Best pair of games between division opponents in same season

[RichardBak]

Oakland and KC in 1969. They actually met 3 times in the last 6 weeks prior to the Super Bowl. Oakland won first 2 matches, 27-24 and 10-6, to win the West Div, but lost to Chiefs in the AFL title game.

As I've moaned a million times, the title game should've been a rematch of Oakland and NYJ, the Mad Bomber vs. Joe WIllie. But the network$$ came up with the silly playoff system for that season only. Third time was a charm for KC.

[Bryan]

Oakland and KC in 1969. They actually met 3 times in the last 6 weeks prior to the Super Bowl. Oakland won first 2 matches, 27-24 and 10-6, to win the West Div, but lost to Chiefs in the AFL title game.

As I've moaned a million times, the title game should've been a rematch of Oakland and NYJ, the Mad Bomber vs. Joe WIllie. But the network$$ came up with the silly playoff system for that season only. Third time was a charm for KC.

I'm guessing if the 'old' playoff system of division winners-only had been in place in 1969, the Chiefs would have been a bit more aggressive on offense (and defense) in that last regular season game. The Chiefs still could have won the division by defeating Oakland and that would have eliminated Oakland from postseason contention despite their 11-2-1 record. As it stood, Hank Stram put more weight on keeping Len Dawson healthy for the postseason rather than trying to win the division. Both teams had already clinched their playoff spots. In the end, Stram's strategy proved correct. And if we are really talking about 'best pair of games', then that 10-6 game would probably be closer to 'worst game ever' than 'best game ever'. Even the AFL Championship had a comical element to it, with the end of the game resembling Super Bowl V.

[CSKreager]

The 49ers and Saints had a pair of great regular season games in 1987,

And 1992

[Brian wolf]

The Niner-Saints games in 1988 affected Montana's career as well. The Saints beat them in the Super Dome, where Montana banged his elbow on the hard turf, that lingered the rest of his playing days, then the Niners beat them at the Stick that allowed them to win their division, where they put it all together before the Giants ended their run in early 1991.

[Mark]

The Niner-Saints games in 1988 affected Montana's career as well. The Saints beat them in the Super Dome, where Montana banged his elbow on the hard turf, that lingered the rest of his playing days, then the Niners beat them at the Stick that allowed them to win their division, where they put it all together before the Giants ended their run in early 1991.

The 49ers won both games in 1988 vs. The Saints.

[Brian wolf]

Ur right Mark ... the next week against the Giants coming off the bench was one of Joe's greatest throws ...