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SALT LAKE CITY — Before the start of the 2013 NFL season, the odds were that many fans would have predicted the NFL’s version of the Final Four to include Denver, New England, San Francisco and Seattle.
Certainly, the NFL season is filled with ebbs and flows that are nearly impossible to predict, and at times it appeared these teams could struggle to reach Championship Sunday. Still, all four advanced to their respective championship games: Denver beat San Diego, 24-17; New England beat Indianapolis, 43-22; San Francisco beat Carolina, 24-10; and Seattle beat New Orleans, 23-15.
The San Francisco-Carolina game was billed as a battle of two ferocious defenses, and the game certainly lived up to the hype. Both teams were physical early, and the game featured four players with ties to the state of Utah — three former Utes and one former prep star.
Carolina’s Star Lotulelei made six tackles in the Panthers’ loss, while wide receiver Steve Smith caught four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Former Utah offensive lineman Jordan Gross also started for Carolina.
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Former East High star Will Tukuafu’s San Francisco 49ers advanced to face NFC West-rival Seattle in the NFC Championship Game. Tukuafu had one catch for two yards, but suffered a knee injury in the first half and missed the remainder of the game.
Former Utah quarterback and now San Diego coach Mike McCoy convinced his team late in the season that it had an opportunity to live the impossible dream, and become an upset special. However, despite their best efforts, the Chargers fell to Denver.
In the game, Utah alumnus Eric Weddle made five tackles for San Diego, while former Southern Utah quarterback Brad Sorensen was listed as the third-stringer quarterback but did not play.
Former Ute Zane Beadles started for Denver, which will face New England next weekend in Denver.
McCoy, who led the Chargers to 10 wins a year after they missed the playoffs, will likely be a coach-of-the-year candidate.
Utah State alumni Bobby Wagner and Robert Turbin played a significant part in Seattle’s advancement to its first NFC Championship Game since 2005. Wagner made nine tackles and broke up a pass, while Turbin ran for nine yards in spelling Marshawn Lynch. Turbin had a long run negated by a Seattle penalty. Weber State alum Paul McQuistan also started on the offensive line for Seattle.
New England had the most lopsided victory of the Divisional weekend, pummeling the Colts, and Cottonwood alum Stanley Havili, on the back of a strong rushing effort. BYU’s Austin Collie caught a pass for 15 yards, while Utah’s Sealver Siliga made three tackles for the Patriots, who advance to their first AFC Championship game since 2011.
For the Colts, former Cottonwood High standout Stanley Havili, who played collegiately at USC, had one catch for four yards in the loss.
