Key wins in a franchise's history

[7DnBrnc53]

To start, I am going to mention the three-game winning streak that the 49ers went on from Weeks 12-14 of the 1980 season, especially the comeback win against NO in Week 14.

That year, the 49ers started 3-0, but lost eight in a row. After the 59-14 loss to Dallas in Week 6 and the 17-13 loss at Miami in Week 11, Bill Walsh did think about quitting. However, they did beat the Giants, Pats, and Saints at home the next three weeks, and that probably changed his mind.

[Rupert Patrick]

To start, I am going to mention the three-game winning streak that the 49ers went on from Weeks 12-14 of the 1980 season, especially the comeback win against NO in Week 14.

That year, the 49ers started 3-0, but lost eight in a row. After the 59-14 loss to Dallas in Week 6 and the 17-13 loss at Miami in Week 11, Bill Walsh did think about quitting. However, they did beat the Giants, Pats, and Saints at home the next three weeks, and that probably changed his mind.

I watched the 1980 49ers Saints comeback game recently, and point to that as the game when the 49ers dynasty came together. They still had some holes to fill, but you could see it coming together.

[Rupert Patrick]

Leaving playoff games out of the equation, which I think makes sense, I think the 1977 Broncos 30-7 whipping of the Raiders in Oakland in Week 5 was a win that signaled the Broncos had become a monster. The Broncos were already a 4-0 team, but with wins against Buffalo, Seattle and Kansas City, three of the four weakest teams going into the season, and a 7-0 win over St. Louis on opening day, but most I think expected their bubble to be burst by the Raiders. I think it remains the biggest regular season victory in franchise history.

The 1970 Dolphins Week 10 victory over the Colts (34-17) was to that point the biggest win in franchise history. At that point in the season, the Dolphins were 5-4, reeling from a three-game losing streak which included back-to back losses to the Colts and Browns where they were shutout by 35 and 28 points respectively. A number of young teams would have collapsed at that point, but after the Baltimore win, they went on to win their next four games and snag the inaugural AFC Wild Card.

The 1990 Bills Week 3 win over the Jets (30-7) at the Meadowlands on MNF was a game that jump-started the four-peat AFC Champions. After a 9-7 finish in 1989, the Bills started off the 1990 season with a 26-10 victory over the Colts on opening day, but went into Miami and were destroyed 30-7. A loss to the Jets could have derailed the Bills season, but they put it all together and put the Jets away and began an eight-game winning streak.

[7DnBrnc53]

The 1990 Bills Week 3 win over the Jets (30-7) at the Meadowlands on MNF was a game that jump-started the four-peat AFC Champions. After a 9-7 finish in 1989, the Bills started off the 1990 season with a 26-10 victory over the Colts on opening day, but went into Miami and were destroyed 30-7. A loss to the Jets could have derailed the Bills season, but they put it all together and put the Jets away and began an eight-game winning streak.

The Jet win was nice, but I think it was the win against Denver the next week that was bigger. In the Missing Rings episode, Darryl Talley basically said that he was waiting for Marv Levy to yank them from that game when Bennett blocked the FG and returned it for a TD (sparking a 29-28 comeback win). That win and the wins the following two weeks (over the Raiders and Jets. They came back to win those games in the fourth quarter as well) propelled the Bills to SB XXV. If they lose those games, they are 2-4, and the team may have reverted back to the Bickering Bills phase of the year before.

[BD Sullivan]

The 1986 Browns were actually 10-4 when they played at Cincy in Week 15, but had won seven of those games by four points or less and also lost at home to 0-6 Green Bay. They blew out the Bengals and suddenly looked like a playoff team, though they did play like garbage for most of the Jets playoff game. Still, they were suddenly a legitimate Super Bowl contender after that Bengals game and remained that way through the '89 season.

[7DnBrnc53]

For the Cowboys, their win over the Cardinals in the 1987 season finale may have been huge.

If Dallas loses, the Cards go to the playoffs over the Vikings. Without the run that Minnesota had in 87, are they feeling squirly enough to trade what they did for Herschel Walker? Maybe not.

[Citizen]

Minnesota crushing the Colts 52-14 in week 2 1969, 10 months after the Colts had handled the Vikings in the division round. Left no doubt that there was a new bully on the block.

[74_75_78_79_]

Leaving playoff games out of the equation, which I think makes sense, I think the 1977 Broncos 30-7 whipping of the Raiders in Oakland in Week 5 was a win that signaled the Broncos had become a monster. The Broncos were already a 4-0 team, but with wins against Buffalo, Seattle and Kansas City, three of the four weakest teams going into the season, and a 7-0 win over St. Louis on opening day, but most I think expected their bubble to be burst by the Raiders. I think it remains the biggest regular season victory in franchise history.

The 1970 Dolphins Week 10 victory over the Colts (34-17) was to that point the biggest win in franchise history. At that point in the season, the Dolphins were 5-4, reeling from a three-game losing streak which included back-to back losses to the Colts and Browns where they were shutout by 35 and 28 points respectively. A number of young teams would have collapsed at that point, but after the Baltimore win, they went on to win their next four games and snag the inaugural AFC Wild Card.

The 1990 Bills Week 3 win over the Jets (30-7) at the Meadowlands on MNF was a game that jump-started the four-peat AFC Champions. After a 9-7 finish in 1989, the Bills started off the 1990 season with a 26-10 victory over the Colts on opening day, but went into Miami and were destroyed 30-7. A loss to the Jets could have derailed the Bills season, but they put it all together and put the Jets away and began an eight-game winning streak.

The irony of that Denver win at Alameda in '77 is that it was their most-lopsided win of the year, Oakland being their toughest opponent.

I forgot about Bills losing early at Miami in 1990. I thought that MNF game between they and Raiders was a battle of unbeatens.

I think SF burying Dallas in Week #6, '81, was their key win (finally beating them, and big); especially when the following (Monday) night's halftime highlights from the day before basically ignored their feat, only to further inspire them rest of the way - playing with chip on shoulder.

[BD Sullivan]

I think SF burying Dallas in Week #6, '81, was their key win (finally beating them, and big); especially when the following (Monday) night's halftime highlights from the day before basically ignored their feat, only to further inspire them rest of the way - playing with chip on shoulder.

Just as Chicago taking care of SF on the road in 1985 really pushed them forward, not to mention starting the whole Fridge phenomenon. Mike Ditka was so excited about the win that he got drunk on the flight home and ended up with a DUI.

[74_75_78_79_]

I think SF burying Dallas in Week #6, '81, was their key win (finally beating them, and big); especially when the following (Monday) night's halftime highlights from the day before basically ignored their feat, only to further inspire them rest of the way - playing with chip on shoulder.

Just as Chicago taking care of SF on the road in 1985 really pushed them forward, not to mention starting the whole Fridge phenomenon. Mike Ditka was so excited about the win that he got drunk on the flight home and ended up with a DUI.

That's a pretty good example to give but maybe/maybe not the only one. Da Bears went into that '85 campaign with all the confidence and swagger they needed. They lose at Candlestick? Likely enough it just gets them even madder (as the case if Pats score a TD instead of a FG beginning of SBXX after the Payton fumble). Maybe your example is the best after all, but others to at least suggest are they beating Gibbs' well-seasoned Redskins at RFK '84 divisional round or maybe earlier during that very regular-season in their classic 'bruiser' of a 17-6 win vs Raiders - two games proving that they, indeed, were-a-coming!

You could possibly also suggest that da '85 Bears 'best loss' is that very NFCC defeat at Candlestick, 0-23. That really fired them up (perfect catalyst for '85)! SF players talking trash about their offense, Walsh inserting Guy McIntyre at RB thus inspiring Iron Mike in that next ('85) matchup at the 'Stick to insert...well, you know.