1984 NFL season - expectations, retrospect...

[74_75_78_79_]

Been a while since I started one of these.

I tried looking up an NFL Preview in the SI Vault, but found nothing the first few pages; I didn't keep looking. I don't have, nor never had any of, the preview books/mags for this campaign. I also don't remember, at the time, what I thought the Steelers' chances were going into this 'Year One' after Bradshaw/Lambert. My guess is no one was expecting a trip to the AFCC, but better than the 9-7 they actually finished at. Just barely coming up short at RFK the year before, was champ-to-be San Fran expected to do just that? I'm sure Seattle had real high expectations, especially with a healthy Curt Warner going in. As for another marquee RB who would also suffer an unfortunate injury in '84, Billy Sims' Lions had to have optimism as well. Or were Ditka's Bears seen coming as they would do? And while we're still in the NFC Central, how about Green Bay with that just-miss last year? Anyone see Vikings suffering that notorious worst-campaign in decades? Parcells' Giants, 3-12-1 last year, actually making playoffs? Dallas actually missing playoffs? An actual Marino sophomore-slump? Raiders/Redskins SB-rematch?

Actually, come to think of it, I vaguely remember seeing Raiders/Forty Niners going into that very season.

[ChrisBabcock]

In Chris Willis’ book Nearly Perfect Season (about the ‘84 49ers), there’s a mention that there was a feeling within the organization that there was no way they weren’t getting back to the Super Bowl in 1984 after the near comeback in the 1983 NFCCG vs. Washington.

[7DnBrnc53]

On You-Tube (a few years ago), I saw a part of the 1984 ESPN preview. I think that Mel Kiper was the one who made the predictions, and he predicted the Patriots and Rams to end up in SB 19.

Also, I did find the SI preview in the vault: https://www.si.com/vault/archive

Here is the 1984 preview: https://www.si.com/vault/issue/44173/0

[74_75_78_79_]

On You-Tube (a few years ago), I saw a part of the 1984 ESPN preview. I think that Mel Kiper was the one who made the predictions, and he predicted the Patriots and Rams to end up in SB 19.

Also, I did find the SI preview in the vault: https://www.si.com/vault/archive

Here is the 1984 preview: https://www.si.com/vault/issue/44173/0

Thanks, 7Den! Too lazy I was to keep turning more pages. Seems like SI wasn't too far off in numerous cases. ESPN Kiper...Pats/Rams SB? Not too bad considering each were runner-up in their respective conference the following year. My mistake OP saying 'Year One' after Bradhsaw/Lambert being that the latter was still on in '84. I forgot that both Stabler and Richard Todd were with the Saints that year. It seems as if Earl Campbell was expected to go on quite a bit longer.

In Chris Willis’ book Nearly Perfect Season (about the ‘84 49ers), there’s a mention that there was a feeling within the organization that there was no way they weren’t getting back to the Super Bowl in 1984 after the near comeback in the 1983 NFCCG vs. Washington.

'Nearly Perfect Season'...I ought to check that one out, Chris! 1984 was a more closer-to-perfect season than the Bears one year later being that SF's lone loss was by quite a closer margin.

[Bryan]

ESPN Kiper...Pats/Rams SB? Not too bad considering each were runner-up in their respective conference the following year.

If those were indeed Kiper's picks, then they make very little sense. The 83 Pats were 8-8 with a negative point differential, missing the postseason. The 83 Rams were slightly better with a 9-7 record and a +17 point differential, but they were blown out 51-7 in the divisional round of the postseason. Just in their own divisions, it would make much more sense to select Miami and SF, which is how it actually played out. The 84 Pats finished 9-7 and missed the postseason for the sixth straight year...the 84 Rams went 10-6 and lost in the wild-card round.

[7DnBrnc53]

ESPN Kiper...Pats/Rams SB? Not too bad considering each were runner-up in their respective conference the following year.

If those were indeed Kiper's picks, then they make very little sense. The 83 Pats were 8-8 with a negative point differential, missing the postseason. The 83 Rams were slightly better with a 9-7 record and a +17 point differential, but they were blown out 51-7 in the divisional round of the postseason. Just in their own divisions, it would make much more sense to select Miami and SF, which is how it actually played out. The 84 Pats finished 9-7 and missed the postseason for the sixth straight year...the 84 Rams went 10-6 and lost in the wild-card round.

Agreed, but he wasn't the only one high on New England. SI was as well. They picked them to win the East that year. One reason was because there wasn't any more turmoil like they had in the past (everybody signed, etc...).

[Rupert Patrick]

ESPN Kiper...Pats/Rams SB? Not too bad considering each were runner-up in their respective conference the following year.

If those were indeed Kiper's picks, then they make very little sense. The 83 Pats were 8-8 with a negative point differential, missing the postseason. The 83 Rams were slightly better with a 9-7 record and a +17 point differential, but they were blown out 51-7 in the divisional round of the postseason. Just in their own divisions, it would make much more sense to select Miami and SF, which is how it actually played out. The 84 Pats finished 9-7 and missed the postseason for the sixth straight year...the 84 Rams went 10-6 and lost in the wild-card round.

Agreed, but he wasn't the only one high on New England. SI was as well. They picked them to win the East that year. One reason was because there wasn't any more turmoil like they had in the past (everybody signed, etc...).

I think a lot of the New England hype in 1984 centered around picking Irving Fryar with the first pick in the NFL draft, along with getting Craig James, whom they drafted in 1983 but instead played for the USFL and was released during the 1984 USFL spring season and returned to the Patriots. But there was internal problems with the team which forced the mid-season firing of coach Ron Meyer, which brought in Raymond Berry.

[BD Sullivan]

there was internal problems with the team which forced the mid-season firing of coach Ron Meyer, which brought in Raymond Berry.

A regular occurrence for much of the first few decades of the Pats.

[lastcat3]

I think a lot of the New England hype in 1984 centered around picking Irving Fryar with the first pick in the NFL draft, along with getting Craig James, whom they drafted in 1983 but instead played for the USFL and was released during the 1984 USFL spring season and returned to the Patriots. But there was internal problems with the team which forced the mid-season firing of coach Ron Meyer, which brought in Raymond Berry.

Did much of the SMU stuff that was going on around that time have much to do with the Patriots wanting to part ways with Meyer? The mid '80's is when all those investigations of the SMU program started kicking into high gear.