Re: Worst playoff team in NFL history?
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2024 11:27 am
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.
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.