'Hawks VS Bucs, late-'70s

[74_75_78_79_]

As not-as-friendly as things were to expansion-teams back in '76 as they'd be to the very two expansions 19 years later (both in their respective CC in Year Two!), both Patera's Seahawks and McKay's Bucs, together, not a bad closing statement by decade's end! Not bad at all.

After that historically horrific 0-26 start (which included Sea beating them in '76; Mike Curtis blocking FG), the Bucs just 25 months later we're hosting the NFCC for crying out loud. Beat Vermeil's Eagles to get there which says quite a bit! Seahawks, however, didn't clinch a playoff-berth at all by decade's end. However, they did produce two winning seasons in both '78 & '79. Because they were in not only such a tougher conference but an especially tougher division (and was it ever), they unfortunately and perhaps unfairly had to watch the playoffs both years.

All due respect to that great sudden turnaround by McKay's '79 troops, especially their Selmon-led D, I have to give nod to 'Hawks. Had TB stayed in the AFC West beyond their innagural year, yes, they would have been respectable as heck in '79 (maybe 9-7), but to me likely just short of January-ball. Meanwhile, I see Seahawks in the NFC Central not only division-winners (maybe top-seed) in '79, but divisional-winners (over Vikes & Pack) the year prior as well! Heck, didn't they beat Minn in that 'change-of-guard' Tark vs Zorn affair in the Kingdome, Week #6? At the 'Burgh Week #2 in '78 they seemed to have quite the swagger and toughness too (not 'in-awe' of them; their secondary trying to intimidate Swann just like Tatum/Atkinson). Tampa apparently had the lighter path in the NFC Central and I guess that's just the breaks.

Thoughts?

[Retro Rider]

I remember watching a random game around 1978 where Don Criqui described Seattle as being "light years" ahead of Tampa Bay. The legacy of the '78 & '79 Seahawks was decided by two games against the Broncos. A 20-17 overtime loss to Denver in week 9 wound up costing them the 1978 AFC West title. That would have been an incredible achievement by a 3rd year expansion team with the 26th ranked defense. A loss at Denver in week 4 of the 1979 season eventually came back to haunt Seattle in December. Had the 'Hawks not blown a 34-10 3rd quarter lead at Mile High, they would have earned a Wild Card berth instead of the Broncos. All in all the '78-'79 Seahawks were alot of fun to watch. Looking back I think they really played over their heads at times. These were probably Jim Zorn's best two seasons as an NFL QB. Winning 4 straight against the Raiders was also quite an achievement. The 1979 Buccaneers were an amazing story as well. That was the one year during the 1970's where I think they might have beaten Seattle had they gone head-to-head.

[7DnBrnc53]

Meanwhile, I see Seahawks in the NFC Central not only division-winners (maybe top-seed) in '79, but divisional-winners (over Vikes & Pack) the year prior as well! Heck, didn't they beat Minn in that 'change-of-guard' Tark vs Zorn affair in the Kingdome, Week #6? At the 'Burgh Week #2 in '78 they seemed to have quite the swagger and toughness too (not 'in-awe' of them; their secondary trying to intimidate Swann just like Tatum/Atkinson). Tampa apparently had the lighter path in the NFC Central and I guess that's just the breaks.

The Seahawks would have been a playoff team earlier in the NFC Central, but they could have been if they stayed in the NFC West as well (their original division). They would have had a good shot to go in 1978 and 79, and they may have had even more success by the Knox era (if that still happens in this world). They should have left the Hawks in the NFC West, and put the Bucs in the AFC Central for good.

[Rupert Patrick]

I remember watching a random game around 1978 where Don Criqui described Seattle as being "light years" ahead of Tampa Bay. The legacy of the '78 & '79 Seahawks was decided by two games against the Broncos. A 20-17 overtime loss to Denver in week 9 wound up costing them the 1978 AFC West title. That would have been an incredible achievement by a 3rd year expansion team with the 26th ranked defense.

I think it would have been the most surprising division winner in NFL history (until the 2008 Dolphins), being that the Seahawks got past the two teams who met for the AFC Championship the previous season.

Here's a different way of looking at the late 70's Bucs and Seahawks - What if the Bucs had somehow wound up with Zorn and Largent to go with Ricky Bell, and suddenly found themselves with a very good passing combo to go with their young, tough defense? The Bucs might very well have won the NFC Central in 1978 in addition to 1979, and the Seahawks might have been 2-12 in 1976 and 1977 and 2-14 in 1978 and 1979.

[74_75_78_79_]

Made a mistake on OP forgetting that Seattle started out in NFC West, not Central. Had 'Hawks stayed put they battle numerous teams for one of the two WC spots in '78. The following year they, the Rams, and Saints battle for division. TB simply has a tough time if they would have been in the AFC West in '79. Like I said OP, maybe they finish 9-7, but no better. Had they been in AFC Central instead? Ouch! They'd have the 'Burgh, Oilers, and Browns! Doubtful they have a winning-season, or even 8-8, in such an event. Likely a respectable 7-9. No playoffs in '81 either.

Any chance, had the league kept Tampa in AFC after '76, that maybe in '77 they move Colts to Central and place Bucs in East (w Miami) instead? Don't know why TB was placed in AFC West in the first place. I guess they were moved to NFC so each conference can have a Florida team.

[Todd Pence]

Seattle seems to certainly have benefited from the 2002 switch to the NFC West, at least in terms of gridiron success. Here's a comparison of the team's track records in the two divisions.

For the twenty-five years the Hawks spent in the AFC West (1977-2001):
Total W/L: 186-204 (winning pct. .477)
W/L within Division: 80-115 (winning pct. .410)
Divisional Titles: 2
Finishes in cellar: 6
Playoff appearances: 5
Conference Title game appearances: 1
Super Bowl appearances: Zero

And in the fifteen years since moving to the NFC West:
Total W/L: 137-102-1 (winning pct. .573)
W/L within Division: 55-34-1 (winning pct. .617)
Divisional Titles: 8
Finishes in cellar: Zero
Playoff appearances: 11
Conference Title game appearances: 3
Super Bowl appearances: 3

Of course a great deal of the franchise's more recent success can be attributed to the effects of the Allen ownership. But I think a heavy factor is the caliber of competition in the reformed NFC West has not quite been on the level of the AFC West of the 80's and 90's.