AFC teams that just missed the playoffs in 1989
Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2023 5:52 pm
As much as the AFC field in '89 was mired in mediocrity, there were five non-qualifiers that were still in it going into Week #16. Each can be seen as being no less caliber as the four 9-win teams that actually did get in. Allowing the top 10 of the 14 in the conference to play in a tournament (CFL style) isn't the worst thought or idea ever. Below are the five...
Chiefs, 8-7-1
Marty's first year with them. They showed much promise to be the immediate regular playoff contender that would begin the very following season. In their 4-6 start, they lost at home to Cincy and at Pittsburgh, got swept by Denver, but split with the Raiders. And then in their final six games in which they went 4-1-1, they tie in Marty's return to the Dawg Pound, bludgeon Houston, 34-0, pound Majik's Pack at Lambeau, 21-3, and sweep Miami (but allow SD to complete their sweep vs them penultimate week). Had Steelers lost at Tampa Bay, but everything else went as it did that Week# 16, then it's KC going to the House of Pain in the AFCWCG.
Colts, 8-8
Another unspectacular but at least respectable Meyer team. Played SF so tough in the opener though lose at Rams the following week by 2 TDs. They split with Buffalo & Miami (winning lopsided in their wins over each; but Bills blasting them as well). And they beat the Bengals at Riverfront and Cleveland at home. They were in control of their own destiny going into Week #16. Simply beat a Saints team in NO who was already out of it. But Jim Mora's bunch more than played spoiler, 41-6, thus clinched a winning season winning their final three!
Raiders, 8-8
Art Shell's fist year. Took over on MNF at NYJ after they already started 1-3. Won that game, then beat KC, lose at Philly by just a 10-7 score, beat Washington & Cincy, lose two in-a-row. First at SD and then convincingly at Houston; but win their next three which included a win vs Denver. 7-3 Shell was in his first 10 games. They were 8-6 and in control of their own destiny. But then gave that to the Colts in a penultimate loss at Seattle. But with Indy losing at Saints the following week, they simply needed to just win after all. Just one problem though...their Wk#16 opponents, the Giants (at the Meadowlands), wanted their division more than the Raiders wanted that playoff-berth-period.
Dolphins, 8-8
I guess this campaign, FWIW, can be seen as a sign that playoff-regularity would be back in Miami next decade. Started 7-4. Three-game-stretch where they beat Clev/@Cin/GB. And then after losing at Buffalo the following week (Bills completing sweep), they beat Indy as well as the two after that. From there, however - starting with getting 'monsooned' to Pittsburgh - they finish 1-4 with a rematch-loss at Colts and a sweep to KC being the three other defeats. Week #16, with everything else playing out as it actually did, Miami would have had to beat KC along with TB beating Steelers to get in.
Bengals, 8-8
Defending-AFC-champs. Had quite the 'bite' to them. 5-1 in the AFC Central, a lopsided win over each division foe to their credit. +119 in PD! At Chicago - but in the opener - and at 7-9 Seattle in Wk#14 were the only losing teams they'd bow to in '89. Many say had they'd made the playoffs, they have been more dangerous than Pittsburgh; and certainly wouldn't have been a stranger to San Fran had they made it all of the way to New Orleans!
Thoughts? Takes?
Chiefs, 8-7-1
Marty's first year with them. They showed much promise to be the immediate regular playoff contender that would begin the very following season. In their 4-6 start, they lost at home to Cincy and at Pittsburgh, got swept by Denver, but split with the Raiders. And then in their final six games in which they went 4-1-1, they tie in Marty's return to the Dawg Pound, bludgeon Houston, 34-0, pound Majik's Pack at Lambeau, 21-3, and sweep Miami (but allow SD to complete their sweep vs them penultimate week). Had Steelers lost at Tampa Bay, but everything else went as it did that Week# 16, then it's KC going to the House of Pain in the AFCWCG.
Colts, 8-8
Another unspectacular but at least respectable Meyer team. Played SF so tough in the opener though lose at Rams the following week by 2 TDs. They split with Buffalo & Miami (winning lopsided in their wins over each; but Bills blasting them as well). And they beat the Bengals at Riverfront and Cleveland at home. They were in control of their own destiny going into Week #16. Simply beat a Saints team in NO who was already out of it. But Jim Mora's bunch more than played spoiler, 41-6, thus clinched a winning season winning their final three!
Raiders, 8-8
Art Shell's fist year. Took over on MNF at NYJ after they already started 1-3. Won that game, then beat KC, lose at Philly by just a 10-7 score, beat Washington & Cincy, lose two in-a-row. First at SD and then convincingly at Houston; but win their next three which included a win vs Denver. 7-3 Shell was in his first 10 games. They were 8-6 and in control of their own destiny. But then gave that to the Colts in a penultimate loss at Seattle. But with Indy losing at Saints the following week, they simply needed to just win after all. Just one problem though...their Wk#16 opponents, the Giants (at the Meadowlands), wanted their division more than the Raiders wanted that playoff-berth-period.
Dolphins, 8-8
I guess this campaign, FWIW, can be seen as a sign that playoff-regularity would be back in Miami next decade. Started 7-4. Three-game-stretch where they beat Clev/@Cin/GB. And then after losing at Buffalo the following week (Bills completing sweep), they beat Indy as well as the two after that. From there, however - starting with getting 'monsooned' to Pittsburgh - they finish 1-4 with a rematch-loss at Colts and a sweep to KC being the three other defeats. Week #16, with everything else playing out as it actually did, Miami would have had to beat KC along with TB beating Steelers to get in.
Bengals, 8-8
Defending-AFC-champs. Had quite the 'bite' to them. 5-1 in the AFC Central, a lopsided win over each division foe to their credit. +119 in PD! At Chicago - but in the opener - and at 7-9 Seattle in Wk#14 were the only losing teams they'd bow to in '89. Many say had they'd made the playoffs, they have been more dangerous than Pittsburgh; and certainly wouldn't have been a stranger to San Fran had they made it all of the way to New Orleans!
Thoughts? Takes?