Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I already know that there's going to be at least one tie on my list. For this here season, we got the two 13-3 top-seeds whom we unfortunately didn't get to see play each other with both teams playing their starters. You also got two 12-4s whom both were in same division, just one 11-5 who would be the AFC's representative, four 10-6s, and five 9-7s with two of them - KC & Wash - not making the playoffs hence being the only winners in '96 not to do so. Four 8-8s as well, none of them having made it, including the Dolphins in Jimmy's first year with them.

Okay, let's shuffle up!

Next...1982! Then off to the rest of the 21st Cent in which we already did 2000, '01, '03, '06 & '08.

1. Packers... 1st in points scored, 1st in points given up. How rare is this feat?
2. Panthers... 7-0 finish and their sweep of SF
3. Broncos... impressive win at Foxboro, got clobbered by the Packers in December though. T.D.’s coming out party. Although he was pretty good the year before.
4. 49ers
5. Patriots
6. Cowboys
7. Jaguars... what? Finishing on a 6-1 tear gets them this high. Early season win vs. the Panthers. I remember this team being really fun to watch.
8. Eagles
9. Steelers... 1-3 finish with the last 2 losses to both NFC West powerhouses.
10. Bengals... another what? A mid-90s Bengals team cracking a Top X list? 7-2 finish gets them this spot.
11. Bills... they were coasting by this point.
12. Vikings

No Browns?

1) - tie - Packers & Broncos
3) Cowboys
4) Patriots
5) Panthers
6) Forty Niners
7) Steelers
8) - tie - Bills & Colts
10) Jaguars
11) Vikings
12) Eagles

Had the game between Den & GB been just a bit earlier in the season with Broncos' starters playing and with a purpose, we'd have no tie at the top. Dallas being defending-Champs (winning 3 SBs in last 4 years), finishing 9-3 (make that 9-2, finale loss don't count), and beating both SB-participants-to-be albeit not scoring a TD in either case elevates the 'Boys to their spot.

Home-blowout-loss to Denver and that penultimate week loss at Dallas aside, Tuna's Pats looking good down stretch in that 8-2 finish. Panthers' D was great but on other side of ball were real reliant on often times starting in real good field position. Didn't see them beating Dallas in divisional; especially the way the 'Boys manhandled Vikes one week prior.

SF (Seifert's last year with them)? Only QW was at Steelers next-to-last game. I still felt optimistic for the Steelers despite the obvious downgrade at QB, and no more Kevin Greene. The Bus made a splash while Tomczak really didn't look bad at times. Thought it may have been enough, but wasn't.

Didn't see Jags toppling Bills at Rich yet alone doing what they'd do the next two weeks. 5-0 finish out-of-nowhere vs weak competition just freakishly squeaking past Atl in finale to clinch that final spot. Early on, though, they beat Steelers in opener (not that it says much, the '90s Steelers were hardly ever at their best out-the-gate and their QB...Jim Miller). Jags also beat Carolina and brought Pats to OT at Foxboro. They certainly looked more impressive as season ended than Vikes & faltering Eagles (that Thursday Night blowout-loss at Indy).

No non-playoff teams break in. Both KC & Wash collapsed. The 8-8s? Yes, Coz taking over for Dave Shula and finishing 7-2, but never was too impressed with teams suddenly winning once they're already out (see '78 Cards, '84 Pack).