Worst playoff team in NFL history?

[74_75_78_79_]

I'd really like to see a real well-made documentary on the '89 Steelers; and in chronological, week-by-week order unlike the simple NFL Films which is good-enough otherwise, but still. 'Steel Curtain Rising' has a plethora of good reads on the matter (off-season, every game, etc; can almost be made into a book). Not too many of the '89 Steeler games are available and to some of those that are, not all are in great condition.

The Wk#12 Steelers at Dolphins game, however, looks fine and is such a fun watch! This especially goes for that outrageous monsoon-drenched 2nd-Q! How can you not have fun watching? Not sure to call it a "quality" win, but counterpoint to what I said about them losing to the Bears two weeks prior, Miami FWIW was 7-4 going into that game. They won six of their last seven (of course they'd collapse from there). Steelers beating them, as well as beating the Chiefs, was the reason why 'only' three other teams had to lose going into that final week. Yes, the monsoon and Marino ended up being knocked out of the game - enter Secules - but a vital 'W' in the end. Oh, btw, Joey & Nick's Dad played in this one!

Noll was smiling after the final whistle blew. He was quoted as saying, "We haven't had one in the mud like this in a long time. Playing in the mud and winning it really makes you feel good."

Their game vs gritty/respectable SD the week prior a fun watch, and -back to - the Chiefs game as well (goal-line stands, and one especially vs Okoye to boot; and who played Center for KC??)!

Again, '84 is stronger than '89 IMO. But a strong point you have, 7Dn, in that '89 was more future-focused/rising-stars than '84 who had enough '70s players still there but, sadly, they as an overall team were on the downfall as would be seen the following seasons. And, of course, I place Bubby over Malone! There, to me, is a strong-enough argument that Brister may have actually been the FWIW '2nd-best' Steeler-QB between Terry and Big Ben (yes, better than Neil as well).

Yes, the statistically weak regular season. Again, you can't gloss it over. Its more than just '92-10'. But there has to be at least half a dozen playoff teams that were worse; very likely more - maybe a dozen. So '89 not at all the "worst" playoff team if only because of who they now were once the 4-6 start was out the way and also just how close they got to the AFCCG rubber-band match at the Dawg Pound which, IMO, is likely yet another win thus trip to New Orleans had they actually made it there.

You can also argue that Noll may have done no less of a job in 1990 considering he being handicapped by much-weaker offense-coordination yet still propels his team to the #1 ranked defense/Cody Carlson finale upset away from a 10-6 division title. But then one can counter that, if he not making that OC change himself, then maybe he going along with the front office or not doing enough to prevent Moore's departure. Just the same, I see their 35-0 win over Cleveland (making it a three-game win-streak by a combined 68-9 score) as the "last hurrah" of the Chuck Noll Era excitedly going into that finale 'assuming' they get the win-division title/playoff berth being that Moon wasn't playing.

Yes, this is the 45th Anniversary of their 1979 campaign, and the 50TH of their very first Ring! But it'd be nice this autumn/winter to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of this, here, antepenultimate Chuck Noll season.

[Brian wolf]

I disagree on Brister. If he was better than O Donnell, he wouldnt have let him take his job, similar to Griese in Denver. Bubby was tough but didnt have enough athletically to keep a starting job. Malone had the athletic talent but underachieved, or couldnt mesh with Noll. To be honest, Noll just had Terry and couldnt really develop anyone else. Watching Levis with the Titans yesterday, he reminds me of a young Bradshaw or Josh Allen; the talent is there but he gets too excited and tries to do too much. I think he likes physical contact and needs to be hit to calm down and play better.

[74_75_78_79_]

What I meant to say in that last post was Bubby, maybe, being '#1' between Bradshaw and Big Ben. Neil O was more "dynamic", and he played with heart at times too. But if he actually was the best between the two, its really not at all by much; and I'm really not sure if he was. Give Bubby a couple more servings of Tom Moore and who knows?? You can't help but admire his style. Gritty and all. Especially leadership-wise!

Is it my imagination, or does Gardner Minshew II resemble a modern-day version of him?? Tell me if you disagree. It's okay.

I'm telling you, this recent Raider-team (beating KC at Arrowhead on Christmas Day) I may have sort-of wrote-off going into this season despite my admired spirit of "Straight Out of Compton" Pierce (a fan of the Raiders growing up while they were in LA). He wanting his team to be the 'Pistons' to these Jordan/Mahomes Bulls/Chiefs. Kind of like that Rex Ryan "not kissing Hoodie's Ring" spirit - and can Rex PLEASE make another HC-ing run before it's all over???? Please! I MISS him being in that competitive position (led the JETS to back-to-back AFCCGs)!!

I really like GMII's spirit, but quite the downgrade at QB (and this is Patrick's division, mind you). But this brings us back to historically underrated...Bubby! And then they BEAT the Ravens AT Baltimore??

Raiders may be back! But only problem...can't they simply STILL be in Oak-town??

[Brian wolf]

I agree ... Brister should have started more games. Moore getting fired hurt but once Cowher went to O Donnell, that was it. I think Noll built one of the best teams ever, but just couldnt find another QB after Terry. Getting Dan Marino would have given him another championship I believe.

[Ten Minute Ticker]

The 1990 Saints get forgotten about ... and for good reason. Good defense, but that has to be one of the worst offenses to make the playoffs after the Mel Blount rule was instituted.

[Bryan]

1940 Redskins!

[JameisBrownston]

The Cardinals team that threw Ryan Lindley out there and got mauled by the 7-8-1 Panthers.

[Crazy Packers Fan]

The 2004 Rams were truly an awful team. They were at 6-8 with two games to go, and they had five losses of 17 points or larger. Yet not only did they make the playoffs at 8-8, they won a playoff game! Then they got crushed by Atlanta in the divisional round.

[7DnBrnc53]

I agree ... Brister should have started more games. Moore getting fired hurt but once Cowher went to O Donnell, that was it. I think Noll built one of the best teams ever, but just couldnt find another QB after Terry. Getting Dan Marino would have given him another championship I believe.

Marino was a blown opportunity, and Dan Rooney never forgot it. That's why he banged the drum for Big Ben on draft day 21 years later when Cowher wanted Shawn Andrews.

As for O'Donnell and Brister, I watched this thing on NFL Films Presents on Brister. When Cowher took over, he said that he wanted a conservative style QB and not a gunslinger. Hoge looked at Bubby and basically said that he was in trouble. He was gone a year later.

[SeahawkFever]

The 2004 Rams were truly an awful team. They were at 6-8 with two games to go, and they had five losses of 17 points or larger. Yet not only did they make the playoffs at 8-8, they won a playoff game! Then they got crushed by Atlanta in the divisional round.

When I looked at the opposing win percentages of one conference vs the other in every season, 2004 came out as one of the most imbalanced in favor of the AFC.

Consider that two 8-8 teams in the same season in the same conference made the playoffs and won a game when they got there.

Vikings who were the other 8-8 team had a very good season out of Daunte Culpepper at quarterback, and an efficient running game when they ran (4.7 yards per carry ranks second that year). But in spite of two players who got 11.5 and 11 sacks, their defense still only ranks 26th. Must’ve lacked in tackling or coverage perhaps.

04 Vikings look pretty average but the 04 Rams on the other hand definitely seem like a candidate for one of the worst playoff teams; let alone to make the divisional round.

My score percentage differential stat finds the 04 Rams to be roughly at -.10; the fourth worst in the league that season only to Dallas, Chicago, and San Francisco.