TRIPLE EXPRESSO

Express placekicker scored 15 points en route to helping the club win a league record third Iron Bowl.  Kaeding was also named Iron Man.

Monday, January 3, 2011
Fairfeild, CT (AP) - It was a game of epic proportions as two storied franchises faced of in Iron Bowl XV.

No one at the start of the season would have pictured New England and Baltimore to be the Iron Bowl match up, but many are glad it was.  Despite the fact that both clubs were regarded as strong contenders, there were others that football analysts projected to face this year.  On the league's fifteenth anniversary, who better than to represent the original eight clubs that began back in 1996.

For New England, this was their fourth trip to the show.  Entering the game with a 2-1 record in the Iron Bowl, this club had short spurts of success, a far cry from the dominance of other clubs, including their opponent Baltimore.  They would be good a couple of seasons, then disappear and miss the playoffs for several more.  As the first club to win back to back Iron Bowls, they vanished and were part of the cursed AFC East.  From 2002 through 2009, all AFC East Champions would be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs until this season when the Express broke the curse.  The last AFC East Champions before them to win a playoff game, was in fact New England back in 2001 when they went all the way to win the Iron Bowl.

This is all to familiar a scene for Baltimore.  This is the club's sixth trip to the big show, which happens to also be a league record they continue to extend.  At 2-3 in the Iron Bowl, this is a game they certainly want to win to even their record.  One thing to note, this will be the first time, Baltimore will be starting a placekicker other than Jason Elam in an Iron Bowl.  Prior to this, Elam appeared in all five Iron Bowl appearances for the purple, red and black.  As one of the most consistent franchises in the league, there is no doubt Baltimore deserves to be here on such an historic occaision.

Right from the kickoff, this game showed intensity and excitement that culiminated fifteen years of excellence the league has been known for.  There was plenty of spectacular offensive plays and outstanding defensive stops to keep the game close and leave the fans on the edge of their seats.  The game came down to one play in the closing seconds as Express placekicker, Nate Kaeding kicked a field goal to seal the deal and help the Express earn a league record third Iron Bowl.  Kaeding was name the Iron Man of the game for contributing 15 points in the cause.

ROAD TO THE IRON BOWL

Conference Semi-Finals	Conference Championship	IRON BOWL
Miami  34 NEW ENGLAND (F/OT)  37
	NEW ENGLAND  50
Washington  42 OAKLAND  53	Oakland  47	NEW ENGLAND  39
			NEW ENGLAND
San Diego  46 MISSISSAUGA  63			IRON BOWL CHAMPION
	MISSISSAUGA  39	Baltimore  37
Baltimore  59 DENVER  37	Baltimore  45
Home Team listed in CAPS