NFL 2020-21 Playoffs (Band Based)

## **Home**

The NFL 2020 Postseason began on January 9, 2021, and it will conclude on February 7, 2021 with TBD vs. TBD at Super Bowl LV.

## **Background and Participants**

The path to the 2020 NFL playoffs was a wild one in a season full of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 virus. Rammstein set a franchise record 13 win season and also became the number one seed for the first time ever. Exodus and Gojira had their best seasons in several years. Testament won their final four games straight to bounce A7X and Coheed & Cambria out of the playoffs.

## Wild Card Round

**January 9, 2021**

**AFC: Pantera 13, Testament 24**

SCORING BY QUARTER

Game Time: 1 PM EST/12 PM CST

Weather: TBD

Testament came into the playoffs red hot by winning their final four games of the regular season. Pantera had only lost to one AFC opponent all season, but Testament came looking for a fight.

After a slow first quarter, Testament would force three turnovers and gain 364 offensive yards. Pantera QB Daniel Thomas was injured in the second quarter and did not return to the game. Once Thomas went out of the game, Testament's defense took full control by only allowing 81 offensive yards in the second half.

**NFC: Meshuggah 16, Gojira 23**

SCORING BY QUARTER

Game Time: 4:40 PM EST/3:40 PM CST

Weather: 32°F, Cloudy

In the final game at Meshuggah Stadium, Gojira spoiled the party by forcing three turnovers and holding Meshuggah to only 309 yards of offense.

Both teams got off to a slow start, but by the second quarter, they were able to generate some efficient offense. Gojira would end up missing an extra point in the second quarter. The second half did not get any better for Meshuggah as they were held to just two field goals.

**NFC: Volbeat 31, Killswitch Engage 33**

SCORING BY QUARTER

Game Time: 8:15 PM EST

Weather: 32°F, Cloudy

In a higher scoring tight contest, Killswitch Engage would prevail by forcing Volbeat to go four and out just before midfield. This would mark Killswitch Engage's first playoff win in seven years.

**January 10, 2021**

**AFC: Mastodon 27, Slipknot 22**

SCORING BY QUARTER
 Mastodon

Game Time: 1 PM EST/12 PM CST

Weather: 25°F, Cloudy

Mastodon, a team that doesn't normally find theirselves in a cold playoff game, would showcase that any team with the right mentality can play in any weather condition.

After a gritty first half, enough offense opened up in the second half for there to be a more competitive fight. Slipknot's failed two point conversion with 5:10 left in the game proved to be disastrous as they failed to move the ball well on their final drive in the closing seconds.

This would be Mastodon's first playoff win in six years.

**NFC: Exodus 31, Megadeth 6**

SCORING BY QUARTER
 Exodus

Game Time: 4:40 PM/1:40 PM PST

Weather: TBD

Exodus and Megadeth split the regular season series with Megadeth picking up a crucial win in their second matchup. This time around, Exodus responded with a swift and dominating performance in this third matchup by forcing four turnovers and not allowing a touchdown.

**AFC: Machine Head 41, Dream Theater 17**

SCORING BY QUARTER
 Machine Head

Game Time: 8:15 PM EST/5:15 PM PST

Weather: TBD

Machine Head effectively controlled the game from start to finish by racking up 477 yards of offense. Dream Theater was hardly able to keep pace with Machine Head as they had several missed opportunities to find an opening.

## Divisional Round

**NFC: Trivium 30, Gojira 20**

 Trivium

Game Time: 4:35 PM EST

Weather: 61°F, Fair and breezy

Although Trivium never lost the lead, Gojira would give them a rough test for a majority of the game. Trivium's fourth quarter touchdown would prove to be too much for Gojira to recover from. Trivium would end up advancing to their first NFC championship in three years.

**AFC: Machine Head 16, Mastodon 14**

 Machine Head

Game Time: 8:15 PM EST/5:15 PM PST

Weather: TBD

Machine Head's field goal with 6:44 left in the game just barely pushed them to victory in what was a physical defensive game with numerous turnovers.

Both teams had a combined five turnovers in the first half. The second half featured much more clean football play, but it was still a struggle to an extent for both teams to move the ball down the field.

**AFC: Rammstein 28, Testament 34**

Game Time: 1 PM EST

Weather: 35°F, On and off light snow

Rammstein had their best season in franchise history in 2020 by winning a team record 13 games. However, Testament hardly swayed from the top AFC team and pulled a stunning upset.

Testament's defense early on gave Rammstein all kinds of issues and built a 17-0 lead. After Testament went up 24-7 early in the third quarter, Rammstein began to fight back with ferocity. A forced turnover helped Rammstein quickly score a second touchdown to cut the lead to 24-21.

Testament would not back down and kept the charge going. Rammstein had one final attempt to potentially get the game winning touchdown, but an interception near midfield ended the game. Testament would go to their first AFC championship in two years.

**NFC: Exodus 27, Killswitch Engage 23**

 Exodus

Game Time: 4:40 PM EST/1:40 PM PST

Weather: TBD

Despite Exodus losing one of their main linebackers and wide receivers in this game, they hung on by playing near perfect football in the final quarter. Killswitch Engage felt like they had Exodus right where they wanted them as they approached the latter stages of the game. Exodus's offense had slowed down a bit in the third quarter.

However, Exodus would change up their playcalling a little bit and caught fire at the right time. This caused Killswitch Engage's defense to lose control of their grip. Exodus would advance to their first NFC championship since January 1986.

## Conference Championship

**NFC: Trivium 20, Exodus 7**

 Mastodon

Game Time: 3:05 PM EST

Weather: 77°F, Mostly cloudy

After a close and defensive first three quarters, Trivium pulled away in the last quarter with ten unanswered points.

Exodus had a few key injuries coming into this game that ultimately hampered their overall production. Despite this issue, their toughness caused Trivium to struggle quite a bit for much of the game. Trivium would advance to their first Super Bowl in three years.

**AFC: Machine Head 27, Testament 21**

 Machine Head

Game Time: 6:40 PM EST/3:40 PM PST

Weather: 54°F, Light Rain

In what is now known as "***The Final Chapter***", this highly strenuous game would become the second longest in NFL history with a running time of 84:50. Testament QB Jonathan Williamson made a wild move to try and get the game winning TD, but he would fumble just a few yards shy of the endzone and Machine Head returned it for a TD.

There was a blend of offense and defense for much of regulation with Machine Head building a 21-10 lead midway through the third quarter. Testament went on to score 11 unanswered points and ultimately send it into overtime.

The first overtime period featured several intense moments with controversy, punts, and missed field goals. Early in the second overtime period, Machine Head QB Steven Diana's pass was intercepted in the endzone as he was trying to throw it to Anthony Hale to attempt to win.

With just over five minutes left to go in double overtime, Williamson made a drastic move on a third and six as they were only 14 yards from the endzone. He would scramble inside the ten, but he would have the ball knocked out of his possession by Willie Gay. The ball would then be scooped up by Ryan Norman and returned all the way for the game winning touchdown.

Emotions ran very high in the immediate aftermath of the game with Williamson hardly able to realize what had just transpired. Diana would console Williamson and help him off of the field. This would mark Williamson's final NFL game of his long and successful career. Machine Head would advance to their first Super Bowl in six years.

## Super Bowl LV

*February 7, 2021*

*at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL*