Nostalgic/Throwback games chat thread

[7DnBrnc53]

On 2/13/2021 at 12:48 AM, TecmoSuperJoe said:

 

During that off-season, DeBartolo originally wanted to replace Walsh with Jimmy Johnson.

Also, according to Reddit scuttlebutt (don't know if it's true), the Browns interviewed Belichick that year (two years before they hired him).

[TecmoSuperJoe]

3 hours ago, 7DnBrnc53 said:

During that off-season, DeBartolo originally wanted to replace Walsh with Jimmy Johnson.

Also, according to Reddit scuttlebutt (don't know if it's true), the Browns interviewed Belichick that year (two years before they hired him).

Jimmy Johnson no thank you. After how he called Troy Aikman a loser who was a loser in college, and always would be a loser in the pros following a loss to the Jets in 1990 I think, felt like he was overrated. And he nuked the offense in Miami. Would have rather the 49ers hire in-house with Mike Holmgren, but I guess he wasn't "ready" yet since he had only been there since 1986, and wasn't even OC until 1989. So that probably would have seemed crazy. 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

1993 Week 10 Green Bay Packers (4-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

Monday Nov 8, 1993
Start Time: 9:00pm
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
Attendance: 76,742

Quality matchup for the MNF spotlight game of week 10 that season. The Packers were on MNF for the first time in 7 years. Chiefs were playing without star QB Joe Montana (hamstring injury), but that ultimately didn't turn out to be a problem. The Chiefs defense forced 6 turnovers on the Packers that night, squandering multiple scoring drives, including two in the redzone. Amazingly, the Packers were actually in this game up until the final 3 minute or so despite having turned the ball over 5 times up until that point. The Chiefs offense committed zero turnovers, but at the same time didn't really move the needle against Green Bay as they finished with only 253 yards, and were 3/11 on third down. All that being said, this was still a decent game, albeit more defensive-oriented. Unfortunately, this was the closest we got to a Montana/Favre duel. 1993 was also the last year Arrowhead Stadium used astroturf. 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by TecmoSuperJoe

[TecmoSuperJoe]

1990 Super Bowl 25 Buffalo Bills (15-3) vs. New York Giants (15-3)

Sunday Jan 27, 1991
Start Time: 5:30pm
Stadium: Tampa Stadium

Great Super Bowl. In the midst of the Gulf War having started just 10 days before, there definitely was a sense of patriotism at this game. Bills had beaten the Giants just a little over a month before on the road 17-13. For the rematch the Giants were able to dominant the time of possession to the point of a 40 plus minute to less than 20 minute split in favor of NYG. This was a game without very many penalties, zero turnovers, and still had a lot of big plays. Everyone will remember Scott Norwood for missing that kick, but something I had forgotten was how lackluster he was on grass kicking from far out. 47 yards for him on grass would have been his longest made in that circumstance. So that kick really was a prayer. Also, back in those days kickers just weren't as sharp as they are now. Bill Belichick's gameplan from this game is enshrined in Canton. 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

1981 Week 16 Denver Broncos (10-5) at Chicago Bears (5-10)

Sunday Dec 20, 1981
Start Time: 1:00pm
Stadium: Soldier Field

Final week of the season has an inter-conference matchup between the Broncos and Bears in Chicago. For the Broncos a win would secure the AFC West crown, and cement a trip to the playoffs. The Bears are trying to close out a disappointing season with three straight wins in addition to playing spoiler against their opponent. Broncos QB Craig Morton, who was having a decent year at the age of 39 completely wets the bed essentially handing this game to the Bears. It got so bed he was eventually benched in favor of Steve DeBerg, who fared better, but the damage had already been done. Some young players on the Chicago defense like Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, and Gary Fencik make their fair share of big plays. Despite losing their head coach Neil Armstrong after this season, the bedrock of players that would help win a championship in 1985 was starting to form. Meanwhile the San Diego Chargers had to have been smiling ear to ear after the Broncos lost, and they would take advantage of their opportunity to seize the AFC West the following evening with a victory against the Raiders on MNF. Both the Chargers and Broncos finished 10-6, but San Diego owned the tiebreaker. A couple of things you'll notice here is that this is Alan Page's last game of his HOF career, and future coach Jeff Fisher actually returns a punt in this game. 

Edited February 15, 2021 by TecmoSuperJoe

[TecmoSuperJoe]

 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

Spotlight on the 1977 Atlanta Falcons defense. You could make a case that since the merger, this was the most dominant defense ever fielded. 

 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

1985 Week 13 Denver Broncos (8-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-6)

Sunday Dec 1, 1985
Start Time: 1:00pm
Stadium: Three Rivers Stadium

Rematch of the 1984 AFC divisional where the Steelers upset the Broncos in Denver. This one, this time in Pittsburgh, turns out to be a gem with John Elway pulling some late game heroics after having just spotted the Steelers 6 points to take the lead. Steelers are amazingly in this game towards the end despite losing the turnover battle 3-1 in the final game statistics, in addition to taking 6 sacks opposed to zero for Denver. Both teams played in tight divisions that year. The Broncos despite having an 11-5 record missed the playoffs, and the Steelers didn't make the playoffs at 7-9, but the division winner of the AFC Central was only 8-8 via Cleveland. 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

1992 Week 2 Miami Dolphins (0-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-1)

Monday Sep 14, 1992
Start Time: 9:00pm
Stadium: Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Attendance: 74,765

A rare coaching matchup between Don Shula and Bill Belichick turns out to produce one of the best MNF games ever. Dolphins had their week 1 game postponed due to Hurricane Andrew, so this game against the 0-1 Browns is their first of the season. What looks to be a comfortable victory for the Dolphins changes in the 4th quarter when Cleveland roars back into the fight. This one legit comes down to the final few seconds. Definitely a classic. 

Edited February 19, 2021 by TecmoSuperJoe

[TecmoSuperJoe]

2005 Week 12 New York Giants (7-3) at Seattle Seahawks (8-2)

Start Time: 4:16pm
Stadium: Qwest Field
Attendance: 67,102
Time of Game: 3:51

This was a good one. I still remember Jeremy Shockey preemptively celebrating when he thought Jay Feely was going to win the game for the Giants. The Giants had 16 penalties on the day at Qwest Field, which included 11 false starts. Their offensive line just could not overcome the noise factor. Incredibly, they were in position to win this game three times, but Jay Feely missed all three kicks that would have ended it. Seattle eventually capitalized in overtime. Both defensive lines got after each quarterback, but a lot of exciting plays on offense still transpired. Seattle's reputation for a noisy environment was solidified this day. 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

2009 Week 16 Minnesota Vikings (11-3) at Chicago Bears (5-9)

Monday Dec 28, 2009
Start Time: 8:40pm
Stadium: Soldier Field
Attendance: 62,479
Time of Game: 2:22

Near the end of the regular season, with both their seasons going in opposite directions, the Vikings and Bears duel out in the cold on Monday Night Football. It's the first year of the Jay Cutler era for Chicago, and although it's a losing campaign, the Bears are more than happy to cut their division rival down to size. With just over a quarter to go, the Vikings erase a 24-6 lead, and take the game to OT at 30-30. Cutler has maybe his best game of the season with a clutch TD to seal the deal. This loss would be the 4th in the last 3 games for the Vikings, and ended up costing them homefield advantage to New Orleans in the playoffs.