Hypothetical- 1987 NFC Playoffs if Vikings miss out

[CSKreager]

Let's say the Cardinals don't lose to Dallas on the final day of the 1987 season. That was the ONLY reason Minnesota got in the playoffs after dropping a Saturday game to Washington.

How do the NFC playoffs play out if the Vikings aren't there and they don't make that crazy run where Anthony Miller looked like Lynn Swann?

It has to be noted that the 1987 Redskins SB run was aided because the Vikings ousted the two best teams record-wise that year.

Who wins a Cardinals/Saints Wild Card game? What happens with the 49ers/Bears in the ensuing playoff games? Does Washington still make the SB or does someone else play Denver?

And does a Cardinal playoff run (and revenue) maybe keep them from moving to the desert?

[74_75_78_79_]

Let's say the Cardinals don't lose to Dallas on the final day of the 1987 season. That was the ONLY reason Minnesota got in the playoffs after dropping a Saturday game to Washington.

How do the NFC playoffs play out if the Vikings aren't there and they don't make that crazy run where Anthony Miller looked like Lynn Swann?

It has to be noted that the 1987 Redskins SB run was aided because the Vikings ousted the two best teams record-wise that year.

Who wins a Cardinals/Saints Wild Card game? What happens with the 49ers/Bears in the ensuing playoff games? Does Washington still make the SB or does someone else play Denver?

And does a Cardinal playoff run (and revenue) maybe keep them from moving to the desert?

My first college roommate was a Vikings fan and had a poster of Anthony Carter in our room. Vikes were obviously more deserving than Cards being they actually DID end up a hop-and-skip from SBXXII. Stallings...(future '92 National Champion out-coaching a significantly more talented UMiami team)...not unimpressive an NFL coach IMO considering the very franchise he had to coach (an abbreviated version of Hannifan - both may have had multiple playoff experience with other franchises; 7-4 start in '88 helps to keep Gene's head-bove-water with me). However, don't see Cards upsetting Saints in Superdome. Niners beat Wash in NFCC as they usually beat them all through Gibbs Era and Niners accomplish three-peat after all; only from the FRONT-end, finishing it off in that 55-10 triumph.

From what very little I gather (finger wasn't exactly on the 'pulse' of StL sports at the time), I would guess an '87 playoff berth would have made no difference in preventing a move to the desert yet alone if Cards advanced deep though I could be wrong. May others enlighten if need be.

What-ifs...hypos...it's simply a guilty-pleasure amongst some football historians. I'm the weakest one here but even if I was Troop-times-300, I'd still be no stranger to them. They are...fun. The jelly to the PB. What actually happened OF COURSE more important, but not ashamed of luvin' and responding to 'em anyway.

[7DnBrnc53]

One point about this season that I made somewhere else: When the Cowboys knocked the Cardinals out in Week 16 that year, it is possible that they ensured their 90's success. If the Vikings didn't make a run in 87, maybe they don't feel ambitious enough to trade for Walker by 1989.

Also, the Saints probably lose in Chicago, and I think the Skins actually upset the 49ers and Bears on the way to the SB. That 49er team wasn't as great as they would be the next two years, and the Skins beat Chicago in the divisional round.