1970-1977 with a 5 seed

[CSKreager]

Had there been a 2nd WC pre-1978, which of these teams do you think would have had the best shot to make a deep run ala the 75 Cowboys?

Look what happened in 78 when they DID expand: Luv Ya Blue Houston put themselves on the map

1970: Chiefs (6-5-2), Rams (9-4-1)
1971: Raiders (8-4-1), Rams (8-5-1)
1972: Chiefs (8-6), Lions (8-5-1)
1973: Bills (9-5), Falcons (9-5)
1974: Broncos (7-6-1), Cowboys (8-6)
1975: Oilers (10-4), Redskins (8-6)
1976: Bengals (10-4), Cardinals (10-4)
1977: Dolphins (10-4), Redskins (9-5)

[Brian wolf]

Interesting thread, especially wild card matchups. The big question was whether the bye week might affect the divisional winners?

1970 -- The Chiefs would have probably lost to the Dolphins. A tough match but they were limping at the end of the season. The Rams-Lions game would have been great. Had they won, could they have upset Dallas with Morton having a bad elbow?

1971 -- Without Wells, I dont believe the Raiders beat the Colts. I feel the Rams might have beaten the Redskins in a rematch. A closer game anyway.

1972 -- The Chiefs were older and slower than the Browns but it would have been a close game. Depends on what Phipps could have done? They had the Dolphins on the ropes. I think the Cowboys would have beaten the Lions with Morton. Close game though.

1973 -- Bills-Steelers would have been a tough game, but I dont think Ferguson would have beaten them. A true battle in the trenches. The Redskins would have beaten the Falcons.

1974 -- I think the Redskins would have gotten revenge for the Clint Longley game against an inconsistent Dallas team. Yet its always hard to bet against Staubach. The Bills would have beaten the Broncos but a very tough game.

1975 -- I think the younger Cowboys prevail over the aging Redskins but a tough game. The Bengals would have beaten the Oilers. The Oilers would have to play great defense to win.

1976 -- The Patriots were the best wild card team in NFL history. I feel even better than the 75 Cowboys. They would have beaten the Bengals and had it not been for the Sugar Bear Hamilton penalty against Oakland, would have been the first wild card champion. I know, a bold statement with turnover-prone Grogan, but he was solid that season.

1977 -- If there was ever a chance for the Dolphins to beat the Steelers other than 1972, it was this season, but it would have been a tough game. Bradshaw to Swann might have been the difference. If the Redskins could slow down Payton, they could beat the Bears with Theeseman(intentional spelling ... haha)

If any hypothetical team could have made a run it might have been the Patriots in 1976. Maybe a different game in Oakland a week later? Maybe a bye week for the Broncos could have hurt them facing the Steelers in 77?

[CSKreager]

1976 -- The Patriots were the best wild card team in NFL history. I feel even better than the 75 Cowboys. They would have beaten the Bengals and had it not been for the Sugar Bear Hamilton penalty against Oakland, would have been the first wild card champion. I know, a bold statement with turnover-prone Grogan, but he was solid that season.

No mention of a possible Cardinals/Redskins III?

[Brian wolf]

Haha ... I had forgotten who the NFC wild card was for that year. I dont believe the Skins/Cards get by the big three ...

[Brian wolf]

You just have to wonder if a bye week could have affected young teams like the 70-71 Dolphins, 72-73 Steelers, 74-75 Cardinals, or 77 Broncos?

[Brian wolf]

Looking back at the years 1970-1977, you have to wonder how fans, teams and the media would have perceived an extra wild card team-matchup?

Of course it was accepted by 77-78 and you hope that teams and fans would have embraced the extra bye week for divisional winners even earlier. Maybe the season would have had to start around Sept 12th or 13th, once the Wild Card game was established, so the divisionals would be around Christmas. As CS mentioned, most of the teams that would have qualified for the WC game, had solid seasons other than 7 win teams in KC in 1970 and the Broncos in 1974. Even the Bengals in 1970 won their division at 8-6, while the 10-4 WC Dolphins had to go to Oakland.

Imagine the teams having to win the final game to claim their division just to play again the following week, before or after Christmas? Some great times and games but you could tell the teams were really tired and should be.

[Ten Minute Ticker]

Conversely, what happens if you take away the fifth wild card from 1978-89?

1978 - NFC stays the same, but no Luv Ya Blue as it would have been Dolphins-Steelers and Broncos-Patriots.
1979 and 1980 - No change.
1981 - Both conferences change. AFC would have been Jets-Bengals and Chargers-Dolphins. NFC would have been Eagles-49ers and Bucs-Cowboys.
1982 - If they stuck with the same format, it would have been Steelers-Raiders and Dolphins-Bengals in the AFC. NFC would have been Falcons-Redskins and Packers-Cowboys.
1983 - AFC is the same, but it is Lions-Redskins and Cowboys-49ers in the NFC.
1984 - AFC is the same, but NFC is Rams-Redskins and Bears-49ers.
1985 - No chance to replicate the actual Super Bowl matchup. NFC stays the same, but AFC is Jets-Raiders and Browns-Dolphins.
1986 - No change.
1987 - AFC plays out the same, but NFC would have been Saints-Bears and Redskins-49ers.
1988 - NFC is the same, but AFC is Browns-Bills and Seahawks-Bengals.
1989 - Both conferences are different. AFC would have been Oilers-Broncos and Bills-Browns. NFC would have been Eagles-49ers and Vikings-Giants.

[Brian wolf]

Thanks TMT ... I wasnt sure how those teams were. I thought Buffalo rated higher than the Jets in 1981? Without the Jets, maybe the Raiders win it all with rookie Marcus Allen in 1982?

Could Theismann and the Redskins have upset the 49ers in 1984?
Without the Patriots, I feel the Dolphins would have went all the way in 1985.

Without the Vikings, maybe the 49ers win it all in 1987?
Imagine SF-Philly to start the 89 playoffs? Could Philly get revenge? Doubtful, but that pass rush would have been tough.

[Ten Minute Ticker]

Thanks TMT ... I wasnt sure how those teams were. I thought Buffalo rated higher than the Jets in 1981? Without the Jets, maybe the Raiders win it all with rookie Marcus Allen in 1982?

Could Theisman and the Redskins have upset the 49ers in 1984?
Without the Patriots, I feel the Dolphins would have went all the way in 1985.

Without the Vikings, maybe the 49ers win it all in 1987?
Imagine SF-Philly to start the 89 playoffs? Could Philly get revenge? Doubtful, but that pass rush would have been tough.

Jets hosted the Wild Card in '81, so they were the better seed.

The '87 would-be NFC is interesting. Saints could probably beat the Bears and I don't think the Redskins beat the Niners.