Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Sure enough a certain two post-season games from '81 - eight days apart - will be the most popular. But there are many overshadowed gems to also be considered. Very biasedly, my personal favorite is the very last one of the decade; calendar-year-wise, that is (my personal '2nd'-favorite being 5 years and 1 day prior).

Best post-season of the '80s? Perhaps the question should be '2nd'-best post-season because, IMO, 1981 is the clear best. You got five good games! Yes, I count NYG/Phi WC as a good one. No other '80s post-season had that many good games. As for one of the games that was not good, it's at least looked back upon quite historically (has a name). That also goes for a Super Bowl between two Cinderellas (26-21 final score, but I still don't consider it a 'good game' IMO). 1981, most good post-season games and most-memorable post-season of that very decade.

EDIT - Know what? I guess I'll take that back about SBXVI. I always did see it as "the most-lopsided 5-pt win ever", but I guess I have to still consider it...a 'good game' if perhaps barely. Cincy did make it 20-14 early in 4th. So that makes it SIX.

The Broncos and Browns played in a couple of classic AFC Championship games in the 80s.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:Best post-season of the '80s? Perhaps the question should be '2nd'-best post-season because, IMO, 1981 is the clear best. You got five good games! Yes, I count NYG/Phi WC as a good one. No other '80s post-season had that many good games. As for one of the games that was not good, it's at least looked back upon quite historically (has a name). That also goes for a Super Bowl between two Cinderellas (26-21 final score, but I still don't consider it a 'good game' IMO). 1981, most good post-season games and most-memorable post-season of that very decade.

Even though the game itself was dull, the Freezer Bowl game between the Bengals and Chargers was worth watching simply because of the absolutely brutal conditions.

Even though it was played in the calendar year of 1990, the Browns/Bills matchup in the 1989 playoffs was a pretty good game. (except for the outcome!)

BD Sullivan wrote:

74_75_78_79_ wrote:Best post-season of the '80s? Perhaps the question should be '2nd'-best post-season because, IMO, 1981 is the clear best. You got five good games! Yes, I count NYG/Phi WC as a good one. No other '80s post-season had that many good games. As for one of the games that was not good, it's at least looked back upon quite historically (has a name). That also goes for a Super Bowl between two Cinderellas (26-21 final score, but I still don't consider it a 'good game' IMO). 1981, most good post-season games and most-memorable post-season of that very decade.

Even though the game itself was dull, the Freezer Bowl game between the Bengals and Chargers was worth watching simply because of the absolutely brutal conditions.

I think 1981 had the best postseason of any season since the 1970 merger, as far as number of great and memorable games, hands down. The only season which comes remotely close is 2008.

It was a wierd post season all together due to the strike but the Vikings victory over the 49ers in 87 with Anthony Carter going wild was just a fun surprising game.

Some year by year thoughts:

1980 - Falcons/Cowboys was a great game. I was surprised that NFL Films did a 'greatest games' piece on it, because its largely forgotten and not historically significant. The Bills and a hobbled Joe Ferguson put up a battle against the Chargers, losing on a late TD pass. Browns-Raiders was memorable for the weather and the ending. I think Rutigliano gets a bum rap for trying to get a TD.

1981 - Bills/Jets was another great game that is forgotten. The Bills also had a tight game against Cincy the following week.

1982 - kind of a terrible postseason considering the extra games. Chargers/Steelers was really good, but everything else besides Cowboys/Skins was dreck.

1983 - Redskins/Niners not really a great game, IMO.

1984 - Steelers beating Broncos was a big upset, especially in retrospect considering how bad Mark Malone was at QB. Rest of the postseason was a yawn.

1985 - Bears dominate and Patriots kick touchdowns. Not much here.

1986 - Pats/Broncos was very exciting. Back-and-forth until Rulon Jones' safety of Eason.

1987 - I thought this AFC championship was more dramatic than 1986. Byner fumbles and its game over...Elway's 98-yard TD drive just sent the game to OT.

1988 - Weird Super Bowl where the Bengals didn't do much of anything yet still was in position to win (kind of like Miami in SB XVII). I remember the Oilers nearly choking away a playoff game against the Browns, who were down to Don Strock at QB.

1989 - the Steelers' games against the Oilers and Broncos were both classics. Very nearly pulled off a major upset in Denver.

1980 - Falcons/Cowboys was a great game. I was surprised that NFL Films did a 'greatest games' piece on it, because its largely forgotten and not historically significant. The Bills and a hobbled Joe Ferguson put up a battle against the Chargers, losing on a late TD pass. Browns-Raiders was memorable for the weather and the ending. I think Rutigliano gets a bum rap for trying to get a TD.

I've written about the Browns-Raiders game, and Cockroft was having a really bad game, already missing 47 and 30 yard field goals, along with a missed PAT. A field goal was a poor risk at that point, and Rutigliano chose to go for the TD. I would have done the same.

1982 - kind of a terrible postseason considering the extra games. Chargers/Steelers was really good, but everything else besides Cowboys/Skins was dreck.

I thought the Super Bowl was an enjoyable game, not one of the best Super Bowls but a satisfying conclusion to a disappointing season.

1987 - I thought this AFC championship was more dramatic than 1986. Byner fumbles and its game over...Elway's 98-yard TD drive just sent the game to OT.

Browns came back from 21-3 deficit early in third period; it was a much better game than the 1986 game. Also, you had the Vikings laying waste to the two teams with the best records in the league in the postseason. The Super Bowl was memorable for the second quarter.

NWebster wrote:It was a wierd post season all together due to the strike but the Vikings victory over the 49ers in 87 with Anthony Carter going wild was just a fun surprising game.

The Seahawks at Oilers game was another good one. It never seems to be mentioned for some reason.

JWL wrote:

NWebster wrote:It was a wierd post season all together due to the strike but the Vikings victory over the 49ers in 87 with Anthony Carter going wild was just a fun surprising game.

The Seahawks at Oilers game was another good one. It never seems to be mentioned for some reason.

IIRC that was the first Overtime game in wildcard playoff history.