AFC Championship
Miami (14-4) 26
Cleveland (17-1) 31

The Dolphins came out on fire, QB Michael Vick leading them down the field for the game's first two scores.  The first score has been a source of controversy as many feel the referees made a terrible call on a catch by Plaxico Burress in the end zone in which he clearly had only one foot down.  The Browns challenged, but the head referee let the call stand, saying there was not "conclusive visual evidence" that there was no catch.  While the play was on a second down and the Phins would have had another chance to score, the call was still significant.

Down 14-0, the Browns manufactured a strong drive which they capped with a Reggie Bush TD plunge.  On the ensuing drive, Vick marched his 'Phins down field again.  The course of the game was altered irreversibly on that drive when Vick finished a play lying on his back.  As trainers helped him off the field, all of Miami held its breath.  It was soon learned that Vick had dislocated his elbow and would miss the rest of the season.  Second-year backup QB Brad Adkins would have to carry the team.  While Adkins is a competent passer, he does not have Vick's explosive playmaking ability.  He dropped back three times on his first possession, and he was knocked down three times.  The Dolphins, reeling from the loss, were forced to kick a field goal with 28 seconds left in the first half.  On the ensuing drive, the Browns needed all of one play to cut the 'Phins lead to 3.  Carson Palmer hit Dustin Brown on a 64 yard pass for a score with 11 seconds in the half.  The halftime score was 17-14 Miami.

The Dolphins came out in the second half looking to pound Domanick Davis on the ground in order to take the pressure of Adkins.  They had some success, moving the ball down the field, but were held to a long field goal.  The Browns quickly responded on the strength of Reggie Bush's legs and Carson Palmer's arm, marching 73 yards for a TD pass to Justin Brown, giving the Browns a 1 point lead.  Cleveland added a field goal and a TD in the fourth quarter, taking the lead to 11, as Adkins and the Dolphins struggled to move the ball.  The Browns had stacked the line of scrimmage, daring Adkins to pass and shutting down Davis on the ground.  Adkins had trouble remaining upright as he took a beating from the aggressive Browns defense, and couldn't complete many of his passes.  When they got the ball with 1:54 to play and an 11 point deficit, Adkins put it together, moving the Dolphins on a 4 play, 74 yard drive capped with a 28 yard TD pass to Laveranues Coles.  Tragically, Jerry Porter dropped an easy pass for the two point conversion, leaving the Dolphins trailing by 5.

The Dolphins failed to recover the on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff, and were unable to keep Reggie Bush from running out the game clock.

NFC Championship
New York (14-4) 3
Los Angeles (16-2) 22
As expected, this game turned out to be a defensive struggle.  It was 7-0 LA after a quarter and 10-3 LA at half.  It remained at that score through the third as neither team had much success on offense.  LA scored a TD early in the fourth to go up by two TDs.  The Giants finally managed a drive and were down into Bandits' territory when OLB Teddy Lehman, replacing the injured Tre West, picked off a pass and returned it down inside the Giants 25.  It looked like it might be over as the Bandits were in field goal range, but Vince Young scrambled on third down to try to get a first down, but was hit hard and fumbled the ball right near the sideline on the 4 yard line, where the Giants recovered.  LA challenged, but it was ruled the ball came out and never touched the sideline.  The Giants once again had life with almost six minutes to play, but once more Teddy Lehman came up big, sacking Giants QB Kevin Nash in the end zone for a safety.  The Bandits would add a field goal to seal the victory.

The Bandits' defense proved stifling in the game.  Nash was held to 11 for 28 for 177 yards and two picks, and was sacked six time (3 of them by Kendrell Bell).  The Bandits had seven players deflect a total of 8 passes.  Larry Johnson, one of the best runners in the league, was held to a measly 13 yards on 15 carries!

Super Bowl Matchup: Los Angeles Bandits vs. Cleveland Browns