Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

What if in the 1968 NFL playoffs the Vikings beat the Colts? The game was closer than one would think....if the Vikes beat Baltimore, do they also beat up on the Browns (as everyone did) in the NFL title game and face the Jets in SB III? Is there an upset by the Jets in that case?

Bryan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2025 9:45 pm What if in the 1968 NFL playoffs the Vikings beat the Colts? The game was closer than one would think....if the Vikes beat Baltimore, do they also beat up on the Browns (as everyone did) in the NFL title game and face the Jets in SB III? Is there an upset by the Jets in that case?

Vikings made more first downs and gained more yards than Baltimore but score-wise, though holding the Colts to just 7pts in the first half, they then allow the score to be 21-0 before scoring those two late TDs, sandwiching a Colts back-breaking FG, to make the final score what it was. Were a lot of Minny's yardage in those two TD drives? Unless given another angle to see it from, it seems to me like a convincing-enough loss along with me not thinking that Minny gives either Cleveland or the Jets a challenge. The not-bad '68 campaign showed that the Bud Grant Era was getting ready, but not ready just yet. It was simply a season of getting all the growing pains out the way in time for the true 'coming-out' party in '69!

And had Green Bay not played spoiler in the finale at Wrigley, holding off a serious Bears rally in the 4th, it would have been Chicago winning the division title instead of Minnesota for they swept the Vikings earlier that year. But had the division format been the way it was just two years earlier, neither team would have been in the running in the first place. In '68, the new Central was a mediocre four-team division with the Colts and the Rams elsewhere. The Packers sudden decline with Vince no longer HC also helped Minny in '68.

A nice comparison thread would be who's better between the '64 Vikings and the '68 Vikings? Under Van Brocklin, they posted an 8-5-1 record. Not just because of the (half-game) better record, but my vote would go to the former. Both teams scored more than they allowed, but were each a negative in total yardage as well as yards-per-play. The only winning team who the '68 Vikings beat were the Forty Niners who'd end up 7-6-1. As for '64...Minny beat the 12-2 division-champ-to-be, Colts, in the opener and split with Green Bay - and gave the Colts quite a game in their rematch at Memorial later on. Perhaps not by a lot, but '64 the stronger team to me. But what a leap the '68 Vikes would make the following year!

1992

What if the 35-3 comeback never happens and Buffalo's SB streak is stopped at 2- who represents the AFC in SB 27?

There are two plays that I think truly proved pivotal in the long term:

1. Either BUF doesn't recover the onside kick down 35-10 immediately after their first TD

2. The Houston FG attempt at 35-31 doesn't get botched and Del Greco's kick at the end of regulation instead of forcing OT is a game winner and the Bills effort goes down as the ultimate 'almost'

An AFC Final Four without experienced Buffalo- completely wide open

Houston goes to Pittsburgh for a third time. Oilers divisional woes well known, PIT had beaten them 2x

Assuming MIA still beats SD, we get one of the Oilers/Dolphins/Steelers in Pasadena against Dallas.

Is 3rd time the charm? Houston had their own playoff choker label and these 92 Steelers were a more mature version of the 89 team that had beaten them 3 years ago IN Houston no less, now that 89 team was older and wiser

On the flip side, Miami had barely beaten Houston in November without Warren Moon. OR does Barry Foster run wild against a Dolphin defense prone to giving up a lot of rushing yards in big games

As good as DAL was in 92 (and yes their matchup with SF was beyond ballyhooed), either of those other AFC teams don't lug in the baggage of back-to-back SB losses and they probably don't drag a monkey on their back going into the Rose Bowl (Yes there was the whole 9 straight AFC losses, but they wouldn't have the type of unique pressure the Bills lugged based off 20-19 and 37-24)

I just can't see either of those teams having 9 turnovers, let alone giving up 52 points. MIA/HOU/PIT couldn't have played any worse even if they were blindfolded.

How do we view the Run and Shoot Oilers if they actually win an AFC crown? Shula/Marino get there 2 times instead of 1? What if Cowher got there on the 1st try year 1 post-Noll instead of year 4?

And what of Buffalo? How are they viewed with 3 SB appearances in 4 years instead of 4 straight? Do they even get to SB 28 without that burning desire?

Good hypothetical, though I feel after the Cowboys beat the 49ers, they were ready to whip any team from the AFC, though they actually started the SB against Buffalo, nervous and were down 0-7 before putting it together.

I still feel they would have faced Houston rather than Pitts or Miami. O'Donnell was still adjusting to the playoffs and I am not sure Marino would have won a shootout with Houston, yet the Oilers were always bad on the road, so you could flip a coin on either team. Maybe the Steelers play better at home against the Oilers? Finally getting by the Bills, might have been the game Warren Moon needed to get a run going.

I was dumb-founded watching that Oiler's collapse in Buffalo. It proved that you needed a nickel corner that could cover in the slot because Steven Jackson for Houston, got burned repeatedly in the second half.

What if the 35-3 comeback never happens and Buffalo's SB streak is stopped at 2- who represents the AFC in SB 27?

There are two plays that I think truly proved pivotal in the long term:

1. Either BUF doesn't recover the onside kick down 35-10 immediately after their first TD

2. The Houston FG attempt at 35-31 doesn't get botched and Del Greco's kick at the end of regulation instead of forcing OT is a game winner and the Bills effort goes down as the ultimate 'almost'

Another play that's forgotten: Early in the fourth quarter, Moon threw a bomb to Haywood Jeffries in the end zone that he couldn't hold on to. He catches that, it's 42-31, and that quells the momentum enough for the Oilers to barely hold on.

The Oiler pass defense is still seen as a liability after that game, though, but I don't see O'Donnell taking advantage of it, and I don't see that Steeler team winning three games in a season over that Oiler team.

Now, the Dolphins should be able to take advantage, but against the Bills, they were lousy, and they didn't have the balance on offense that the Bills did against the Oilers. So, Houston is able to defeat them before losing to the Cowboys (probably 35-21 in a shootout). Also, I can still see Jim Eddy being fired, and replaced with Buddy Ryan (although the vibe on the team will be somewhat different since they made the Super Bowl).

As for the Bills, that 30 for 30 (Four Falls of Buffalo) pointed out how that comeback reset the love affair between the fans and the team. Without that comeback, and that SB loss, I don't think they make it back the next year. I could see the Oilers going back and getting it done this time with the Buddy System. And, that probably raises the odds of them staying in Houston (although there are no guarantees).

7DnBrnc53 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:30 pm

What if the 35-3 comeback never happens and Buffalo's SB streak is stopped at 2- who represents the AFC in SB 27?

There are two plays that I think truly proved pivotal in the long term:

1. Either BUF doesn't recover the onside kick down 35-10 immediately after their first TD

2. The Houston FG attempt at 35-31 doesn't get botched and Del Greco's kick at the end of regulation instead of forcing OT is a game winner and the Bills effort goes down as the ultimate 'almost'

Another play that's forgotten: Early in the fourth quarter, Moon threw a bomb to Haywood Jeffries in the end zone that he couldn't hold on to. He catches that, it's 42-31, and that quells the momentum enough for the Oilers to barely hold on.

The Oiler pass defense is still seen as a liability after that game, though, but I don't see O'Donnell taking advantage of it, and I don't see that Steeler team winning three games in a season over that Oiler team.

Now, the Dolphins should be able to take advantage, but against the Bills, they were lousy, and they didn't have the balance on offense that the Bills did against the Oilers. So, Houston is able to defeat them before losing to the Cowboys (probably 35-21 in a shootout). Also, I can still see Jim Eddy being fired, and replaced with Buddy Ryan (although the vibe on the team will be somewhat different since they made the Super Bowl).

As for the Bills, that 30 for 30 (Four Falls of Buffalo) pointed out how that comeback reset the love affair between the fans and the team. Without that comeback, and that SB loss, I don't think they make it back the next year. I could see the Oilers going back and getting it done this time with the Buddy System. And, that probably raises the odds of them staying in Houston (although there are no guarantees).

If anything, I think making a SB means no Buddy. Without 35-3 and actually getting to a SB, Jim Eddy never gets fired. How often does a team fire a coordinator after MAKING a Super Bowl?

Even had the Oilers lost to the Steelers or Dolphins, I dont think Eddy gets fired if they beat Buffalo. With Bud Adams, someones head was coming off after the debacle in Buffalo.

The Bills just seemed to have their way with Miami and Houston. Had the Oilers won, it would have produced a great AFC Championship game if Houston gets by the Steelers. Instead, the Dolphins play their worst game of the year against Buffalo. After the achilles injury, Marino's chances for a SB basically end, though Johnson gave him a better, young defense.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 7:35 pm Even had the Oilers lost to the Steelers or Dolphins, I dont think Eddy gets fired if they beat Buffalo. With Bud Adams, someones head was coming off after the debacle in Buffalo.

The Bills just seemed to have their way with Miami and Houston. Had the Oilers won, it would have produced a great AFC Championship game if Houston gets by the Steelers. Instead, the Dolphins play their worst game of the year against Buffalo. After the achilles injury, Marino's chances for a SB basically end, though Johnson gave him a better, young defense.

Probably not, but if they give up points to the Bills but hold on, there may be doubts about the defense moving forward. If they go to the Super Bowl, it should save his job. However, if they fail to make the SB, and if they don't play too well defensively, it could mean the end of the line for Eddy.

- What if the USFL didn't move to the fall or kept playing in the fall of 1986?

- What if "The Drive" didn't happen, and the Browns played the Giants in the Super Bowl?

- What if Art Modell didn't move the Browns in 1995 but sold them instead?

What if Art Modell didn't move the Browns in 1995 but sold them instead?

If Art did that, he ends up selling it to Al Lerner, more than likely (just want to get that out there).

If the team goes on with Al Lerner in Cleveland starting in 1996, Belichick would probably remain the HC. However, that means that Ozzie Newsome would not be in control of personnel like he was with the Ravens. So, some of the players that he picked may end up on other teams.

Case in point: Ray Lewis. The Packers were all set to take him when the Ravens selected him one pick ahead. If Belichick is running the draft instead, they may not pick Lewis, leaving him for Ron Wolf and co.

Also, since Baltimore doesn't get the Ravens, I don't know if they would have a team today. Since Cleveland wouldn't have had to get their team back in 1999, there is no 2002 expansion (to even the NFL at 32). So, Baltimore, Houston, and LA would be out in the cold.