The two teams who have won 4 games and lost none and have won the right to be here are the Miami Dolphins and the San Diego Chargers. Before we get into the game, I'll give a quick recap of each team's path to get here.
Dolphins: For the first game, the Dolphins went to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers. This game was tight, it was 10-10 at the end of regulation, so it went into OT, and ended when Dan Carpenter hit a 31 yard field goal to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. None of the Dolphins received the MVP of the game. Next, the Dolphins traveled to play a playoff team, the New Orleans Saints. In this game, nobody scored in the 2nd or 3rd quarters. In the fourth quarter, Brandon Marshall had a receiving TD that pushed them ahead, and ended up giving Marshall the game MVP. They finally got to play in their own stadium, as they had a better record than the Bengals. This was another tight one, it was 20-20 going into the final quarter, and going into the final minutes, it was 27-27. Luckily, Carpenter was able to get another field goal in, giving the Dolphins the win 30-27. No Dolphins got the MVP. The next game brought the Dolphins to Kansas City to play arguably the best team in the tournament at this point. In the first half, the Dolphins didn't score any points at all, it was 17-0 Chiefs. However, Davone Bess caught 2 TDs, making it 17-14. Then Lex Hilliard ran a TD in, so the Dolphins took the lead, and the game was ended on Carpenter kicking another FG. Bess received the game MVP, and the Dolphins continued their run. The Dolphins have been an interesting team to watch, but I don't think they can beat the Chargers. There are too many quarters where they don't score many points at all, and they often get into very close matches, even with 4-12 teams like the Bengals. But maybe they have more miracles up their sleeves.
Chargers: The Chargers had the homefield advantage against the Cleveland Browns for the first game. Although the Browns were able to tie it up at early points in the game, the Chargers pretty handily won. This is where Philip Rivers picks up his first MVP of the tournament. The Chargers then go to Pittsburgh to play the AFC Champions of 2010. The entire game, the Chargers were in the lead and they were able to beat a Super Bowl team. Philip Rivers picks up his 2nd MVP for his performance. The Chargers get to play in San Diego again, as they're playing the Cowboys. In the first half, they could only get field goals, so they were down 14 to 9. But, in the third quarter, Ryan Mathews was able to score a rushing touchdown, but the Cowboys hit a field goal, so the Cowboys were up going into the final quarter. Kaeding hit a FG, giving the Chargers the lead, but the Cowboys hit 2 FGs, so the Cowboys were up, 2 seconds left to go. At the 10 yard line, Rivers calls hike, throws it to Antonio Gates, who takes it to the house and gives the Chargers their win over the Cowboys, 25 to 23. Rivers picks up another MVP here, despite throwing 2 interceptions. In the semifinals, the Tennessee Titans came to San Diego to play. The Chargers were always ahead here, despite the Titans scoring a lot in the fourth quarter, it wasn't enough. Rivers received his fourth MVP here, he threw for 361 yards and 2 touchdowns. I think the Chargers will win their match, they have Rivers, who is the tournament MVP with 4 game MVPs, more than anyone else. Their weaknesses include letting people score towards the end of the game if they have the lead, and Rivers will tend to throw interceptions.
Since the Chargers have a better record, the Dolphins will go to San Diego to play in the championship game.
1st Quarter
8:56 - Dan Carpenter hits a 45 yard field goal. 3-0, Dolphins.
2nd Quarter
13:24 - Dan Carpenter hits another field goal, this one 26 yards. 6-0, Dolphins.
9:38 - Nate Kaeding kicks a 21 yard field goal, putting the Chargers on the board. 6-3.
7:51 - Ricky Williams runs it for 53 yards and scores a touchdown in the first TD of the game. Carpenter misses the extra point. 12-3, Dolphins.
0:17 - Just before half time, Ryan Mathews runs it in from the 5 yard line and scores a TD for the Chargers. 12-10, Dolphins going into half time.
Quarter 3
5:28 - Ryan Mathews catches a 17 yard pass from Rivers for a touchdown, putting the Chargers in the lead. 17-12, Chargers.
Quarter 4
0:19 - Just before the game ends, Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding kicks a field goal, putting the Chargers at 20. 20-12 is the final score of the game, and the Chargers are declared the best team of 2010. The game MVP goes to who other than Philip Rivers, his fifth MVP out of five games. He threw for 214 yards and 1 TD.
