Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The 91 49ers have been rhapsodized as the best team to ever miss the playoffs, how they turned a 3-6 start into 7 straight wins. But rather than dig into the hot finish, I want to look at their 6 losses (by a combined 26 points). Week 1 at NY- NFC CG rematch, Young vs Hostetler. Got beat yet again b...

01 Bears for what it’s worth had a +135 PD, 3rd overall behind only STL/PIT

The 67' Colts were the top team, but the 77' Bengals just missed as well. After whipping the Steelers, they had the division if they could beat the Oilers the final weekend but Houston got to Anderson with their pass rush that day and won, giving Phillips another winning season. Not as good as the ...

NFL Throwback's video on the best teams to miss the playoffs got me wondering about any that should be added: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxE_gDZmr8 2008 Patriots 2012 Bears 1986 Vikings 1986 Seahawks 2004 Bills 1991 Eagles 1978 Chargers 2010 Chargers 1984 Cardinals 2005 Chiefs 1975 Dolphins 19...

Atlanta had their number back then. Not just the 1978 playoff game and December 1980, but don't forget week 2 of 1979 when ATL won at the Vet on a MNF. As for a hypothetical SB..... I don't think Leeman Bennett would have had ATL as uptight ala Vermeil. Bartkowski couldn't have fared any worse than ...

Had the 'Burgh simply just gotten by Denver on that first Sunday of the 1990s (or, perhaps, had they abandoned the shotgun to assist them through the Mile High crowd-noise end of game), we would have had ourselves a rubberband Steelers/Browns matchup for the conference title! Another high-stakes No...

My recent topic on the 1985 Seahawks reminded me of other teams that were in their position: this about teams that had a letdown season in the middle surrounded by good years before/after. In other words, the sandwich year team, an in-between season. Examples: 1993 Chargers. In between division titl...

Once again I think of the 2008 Arizona Cardinals. They were 9-7 and played six of their games with teams in their Division. Most of their losses were blowouts. Recall these: 34 to 10 vs Vikings; 47 to7 vs Patriots; 48 to 20 vs Eagles Philly didn't exactly play a gauntlet in 08- half of THEIR wins w...

What if the 1971 Colts didn't spit the bit at home vs New England in the final week with the AFC East on the line?

Otherwise, Baltimore- not Miami- goes to KC on Christmas Day for the AFC Divisional (and the Dolphins instead go to Cleveland)

The 84 Chargers are more intriguing

0-8 in the AFC West but 7-1 against the rest of the league (including wins over Miami AND Chicago)