Walt, you and I did a tournament a couple years ago over the best teams to win the Super Bowl. Although I disagree with it, 2004 New England won and we'll just leave it at that. Now Im going to do what I think is just as interesting of a topic, the best teams NOT to win the Super Bowl. I compiled a 16 team tournament between the teams that perennially made the playoffs and perenially were picked to go all the way but never did. This time I just seeded the teams based on how close they got to winning the Super Bowl, how often they did it, and how good that particular team did. Heres the seedings.......
East Bracket
1. 1990 Buffalo Bills 2. 2004 Philadelphia Eagles 3. 2005 Indianapolis Colts 4. 1999 Tennessee Titans 5. 1998 Minnesota Vikings 6. 1979 Houston Oilers 7. 1992 Philadelphia Eagles 8. 1991 Detroit Lions
Poor Detroit. They don't stand a chance. This Buffalo team scored in bunches, and it will be no different against the Lions. Bruce Smith and the Bills' defense smothers Barry Sanders and the Bills score in the 40's. 1990 Buffalo Bills 48, 1991 Detroit Lions 10
1992 Philadelphia Eagles v.s. 2004 Philadelphia Eagles
Its the Eagle bowl, Cunningham v.s. McNabb....... White v.s. Kearse........... Kotite v.s. Reid? The latter will coach circles around the former and the '04 Eagles win the title of the best Philly football team ever. 2004 Philadelphia Eagles 30, 1992 Philadelphia Eagles 17
1979 Houston Oilers v.s. 2005 Indianapolis Colts
The 70's Oilers are one of the most forgotten teams of all time. They nearly beat Pittsburgh in the Championship game that final year and they were a really tough team much like Pittsburgh. With that said, Last year's Colts would dominate them. Earl Campbell would get his yards against the Colts' defense but I dont think that Houston's defense would be able to stop Manning and co. Colts win in a shootout. 2005 Indianapolis Colts 45, 1979 Houston Oilers 31
1998 Minnesota Vikings v.s. 1999 Tennessee Titans
This is a good matchup. Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Randall Cunningham against Air McNair and the Titans in their prime. However, that Vikings team choked against Chris Chandler and the Falcons that year. I dont think that they would be able to beat McNair and Tennessee who despite never winning a Super Bowl usually faired well in big games. 1999 Tennessee Titans 34, 1998 Minnesota Vikings 24
West Bracket- First Round
1993 Houston Oilers v.s. 1973 Minnesota Vikings
Wow, the Oilers' great Run & Shoot Offense of the 90's meets the Purple People Eaters Defense of the 70's. I really wish that the Run and Shoot Offense was still alive in the NFL, it is quite a site to behold. Despite the Oilers' continued continued run of bad luck in the playoffs back then, I think that they would get the better of this matchup. Minnesota had a great defense back then but they wouldn't know how to defend the Run & Shoot. I think that the Oilers embarrass Minnesota and Buddy Ryan's defense prevents the Vikings from scoring. 1993 Houston Oilers 38, 1973 Minnesota Vikings 0
1997 Kansas City Chiefs v.s. 1987 Denver Broncos
A classic rivalry. Marty Schottenheimer's Kansas City Chiefs who almost prevented Denver from ever winning the Super Bowl against the Broncos back when they still hadn't won the big one. Unlike their playoff meeting in 1997, I think that this game would be a shootout, and I'll take John Elway over Elvis Grbac. Dan Reeves beats Marty Schottenheimer in a battle between coaches who always choke. 1987 Denver Broncos 31, 1997 Kansas City Chiefs 24
Here's Dan Marino's last chance to finally win something. However, this Dolphins team, the best of his career, was weak on D. I dont think that Miami matches up well against a Jacksonville team that could score in bunches and had a lights out defense. In 1999, Jacksonville lost to only one team all year, the Tennessee Titans, but they did it 3 times. It will take something more than this Dolphins team to join Tennessee in that exclusive club. 1999 Jacksonville Jaguars 44, 1984 Miami Dolphins 20
1986 Cleveland Browns v.s. 1981 Dallas Cowboys
My answer is going to shock you guys in this one. I think that the Browns win. Never pick Danny White in a big game. Heres the situation. The game is tied 20-20 and the Cowboys just intercepted Bernie Kosar deep in Cleveland territory. The Cowboys have an opportunity to take a strong hold on the game, instead White throws 3 wild passes and the Cowboys have to kick a field goal to take a 23-20 lead in the 4th quarter, Cleveland responds by marching down the field and scoring to take a 27-23 lead and with the game on the line, Danny throws an interception. Browns win. 1986 Cleveland Browns 27, 1981 Dallas Cowboys 23
Walt, actually I'll side with you on the Oilers game. The Colts were in a tail spin at the end of last year and they wouldn't be able to stop Earl Campbell. The Oilers defense, in turn, would put the clamps on Manning and Edge. So on to the next round we go, lets do a score and everything like we did in the other tournament.
East Bracket- Quarter Finals
1990 Buffalo Bills v.s. 1999 Tennessee Titans
In the end it comes down to this, Tennessee was one tackle away from losing to Buffalo in 1999, so they wouldn't beat the 1990 squad. The Bills that year are picked by most to be the best team never to win the Super Bowl, we'll find out at the end of this tournament but they move on past this game. 1990 Buffalo Bills 31, 1999 Tennessee Titans 13
2004 Philadelphia Eagles v.s. 1979 Houston Oilers
Look out Eagles, this Oilers team has your number. Philly's rush defense was rather suspect in 2004 and they're playing against Earl Campbell who rushed for nearly 1700 yards in '79. The Oilers will put up some points against Philly's defense and after the Eagles fall in a hole, Andy Reid will be forced to abandon Brian Westbrook and throw on every down. Its a trap. I think that Houston wins in a shocking upset. 1979 Houston Oilers 35, 2004 Philadelphia Eagles 24
West Bracket- Quarter Finals
1986 Cleveland Browns v.s. 1993 Houston Oilers
An old time AFC Central rivalry. This game would be fun to watch. Both teams have potent offenses so I look to defense, and the Oilers have a huge edge. The Oilers only gave up 238 points all season long in 1993 to the Browns 310. Houston pulls away in the fourth. 1993 Houston Oilers 38, 1986 Cleveland Browns 20
In this round, Jacksonville takes on a team that has a great quarterback but a suspect defense, sound familiar? This contest should be similar to the Jags' win over Miami in the last round. John Elway cant do it all on his own and a defense that gave up 35 points to Doug Williams and the Redskins in one quarter will struggle again. 1999 Jacksonville Jaguars 41, 1987 Denver Broncos 17
It's really a shame that the Bills had to go against one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. I think Buffalo slaughters Tennessee. 38-10.
You're right about the Eagles. They were a product of one of the weakest conferences of all time. Earl Campbell runs for 200 yards as Houston wins 35-3.
That 1993 Houston defense only surrendered more than 20 points once after Week 6. Unfortunately that was to Kansas City in the playoffs. I don't think that Cleveland squad can run on the Oilers. The Browns were also notorious for giving up tons of points. Oilers 31, Browns 13.
I agree with the Jaguars-Broncos pick, but I don't think it's a blowout. 24-14 for me.
Houston will be competitive in this game but I think that the Bills are just too powerful. Earl Campbell will get his yards, but the Bills will put some points up as well. I think that this one comes down to the wire but Buffalo pulls it out in the end. 1990 Buffalo Bills 34, 1979 Houston Oilers 31
Who would have thought that this would be one of the Semi Final games? It's another old AFC Central Rivalry game for this '93 Oilers team and I think that they get the better of it again. Jacksonville battled two one-dimensional teams in the first two rounds, they aren't so lucky this time. Houston's defense would be successful against the likes of Mark Brunell, Fred Taylor and James Stewart and the '99 Jags suffer their fourth loss to the Oilers/Titans franchise. 1993 Houston Oilers 38, 1999 Jacksonville Jaguars 10
The Bills vs. the Oilers. Where have we heard that before. In a unprecedented series of actions, Houston jumps out to a 35-3 lead, and the Bills come back to win 41-38 in overtime. That can't possibly happen, right? Bills 41, Oilers 38.
I think that '93 Oilers squad would beat Jacksonville, but I think it's a closer game than you made it out to be. I look for something like 24-21.
I have to disagree with you on this one. This is a major revenge situation for the Oilers, who lost that game to Buffalo in the playoffs the year before after leading 35-3. On top of that, the Oilers suffered a blow out defeat at Buffalo earlier in that 1993 season, the '93 Oilers' last loss until the playoffs. The Oilers wanted Buffalo and now they got them. I think that if those Oilers would have beaten Kansas City in 1993, they would have gone on to beat the Bills the next week and they may have challenged us in the Super Bowl. Houston pulls off a major upset, 1993 Houston Oilers 31, 1990 Buffalo Bills 17
You know I like to bet in revenge situations, but the playoffs are not a time to do it because the game means a lot to both teams. Revenge situations only work when the team not seeking revenge has very little to play for.
The 90s Bills remind me of the Jazz or Knicks of the NBA. They were great teams that couldn't win the championship because of Michael Jordan. Well, the Bills ran into the Cowboys twice, who had Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman. It's just a shame.
Revenge is just a part of it. I actually think that if you put the '93 Oilers and the '90 Bills on the same field then the Oilers would win. That team was on a roll in '93. I was pretty shocked that they lost to Kansas City in the playoffs.
You based your pick on the fact that the Oilers were on a roll. Yet, the Oilers were actually on a roll but lost to KC in the playoffs. So, being on a roll doesn't mean everything, right?
You make a good point, but after losing that game to KC they would come back in this tournament with more fire than ever to salvage their season in at least some way.
