FINAL ROUND RESULTS
*Played in Brazil, IN *
LOS ANGELES 19, WASHINGTON, D.C. 7
Sixteen teams from across the land, now boiled down to just two for the NFL Cup championship game.
And where better to play this pigskin adaptation of the World Cup than Brazil, Indiana?
A cavalcade of stars promised a galactic shootout. Instead, an old-school defensive brawl broke out.
Russell Wilson -- so good throughout this tournament -- successfully avoided L.A.'s nasty pass rush early, but the avalanche couldn't be staved off forever. Clay Matthews and Mychal Kendricks spent a good deal of the game in the D.C. backfield, generating four and half sacks (including a second-quarter safety), and shutting out Wilson's offense on the day.
The nip and tuck affair, which was dictated by defense, appropriately featured two pick sixes; the first of which came on L.A.'s first possession when D.C. corner Vontae Davis took advantage of Carson Palmer's errant toss to Steve Smith and took it to the house to give D.C. an early lead. Palmer was able to return the favor before the half, hitting Smith for a 42-yard score over Davis, giving L.A. a lead they'd never relinquish.
Wilson and the D.C. offense finally put together an impressive drive that covered the better part of the field and ate up the fourth quarter clock. They got to the L.A. side of the field with three minutes left. However, their shot at glory ened when Richard Sherman seized the day -- and Wilson's pass in the flat -- taking it 72 yards for a touchdown that sealed victory for Los Angeles.
Follow Dave Dameshek on Twitter @Dameshek.
