What-if 1987 played out fully w/out the strike at all?

[74_75_78_79_]

Those infamous three-straight weeks early on would not have had scabs, and those originally scheduled Week #3 games would have actually been played instead of scrapped outright. What would have been the only ever Buddy vs Walsh (Phi@SF) matchup never took place due to that very set of cancellations, but the main thing sticking out is the Broncos at Browns MNF showdown! That possibly could have determined top-seed down the line!

How different do the standings turn out thus possibly different playoff scenarios/outcomes? Sure enough the most popular one is that Eagles make playoffs being that they were 0-3 in those scab games. But not so fast! The Saints & Vikes may have still boxed them out! Remember, Vikes were actually 8-4 outside the scab games! Heck, they just may have won their division! Buddy Ball likely-enough loses at SF and then the following week vs Chi. Stallings’ respectable near-miss Cards had themselves a winnable Wk#3 playing host to pre-Dickerson Colts, did go 1-2 during scab time, but look who they actually played those three weeks! They may have actually gone 0-3 in such a hypothetical!

Dolphins (1-2 scabs) chances may have not been too bad to make playoffs. Heck, perhaps with exception to the Jets, any of those non-playoff teams from the AFC East have a good enough chance in such a hypo (that NE@Wash matchup not too unintriguing)! And G-men (who would have hosted Mia in Wk3), would have still had it quite tough given SF/Wash/@ now-respectable Buf those infamous three weeks. Doubtful they lose all three as they actually did. Maybe they actually go 2-1 there; in addition to beating Miami beforehand (3-3 after Wk6; not such a hole to dig out of now)!

Thoughts? Best-guesses?

[BD Sullivan]

Browns and Broncos would-be Week 3 game that was never played. Browns finished 1/2 game behind Broncs, so they had to go to Denver.

[74_75_78_79_]

'82 & '87...

Redskins won the Super Bowl!

Packers and a team named after a horse tied each other!

[lastcat3]

I think the Vikings would have gone about 11-5 or 12-4. Also I think the 49ers would have gone 11-5 and the playoff game between them wouldn't be viewed nearly as much of an upset as it is now.