74_75_78_79_ wrote:Both '78 conference championship games were a combined 62-5 (Pit 34 Hou 5; Dal 28 Rams 0). The two Sunday games in the '83 divisional round was a whopping 99-17 (Wash 51 Rams 7; Raiders 38 Pit 10). Are there any examples that actually top that one? Or any close enough, at least?
*side-questions...one week earlier in the wild card round, why were both games two days apart instead of simply on the same day? Broncos at Seattle on Sat 12/24, Rams at Dallas on MONDAY the 26th! Any other post-season games ever played on a non-weekend day?
Regarding the second query, I assume you're referencing the 1983 season. My guess is that the NFL simply figured they'd get higher ratings by having only a single game on each day, since holding people to their screens for 6+ hours on Christmas Eve can be tricky.
The NFL played the 1955 and 1960 Championship games on a Monday (the 26th) rather than play them on Christmas Day. The 1977 NFC playoff games were also played on a Monday--so that one team didn't have two days of additional rest. Finally, the 1988 NFC Wild Card game was played on a Monday for presumably the same reason as '83.
Speaking of December 26, the 1970 playoff games played that day were both shutouts: Baltimore 17-0 over Cincy and Dallas 5-0 over Detroit. In 1973, both Championship games had the same score, 27-10.
On New Year's Eve 1978, the Oilers handled the shell-shocked Patriots (thanks to the Fairbanks mess) 31-14 and the Rams routed the Vikings 34-10 in Tarkenton's last game.
The two wild card games in 1980 had the Cowboys winning 34-13 over the Rams and the Raiders pounding the Oilers 27-7 in Bum Phillips' last game.
The 1983 playoff games on New Years Day 1984 had the Redskins destroying the Rams, 51-7, and the Raiders blowing out Pittsburgh, 38-10.
The 1991 playoffs on 1/5/92 had Buffalo blowing out KC, 37-14, and Detroit blasting Dallas, 38-6.
The 1992 playoffs on 1/10/93 had Dallas beating Philly 34-10 and Miami shutting out San Diego, 31-0.
The 1994 playoffs on 1/7/95 had Pittsburgh easily handle Cleveland 29-9 and the Niners blasting Chicago, 44-15.