2016 Postseason
AFC Divisional Playoff: New York Jets (9-8) at Cleveland (12-4)
The jets get a win their opener, and come to visit Brownsville for our first game. Second year QB Randall Kay has had a nice year – he’s an exciting player for them. They got 1,400 yards from their RB Winston Martinez, and have a tough run defense (with S Thurman Jacobs one of their veteran leaders – seven years there since he left our Browns).
Kay drives them for a FG on their opening possession. We match them, and draw even at 3-3. The jets return our kickoff for an 89-yard TD. Looks like the scoreboard operator is going to be busy. Things calm down but we add a FG early in the second quarter to get within four points.
With about five minutes left in the half, we have fourth a six from our 40. We punt- but the Jets were offside, and we get another chance. Our coach says to go for it, and Houston zips a quick hitter to Cornelius Tilton to give us six yards and a first down. Gutsy call. It seems to pay off, though – we march down the field after that, and cap off the drive with a 17-yard pass to Gus Stewart. Browns up 13-10 now, and we take tht into the half.
We force the Jets to punt in the third quarter, and we get a return play of our own, as Van Harmon returns the punt for a 67-yard TD. We keep the ball on their side of the field with good field position play, and then Kirk Weed makes a big play to pick off a pass at their 20. We add a FG, and take a 23-10 lead. On their next possession, DT Zach Bailey gets a sack, causes a fumble, and Kirk Weed is there again to jump on the ball. We line up for a short FG, but it is blocked – and the Jets stave off that final nail.
A good, time-consuming drove in the fourth quarter gets us another FG, and runs the clock to 1:52. That is the final mark, as the Jets get a little garbage late to just barely get 200 yards total offense on the day. Strong effort by the Cleveland D.
AFC Championship: Cleveland (13-4) at Jacksonville (13-4)
We know they are good, and they know they can beat us. Their win over us sent us into our late-season tailspin, which eventually resulted in this game being played here in Jacksonville rather than in Cleveland. Big QQ taking the snaps, and Winfred Mandzuk taking the carries – they are also a QB/RB-powered attack, much like the Jets.
Deion Brock is upgraded to probable, and I decide that he ought to play. He has brought the best out of our offense this season, and we’ll give him the nod down the stretch, if he can handle it.
Our first possession goes nowhere, and the jags go the short field to score the opening TD. Another offside call on our punt gives us life, and we go on to score a FG on that possession. On a freak play, Brock hits Harmon for a quick curl, he fumbles, and WR Newsome grabs the ball in stride – and takes it 18 yards for the score. We edge down more and more yards via a punting battle, and add another FG before the half to lead 13-7. Ever since their opening drive, our defense has held them in check. James Houston has come in for Deion Brock, as Brock is injured once again.
In the third, we open with a good drive, get a short pass to TE Sellers for a TD, and convert on a short pass to our other TE Chambliss to go up 21-7. Jacksonville responds with a long FG, showing some signs of life, at least. As the quarter runs down, the Jags get a long drive on basically two long passes – and get a TD to pull within 21-17. Down, but not out at all.
Our offense is losing its zing, but we keep punting them deep to thwart their momentum. We take over at their 45 after a punt (field position, again) and drive to add a FG – and extend our lead to 24-17. We trade punts, and the Jags get it back at their 42, with 2:46 left – plenty of time. But on third down, we get a pick by LB Curtis Davis, and probably end their threat. Gus Stewart pounds inside a few times, and breaks free for a 15-yard TD which puts it away.
Deion Brock has strained his calf – and he is out for the Superbowl. James Houston has bruised ribs, but he’ll be in there (remember last season, as our starter he had to miss the big game).
Superbowl: Tampa bay (13-6) vs. Cleveland (14-4)
Tampa upset Philadelphia in the NFC Championship to go on to the Superbowl (familiar?). We don’t know the Bucs well, but they have a veteran QB in Tracy Vaughn who is fairly stable, and a nice young RB in Ty Christy who posted 1,400 yards this year. They have WR Ed Mcdonald, a veteran speedster on the attack, and boosted their OL this year by signing OT Donnie Thornton, a longtime Cleveland starter.
One of the stars of their solid defensive unit is LB Howie Lynch, who is in his twilight, but is still solid. CB Scott Barton was a great addition for them this year – solid starter, big hitter, and their secondary leader. This looks like a solid team – they run the ball well, and are just above average at everything overall.
We get the ball first, after winning the toss. Our first play is sending Gus Stewart off left tackle, which he breaks for a 30-yard gain. Stewart catches an 11-yard pas, and two plays later runs it in from 12 yards out – a statement by our offense and especially by “Gus the Bus.” Get on board.
The statement is quickly returned – for the second time we yield a kickoff return TD in the first quarter. 98 yards and the Bucs are right back in this one. (Must be a bug – the Buccaneers returning a kick for a TD?) Fleet-footed Ed McDonald (a guy I coveted in the draft when I ended up with Zach Blair, I believe) just flies by our defenders for the home run.
But we get right back, with Stewart tearing off another 33-yard run to post 88 on the day already – and Jimmy Newsome catches the go-ahead TD pass. Our next drive is only 46 yards, but that’s the whole way – FB Brandon catches the TD pass and we go ahead 21-7. We get a pick from MLB C.J. Blackwell to thwart a Tampa possession, and are driving as the first quarter wraps up. A pass to Sellers makes is 28-7 early in the second quarter. The Bucs are not out, though – they drive in the late second quarter, and get a TD pass to Ed McDonald to get within 28-14. A two-minute drill by the Bucs gets them another TD, and we go to the half at 28-21, not a blowout at all.
Kirk Weed makes the first big play of the second half, with an interception near midfield. We’re having trouble slowing down the Bucs’ offense right now, so that was a real help. That seems to take the air out of the ball a bit, as we are back and forth most of the rest of the third quarter. But with about 3 minutes left, Houston finds Cornelius Tilton (ever the playmaker) for a big bomb, and the 60—yard ass makes it a 35-21 game. We like that a lot better.
But the genie is out again, it seems – Tampa drives easily, and scores a FG. Fortunately, on their next possession, they can’t get anywhere, and the clock is now our major ally. We eat clock and kick a FG – each equally important to make our lead 14, and leave only 2:31 left. We take over on downs, and then salt it away with a short TD pass to Newsome. James Houston, with his five TD passes, gets the MVP honors as we successfully defend our title with a 45-21 victory.
Season Wrap-up
Code:
2016 Awards List
Award Player Team
**Player of the Year Gus Stewart CLE
**Front Office Bowl MVP James Houston CLE
Coach of the Year Not Yet Awarded
Legend of the Game Not Yet Awarded
**Offensive Player of the Year Gus Stewart CLE
Defensive Player of the Year Dan Winn PHI
Offensive Rookie of the Year Broderick Poplawski TEN
Defensive Rookie of the Year Don Hammond STL
All-League First-String Quarterback Quentin Quinn JAX
**All-League First-String Running Back Gus Stewart CLE
All-League First-String Fullback Cris McGee CIN
All-League First-String Tight End Jamie Traylor SDO
All-League First-String Wide Receiver Harry Wulfeck DAL
All-League First-String Wide Receiver Jeff Quinn BAL
All-League First-String Center Benjamin Knaack NYJ
All-League First-String Offensive Guard August Dempsey ATL
All-League First-String Offensive Guard J.T. Winslett SDO
All-League First-String Offensive Tackle Derrick Ellwood WAS
All-League First-String Offensive Tackle Sammy Benson BAL
All-League First-String Punter Brad Fitzgerald STL
All-League First-String Kicker Jerrell Davisson SEA
All-League First-String Defensive End Dixon Keith HOU
All-League First-String Defensive End Glenn Sampson NED
**All-League First-String Defensive Tackle Zach Bailey CLE
All-League First-String Defensive Tackle R.J. Jahr NED
All-League First-String Inside Linebacker Brian Sheldon BUF
All-League First-String Outside Linebacker Dan Winn PHI
All-League First-String Outside Linebacker Leon Coughlin ARI
All-League First-String Cornerback Aaron Reed WAS
All-League First-String Cornerback Calvin Wickliff KCY
All-League First-String Safety Tony Dancy CHI
All-League First-String Safety Perry Riddick DEN
All-League Second-String Quarterback Nolan Graham NOS
All-League Second-String Running Back Roger Ramirez DAL
All-League Second-String Fullback Eric Pritchett TEN
All-League Second-String Tight End Mo Rogers KCY
All-League Second-String Wide Receiver Morris Goodwin WAS
All-League Second-String Wide Receiver Leslie Oliver SEA
All-League Second-String Center Jimmy Collons DAL
All-League Second-String Offensive Guard Casey Palmer NYG
All-League Second-String Offensive Guard Lewis Carter CAR
All-League Second-String Offensive Tackle Dave Gaylor JAX
All-League Second-String Offensive Tackle Gene Skrepenak TEN
All-League Second-String Punter Donovan Barnes ARI
All-League Second-String Kicker Al Fields BAL
All-League Second-String Defensive End Mitch Murray NYG
All-League Second-String Defensive End Bryce Tate NED
All-League Second-String Defensive Tackle Joe Cote BUF
All-League Second-String Defensive Tackle Kennedy Smith PIT
All-League Second-String Inside Linebacker Thurman Shelton PHI
All-League Second-String Outside Linebacker Greg Daveria SEA
All-League Second-String Outside Linebacker Matthew Ingram NYJ
All-League Second-String Cornerback Zack Cooley BAL
All-League Second-String Cornerback Alfred Mizukami SFO
All-League Second-String Safety Mitchell Floyd CAR
All-League Second-String Safety Jessie Roberts PIT
League's Fastest Man Reggie Brown HOU
League's Strongest Man T.J. Sikkenga DAL
Once again, RB Gus Stewart is denied the awards superfecta by his teammate QB. James Houston will get to put “Superbowl MVP” on his free agent resume, as he hits the open market this year.
DT Zach Bailey was a god re-signing – he stayed healthy, and on his one-year contract earned all-pro honors again. I don’t know if we’ll be able to afford him for another season, but he was very instrumental in our play this season, especially with Gary Cascadden breaking down on us.
Great year – I didn’t think we’d be back on top with the holes left in the roster, but we got big plays at good times, and actually had an easier road through the playoffs this season than last (which by nearly all accounts was a better team). Hooray!
…Okay, I’m bored.