The '79 Bucs were 3-1 vs their four games against the other 5th-place teams from the year before. They played the Giants (6-10) twice, at Colts (5-11), and of course the finale in the monsoon vs a losing, but respectable, 7-9 Chiefs. NYG, who handed them the one loss, were of course the first team to beat them in '79, dropping them to 5-1 thus no more un-beatens in the league.BD Sullivan wrote: ↑Thu May 26, 2016 5:56 pm Some considerations:
1979: Tampa Bay vs. Miami
1981: Jets vs. Dallas
1986: Chiefs vs. Giants
1991: Denver vs. Atlanta
1992: San Diego vs. Dallas
Had they not finished 5th in 1978, they would have had to play the other four teams - besides the Colts - in the AFC East. No great teams, but with the 10-6 Dolphins, 9-7 Patriots, and gritty/respectable 8-8 Jets & 7-9 Bills...not quite sure they win all ten of the games they would have needed to in order to win the division thus make playoffs-period.
Those '86 Chiefs...yes, they didn't have to play against those World Champs-to-be nor 12-4 Washington. Mackovic vs his mentor, Landry, didn't happen either. Meeting each other the first half of that season (Cowboys started 6-2) would have been intriguing.
Of course we don't know exactly who they, within conference, would have played or not played had they not finished in 5th the year before (nor who other teams would have played or not played within conference). Too many variables to consider. But they having to play those three NFC teams instead - especially Dallas early - likely would have been enough to prevent them from making the playoffs!
That said, it's not as if they exactly "took advantage" of those four games vs the three other 5th-place teams. They lose at StL, dropping them to 7-5, and then the next game they go back to Arrowhead to allow Buffalo to split with them. But then the Chiefs wallop Denver the following week (Blackledge vs Elway) avenging their previous, lopsided as well, defeat to them weeks earlier, and then they beat the Raiders in LA who were still in the race (KC beat Cincy in the opener, split w Seahawks thus it ended up making the difference); go figure.
In Bobby Ross's NFL HC-ing debut, once the 0-4 start was out the way, his '92 Chargers truly earned their division title losing just one more game the rest of the way! That one loss was a close one at KC, and it did make it a 2-0 sweep. But then they avenge that in the 1st-Rd with a 17-0 shutout. That, with the 11-1 finish, further legitimized they winning the division.
Much respect has been given to this team on this site. The same with me. Some call them the actual best team in the AFC that year opining that they would have matched well vs Buffalo and their elimination at Miami (like the Jets in the '82 AFCCG) may have been due to the weather conditions. Just the same, with that being said, that 5th-place schedule was what may have been needed in order to win that division over KC who, again, did sweep them.
SD was 4-0 vs their fellow-'91-fifth-place teams. Yes, two of the wins were against a Colts team that, FWIW, would finish 9-7 albeit statistically real weak. Had they not finished in 5th in '91, the Chargers would have had to play not just Dallas, but the 11-5 Eagles and the defending-Champ Redskins who made the playoffs again in Joe Gibbs' last year with them until his 21st Century comeback (pummeled Vikes at Minny 1st Rd, then gave SF a game at Candlestick). The other NFC East team, Handley's Giants, did FWIW start 5-4 so it would have been best for SD to play them afterward when they'd collapse. In either event, just two losses against the NFC East, and they're home for the playoffs outright.