AFC teams that just missed the playoffs in 1989

[74_75_78_79_]

As much as the AFC field in '89 was mired in mediocrity, there were five non-qualifiers that were still in it going into Week #16. Each can be seen as being no less caliber as the four 9-win teams that actually did get in. Allowing the top 10 of the 14 in the conference to play in a tournament (CFL style) isn't the worst thought or idea ever. Below are the five...

Chiefs, 8-7-1
Marty's first year with them. They showed much promise to be the immediate regular playoff contender that would begin the very following season. In their 4-6 start, they lost at home to Cincy and at Pittsburgh, got swept by Denver, but split with the Raiders. And then in their final six games in which they went 4-1-1, they tie in Marty's return to the Dawg Pound, bludgeon Houston, 34-0, pound Majik's Pack at Lambeau, 21-3, and sweep Miami (but allow SD to complete their sweep vs them penultimate week). Had Steelers lost at Tampa Bay, but everything else went as it did that Week# 16, then it's KC going to the House of Pain in the AFCWCG.

Colts, 8-8
Another unspectacular but at least respectable Meyer team. Played SF so tough in the opener though lose at Rams the following week by 2 TDs. They split with Buffalo & Miami (winning lopsided in their wins over each; but Bills blasting them as well). And they beat the Bengals at Riverfront and Cleveland at home. They were in control of their own destiny going into Week #16. Simply beat a Saints team in NO who was already out of it. But Jim Mora's bunch more than played spoiler, 41-6, thus clinched a winning season winning their final three!

Raiders, 8-8
Art Shell's fist year. Took over on MNF at NYJ after they already started 1-3. Won that game, then beat KC, lose at Philly by just a 10-7 score, beat Washington & Cincy, lose two in-a-row. First at SD and then convincingly at Houston; but win their next three which included a win vs Denver. 7-3 Shell was in his first 10 games. They were 8-6 and in control of their own destiny. But then gave that to the Colts in a penultimate loss at Seattle. But with Indy losing at Saints the following week, they simply needed to just win after all. Just one problem though...their Wk#16 opponents, the Giants (at the Meadowlands), wanted their division more than the Raiders wanted that playoff-berth-period.

Dolphins, 8-8
I guess this campaign, FWIW, can be seen as a sign that playoff-regularity would be back in Miami next decade. Started 7-4. Three-game-stretch where they beat Clev/@Cin/GB. And then after losing at Buffalo the following week (Bills completing sweep), they beat Indy as well as the two after that. From there, however - starting with getting 'monsooned' to Pittsburgh - they finish 1-4 with a rematch-loss at Colts and a sweep to KC being the three other defeats. Week #16, with everything else playing out as it actually did, Miami would have had to beat KC along with TB beating Steelers to get in.

Bengals, 8-8
Defending-AFC-champs. Had quite the 'bite' to them. 5-1 in the AFC Central, a lopsided win over each division foe to their credit. +119 in PD! At Chicago - but in the opener - and at 7-9 Seattle in Wk#14 were the only losing teams they'd bow to in '89. Many say had they'd made the playoffs, they have been more dangerous than Pittsburgh; and certainly wouldn't have been a stranger to San Fran had they made it all of the way to New Orleans!

Thoughts? Takes?

[CSKreager]

If there had been a 3rd WC in 1989, it would have been the Chiefs vs the Bengals for that last playoff spot (Steelers and Packers already would have been in) and KC would have gotten in when Cincy fell at Minnesota on Christmas night

[7DnBrnc53]

The Bengals were the most disappointing team on this list. However, maybe the loss of Stanley Wilson (before SB 23) and Ickey and Tim Krumrie's injuries (Krumrie got hurt in the SB, and Ickey was gone for the year in Week 2) had a profound affect on that team.

As for the Dolphins, I don't know if that was really a sign that they would be back in 1990. They had won eight games in three of the last four seasons.

[Crazy Packers Fan]

They should have just cancelled the AFC tournament and awarded the Super Bowl to the NFC champion automatically. When the second wild card in the NFC would get the #1 seed in the AFC, then a bloodbath in the Super Bowl was just waiting to happen. The eighth-best team in the NFC would be top-three in the AFC. I don't know if there's ever been another year in NFL history that's been that unbalanced.

I don't think any of those potential wild cards would have made a run, but I've got to wonder what would have happened if Pittsburgh would have pulled that one out in Denver, which they nearly did. The Turnpike Rivalry in the AFC Championship Game? That would have been something to see.

[CSKreager]

They should have just cancelled the AFC tournament and awarded the Super Bowl to the NFC champion automatically. When the second wild card in the NFC would get the #1 seed in the AFC, then a bloodbath in the Super Bowl was just waiting to happen. The eighth-best team in the NFC would be top-three in the AFC. I don't know if there's ever been another year in NFL history that's been that unbalanced.

How about 2004 when the shoe was on the other foot and the NFC was the shaky conference?

[7DnBrnc53]

They should have just cancelled the AFC tournament and awarded the Super Bowl to the NFC champion automatically. When the second wild card in the NFC would get the #1 seed in the AFC, then a bloodbath in the Super Bowl was just waiting to happen. The eighth-best team in the NFC would be top-three in the AFC. I don't know if there's ever been another year in NFL history that's been that unbalanced.

How about 2004 when the shoe was on the other foot and the NFC was the shaky conference?

That Patriot team wasn't nearly as good (or didn't ever look as invincible) as the 89 49ers (which wasn't even as good as the 84 version). Also, the 15-1 Steelers may have played over their head somewhat.

[CSKreager]

They should have just cancelled the AFC tournament and awarded the Super Bowl to the NFC champion automatically. When the second wild card in the NFC would get the #1 seed in the AFC, then a bloodbath in the Super Bowl was just waiting to happen. The eighth-best team in the NFC would be top-three in the AFC. I don't know if there's ever been another year in NFL history that's been that unbalanced.

How about 2004 when the shoe was on the other foot and the NFC was the shaky conference?

That Patriot team wasn't nearly as good (or didn't ever look as invincible) as the 89 49ers (which wasn't even as good as the 84 version). Also, the 15-1 Steelers may have played over their head somewhat.

Hard disagree

The 89 49ers played in a far more rugged NFC and had a way tougher schedule

The 84 Niners feasted on a soft schedule that they could have gone 15-1 with Matt Cavanaugh

[Bryan]

The 89 49ers played in a far more rugged NFC and had a way tougher schedule

The 84 Niners feasted on a soft schedule that they could have gone 15-1 with Matt Cavanaugh

Interesting thought....I never really considered that aspect. What I remember about the 1984 season is that during the year, the Niners were like an afterthought. The big story was Marino and the Dolphins, and then Eric Dickerson chasing OJs record. A lot took place in 84, and the Niners were kind of pushed to the background. The regular season games I remember from that year are the Raiders-Dolphins, Raiders-Bears....nothing with the Niners.

The Bengals under Wyche could have been a regular playoff team. The 1984 version could have won the division, the 1986 team was a really strong team that was kind of unlucky to not make the postseason that year, as they were probably better than half the AFC teams that made the playoffs. The 89 team was the best team in the division.

[Brian wolf]

The Bengals in 85,86, 87 and 89 just underachieved despite a powerful offense. Tough players on defense, especially Williams, Krumrie and Fulcher but not enough big plays as a group.
Thats why I dont see Esiason as a HOF or HOVG QB ... Talented but not clutch enough, similar to Anderson, who achieved slightly more and has more a HOF case ...