Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I'm glomming on to the other post but when I saw it I thought of this one. Cleveland Browns 51- Pittsburgh Steelers 0 in Pittsburgh. This should've doomed the entire 1989 season for the Steelers but it didn't. Even after losing the next game 41-10 in Cincinnati. But they ended up 9-7 with a Wild Card spot upsetting the Houston Oilers in the "House Of Pain" to move on to the Divisional round.

Just mentioned this game on the Marion Campbell thread - Niners losing at home to Eagles in '83. After being playoff teams in '81, with Niners winning-it-all of course, both teams finished a disappointing 3-6 in the '82 strike-shortened-season. I'm sure it was no coincidence both were slated together opening week - 1980's NFC champ vs 1981's NFC champ with both not having played each other in quite awhile anyway (not at Vet since '75, not at Candlestick since '73). Those who thought that '81 was a fluke may have thought more so after that Eagles 22 Niners 17 final. The following two weeks San Fran bounces back big with lopsided wins at Minnesota and StL (scoring 40+ each time) en route to a 4-1/6-2 start concluding in a 10-6, 2nd-seeded finish/NFCC-appearance.

As much as many compare Brady to Montana, Pats' 1st SB-win with Niners' 1st, another parallel (in addition to both missing playoffs in '82 & '02 respectively) is they losing their opener the following year as well. Drew Bledsoe had his ever-so-fleeting "I told you so" moment with his Bills walloping Pats, 31-0. However, NE would go on to do more than just make it to the CC like the '83 Niners would (and win their finale, 31-0, vs...you-know-who along the way).

How about the 2002 Eagles blowing a 14-point halftime lead in week 1 at Tennessee? Up 24-10, give up 17 unanswered 2nd half points.

Or the 2001 Steelers looking VERY lackluster in week 1 at Jacksonville. Hard to believe they basically blew through the AFC all the way through December if you saw how they looked that day.

Drew Bledsoe had his ever-so-fleeting "I told you so" moment with his Bills walloping Pats, 31-0. However, NE would go on to do more than just make it to the CC like the '83 Niners would (and win their finale, 31-0, vs...you-know-who along the way).

At the time, I wasn't sure if that loss would doom their season, but I didn't think they would make a run to the SB because I still thought they were a one-hit wonder. I thought that the win would be a springboard for the Bills to go to the SB (I picked a surprise team that year), but that obviously didn't happen.

Now, let's fast forward to 2005, and the Denver Broncos. In the pre-season, I don't think that they were predicted to do that well. For example, Frank the Tank of the Sports E-cyclopedia picked them to finish in last place with a 5-11 record, and he also predicted that Shanahan would be fired:

http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/tank/nfl/nfl2005.html

Then, in Week 1, it seemed like he would be right. They were beaten 34-10 in Miami (in the debut of Nick Saban as HC). They were also down 14-3 at halftime in Week 2 to San Diego before the pivotal Champ Bailey INT TD probably changed the course of their entire season.

The 1993 Cowboys come to mind. Started 0-2, one loss was the Bills getting revenge, and finished 12-4.

But I will say they "undoomed" their season by actually getting Emmitt Smith signed after those 2 losses.

1969 Vikings - Had a fourth-quarter collapse blowing a 13-point lead against the Giants and their ex-QB Frank Tarkenton. Then they blew through the rest of their schedule.

1999 Redskins - Blew a 21-point 4th quarter lead against the arch rival Cowboys and lost in overtime. Still recovered to win the division title.

An odd factoid is that six of the last 15 Super Bowl champions (2001 Patriots, 2002 Buccaneers, 2003 Patriots, 2007 Giants, 2011 Giants, 2014 Patriots) lost their season opener. In the previous 35 seasons, it only happened twice (1981 49ers, 1993 Cowboys).

Todd Pence wrote:1969 Vikings - Had a fourth-quarter collapse blowing a 13-point lead against the Giants and their ex-QB Frank Tarkenton. Then they blew through the rest of their schedule.

Well, until the meaningless mud game in Atlanta to end the regular season.

1985 Jets: Coming off a 7-9 year in which they lost seven of their final eight games after starting 6-2, the Gotham Green lost 31-0 to the Raiders in Week 1 at the Coliseum.

After that, though, they were able to rebound and win 11 of their next 15 to go to the playoffs, where they lost at home to the SB-bound Pats.

1997: Tampa Bay 13, San Francisco 6

Year One after Seifert, new HC in Steve Mariucci who many weren't all that aware of; only head-coached one year in Cal the year prior, and posting a 6-6 record mind you. Opening day they go to Tampa who didn't have a winning or playoff year since '82 albeit ending '96 - Dungy's first year - with respectable promise; new unis adding to (and, in the end, fulfilling) any '81 Bengals-like optimism. Sapp & Co pummels SF, taking Young and Rice out of the game. With Young back two weeks later, but Rice not back until mid-December, the Niners (starting with that ugly Druckenmiller-led triumph in StL, Week #2) would win the next 11 en route to an NFC top-seed/CC-berth.