2006–07 NBL season, Ladder
The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win-loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.


2006–07 NBL season, Ladder
13-way Head-to-Head between Wollongong Hawks (4-2), New Zealand Breakers (4-2) and Adelaide 36ers (1-5).


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
The 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various other preseason polls.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, AP poll
The Associated Press (AP) preseason poll was released on November 6, 2006. This poll is compiled by sportswriters across the nation. In Division I men's and women's college basketball, the AP Poll is largely just a tool to compare schools throughout the season and spark debate, as it has no bearing on postseason play. Generally, all top 25 teams in the poll are invited to the NCAA basketball tournament, also known as March Madness.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
The Coaches Poll is the second oldest poll still in use after the AP Poll. It is compiled by a rotating group of 31 college Division I head coaches. The Poll operates by Borda count. Each voting member ranks teams from 1 to 25. Each team then receives points for their ranking in reverse order: Number 1 earns 25 points, number 2 earns 24 points, and so forth. The points are then combined and the team with the highest points is then ranked #1; second highest is ranked #2 and so forth.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll
Only the top 25 teams with points are ranked, with teams receiving first place votes noted the quantity next to their name. Any team receiving votes after the top 25 are listed after the top 25 by their point totals. However, these are not real rankings: They are not considered #26, #27, etc. The maximum points a single team can earn is 775. The preseason poll was released on November 6, 2007.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 7, 2006, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 2, 2007 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The Florida Gators successfully defended their national championship with an 84–75 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Season outlook, Pre-season polls
The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls, November 6, 2006:


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Regular season, Conference winners and tournaments
30 conference seasons conclude with a single-elimination tournament. Traditionally, all conference schools are eligible, regardless of record. However, some conferences, most notably the Big East, do not invite the teams with the worst records. The conference tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. A school that wins the conference regular season title is guaranteed an NIT bid; however, it may receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, NCAA tournament
The NCAA Tournament tipped off on March 13, 2007 with the opening round game in Dayton, Ohio, and concluded on April 2 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. A total of 65 teams entered the tournament. Thirty of the teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. The automatic bid of the Ivy League, which does not conduct a post-season tournament, went to its regular season champion. The remaining 34 teams were granted "at-large" bids, which are extended by the NCAA Selection Committee.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, NCAA tournament
The Atlantic Coast Conference led the way with seven bids, while the Big East, Big Ten and Pac-10 each placed six teams in the field. Florida successfully defended their title, beating Ohio State 84–75 in the final and becoming the first team since the 1991–92 Duke Blue Devils to repeat as champions. Florida swingman Corey Brewer was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while guard Lee Humphrey broke the career NCAA Tournament record for three-pointers made.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Post-season tournaments, National Invitation Tournament
After the NCAA Tournament field was announced, the National Invitation Tournament invited 32 teams to participate, reducing the field's size from 40. Eight teams were given automatic bids for winning their conference regular seasons, and 24 other teams were also invited. The field came from 18 conferences, with the Big East and Southeastern Conference tying for the most teams invited with four. For the first time since the NIT began seeding teams, all four No. 1 seeds reached the final four. John Beilein's West Virginia Mountaineers won the title, defeating the Oliver Purnell-coached Clemson Tigers 78–73 in the championship game. The Mountaineers reached the championship game after Darris Nichols' dramatic 3-pointer at the buzzer stunned Mississippi State in the semifinals. Mountaineer guard Frank Young was named tournament MVP.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings
Two human polls made up the 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings, the USCHO.com/CSTV Division I Men's Poll and the USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine Poll. As the 2006–07 season progressed, rankings were updated weekly. There were a total of 34 voters in the USA Today poll and 40 voters in the USCHO.com poll. Each first place vote in the USA Today poll is worth 15 points in the rankings while a first place vote in the USCHO.com poll is worth 20 points with every subsequent vote worth 1 fewer point in either poll.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season
The 2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season began on October, 2006 and ended with the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament's championship game on April 7, 2007 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Michigan State won the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship, defeating Boston College 3–1 in the national championship game. This was the 60th season in which an NCAA ice hockey championship was held and is the 112th year overall where an NCAA school fielded a team.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Pre-season polls
The top 20 from USCHO.com/CSTV and the top 15 from USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the season.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 33% of their team's total minutes.


2006–07 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, Player stats, Leading goaltenders
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average


2006–07 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
Two human polls comprise the 2006–07 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. The AP poll is currently a poll of sportswriters, while the USA Today Coaches' Poll is a poll of college coaches. The AP conducts polls weekly through the end of the regular season and conference play, while the Coaches poll conducts a final, post-NCAA tournament poll as well.


2006–07 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season
The 2006–07 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey season began on October 15, 2006 and concluded on March 18 of the following year. This was the 34th season of Division III college ice hockey.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games
The 2006–07 NCAA football bowl games concluded the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season in college football.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games
A record of 32 team-competitive plus five all-star postseason games were played, with the addition of the new stand-alone Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, the International Bowl in Toronto, Ontario (the first all-USA bowl game played outside the country since the 1937 Bacardi Bowl in Cuba), the Papajohns.com Bowl, the New Mexico Bowl, and the post-season-ending all-star Texas vs. The Nation Game. To fill the 64 available bowl slots from the 119 schools in the Bowl Subdivision, a record 7 teams (11% of all participants) with non-winning seasons participated in bowl games—all seven had a .500 (6-6) season.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games
Along with the increase in bowl games, the NCAA ruled that teams could schedule twelve regular-season games (up from eleven) beginning in the 2006 season. NCAA teams in Alaska and Hawaii, and their home opponents, are allowed to schedule an extra game over and above this limit. Two teams in any conferences with a championship final could play a 13th game in that conference championship [the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference, Conference USA (C-USA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), and Southeastern Conference (SEC)]. The increase in bowl games and season schedule resulted in the NCAA deciding to allow teams with a 6–6 record to be bowl eligible if either the team or their conference has negotiated a bowl contract.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Selection of the teams
NCAA regulations stipulate any team finishing 6–6 can only be selected to fill a conference tie-in bowl slot once all other available conference teams are chosen. For example, the Big East had six bowl-eligible teams, but only five bowl tie-ins, so 6–6 Pittsburgh was automatically the odd team out. The same rule also applies to at-large bowl selections.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Selection of the teams
With only a pair of at-large bowl positions available and two remaining 7–5 teams, the MAC's Northern Illinois's selection to the Poinsettia Bowl and the Sun Belt's Middle Tennessee's selection to the Motor City Bowl meant any remaining 6–6 teams had no chance of playing in a bowl game. Thus, this season marked the first time in NCAA history that every team with a winning record in the regular season played in a bowl game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Selection of the teams
Besides Pitt, those who didn't go bowling with a .500 record were Kansas from the Big 12, Pac-10 members Arizona and Washington State, SMU from Conference USA, the MAC's Kent State, Sun Belt members Arkansas State and Louisiana–Lafayette and Mountain West member Wyoming, which drew controversy on the subject of the New Mexico Bowl, listed below.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Poinsettia Bowl
The post-season kicked off with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium on December 19, 2006, the first of two scheduled bowl games in that stadium. The Mountain West's Texas Christian University Horned Frogs held the Mid-American Conference's NIU Huskies' star running back Garrett Wolfe to 28 yards en route to a 37–7 win. TCU quarterback Jeff Ballard rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Poinsettia Bowl
The Horned Frogs entered the game ranked 25th in the final regular season AP Poll, while the Huskies entered the Poinsettia Bowl after finishing in third place in the MAC's West Division. Each team earned $750,000 for their conference by participating in the game. Among those in attendance were San Diego Chargers running backs LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU alumnus) and his backup, NIU alum Michael Turner.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Las Vegas Bowl
The first meeting between a BCS AQ conference and a BCS non-AQ conference took place in the Pioneer Pure Vision Las Vegas Bowl on December 21 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada. The Mountain West Conference champion Brigham Young University Cougars, led by game MVP tight end Jonny Harline, handily trounced the Pac 10's University of Oregon Ducks by a score of 38–8. Each team earned $950,000 for their conference by participating in the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, New Orleans Bowl
One relative newcomer to the Division I Bowl Subdivision, and one team that last won a bowl game in 1954, squared off in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, which returned to the Louisiana Superdome in the titular city on December 22 after the 2005 game was held at Cajun Field on the campus of University of Louisiana at Lafayette due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. Conference USA's Rice University Owls, who made their first post-season appearance in 45 years, were trounced by the Sun Belt Conference co-champion Troy University Trojans 41–17.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, New Orleans Bowl
The Trojans, winning their first bowl game in school history, were playing in their second post-season game in three years, having appeared two years beforehand in the now-defunct Silicon Valley Football Classic. Each team earned $325,000 for their conference by participating in the game. Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook and cornerback Elbert Mack were named co-MVPs.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Papajohns.com Bowl
The city known as the "Football Capital of the South" returned to the post-season for the first time since 1990 and the defunct All-American Bowl when Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field hosted the inaugural Papajohns.com Bowl, the first of three games that were scheduled Saturday, December 23.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Papajohns.com Bowl
Conference USA's East Carolina University, coached by Skip Holtz, the son of Lou Holtz, fell to the Big East's University of South Florida by the score of 24–7, in the Bulls' second post-season game in as many years, having been shut out 14–0, the last year in the Meineke Car Care Bowl by North Carolina State. Both teams earned a $300,000 paycheck for their conferences by playing this contest. Game MVP Benjamin Williams scored the game's historic first points as well as the Bulls' first points as a member of the Bowl Subdivision with a touchdown, one of two he scored, ninety seconds into the game. The game evened the BCS AQ/non-AQ tally at one game apiece.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, New Mexico Bowl
The second game of this December 23 triple-header was another first annual bowl game, the New Mexico Bowl, played at University Stadium on the campus of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The Spartans of San Jose State University, representing the Western Athletic Conference, faced the host school, who represented the Mountain West. The Lobos were chosen over the University of Wyoming Cowboys, despite Wyoming beating them on said field, 14–10, on October 7, and having a better record in the MWC (5–3 vs. New Mexico's 4–4).


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, New Mexico Bowl
John Broussard of the Spartans scored the first points in the bowl's history just ten seconds into the second quarter on a 78-yard pass from quarterback Adam Tafralis, and five turnovers did the Lobos in as SJSU won, 20–12. Each team earned $750,000 for their conference by participating in the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Armed Forces Bowl
The last of three games on December 23 was the Bell Helicopters Armed Forces Bowl, formerly known as the Fort Worth Bowl, played at Texas Christian University's Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The Mountain West's University of Utah Utes trailed at the half, but beat Conference USA's Golden Hurricane of the University of Tulsa (which, like Utah, was once in the WAC), 25–13. Utah's versatile defensive back Eric Weddle helped lead the Utes by grabbing an interception and scoring a rushing touchdown. Each team earned $600,000 for their conference by participating in the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Hawaii Bowl
The Christmas Eve tradition known as the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl returned to Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 24 as the host school, the University of Hawaii Warriors, representing the WAC, returning after a one-year absence because of a losing record, defeated the Pac 10's Sun Devils from Arizona State University, 41–24. Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan set a new NCAA record for most touchdown passes in a single season, breaking David Klingler's standard set in 1989 at Houston with his 55th touchdown toss in the second quarter. He then added three more to bring his final total to 58.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Hawaii Bowl
This was Dirk Koetter's final game as the head coach of ASU, as Dennis Erickson will take over, coming in from Idaho. On top of the $398,000 for each team to divide among fellow conference members, the Pac-10 also gave Arizona State an additional $300,000 in travel expenses as "a special case" exemption. The Warriors' win gave the BCS non-AQ conferences a 3–1 lead in their rivalry.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Motor City Bowl
The Motor City Bowl, played at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on December 26, featured the only newcomer to the Bowl Division in the 2006–07 campaign. The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University, co-champions of the Sun Belt Conference, made their bowl debut against the MAC champions, the Central Michigan University Chippewas, who won 31–14. Each school made $750,000 for their conferences.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Motor City Bowl
As MTSU was chosen as an at-large school after the Big Ten sent two teams to the BCS, and their 7–5 record shut out 6-6 Pitt (as, under NCAA FBS rules, a 6–6 team cannot be considered until all 7–5 teams have been assigned bowl slots, even if they are not "power conference" teams).


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Emerald Bowl
The Emerald Bowl was played at AT&T Park in San Francisco, home of the San Francisco Giants on December 27. The ACC's Florida State University Seminoles, who finished the regular season at 6–6, defeated the Pac-10's University of California Los Angeles Bruins 44–27, who were coming off defeating Southern California at home on December 2, eliminating them from national championship contention. Each team earned $850,000 for their conference by participating in the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Independence Bowl
The first of three games played on Thursday, December 28 was the PetroSun Independence Bowl played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, pitting the SEC's University of Alabama Crimson Tide against the Big 12's Oklahoma State University Cowboys. With 8.9 seconds left in the game, Oklahoma State kicker Jason Ricks kicked a 27-yard field goal to defeat the Crimson Tide, 34–31. Alabama had mounted a 14-point comeback in the fourth quarter, with their last touchdown coming with 8:41 left to play. The SEC and Big 12, the conferences represented in this game, each received a check for $1.2 million.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Independence Bowl
The Tide was coached on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Joe Kines (who had previously served as an interim coach at another SEC West school, the University of Arkansas, in the past) as this game was played between the firing of Mike Shula and the eventual hiring of Nick Saban.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Texas Bowl
Rising from the ashes of the former Houston Bowl, the Texas Bowl was the second game played on December 28 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Lone Star Sports and Entertainment, an arm of the Houston Texans, took over the game in June with NCAA approval, and for their first game saw the Big 12's Kansas State University Wildcats lose to the Big East runner-up, the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights, 37–10. The Wildcats earned $750,000 for the Big 12 as a gift of their participation, while Rutgers earned $500,000 for the Big East. The win was the first for college football's oldest program, having played its first game in 1869 against Princeton's Tigers, winning by a score of 6–4. Rutgers' Ray Rice scored two touchdowns and personally outgained the KSU offense 170 yards to 162 yards.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Music City Bowl
The Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl presented by Bridgestone was the first of five games scheduled for December 29, the second-busiest schedule of games outside New Year's Day. In this game, played at LP Field in Nashville, the ACC's Clemson University Tigers lost to the SEC's University of Kentucky Wildcats, 28–20. Kentucky jumped to a big early lead; Clemson cut the margin late but not enough to win. Kentucky's Andre Woodson was the bowl game MVP. The two teams had last faced each other in the 1993 Peach Bowl; Kentucky has won 8 of the 12 meetings between the two teams. This was the first bowl win for the Wildcats since 1984. Each team earned $1.6 million for their conference by participating in the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Sun Bowl
The Brut Sun Bowl was the second of the five games played December 29, held in the self-named stadium in El Paso, Texas on the campus of UTEP, pitting the Big 12's University of Missouri Tigers against the Oregon State University Beavers from the Pac 10. Oregon State coach Mike Riley was told by Yvenson Bernard to go for the win. Bernard barely pushed into the end zone on the gutsy two-point conversion run, giving the 24th-ranked Beavers a 39–38 victory, having been down by 14 points earlier in the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Sun Bowl
Among Missouri's big plays were a 40-yard catch by Chase Coffman that led to Temple's 7-yard scoring run on the opening drive. A 47-yard run by Temple was followed by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Chase Daniel to Coffman on the next play for a 38–24 lead with 12:08 left in the game. Missouri's Tony Temple missed setting a Sun Bowl record for rushing, which was 197 yards by Charles Alexander of LSU in 1977, by losing four yards on his final carry. Each team earned $1.9 million for their conference by participating in the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Liberty Bowl
The third game on the docket for December 29 was the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at the self-named stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, pitting the Conference USA champions, the University of Houston Cougars against the SEC's University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Both teams had considerable success passing the ball in the second quarter; as a result, the halftime score had Houston leading 28–27. The shootout continued into the second half, however, South Carolina held off Houston to win by a score of 44–36.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Liberty Bowl
The offensive showcase set records for most points in the first half (55), most receiving yards (201 by Houston's Vincent Marshall), and most total yards gained (1,039 – 527 by Houston and 512 by South Carolina) and tied the record for touchdown passes by a single player (4 by South Carolina's Blake Mitchell). The conferences each received a check for $1.5 million for the teams' appearances.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Insight Bowl
The fourth game in the quintet of contests scheduled on December 29 was the Insight Bowl, which moved from Chase Field in downtown Phoenix to Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in nearby Tempe, former home of the Fiesta Bowl. The game pitted the Texas Tech University Red Raiders from the Big 12 against the Big Ten's University of Minnesota Twin Cities' Golden Gophers.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Insight Bowl
The Gophers took a 38–7 lead midway through the third quarter, only to see the Red Raiders storm back to tie the game and eventually win in overtime in the biggest comeback ever in Division I FBS bowl history, surpassing Marshall's 30-point comeback against East Carolina in the 2001 GMAC Bowl. Each conference received a check for $1.2 million for their teams' appearances. Two days after the Gophers' collapse in the game left them with a losing record on the year, head coach Glen Mason was dismissed by the school's athletic department.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Champs Sports Bowl
The fifth and final game December 29 pitted the University of Maryland, College Park Terrapins from the ACC and the Purdue University Boilermakers from the Big Ten in the Champs Sports Bowl, the first of two bowl games in four days played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Maryland played an efficient and mistake-free game in cruising to a 24–7 victory. The Terrapins were able to dominate the game with a balanced offense and stingy defense that shutdown Purdue's potent passing game. Each team earned $2.25 million for their conference by participating in the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Meineke Car Care Bowl
The first game of three scheduled for Saturday, December 30 was the Meineke Car Care Bowl, played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the game, the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen played against the Boston College Eagles from the ACC. Both teams received a $750,000 payment, with Navy keeping the entire amount as they play as an independent, while Boston College sent their check to their conference to be divided with all other bowl payouts. Walk-on placekicker Steve Aponavicius, who joined the team in October after the regular kicker was suspended, kicked the walk-off field goal as time expired to give Boston College their seventh straight bowl win, which leads the nation.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, Alamo Bowl
The second contest on December 30 was the Alamo Bowl, played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It pitted the defending 2005 national champions, the University of Texas Austin Longhorns, who did not make the 2006 Big 12 Championship Game, against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes from the Big Ten. The game, without corporate sponsorship for the first time as former title sponsor MasterCard pulled out, still paid each conference $2.2 million in television revenue for their participation. The 2006 meeting set a new attendance record for the bowl and the facility, at 65,875. The bowl would get a new sponsor in 2007 as Valero Energy, a San Antonio-based company assumed sponsorship of the game.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, MPC Computers Bowl
The only game to be played on New Year's Eve (December 31) was the MPC Computers Bowl on the Blue Turf of Bronco Stadium on the campus of Boise State University in the state capital of Idaho. The ACC's University of Miami Hurricanes, who were playing their final game for departing head coach Larry Coker, who was dismissed from his job after their regular season was completed, defeated the WAC's University of Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack by one point in a game that wasn't decided until the final minute. Both teams earned $250,000 for their conferences, and the BCS AQ conferences now had a 3–2 deficit against the BCS non-AQ conferences. Starting with the 2007 game, the title reverted to the "Humanitarian Bowl", with Roady's Truck Stops taking over as title sponsor.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, International Bowl
The first International Bowl featured the MAC's Western Michigan University Broncos and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats from the Big East Conference. The game was played on January 6, 2007, at Toronto, Ontario's Rogers Centre (formerly known as SkyDome) making it the first game played outside the United States since Notre Dame and Navy played their annual game in Dublin in 1996 and the first postseason game outside the U.S. since the Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba back in 1937.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, International Bowl
The game's scoring came in three separate blocks, as Cincinnati jumped out to a 24–0 lead by the second quarter before WMU stormed back with 24 straight points of their own to tie the game. Immediately following WMU's tying touchdown in the 4th quarter, Cincinnati came back with a 12-play, 81-yard drive ending with a 33-yard field goal that provided the winning margin with 6:11 remaining in the game. The win by Cincinnati closed out a perfect bowl season for the Big East conference which went 5–0.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, International Bowl
Each school received a check for $750,000 (in US dollars) for their conferences to divide. New head coach Brian Kelly made his debut for the Bearcats, and five assistant coaches from Kelly's former job at Central Michigan followed him there. All five assistants had been on the CMU sidelines at the Motor City Bowl 11 days earlier, but without Kelly.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS bowls, GMAC Bowl
The last game before the BCS Championship was in Mobile, Alabama's Ladd–Peebles Stadium, where the GMAC Bowl was contested on Sunday, January 7. In the contest, played in an off-and-on rainstorm, the Ohio University Bobcats from the MAC were defeated by Conference USA's University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles by the score of 28–7. Each team earned $750,000 for their conference by participating in the game. The Golden Eagles' win avoided C-USA being totally shut out of the bowl win column.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games
There are a half-dozen games that are not related to the BCS that are still notable for extra prestige, with very high payouts and many with New Year's Day games. Prestige includes the fact that some of the games are shown on over-the-air (or terrestrial) television networks like CBS, ABC or Fox rather than ESPN or NFL Network, which are cable/satellite channels.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games, Holiday Bowl
The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl was the first of the six prestigious non-BCS games and the third game to be played on December 28. It was played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, which also hosts the Poinsettia Bowl. In this contest, the Texas A&M University Aggies, representing the Big 12, were routed by the University of California, Berkeley Golden Bears from the Pac-10, with the Bears coming out on top, 45–10. Each conference received $2.2 million for their team's participation.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games, Chick-fil-A Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly the Peach Bowl), was the final contest of three games to be played on December 30, and was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Hokies, representing the ACC, played against the University of Georgia Bulldogs, representing the SEC. In exchange for the right to pick the first ACC team after the BCS, the bowl paid $3.25 million to the ACC, with the SEC receiving $2.4 million.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games, Chick-fil-A Bowl
Virginia Tech jumped out to a 21–3 halftime lead, scoring on two one-yard touchdowns from tailback Brandon Ore and a 53-yard pass from flanker Eddie Royal to tight end Sam Wheeler. Georgia then scored 28 unanswered points in the second half and held off a late Tech rally to win 31–24.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games, Outback Bowl
The first bowl game scheduled for New Year's Day (January 1) was the Outback Bowl, which was played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, with the SEC's No. 17 University of Tennessee Volunteers challenging the Big Ten's unranked Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games, Outback Bowl
Legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno was set to return to the sidelines after an accident on the sidelines left him with a knee injury during their game at Wisconsin, but a steady drizzle throughout the game convinced the 80-year-old that he was not ready to return to the sidelines, instead staying in the press box and coaching the game from there. Thanks to an 88-yard return of a fumble for a touchdown by Nittany Lions' cornerback Tony Davis, JoePa won his record-extending 22nd post-season game 20–10. The schools each received a $3 million payment for their conferences. The win left Penn State ranked 24th in the nation.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games, Cotton Bowl Classic
Game number two on January 1 was the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, played at the self-named stadium on the site of the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. The Big 12's University of Nebraska at Lincoln's Cornhuskers played the Auburn University Tigers from the SEC in the annual game, with the Tigers prevailing 17–14. Each school's conference received $3 million.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games, Gator Bowl
Jacksonville, Florida served the site for the third bowl game of New Year's Day, the Toyota Gator Bowl, played at Alltel Stadium. In the game, the West Virginia University Mountaineers from the Big East came back from an 18-point deficit to beat the ACC's Georgia Institute of Technology's Yellow Jackets by the score of 38–35, with the combined total of points (73) setting an all-time Gator Bowl record. The conferences each got a $2.5 million payment for their team's participation. 2007 marked the last time Toyota was the game's title sponsor, as Konica Minolta became the new sponsor starting with the 2008 event. It also marked the first time the game aired on CBS under the new TV contract.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Non-BCS New Year's Day and other prestigious games, Capital One Bowl
In Orlando, Florida, the fourth contest on New Year's Day and the last non-BCS prestigious bowl game to be played was at the Citrus Bowl in the Capital One Bowl, and featuring two teams that, due to BCS rules, were shut out as both the Big Ten and SEC sent two teams into the BCS, including the BCS Title Game. The University of Arkansas Razorbacks lost to the University of Wisconsin Badgers by a score of 17–14. Each conference received $4.25 million for their team's participation.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Bowl Championship Series, Rose Bowl
The University of Southern California Trojans returned to the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi in the first BCS game of 2007 on New Year's Day in Pasadena, California. Historically, the Rose Bowl has pitted the Pac-10 and Big Ten regular season champions. The Pac-10 champion Trojans played in a non-traditional Rose Bowl matchup with the University of Michigan Wolverines. What made this game a not-so-traditional matchup is that Michigan entered as the runner-up of the Big Ten, as the Big Ten champions Ohio State instead participated in the BCS Championship Game due to their No. 1 national ranking. Thanks to their win, the Trojans now hold a 6–2 lead in their eight meetings against the Wolverines in Pasadena.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Bowl Championship Series, Fiesta Bowl
Thanks to an unbeaten season and sitting inside the Top 12 teams in the final BCS survey, the Boise State University Broncos, champions of the Western Athletic Conference, earned their way into the BCS for a visit to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. They defeated the Big 12 champions, the University of Oklahoma Sooners, at the new University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on New Year's Day. Many sports journalists hailed the game as an "instant classic" for its dramatic ending.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Bowl Championship Series, Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma scored 25 straight points in the second half to rally from an 18-point deficit and take the lead; the teams combined to score 22 points in the final 90 seconds. The Broncos used three successful trick plays to get to overtime then win the game: a hook and lateral play on 4th-and-18 to score the tying touchdown with seven seconds left, a halfback option pass for an overtime touchdown on 4th-and-2, and a Statue of Liberty play on a two-point conversion attempt to win the game. Not only did Boise State win, but they also claimed a fourth win for the BCS non-AQ conferences in seven games against BCS AQ conferences.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Bowl Championship Series, Orange Bowl
The third BCS game, the FedEx Orange Bowl, was played at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 2, 2007. The Big East Conference champions, the University of Louisville Cardinals, beat the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons, winners of the ACC, 24–13. Louisville entered the game as heavy favorites, but their offense sputtered early and the game was tied 10–10 at halftime. Wake Forest took a 13–10 lead in the fourth quarter but Louisville scored two unanswered touchdowns on drives of 81 and 72 yards to take an 11-point lead, after which Wake Forest was unable to score.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Bowl Championship Series, Orange Bowl
Brian Brohm completed 24 of 34 passes and was named the game's MVP. Brohm's 311 passing yards were the third most in Orange Bowl history, behind only Tom Brady (in 2000 for Michigan against Alabama) and Matt Leinart (in 2005 for Southern California against Oklahoma). In addition, the Cardinals' win clinched the ESPN-sponsored Bowl Challenge Cup as the much-maligned Big East, who were in their second year of their new football alignment, had a 4–0 record with one game remaining passing the Mountain West and Western Athletic Conferences, who had 3–1 records and completed their games.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Bowl Championship Series, Sugar Bowl
The fourth BCS game, the 73rd Allstate Sugar Bowl, the new corporate sponsor replacing Nokia, took place at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on January 3, 2007, returning from Atlanta after a one-year absence due to Hurricane Katrina. The contest featured the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, an independent school, playing the Louisiana State University Tigers, representing the SEC. The Fighting Irish kept their $21.5 million payout, while LSU split up their $21.5 million among their SEC brethren.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Bowl Championship Series, Sugar Bowl
While the game was competitive early, LSU dominated the second half, scoring 20 points while shutting out Notre Dame, winning by a commanding score of 41–14. JaMarcus Russell threw for 331 yards—more yards than Notre Dame gained total—in a commanding performance. Brady Quinn struggled, completing 15 of 35 passes for only 149 yards and throwing two interceptions. Notre Dame has now lost an all-time record nine consecutive bowls; their last win came in the 1994 Cotton Bowl Classic against Texas A&M. That streak ended in the 2008 Hawaii Bowl.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Bowl Championship Series, BCS National Championship Game
The final college football game of the marathon bowl season that had taken three weeks and had thirty-one prior contests was the Tostitos 2007 BCS National Championship Game, played on January 8 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The top two teams based on the final BCS standings on December 3 – the Big Ten conference champion Ohio State University Buckeyes, was the top-ranked team in the final survey, and the SEC champion University of Florida Gators, was ranked number two. Florida settled the issue of who was the champion of NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision football. Ohio State opened the game with a 93-yard TD return by Ted Ginn Jr., who injured his foot in the mass celebration following the play and did not return. Florida ultimately prevailed in the championship game, winning 41–14.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Post-BCS All-Star Games
Note: The Las Vegas All-American Classic, which was scheduled to be played on January 15 in Las Vegas, was canceled one week prior to its playing due to a lack of sponsorship.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Conference standings
The list of conferences infra includes all conferences with at least one team having played in a bowl game, and is sorted first by winning percentage, then by total games won, and finally alphabetically, by conference name. The list also includes the teams from each conference that finished in the top 25 in the final AP Poll or the final Coaches poll for the 2006 season.


2006–07 NCAA football bowl games, Conference standings
KEY† – Winner of the Bowl Challenge Cup. ≠ – Ineligible for the Bowl Challenge Cup as they only had two schools instead of the minimum three teams mandated. AP – Final AP Poll for 2006 season. CP – Final Coaches Poll for 2006 season.t-tied for that position.


2006–07 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2006 season began on January 6, 2007. The postseason tournament concluded with the Indianapolis Colts defeating the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, 29–17, on February 4, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Participants
Within each conference, the four division winners and the two wild card teams (the top two non-division winners with the best overall regular season records) qualified for the playoffs. The four division winners are seeded 1 through 4 based on their overall won-lost-tied record, and the wild card teams are seeded 5 and 6. The NFL does not use a fixed bracket playoff system, and there are no restrictions regarding teams from the same division matching up in any round.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Participants
In the first round, dubbed the wild-card playoffs or wild-card weekend, the third-seeded division winner hosts the sixth seed wild card, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth. The 1 and 2 seeds from each conference then receive a bye in the first round. In the second round, the divisional playoffs, the number 1 seed hosts the worst surviving seed from the first round (seed 4, 5, or 6), while the number 2 seed will play the other team (seed 3, 4, or 5).


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Participants
The two surviving teams from each conference's divisional playoff games then meet in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, hosted by the higher seed. Although the Super Bowl, the fourth and final round of the playoffs, is played at a neutral site, the designated home team is based on an annual rotation by conference.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Schedule
Under the new U.S. television broadcast contracts that took effect starting this season, NBC replaced ABC as the network televising the first two Wild Card playoff games. Fox then televised the rest of the NFC games. CBS broadcast the rest of the AFC playoff games and Super Bowl XLI.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 23, Kansas City Chiefs 8
Despite quarterback Peyton Manning's three interceptions, the Indianapolis Colts out-gained the Kansas City Chiefs in total yards, 435–126, and first downs, 23–8. Indianapolis's defense forced three turnovers, four sacks, and prevented Kansas City from gaining a single first down until late in the third quarter. The game was never in question despite Manning's turnovers as Indy dominated Kansas City from start to finish to earn a trip to Baltimore.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 23, Kansas City Chiefs 8
The Colts opened up the scoring on their first drive of the game with Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal. The next time they had the ball, they drove 68 yards to the Kansas City 2-yard line, but had to settle for another Vinatieri field goal to give them a 6–0 lead. After another Kansas City punt, Chiefs cornerback Ty Law intercepted a pass from Manning and returned it 43 yards to the Colts 9-yard line.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 23, Kansas City Chiefs 8
But Kansas City failed to get the ball into the end zone with three rushing attempts and came up empty when Lawrence Tynes' 23-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright. After another interception thrown by Manning and another Kansas City punt, the Colts increased their lead to 9–0 by driving 33 yards and scoring on Vinatieri's 50-yard field goal on the last play of the first half. The Chiefs ended the half with 16 total yards and no first downs. This was the first time in the modern era (post AFL–NFL merger) and the first time since 1960 that an NFL team had been held without an offensive first down in the first half of a playoff game.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 23, Kansas City Chiefs 8
On the Colts' opening possession of the second half, Manning threw his third interception of the game (and his second to Law), but the Chiefs could not take advantage of the turnover and had to punt. Indianapolis then drove 89 yards in 12 plays and scored with Joseph Addai's 6-yard touchdown run, giving them a 16–0 lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 23, Kansas City Chiefs 8
Kansas City got their first first down of the game on their ensuing possession, driving 60 yards in eight plays. Trent Green finished the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez, and then completed a pass to tight end Kris Wilson for a successful two-point conversion to cut their deficit to within one touchdown, 16–8. However, the Colts increased their lead to 23–8 on a 71-yard, 9-play drive ending with Reggie Wayne's 5-yard touchdown reception. Indianapolis's defense forced three turnovers on the Chiefs' last three drives to clinch the victory.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 23, Kansas City Chiefs 8
This was the third postseason meeting between the Chiefs and Colts, which Indianapolis winning both times in Kansas City, the most recent being 38–31 in the 2003 AFC Divisional playoffs.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo, a four-year veteran who earned the starting job and made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career during the regular season, botched the hold on a potential game-winning field goal with 1:19 left in the fourth quarter, allowing the Seattle Seahawks to escape with a victory.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
Taking advantage of Dallas kicker Martín Gramática's opening kickoff, which went out-of-bounds and gave Seattle the ball at their own 40, the Seahawks marched down the field on their opening drive and scored with Josh Brown's 23-yard field goal. Dallas was forced to punt on their ensuing possession, but Cowboys defensive back Anthony Henry intercepted Seattle's next pass and returned it to the Seahawks 43-yard line, setting up Gramatica's 50-yard field goal to tie the game.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
Early in the second quarter, Seattle drove 54 yards and retook the lead with Brown's second field goal of the game. After an exchange of punts, the Cowboys took the lead. Aided by Jason Witten's 32-yard reception, Dallas drove 76 yards in ten plays and scored on Romo's 12-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton with only 11 seconds left in the half, giving the Cowboys a 10–6 lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
In the third quarter, Seattle drove 62 yards in 12 plays, featuring two fourth-down conversions by running back Shaun Alexander, and scored with Matt Hasselbeck's 15-yard touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevens, giving them a 13–10 lead. However, Dallas promptly took the lead right back after Miles Austin returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
Early in the final quarter, Dallas defensive back Roy Williams intercepted a pass from Hasselbeck at the Cowboys 43-yard line. Eight plays later, Gramatica kicked a 29-yard field goal to increase his team's lead to 20–13. On Seattle's ensuing drive, a pass interference penalty on Dallas's Terence Newman gave them a first down on the 1-yard line. But Seattle failed to get into the end zone with their next four plays, turning the ball over on downs at the 2-yard line.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
On the first Dallas play after the turnover, Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn caught a short pass, but then lost a fumble. The ball was recovered by Seattle in the end zone for a touchdown, but after a Dallas challenge the referee ruled the play a safety, cutting the score to 20–15 and giving the ball back to the Seahawks at around the 50-yard line after the ensuing free kick and return. Four plays later, Hasselbeck's 37-yard touchdown pass to Stevens gave Seattle a 21–20 lead. The Seahawks attempted a two-point conversion to give themselves a three-point lead, but Hasselbeck's pass failed.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
Dallas took the ensuing kickoff and marched down to the Seahawks' 8-yard line. On third down and 7 from there, Witten caught a pass that was initially ruled a first down on the 1-yard line, but after an instant-replay challenge, officials ruled Witten had been tackled at the 2-yard line, bringing up fourth down. With 1:19 left in the game, Gramatica lined up to attempt a 19-yard field goal, but Romo dropped the ball while setting it up for a hold.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
Romo picked up the fumble and ran with it, trying for either a touchdown or a first down, but he was tackled at the 2-yard line by safety Jordan Babineaux, turning the ball over on downs and allowing Seattle to run the clock down to eight seconds before punting back to Dallas. On the last play of the game, Romo's Hail Mary pass fell incomplete in the end zone.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
"I know how hard everyone in that locker room worked to get themselves in position to win that game today and for it to end like that, and for me to be the cause is very tough to swallow right now", Romo said after the game. "I take responsibility for messing up at the end there. That's my fault. I cost the Dallas Cowboys a playoff win, and it's going to sit with me a long time. I don't know if I have ever felt this low."


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
This was the final game in the Hall of Fame coaching career of Bill Parcells, who resigned his position with the Cowboys two weeks later. Parcells would later take a front office position with the Miami Dolphins but never returned to the sidelines.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 6, 2007, NFC: Seattle Seahawks 21, Dallas Cowboys 20
This was the first postseason meeting between the Cowboys and Seahawks.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 37, New York Jets 16
Tom Brady completed 22 out of 34 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, while New England Patriots running backs Corey Dillon, Laurence Maroney, and Kevin Faulk combined for 145 rushing yards in a win over the New York Jets. Receiver Jabar Gaffney, who caught only 11 passes during the season, finished his first career playoff game with eight catches for 104 yards.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 37, New York Jets 16
New England took the opening kickoff and drove down the field, with Gaffney catching three passes for 34 yards on a 65 yard-drive that ended with Dillon's 11-yard touchdown run. Later in the quarter, Jets defensive back Hank Poteat recovered a fumble from Dillon on the Patriots 15-yard line, setting up Mike Nugent's 28-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 7–3.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 37, New York Jets 16
On their first possession of the second quarter, the Jets took a 10–7 lead after receiver Jerricho Cotchery (who finished with 100 receiving yards and 19 rushing yards) caught a pass from Chad Pennington and took it 77 yards for a touchdown. However, New England countered with Stephen Gostkowski's 20-yard field goal on their next drive to tie the game. Then, after forcing the Jets to punt, the Patriots marched to New York's 1-yard line. On third down with 11 seconds remaining in the half and no timeouts left, Brady took the snap, faked a handoff to Dillon, and then hit tight end Daniel Graham in the back of the end zone for a touchdown to give them a 17–10 halftime lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 37, New York Jets 16
Nugent kicked a field goal on the Jets' opening drive of the second half, but New England responded with another field goal from Gostkowski to retake their 7-point lead. On the Jets' ensuing possession, linebacker Rosevelt Colvin deflected a lateral from Pennington behind the line of scrimmage. Most of the players on both teams (including Colvin) thought the lateral was an incomplete forward pass and the play was over, but New England's Vince Wilfork realized the play was still ongoing and recovered the fumble. After picking up the ball, Wilfork ran 31 yards to the Jets 15-yard line before being tackled by Cotchery, setting up Gostkowski's third field goal to make the score 23–13.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 37, New York Jets 16
Early in the fourth quarter, Nugent kicked his third field goal to cut New York's deficit back to within a touchdown, 23–16. However, the Patriots responded with a 13-play, 63-yard drive that took 6:23 off the clock and ended with Brady's 7-yard touchdown pass to Faulk. Then on the first play of the Jets' ensuing drive, New England defensive back Asante Samuel put the game away by intercepting Pennington's pass and returning it 36 yards for a touchdown.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 37, New York Jets 16
This remains the Patriots' most recent victory on Wildcard Weekend.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 37, New York Jets 16
This was the second postseason meeting between the Jets and Patriots, with New England winning the prior meeting 26–14 in the 1985 AFC Wild Card playoffs.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20
Philadelphia built up a 20–10 fourth quarter lead and thwarted a late Giants comeback attempt, winning on a 38-yard field goal by David Akers on the last play of the game.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20
New York took the opening kickoff and scored quickly, driving 67 yards in seven plays and scoring with Eli Manning's 17-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress only 3:12 into the game. All of the remaining drives of the first quarter ended in punts, but early in the second quarter, Eagles running back Brian Westbrook's 49-yard touchdown run tied the game at seven. Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Philadelphia defensive back Sheldon Brown intercepted a pass from Manning and returned it to the Giants 37-yard line, setting up a 19-yard field goal by Akers to take a 10–7 lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20
On New York's ensuing possession, a 41-yard run by halfback Tiki Barber sparked a 78-yard drive capped by Jay Feely's 20-yard field goal to tie the game with 4:45 left in the half. Philadelphia responded, with quarterback Jeff Garcia leading the Eagles down the field 80 yards in ten plays and finishing it off with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Donté Stallworth, giving his team a 17–10 halftime lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20
Two penalties by the Eagles in the second half allowed the Giants to stay close. Late in the third quarter, an illegal block-in-the-back by rookie Tank Daniels nullified Westbrook's second touchdown of the game, which came on a 65-yard punt return. The Eagles still managed to score on their drive with a 48-yard field goal by Akers, increasing their lead to 20–10. The second penalty, a 47-yard pass interference call against Brown, came on the Giants' next possession giving the Giants offense the ball at the Philadelphia 14. The Eagles' defense dug in and forced the Giants to settle for Feely's second field goal of the game from 24 yards out, leaving the Giants down only one touchdown early in the fourth quarter.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20
Later in the quarter, the Giants drove to the Eagles 23-yard line. Two false starts and a holding penalty pushed them back to the 43, but Manning overcame the situation by completing three passes to Burress; the first went for 18 yards and the second for 14 and a first down, before the third, an 11-yard strike, found Burress in the end zone for his second touchdown of the game that tied the score with 5:04 to play. Philadelphia responded by driving 46 yards in ten plays, including a first down rush by Westbrook, allowing the Eagles to take the clock all the way down to three seconds before calling on Akers to kick a 38-yard field goal as time expired.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20
In the final game of his career, Barber rushed for a career postseason high 137 yards and caught two passes for 15 yards. Westbrook rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 12 yards.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 7, 2007, NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 20
This was the third postseason meeting between the Giants and Eagles. New York won both prior meetings, with the most recent coming in the 2000 NFC Divisional playoffs and ended with a 20–10 final.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 15, Baltimore Ravens 6
Adam Vinatieri's five field goals boosted the Colts to victory over the Ravens in the first NFL playoff game without a touchdown since the 1979 NFC Championship Game.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 15, Baltimore Ravens 6
Indianapolis forced the Ravens to punt on their opening possession, and Terrence Wilkins gave them good field position with a 21-yard return to their 46-yard line. The Colts subsequently drove to Baltimore's 5-yard line where Vinatieri kicked a field goal to give them a 3–0 lead. On the second play of the Ravens' next drive, Indianapolis linebacker Gary Brackett recovered a fumble from tight end Todd Heap at the Baltimore 31-yard line, setting up another Vinatieri field goal to make the score 6–0.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 15, Baltimore Ravens 6
Later in the quarter, Cory Ross' 18-yard punt return gave the Ravens a first down on the Colts' 42-yard line. Six plays later, Matt Stover kicked a 40-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to cut their deficit to 6–3. Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Baltimore safety Ed Reed intercepted a pass from Peyton Manning at the Ravens' 45-yard line. Baltimore subsequently moved to the ball to the Colts' 4-yard line, but then gave it back when Steve McNair's third-down pass was intercepted by Antoine Bethea. Following the turnover, the Colts marched 63 yards in 13 plays and scored with Vinatieri's third field goal, which hit the cross bar and bounced through the uprights, to give them a 9–3 halftime lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 15, Baltimore Ravens 6
Indianapolis took the second half kickoff and drove 54 yards, featuring a 27-yard catch by tight end Dallas Clark. Vinatieri finished the drive with a 48-yard field goal to increase their lead to 12–3. After an exchange of punts, the Ravens cut the score to 12–6 by driving 62 yards and scoring on a 51-yard field goal from Stover. Then, on the third play of the Colts' ensuing possession, Reed recorded his second interception from Manning, giving his team a first down on their 39-yard line. However, just like his previous pick, the Ravens could not take advantage of the turnover. Five plays later, McNair's pass was intercepted by defensive back Nick Harper.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 15, Baltimore Ravens 6
After each team punted once, the Colts put the game away with a 47-yard drive that took 7:16 off the clock and included three successful third down conversions. Vinatieri finished the drive with his fifth field goal, giving Indianapolis a 15–6 lead with only 23 seconds left in regulation. Colts defensive end Robert Mathis then sealed the victory by forcing and recovering a fumble from McNair on the Ravens' final play.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 15, Baltimore Ravens 6
The game had added significance to many Baltimore fans, due to the circumstances of the Colts' departure from Baltimore 23 years earlier. The Indianapolis Colts advanced to their second AFC Championship Game in four years. It was the third consecutive playoff defeat for the Ravens.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 15, Baltimore Ravens 6
This was the first postseason meeting between the Colts and Ravens.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, NFC: New Orleans Saints 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24
The Saints gained 208 rushing yards and 435 total yards, both postseason franchise records, en route to a 27–24 victory over the Eagles, allowing them to advance to the conference championship game for the first time in the team's 40-year history.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, NFC: New Orleans Saints 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24
In the first quarter, a 28-yard run from New Orleans' Deuce McAllister set up a 33-yard field goal from John Carney to open up the scoring. Later in the quarter, two big plays from the Saints, a 25-yard run by Reggie Bush and a 35-yard reception by Devery Henderson, set up Carney's second field goal 15 seconds into the second quarter, making the score 6–0.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, NFC: New Orleans Saints 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24
Three plays after the kickoff, Eagles quarterback Jeff Garcia threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Donté Stallworth to give his team a 7–6 lead. The Saints responded with a 78-yard drive, scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run by Bush to retake the lead at 13–7. However, the Eagles stormed right back, driving 80 yards in 11 plays. On third down and goal, running back Brian Westbrook took a handoff and jumped over top of the defensive line and fell into the end zone for a touchdown, giving them a 14–13 lead with 50 seconds left in the half.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, NFC: New Orleans Saints 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24
New Orleans returner Michael Lewis returned the kickoff 25 yards to their 35-yard line. With two seconds left, quarterback Drew Brees threw a Hail Mary pass to the end zone. Wide receiver Marques Colston initially caught the ball, but it squirted out of his arms as he fell to the ground, and was ruled an incompletion.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, NFC: New Orleans Saints 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24
Philadelphia took the second-half kickoff and scored in just three plays with a 62-yard touchdown romp from Westbrook, increasing their lead to 21–13. However, the Saints responded with a 5-yard touchdown run by McAllister on their next drive. Then after forcing a punt, New Orleans drove to the Eagles' 29-yard line. After two penalties (a holding call against the Saints and an illegal contact call against the Eagles), McAllister rushed for 25 yards and followed it up with an 11-yard touchdown reception, giving the Saints a 27–21 lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, NFC: New Orleans Saints 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24
With 11:08 remaining in the fourth quarter, Philadelphia scored on a 24-yard field goal from David Akers, cutting their deficit to three points. After an exchange of punts, the Saints drove from their 29 to the Eagles 35-yard line with 3:24 left in the game. New Orleans was in great position to take more time off the clock and increase their lead, but Bush fumbled a high pitch from Brees and Philadelphia's Darren Howard recovered the ball, giving his team a chance to drive for a tying field goal. However, the Eagles were unable to get a first down.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, NFC: New Orleans Saints 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24
They appeared to convert a fourth and 10 to Hank Baskett, but the loud crowd noise had muted the whistles of a false start by guard Scott Young, originally a backup to injured starter Shawn Andrews. After that, they chose to punt the ball back with 1:57 left. The Saints then clinched the victory by keeping possession of the ball for the rest of the game.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 13, 2007, NFC: New Orleans Saints 27, Philadelphia Eagles 24
This was the second postseason meeting between the Eagles and Saints. Philadelphia won the only prior meeting 36–20 in the 1992 NFC Wild Card playoffs.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 27, Seattle Seahawks 24 (OT)
Robbie Gould's 49-yard field goal in overtime propelled the Bears over the Seahawks and to their first NFC Championship Game since the 1988 season. This was also their first playoff win since 1994.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 27, Seattle Seahawks 24 (OT)
Chicago running back Thomas Jones capped off the opening drive of the game with a 9-yard touchdown run. Seahawks receiver Nate Burleson gave his team great field position with a 41-yard kickoff return to the 47-yard line, but the Bears forced Seattle to punt after three plays. Then, after forcing Chicago to punt, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck tied the score with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Burleson on the first play of the second quarter. However, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, giving his team a 14–7 lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 27, Seattle Seahawks 24 (OT)
Later in the quarter, Grossman lost a fumble while being sacked by lineman Julian Peterson, and Seattle's Chuck Darby recovered the ball at the Bears' 26-yard line. Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander subsequently took the ball into the end zone with four running plays, the last one a 4-yard touchdown run to tie the game. Seattle decided to squib kick the ensuing kickoff to prevent a long return, but Bears tight end Gabe Reid gave Chicago good field position with a 20-yard return to the 43-yard line. After the two-minute warning, Grossman completed a 21-yard pass to Muhsin Muhammad and followed it up with an 18-yard completion to Rashied Davis, advancing the ball to the 7-yard line. Following a timeout, Jones scored his second rushing touchdown, giving the Bears a 21–14 halftime lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 27, Seattle Seahawks 24 (OT)
On the opening drive of the third quarter, Josh Brown's 54-yard field goal cut the Seahawks deficit to 21–17. Then, after the Bears were forced to punt, receiver Deion Branch caught two passes for 33 yards on a 7-play, 51-yard drive that ended with Alexander's second touchdown on a 13-yard run, making the score 24–21. Chicago responded by advancing the ball to the Seahawks 10-yard line, but cornerback Pete Hunter ended the drive by intercepting a pass intended for Muhammad. However, Bears defensive back Ricky Manning intercepted Hasselbeck's next pass and returned it to the 32-yard line. Chicago ended up getting pushed back to the 36 and decided to punt rather than risk a 54-yard field goal attempt.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 27, Seattle Seahawks 24 (OT)
In the fourth quarter, Chicago lost a scoring opportunity when Devin Hester's 63-yard punt return touchdown was nullified by an illegal block penalty on Manning. Instead, they ended up driving 48 yards and scoring with Gould's 41-yard field goal to tie the game. Seattle responded with a drive to Chicago's 46-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs when Alexander was tackled for a 1-yard loss by Lance Briggs on fourth and 1 with under two minutes left in regulation. However, Chicago was unable to get a first down and had to punt. Seattle then drove to the Bears 45-yard line, but Tank Johnson sacked Hasselbeck for a 9-yard loss with less than 30 seconds left in regulation, and the game ended up going into overtime.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 27, Seattle Seahawks 24 (OT)
Seattle won the coin toss, but had to punt after three plays. On the punt, Chicago defender Israel Idonije broke through the offensive line and attempted to block the kick. He didn't quite make it there in time, but he forced Ryan Plackemeier to rush his punt, which ended up going just 18 yards to the Chicago 36-yard line. Two plays later, a 30-yard reception by Davis set up Gould's game-winning 49-yard field goal.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 27, Seattle Seahawks 24 (OT)
This was the first postseason meeting between the Seahawks and Bears.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
In the final game of the divisional playoffs, the New England Patriots faced the San Diego Chargers, who were unbeaten at home in the regular season. The Chargers' roster included league MVP running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who broke several league records, nine Pro Bowlers, and five All-Pro players. However, four Chargers turnovers, three of which were converted into Patriots scoring drives, helped lead to a Chargers loss. San Diego lost despite outgaining the Patriots in rushing yards, 148–51 and total yards, 352–327, while also intercepting three passes from Tom Brady.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
In the first quarter, after San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer opted to go for it on fourth and 11 instead of attempting a 47-yard field goal, quarterback Philip Rivers lost a fumble while being sacked by Mike Vrabel, setting up Stephen Gostkowski's 51-yard field goal with 40 seconds left in the quarter. In the second quarter, Chargers receiver Eric Parker's 13-yard punt return set up a 48-yard scoring drive that ended with Tomlinson's 2-yard touchdown run, giving his team a 7–3 lead.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
Then, on the Patriots' next drive, linebacker Donnie Edwards intercepted a pass from Brady and returned it to the 41-yard line. But the Chargers ended up punting after Rivers was sacked on third down by defensive back Artrell Hawkins. Later in the quarter, Tomlinson rushed twice for 13 yards and took a screen pass 58 yards to the Patriots' 6-yard line, setting up a 6-yard touchdown run by Michael Turner with 2:04 left in the half. New England responded with a 72-yard scoring drive, with receiver Jabar Gaffney catching four passes for 46 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown reception with six seconds left in the half, cutting their deficit to 14–10.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
In the second half, Brady threw his second interception of the game. But once again, the Chargers were forced to punt after Rivers was sacked on third down. Mike Scifres' 36-yard punt pinned New England back at their own 2-yard line, and San Diego subsequently forced a punt, but Parker muffed the kick and New England's David Thomas recovered the fumble at the Chargers' 31-yard line. New England's drive seemed to stall after Brady fumbled on third and 13.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
Patriots' tackle Matt Light recovered it and Chargers defensive back Drayton Florence drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting Patriots tight end Daniel Graham. The drive continued and Gostkowski eventually kicked a 34-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 14–13. Then, on San Diego's next drive, linebacker Rosevelt Colvin intercepted a pass from Rivers at the New England 36-yard line. The Patriots then drove to the Chargers 41-yard line, but were halted there and had to punt. After the punt, Rivers completed two passes to tight end Antonio Gates for 31 yards and a 31-yard pass to Vincent Jackson, setting up Tomlinson's second rushing touchdown to give the Chargers an 8-point lead, 21–13.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
New England responded by driving to San Diego's 41-yard line. On a fourth-down conversion attempt, Brady's pass was intercepted by Marlon McCree, but Troy Brown stripped the ball, and receiver Reche Caldwell recovered it. Schottenheimer unsuccessfully challenged the play and lost a timeout. Four plays later, Brady threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Caldwell. On the next play, running back Kevin Faulk took a direct snap and scored the two-point conversion, tying the game. Then, after forcing a punt, Brady completed a 19-yard pass to Graham.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
Two plays later, Caldwell caught a 49-yard strike down the right sideline to set up Gostkowski's third field goal to give them a 24–21 lead with only 1:10 left in the fourth quarter. With no timeouts left, San Diego drove to the Patriots 36-yard line on their final possession, but Nate Kaeding's 53-yard field goal attempt fell short with three seconds remaining in the game.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
One month later, Schottenheimer was fired by San Diego, ending his 21-year coaching career. His 14–2 season with the Chargers was his best regular season record ever, and he is the only coach in NFL history to be fired after racking up 14 wins.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
This was the Patriots last road playoff victory until the 2018 AFC Championship Game in Kansas City.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 14, 2007, AFC: New England Patriots 24, San Diego Chargers 21
This was the second postseason meeting between the Patriots and Chargers, with San Diego winning the prior meeting 51–10 in the 1963 AFL Championship Game.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
Although the Saints outgained the Bears in total yards, 375–335, their four turnovers (three fumbles and one interception) contributed to a Bears victory.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
On the opening drive of the game, Saints receiver Devery Henderson caught a 40-yard pass at the Bears' 32-yard line. But three plays later, Bears lineman Israel Idonije sacked quarterback Drew Brees on the 36-yard line, and the Saints decided to punt rather than attempt a 54-yard field goal.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
With 5:28 remaining in the first quarter, Bears defensive back Nathan Vasher recovered a fumble from Marques Colston and returned it 14 yards to the Saints' 36-yard line. Several plays later, Robbie Gould kicked a 19-yard field goal to give the Bears a 3–0 lead. Then, Chicago's Danieal Manning recovered a fumble from Michael Lewis on the ensuing kickoff, setting up Gould's second field goal to increase the lead to 6–0. New Orleans was forced to punt on their next possession, and Devin Hester gave his team good field position with a 10-yard return to the Saints' 49-yard line.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
Two plays later, tight end Desmond Clark's 30-yard reception moved the ball to the 19. Once again, New Orleans kept Chicago's offense out of the end zone, but Gould kicked his third field goal to give the Bears a 9–0 lead. Then, after forcing another punt, Chicago stormed down the field on a drive in which running back Thomas Jones carried the ball on eight consecutive plays, gaining 69 yards and finishing it off with a 2-yard touchdown run. This time, New Orleans managed to respond, with Brees completing five passes for 73 yards on their ensuing possession, the last one a 13-yard touchdown pass to Colston, to cut their deficit to 16–7 by halftime.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
Two plays after forcing a punt from Chicago on the opening drive of the second half, running back Reggie Bush caught a pass from Brees and took it 88 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to two points. Then after forcing another punt, New Orleans drove to the Bears' 29-yard line. But this time, they failed to score, as Brees threw three incompletions and Billy Cundiff missed a 47-yard field goal attempt.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
After the ensuing kickoff, Brad Maynard's 51-yard punt gave the Saints the ball at their own 5-yard line. Two plays later, Brees committed an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, resulting in a safety. Two possessions later, Chicago stormed 85 yards in five plays, with quarterback Rex Grossman completing four consecutive passes for 73 yards, the last one a 33-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian, increasing their lead to 25–14.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
The next time the Bears had the ball, they scored another touchdown with a 12-yard run by Cedric Benson on a drive that was set up after Brees lost a fumble while being sacked by Adewale Ogunleye. Then, on New Orleans' next drive, Brees was intercepted by Vasher. After the ensuing possession, Maynard's 46-yard punt pinned the Saints at their own 8-yard line, and the Saints could only reach their own 30 before turning the ball over on downs. Five plays later, Jones closed out the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run, making the final score 39–14.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
In addition, Bush became the fifth Heisman Trophy winner to play in a conference championship game the year after winning the trophy. Mike Garrett, who also went to the University of Southern California, did so with the Chiefs in 1966 (technically it was the AFL title game since the league didn't merge until 1970), Tony Dorsett did with the Cowboys in 1977, Earl Campbell did with the Houston Oilers in 1978 and Ron Dayne did with the Giants in 2000. Campbell and Bush are the only two of those to not advance to the Super Bowl in that season. (Bush has since vacated the Heisman Trophy due to ineligibility during the 2005 NCAA football season.)


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, NFC: Chicago Bears 39, New Orleans Saints 14
This was the second postseason meeting between the Saints and Bears. Chicago won the previous meeting 16–6 in the 1990 NFC Wild Card playoffs.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
The Colts gained 455 offensive yards, 32 first downs, and managed to overcome a 21–3 deficit to the Patriots to earn their first trip to the Super Bowl since the 1970 NFL season. Their 18-point comeback was the largest ever in an NFL conference championship game, and tied the record for the fourth largest NFL postseason comeback. The Colts' win came after the Patriots had eliminated the Colts from the playoffs twice in the previous three seasons.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
Midway through the first quarter, the Patriots drove 71 yards to the Colts' 4-yard line, featuring a 35-yard run by Corey Dillon. On third down, running back Laurence Maroney fumbled a handoff, but the ball rolled into the end zone where offensive lineman Logan Mankins recovered it for a touchdown. The Colts responded by driving 56 yards and scoring with Adam Vinatieri's 42-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 7–3. On their ensuing drive, the Patriots drove to a fourth down on the Colts' 34-yard line.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
Rather than attempt a 52-yard field goal, New England decided to go for it and Tom Brady completed a 27-yard pass to Troy Brown. On the next play, Dillon scored on a 7-yard touchdown run. Then, two plays after the ensuing kickoff, cornerback Asante Samuel intercepted a pass from Peyton Manning and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown, giving New England a 21–3 lead. Later in the quarter, Indianapolis drove 80 yards in 15 plays, with Vinatieri finishing the drive with a 26-yard field goal, cutting the score to 21–6 with 11 seconds left in the half.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
On the opening drive of the second half, the Colts marched down the field and scored with a 1-yard run by Manning. Then, after forcing a punt, a 25-yard reception by Dallas Clark and a 19-yard run by Dominic Rhodes moved the ball to the Patriots' 32-yard line. Following a pass interference penalty on defensive back Ellis Hobbs in the end zone, Manning threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to defensive lineman Dan Klecko, who had lined up at the fullback position on the play. Then, receiver Marvin Harrison caught a 2-point conversion pass to tie the game at 21.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
Hobbs returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Colts' 21-yard line. Four plays later, Brady threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jabar Gaffney, who made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone. Although he landed out of bounds, officials ruled that he was pushed out while in the air, and the Patriots took a 28–21 lead. Rhodes started out the Colts' next drive with two receptions for 23 yards and a 9-yard run. Then, Clark caught a 23-yard pass at the 9-yard line. Three plays later, Rhodes fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line, but center Jeff Saturday recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown to tie the game.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
After an exchange of punts, New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski made a 28-yard field goal to give them a three-point lead. The Colts responded with a 36-yard field goal by Vinatieri, set up by Clark's 52-yard reception, to tie the game at 31. Hobbs returned Vinatieri's kickoff 41 yards to the Patriots' 46-yard line. Then, Brady completed a 25-yard pass to tight end Daniel Graham. Indianapolis managed to halt the drive at their 25-yard line, but Gostkowski kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 34–31 lead with 3:49 left in the game. New England's defense subsequently forced a punt, but the Patriots ended up punting back to the Colts after running only a minute off the clock.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
Manning started off the drive with three nonconsecutive completions for 58 yards, with a roughing-the-passer penalty on the third play adding another 12, moving the ball 70 yards in a span of 19 seconds and bringing up a first down at the Patriots' 11-yard line. Three plays later, Joseph Addai's 3-yard touchdown run gave the Colts their first lead of the game with only one minute remaining. Brady responded by leading his team to the Colts' 45-yard line. But cornerback Marlin Jackson intercepted Brady's next pass with 17 seconds left, ending the game, and sending the Colts to their third Super Bowl in team history (first as the Indianapolis Colts).


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
The Colts were the first #3 seed since the NFL expanded the playoffs in 1990 to host a conference championship game and the first overall since the Washington Redskins did so in 1987. It was also the first time since said season where a team hosted a championship game after playing a road game in the divisional round, and was also the first conference championship game in which neither team had the first round bye and had to play three rounds to get to the Super Bowl.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
Hobbs set a Patriots franchise record with 220 kickoff return yards, the second highest total in NFL postseason history.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
The game was featured as one of the NFL's Greatest Games as Peyton's Revenge. For the Patriots, it was their last road playoff loss until the 2013 AFC Championship Game at Denver.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 21, 2007, AFC: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
This was the third postseason meeting between the Patriots and Colts. New England won the previous two meetings in consecutive years, with New England's most recent victory by a score of 20–3 in the 2004 AFC Divisional playoffs.


2006–07 NFL playoffs, Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17
This was the first Super Bowl meeting between the Colts and Bears.


2006–07 NHL season
The 2006–07 NHL season was the 90th season of operation (89th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs began on April 11, 2007, and concluded on June 6, with the Anaheim Ducks defeating the Ottawa Senators to win their first Stanley Cup, becoming the first team from California to do so.


2006–07 NHL season, League business
The NHL announced that the regular season salary cap rise after the initial season. The 2006–07 salary cap was increased by $5,000,000 (US) per team to bring the salary cap up to $44,000,000 (US). While the 2006–07 salary floor was increased by $8,000,000 (US) per team to $28,000,000 (US). This is the only year where the NHL salary floor raised faster than the NHL salary cap.


2006–07 NHL season, League business
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim officially shortened their name to the Anaheim Ducks prior to the season, introducing a new logo, uniforms and color scheme. This reflected a clean break from their original owners, The Walt Disney Company, who originally named the team after the movie, The Mighty Ducks upon their formation in 1993.


2006–07 NHL season, League business
No NHL player had worn the jersey number 84 until Guillaume Latendresse of the Montreal Canadiens began doing so at the start of this season.


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season
The NHL All-Star Game returned after a two-year absence when the Dallas Stars hosted the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game at the American Airlines Center on January 24, 2007. Dallas hosted the All-Star Game for the first time, and it was the first time the Stars franchise had hosted the game since 1972, when it was hosted by the-then Minnesota North Stars. The West defeated the East by a score of 12–9, with Danny Briere of the Buffalo Sabres being named MVP of the game. Fewer penalties were called than in 2005–06 (an average of 398 per team). This led to fewer goals scored overall (7,082) and more shutouts (150). However, more even-strength goals were scored (4,715) than in 2005–06 (4,579).


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season
This season would have an intense battle between Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo for the Vezina Trophy and a piece of NHL history. Both goaltenders were vying to break Bernie Parent's NHL record 47 wins in a single season. On April 3, 2007, Brodeur tied the NHL record for most wins in a single season with 47, set by Parent in 1973–74, in a 2–1 shootout victory against the Ottawa Senators.


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season
Two days later, he broke the thirty-three-year-old record with his 48th win in a 3–2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, which helped the Devils clinch their seventh Atlantic Division title and the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Luongo finished with a career-high 47 wins, one shy of Brodeur, and consequently finished runner-up in a close race for the Vezina. Luongo and Brodeur are considered, however, to have been given an advantage to Parent with the inauguration of the shootout that season by the NHL, allowing more games to be decided with wins, as opposed to ties. The Carolina Hurricanes became the first team since the 1995–96 New Jersey Devils to miss the playoffs after winning the Stanley Cup the previous season.


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season
The inter-conference division play had the Northeast visit the Central, the Central visit the Atlantic, the Atlantic visit the Pacific, the Pacific visit the Southeast, the Southeast visit the Northwest, and the Northwest visits the Northeast.


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings
Buffalo Sabres won the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings
For the purpose of conference rankings, division leaders are automatically ranked 1–3. These three, plus the next five teams in the conference standings, earn playoff berths at the end of the season.


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings, Eastern Conference
P –  Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y –  Clinched Division; X –  Clinched Playoff spot


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings, Western Conference
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime/shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PIM = Penalties in minutes; Pts = Points         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings, Western Conference
bold - qualified for playoffs, y - division title, z - best conference recordCE - Central Division, NW - Northwest Division, PA - Pacific DivisionSource:Yahoo Sports.


2006–07 NHL season, Regular season, Final standings, Tiebreaking procedures
If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:


2006–07 NHL season, Playoffs, Playoff bracket
In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. The higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage, which gives them a maximum possible four games on their home ice, with the other team getting a maximum possible three. In the Stanley Cup Finals, home ice is determined based on regular season points, giving the Anaheim Ducks home ice for this year's series. Each best-of-seven series follows a 2–2–1–1–1 format.


2006–07 NHL season, Playoffs, Playoff bracket
This means that the higher-seeded team will have Games 1 and 2, plus 5 and 7 if necessary, played on their home ice, while the lower-seeded team will be at home for the other games. The format ensures that the team with home ice advantage will always have home ice for the "extra" game if there are an odd number of games in a series.


2006–07 NHL season, Player statistics, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes


2006–07 NHL season, Player statistics, Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average


2006–07 NHL season, Events and milestones
Several former players had their jersey numbers retired during this season:


2006–07 NHL season, Events and milestones, Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 2006–07:


2006–07 NHL season, Events and milestones, Last games
The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2006–07, listed with their team:


2006–07 NHL transactions
The following is a list of all team-to-team transactions that occurred in the National Hockey League during the 2006–07 NHL season. It lists, by date, the team each player has been traded to, signed by, or claimed by, and for which players or draft picks, if applicable.


2006–07 NK Dinamo Zagreb season
This article shows statistics of individual players for the football club Dinamo Zagreb. It also lists all matches that Dinamo Zagreb played in the 2006–07 season.


2006–07 NK Dinamo Zagreb season, Player seasonal records
Competitive matches only. Updated to games played 26 May 2007.


2006–07 NOFV-Oberliga
The 2006–07 season of the NOFV-Oberliga was the thirteenth season of the league at tier four (IV) of the German football league system.


2006–07 NOFV-Oberliga
The NOFV-Oberliga was split into two divisions, NOFV-Oberliga Nord and NOFV-Oberliga Süd. The champions of each, SV Babelsberg 03 and FC Energie Cottbus II, were directly promoted to the 2007–08 Regionalliga Nord.


2006–07 NOJHL season
The 2006–07 NOJHL season is the 29th season of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). The seven teams of the NOJHL will play 48-game schedules.


2006–07 NOJHL season
Come February, the top teams of each division will play down for the Copeland-McNamara Trophy, the NOJHL championship. The winner of the Copeland-McNamara Trophy will compete in the Central Canadian Junior "A" championship, the Dudley Hewitt Cup. If successful against the winners of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and Superior International Junior Hockey League, the champion would then move on to play in the Canadian Junior Hockey League championship, the 2007 Royal Bank Cup.


2006–07 NOJHL season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title


2006–07 NOJHL season, Dudley Hewitt Cup Championship
Hosted by the Abitibi Eskimos in Iroquois Falls, Ontario. Abitibi finished third and Soo finished fourth.


2006–07 NOJHL season, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes


2006–07 NOJHL season, Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average


2006–07 NTFL season
The 2006/07 NTFL season was the 86th season of the Northern Territory Football League (NTFL).


2006–07 NTFL season
Southern Districts Crocs have won there 2nd premiership title while defeating Waratah in the grand final by 9 points.


2006–07 NWHL season, Final standings
In the last year of the National Women's Hockey League, several game sheets, results and totals are missing from the league records database (the only known database of NWHL records that has been shared with the Hockey Hall of Fame). Each team played 36 regular-season games from September 16, 2006 to February 25, 2007.


2006–07 NWHL season, Final standings
Two games were forfeit by the Québec Avalanche: the January 27-28 weekend away games against the Etobicoke Dolphins and Mississauga Aeros. Both games were counted as 1-0 victories in favour of the home teams.


2006–07 NWHL season, Final standings
Of the 126 scheduled games (including two forfeit games in January), final scores are missing from the following five games: Dec. 17 (Etobicoke at Montréal), Jan. 25 (Québec  at Montréal), Feb. 4 (Oakville at Montréal), Feb. 17 (Québec at Etobicoke), and Feb. 25 (Etobicoke at Montréal).


2006–07 NWHL season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points.


2006–07 NWHL season, Final standings, Scoring leaders
Jayna Hefford won the scoring title with 40 goals and at least 30 assists. The NWHL 2006-07 totals are missing records from several games, specifically Dec. 17 (Etobicoke at Montréal), Jan. 20 (Mississauga at Etobicoke), Jan. 25 (Québec  at Montréal), Feb. 4 (Oakville at Montréal), Feb. 17 (Québec at Etobicoke), Feb. 25 (Mississauga at Ottawa), Feb. 25 (Etobicoke at Montréal). The 2006-07 totals are also missing partial records from Dec. 16 (Mississauga at Brampton) and Feb. 11 (Brampton at Montréal).