Who, IYO, is the best-ever Wild Card SB-winner?

[74_75_78_79_]

These are who to pick from...

’69 Chiefs
’80 Raiders
’97 Broncos
’00 Ravens
’05 Steelers
’07 Giants
’10 Packers
’20 Buccaneers

I’m going to select, “this one’s for John!” Looked the juggernaut with that 10-1 start before stumbling in the end out of a top-seed. But they really weren’t all that less than they’d be the following year; and proved it as much in the playoffs. They destroy a real good Jags team, win at Arrowhead against arguably Marty’s best ever team, and although the following week was no blowout, the win at the ’Burgh was more lopsided than the score indicated; seemed like they were in control the whole game. And, of course, beating a heavily-favored defending-Champ!

My second pick (honorable mention)...’69 Chiefs.

[7DnBrnc53]

These are who to pick from...

’69 Chiefs
’80 Raiders
’97 Broncos
’00 Ravens
’05 Steelers
’07 Giants
’10 Packers
’20 Buccaneers

I’m going to select, “this one’s for John!” Looked the juggernaut with that 10-1 start before stumbling in the end out of a top-seed. But they really weren’t all that less than they’d be the following year; and proved it as much in the playoffs. They destroy a real good Jags team, win at Arrowhead against arguably Marty’s best ever team, and although the following week was no blowout, the win at the ’Burgh was more lopsided than the score indicated; seemed like they were in control the whole game. And, of course, beating a heavily-favored defending-Champ!

My second pick (honorable mention)...’69 Chiefs.

No complaints out of any of that. Not much else to say there.

[Bryan]

These are who to pick from...

’69 Chiefs
’80 Raiders
’97 Broncos
’00 Ravens
’05 Steelers
’07 Giants
’10 Packers
’20 Buccaneers

I’m going to select, “this one’s for John!” Looked the juggernaut with that 10-1 start before stumbling in the end out of a top-seed. But they really weren’t all that less than they’d be the following year; and proved it as much in the playoffs. They destroy a real good Jags team, win at Arrowhead against arguably Marty’s best ever team, and although the following week was no blowout, the win at the ’Burgh was more lopsided than the score indicated; seemed like they were in control the whole game. And, of course, beating a heavily-favored defending-Champ!

My second pick (honorable mention)...’69 Chiefs.

The Jags team wasn't very good. The defense was average at best and they were lucky to be 11-5. Beating the Chiefs was nice, but what team DIDN'T beat Elvis Grbac in the playoffs? They beat Pittsburgh because Kordell Stewart put up his second terrible game of that postseason and the Broncos were still outgained and won by only 3. This is JMO and will upset Bronco fans, but the Packers played their worst game of the year in that Super Bowl and still were in it until the end. I thought the Packers were the better team on the field, they just messed up at critical times.

That said, the Broncos were a great team that year and in nearly every other year they would have won their division. But I'd still have to rank them below the 69 Chiefs, who played the majority of the season with their 3rd string QB and still went 11-3, then beat the defending champion Jets at New York, the 12-1-1 Raiders at Oakland, and the 12-2 (greatest team of all-time?) Vikings in SB IV. I would say that postseason run is way more impressive than Denver's.

[DavidSollender]

The 2010 Packers was one of two teams since 1960 that was never behind by more than 7 points during the entire season. They were formidable once they got healthy.

[Brian wolf]

Like others have pointed out, the Broncos were the best winning wild card team. The Chiefs took advantage of a playoff system that was designed to compete with the NFL playoffs, though instead of playing games the same weekend, they were forced to play the same weekend that ended the NFL regular season which was ludicrous ... Yes, others have pointed out that a second place team had no business competing for an AFL championship but the blame has to go on the greedy NFL owners, who realigned the NFL teams into four divisions in 1967, creating a new playoff round that forced the AFL to do the same in 1969.

The best story though was the 2007 Giants, who not only knocked off stronger teams in the playoffs but ended a chance at a perfect season for the New England Patriots.

[Gary Najman]

I like very much the 1980 Oakland Raiders (I remember vividly when my Cowboys barely beat them 19-13 in Oakland, I thought at that time that they werbetter than the Chargers, who was the favorite to reach to the Super Bowl). And beating Cleveland in freezing conditions and then San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium, before winning over the Eagles (which I thought was the best team in the entire league that year).

[Mark]

I agree with the 1997 Broncos. I didn't see their Super Bowl victory as a shock at all.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

The Broncos played a great Super Bowl. They let everybody talk about how great the Packers were and put together a great game plan. I think -- and maybe somebody can help me with this -- I think the Broncos were the first team to come out on the field as a team in the Super Bowl rather than individual introductions of either the offense or defense. That was a statement. I remember thinking that Denver was going to play better than people assumed simply because of that.

Part of the reason people thought that was because in the AFC Championship there were a few times when Steeler receivers got open and dropped what would have been a 12-15 yd gain. I remember thinking, Green Bay receivers would catch those and that it should be a pretty easy game for the Packers if Denver didn't shore that up. They did and they also got some good pass rush that day, Atwater made a great play on Favre behind the line of scrimmage and the Packers looked flustered.

As for the original question, Denver is certainly one of the top teams, but I don't know how well they'd do against that 2000 Ravens defense. The 2010 Packers were an excellent team that peaked at the right time and they were balanced on both sides of the ball. They might be the best overall.

That said, I'm not old enough to remember the Chiefs. On paper and on highlight reels, they look pretty awesome.

[7DnBrnc53]

The Broncos played a great Super Bowl. They let everybody talk about how great the Packers were and put together a great game plan. I think -- and maybe somebody can help me with this -- I think the Broncos were the first team to come out on the field as a team in the Super Bowl rather than individual introductions of either the offense or defense. That was a statement. I remember thinking that Denver was going to play better than people assumed simply because of that.

Part of the reason people thought that was because in the AFC Championship there were a few times when Steeler receivers got open and dropped what would have been a 12-15 yd gain. I remember thinking, Green Bay receivers would catch those and that it should be a pretty easy game for the Packers if Denver didn't shore that up. They did and they also got some good pass rush that day, Atwater made a great play on Favre behind the line of scrimmage and the Packers looked flustered.

As for the original question, Denver is certainly one of the top teams, but I don't know how well they'd do against that 2000 Ravens defense. The 2010 Packers were an excellent team that peaked at the right time and they were balanced on both sides of the ball. They might be the best overall.

That said, I'm not old enough to remember the Chiefs. On paper and on highlight reels, they look pretty awesome.

I don't think they came out as a team. One of their units was introduced individually. I think NE was the first (SB 36) to come out totally as a team.

I also don't remember the Steelers dropping a whole lot of passes in the AFC Title Game. I remember Denver's WR's doing that in the regular season @Pittsburgh, though.

In addition, I think that Denver would beat the 2000 Ravens. Baltimore had a great D, but they beat up on a lot of bad to average QB's, like Spergon Wynn, Kent Graham, Scott Mitchell, Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, and Gus Frerotte.

[racepug]

I'd go with the '69 Chiefs and for this reason: in that post-season they held the defending S.B. champs, the highest-scoring team in the A.F.L., AND the highest-scoring team in the N.F.L. to a combined 20 points, all without playing even one game at home. Amazing.