NFL "what-if" scenarios thread

[74_75_78_79_]

I think Brown knew details of the merger before some of the AFL owners. I truly wish they had kept the leagues seperate like Davis and Werblin wanted, but Hunt wanted more revenue coming in--despite deep pockets-- the Chiefs were only averaging about 35,000 fans when they won their second league championship. He knew stadiums had to accomodate 50,000 or more fans just to satisfy the merger agreement. Paul Brown was already pleading for a new stadium for the Bengals as early as 1967.

Thanks, Wolf! In spirit, I think it'd be cool had both leagues were kept separate, like the AL and NL along with, of course, no inter-league play at all - just the Super Bowl. But knowing how things already have been, it's best that the '70s, '80s, '90s, etc turned out as they did. Certain Super Bowl match-ups you revere from the '70s being...League Championship Games instead? And certain Classic CCGs now being...Super Bowls instead?? Kind of weird.

1970: Winner of (white-jersey-ed) Dallas at (dark-jersey-ed) Baltimore for the NFL Championship against the winner of Oakland at Miami for the AFL Championship? Yeah, I'll pass.

Yes, not knowing what I'd know the decades ahead, I'd think that'd be cool having separate leagues. But Hunt, I guess, had the commercial-potential foresight in the end. And lets just say there would be no Super Bowl at all (no inter-league games at all) continuing on from '66? Most 'assuming' each year that the NFL champ was the real champ (AFL champs, Namath & Dawson, don't make Canton) while some would argue otherwise. I'm sure those who were following for years leading through to the merger thought it all seemed kind of weird - especially the Colts, Browns, and Steelers joining AFL teams in this new...'AFC'.

But change happens. And with the further help of NFL Films, Monday Night Football, and simply further exposure propelled things to where they had to go. The 1970s were the best they could possibly be the way it all actually turned out!

[CSKreager]

1980

What if there is no Miracle at the Met?

While Cleveland gets the division crown no matter what happens in week 16 at Cincinnati, MIN at HOU is now do or die for the Vikings as the Lions won their last 2 games and had they tied the Lions would have won a H2H tiebreaker.

Meanwhile the Browns would have been playing for the #1 seed at Cincinnati.

Houston all of a sudden might be playing for AFC Wild Card homefield as with 4 11-5 teams instead of 5 perhaps a tiebreaker goes their way and that smoke and mirrors Raiders team might have to go to the Astrodome where they lost before and after 1980

Conversely, if MIN misses the playoffs, DET goes from 2-14 to a division title and there's no way they have 8 turnovers. Maybe not blowing the 4-0 start carries over and they finish some of their close calls in 1981 and maybe make consecutive playoff appearances (which after 1982-1983 could have ended up 4 straight)?

[7DnBrnc53]

1980

What if there is no Miracle at the Met?

While Cleveland gets the division crown no matter what happens in week 16 at Cincinnati, MIN at HOU is now do or die for the Vikings as the Lions won their last 2 games and had they tied the Lions would have won a H2H tiebreaker.

Meanwhile the Browns would have been playing for the #1 seed at Cincinnati.

Houston all of a sudden might be playing for AFC Wild Card homefield as with 4 11-5 teams instead of 5 perhaps a tiebreaker goes their way and that smoke and mirrors Raiders team might have to go to the Astrodome where they lost before and after 1980

Conversely, if MIN misses the playoffs, DET goes from 2-14 to a division title and there's no way they have 8 turnovers. Maybe not blowing the 4-0 start carries over and they finish some of their close calls in 1981 and maybe make consecutive playoff appearances (which after 1982-1983 could have ended up 4 straight)?

Cleveland is the clear #1 in the AFC, and the Bills now move up to two after winning a tie-breaker with the Chargers (they were both 11-5, but the Bills beat them 26-24 in Week five and would get the 2-seed as a result).

According to the Farmers' Almanac, the high temperature on Jan. 3, 1981 for Orchard Park, NY would have been 10.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and the low would have been -0.8 degrees. The wind speed was 16.1 mph, and it was partly cloudy with a chance of snow throughout the day. That favors the Bills, and I like them to win and host the Raiders the next week.

After the Eagles beat Dallas, the Bills host the Raiders on a day where the high in Orchard Park is 6 degrees Fahrenheit, and the low is -2.2. Also, the wind speed is 14.5 mph, and it is supposed to be partly cloudy with a chance of snow throughout the day.

I see the Bills riding the weather to the Super Bowl over two California teams before defeating the uptight Eagles in the Super Bowl.

[Ten Minute Ticker]

I think Brown knew details of the merger before some of the AFL owners. I truly wish they had kept the leagues seperate like Davis and Werblin wanted, but Hunt wanted more revenue coming in--despite deep pockets-- the Chiefs were only averaging about 35,000 fans when they won their second league championship. He knew stadiums had to accomodate 50,000 or more fans just to satisfy the merger agreement. Paul Brown was already pleading for a new stadium for the Bengals as early as 1967.

Weren’t they only averaging 35,000 because they played in a 35,000-seat stadium at the time?

[Brian wolf]

Thats true, but I think I read somewhere that Hunt wanted the stadium expanded but could only get temporary bleachers and got shot down by city officials--he was cheap with his own deep pockets, which even surprised his father--so was looking to get out with the new stadium. Maybe Arrowhead took longer to build than anticipated? I feel the team really wasnt embraced by the city until they won SB IV, but could be wrong ...

[CSKreager]

2001

What if the Jets don’t lose at home in week 16 vs 2-12 Buffalo?

Assuming they still beat OAK in week 17, NY would have won a 3-way tie for the AFCE and vaulted up to the #2 seed

The Patriots would have still hosted a playoff game, but their Foxboro finale is now a less snowy 4-5 Wild Card Game with Miami

Oakland’s AFC Wild Card Game is instead….. an AFC-CG rematch with Baltimore albeit without Dilfer AND Jamal Lewis, plus they now have Elvis Grbac who had a history vs the Raiders while a Chief

[7DnBrnc53]

2001

What if the Jets don’t lose at home in week 16 vs 2-12 Buffalo?

Assuming they still beat OAK in week 17, NY would have won a 3-way tie for the AFCE and vaulted up to the #2 seed

The Patriots would have still hosted a playoff game, but their Foxboro finale is now a less snowy 4-5 Wild Card Game with Miami

Oakland’s AFC Wild Card Game is instead….. an AFC-CG rematch with Baltimore albeit without Dilfer AND Jamal Lewis, plus they now have Elvis Grbac who had a history vs the Raiders while a Chief

I see the Pats winning the 4-5 game against Miami, and I see the Raiders getting revenge over Baltimore (who didn't have the same chemistry with Grbac that they had with Dilfer).

So, the Raiders go to the Jets on Saturday, Jan 19 at 8 p.m, and the Pats go to Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. the next day.

For the Raider-Jet game, the weather would have been better than it was in Foxboro that night (26-31 degrees Fahrenheit, a chance of rain or snow, and 15 mph winds). I can see the Raiders getting payback over the Jets.

As for the Pats-Steeler game, I don't think the Pats win a week earlier. They wouldn't have had as much momentum without their Tuck Rule upset. So, it's Raiders-Steelers in the AFC Title Game, and I see the Raiders winning before losing to the Rams in SB 36 35-31 on a late TD from Warner to Bruce.

[CSKreager]

2001

What if the Jets don’t lose at home in week 16 vs 2-12 Buffalo?

Assuming they still beat OAK in week 17, NY would have won a 3-way tie for the AFCE and vaulted up to the #2 seed

The Patriots would have still hosted a playoff game, but their Foxboro finale is now a less snowy 4-5 Wild Card Game with Miami

Oakland’s AFC Wild Card Game is instead….. an AFC-CG rematch with Baltimore albeit without Dilfer AND Jamal Lewis, plus they now have Elvis Grbac who had a history vs the Raiders while a Chief

I see the Pats winning the 4-5 game against Miami, and I see the Raiders getting revenge over Baltimore (who didn't have the same chemistry with Grbac that they had with Dilfer).

So, the Raiders go to the Jets on Saturday, Jan 19 at 8 p.m, and the Pats go to Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. the next day.

For the Raider-Jet game, the weather would have been better than it was in Foxboro that night (26-31 degrees Fahrenheit, a chance of rain or snow, and 15 mph winds). I can see the Raiders getting payback over the Jets.

As for the Pats-Steeler game, I don't think the Pats win a week earlier. They wouldn't have had as much momentum without their Tuck Rule upset. So, it's Raiders-Steelers in the AFC Title Game, and I see the Raiders winning before losing to the Rams in SB 36 35-31 on a late TD from Warner to Bruce.

The Raiders had were awful against the run (5th worst) and PIT had the #1 rushing attack

Plus it’s a West Coast team going East for a moon kickoff

[7DnBrnc53]

The Raiders had were awful against the run (5th worst) and PIT had the #1 rushing attack

Plus it’s a West Coast team going East for a noon kickoff

Bettis was banged-up, though. He didn't play in the divisional round, and he only had nine carries against the Patriots.

[74_75_78_79_]

2001

What if the Jets don’t lose at home in week 16 vs 2-12 Buffalo?

Assuming they still beat OAK in week 17, NY would have won a 3-way tie for the AFCE and vaulted up to the #2 seed

The Patriots would have still hosted a playoff game, but their Foxboro finale is now a less snowy 4-5 Wild Card Game with Miami

Oakland’s AFC Wild Card Game is instead….. an AFC-CG rematch with Baltimore albeit without Dilfer AND Jamal Lewis, plus they now have Elvis Grbac who had a history vs the Raiders while a Chief

I see the Pats winning the 4-5 game against Miami, and I see the Raiders getting revenge over Baltimore (who didn't have the same chemistry with Grbac that they had with Dilfer).

So, the Raiders go to the Jets on Saturday, Jan 19 at 8 p.m, and the Pats go to Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. the next day.

For the Raider-Jet game, the weather would have been better than it was in Foxboro that night (26-31 degrees Fahrenheit, a chance of rain or snow, and 15 mph winds). I can see the Raiders getting payback over the Jets.

As for the Pats-Steeler game, I don't think the Pats win a week earlier. They wouldn't have had as much momentum without their Tuck Rule upset. So, it's Raiders-Steelers in the AFC Title Game, and I see the Raiders winning before losing to the Rams in SB 36 35-31 on a late TD from Warner to Bruce.

The Raiders had were awful against the run (5th worst) and PIT had the #1 rushing attack

Plus it’s a West Coast team going East for a noon kickoff

Bettis was banged-up, though. He didn't play in the divisional round, and he only had nine carries against the Patriots.

Steelers were a true-enough 13-3 team in 2001. Hey, look at how they manhandled Balt w/out the Bus as already mentioned! But they were missing a thing, or two, which was enough to prevent them from getting to the Super Bowl. Seen as an upset at the time, the Pats beating them turns out to not really be. They were lacking special-teams and QB-power along with, yes, Bettis banged-up and only getting those limited carries.

I agree, 7Dn, the Raiders would have beaten the 'Burgh as well. Every season is different from the year before or after, but I'm thinking Oakland wins in the same way they did at Pittsburgh in Wk#2 the following year. However, I don't think they play the Rams as close as you think. IMO its StL by double-digits even if its exactly by ten or maybe 13, 14 pts.

The Patriots are the only team in 2001 who could have beat the Rams as they, indeed, did. Yes, no Vermeil and the under-utilization of Faulk helped, but just NE could have taken advantage of that. Steelers? Raiders? Neither would've been able to top the Rams even in that situation.