Dolphins/Seahawks, 1999

[74_75_78_79_]

Both teams started out 8-2, each backing into their playoff game against each other, both finishing at 9-7. It would be the final game in the Kingdome as well as Cortez Kennedy's only EVER playoff game which, yes, the Hawks lost by a 20-17 final. It would be the final win in Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson's careers (off to Jacksonville the following week) and the Dolphins' first (and last to this very day) road playoff win since the 1972 AFCCG at Three Rivers!

I used to keep thinking every now and then afterward that the playoff game was a Marino-vs-Moon affair, Of course Warren was in Kansas City by then at the very 11th hour of his career. Jon Kitna was the one at QB for Seattle instead.

Mike Holmgren was the Hawks' HC in his first year in the Emerald City. Great way to start things at 8-2! Don't know, remember what happened from there as to why the collapse took place. And a surprise is it, to me, that it would take four years after that for Mike to return the Hawks to their second playoff appearance under him; not winning a playoff game at all until...2005! If some other HC who wasn't named 'Mike Holmgren' or didn't have his obvious recent resume took over Seattle in '99 - having the same exact W/L results in the succeeding seasons (6-10, 9-7, 7-9) - does he even make it to 2003?

Wannstedt would take over for the Dolphins after Jimmy left and lead them to back-to-back 11-5 campaigns but then quite a dry spell ahead barring two 'island' seasons of Pennington and Gase spaced well-enough in-between Wanny's departure and this current McDaniel/Tua era.

Since Jimmy did take over in '96 (was going to give Dan a run-game and better defense hence a Ring), I waited for they to finally 'explode' into that nasty championship-caliber team! Even mired in mediocrity as his first season wore on after the 3-0 start, I felt great at the time my Steelers stopping them in the end (Marino endzone INT) at Miami on MNF. '98 looked to be that very year for a bit starting with they soundly shutting us down early, 20-0. Then 9-4 later on only to be deflated the following week with Jets clinching the sweep (didn't make a biggie over what they did to Denver the following week on MNF).

But then came '99 and that hot start! Quality-wins at 13-3-to-be Indy in Peyton's first playoff year and then at Foxboro the following week vs a Pats team in midst of that forgotten 6-2 start. But then they shutout SB-bound Tennessee, 17-0, in a battle of 6-1s! Looking the part, finally! But Bills completing the sweep the next week but then, the week after that, the Dolphins complete their own sweep vs NE who was 6-3 going in with no one knowing the collapse to come - for BOTH teams! But Miami would muster an unimpressive win in Wk#14 against the Chargers (no, not against Leaf but Jim Harbaugh), lose their remaining two, but still hang on.

EDIT - Week #15, it was, against the Chargers; 'game' 14.


Thoughts on both these '99 Back-Up Bowl participants? Each campaign, the lead-up, the aftermath, that very playoff game between the two?


PS - Dennis Erickson, of course the one who took over for Jimmy at 'the U' was actually only a year away from having been Seattle's HC in '99. But both former-Hurricane skippers did, indeed, still get to square off as NFL HC's. That would be Week #6 of the '96 season in...Miami itself! And just who was the Dolphin QB, in for Marino, on that day? Craig Erickson! The very one who QB'd the 'U' to their second National Championship (albeit, "co", with the Washington Huskies) under Dennis himself! And Seattle did win it, 22-15 (John Friesz their QB, putting up a 106.1 rating). I'm surprised that I don't remember that game. I'd imagine that would have received enough pre-game hype.

[CSKreager]

Both teams slides from 8-2 started with INT debacles in late November:

Marino had his 5 pick game on Thanksgiving at Dallas and 3 days later Kitna did so against Tampa

[74_75_78_79_]

Steelers started 1999 winning that opening Sunday Nighter at new-again Cleveland, 43-0. Then they make it 2-0 with a win at the Ravens who still haven't "arrived" yet as a force. So the attitude was if the 'Burgh was going to shake last season's collapse? These two wins didn't really mean much in that regard.

Well, Holmgren coming into Three Rivers the following week and hammering us pretty much told me and my Steeler-fan friends how '99 was going to go as well (preventing me from even being one bit excited about the three-game-win-streak weeks later to make it 5-3).

Both teams slides from 8-2 started with INT debacles in late November:

Marino had his 5 pick game on Thanksgiving at Dallas and 3 days later Kitna did so against Tampa

Jimmy ended up 0-2 vs Big D as a Dolphin HC. Jon Kitna? I'm not an 'expert' in hindsight on him, but didn't he, at least, display strong leadership skills? Had quite the heart and fight as well? A very solid temporary back-up, at least, right?

[Reaser]

I saw Kitna play in HS and one game in college. Was really after the 1997 WLAF season though that I liked him. Was insane he didn't get MVP (did get World Bowl MVP beating T.J. Rubley's -who was inexplicably league MVP- team in the World Bowl.) For some of us, it was an "our guy" QB when he played and eventually became the starter.

Main disappointment was losing the final Kingdome game (side note: my mom went to the first sporting event there, saw Pele play.) Obviously I went to a ton of Seahawks and Mariners games, and as a kid watched my local HSFB team I'd eventually play for win State 4x in what was called the Kingbowl -- was cool to see them out there with the Seahawks helmet midfield, the Marlboro sign, etc..

Wasn't any real expectations, just the hope to win the projected winnable (and ended up winnable, led going into 4Q) game against the Dolphins then lose the next game. Just wanted the last Kingdome win.

2000 season started with the rematch and the Dolphins shutting out the Seahawks 23-0. Kitna threw 4 ints, and we got the regular season debut of Brock Huard, who I also saw play in HS and essentially all of his college career (also saw his brothers play in HS, including his younger brother lose to my eventual HS in the state QFs when I was in middle school.) Brock was so hyped up he was on the local ABC affiliate (KOMO) Kingbowl telecast being interviewed during the game two years BEFORE he was starting varsity QB.

Different era, 90s Seahawks, by '99 it was just "happy to be there," at least from Western Washington's perspective.

[74_75_78_79_]

I saw Kitna play in HS and one game in college. Was really after the 1997 WLAF season though that I liked him. Was insane he didn't get MVP (did get World Bowl MVP beating T.J. Rubley's -who was inexplicably league MVP- team in the World Bowl.) For some of us, it was an "our guy" QB when he played and eventually became the starter.

Main disappointment was losing the final Kingdome game (side note: my mom went to the first sporting event there, saw Pele play.) Obviously I went to a ton of Seahawks and Mariners games, and as a kid watched my local HSFB team I'd eventually play for win State 4x in what was called the Kingbowl -- was cool to see them out there with the Seahawks helmet midfield, the Marlboro sign, etc..

Wasn't any real expectations, just the hope to win the projected winnable (and ended up winnable, led going into 4Q) game against the Dolphins then lose the next game. Just wanted the last Kingdome win.

2000 season started with the rematch and the Dolphins shutting out the Seahawks 23-0. Kitna threw 4 ints, and we got the regular season debut of Brock Huard, who I also saw play in HS and essentially all of his college career (also saw his brothers play in HS, including his younger brother lose to my eventual HS in the state QFs when I was in middle school.) Brock was so hyped up he was on the local ABC affiliate (KOMO) Kingbowl telecast being interviewed during the game two years BEFORE he was starting varsity QB.

Different era, 90s Seahawks, by '99 it was just "happy to be there," at least from Western Washington's perspective.

Great post!

Both Huard brothers were in that very Mia/Sea playoff game as backups on opposing teams. Damon, not Marino, was the QB in that win over the Titans that brought Miami to 7-1. Despite getting sacked 4 times, he put up a brilliant 113.7 rating! I read somewhere a Dolphin-fan wishing that Damon would have been given a better chance after Dan retired; he complained of Wanny really into Jay Fielder instead.

A bummer Miami not taking that 7-1 start further all the way to that very Super Bowl team that many were anticipating from the start of JJ's arrival. I don't remember what my exact thoughts were at the time about both Miami and Seattle's hot starts. I know the Greatest Show was catching my attention though they already lost those back-to-back games at Tenn and then at Det thus - for the moment, not looking like the best team; after all, their otherwise easy schedule thus far. I'm pretty sure I was picturing Miami possibly playing on the final Sunday along with the Hawks not having a bad shot at it themselves. Both, perhaps, meeting in the AFCCG, each being the top-two seeds instead of a 9-7 vs 9-7 1st-rounder!

You say, Reaser, that you had no real expectations going into that playoff game - just win that last KIngdome game - but what were your expectations after that 8-2 start? Same with what you thought about Miami's? What did ALL of you think of both? Looking at Seattle's 8-2 start, it seems noticeably less impressive than Miami's as far as quality wins are concerned. No looking like a paper tiger or anything, no, but winning against Flutie and the 11-5-to-be Bills the only real true feather-in-cap during that start whereas Miami, again, won at Indy. swept Pats before they themselves fell, and - again - the Titans, 17-0!

I forgot that Ricky Watters ended up in the Emerald City! Makes sense being Holmgren was once his assistant.

[Reaser]

You say, Reaser, that you had no real expectations going into that playoff game - just win that last KIngdome game - but what were your expectations after that 8-2 start? Same with what you thought about Miami's?

The same. Were going to be in the playoffs -- though, obviously didn't play out quite like the lock it appeared at that point.

My preseason SB prediction was JAX over GB. My friends all were either NYJ or MIN. By that point in the season everyone was a Rams fan and had joined me with the Jags (Brunell being former UW QB wasn't only reason, but helped.)

Think everyone thought the Dolphins would make the playoffs so they were on-pace / where they were supposed to be.

It was still the 90s. A predictability before the season, as the season went on, and certainly going into the playoffs.

The regular season told a lot of the story and actually mattered.

90s was Saints-Falcons, it was fun, someone would win that game, they weren't going to the NFCCG or winning the SB. Had the rare upsets but most years if you played wild card weekend, especially as the 3rd division winner you weren't going to the SB and likely weren't even reaching the conference championship. It was 1 v 2 a majority of the time, with the primary exception being the top wild card team that "felt like" the actual best in their division (a 'felt like' 1 or 2 'seed' as the 4th 'seed') being the other teams (e.g. '92 Bills, '97 Broncos and after the sweep '99 Titans.)

AFC whoever won AFC Central & AFC East you thought would be in the AFCCG before and during the season, and when the playoffs were set you could throw the Titans in (see: above.) So the AFCCG was going to be 2 of the 3 Jax/IND/TEN from the start. Similar in the NFC, STL/TB/MIN, 2 of the 3. That's how the 90s were and a lot of years didn't have that top wild card so you knew it was the teams that got the BYEs that were going to be in the conference championship game. Before the playoffs even started and/or regular season even ended.

So for the Seahawks, even at 8-2, it felt like the AFC West was 3 out of 3 as far as AFC divisions. Make the playoffs, make up the field, weren't going to the AFCCG or SB. Dolphins was a bit different at that specific point in the season, whoever won the AFC East was going to have a chance and they were in it but after Thanksgiving and the game after that, their 90s NFL playoffs trajectory became that of a playoff team that wouldn't be going to the AFCCG or SB.

The "expectations" were easy (easier) in that era. Hence, by midseason'ish when everyone was on the Rams, they won.

[ShinobiMusashi]

I had fun going deep into the 1999 NFL season back in 2021. I remember taking notes and realizing there were a lot of collapses that season, and a lot of teams that started out bad and got hot. The league turned over from 1998 then turned over again around weeks 8-10 like an east texas lake in the spring. Fascinating NFL season that you could study like a science experiment.

For Seattle if I remember correctly it was tale of 2 seasons, Kitna collapsed at some point you can divide his season in half and look at his stats and it's remarkable how different he was later in the season(not as extreme of a collapse as Bledsoe that season but still).

[ShinobiMusashi]

It is crazy though that neither of these teams belonged in the playoffs both were playing bad football for the last several weeks of that season. This game applies to a topic I have been thinking about posting a thread for; "NFL playoff games between teams that you knew were going nowhere"

[Brian wolf]

Despite the hot start, the Dolphins simply couldnt run the ball. The line and backs were pedestrian and losing Abdul-Jabbar, hurt the offense. We all know that Webb was a great pass protecting tackle but not as aggressive in the run game. Troy Drayton was a bust and with Marino declining, the defense wore down. Also one of the few years that Jason Taylor struggled as a pass rusher. A very tough division.

[conace21]

I had fun going deep into the 1999 NFL season back in 2021. I remember taking notes and realizing there were a lot of collapses that season, and a lot of teams that started out bad and got hot. The league turned over from 1998 then turned over again around weeks 8-10 like an east texas lake in the spring. Fascinating NFL season that you could study like a science experiment.

For Seattle if I remember correctly it was tale of 2 seasons, Kitna collapsed at some point you can divide his season in half and look at his stats and it's remarkable how different he was later in the season(not as extreme of a collapse as Bledsoe that season but still).

Yes, there were 8 teams who began the season 6-2, or 7-1. Half those teams finished with a record of 8-8 or 9-7: the Patriots and Lions joined the Seahawks and Dolphins.

Detroit did actually make the playoffs with their 8-8 record. They must have clinched a playoff spot early due to the tiebreaker. They lost Week 17, but weren't part of the crazy mix for the final wild card spot: that was Green Bay and Carolina frantically trying to put up points to get the net points tiebreaker, and then Dallas made it all moot by beating the Giants in a 4pm game. (The Giants were also alive for the final wild card spot entering the day, but they would have only had something to play for if Green Bay and Carolina had both lost their 1pm games.)

Getting back on target of the post, the Seahawks also backed into the playoffs, though their fate wasn't decided until after they had played their final regular season game. Seattle could clinch the AFC West with a win against the surging Jets, or a Chiefs loss to Oakland. (The two games were played simultaneously.)
The Chiefs jumped up on the Raiders 17-0 in the first 5 minutes, but the Seahawks did not rise to the occasion, and they lost to the Jets. The loss was pretty much clinched when John Hall kicked a FG with about 4 minutes left to put NY up 19-9.
But the Raiders surged back to tie the Chiefs. Pete Stoyanovich had a chance to win the game for Kansas City at the end of regulation, but he missed a 44 yard field goal. Then, in overtime, the kickoff specialist Jon Baker kicked the ball out of bounds for the third time that day. Oakland took advantage of the short field and kicked a game-winning field goal. The Seahawks discovered they had won the AFC West from the locker room.