NFL Playoffs 2001 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For the second year in a row, the Eagles held the Bucs to under ten points in a Wildcard game, once again allowing zero Tampa touchdowns in their 31-9 victory. Tampa's futility in games in which the temperature is below forty degrees continued, as the Bucs were unable to overcome bitterly cold conditions at Veterans Stadium. Philly defeated Tampa Bay 21-3 on New Year's Eve 2000.

Answer: False

Green Bay won by a score of 25-15, improving their perfect playoff record at Lambeau Field to 15-0.

Answer: New York Jets

The Raiders lost 24-22 to the Jets in Week 17, but beat them when it really counted, winning the Wildcard game 38-24 at Network Associates Coliseum. Charlie Garner's late 80-yard TD run plus the extra point provided the final margin of the game.

Answer: 3

Baltimore's vaunted defense led by LB Ray Lewis, completely shut down Jay Fielder and the Dolphins in their 20-3 win at Pro Player Stadium. The Ravens won their Wildcard game for the second year in a row, defeating the Denver Broncos 21-3 in January 2001.

Answer: 2

McNabb passed for two TDs and ran for another in the Eagles' 33-18 upset over the NFC Central champion Bears.

Answer: 3

Believe it or not, the Rams high-powered offense did not do a lot that day, gaining just 292 yards while scoring three TDs. Their defense did most of the dirty work, intercepting Brett Favre six, yes six, times. Aeneas Williams returned two for TDs, and Tommy Polley also took one back.

Answer: Greg Biekert

This fumble recovery was overruled by the officials, as they referred to the "Tuck rule." They claimed that Brady's arm had moved forward and therefore the play was an incomplete pass. The Patriots used this momentum to rally from down 13-3 in the fourth quarter to win 16-13 in OT on Adam Vinateri's 23 yard field goal.

Answer: True

Baltimore's only TD in their 27-10 loss came on an 88-yard punt return by Jermaine Lewis. The Steelers received two rushing TDs from Amos Zereoue and picked off Ravens QB Elvis Grbac three times in his last game before he retired from the NFL.

Answer: 1981

The Eagles made it to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since they won it over the Dallas Cowboys in January 1981.

Answer: 156

Faulk was a major factor in St. Louis' 29-24 victory over the Eagles, rushing for 156 yards on 33 carries and scoring twice. The Rams advanced to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons.

Answer: lost at home

Pittsburgh lost 24-21 to the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos in January 1998, their last playoff game before the 2002 Divisional Playoffs.

Answer: 259

The Patriots gained a measly 259 yards on offense, but still managed to pull out a 24-17 upset of the top-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers. The key to the Pats' victory was special teams, as they received a punt return TD from Troy Brown and a blocked field goal from him also, which was returned for a TD by Antwan Harris.

Answer: True

The Rams were 1-1 in their previous trips, losing to the Steelers in 1980 while defeating the Tennessee Titans in 2000. The Patriots had lost both of their previous appearances, to the Chicago Bears in 1986 and the Green Bay Packers in 1997. Ironically, all three of New England's Super Bowls were played in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

Answer: 8

The Pats' last loss was in Week 10 by a score of 24-17 to, of all teams, the St. Louis Rams. The Rams lost their next game to Tampa Bay, but finished their season just like the Patriots by winning their last six games, plus their two playoff games.

Answer: Patriots, 20-17

The Patriots won their first ever Super Bowl Championship 20-17. The winning points were set up by a heroic late-game drive by MVP Tom Brady, who drove from deep in New England territory to the Rams' 30 yard line with seven seconds left in the game. From there, Adam Vinateri hit a 48 yard field goal as time expired to break a 17-17 tie.

This amazing finish was only the second time in Super Bowl history that the game was decided as regulation expired. I hope you enjoyed my quiz on the wild 2002 NFL Playoffs!