Clemson 44 Alabama 16 - pro equivalent?
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:44 pm
A Nick Saban ’Bama team losing lopsided in a championship game...
Yes Lombardi did lose in ’60, but of course it was that squad’s very first appearance. They really weren’t ready just yet (as was the case with the ’91 Cowboys), but there were a lot less teams in the league, there was only one round of the playoffs (championship game itself), and simply none of the other teams in their division were good enough to prevent them from making it to Philly. Most important though, Green Bay still made it real close almost winning it anyway. Belichick’s three SB defeats, unlike that Packers loss, each took place after the 2000s Pats as we know them were already established - and each loss, of course, was close as well.
I thought of Gibbs’ Redskins getting torched by Raiders, 38-9, in SBXVIII. But the Gibbs Era in DC was just beginning, it was his third year in. Thanks to ‘Captain America’ end of 4th Q, SBXIII could be a worthy mention (Landry Era well-established, defending-champs).
As for a Dynasty already established, and the team loses title game by not a little, but blown-out, I’d have to think Lions 59, (Paul Brown’s) Browns 14 in 1957. Clemson is kind of looking to Alabama these past few years as Lions looked to Browns in the ’50s.
In other sports, Yankees losing to Cards, 4-1, in ’42 WS as well as getting swept by Dodgers in ’63 are baseball examples to give. Basketball...three examples, all Lakers, come to mind - swept by Sixers and Pistons respectively in ’83 and ’89; in 2004 again to Pistons, 4-1. Canadiens losing Stanley Cup in ’51 & ’52 to Toronto (4-1) & Detroit (4-0).
Yes Lombardi did lose in ’60, but of course it was that squad’s very first appearance. They really weren’t ready just yet (as was the case with the ’91 Cowboys), but there were a lot less teams in the league, there was only one round of the playoffs (championship game itself), and simply none of the other teams in their division were good enough to prevent them from making it to Philly. Most important though, Green Bay still made it real close almost winning it anyway. Belichick’s three SB defeats, unlike that Packers loss, each took place after the 2000s Pats as we know them were already established - and each loss, of course, was close as well.
I thought of Gibbs’ Redskins getting torched by Raiders, 38-9, in SBXVIII. But the Gibbs Era in DC was just beginning, it was his third year in. Thanks to ‘Captain America’ end of 4th Q, SBXIII could be a worthy mention (Landry Era well-established, defending-champs).
As for a Dynasty already established, and the team loses title game by not a little, but blown-out, I’d have to think Lions 59, (Paul Brown’s) Browns 14 in 1957. Clemson is kind of looking to Alabama these past few years as Lions looked to Browns in the ’50s.
In other sports, Yankees losing to Cards, 4-1, in ’42 WS as well as getting swept by Dodgers in ’63 are baseball examples to give. Basketball...three examples, all Lakers, come to mind - swept by Sixers and Pistons respectively in ’83 and ’89; in 2004 again to Pistons, 4-1. Canadiens losing Stanley Cup in ’51 & ’52 to Toronto (4-1) & Detroit (4-0).