Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Citizen wrote:Considering that they played in a combined 33 conference championship games between 1966 and 1983, it's almost miraculous that the Cowboys and Raiders never met in the Super Bowl. SBs 5 and 15 could have been classic match-ups, to name two.

The 1970 Raiders probably shouldn't have made the playoffs, so I see Dallas taking SB V. In 1980, however, I see the Raiders getting revenge for the 19-13 late-season loss they had to Dallas at home that cost them the AFC West and home field advantage.

Another Dallas-Raider SB that would have been cool to see would have been SB 28 (1993 season). If the Raiders don't have some key mistakes against Buffalo that cost them (like the kickoff by Jaeger straight to Tasker that was returned for 50 yards deep in Raider territory), and if they can beat a Chief team on the road that they were better than (on paper), I think they could have given Dallas problems. Their secondary wasn't that great, and Brown, Jett, and Wright could have gotten some big plays.

1947 Steelers at Cardinals
1963 Steelers at Bears

The Steelers' six super bowl wins are special but an "old line" NFL championship would have been mighty cool.

7DnBrnc53 wrote:

Citizen wrote:Considering that they played in a combined 33 conference championship games between 1966 and 1983, it's almost miraculous that the Cowboys and Raiders never met in the Super Bowl. SBs 5 and 15 could have been classic match-ups, to name two.

The 1970 Raiders probably shouldn't have made the playoffs, so I see Dallas taking SB V. In 1980, however, I see the Raiders getting revenge for the 19-13 late-season loss they had to Dallas at home that cost them the AFC West and home field advantage.

Another Dallas-Raider SB that would have been cool to see would have been SB 28 (1993 season). If the Raiders don't have some key mistakes against Buffalo that cost them (like the kickoff by Jaeger straight to Tasker that was returned for 50 yards deep in Raider territory), and if they can beat a Chief team on the road that they were better than (on paper), I think they could have given Dallas problems. Their secondary wasn't that great, and Brown, Jett, and Wright could have gotten some big plays.

Secondary not that great? Even before Deion hops aboard, I never felt that way at all. What weakness did that '92/'93 Big D installment have? Dallas vs Chiefs a much funner SBXXVIII matchup to think of IMO - they vs Joe - although I do still think Dallas wins it.

I do agree with Dallas beating Raiders in hypo-SBV and, yes, Raiders IMO don't let Dallas beat them again 10 years later. As I opined before, no one was beating Oakland once playoffs began; not even Atlanta. Simply the mystique and swagger they had. Team-speed (and stick 'um) didn't hurt either.

Anyways, here are some more...

Bears at Giants, '50 NFLC

Colts at Cards, '64 NFLC

SF at Dallas, '95 NFCC

Saints at Bears 2010 divisional hence they hosting the Pack one week later

Colts/Steelers 2004 AFC-CG

1991 NFC Divisional playoffs- if the Saints had beaten the Falcons, NO/DET and DAL/WAS would have both been better than what we got

BUF/HOU 1991 + 1993 AFC-CG

MIA/PIT 1994 AFC-CG

PIT/KC 1995 + 1997 AFC-CG

49ers/Vikings 1998 NFC-CG

Washington/St. Louis 1999 NFC-CG

OAK/PIT 2001 AFC-CG

''86 Browns vs. Giants, 87 Browns vs. Redskins in the Super Bowl. Would have held up much better than the Bronco teams that got their asses kicked.

Citizen wrote:Considering that they played in a combined 33 conference championship games between 1966 and 1983, it's almost miraculous that the Cowboys and Raiders never met in the Super Bowl. SBs 5 and 15 could have been classic match-ups, to name two.

Almost the same with Yankees and Phillies ('64, '76, '77, '78, '80). But at least they did play in a couple ('50 & '09) whereas Raiders & Boys not once yet!. Or maybe that can change this very February (hey, don't count-out McGloin!! ask Bill O'Brien)!

CSKreager wrote:Colts/Steelers 2004 AFC-CG

1991 NFC Divisional playoffs- if the Saints had beaten the Falcons, NO/DET and DAL/WAS would have both been better than what we got

BUF/HOU 1991 + 1993 AFC-CG

MIA/PIT 1994 AFC-CG

PIT/KC 1995 + 1997 AFC-CG

49ers/Vikings 1998 NFC-CG

Washington/St. Louis 1999 NFC-CG

OAK/PIT 2001 AFC-CG

Nice, or at least interesting, ones here! Colts take the 'Burgh in '04. Heck, Jets should have beaten them! Admittedly, in Big Ben's very first year, Steelers weren't ready just yet. After remarkable 6-1 start (beating undefeated Pats then Eagles), they pretty much slept-walked rest of way. Of course Oilers/Bills AFCC would have been good, especially in '93 hence a possible date with Dallas. Miami gives Pitt all they could handle in '94 but like regular season match Steelers get by hence the too-obvious-to-mention #1 on this thread - (4-0) they VS (4-0) SF! Not sure Norv's Skins offer much in StL (Bucs vs Rams IMO much better, especially the contrast-in-styles of it all). Yes, Pitt a Power Rankings #2 for '01, but I think Raiders expose their special-teams just like Pats did (then get doused by Rams). Result would have been the same as the Week #2 Sunday Nighter the following year. And last, you say '91 NFC divisionals. I agree, NO/Det, Dal/Wash much better! But how about '81 AFC playoffs? When if Denver wins West instead of SD? Maybe not 'Epic' but still a rather interesting matchup at Miami! Or if Jets gets past Bills? They at Cincy, a team they would clobber out of the dance the following year at Riverfront! And, as mentioned by me already in this thread, Bills getting past Bengals and playing at the Murph! '81...one intriguing season to look back on! Especially with all them Week #16 playoff-scenarios!

Shipley wrote:''86 Browns vs. Giants, 87 Browns vs. Redskins in the Super Bowl. Would have held up much better than the Bronco teams that got their asses kicked.

Always agreed with that. However, I think G-men win by more than 7 in the end. Browns keep it closer vs Wash though but Gibbs & Doug still prevail.

Two 1981 NFC Divisional playoff games that could have been very different- DET/DAL and PHI/SF

OAK-BUF 1980 AFC-CG (Oakland I don't think could have won another Ice Station Zebra type game. The weather for Buffalo the day of the AFC-CG had BUF held on at SD: http://farmersalmanac.com/weather-histo ... 981/01/11/)

NE-PIT 1978 AFC-CG (If anything, the Pats probably at least score more than 5 points than the Oilers)

ATL-Rams 1978 NFC-CG (It almost happened considering how Atlanta gave Dallas a hell of a battle in the divisional playoffs)

Packers/Saints-Dallas 1983 NFC Wild Card Game

CLE/PIT 1989 AFC-CG

BUF/SD 1992 AFC-CG

Bears/Cardinals 1984 NFC Divisional Playoffs

Cowboys/Rams 1999-00 NFC Divisional Playoff (Would've been a cool passing of the torch type moment)

Dolphins/Chiefs 1999 AFC Wild Card Game

Cowboys/Bears 1985 NFC Championship Game

Patriots/Broncos 1996 AFC-CG (The weather in Denver on 1/12/1997- the day of the Conference title games- would have been jarringly cold: http://farmersalmanac.com/weather-histo ... 997/01/12/

And consider because of timezone, a hypothetical AFC-CG this day in Denver may have HAD to be the late game because it wasn't any warmer in Green Bay the day of the CAR/GB NFC-CG. Could have been the AFC equivalent of the NYG/GB NFC-CG from 2007-08 in terms of coldness)

Maybe a controversial one, but.... CHI/SF 1990 NFC-CG

Secondary not that great? Even before Deion hops aboard, I never felt that way at all. What weakness did that '92/'93 Big D installment have? Dallas vs Chiefs a much funner SBXXVIII matchup to think of IMO - they vs Joe - although I do still think Dallas wins it.

CB's Larry Brown and Kevin Smith and S's James Washington and Thomas Everett didn't exactly strike fear in the hearts of opponents. Also, Dallas's LB's weren't that great, either (especially the vastly overrated Ken Norton).

Dallas vs. Cincinnati or San Diego in Super Bowl XVI

Packers/Browns 1960 NFL Championship Game