Hypo Steelers advance to Buff '93

[74_75_78_79_]

Apologies for another hypothetical yet alone another STEELER one, but what happens if they avert being victims to Joe's 'last-hurrah' at Arrowhead? Do they get by Buffalo at Rich the following week? And if so, do they advance even further?

[CSKreager]

They would have had a chance, but even if they win that, how could they have fared depending on the other game?

The bigger implication of if PIT beat KC would have been that the Oilers would have faced the LA Raiders.

The Raiders would have gotten to play on a fast track indoors (that was when they had Rocket Ismail, James Jett, and Tim Brown), but I don't think Jeff Hosteler would have lit up Buddy Ryan's defense. There wasn't the same playoff fear factor that you would have had with Joe Cool.

[Rupert Patrick]

Apologies for another hypothetical yet alone another STEELER one, but what happens if they avert being victims to Joe's 'last-hurrah' at Arrowhead? Do they get by Buffalo at Rich the following week? And if so, do they advance even further?

The Bills Raiders game in Buffalo was one of the 4-5 coldest games in NFL history, and while the Steelers were a cold weather team I still think Buffalo would have prevailed. In that case I think Houston would have put the Raiders away in the other divisional game, and Houston would have had home field for the AFC Championship and would have taken their revenge on the Bills for the comeback game the year before.

[conace21]

Actually, the Bills had home field advantage throughout the playoffs in 1993.

After Pittsburgh lost to Buffalo in the 1992 playoffs, they won four straight against Buffalo, all at home, and three of them on MNF (the other game was in the postseason.) The loud crowd always seemed to give the Bills offense fits. However, since Pittsburgh would have been traveling to Buffalo in 1993, I would give Buffalo the edge.

[74_75_78_79_]

I know I not long ago, on these boards, called my own '92 Steelers a...'paper tiger'. Perhaps not. They WERE 11-5-good, just they weren't the best team in conference hence totally deserving of top-seed. Yes, most of their roster experienced '89, as well as 'tasting' another playoff berth (make that, division title) in '90 until Cody Carlson in the finale had OTHER ideas, but weren't quite 'ready-for-Prime-Time' just yet in Cowher's first year.

In '93 however, they seemed to have more 'teeth'. Acquiring Kevin Greene and their MNF walloping of Buff a fine example. However, it would have been at Rich. I guess the divisional would have played out like the '92 regular season game did which many forget. Steelers DID give Bills a good game at Rich which can only add more strength to those who think Bills 24 Steelers 3 was an anomaly. And even IF Steelers get by Buffalo, not sure they avert the 'hat trick' like they did vs (very likely AFCC opponent) Houston three years earlier. Buddy's Boys had Steelers' number in '93 (Buddy, as Cards' HC, beat Cowher in '94 as well).

Dallas/Houston wouldn't have only been an interesting SBXXVIII because of the whole 'Texas Bowl' thing, or because of Oilers likely giving Dallas a better game, but because of Jimmy getting a 'last chance' of 'revenge' on Buddy whom he never beat (0-4) while he was Philly's HC. Whether by 7 or 14 or somewhere in-between, Dallas wins IMO (although I would have rooted against them).

[7DnBrnc53]

I actually think that the Steelers could have won in Buffalo if they were more disciplined than the Raiders were. LA had some key offside penalties, an ineligible man downfield on Max Montoya at a bad time (early in the third on a Hoss to Alexander Wright completion that moved the ball to near mid-field), and a pass interference call on Torin Dorn late in the first half that allowed the Bills to get within four before halftime. They also had a stupid squib kick right to Steve Tasker (who was on the front line of the Buffalo return team) in the first half that he returned inside the Raider five that led to more points.

I also agree with another poster about the fear factor with Montana not being there. Because the Raiders were undisciplined, I see the Oilers beating them and the Steelers to go to their first SB. I also think they could have beat Dallas because of the 46 and Aikman's concussion issues. Now, does that keep them in Houston to this day? I don't know for sure, but it wouldn't have hurt, and it probably keeps Moon as QB of that franchise until he retires.

[BD Sullivan]

I also agree with another poster about the fear factor with Montana not being there. Because the Raiders were undisciplined, I see the Oilers beating them and the Steelers to go to their first SB. I also think they could have beat Dallas because of the 46 and Aikman's concussion issues. Now, does that keep them in Houston to this day? I don't know for sure, but it wouldn't have hurt, and it probably keeps Moon as QB of that franchise until he retires.

The off-the-field chaos (including the Ryan-Gilbride sideline scuffle) that the NFL Network documentary showed is a likely reason that wouldn't have happened.