general 1979 NFL pre-season predictions, expectations, etc

[74_75_78_79_]

I'm going to guess that, unlike the year before, Steelers were expected to return to the playoffs as well as repeat; Dallas goes back to SB also. Wonder if Cleveland was expected to finish 2nd in division, Oilers suffering a let-down from the year before? I'm guessing that no one saw SD finishing top-seed yet alone beating Steelers, 35-7, as they did; but a playoff berth and a division winner could have very well been expected with last year's 7-1 finish - Coryell now at helm. A different 'Bay' team (coming off 8-7-1) winning the NFC Central in '79 instead of the 'Bay' that actually did? I'll guess that Rams are expected to win division yet again, and better than the 9-7 finish that actually took place, while Philly and Atl play again in the WCG? Or were expectations high in the 'Big Easy'?

Needless to say (unless one of you beats me to it), 1980 will be next.

[7DnBrnc53]

I used to have the 1979 NFL Record and Fact book. In it, someone wrote something about how there could be more parity that season, and about how there was talk of division titles in places like Philadelphia (I think), Detroit, New Orleans, Atlanta, Green Bay, and San Diego.

[Some Guy From Mars]

Here is what the 1979 Pocket Book of Pro Football predicted:

AFC
East: Miami, New England, New York, Buffalo, Baltimore
Central: Pittsburgh, Houston,Cleveland, Cincinnati
West: Seattle, Oakland, Denver, San Diego, Kansas City

Wild Card Playoff Teams: New England & Houston
Super Bowl IV: Pittsburgh

NFC
East: Dallas, Philadelphia, St.Louis, Washington, New York
Central: Green Bay, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Tampa Bay
West: Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans, San Francisco

Wild Card Playoff Teams: Philadelphia & Atlanta
Super Bowl IV: Dallas

[7DnBrnc53]

West: Seattle, Oakland, Denver, San Diego, Kansas City

SD in fourth? Oakland in second after they missed the playoffs, their HC resigned, and they were showing more signs of aging? I don't believe it.

[74_75_78_79_]

West: Seattle, Oakland, Denver, San Diego, Kansas City

SD in fourth? Oakland in second after they missed the playoffs, their HC resigned, and they were showing more signs of aging? I don't believe it.

That was one hell of a division race in ’79 (KC being odd-man out). And you couldn’t ask for a better final week: 8-7 Sea @ 9-6 Oak; 10-5 Den @ 11-4 SD. A Broncos win would have given them 2nd-seed. A Broncos loss (which did happen) coupled with a Raiders win, and Tatum meets #34 at the Astrodome again!

If you remember, in my top ten ’79 regular season PRs, I had Den/Sea/Oak all tied at #7 with Mia, TB, Chi, and Rams all on the outside looking in.