Least-favorite season, 1946-thru-1999?
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2019 5:58 pm
BESIDES 1982 or 1987, of course!
Considering that very many, including myself, feel that the NFL the past 20 years - though we still follow it enthusiastically enough - isn't what it used to be; and WWII along with the couple decades of league 'growing pains' leading up, I figure this very chosen time period would be reasonable to chose from. Maybe there is a season or more from this period that you may actually place beneath '82 and/or '87 (though that definitely won't be me).
For me, forcing myself to be unbiased, I'd have to go with 1989. Yes, the irony...my favorite season since following is the very first season in which I followed - 1980. This although it would end up signifying the Steelers' Dynasty now over. '89, however, yes an exciting rally/underdog-story for Pittsburgh considering how it all began for them. Noll's "last hurrah"! That final week of the season with all those possible playoff-scenarios in the AFC...but let's face it, it was all mired in mediocrity. And the AFC was at its most-paltry! The conference's nadir of that very '84-thru-'96 period! Just one 11-5 team! The next, not only seed, but next best record-period...9-6-1!! Two non-playoff teams in the other conference finished with better records! And that very 11-5 AFC top-dog in all likely-hood was weaker than any NFC playoff-participant. They lost at home to the Eagles, and elevation and snow couldn't get them past G-men either.
Yes, NFC was more superior (at least playoff-participants-wise) but in that conference itself it was San Fran and "everyone else". Rams beating G-men in OT the only real exciting playoff game in that conference. SF simply destroyed the competition and especially so in SBXXIV. In the AFC both Cinderella-Steelers games were good and also the Bills/Browns divisional, but that 'Browns/Broncos III' just wasn't like the two previous showdowns (Marty's absence not making it any better). It was in the midst of a great time to follow NFL football, but the '89 season just doesn't hold-up relatively.
1993 is another one that seems relatively-'bleh' to me. Despite the Emmitt-holdout/upset at Falcons/Leon Lett Turkey Day gaffe seeming to handicap things, it still felt like Dallas and "everyone else". They being 7-4 didn't fool me. And that finale at the Meadowlands didn't make me all-too suspenseful. I was actually surprised G-men brought them into OT. But the way Houston rallied back...(unless you're a Buffalo-fan) the thought of Dallas having to face the Oilers generated a bit of excitement come playoff time. Then they lose to Chiefs but, okay, maybe we can see Joe Montana in a Super Bowl again! The fact that both he and Young were in the CCs didn't really excite me for I and most others weren't thinking SF could pull it off which they, indeed, didn't. Not an exciting game, and it would have been nice to see Joe play that entire game at Rich. Same Super Bowl matchup, same result although Buffalo was ahead at the half. Marino gets injured that year as well. Just something 'off' about that season. But plenty of real great ones to immediately follow yet again before significantly dropping off just into the 21st.
Considering that very many, including myself, feel that the NFL the past 20 years - though we still follow it enthusiastically enough - isn't what it used to be; and WWII along with the couple decades of league 'growing pains' leading up, I figure this very chosen time period would be reasonable to chose from. Maybe there is a season or more from this period that you may actually place beneath '82 and/or '87 (though that definitely won't be me).
For me, forcing myself to be unbiased, I'd have to go with 1989. Yes, the irony...my favorite season since following is the very first season in which I followed - 1980. This although it would end up signifying the Steelers' Dynasty now over. '89, however, yes an exciting rally/underdog-story for Pittsburgh considering how it all began for them. Noll's "last hurrah"! That final week of the season with all those possible playoff-scenarios in the AFC...but let's face it, it was all mired in mediocrity. And the AFC was at its most-paltry! The conference's nadir of that very '84-thru-'96 period! Just one 11-5 team! The next, not only seed, but next best record-period...9-6-1!! Two non-playoff teams in the other conference finished with better records! And that very 11-5 AFC top-dog in all likely-hood was weaker than any NFC playoff-participant. They lost at home to the Eagles, and elevation and snow couldn't get them past G-men either.
Yes, NFC was more superior (at least playoff-participants-wise) but in that conference itself it was San Fran and "everyone else". Rams beating G-men in OT the only real exciting playoff game in that conference. SF simply destroyed the competition and especially so in SBXXIV. In the AFC both Cinderella-Steelers games were good and also the Bills/Browns divisional, but that 'Browns/Broncos III' just wasn't like the two previous showdowns (Marty's absence not making it any better). It was in the midst of a great time to follow NFL football, but the '89 season just doesn't hold-up relatively.
1993 is another one that seems relatively-'bleh' to me. Despite the Emmitt-holdout/upset at Falcons/Leon Lett Turkey Day gaffe seeming to handicap things, it still felt like Dallas and "everyone else". They being 7-4 didn't fool me. And that finale at the Meadowlands didn't make me all-too suspenseful. I was actually surprised G-men brought them into OT. But the way Houston rallied back...(unless you're a Buffalo-fan) the thought of Dallas having to face the Oilers generated a bit of excitement come playoff time. Then they lose to Chiefs but, okay, maybe we can see Joe Montana in a Super Bowl again! The fact that both he and Young were in the CCs didn't really excite me for I and most others weren't thinking SF could pull it off which they, indeed, didn't. Not an exciting game, and it would have been nice to see Joe play that entire game at Rich. Same Super Bowl matchup, same result although Buffalo was ahead at the half. Marino gets injured that year as well. Just something 'off' about that season. But plenty of real great ones to immediately follow yet again before significantly dropping off just into the 21st.