Highlighted Year: Rashean Mathis, 2006

Cornerback, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age: 26

4^th season in pro football & with Jaguars

College: Bethune-Cookman

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 195

Prelude:

Mathis intercepted 31 passes in college, playing both cornerback and free safety, and was a three-time Division I-AA All-American. He was chosen by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft and moved directly into the starting lineup at cornerback, where, while still something of a raw talent, he impressed with his speed and size. Mathis improved in 2004 and intercepted five passes and followed up with another five in ’05, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He showed good playmaking ability and also was effective against the run.

2006 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 8 [3, tied with Nnamdi Asomugha, Walt Harris & Charles Woodson]

Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Pittsburgh 9/18, vs. Tennessee 11/5

Int. return yards – 146 [3, tied with Adrian Wilson]

Most int. return yards, game – 55 (on 2 int.) vs. Tennessee 11/5

Int. TDs – 0

Sacks – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Tackles – 56

Assists – 7

Punt Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 9

Average per return – 4.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 9 yards

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Jaguars went 8-8 to finish third in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

With opposing quarterbacks throwing away from him, Mathis had just one interception in 2007 and his performance slipped in ’08 even though he ran two of his four interceptions back for scores. He missed six games due to groin and finger injuries in 2009 and, while back for all 16 games in 2010, Mathis was limited to nine games in 2011 with a torn ACL. He moved on to the Detroit Lions as a free agent in 2013 and exceeded expectations while providing veteran savvy and leadership until retiring following the 2015 season. Overall, he played in 175 regular season games and intercepted 32 passes, a franchise-record 30 coming with Jacksonville, with four returned for TDs.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

2007: Eagles Edge Giants in Wild Card Playoff Game

Two NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, met in a NFC Wild Card playoff game at Philadelphia on January 7, 2007. Coached by Andy Reid for the eighth season, the Eagles were two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance but had stumbled thereafter. They were at 5-6 and without injured starting QB Donovan McNabb before, with backup QB Jeff Garcia behind center, they reeled off five straight wins to top the NFC East with a 10-6 record. RB Brian Westbrook (pictured above), adept at both running the ball and catching it out of the backfield, was a key to the club’s success, and wide receivers Reggie Brown and Donte Stallworth were capable. The attacking defense had problems against the run but was at its best in the backfield, led by FS Brian Dawkins.

The Giants were in their third year under Head Coach Tom Coughlin and finished third in the division at 8-8, following a 6-2 start, grabbing the second Wild Card slot. QB Eli Manning was inconsistent but teamed well with WR Plaxico Burress. RB Tiki Barber was coming off of a season in which he gained 2127 yards from scrimmage at age 31. Injuries to DEs Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora were damaging to the underperforming defense. The teams split their regular season meetings, each winning in the other club’s home venue.

There were 69,094 fans in attendance at Lincoln Financial Field. The Giants had the first possession and, on the initial play from scrimmage, Eli Manning passed to Plaxico Burress for a gain of 29 yards. New York kept the ball on the ground as Tiki Barber (pictured below) carried three times for 25 yards and short-yardage QB Jared Lorenzen gained two yards to convert a third down. Finally, it was Manning to Burress once again for a 17-yard touchdown. Jay Feely added the extra point and the visitors had the early 7-0 lead.

The teams exchanged punts with the Giants winning the battle for field position and keeping the Eagles pinned back deep in their own territory. With less than two minutes remaining in the opening period, Philadelphia commenced a seven-play, 84-yard drive that stretched into the second quarter. Jeff Garcia completed passes to Reggie Brown for nine yards and Brian Westbrook for six to start things off, but following a four-yard carry by Westbrook and a long incompletion, the Eagles faced third-and-six at their 35. Garcia ran up the middle for seven yards and a first down to finish out the first quarter and a short toss to Donte Stallworth gained four yards before Westbrook broke away in spectacular fashion for a 49-yard TD. David Akers converted to tie the score at 7-7.

On New York’s next series, Manning fired a long pass on third down that was intended for Burress but was intercepted by CB Sheldon Brown, who returned it seven yards to the New York 37. Westbrook took off for 22 yards on first down and carries by RB Correll Buckhalter picked up another 11. The drive bogged down at that point but the Eagles took the lead on a 19-yard Akers field goal.

The Giants came back with a long drive that started from their 20. Manning completed three passes, two of them to TE Jeremy Shockey, and Barber had a 41-yard run to the Philadelphia three. But the Eagles held at that point as two Manning throws were incomplete and a run by Barber picked up a yard. New York was forced to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Feely that knotted the score at 10-10 with 4:47 remaining in the first half.

The Eagles responded with an 80-yard possession that took ten plays. Garcia completed six passes along the way, the last to Stallworth for a 28-yard touchdown. Akers added the point after and Philadelphia took a 17-10 lead into halftime.

The teams resumed trading punts to start the third quarter before the Eagles, starting from their 25 after an apparent 65-yard punt return by Westbrook was nullified by a clipping penalty, put together a scoring drive. Garcia completed a nine-yard pass to Reggie Brown on a third-and-eight play and Brown picked up another 13 yards on a reverse. Garcia threw to Brown again for 15 yards and to Buckhalter for three and, while the advance was stopped at the New York 30, Akers kicked a 48-yard field goal that extended the home team’s lead to 20-10.

In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the Giants advanced to a score, helped along by a 47-yard pass interference penalty called on Sheldon Brown defending Burress. They reached the Philadelphia six before having to settle for a 24-yard Feely field goal that narrowed the margin to 20-13.

The Eagles had to punt following their next possession and New York drove 80 yards in 12 plays. Barber ran for 13 yards on first down and Manning completed six passes along the way. The last three were to Burress, for gains of 18, 14, and finally 11 yards and a TD. Feely tied the score at 20-20 with 5:08 left in regulation.

New York never got the ball back as Philadelphia put together a long, methodical series. Westbrook ran effectively and Garcia completed two short passes to keep the possession alive and the ball away from the Giants. Finally, with the clock down to three seconds, Akers booted a 38-yard field goal and the Eagles came away winners by a final score of 23-20.

Philadelphia led in total yards (323 to 305) and first downs (19 to 17). Both teams ran the ball well, with the Eagles picking up 185 yards to New York’s 151. The Giants suffered the game’s only turnover but were penalized nine times to six flags thrown on Philadelphia.

Jeff Garcia completed 17 of 31 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown with none intercepted. Brian Westbrook rushed for 141 yards on 20 carries that included a TD and Reggie Brown (pictured at right) led the Philadelphia receivers with 7 catches for 73 yards.

For the Giants, Eli Manning was successful on 16 of 27 throws for 161 yards and two TDs with one interception. Tiki Barber, playing in the final game of his career, gained 137 yards on 26 rushing attempts and caught two passes for 15 more yards. Plaxico Burress topped the receivers with 5 catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns.    

The Eagles advanced to the NFC Divisional round and lost a close contest at New Orleans. They dropped to 8-8 and missed the playoffs in 2007. New York came back to claim another Wild Card spot in ’07 and advanced to a Super Bowl upset of the undefeated New England Patriots.

The loss in Philadelphia marked the last game for Tiki Barber, who had already announced that the 2006 season would be his last. He retired as the franchise’s career rushing leader (10,449 yards) as well as ranking second in pass receptions (586). Barber gained 475 yards on the ground in seven playoff games, with the 137 yards against the Eagles his high for a single contest.  

Highlighted Year: Drew Brees, 2006

Quarterback, New Orleans Saints

Age:  27

6^th season in pro football, 1^st with Saints

College: Purdue

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 209

Prelude:

Chosen by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft, Brees spent a year as backup to veteran Doug Flutie before taking over as starting quarterback in ’02. A good first year as starter was followed by a season in which he had difficulties, and the Chargers swung the deal that brought rookie Philip Rivers to San Diego in 2004. Brees bounced back that year with a Pro Bowl season in which his passer rating was 104.8, but he badly injured his shoulder in the last game of the ’05 season, the final year of his contract, and with the team committing to Rivers, he signed with the New Orleans Saints.

2006 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 554 [5]

Most attempts, game – 52 vs. Cincinnati 11/19

Completions – 356 [4]

Most completions, game – 37 vs. Cincinnati 11/19

Yards – 4418 [1]

Most yards, game – 510 vs. Cincinnati 11/19

Completion percentage – 64.3 [5]

Yards per attempt – 8.0 [4]

TD passes – 26 [3, 1^st in NFC]

Most TD passes, game – 5 at Dallas 12/10

Interceptions – 11

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Baltimore 10/29, vs. Cincinnati 11/19
Passer rating – 96.2 [3, 1^st in NFC]

500-yard passing games – 1

300-yard passing games – 8

200-yard passing games – 10

Rushing

Attempts – 42

Most attempts, game – 6 (for 9 yds.) at Tampa Bay 11/5

Yards – 32

Most yards, game – 14 yards (on 4 carries) at Pittsburgh 11/12, (on 3 carries) vs. San Francisco 12/3

Yards per attempt – 0.8

TDs – 0

Postseason: 2 G

Pass attempts – 81

Most attempts, game – 49 at Chicago, NFC Championship

Pass completions – 47

Most completions, game – 27 at Chicago, NFC Championship

Passing yardage – 597

Most yards, game – 354 at Chicago, NFC Championship

TD passes – 3

Most TD passes, game – 2 at Chicago, NFC Championship

Interceptions – 1

Rushing attempts – 4

Most rushing attempts, game – 3 (for -2 yds.) vs. Philadelphia, NFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 6

Most rushing yards, game – 8 at Chicago, NFC Championship

Average gain rushing – 1.5

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Saints went 10-6 to finish first in the NFC South while leading the NFL in total yards (6264) and passing yards (4503). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Philadelphia Eagles (27-24). Lost NFC Championship to Chicago Bears (39-14).

Aftermath:

Brees started poorly and the team didn’t do as well in 2007, but he recovered to lead the league in pass attempts (652) and completions (440) while throwing for another 4423 yards. He had another Pro Bowl year in ’08 in which he led the NFL in passing yards (5069), TD passes (34), pass attempts (635) and completions (413). Brees went to the Pro Bowl for the third straight year, and fifth overall, in 2010 after throwing for 4620 yards and 33 touchdowns and leading the NFL in completion percentage (68.1). However, he also threw a career-high 22 interceptions and, while the team qualified for the postseason as a wild card with an 11-5 record, the Saints were upset in the first round of the playoffs by Seattle. Brees set a new NFL record with 5476 passing yards in 2011 and topped the league in completions (468), completion percentage (71.2), and TD passes (46). He broke the record long held by Johnny Unitas for consecutive games with a touchdown pass in 2012, which finally ended with 54 straight, on his way to recording a third 5000-yard passing season (5177) and again topping the NFL in TD passes (43) although also in interceptions (19) in a difficult year for the club both on and off the field. New Orleans rebounded in 2013 and Brees led the NFC with 5162 passing yards and 39 TD passes. He topped the NFL in passing yards for the fifth time in 2014 (4952) and tossed over 30 TD passes for the seventh consecutive year (33). Overall through 2014, Brees has completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 57,337 yards and 402 touchdowns and has been selected to nine Pro Bowls, including a string of seven straight.   

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Marion Barber, 2006

Running Back, Dallas Cowboys

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Cowboys

College: Minnesota

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 218

Prelude:

Son of a former running back for the Jets of the same name (his brother Dominique also played in the NFL as a safety with the Houston Texans), Barber teamed up with RB Laurence Maroney in college to create an effective tandem. He gained 4495 all-purpose yards, 3276 via rushing. Barber entered the 2005 NFL draft after his junior year and was chosen by the Cowboys in the fourth round. Backing up RB Julius Jones, he rushed for 538 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie. With his ability to break tackles, Barber proved to be a good complement to the injury-prone Jones and became the preferred short-yardage runner in a two-back arrangement.

2006 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 135

Most attempts, game – 16 (for 83 yds.) vs. Tampa Bay 11/23

Yards – 654

Most yards, game – 83 yards (on 16 carries) vs. Tampa Bay 11/23

Average gain – 4.8 [11]

TDs – 14 [3, 1^st in NFC]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 23

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 23 yds.) vs. Detroit 12/31

Yards – 196

Most yards, game – 28 (on 2 catches) at Washington 11/5

Average gain – 8.5

TDs – 2

Scoring

TDs – 16 [3, tied with Steven Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew & Willie Parker, 1^st in NFC]

Points – 96

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff at Seattle)

Rushing attempts – 3

Rushing yards – 4

Average gain rushing – 1.3

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 3

Pass receiving yards – 23

Average yards per reception – 7.7

Pass receiving TDs – 0

Cowboys went 9-7 to finish second in the NFC East and qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card while leading the conference in touchdowns (52). Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to Seattle Seahawks (21-20).

Aftermath:

Barber continued to be used in combination with Julius Jones in 2007 and rushed for 975 yards and 10 TDs while also catching 44 passes. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and, with the departure of Jones, moved into the starting lineup in ’08. Still a potent power runner, he was also bothered by a toe injury and, rushing for 885 yards, his yards-per-carry dropped from 4.8 to 3.7. Still, he achieved a career high with 52 pass receptions for 417 yards and scored a total of nine touchdowns. Barber ran for 932 yards in 2009 but showed signs of wear and RB Felix Jones saw more action. The toll taken by his hard-charging running style caused a quick drop in Barber’s production in 2010 as his rushing total fell to 374 yards and his career came to an end as a backup with the Chicago Bears in 2011. Overall, Barber rushed for 4780 yards and 53 touchdowns on 1156 carries (4.1 avg.), with 4358 of those yards and 47 TDs coming with Dallas. He also caught 179 passes for 1330 yards and six more TDs.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Andre Johnson, 2006

Wide Receiver, Houston Texans

Age: 25

4^th season in pro football & with Texans

College: Miami (FL)

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 219

Prelude:

Johnson caught 92 passes for 1831 yards and 20 touchdowns in college and was co-MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl along with QB Ken Dorsey. He entered the 2003 NFL draft following his junior year and was chosen by the Texans with the third overall pick in the first round. With excellent size and speed, he moved directly into the starting lineup and caught 66 passes for 976 yards (14.8 avg.) and four TDs in ’03. He also proved to be effective after the catch and a fine blocker. Johnson followed up with his first Pro Bowl season in 2004, with 79 receptions for 1142 yards (14.5 avg.) and six TDs. While he continued to develop in ’05, Johnson missed three games due to injury and his productivity slipped to 63 catches for 688 yards (10.9 avg.) and two scores.

2006 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 103 [1]          

Most receptions, game – 11 (for 152 yds.) vs. Washington 9/24

Yards – 1147 [11]

Most yards, game – 152 (on 11 catches) vs. Washington 9/24

Average gain – 11.1

TDs – 5

100-yard receiving games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 3

Yards – 14

Average gain – 4.7

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 5

Points – 30

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Texans went 6-10 to finish fourth in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

A promising 2007 season ended due to a knee injury after nine games, but he bounced back to lead the NFL in pass receptions (115) and receiving yards (1575) in ’08 and received consensus first-team All-NFL honors for the first of two consecutive years. Johnson led the league in receiving yards again in 2009 (1569) and had a third straight Pro Bowl year in 2010 despite suffering from a high ankle sprain and missing two games. Hamstring problems cost him nine games in 2011, a down year, but he rebounded with Pro Bowl seasons in 2012 and ’13 in which he again went over 100 catches and 1400 yards. Overall, through 2014, Johnson has caught 1012 passes for 13,597 yards (13.4 avg.) and 64 touchdowns, with five seasons over 100 catches and three above 1500 yards. He has been a consensus first-team All-NFL selection twice, received at least second-team honors after three other seasons, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

2007: McAllister Stars as Saints Edge Eagles in Divisional Playoff Game

The New Orleans Saints, just a year removed from being a team without a home on the way to a miserable 3-13 record, hosted the Philadelphia Eagles in a NFC Divisional Playoff contest on January 13, 2007. The Saints had a new head coach in Sean Payton and were back in the refurbished Louisiana Superdome, which had been badly damaged along with much of the rest of the city during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The offense was the NFL’s most productive, directed by QB Drew Brees. Power-running RB Deuce McAllister (pictured above) had come back from a knee injury in ’05 to form an excellent tandem with flashy first draft choice RB Reggie Bush. The less-known WR Marques Colston, a seventh round draft pick, also proved to be a valuable addition (70 catches, 1038 yards, 8 TDs). The defense had a bend-but-not-break quality and was strongest on the line that was anchored by ends Will Smith and Charles Grant. New Orleans topped the NFC South with a 10-6 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. They had beaten Philadelphia during the regular season.

The Eagles were in the playoffs for the sixth time in Head Coach Andy Reid’s eight-year tenure, having dipped to 6-10 in 2005 after reaching the Super Bowl in ’04. After getting off to a 5-6 start, they managed to win six games in a row to place first in the NFC East, also with a 10-6 tally, despite losing starting QB Donovan McNabb. Veteran backup QB Jeff Garcia performed capably in relief, however, and all-purpose RB Brian Westbrook gained 1916 yards from scrimmage while wide receivers Reggie Brown and Donte’ Stallworth were productive. The aggressive defense was especially strong in the backfield that featured FS Brian Dawkins. Philadelphia defeated the Giants in the Wild Card round to advance to the Divisional level.

There were 70,000 excited fans present at the Louisiana Superdome. The teams exchanged punts to start the game, with Reggie Bush taking a huge hit from Eagles CB Sheldon Brown on the second play from scrimmage that sent him briefly to the sidelines. The second possession for the Saints started off with Deuce McAllister running for a gain of 28 yards from midfield to the Philadelphia 22 and, after reaching the 15, John Carney kicked a 33-yard field goal.

The clubs resumed trading punts until, starting from their own 36 late in the opening period, the Saints again commenced a series with a long run. This time it was Bush reversing field and going around left end for 25 yards, and Drew Brees followed up with a pass to WR Devery Henderson that gained another 35 yards to the Philadelphia four. However, as the game moved into the second quarter, New Orleans lost a net total of a yard in the next three plays and settled for another Carney field goal, this time from 23 yards.

Down 6-0, the Eagles struck back three plays into their next series when Jeff Garcia threw to WR Donte’ Stallworth for a 75-yard touchdown (pictured at left). David Akers kicked the extra point to put the visitors in front by 7-6.

The Saints responded with a long drive of 78 yards in 14 plays. Brees threw to Marques Colston for 14 yards and McAllister ran three straight times for a total of 15 yards. After Bush was tackled by MLB Jeremiah Trotter for a loss of six yards to set up third-and-11, Brees connected with Bush for 14 yards to keep the drive going and then to Colston for another five. Bush lost two yards but then ran for the needed seven yards on third down and another third down at the Philadelphia 28 resulted in a Brees throw to Colston for 19 yards. Two plays later, Bush ran four yards for a TD and, with Carney’s conversion, New Orleans was ahead by 13-7.

The Eagles put together a long possession of their own, covering 80 yards in 11 plays. Garcia completed a pass to WR Reggie Brown (pictured below) for 32 yards to convert a third-and-11 situation and a third-and-six pass to WR Hank Baskett picked up 25 yards to the New Orleans 20. Garcia completed two more passes, to RB Correll Buckhalter for eight yards and TE L.J. Smith for another eight, and Brian Westbrook scored on a one-yard touchdown dive. Akers kicked the point after to put Philadelphia up by 14-13 with 54 seconds remaining in the first half, and that remained the score at halftime when a final-play throw into the end zone by Brees was pulled away from Colston by CB William James.

The Eagles had the first possession in the third quarter and struck quickly when Westbrook broke away for a 62-yard TD on the third play from scrimmage. Akers extended the lead to 21-13 with the PAT. Following a 36-yard kickoff return by WR Michael Lewis, the Saints responded with a seven-play, 63-yard drive. McAllister ran effectively and Brees completed passes to TE Billy Miller for 15 and 29 yards. McAllister ran for a five-yard touchdown and Carney’s extra point put New Orleans just a point behind at 21-20.

On the ensuing kickoff, RB Reno Mahe returned 11 yards and then lateraled to WR Jason Avant for another 28 yards to give the Eagles good starting field position at their 46. Westbrook had a run for 18 yards, but Garcia was unsuccessful on all three of his passes, forcing a punt. Starting from their 16, the Saints advanced methodically. Brees completed passes to McAllister for 10 yards and Miller for 13 and, when Bush fumbled following a 10-yard carry, WR Terrance Copper recovered at the Philadelphia 49. Brees threw to TE John Owens for 21 yards and, after a gain by Bush was negated by a holding penalty, a sack by DE Trent Cole was also nullified due to illegal contact. With a first down at the 34, McAllister ran for a 23-yard gain and that set up a Brees throw to McAllister for an 11-yard TD. Carney converted and New Orleans was back in the lead by a 27-21 score.

Garcia closed out the period with pass completions to Smith for 15 yards and Stallworth for 11 and, after a holding penalty backed the Eagles up to start the fourth quarter, he connected with Brown for a gain of 24 yards to the New Orleans 28. Westbrook carried twice for 24 yards to give Philadelphia second-and-one at the four. But in a pivotal set of plays, Westbrook was stopped for no gain and a pass to FB Thomas Tapeh lost two yards. The Eagles were forced to settle for a 24-yard Akers field goal.

The Saints punted following their next series and Philadelphia went three-and-out and did likewise. On a drive that consisted primarily of McAllister running the ball, New Orleans advanced to the Philadelphia 32, but Bush couldn’t handle a high pitchout from Brees and the loose ball was recovered by DE Darren Howard to give the Eagles possession at their 44 with 3:18 remaining on the clock.

Once again the visitors were unable to move the ball on offense and opted to punt after three plays. They never regained possession as, with all of Philadelphia’s timeouts expended, McAllister ran for five yards on a third-and-one play with 1:37 left. New Orleans won by a final score of 27-24.  

The Saints led in total yards (435 to 355) and first downs (27 to 14), with 208 of their yards coming on the ground. New Orleans also suffered the only turnover and the Eagles recorded three sacks, to one by the Saints. 

Deuce McAllister became the first player in franchise history to run for over a hundred yards in a postseason game as he gained 143 yards on 21 carries. He also caught four passes for 20 yards and scored a touchdown apiece by running and receiving. Drew Brees completed 20 of 32 passes for 243 yards and a TD with no interceptions. Reggie Bush (pictured below) contributed 52 yards on 12 rushing attempts that included a score and gained another 22 yards on three catches. Marques Colston had 5 pass receptions for 55 yards and Billy Miller accumulated 64 yards on his four catches.

For the Eagles, Jeff Garcia was successful on 15 of 30 throws for 240 yards and a touchdown while giving up no interceptions. Brian Westbrook rushed for 116 yards on 13 attempts that included two TDs. Donte’ Stallworth gained 100 yards on three catches that included the one long touchdown and Reggie Brown had 76 yards on his three receptions. On defense, DT Darwin Walker recorded two of the team’s sacks.

“Deuce was fantastic tonight and they weren’t going to stop him,” said Coach Sean Payton of McAllister’s performance. “He ran his heart out.”

New Orleans reached the NFC Championship game for the first time ever, but lost to the Chicago Bears by a 39-14 score. With heightened expectations, the Saints dropped to 7-9 in 2007 and didn’t reach the playoffs again until 2009, although with better results. The Eagles dropped to 8-8 in ‘07 but returned to the playoffs in 2008, advancing to the NFC Championship game. 

Rookie of the Year: Vince Young, 2006

Quarterback, Tennessee Titans

Age:  23

College: Texas

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 233

Prelude:

Effective both as a passer and runner in college, Young was a consensus first-team All-American in 2005 and capped his career at Texas with an upset win for the national championship over USC in the Rose Bowl in which he passed for 267 yards, ran for 200, and scored three TDs in a MVP performance. He was chosen by the Titans in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft (third overall) despite concerns that he was more effective running the ball than passing due to an unorthodox sidearm delivery that caused difficulties with his mechanics. Still, he took over as starting quarterback after three games and displayed great playmaking ability.   

2006 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Passing

Attempts – 357

Most attempts, game – 36 at Jacksonville 11/5, vs. New England 12/31

Completions – 184

Most completions, game – 24 vs. NY Giants 11/26

Yards – 2199

Most yards, game – 249 vs. NY Giants 11/26

Completion percentage – 51.5

Yards per attempt – 6.2

TD passes – 12

Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. NY Giants 11/26, vs. Indianapolis 12/3, at Buffalo 12/24

Interceptions – 13 (13, tied with five others)

Most interceptions, game – 3 at Jacksonville 11/5

Passer rating – 66.7

200-yard passing games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 83

Most attempts, game - 10 (for 69 yds.) vs. NY Giants 11/26

Yards – 552

Most yards, game – 86 yards (on 7 carries) at Houston 12/10

Yards per attempt – 6.7

TDs – 7 (14, tied with five others)

Scoring

TDs – 7

2-point PAT – 1

Points – 44

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: Sporting News

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Pro Bowl

Titans went 8-8 to finish second in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

Young’s career took a decidedly up-and-down trajectory, starting with a disappointing season in 2007. While his completion percentage improved to 62.3, he threw nearly twice as many interceptions (17) as touchdowns (9), and was not as effective running the ball due to a quadriceps injury. He was benched in favor of Kerry Collins after being injured in the first game of the ’08 season but, when the team got off to a 0-6 start in 2009, Young was reinserted into the starting lineup. The Titans went 8-2 in his starts and he was named to the Pro Bowl for a second time. But a tirade following a thumb injury 11 games into the 2010 season effectively ended Young’s career in Tennessee. He was released and signed with Philadelphia for 2011, backing up Michael Vick and starting three games. Young failed to catch on in trials with other teams and announced his retirement in 2014. Overall, he passed for 8964 yards and 46 touchdowns, giving up 51 interceptions, and rushed for 1459 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry with 12 TDs. While Young showed flashes of potential, he failed to develop into a franchise quarterback.   

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

Rookie of the Year: DeMeco Ryans, 2006

Linebacker, Houston Texans

Age: 22

College: Alabama

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 229

Prelude:

Ryans was a consensus first-team All-American in 2005 and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was chosen by the Texans in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. An outside linebacker in college, he was moved to middle linebacker by Houston where he became an immediate contributor and outshone first overall pick DE Mario Williams. What Ryans lacked in size and speed he made up with excellent instincts and technique.

2006 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 3.5

Most sacks, game – 1 at Dallas 10/15, at NY Giants 11/5, at Oakland 12/3

Interceptions – 1

Int. return yards – 16

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 126

Assists – 30

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Texans went 6-10 to finish fourth in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

Ryans followed up with a Pro Bowl season in 2007 and established himself as a top player at his position and a leader on the Houston defense. He was a Pro Bowl selection again in 2009 but went down with an Achilles tendon injury six games into the 2010 season and the defense suffered in his absence. Ryans returned to play in every game in 2011 but was less successful playing in a 3-4 defense and was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012. He continued to be a solid starter in Philadelphia, and while less effective in pass coverage than earlier in his career, Ryans brought savvy and leadership. Through 2013, he had accumulated 13.5 sacks, five interceptions, 667 tackles and 209 assists.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).