1999 St. Louis Rams 33 1986 New York Giants 17
At Giants Stadium
Player of the Game: QB Kurt Warner STL: 18 of 27 256 yards three touchdowns

Three Kurt Warner touchdown passes in the first half gave the Rams an early 21-0 lead, from which they cruised from there. Warner's passes went to three different receivers. Marshall Faulk also added a rushing touchdown and caught one of Warner's TD passes as well.


1948 Philadelphia Eagles 20 1961 Green Bay Packers 6
At Shibe Park
Player of the Game: WR Pete Pihos PHI: Five catches 135 yards one touchdowns

In a sort of throwback game at Shibe Park, the '48 Eagles broke a 3-3 halftime tie to defeat the '61 Packers. Two Tommy Thompson TD passes to Bosh Pritchard and Pete Pihos in the 3rd quarter was the difference maker in the score. The Packers had only 174 yards of offense and saw Bart Starr throw 3 picks.


1954 Cleveland Browns 21 2009 New Orleand Saints 14
At Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Player of the Game: RB Mo Bassett CLE: 18 carries 107 yards two touchdowns

In a back and forth battle, the Browns needed a late touchdown to defeat the Saints. With 4:33 on the clock, Otto Graham found Dub Jones for a 12 yard TD pass that broke a 14-14 tie. Mo Bassett's two touchdown runs accounted for the other Browns scores.


1991 Washington Redskins 24 2000 Baltimore Ravens 10
At RFK Stadium
Player of the Game: QB Mark Rypien WSH: 15 of 26 183 yards two touchdowns

In a Beltway battle, the host '91 Redskins overcame the tough Ravens defense for the win. Touchdown passes from Mark Rypien to Ricky Ervins and Art Monk were keys for Washington. Gerald Riggs also had a rushing touchdown for the Skins. Jamal Lewis scored the lone Raven touchdown.


1949 Philadelphia Eagles 14 1996 Green Bay Packers 9
At Shibe Park
Player of the Game: RB Bosh Pritchard PHI: 10 carries 84 yards one touchdown

It took some last minute heroics for the '49 Eagles to defeat the '96 Packers in a tough matchup. Tommy Thompson found Pete Pihos for a touchdown pass with 59 seconds left for the win. Bosh Pritchard scored the other Eagle touchdown. Green Bay manage three Chris Jacke field goals.


1969 Kansas City Chiefs 22 1973 Miami Dolphins 7
At The Orange Bowl
Player of the Game: RB Mike Garrett KC: 16 carries 64 yards, four catches 42 yards one touchdown

In a game between two hard nosed Merger era teams, the '69 Chiefs offense controlle the game in the win at the Orange Bowl. A Len Dawson to Mike Garrett touchdown pass and five Jan Stenerud field goals accounted for Kansas City's scoring. A Bob Griese to Jim Mandrich pass was the only Dolphin touchdown, their only one of the tournament.


1978 Pittsburgh Steelers 13 1980 Oakland Raiders 10
At Oakland-Alameda Coliseum
Player of the Game: RB Franco Harris PIT: 17 carries 72 yards one touchdown, two catches 17 yards

In a tough, efensive rivalry game, a late Franco Harris touchdown with 1:50 win was the winning score for the '78 Steelers over the '80 Raiders. A Kenny King rushing touchdown early in the fourth gave the Raiders a 10-6 lead, until Harris' touchdown sent the Steelers to the Elite Eight.


Elite Eight Matchup Previews

1999 St. Louis Rams at 1993 Dallas Cowboys
Two high powered 90's offenses face off at Texas Stadium. The '93 Cowboys at little difficulty outside of a close second round game against the '87 Redskins, while the Greatest Show on Turf ha two close games before dominating the '86 Giants.

1954 Cleveland Browns at 1948 Philadelphia Eagles
In another old-school battle at Shibe Park, the '48 Eagles have rolled so far, winning every game by at least 14 points. Meanwhile, the '54 Browns had two touch battles against the '66 Packers and '09 Saints after breezing through the first round.

1949 Philadelphia Eagles at 1991 Washington Redskins
A rivalry seperated by over 40 years, the '49 Eagles barely escaped the '96 Packers to advance to the elite eight. The home '91 Redskins meanwhile needed overtime to win the first against the '57 Lions, but breezed through the next two rounds.

1969 Kansas City Chiefs at 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers
The '69 Chiefs barely escaped the second round, but defeated the '75 Steelers and will try to beat another '70's Pittsburgh team here. The '78 Steelers have dominated so far, winning every game by at least 14 points, earning a home game in the elite eight.