Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Both were supremely capable and talented teams that missed the playoffs despite solid 10-6 records, for they were in stacked conferences (1979 NFC had 4 10+ win teams, while the 1980 AFC had everyone that made the playoffs going 11-5).

But both were underachievers in a way- the 1976-1980 Patriots were a classic what-might-have-been team, while Washington in the late 70s had a tendency for late season December swoons.

The '79 Redskins of course famously lost to Dallas on the final day of the season despite having a seemingly comfortable lead- and losing tiebreakers to Chicago (a loss at the Meadowlands against a lackluster Giants team proved costly too, otherwise they could've fallen back on a Wild Card going into the Dallas finale).

While the 1980 Patriots didn't miss the playoffs in quite the same heartbreaking fashion, they had two bad late losses themselves- at San Francisco before the Niners became the Niners, and at Miami on what happened to be the night Cosell famously announced Lennon's death. Tiebreakers really did them in considering how stacked the AFC of 1980 was.

Which of these 10-6 also rans was better, and who could've done more playoff damage had they gotten into the dance?

Nice matchup/idea for a comparison!

'80 Pats clobber Cleveland opening week and exchange lopsided affairs with Buffalo, the win against them (24-2) coming the week after the infamous 'Lennon' MNF game at Miami. Those were the only two wins vs winning teams for them. Washington in '79, of course, spilt with Dallas & Philly and beating 9-7 Browns makes it three for them. Pats get clobbered across conference (at home, Week #2) to Atlanta as well as losing to the other playoff team in the NFC West, Rams, while Redskins get crushed across conference at Steelers while losing to the other playoff team in AFC Central, Houston (opening day). '79 Redskins' have the extra win against a winning team, but '80 Pats have seven Pro Bowlers to Redskins' four - 3 of them defenders, one of them Moseley.

Who does more damage in playoffs? I think neither get to CC. Redskins IMO lose at home to Rams just like Dallas did. Pats go 11-5, it'll mean they win division over Buffalo due to the better division record they already had over them; and with their conference record (9-3) already being better than Cleveland (8-4), they at least get 2nd-seed which, with Houston's 7-5 conference record, would box Oilers out making it Raiders at Buffalo for the Wild Card. Despite losing their regular season affair, Raiders find a way to beat Buffalo as well as doing the same in Schaefer a week later (nothing was stopping Oakland).

Yes, got to call this a tie.

Question I do have...what is the official reason why Redskins get homefield throughout with a finale victory at Dallas? They and Eagles would have had same division (6-2) and conference record (9-3).

74_75_78_79_ wrote:Question I do have...what is the official reason why Redskins get homefield throughout with a finale victory at Dallas? They and Eagles would have had same division (6-2) and conference record (9-3).

The FIFTH tiebreaker was best net points in division games: going into the last game, the Redskins had a +42 to +21 advantage and the Eagles had completed their division schedule.