Top 12 NFL Power Rankings, 1992

[74_75_78_79_]

Yes, make it 12. That's the amount of playoff teams. '92 seems to be be a popular season amongst many on this site; been discussed quite a few times. Similar enough to '80. The AFC's top-seed was 11-5; only that instead of all teams 11-5, you had a couple 10-6s mixed in. Three teams in the NFC won more than 11 games, only instead of all three of those each 12-4, only one was that record with the other two being 13-3 & 14-2 respectively.

When I post mine, I'll make sure it don't read like a novel. It's pretty obvious to me who I'll install in my top-2 (ignoring the result of that 'no-punt' game). I'm guessing the rest of you will pick the same top-2; or will you? Like the other thread, it should be treated as if going into the playoffs not knowing what would actually happen (and, if you want, applying recent history going into the '92 campaign as well). Chargers better than Bills, as some of you have said? Any of the non-playoff teams break in? 9-7 Packers? 9-7 Colts? How about 500 Denver who did start 7-3 and give Dallas a good game (but, yes, lost to Philly & Wash by combined 64-3 during that 7-3 stretch)? What playoff team or teams get suplanted? Are Redskins ranked higher than #12 because they're defending-Champs (Gibbs still onboard) who at least split with Dallas (and Eagles); and beat Vikings at Minn during regular season as well? Or are they still the ones who get pushed aside by a non-playoff team if one breaks in?

[CSKreager]

'92 Redskins were strange- had those aforementioned good wins, but when they lost, they looked BAD (Saints + Cowboys MNF, blowing a big lead at Phoenix, Giants/Raiders at RFK).

They had basically the same roster as '91, yet looked anything but the '91 team. Did the 80s old guys run out of fountain of youth stuff?

BTW, had the Packers beat Minnesota in week 17, how does that change NFC playoff picture?

And the '92 Oilers..... until Buffalo in the regular season finale at the Astrodome, who exactly DID they beat? We know who they didn't beat (Pittsburgh, Miami, Denver, Green Bay)

[ChrisBabcock]

BTW, had the Packers beat Minnesota in week 17, how does that change NFC playoff picture?

I think all that happens is they replace Washington as the 6 seed.

Here's my top 12...

1. San Francisco
2. Dallas
3. San Diego... They get this spot by going 11-1 in their last 12
4. New Orleans
5. Philadephia... A win over the Saints and a 31-7 win over the Cowboys give them the edge over the other AFC 11-5s
6. Miami
7. Buffalo
8. Minnesota
9. Pittsburgh
10. Houston
11. Kansas City
12. Green Bay... gets the nod over Washington because of their 6 game winning streak toward the end of the year.

[74_75_78_79_]

Honorable mention, Chargers. Yes their opener loss to KC (who would complete the sweep in Week #10) and also to Steelers and Houston were all within in their 0-4 start. From there, not the toughest of schedules though. Sweeping 9-7 Colts all they have going for them. You can only play who's on your schedule, but still. Remember, this is from a 'power rankings' end-of-regular-season perspective.

#12 - Packers - Favre over George as well as wins over Steelers, Eagles, at Houston propels these guys over the other non-playoff 9-7 team as well as getting them a spot on this list (to Indy's credit, they did at least spilt with Mia & Buf, though getting clubbed in each loss to both).

#11 - Vikings - Other than sweeping GB, which places them in this very spot, nothing else in quality-wins other than that penultimate 6-3 baseball game at Three Rivers.

#10 - Redskins - Gibbs still onboard, defending-Champs though quite a fall-off, beat Vikings on road (as they would again in 1st-round). Split with Eagles and Dallas.

#9 - Chiefs - Another playoff year for Marty. Swept SD, beat 4-0 (coming off MNF-triumph over Dallas) Philly, beat Redskins, gave Dallas a good game in Big D.

#8 - Dolphins - Bombed Bills at Rich in Week #4, 37-10, handing them their first loss. Not far from winning their next game against them that November. Beat Colts, beat Houston.

#7 - Oilers - Both losses to the 'Burgh easily could have gone the other way. Despite losing to Miami, I'm still placing them here. They did beat five above-500 teams by regular-season's end.

#6 - Steelers - Not as good as next year's 9-7 installment, not 'best' in conference either despite top-seed. Non-power-rankings-wise, likely not even 3rd or 4th best. Did sweep Houston if however barely. It's the only ("a win is a win") reason why they're above them. Clubbed Chiefs at Arrowhead, gave Bills at Rich a decent game; beat Indy by a lot.

#5 - Saints - Like Houston w Pittsburgh, they get swept by SF but each loss easily could've gone other way. 12-4, stellar D. Not just the two Niner-defeats, but their two other losses (at Philly in opener and to Bills late in season) could have been wins as well. Beat Wash & Miami.

#4 - Eagles - Yes, a matter of "which team"? The one that crushed-it in their first four as well as winning their final four, or that 3-5 team in the middle? Going into post-season on that win-streak, their still-scary-despite-Buddy's-absence Defense, and the teams they beat throughout the '92 campaign warrants this spot.

#3 - Bills - Two-time-defending-AFC-champs! Beat both top-seeds, beat Saints at NO, at least split with Miami & Colts.

And for the Final Two...

#2 - Forty Niners

#1 - Cowboys

As much as I respected SF's 14-2 top-seed finish, even then I couldn't help but place Dallas above them going into that post-season. They had the swagger. That Turkey Day blowout vs Giants and also the way they handled that ("I guess Philly's still better") MNF-blowout by winning 27-0 against Seattle the following week - bouncing back like a Champ-to-be.

Yes, Forty Niners were the already-established contenders. Their '92 body-of-work as well: sweeping Saints (yes barely but still), beating Eagles, burying Dolphins, beating Vikes. Despite Dallas being a real young team, I just couldn't help but to see it coming. Charles Haley was the 'missing-link' vet they needed. SF not dominating 9-7 Wash in the divisional round as Dallas destroys Philly (who just won at Saints by more than a TD) offered a further hint. It didn't surprise me at all, Dallas winning the NFCC as they did.