Green Bay vs. Miami
1 2 3 4 FINAL
(NFC) Green
Bay 0 17 3 0 20
(AFC) Miami 7 3 3 24 37
SANTA CLARA –
Through three quarters it looked as if the Green Bay Packers (16-3) would be
bringing the Lombardi trophy back again to its true home.
After Miami
(14-6) tied the score at 20 apiece in the early stages of the 4th
quarter, Tyrod Taylor led his NFC Champion squad on a methodical 67-yard
drive into Miami territory to quickly regain the lead they had held for most of
the game.
But Khalil
Mack had different plans, violently blindsiding the Green Bay signal caller on
a 1st down pass attempt, blasting the fumbled football 15-yards
behind the point of contact. Reserve defensive tackle Chris Neild, known more
for his outlandish beard than playmaking ability, grabbed the ball at his own
30-yard line and would not be caught until he crossed the goal line with the
go-ahead score.
“Khalil
deserved that MVP honor,” Neild said. “I played three snaps all game and was just
fortunate enough that number three worked out the way it did. I can’t believe I
made it – I saw him (runningback Eddie Lacy) coming and I’m just lucky he
caught me as I scored.”
Mack and his
defensive running mates sacked Taylor nine times on the day (breaking the Super Bowl record for sacks in a game previously held by the 1985
Chicago Bears who had seven in their win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XX).
After the
Neild score, Taylor and the stunned Packers were forced to punt, leading to a
Justin Tucker field goal to push the lead to 10. On the ensuing possession,
Taylor was strip-sacked by Leonard Williams. Marcel Dareus had a chance to
scoop-and-score, reminiscent of his 2010 BCS National Championship interception for a touchdown versus
Texas - but the defensive tackle chose to lie down
and begin the celebration early.
“It’s a
dream,” Dareus said. “I got one (championship) in college (Alabama) and now here in Miami – so amazing!”
After
starting the season 3-5, the Miami Dolphins won seven of their last eight regular season games
to win the AFC East. Their playoff run has been historic with their offensive
production and the defenses attacking play during the AFC Championship and
Super Bowl games.
The Lombardi
trophy is headed to South Beach.
