2005 USFL Summer Bowl: A Fairy Tale Ending!

The slipper fits! Cinderella Seattle has its fairy tale ending as the Dragons complete one of the greatest playoff runs in professional sports history, knocking off the favored Chicago Machine in the final seconds of Summer Bowl 2006. Seattle, which barely qualified for the playoffs at 6-8, became the darlings of the nation as they won three consecutive road playoff games to make the championship game, and then came from behind against the #1 defense in the USFL to take their first title. It is an amazing story, a nailbiter of a game, and a great advertisement for the quality and excitement of USFL football.

It was the big stars for the Dragons on both sides of the ball that made it possible for this most unlikely of champions. Third year QB Byron Leftwich survived constant Chicago pressure and 7 sacks to complete 18 of 31 passing for 339 yards and 2 scores. Corey Dillon, the Seattle born, U of Washington product, made his home town proud with 142 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per carry against Chicago’s top ranked run defense. David Boston, Seattle’s lone All-USFL skill player caught 4 passes for 116 yards and a score. On defense it was a true team effort, holding Chicago to only one converted third down all game. Dillon would win the game’s MVP award for his efforts on the day, but this title belongs to the entire franchise, a team that simply believed in themselves even when everything seemed stacked against them.

For Chicago it was a painful defeat as their vaunted defense had a lead to defend with 2 minutes to lay, but could not shut down Seattle when they had a chance to take home the Windy City’s first league title. The Machine line had played well all game, with Jeff George not sacked once and Michael Turner able to average 5.2 yards per carry. The defense had gotten pressure on Leftwich, with Anthony Weaver, the league’s sack champion adding 2 more to his total for the year, and 5 other machine defenders getting in on the action. But, with neither team committing any turnovers, this game was about defensive stops, and when it counted most the Machine could not get the one stop that would have given them the title.

Seattle started fast, winning the coin toss and beginning the game with the ball in their offense’s hands. Their first drive took just under 4 minutes and produced 7 points as the combination of early success on the ground and timely play action helped the Dragons penetrate deep into Chicago territory. Leftwich, on a 2nd and goal from just inside the 10 yard line would find his favorite target, the lanky David Boston, on a classic over the shoulder fade route. Boston got both feet in bounds, a fact confirmed by instant replay, and the Dragons drew first blood.

After a Chicago drive faltered at midfield, Seattle got the ball again, and again they were able to put points on the board. They drove down to the Chicago 12 yard line, but a sack of Leftwich on 3rd and 3 forced them to go for 3 from the 17. Dave Rayner nailed the kick and Chicago found itself in the uncomfortable and unaccustomed position of being down by 2 scores early in the game. Chicago had made a habit of leading games early and relying on their league best defense to hold that advantage. Now, already down 10 points, things were about to get worse for the Eastern Conference Champion.

After a strong kickoff return gave Chicago the ball on their own 38, the Machine gained no yards on three consecutive plays, two runs and an incomplete pass on 3rd and 10. Punter Reggie Hodges came out, but shanked the kick. It would go only 23 yards before trickling out of bounds, setting up Seattle with another chance to put points on the board. The Dragons wasted no time, moving at a quick pace, with Leftwich connecting with Ken Dilger on an 11-yard completion, followed by a 7-yarder to O.J. McDuffie, and then another first down toss to Jeramy Stevens. On 1st and 10 from the 26, they changed gears and called a draw play to Corey Dillon. Chicago blitzed on the outside, running past the play and Dillon found himself untouched and in the secondary. Putting a move on SS George Teague, the big back avoided a tackle at the 7 and found his way to the end zone. Seattle was up 17-0 and both the Chicago sideline and a large contingent of Machine fans in NRG Stadium were stunned and silent.

All this happened in just the first 13 minutes of game action. Chicago would need to regroup, and to do so quickly. Jeff George, a veteran of many campaigns in both the USFL and NFL, stepped up and put the team on his back. In only 6 plays he marched the Machine down the field and into the end zone, hitting Donald Driver with a beautiful laser of a pass on an inward-cutting route for the 24-yard TD. Chicago was finally on the board, and the momentum began to shift their way.

The Machine defense played far better in the 2nd quarter, and while Corey Dillon was able to add another 33 yards to his total in the period, Seattle was not able to re-establish a 3-score lead. They went into the half with a solid 17-7 lead over Chicago, but the tide seemed to be turning as the Machine defense was proving more effective against Seattle’s run/pass combinations.

Coach Mornhinweg spent the halftime trying to break down how Seattle had been able to stymie the Chicago run game. His DC, Ron Rivera, spent his time with the Machine D focusing on execution, demanding more of his players and insisting that the scheme was fine, that the key was breaking off from blocks and staying aggressive without being reckless. In the opposing locker room, Marvin Lewis was preaching focus, focus on 30 minutes, focus on every play as a big play, as a play that could turn the game. There was little focus on changing course, and more focus on maintaining intensity for the second half.

Outside of the locker rooms, the fans at NRG Stadium were enjoying the Dr. Pepper halftime show, featuring two noted Texas acts, with headliner Clint Black joined on stage by members of ZZ Top and a special surprise appearance from Houston Gambler minority owner Kenny Rogers. When the stage was pulled back and the lights raised again, the Machine and Dragon players returned to the field to a huge ovation from 61,304 fans in attendance. Chicago would receive the second half kickoff, and they would use that to maintain the momentum they had gained late in the first quarter. It would take the Machine nearly 8 minutes to complete their drive, a 15-play calculated and slow-played drive that featured several big 2nd down plays. It would be the best drive of the day for the Machine, and thon only drive in which they converted a 3rd down. They pushed the ball all the way to the Seattle 7 yard line, and had a first and goal, but failed to convert on their first two plays. They would fail again on 3rd and 3, the ball placed at the one yard line, but Coach Mornhinweg would not settle for a field goal after such an exhausting drive. He called in a 4th down play and a hush fell over the Chicago bench as Jeff George faked the ball to Brian Westbrook, only to toss a laser to the corner of the end zone, where WR Brandon Lloyd hauled it in, tapped his toes and fell out of bounds. Chicago had pulled back to 17-14 thanks to a gutsy call from their coach, but there was still a lot of game to be played.

On their first drive of the second half, a full 39 minutes since they last touched the ball (real time, not game time), Seattle moved the ball well, again Corey Dillon found holes to run through and the run game allowed Byron Leftwich chances to make play action passes. With a 3rd and 7 from the Chicago 31, pass was the obvious call, and as had been the case all game, when it was an obvious passing down Coach Rivera called for pressure. Leftwich escaped the first rusher, but got caught by SS Anthony Prior, who had blitzed on the right side, pushing Seattle out of field goal range. They would have to punt.

Chicago got the ball on a touchback and went to work with their eyes on taking the lead with a touchdown. They would get their biggest pass play of the game on this drive, a 1st and 10 screen to Brian Westbrook, who wove his way through defenders for 35 yards. Three plays later it would be Westbrook getting into the end zone on a well-blocked sweep that caught Seattle flat footed. Chicago took the lead at 21-17, and Seattle, who had been so hot when the game began had now seen a 21-0 run by the Machine. They needed to respond or the game could slip out of their grasp entirely.

Following the Chicago score, Seattle took the kickoff and focused on a run game that had found unexpected success all game. The Dragons used Dillon runs to get a first down on three straight run plays. That success led Chicago to shift up their defense, and that, in turn, played right into Coach Lewis’s plans. Leftwich faked the ball to Dillon on the 4th play of the drive and found Ken Dilger open over the middle. Dilger rumbled for 28 yards and Seattle was in business. But, once again, on a 3rd and 4, the Chicago pressure got to Leftwich and again the Dragons would have to settle for 3. Eleven minutes left in the game and Chicago now led 21-20.

Both Chicago and Seattle would fail to gain a first down on their next drive, and with 5:33 left to play, Seattle had to kick the ball back to the Machine. Chicago would have moderate success on the next drive, spurred by an 18-yard run from Michael Turner and a 12 yard completion to Jim Kliensasser, but again on third down Jeff George could not convert and Tim Seder would come out. His 31-yard field goal with 2:12 left to play would put Chicago up by 4. They had kept Seattle from scoring anything other than a lone field goal since the end of the first quarter, but a 4-point lead with time left was anything but certain.

The Dragons began the drive at the 20 after Chicago’s kickoff went out the back of the end zone. With only 2:12 left in the game, they would not be able to rely entirely on Corey Dillon’s running, and they had to expect that Chicago would be pressuring Leftwich on every play. Their first call set the tone for the drive to come. Leftwich faked the ball to Dillon on first and 10. The Chicago defense did not bite, and pursued Leftwich, but the Seattle QB rolled to his right and bought enough time to connect with O.J. McDuffie for a gain of 8. That play was followed by a shotgun formation and a completion to Dilger for a first down. Two-minute warning and Seattle was at their own 33.

Leftwich would line up in the shotgun on 1st and 10 from the 33 and would try the draw play to Dillon. It gained 6, but that was not the kind of gain the Dragons needed. They went back to the pass on 2nd down, but Leftwich, pressured by Anthony Weaver, had to throw the ball away. 3rd and 4 from the 37. On third down it was shotgun again, but with the corner giving David Boston a lot of cushion, Leftwich was able to connect on a 9 yard hitch and Boston was able to get out of bounds to save time outs. First and 10 on the 46. The next play would be the play of the game.

On 1st and 10 from the 46, the Dragons did not line up in the shotgun. They used a 3-receiver, 1 back formation, hoping to keep pressure off Leftwich by threatening to run the ball. They still had all 3 time outs, so a run play was not out of the question. Problem was that Chicago was not buying it. They brought a blitz to Leftwich’s right side. Simeon Rice grazed Leftwich’s shoulder but could not grab the jersey. The Dragon QB escaped to the left, but had Anthony Weaver bearing down on him. The QB barely got the ball off before a crushing hit from Weaver knocked him to the turf. On the other end of the pass, O.J. McDuffie timed his leap. He caught the ball over his head, but came crashing down to the ground as the safety’s body undercut him. Somehow, he did not release the ball. He had to be helped up and took the next play off, clearly having had the wind knocked out of him. But the catch was made, and a big one, a gain of 22 on the play. Time out Seattle with 1:22 left to play, ball on the Chicago 32.

Seattle would try to run again, with 2 time outs still in their pocket. On 1st down a toss play to Dillon gained 4 and the big back stepped out to preserve the timeout. On 2nd and 6 Seattle lined up in the shotgun and again tried to fake out the Chicago defense, using the draw play that had scored for Dillon earlier in the game. This time it was only good for 3 yard and Seattle would have to call their 2nd time out before a 3rd and 1 on the Chicago 23. The Dragons called a QB sneak on 3rd and 1 but Chicago’s Brentson Buckner flinched and was called for encroachment, giving Seattle five yards without costing them any time.

1st and 10 on the 18. Leftwich tried to hit Boston on a fade route to the endzone, but the ball was played well by CB Eric Warfield. 2nd and 10. Leftwich again under center. He took the snap and quickly connected with McDuffie for a gain of 7. The Dragons raced to the line and set up a shotgun, 3 receiver set. The ball was snapped and Leftwich looked for McDuffie but was pressured and had to dump the ball to Dillon. His HB reached the first down marker at the 8 and stepped out. 23 seconds left to play, Seattle with 2-time outs left, but needing 7.

1st and 10 at the 8-yard line. With two time outs left, Seattle tried to trick Chicago yet again, this time a draw to Sproles, but the play gained only 2 yards and Seattle had to burn their 2nd time out. 2nd and 8 from the 6-yard line. Leftwich lined up in the shotgun, two receivers on either side, Stevens and Boston left, McDuffie and Ashley Lelie to the right. Chicago did not blitz this time, they dropped 7 players back into coverage, but rushing 4 was enough as Anthony Weaver flushed Leftwich out of the pocket and into the arms of Israel Rayborn. A loss of 7 on the play. With the clock ticking down, the Dragons raced to the line to snap the ball on third and goal from the 13, but the hurry to get the play off led to a false start as TE Ken Dilger was in motion before the snap. Five-yard penalty and a 10 second run off. Seattle again raced to the line as the referee placed the ball. 13 seconds, 12 seconds, 11 seconds.

Leftwich took the shotgun snap, looked to his left, trying to connect with Boston, but safety Anthony Prior had leaned left from the outset and Boston was now clearly sandwiched between Prior and cornerback Eric Warfield. But, with Prior out with Boston, it meant that the inside seam was available to Leftwich, and in the center of the field was Jeramy Stevens, clearing Brian Urlacher and heading to the end zone. Leftwich put just enough arc on the ball to clear Chicago’s All-USFL MLB and Stevens had just enough height to catch the ball as it began its descent. 9 seconds on the clock as Stevens rolled to the turf, and into the goalpost. It took the big TE a second or two to get up, but when he did, ball firmly grasped in his right hand, the stadium erupted. Seattle had taken the lead, 26-24, with only 9 ticks left on the clock. The Cinderella season had a fairy tale ending after all.

Dave Rayner would connect on the PAT, giving Seattle a 3-point lead, and on the ensuing kickoff he would squib the kick, avoiding the dangerous return man Dante Hall, and forcing up man Michael Ricks to field the return. Ricks went down almost immediately, giving Jeff George 6 seconds and 63 yards to go. Now we al know that George has an arm, but even for him this was too much to ask. On the game’s final play he faced a 2-man rush, and had time to heave the ball skyward, but it was a cluster of players waiting at the 11 yard line when the ball came down and it was swatted to the ground in the chaos of the cluster of players. Seattle had done it. The slipper had fit and the clock had struck midnight, and for Dragon fans, old and new, the improbable had become reality. Seattle was the USFL champion.

It was chaos on the sidelines as players first tried to dump Gatorade on Coach Lewis, largely missing him, but nailing a sound engineer pretty square on. They then lifted Lewis on their shoulders and made their way to midfield, before their coach insisted on getting down to shake hands with Marty Mornhinweg. The two coaches shared some words, and then the party resumed, confetti in green and red tumbling from the roof of NRG Stadium, music blaring, and pandemonium on the field.

The presentation of the John Bassett Trophy was made to Coach Mornhinweg and owners Paul Allen and Roger Edsen. The MVP award was given to Corey Dillon, whose 142 yards represented the highest total by a back against Chicago this year, and the only 100+ yard game given up by the Machine in 17 games. The street of downtown Seattle filled with revelers, and, as is tradition, Byron Leftwich promised to visit Disneyland. The Seattle Dragons, a 6-8 team that many thought did not deserve to be even a #6 seed had beaten all the odds, and all the opponents in their path, to become USFL Champions. Chicago had been a worthy opponent, and had proven their mettle, coming back from an early 17-0 hole, but Seattle would be the story this night. Houston, the USFL, and the whole nation would celebrate the underdog, or in this case the magic Dragon.