NAFL Super Bowl XLV - 2048 |
VERSUS | |
Denver Broncso AFC CHAMPIONS GM: UKpip |
*Philadephia Eagles NFC CHAMPIONS GM: johnnyshaka |
Eagles 27, Broncos 21 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: Kai Farmer |
NAFL Super Bowl XLIV - 2047 |
VERSUS | |
*New England Patriots AFC CHAMPIONS GM: seb11614 |
Chicago Bears NFC CHAMPIONS GM: rush_27 |
Patriots 38, Bears 24 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: Bubba Duffy |
NAFL Super Bowl XLIII - 2046 |
VERSUS | |
Houston Texans AFC CHAMPIONS GM: davehibb |
*Arizona Cardinals NFC CHAMPIONS GM: bdubbs |
Cardinals 24, Texans 14 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: O.J. Baxter |
NAFL Super Bowl XLII - 2045 |
VERSUS | |
Baltimore Ravens AFC CHAMPIONS GM: zullo |
*San Francisco 49ers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: sawblade300 |
49ers 40, Ravens 37 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: Eric Tiffee |
NAFL Super Bowl XLI - 2044 |
VERSUS | |
Miami Dolphins AFC CHAMPIONS GM: scorp |
*San Francisco 49ers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: sawblade300 |
49ers 28, Dolphins 27 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: J.J. Winslett |
NAFL Super Bowl XL - 2043 |
VERSUS | |
Houston Texans AFC CHAMPIONS GM: davehibb |
*Chicago Bears NFC CHAMPIONS GM: rush_27 |
Bears 27, Texans 21 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: Donte White |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXIX - 2042 |
VERSUS | |
*Pittsburgh Steelers AFC CHAMPIONS GM: ezlee2 |
Dallas Cowboys NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cuckoo |
Steelers 21, Cowboys 20 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: Jeffrey Harding |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXVIII - 2041 |
VERSUS | |
San Diego Chargers AFC CHAMPIONS GM: jzicc |
*New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Saints 27, Chargers 17 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: Jon Wagner |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXVII - 2040 |
VERSUS | |
Jacksonville Jaguars AFC CHAMPIONS GM: General Mike |
*Green Bay Packers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: ukpatfan |
Packers 19, Jaguars 9 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: Kevin Stephenson |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXVI - 2039 |
VERSUS | |
New England Patriots AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Vaevictis |
*New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Saints 24, Patriots 13 Game Broadcast Les Dagen MVP: Jon Wagner |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXV - 2038 |
VERSUS | |
New England Patriots AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Vaevictis |
*Washington Redskins NFC CHAMPIONS GM: zbuckley |
Redskins 27, Patriots 24 Going into the 2038 season, 11 NAFL franchises had never played for a Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. So it was fascinating to see 3 of them in the Conference Championship games and 1, the Washington Redskins, make it to Super Bowl XXXV. In a battle of the top seeds from each conference, the New England Patriots, a franchise making its first Super Bowl appearance since 2017, jumped out to a big lead. While eventual Les Dagen MVP Quentin Slechta was cold for the Redskins, and superstar back Ben Whiting was being contained, New England's Bubby Duffy was slinging it. On their first 4 drives, the Pats were stopped only once, and that was due to a missed field goal, and with 7 minutes to play in the first half, it was 21-3 Patriots. The game, though, was far from over. Slechta struck quickly to make it 21-10, and a field goal early in the 3rd quarter brought Washington to within one score. New England answered with a field goal, but a late 3rd quarter TD pass by Slechta gave us a 24-20 score with a quarter to play. Most of that final frame was uneventual; however, with under 3 minutes on the clock, Slechta picked up an improbable 3rd and 21 with a 22-yard pass to Whiting, then immediately found Whiting again for a 62-yard TD pass, giving the Redskins their first lead of the contest. New England similarly picked up an improbable 4th and 20 on the ensuing possession, but they were never able to threaten a game-tying field goal. The Washington Redskins pulled off one of craziest comeback Super Bowl victories in NAFL history. Game MVP: Quentin Slechta |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXIV - 2037 |
VERSUS | |
Pittsburgh Steelers AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Beeznik |
*New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Saints 30, Steelers 3 The NAFL had seen Super Bowl rematches before, but never in back to back seasons - until 2037. The New Orleans Saints, coming off the franchise's 5th Championship, once again met up with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the crown, and the circumstances were similar, with Pittsburgh coming in as the a Wild Card underdog. The game would even start similarly, the Saints jumping to an early 10-0 lead and the Steelers making mistakes and not moving the ball. Unlike Super Bowl XXXIII, however, New Orleans kept the foot on the gas. The Saints shocked many by trading starting QB Bryan Harding midseason, but his replacement, Zachary Lyons, made the front office guys look like geniuses. He threw a couple of first half TD passes, one to Les Dagen MVP winner Pete Sutton, who was also dominating running the ball. Pittsburgh had fallen behind early the previous Super Bowl and come back, but at halftime, it was 23-0 New Orleans and the Steelers had 92 total yards of offense. A missed field goal attempt on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter signaled that it just wasn't Pittsburgh's day. New Orleans would go into cruise control, score an easy TD following a Steelers fumble, and capture a league-leading 6th Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Game MVP: Pete Sutton |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXIII - 2036 |
VERSUS | |
Pittsburgh Steelers AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Beeznik |
*New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Saints 22, Steelers 17 The previous year, the Chicago Bears won their 5th NAFL Championship. The Saints, after going 14-2 in 2036, were looking to match that feat. Most figured they would do it easily, as the AFC representative was a Cinderella Pittsburgh Steelers team that lost its starting QB to injury, barely got in as a Wild Card team, and found a way to pull road upset after road upset in the postseason. Surely, Pittsburgh's luck had to run out, right? Not quite. This one would not be a one-sided affair at all; instead, it was a back and forth game with plenty of twists and turns. The Saints scored first on a field goal, then ran back a Bill Walker interception for a TD. But the Steelers, nearly comatose offensively in the early going, rebounded in the 2nd quarter to make it 10-7. New Orleans then got a field goal, but the Steelers answered with the same. Just before halftime, it looked like the Steelers might take their first lead when Walker hit Brayden Castillon on a long pass play as time ran out. However, Castillo was tugged down just short of the goal line. It was a killer for the fans, but the players kept on. Bryan Harding threw a TD pass for the Saints in the 3rd, and then Pittsburgh's Scottie Coons intercepted Harding and ran it all the way for 6. A mistake cost Pittsburgh a safety, but they still refused to give in. Les Dagen MVP winner William Ortega sacked Harding late in the 4th, and eventually the game came down to one final 2-minute drill for Pittsburgh, trailing by 5. On 4th and 2 from the Saints' 32-yard line, Walker swung it out to his fullback, who was smacked just short of the line to gain by New Orleans' Karl Tucker. It certainly wasn't easy, but New Orleans tied the Bears at 5 Championships, earning yet another Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Game MVP: William Ortega |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXII - 2035 |
VERSUS | |
New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cy Young |
*Chicago Bears NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Bisbo |
Bears 38, Jets 14 Three straight Super Bowl appearances had only been done once before in NAFL history, when the Browns won two out of three from 2011-13. The results wouldn't be as pleasing for the AFC Champion Jets, though. After falling the year before to the Cowboys, New York faced a mighty Chicago Bears offense. It was billed as two great QBs, two great offenses, but it was Chicago who came out scoring. With the help of a couple of Bernie Lanner interceptions, Claude Wyatt threw for a TD and ran for another, as his team built a 17-7 lead at halftime. A long Jets drive to start the 3rd quarter ended in a Lester Flannery TD run, his 2nd, and we had a 3-point game. But eventual Les Dagen MVP winner Claude Wyatt answered right back. He found his star wide receiver Vinny Jenkins for a big gain, then threw his 2nd TD pass to running back Brendan Brisman. The Jets managed to pick off Wyatt in the 4th quarter, giving New York fans hope, but Chicago's Maurice Sellers sacked Lanner in the final minutes to set up the Brisman TD that put the game away. Chicago would rub it in a bit with a Lanner interception returned for six the other way, and the win gave the Chicago Bears their league-leading fifth Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Game MVP: Claude Wyatt |
NAFL Super Bowl XXXI - 2034 |
VERSUS | |
New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cy Young |
*Dallas Cowboys NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cuckoo |
Cowboys 31, Jets 28 Super Bowl XXXI was a rematch of one played just a few years earlier. But the dynamic was far different. While Dallas hadn't made it back to the big game since, the Jets were making their 4th Super Bowl appearance in 6 years. New York had veteran star Bernie Lanner while Dallas surprised by even winning the division after replacing a Hall of Fame QB with Steve Gilchrist, former 5th overall pick dumped by the Jaguars after several mediocre seasons. New York moved the ball well early and looked like they might dominate the way many expected, but Dallas managed to force field goals in the first half. Just before the break, however, Lanner threw a short pass for the game's first TD. The Cowboys had done nothing offensively and trailed 13-3 at halftime. Enter Lonnie Nichols, the eventual winner of the Les Dagen MVP Trophy. His runs led an 88-yard drive to start the 3rd quarter, pulling Dallas within 3. He then caught a 29-yard TD to give the Cowboys their first lead. The Jets answered right back and led 20-17 after big runs by Lester Flannery, but it was Nichols again early in the 4th. When New York ended the seesaw action with a punt, Dallas took firm command with an 89-yard drive, culminating in, once again, a Nichols TD. Lanner and company weren't about to surrender, however, and they marched the field, scored, and converted for 2. The deficit was only 3 points; New York needed a perfect onside kick. But the bouncer was pulled down by the Cowboys, clinching their first Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy since 2009. Game MVP: Lonnie Nichols |
NAFL Super Bowl XXX - 2033 |
VERSUS | |
*New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cy Young |
New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Jets 31, Saints 24 For the 2nd year in a row, the NAFL got a re-match of a Super Bowl played just two years prior. And like 2031, the Jets were the underdog to the NFC's top-seeded Saints. In fact, the Jets were the final team in the playoff field and had won 3 straight on the road to make the big game against 15-1 New Orleans. Unlike 2031, though, a game in which the Saints came back to win from a 21-7 deficit, New Orleans took the early lead on a 99-yard drive in which they went for it on 4th and 2 from the Jets 45. Both teams were missing field goals, and it was a narrow Saints lead of 17-14 at the break. One trend that emerged was New York picking up 3rd downs, even 3rd and long situations, repeatedly. After an Alan Poole interception in the 3rd, it happened 3 times in a row as the Jets took their first lead of the game, 21-17. The Saints capitalized on a Jets fumble to seize the lead back with a Grant Guthrie TD run, but New York continued to perform on 3rd downs and Bernie Lanner led continued the play that would earn him the Les Dagen MVP Trophy. With under 4 minutes to go, the Jets went ahead 28-24 with a Winston Marsh run, on 3rd down. New Orleans had just run out of juice, and when a sack of Poole led to a fumble and a Jets field goal, the amazing playoff run by the Jets was complete. The win put New York in a tie at 4 with Cleveland, New Orleans and Chicago for the most Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophies. Game MVP: Bernie Lanner |
NAFL Super Bowl XXIX - 2032 |
VERSUS | |
*Denver Broncos AFC CHAMPIONS GM: croflash |
Chicago Bears NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Bisbo |
Broncos 28, Bears 22 There was a feeling of deja vu around the league in 2032. Like two years prior, the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Bears met for the title, but Denver hoped that's where the similarities would end, as they were blown out in Super Bowl XXVII. This year, though, they were 14-2, the AFC's top seed, with a powerful running game and one of the league's best defenses. That defense set the tone early, slowing the league's top offense. Chicago punted on each of its first four possessions while the Les Dagen MVP Trophy-winner Randy Collins fired four first-half TD passes, three to Sherman Styles. The Bears managed a couple of field goals but trailed big, 28-6, at the break, Denver looking to do to Chicago what had been done to them in 2030. The Denver defense held strong in the 3rd, and the quarter became a punt party. But with 10 minutes remaining, Chicago showed signs of life, scoring a field goal and then a TD at the 4-minute mark to make it 28-15. After a Denver fumble only seconds later, it looked like we might get a heck of a finish, but the Bears came up short on 4th and goal from the Denver 3. By the time Chicago got back there, and scored, it was just too late. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Denver, and the Broncos kneeled on the 28-22 victory, the franchise's 3rd Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Game MVP: Randy Collins |
NAFL Super Bowl XXVIII - 2031 |
VERSUS | |
New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cy Young |
*New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Saints 31, Jets 28 When it comes to winning the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy, few teams are more experienced than the Jets and Saints. In fact, the winner of this game would tie the Bears and Browns with 4 titles, tops in the NAFL. Early on, the underdog Jets had everything working for them offensively against the league's top defense. Every 3rd down was converted, it seemed, and the team's 1st 3 drives all went for touchdowns. The Saints hit a couple of big pass plays on their opening drive, but that would be all they could muster, trailing 21-7 at the break. In the 3rd quarter, however, everything flipped. New Orleans began holding New York on 3rd downs and after a Bernie Lanner interception, Alan Poole gave his team its 1st lead, 24-21 early in the 4th. When he scrambled for a TD 5 minutes later, Poole all but wrapped up the Les Dagen MVP Trophy. The Jets cut the lead to 3 and had a chance inside of 2 minutes, but a Norbert Dawson interception near midfield clinched the amazing comeback victory for New Orleans. Game MVP: Alan Poole |
NAFL Super Bowl XXVII - 2030 |
VERSUS | |
Denver Broncos AFC CHAMPIONS GM: croflash |
*Chicago Bears NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Bisbo |
Bears 24, Broncos 3 With 7 straight seasons of 11 or more wins, there was no more consistent NAFL performer than Denver. And after winning a Super Bowl two years earlier, their quarterback in only his 3rd year, there was no team with a brighter future than Chicago. The two met for the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy, a battle between the NFC's top seed and the AFC's #2. Both teams had their problems early, Chicago missing a field goal and Denver turning it over twice. It was the 2nd of those turnovers, a fumble at their own 1-yard line, that led to an easy Chicago 7 and the only score of the 1st half. The bad luck continued for the Broncos when QB Jamie Larry led off the 2nd half with his 2nd interception. This time, the Bears needed only 25 yards to score, and Claude Wyatt, eventual winner of the Les Dagen MVP Trophy had his 2nd TD pass. The Denver defense had been doing a solid job on one of the league's most explosive offenses, but mistakes were killing them. So when Chicago followed a field goal by intercepting Larry for the 3rd time, Wyatt notching another short-drive TD pass, it became clear it just wasn't Denver's day. The Broncos managed to avoid being the NAFL's first Super Bowl shutout victim but finished with 211 yards of offense and 4 turnovers to help the Bears grab the franchise's 4th Championship, tied with Cleveland for the league lead. Game MVP: Claude Wyatt |
NAFL Super Bowl XXVI - 2029 |
VERSUS | |
*New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cy Young |
Dallas Cowboys NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cuckoo |
Jets 37, Cowboys 34 Like the year before, there were no Cinderella stories in the battle for the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Both the Jets and Cowboys won 13 games and earned 1st round playoff byes. The strong Dallas defense was on fire in the postseason, holding powerful offenses Arizona and Chicago to just 13 and 6 points, and many expected more of the same in the Super Bowl. After a scoreless 1st quarter, the Jets defense getting a turnover and showing to be no slouches either, a defensive struggle appeared to be the order of the day. But the game quickly turned into an epic shoot-out. Jets QB Bernie Lanner, eventual winner of the inaugural Les Dagen MVP Trophy, began punishing the Cowboys secondary with long pass plays and New York jumped to a 14-0 lead. Luckily for Dallas fans, their offense was up for the challenge, answering with a couple of Peter Brinsfield touchdown passes. The back and forth continued until, with less than a quarter to play, all was tied at 24. But the fun was just beginning. The Jets took a 27-24 advantage; Dallas responded to lead 31-27. The Jets jumped ahead again, 34-31; Dallas rallied to tie with 8 seconds remaining. We were headed to overtime for just the 3rd time in NAFL Super Bowl history. Neither team had been able to stop the other for much of the 4th quarter, but OT saw both teams open with punts. Then, on the final possession, Lanner completed 4 of 5 passes and scrambled to give the Jets an easy game-winning field goal for the franchise's 3rd NAFL title. Game MVP: Bernie Lanner |
NAFL Super Bowl XXV - 2028 |
VERSUS | |
Houston Texans AFC CHAMPIONS GM: davehibb |
*Chicago Bears NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Bisbo |
Bears 30, Texans 24 Both Houston and Chicago finished the regular season at 13-3, playoff favorites in the quest for the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy, and both figured to be players for years to come, Houston behind Frankie Blincoe, acquired the previous offseason by trade, and the Bears with a young nucleus led by QB Claude Wyatt and WR Vinny "Jet" Jenkins. Wyatt, still gimpy from an injury in Week 16, was sacked on the 1st play of the game, but he shook it off by leading Chicago to a game-opening TD. In the 1st half, the Bears would put up 20 points while the Texans stayed in it with an early 2nd quarter TD drive, then a field goal just before half. The catch-up game would continue for Houston when they went 3-and-out to open the 3rd and then allowed the Bears to march 80 yards on 12 plays for a Wyatt TD pass. Blincoe was being pressured, and Houston was committing penalty after penalty to kill drives. But a missed Chicago field goal late in the 3rd seemed to ignite the Texans. They scored on back to back possessions, both Blincoe TD passes, and it was 27-24 Chicago with under 8 to play. The Bears added a field goal, leaving Houston down 6 with 3:04 on the clock. A couple of Chicago penalties, a Houston 4th down conversion and a long pass to Earl Rader later, the Texans were in the red zone. But on 4th and 10 at the 17, Blincoe was pulled down by DT Andrew Figures to end Houston's hopes and give the Bears their 1st title since 2017. Game MVP: Claude Wyatt |
NAFL Super Bowl XXIV - 2027 |
VERSUS | |
Cleveland Browns AFC CHAMPIONS GM: BigHouseRulez |
*New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Saints 22, Browns 16 It was a battle between two franchises that had been there before, between them a combined 11 Super Bowl appearances. But while the Browns were breaking in a new management team, the Saints were in the big game for the 2nd year in a row, this time intent on capturing the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy they just missed the year before. Both defenses came to play, and the grind resulted in the back and forth of field goals for a 6-6 halftime score. The first big break came on the 4th play of the 2nd half when the Saints' Brent Robbins sacked Cleveland QB Jack Peterson to force a fumble. Max Tank would scoop it up and rumble 54 yards for the go-ahead score. A Cleveland fumble on the ensuing kickoff turned into 3 more points for the Saints, and 6-6 game became 16-6 in mere minutes. The Browns soon got 3 back, but New Orleans kept the pressure on with a couple of field goals. Alan Poole threw an interception, the first Saints mistake of the day, but Cleveland couldn't capitalize and it looked like the Saints would hold on for the double-digit victory. Then, with under a minute to play, Peterson drove his team into the end zone for the first time, even overcoming a Robbins sack in the process. Cleveland trailed just 22-16, and when the Browns recovered the onside kick, one of the more improbable finishes in NAFL history became a possibility. Cleveland could make it only just past midfield before time expired, however, and the Saints franchise celebrated its 3rd NAFL Championship. Game MVP: Brent Robbins |
NAFL Super Bowl XXIII - 2026 |
VERSUS | |
*Buffalo Bills AFC CHAMPIONS GM: jeffrey |
New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Bills 20, Saints 15 The Buffalo Bills had been a model of consistency in the AFC, six playoff trips and not a losing season in nearly a decade. But postseason success eluded them, as did the coveted Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Once before had Buffalo been to the big game, but they fell short to the 49ers way back in 2010. So fans were understandably cautious when their team rattled off four of five to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. Then they were downright accepting of defeat when the New Orleans Saints, the NFC's top seed at 14-2, ran the first play of scrimmage 80 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII. Buffalo, however, would stay in the game with solid defense in the first half. An inability to get into the endzone haunted the offense, but they trailed only 12-6 at the break. In the 2nd half, Super Bowl MVP Benjamin Dantzler and the offense picked it up, grabbing a 13-12 lead with Buffalo's first TD. New Orleans snatched it back in the 3rd with a field goal before the Bills went 80 yards in 14 plays to lead 20-15. Buffalo couldn't close it out, though, missing a field goal and giving the Saints two chances to come back. Not until New Orleans' Alan Poole was tripped up for a loss on a 4th and 8 play near midfield did the Bills nation get to celebrate the franchise's first NAFL Championship. Game MVP: Benjamin Dantzler |
NAFL Super Bowl XXII - 2025 |
VERSUS | |
*Denver Broncos AFC CHAMPIONS GM: croflash |
San Francisco 49ers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Aaron K |
Broncos 30, 49ers 9 When the Denver Broncos traded their starting quarterback just before the 2025 deadline, few would have expected them to make the big game behind an undrafted free agent and a former 7th rounder at QB. And even after earning the AFC's #2 seed with a 13-3 record, the NFC's top-seeded San Francisco 49ers looked like a safer bet. Denver's defense, ranked #2 during the regular season, came to play, however. The Broncos held the 49ers to field goals any time they got close, and when eventual MVP Norbert Dawson picked off a pass and ran it 98 yards the other way for the game's first touchdown, Denver had a 13-6 lead at half. In the 2nd half, it was more of the same from the powerful Broncos defense. Denver forced lost possessions by San Francisco, then turned them into 4th quarter TD passes from Bobby Wilson to put the game away and capture the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Game MVP: Norbert Dawson |
NAFL Super Bowl XXI - 2024 |
VERSUS | |
New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cy Young |
*New Orlean Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Saints 37, Jets 3 The New York Jets were the hottest team in the league, winners of 9 straight to make a return trip to the NAFL Super Bowl. And in the big game, things were going in a strikingly similar fashion as the previous one, down by a significant margin to an NFC team. This time, it was 20-3 to the New Orleans Saints, an NFC Wild Card team that rattled off three straight road victories to get there. But one thing was significantly different than that game for the Jets; they were without starting QB Bernie Lanner, the man who had helped lead that shocking comeback over the heavily favored Vikings in 2023. Lanner was injured in the AFC Championship game, and with backup Rusty Bush running the show, it would not come close to a repeat performance for New York. Instead, Alan Poole and the Saints took advantage of every opportunity and Jets mistake, scoring three times on drives of 10 yards or less. Poole would throw for 3 touchdowns and run for another as the Saints brought the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy back to the Big Easy for the first time since the tragic passing of their beloved, longtime GM gottimd. Game MVP: Alan Poole |
NAFL Super Bowl XX - 2023 |
VERSUS | |
*New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cy Young |
Minnesota Vikings NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Hammer |
Jets 20, Vikings 16 Nobody seemed to have a doubt. It was destiny, after all, in this 20th Anniversary Super Bowl game. The Minnesota Vikings had completed just the 2nd undefeated regular season in league history, then cruised through the postseason to the big game, the conclusion foregone they would cap the greatest season in NAFL history by winning the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy and finishing at perfection, 19-0. But someone forget to tell the AFC Champion Jets that the results had been written. Oh sure, they fell behind 16-3 at halftime, their offense completely inept and only their defense keeping them in it by harrassing Frankie Giles and holding the high-powered Minnesota offense to field goals. However, they refused to give up. The 2nd half began with a New York TD drive, then another after a Minnesota fumbled punt return. Suddenly, it was the 4th quarter and the Jets had a 17-16 lead. But the conclusion was foregone, right? Trailing 20-16, the Vikings would surely capture their destiny with a late game-winning drive behind league MVP and all-everything Frankie Giles. Well, not quite. On a 4th and 6 from the Jets 23-yard line, Quentin Giles caught the pass but came up a yard short of the marker. New York had stopped Minnesota again, and it was the Jets instead that go down in history, not only with the Championship but with one of the biggest upsets ever in a Super Bowl. Game MVP: Freddie Rodriguez |
NAFL Super Bowl XIX - 2022 |
VERSUS | |
Kansas City Chiefs AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Jimmy Johnson |
*San Francisco 49ers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Narcizo |
49ers 23, Titans 20 The San Francisco 49ers defense of their 2021 Super Bowl title suffered a serious setback early in the season when star QB Al An went down with an injury in Week 4. He would miss the entire regular season and the only way he would start again is if the team reached the Super Bowl. Well, backups Zach Palmer and Danny Howe got the job done, winning 9 of 12 to secure the NFC's top seed and then leading the Niners to playoff wins over St. Louis and Minnesota. Al An's task upon returning would only be the league's hottest team, the Kansas City Chiefs. KC started 1-5 but lost only one more game on their way to the Super Bowl, and they took the early momentum with San Francisco penalties and turnovers to jump ahead 10-0. But the tables turned when KC started making the mistakes, and Al An got on track with a TD to take us into halftime with the 49ers leading 13-10. In the 2nd half, Kansas City would even things at 13, but it was short-lived as Al An threw his 2nd TD and the 49ers lifted their lead to 23-13 to start the 4th quarter. The Chiefs were down but not out, and they scored a TD with just over 4 to play, their star RB Tito Schneider helping on the drive both on the ground and in the air. But on the final possession, Al An earned his first Super Bowl MVP Award, not with a score but with two 3rd down completions that drained the vast majority of the remaining clock, keeping the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy in San Francisco for yet another season and making the 49ers the 3rd team in league history to win back-to-back titles. Game MVP: Al An |
NAFL Super Bowl XVIII - 2021 |
VERSUS | |
Tennessee Titans AFC CHAMPIONS GM: mmarra |
*San Francisco 49ers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Narcizo |
49ers 19, Titans 17 The 49ers didn't have to do much to make the playoffs and came in as a sleeper team, the third seed in the NFC. But after knocking off the Vikings and the previously undefeated Cowboys, San Francisco had everyone's attention, including the AFC's #2 seed Tennessee, who had beaten the 1-loss Dolphins to make the big game. The Titans did everything they could to lose the game early, with turnover after turnover. In the game, they would have 4 of them. These gave the 49ers, who weren't moving the ball all that well, easy points, but the Titans defense held strong and kept the deficit small at halftime, 13-10. In addition, veteran QB Kendall McCammon was having a good game, a late 3rd quarter TD throw giving Tennessee their first lead of the game. It was a one point advantage, and the defense held San Francisco down again for much of the final frame. Until it mattered most. With under two to play, 49ers QB Al An, looking to change his legacy as a star that couldn't win the big one, took over and drove his team to the winning field goal, capturing the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Game MVP: Kendall McCammon |
NAFL Super Bowl XVII - 2020 |
VERSUS | |
New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: CyYoung |
*Minnesota Vikings NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Hammer |
Vikings 34, Jets 6 Super Bowl XVII gave us a couple of things we hadn't seen in a while. For one, it was the first match-up between the top NFC seed and the top AFC seed in quite some time. The Vikings cruised to a 15-1 regular season record behind eventual league MVP Frankie Giles, despite resting him and many others the final two games. The Jets were also able to rest people after a 13-3 season, one of the league's more remarkable improvements from the previous year in which they went 7-9. But the game also offered another distinction, one of the few Super Bowl blow-outs. It wasn't that way early, the Jets defense forcing Minnesota field goals to keep things close. Late in the 1st half, though, the powerful Vikings scored on a 74-yard pass from Giles to go ahead 17-3. It was a big-play capability they would flash again late in the 4th to shove the final dagger into the heart of Jets fans as Minnesota took the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy in dominant fashion, the franchise's 3rd NAFL Championship. Game MVP: Frankie Giles |
NAFL Super Bowl XVI - 2019 |
VERSUS | |
*Cleveland Browns AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Browns_GM |
San Francisco 49ers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Narcizo |
Browns 41, 49ers 34 On one side it was a superstar QB who hadn't yet won the big game, on the other a former 7th round pick written off after injury. The Wild Card Browns, with Oakland castoff Terrell Betrozoff at the helm, were underdogs to the mighty NFC Champion 49ers. But San Francisco's 3-time MVP Al An had the turnover bug early, throwing 2 interceptions to allow the Browns to build an 11-point halftime lead. The San Francisco offense wasn't going away, though, and the 49ers tied the game at 31 on Al An's 3rd TD pass of the day late in the 4th. Betrozoff, on his way to winning the MVP, would then complete big pass after big pass to put his team again ahead by 7 in the final minutes. The 49ers drove the field in response, trying to tie it again, but a Cleveland goal line stand forced San Francisco to kick a field goal and hope they'd get another chance. They wouldn't, and the Cleveland Browns would win the franchise's 4th NAFL Super Bowl and capture the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy in thrilling, upset fashion. Game MVP: Terrell Betrozoff |
NAFL Super Bowl XV - 2018 |
VERSUS | |
Miami Dolphins AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Ray |
*Minnesota Vikings NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Hammer |
Vikings 34, Dolphins 28 For the 2nd year in a row, the NAFL had two teams in the big game that had to win 3 playoff games to get there. Of course, that number seemed miniscule for the Miami Dolphins as the AFC Champions went on an incredible 13-game winning streak to reach the title. But it was the NFC Champion Vikings who got off to a fast start, running well behind Randall Papadopulos and picking off former Minnesota backup Jackie Huntley to make it a 14-0 game. Though Huntley would struggle with interceptions, he was throwing often and rallied his Dolphins back, trailing 21-14 at half. The Vikings opened the 2nd half with a commanding drive of nearly 10 minutes to push their lead back to 14, but the Dolphins would rally yet again. Minnesota penalties helped the cause, and with a lone second remaining in regulation, Huntley threw his 4th TD to send Super Bowl XV into OT. After stopping the Vikings, the Championship looked to be Miami's as they drove deep into Minnesota territory. But the interception bug would snap Huntley again, setting Minnesota up with good field position behind efficient 2nd year star Frankie Giles, and 3rd string runningback Donnell Crosland would reach the endzone to end it a few minutes later. The Minnesota Vikings captured the Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy with a thrilling Super Bowl XV victory. Game MVP: Frankie Giles |
NAFL Super Bowl XIV - 2017 |
VERSUS | |
New England Patriots AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Walt |
*Chicago Bears NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Bears 38, Raiders 31 Two Wild Card teams faced off in Super Bowl XIV, and the defending Champion Chicago Bears were the heavy favorites. But behind a rookie standout at Quarterback, the New England Patriots proved they belonged in the game. The teams traded scores before the Patriots pulled away early in the 2nd half, taking a 31-17 lead. Game MVP Sammie Holmes and the Bears weren't giving up, though, and they would tie the game with lengthy drives late. Then, with only minutes to play, Chicago went 62 yards in 10 plays and scored for their 3rd consecutive crunch-time touchdown. With the come from behind victory, the Chicago Bears became the 3rd team in NAFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls. After the game, the team was presented the inaugural Seth Gottesmann Memorial Trophy. Game MVP: Sammie Holmes |
NAFL Super Bowl XIII - 2016 |
VERSUS | |
Oakland Raiders AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Shooter |
*Chicago Bears NFC CHAMPIONS GM: timmynausea |
Bears 44, Raiders 10 The Chicago Bears lost their 2016 opener to the defending Champion Minnesota Vikings, but from there, they were a dominant force. With a 14-2 record, Chicago made it to their first ever NAFL Super Bowl with a convincing win over those same Vikings. They would face another Super Bowl newcomer, and the Oakland Raiders would struggle from the beginning of a turnover-filled game. A fumble on the opening kickoff led to an easy 7 for the Bears, and Terrell Betrozoff, who made news coming back from a huge injury to lead the Raiders to the big game, threw three first half interceptions. Two of them went to Stan Wells, and the game MVP returned one for an early touchdown. Before even 40 seconds had elapsed, the Bears led 14-0. Chicago had some turnovers as well, but Sammie Holmes would throw three touchdowns on the day, two to Anthony Elliott, and the Bears dominated throughout to end their magical season. Game MVP: Stan Wells |
NAFL Super Bowl XII - 2015 |
VERSUS | |
Pittsburgh Steelers AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Steelers GM |
*Minnesota Vikings NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Hammer |
Vikings 31, Steelers 28 It was the match-up many anticipated for much of the season. Both the Vikings and Steelers were the last remaining undefeated teams in their conferences, starting 7-0 and 10-0 respectively. And the game didn't disappoint. Pittsburgh marched the field to score on the opening possession, but the Vikings notched 14 unanswered before the Steelers scooped up a Forbes fumble and ran it back for a TD. It was a back and forth contest, and the start of the 2nd half was equally fortuitous for Pittsburgh as a quick Roethlisberger interception led to another easy 7 for the Steelers. Nevertheless, Minnesota always had an answer, taking a 31-28 lead late when relative unknown Butch McConnell busted a 21 yard TD run. With under 5 to play, the Steelers began a drive that will live in the hearts of Pittsburgh fans for eternity. In easy field goal range with under 2 on the clock, Drew Henson, who had been so good all day and still won the game MVP award, threw an interception in the endzone to end Pittsburgh's dream season. Game MVP: Drew Henson |
NAFL Super Bowl XI - 2014 |
VERSUS | |
Tennessee Titans AFC CHAMPIONS GM: JeeberD |
*New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: gottimd |
Saints 38, Titans 28 With only one regular season loss and a talented veteran Quarterback, the New Orleans Saints went into Super Bowl XI as the favorites, trying to erase memories of their collapse in the big game two years earlier. Rivers would be on the money all game, hitting big play after big play. But the AFC Champion Titans moved the ball as well behind Kendall McCammon. After trailing at half, McCammon kept his team in it with critical drives late. Unfortunately for the Titans, missed conversion attempts kept haunting them, and their defense just couldn't stop Rivers. Despite a late comeback attempt, McCammon's 4th and 23 pass fell incomplete with only a couple of minutes on the clock, ending all hopes for the Titans and giving the Saints their first ever NAFL crown. Game MVP: Philip Rivers |
NAFL Super Bowl X - 2013 |
VERSUS | |
*Cleveland Browns AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Browns_GM |
San Francisco 49ers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Narcizo |
Browns 34, 49ers 30 They say bad things happen in threes. For the San Francisco 49ers, a team that had put together one of the best seasons in NAFL history, it seemed a Super Bowl loss had to happen to reach that number. You see, after losing their final regular season game, ending a chance to go 16-0, the 49ers lost MVP Quarterback Al An in the NFC Championship. That was two. In the big game, the Browns, behind the remarkably consistent arm of Byron Leftwich, kept driving the field. Six straight drives produced scores for Cleveland, but San Francisco, led by backup Kyle Boller and then 3rd stringer Tim Ratty, kept pace. Rattay finally cooled with just over a minute to play by throwing 3 straight incompletions, his team down 4. When a 3rd and 10 completion to Hamilton came up just short of the marker for San Francisco, the game was essentially over. The Cleveland Browns became back-to-back Super Bowl Champions. Game MVP: Byron Leftwich |
NAFL Super Bowl IX - 2012 |
VERSUS | |
*Cleveland Browns AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Browns_GM |
New Orleans Saints NFC CHAMPIONS GM: gottimd |
Browns 34, Saints 31 Super Bowl IX would be one of the more incredible games in NAFL history. The New Orleans Saints, the top NFC seed, had put on an offensive show the week before to reach the title game, and they started off doing the same to the Browns. It was 24-0 early as Philip Rivers was on his game. But the Browns, who were making a return trip to the big game with a new QB in Byron Leftwich, didn't give up. By halftime, it was 24-14 and with only minutes to play, the Browns had evened the game at 31. As the clock expired, Cleveland's Phil Dawson kicked a 27 yarder to win it for the Browns and cap off one of the most amazing playoff comebacks of all time. Game MVP: Philip Rivers |
NAFL Super Bowl VIII - 2011 |
VERSUS | |
Cleveland Browns AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Browns_GM |
*Arizona Cardinals NFC CHAMPIONS GM: ArizonaGM |
Cardinals 23, Browns 21 It was a battle of one of the league's best defenses against one of the league's best offenses. And although Arizona capitalized on a quick turnover inside the Cleveland 20 to take a 7-0 lead, it was the Browns who were controlling much of the game. Cedric Cobbs and Jeff Garcia chipped away, eating time, but had to settle for field goals far too often. The explosive Arizona offense put up a couple of quick, big plays to take the lead late. But after the Cleveland defense rose up as it had most of the game, the Browns had 2 minutes and the ball, trailing by 2. Super Bowl VIII essentially ended, though, when Garcia threw a 3rd and 16 pass into the hands of Arizona's Brad Moore. Game MVP: Terry Crist |
NAFL Super Bowl VII - 2010 |
VERSUS | |
Buffalo Bills AFC CHAMPIONS GM: jeffrey |
*San Francisco 49ers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Narcizo |
49ers 28, Bills 14 They lost their 1st game of the season. That was it. From that point on, the San Francisco 49ers won 17 straight to make the Super Bowl. It didn't matter if they were playing with their starting QB Donovan McNabb, back-up Clint Stoerner or in this case 3rd stringer Juan Getson. Getson struggled very early against the Buffalo Bills but threw 2 first half touchdowns. A late 1st half TD run by Antonio Pedigo put the 49ers up 21-7. The Bills would rally behind QB Clifton Huffman, cutting the lead to 7 with 5 to play. But 2nd half interceptions would be Buffalo's undoing, and San Francisco would hold on for the capper on an amazing season. Game MVP: Juan Getson |
NAFL Super Bowl VI - 2009 |
VERSUS | |
Miami Dolphins AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Icy |
*Dallas Cowboys NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Cuckoo |
Cowboys 23, Dolphins 20 Big underdogs against the AFC's top seed, the Dallas Cowboys had won 3 straight playoff road games as a Wild Card team to face the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. The powerful Miami offense struggled early, though, as Griese threw 4 interceptions on the day. But Dallas couldn't capitalize on great field position, settling for field goals on multiple occasions. Miami pulled to within 3 and had the ball in Dallas territory with under a minute to play. But Roy Williams knocked away the 4th and 16 pass from Brian Griese to give Dallas the win and the NFC it's first NAFL Championship. Game MVP: Ben Roethlisberger |
NAFL Super Bowl V - 2008 |
VERSUS | |
*Denver Broncos AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Buzz |
Philadelphia Eagles NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Johnnyshaka |
Broncos 23, Eagles 21 It had already been a big story when Jake Plummer went down injured and back-up Greg Zolman led the Broncos to a solid regular season finish and a trip to the Super Bowl. And the AFC's top seed got all they could handle from the NFC's top team as the Eagles and Broncos played a seesaw battle. Zolman was solid, and his team led late in the game. In the 4th, McNabb would throw an interception in the end zone, but Zolman would turn around and do the same, giving the Eagles enough time to score and cut the lead to two. The onside kick attempt with less than a minute to play would be recovered by Denver, though, as the AFC continued its run on top of the NAFL. Game MVP: Greg Zolman |
NAFL Super Bowl IV - 2007 |
VERSUS | |
*New England Patriots AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Walt |
Carolina Panthers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Panthers GM |
New England 17, Carolina 3 The game would be defined early. Carolina's star running back DeShaun Foster was carted off the field in agony in the 1st quarter, and all of the breath seemed to be sucked out of the Panthers' sideline. Young Harold Oliver would come in and play well, rushing for over 100 yards, but the Carolina offense couldn't break any plays. New England, meanwhile, scored 17 first half points with a solid but unspectacular Tom Brady leading them. Josh Miller, the New England punter, repeatedly pinned Carolina within their own five yard line, and the Panthers would muster only a late field goal. Game MVP: Tom Brady |
NAFL Super Bowl III - 2006 |
VERSUS | |
*New England Patriots AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Walt |
St. Louis Rams NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Rams |
New England 34, St. Louis 24 The league's top two teams (both 14-2 during the regular season) squared off in Super Bowl III. Both teams had a chip on their shoulder, the Rams because of their loss in the previous year's title game, and New England because of their failure to win the big games in the postseason. And both came out fired up as a couple unnecessary roughness penalties were assessed in the game. The Patriots' Tom Brady was on fire, and New England controlled the game except for several fumbles, one of which the Rams ran in for a touchdown. The 2nd half saw a St. Louis comeback, though, and all was tight at 27-24 following a Rams field goal with under 5 minutes to play. Instead of running out the clock, however, the Patriots stuck with Brady who continued to complete passes. When the drive resulted in another Patriots touchdown with time near expired, the final nail had been placed in the St. Louis coffin. Game MVP: Tom Brady |
NAFL Super Bowl II - 2005 |
VERSUS | |
*New York (A) Jets AFC CHAMPIONS GM: mmarra |
St. Louis Rams NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Rams |
New York (A) 26, St. Louis 17 Chad Pennington had been injured in the AFC Championship game, and many questioned whether he'd even play. But he came on the field determined and throwing. Two big touchdown passes later (65 yards to Cotchery and 85 yards to Chrebet) and the Jets had all the momentum. But Bulger and the Rams wouldn't go away so easily. They cut the lead to three in the second half and trailed by less than a touchdown with only minutes to play. The Rams QB tried to force a pass, however, and the Jets grabbed the interception. Pennington turned the short field into another touchdown to give the New York Jets the Super Bowl trophy. Game MVP: Chad Pennington |
NAFL Super Bowl I - 2004 |
VERSUS | |
*Cleveland Browns AFC CHAMPIONS GM: Browns_GM |
Green Bay Packers NFC CHAMPIONS GM: Doug5984 |
Cleveland 19, Green Bay 13 Cleveland took control of the game early, grabbing a quick field goal and touchdown to lead 10-0 despite two Garcia interceptions. But Green Bay, with their back-up quarterback Doug Pederson starting, refused to give up. They came back with 13 unanswered points to take the lead with under two minutes to go in the game. Garcia got his team in field goal range, and the game was headed to a Super Bowl overtime. After the teams traded punts, the Packers lined up to do it yet again when Griffith blocked it for the Browns, giving them the ball deep in Packer territory. A Travis Henry touchdown run later, the Cleveland Browns became the NAFL's first Super Bowl Champion. Game MVP: Kenard Lang |