'98 Broncos VS '99 Rams

[74_75_78_79_]

As great a game it was, their 2000 MNF opener - Rams 41, Broncos 36 - can hardly be seen as an indicator. Denver would return to the playoffs, but yet another year removed from John, Terrell now done, and they just a mere playoff team instead of championship-caliber with the Rams quite a step down - no more Vermeil and no defense. '98 Den & '99 StL two champion teams just one year apart but with the Broncos totally different in '99 and the Rams, of course, not at all there yet in '98.

A simple John playing yet another year, shooting for the three-peat, and playing at the same level along with TD not getting injured - having himself another TD year - along with the entire team being at the same level they were the previous two seasons would have made for an intriguing collision-course with the 'Greatest Show' come that January of 2000!

I've always opined Denver as being better, but the door keeps opening wider and wider for me to give those Rams more Historic due. In fact, since writing this post on a previous thread I created - viewtopic.php?p=45304#p45304 - I think I now got StL ahead of the '95 Cowboys; I think, and with plenty of potential to go up a notch or maybe more. The 'Greatest' team according to What-If-Sports (stats) and, hey, you can only play who's on your schedule.

PS - just a side question to those who think they would have beaten Denver in '98 (not me) - who's best between the '98 Vikings and '99 Rams??
My answer is the Rams.

I won't even ask who you think is best between '98 Broncos and '99 Titans for everyone ought to opine the former!

[SeahawkFever]

As great a game it was, their 2000 MNF opener - Rams 41, Broncos 36 - can hardly be seen as an indicator. Denver would return to the playoffs, but yet another year removed from John, Terrell now done, and they just a mere playoff team instead of championship-caliber with the Rams quite a step down - no more Vermeil and no defense. '98 Den & '99 StL two champion teams just one year apart but with the Broncos totally different in '99 and the Rams, of course, not at all there yet in '98.

A simple John playing yet another year, shooting for the three-peat, and playing at the same level along with TD not getting injured - having himself another TD year - along with the entire team being at the same level they were the previous two seasons would have made for an intriguing collision-course with the 'Greatest Show' come that January of 2000!

I've always opined Denver as being better, but the door keeps opening wider and wider for me to give those Rams more Historic due. In fact, since writing this post on a previous thread I created - viewtopic.php?p=45304#p45304 - I think I now got StL ahead of the '95 Cowboys; I think, and with plenty of potential to go up a notch or maybe more. The 'Greatest' team according to What-If-Sports (stats) and, hey, you can only play who's on your schedule.

PS - just a side question to those who think they would have beaten Denver in '98 (not me) - who's best between the '98 Vikings and '99 Rams??
My answer is the Rams.

I won't even ask who you think is best between '98 Broncos and '99 Titans for everyone ought to opine the former!

In your opinion why do the 98 Vikings lose to the 98 Broncos?

[74_75_78_79_]

As great a game it was, their 2000 MNF opener - Rams 41, Broncos 36 - can hardly be seen as an indicator. Denver would return to the playoffs, but yet another year removed from John, Terrell now done, and they just a mere playoff team instead of championship-caliber with the Rams quite a step down - no more Vermeil and no defense. '98 Den & '99 StL two champion teams just one year apart but with the Broncos totally different in '99 and the Rams, of course, not at all there yet in '98.

A simple John playing yet another year, shooting for the three-peat, and playing at the same level along with TD not getting injured - having himself another TD year - along with the entire team being at the same level they were the previous two seasons would have made for an intriguing collision-course with the 'Greatest Show' come that January of 2000!

I've always opined Denver as being better, but the door keeps opening wider and wider for me to give those Rams more Historic due. In fact, since writing this post on a previous thread I created - viewtopic.php?p=45304#p45304 - I think I now got StL ahead of the '95 Cowboys; I think, and with plenty of potential to go up a notch or maybe more. The 'Greatest' team according to What-If-Sports (stats) and, hey, you can only play who's on your schedule.

PS - just a side question to those who think they would have beaten Denver in '98 (not me) - who's best between the '98 Vikings and '99 Rams??
My answer is the Rams.

I won't even ask who you think is best between '98 Broncos and '99 Titans for everyone ought to opine the former!

In your opinion why do the 98 Vikings lose to the 98 Broncos?

Maybe its too simple...I see Denver's run-game (TD) keeping the Viking-O off the field enough as well as stronger QB-ing in the Broncos' favor. As great a season Cunningham had in '98, Elway (even latter-day John) was even better. Some big pass plays by Minny, but it would have evened/balanced out in time; the Denver D settling down. Broncos by 7, give-or-take, is my guess; Terrell Davis the MVP.

The '99 Rams would have quite a chance against '98 Denver. 'Greatest Show' would have to open up a nice lead early on to have that chance to win. IRL, the Rams opened up against Tennessee, but the Titans sure steamrolled back as the second half wore on. Well, that TD run-attack even stronger than Eddie George. And maybe John not as much a running QB as McNair, but he sure could run, thus wear out a D, as well (not just helicopter spins). Rams'-D would have had themselves another all-hands-on-deck situation to fight thru for 60 minutes! Vermeil, though, the stronger HC than Shanahan. Terrell vs Marshall - WHAT a battle of backs!!

Again, just a year apart, both teams, but seems quite far away. Much, of course, due to the '99 season, itself, seeming quite more than just a year later.

[ShinobiMusashi]

I've always felt like the 98 Vikings would have got beat worse in Super Bowl 33. The narrative of their loss to Atlanta has grown into something that doesn't line up with the reality of what happened in that game. The blame goes to the kicker but the Vikings coaching really was mind blowing in that game, they were winning by a full touchdown at the time of that missed field goal is a big piece that always gets/got left out of the documentaries about that team/game. The better coached and smarter team won the 1998 NFCCG. If Minnesota makes it to play Denver in Super Bowl XXXIII I think Denver wins like 41-7 type score, maybe some garbage time points 41-17 final score.

I also think the 98 Broncos smoke the 99 Rams. I don't think that 99 Rams team was as great as their record indicates, super light schedule in a complete oddball NFL season. Pull that 99 Rams team back into the 1998 NFL and I think they win 10-11 games max and lose in divisional round of the NFC.

[CSKreager]

I've always felt like the 98 Vikings would have got beat worse in Super Bowl 33. The narrative of their loss to Atlanta has grown into something that doesn't line up with the reality of what happened in that game. The blame goes to the kicker but the Vikings coaching really was mind blowing in that game, they were winning by a full touchdown at the time of that missed field goal is a big piece that always gets/got left out of the documentaries about that team/game. The better coached and smarter team won the 1998 NFCCG. If Minnesota makes it to play Denver in Super Bowl XXXIII I think Denver wins like 41-7 type score, maybe some garbage time points 41-17 final score.

The better team lost. The luckier team won.

I’d rather take my chances vs DEN with a guy like Cunningham than one of the worst QB’s to ever make a SB