teams bitten by snakes

[CSKreager]

The 1978 Saints lost to the Steelers and to the Falcons (twice) on late TD passes. That's how close they came to going 10-6 and hosting the WC game against Philly.

if they win both of those ATL games, the Saints at 9-7 would have still made the playoffs but actually gone to Philly

[7DnBrnc53]

The 1978 Saints lost to the Steelers and to the Falcons (twice) on late TD passes. That's how close they came to going 10-6 and hosting the WC game against Philly.

if they win both of those ATL games, the Saints at 9-7 would have still made the playoffs but actually gone to Philly

That's true. I was also thinking about that Steeler game they lost when Bradshaw hit Rocky with a TD pass late in the game. Beat ATL twice and win that, and they are hosting a WC game.

[JWL]

The Chargers are off to a 1-4 start. The rough start is due to leads choked away late in three games and another game where the team could not execute a field goal that would have tied the score late. San Diego will eventually lose comfortably and finish 5-11 or so and the coach will get fired.

pretty good prediction I made for a change

[Brian wolf]

Though the Chiefs won two SBs with Mahomes, from 1990-2018, 2020 the symbol for snake-bitten playoff teams ...

[CSKreager]

1981 Atlanta Falcons

Scored more points than they did the previous year when they went 12-4

Steve Bartkowski had more passing yards in 1981 than 1980 with similar TD totals (31 in 1980, 30 in 1981)

PD of +71

Highest scoring NFC team and 2nd overall behind only Air Coryell

and yet despite those numbers, this team (which many predicted to go to SB 16) went 7-9 with 7 of their losses by 5 points or less (the 2 exceptions were against the AFC Central’s Browns/Steelers)

There were 3 especially costly losses:

A wild 37-35 game against the Rams in which Leroy Irvin had 2 punt return touchdowns (same day as SF 45 Dal 14)

An OT home loss against the Giants (a blocked punt led to a NY touchdown and a fumble in overtime set up the winning kick)

A back and forth battle of 7-6 teams in early December against Tampa Bay with 5 lead changes. Doug Williams threw a 71 yard touchdown to Kevin House late in the 4th quarter and Mick Luckhurst’s 45 yard FG with 4 seconds left was blocked

[sheajets]

1989 Bengals. Scored the 3rd most pts in the league and gave up the 7th fewest...and yet only went 8-8. Esiason makes the Pro Bowl and as a team they throw for 32 td passes and just 13 int's. James Brooks has a great season with 1,200+ yards on the ground averaging well over 5 a carry. McGee, Eddie Brown and Rodney Holman all have terrific seasons. Fulcher has a great season defensively with 8 ints...just an outstanding all around club that probably should've been in the 11-5/12-4 range. Couple of tough losses to the Bears, Dolphins and Oilers