The perfect 'final four'

[74_75_78_79_]

The current '1995: Packers VS Steelers' thread inspires this. With me thinking that GB/Pitt would have been a good SBXXX, and the actual such event being what it was, I think '95 is one of the few years in which any possible SB-matchup out of 'the final four' would have been competitive. That Cinderella Harbaugh-led Colts squad (that was so close to escaping the 'Burgh/AFC) would have had plenty of tricks up sleeve vs GB and even against the now-less-disciplined, sloppy 'Boys.

What other years, even pre-SB era, do you think that any possible championship game combination amongst the 'final four' would each have been a good game?

[ChrisBabcock]

1980 immediately comes to mind.

<<insert yet another comment about 1980 being my favorite season here>>

As it was, the actual Super Bowl was not competitive. But the Eagles were 3 point favorites and I don't think anyone would have picked a Raiders 17 point victory.
Chargers/Cowboys would have been an intriguing matchup with those two excellent scoring offenses going at it.

[Gary Najman]

1980 immediately comes to mind.

<<insert yet another comment about 1980 being my favorite season here>>

As it was, the actual Super Bowl was not competitive. But the Eagles were 3 point favorites and I don't think anyone would have picked a Raiders 17 point victory.
Chargers/Cowboys would have been an intriguing matchup with those two excellent scoring offenses going at it.

I bet that is one of the few seasons in NFL history where the four finalists played each other during the season. The Cowboys beat the Chargers 42-31 at Texas Stadium in a then-rare Sunday Night (the Cowboys were trailing 24-14 at half time, and Howard Cosell was praising Air Coryell, then when the Cowboys scored four unanswered touchdowns, Cosell began to praise Danny White). San Diego beat Philadelphia 22-21 at Jack Murphy Stadium, but it was not so a close game (The Chargers led 19-0 at halftime). The Cowboys beat the Raiders 19-13 at Oakland in a hard fought game, only a late Aaron Mitchell interception prevented Oakland to win the game. Finally, the Eagles beat the Raiders 10-7 at Veterans Stadium, as the Eagles sacked JIm Plunkett 8 times, who also threw 2 interceptions.

[ChrisBabcock]

I bet that is one of the few seasons in NFL history where the four finalists played each other during the season.

Each game would need to be a divisional matchup for that to happen... as it was in 1980.

[Jay Z]

I bet that is one of the few seasons in NFL history where the four finalists played each other during the season.

Each game would need to be a divisional matchup for that to happen... as it was in 1980.

From 1970 to 1977 it could have happened by random chance, though it would have been highly unlikely. 1977 was the only year that the Super Bowl participants played each other in the regular season. But the Vikings also played the Cowboys in the regular season, and of course the Broncos played the Raiders twice. The Vikings also played the Raiders.

[Jay Z]

I don't think any of the potential matchups in Super Bowl V would have resulted in blowouts.

[ChrisBabcock]

I don't think any of the potential matchups in Super Bowl V would have resulted in blowouts.

I probably agree with this. I think the Raiders are definitely the weakest of the final four though. They did lose at home to the 49ers the final week of the regular season 38-7. So I think there could have been a blowout if the Raiders made it to SB V. They did have the division championship wrapped up before the 49ers game so possibly starters were being rested. In the boxscore the QB stats are interesting. It looks like Lamonica played most of the game but Stabler and Blanda each had 7 attempts. I wonder if there were injury(ies)? or if Madden just wanted to get other guys in the game because they had nothing to play for?

[Rupert Patrick]

I think 1999 (Titans, Jaguars vs. Rams, Bucs) would have given a very good Super Bowl regardless of whichever match-up you got. 2008 is another (Steelers, Ravens vs. Cardinals, Eagles) that comes to mind. In fact, I think 2008 collectively had the best Championship games and Super Bowl of any single season of the 50 Super Bowl seasons.

[74_75_78_79_]

Don't really have to dig back all too deep...

2013 - Patriots/Broncos VS Forty Niners/Seahawks

2015 - Cardinals/Panthers VS Patriots/Broncos

The beauty of these two is that neither SB-scenario involves a rematch from the regular season. Not knowing that the Cards would get utterly doused by Carolina, they seemed real SB-win-capable going in. Panthers/Pats would have likely been even more hyped than the matchup that ended up actually taking place (Cam vs Tom who - unlike the sudden case with Peyton - was (and is) still himself; no falloff. As for '13 - Pats vs Hawks or SF, Broncos vs SF...all good matchups!

EDIT - and how in the world can I possibly forget...last year???

[Rupert Patrick]

Don't really have to dig back all too deep...

2013 - Patriots/Broncos VS Forty Niners/Seahawks

2015 - Cardinals/Panthers VS Patriots/Broncos

The beauty of these two is that neither SB-scenario involves a rematch from the regular season. Not knowing that the Cards would get utterly doused by Carolina, they seemed real SB-win-capable going in. Panthers/Pats would have likely been even more hyped than the matchup that ended up actually taking place (Cam vs Tom who - unlike the sudden case with Peyton - was (and is) still himself; no falloff. As for '13 - Pats vs Hawks or SF, Broncos vs SF...all good matchups!

EDIT - and how in the world can I possibly forget...last year???

I disagree about 2013. I think the Seahawks were just too strong that they would have soundly beaten New England in the Super Bowl also. It might not have been 43-8, but I think it would have been 35-14 or something like that. I felt all along that the oddsmakers had it wrong on Super Bowl XLVIII, that Seattle's defense was going to be too much for Denver and Seattle should have been favored by 4-6 points. The moment the ball was hiked past Peyton Manning and went into the end zone for a Safety, I knew the game was over.