35 years ago today...(NYE, 1989)...

[74_75_78_79_]

It was the last Wild Card Sunday of the esteemed 5-teams-per-conference-getting-in era that started in '78. And the NFL's two Pennsylvania teams each played on that very day. It was the first time in ten years ('79) that both Keystone State teams were in the playoffs.

The first game was Robinson's Rams at Buddy Ryan's Eagles. Both finished 11-5; Rams splitting with/almost sweeping Mighty San Fran, and the Birds yet again sweeping Parcells' Giants who won the NFC East in the very end at 12-4. The Rams also beat the Giants during the regular season, and convincingly!

I remember thinking going into the game that Philly should win. I was thinking of their win over them at the Vet the previous year. A different story though in this case. Rams win 21-7. If the simple Eagles not repeating as division champs didn't already hint it to you, this loss had to tell you that Buddy Ball wouldn't be made for success in the post-season. Not just that, but of course Buddy would be out of the City of Brotherly following another one-and-done the following year. The Rams would go to the Meadowlands the following week and beat the G-men yet again, in OT, get real walloped at Candlestick after that, then not return to the playoffs again until ten years later when they would shock the league with their out-of-nowehere 'Greatest Show' first World Championship since 1951!

The following game? Chuck Noll's "last hurrah"! We all know how it began, and still was more than halfway into the season, for those '89 Steelers who came off a 5-11 season the previous year not having been in the playoffs since that surprise AFCCG berth as a 9-7 division winner in '84.

Well another surprise from a 9-7 last team to qualify! Having been swept by Houston during the regular season, seriously getting crushed in their first meeting which was in the House of Pain where this very playoff game would be, the Steelers pull it off in OT averting a Houston hat-trick over them! Not just that, but it would cause Glanville to be given his pink slip and off to Atlanta - who'd lose again to Noll in '90! Some of the Steeler players, Delton Hall I know was one of them, wanted to carry their HC off the field, but the Emperor wouldn't allow (he wouldn't have allowed, nor gotten, a Gatorade Bath had they beat San Fran four weeks later).

Yes, almost beating the Broncos at Mile High the following week, and almost winning the division the following year rallying from that 1-3 start, but this day 35 years ago was truly his "Last Hurrah"! What a way to end the decade - as the calendar decade began - eliminating the Houston Oilers.

Have a Happy New Year, Gang!

And, again, thanks for all the knowledge!

[Brian wolf]

Being a frustrated Cowboys fan--especially that year--it was a guilty pleasure seeing the Eagles get their ass whipped in the playoffs three straight years. Especially in the Vet. Though the playoff format was only 12 years old, I knew once Rozelle stepped down more changes were underway with the game but didnt think they would add another two WC games. I miss when division champions got bye weeks. Made for better races, I felt.

Glanville got ran out of town by Noll and the Steelers but I felt the Oilers were a tougher team than the Pardee years. Regardless of coaches, they could never win on the road.

Hard to believe the Redskins and Bengals didnt make the playoffs that year.

[CSKreager]

I miss when division champions got bye weeks. Made for better races, I felt.

Back then though basically being a strong 3rd division winner not getting a home playoff game didn’t feel right (72 Packers, 73 Bengals, 75 Cardinals, 80 Bills, 86 Pats)

Like was a bye week worth having to go on the road?

Outside of the 79 Rams/87 Redskins, being a 3 seed from 1975-1989 basically felt like a booby prize

[7DnBrnc53]

Hard to believe the Redskins and Bengals didnt make the playoffs that year.

I know, especially the Bengals. I thought they would get back to a SB at some point, and maybe win it. Instead, the implosion of the franchise was just around that corner, and it started with the 1990 loss at Seattle and the incident that happened there.