1990 NFL season - expectations, retrospect...

[74_75_78_79_]

The season when another wildcard team would be added in each conference. At the time, summer of '90 reading the NFL schedule, I briefly was okay with it only to then think, no, 6th-seed not necessary. Give all division winners a well-deserved bye.

First time since '66 that bye weeks would be applied for each team during the regular season.

And the first full season with Paul as Commish!

I did, indeed, have the Hollander/Zander preview. But I would have to go to my Mom's basement to dig and dust it off to remember what the predictions were. What I do remember, to my dismay at the time, was a written fictional article of a showdown between the '79 Steelers & last year's World Champs. "Dismay" in that, despite the 'Burgh jumping out to a 14-0 lead, would end up losing. I'm going to guess that San Fran was predicted to three-peat. I remember thinking that they would.

Looking at SI, Zimmerman predicted a Rams-over-Chiefs Super Bowl! Paul didn't think there was anything wrong with the Forty Niners. But he felt that they may be getting "fat". Not allowing spectators to watch practices sitting down. And no cigar-smoking to Paul's dismay. He felt that San Fran was the "Roman Empire" and felt it was a year to predict the "Barbarians" taking over! He praised the Rams' finale win at bitter, tundra Foxboro. And then, depleted mind you, beating Philly at the Vet followed by beating G-men yet again at the Meadowlands. Crushing loss in the NFCC/Candlestick written off as simply the Rams being 'spent' by then.

I know I felt optimism for the Steelers after that '89 post-season of theirs. Didn't really know enough about how the new offensive philosophy of Walton would affect things. But Paul seemed to. He was questioning Hoge being placed as a HB instead while opening up their offense much more than needed. He predicted the AFC Central exact - Cincy, Houston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland. Someone had to finish 4th! But anyone thinking that last year's division champs/CCG-participant would finish at that very position, were likely thinking along the lines of 7-9; not...3-13!!

The collision-course between SF and NYG! G-men with Ottis as their main RB weren't looking to stir things up as much as they would. Washington was picked at 1st in the division with they at 2nd instead (Eagles in 3rd). And halfway into the season, if you all remember, Miami seemed BACK! The terrific 8-1 start! They clobber Bills at home, 30-7, in Week #2! But do lose at Giants, 20-3, the following week. And Bills, themselves, still started 9-1 just the same. Shell's Raiders, of course, finished 2nd-seed. They, as 'usual' at the time, handed Miami that second loss of theirs to drop them to 8-2 (Bills handed 4-0 Raiders their first loss early on). Schottenheimer/DeBerg, Derrick, etc would make their KC playoff debut! Gibbs propels DC back to the playoffs, though as a 3rd-place WC. Broncos back out of the fold just like that! Bobby Humphrey hold-out clearly not of assistance. Everything, now, becoming apparent that the Herschel Walker Experiment in the Twin Cities wouldn't fly. Sgt Rock's last year there as well as Buddy Ryan's last year in Philly as HC...

What are all your takes? Predictions? The extra playoff teams, bye week, Paul Tag now in-charge, looking back at what actually DID happen, etc?

PS - Just before the season began, I remember a rumor that Lawrence Taylor (contract issues) was going to go to the EAGLES (he, Reg, and Jerome...scary)! Anyone remember that?

[Brian wolf]

Looking back, I was very disappointed in how the Cowboys finished Jimmy Johnson's second season with a chance to make the playoffs before the Eagles knocked Aikman out of the week 15/16 game.

Had he not traded Walsh, Johnson might have led the Boys to a victory over Atlanta to get in the dance but with Babe Laufenberg trying to run a primitive offense from OC David Shula, and rookie Emmitt Smith hitting the wall after revitalizing the team, they petered out and Johnson made another great decision in the offseason ... replacing Shula for Ernie Zampese disciple Norv Turner, who bonded with Troy Aikman instantly ...

[ChrisBabcock]

First time since '66 that bye weeks would be applied for each team during the regular season.

This also began the "entire division gets a bye the same week" era... which I miss.

[lastcat3]

One thing is if we ended up with a Bills and 9ers Super Bowl I think the Bills beat them rather handily. THe 49ers didn't have the running game that year to slow down the Bills offense like the Giants were able to.

[CSKreager]

Zimmerman’s pick of KC to win the AFC wasn’t crazy based on how they finished 89, their style of play (they played more like the Giants of the AFC with ground and pound, time of possession) and that looked good for the most part of the season.

But ironically they sweep the Raiders and still finish a game out as the one time Marty got swept by Seattle (a team he otherwise owned, going 16-2 against the Seahawks in his other 9 years as chiefs coach)

We all remember the Skansi Hail Mary at the gun at Arrowhead (especially considering Seattle for the most part never won there) but they also beat them in week 7. And of course the Warren Moon 527 yard game.

Also a dumb loss to Indianapolis (albeit a Colts team that also beat the Eagles, Skins, and Bengals) didn’t help matters either.

Otherwise they would have been the 2 seed with a 1st round bye (remember Arrowhead did not gain its playoff jinx mentality until a few years later)

[Brian wolf]

I respectfully disagree lastcat3 ...

Yes, the Bills were on a roll going into the SB but I think the Niners defense led by Lott would have shut them down. It would have been a win with Young as he would have ran wild against the slower Bills linebackers as long as Bennett was blocked ...

[CSKreager]

I respectfully disagree lastcat3 ...

Yes, the Bills were on a roll going into the SB but I think the Niners defense led by Lott would have shut them down. It would have been a win with Young as he would have ran wild against the slower Bills linebackers as long as Bennett was blocked ...

I don’t think the 49ers would have been able to run the ball well enough to win time of possession as handily as the Giants. Plus, the Bills offense wasn’t exactly a one trick pony with Thurman Thomas

[Brian wolf]

True, but judging from hindsight, could Jim Kelly avoid turnovers? Against the Niners its doubtful and even without any turnovers, Kelly couldnt get close enough for Norwood to beat NY.

[7DnBrnc53]

Yes, the Bills were on a roll going into the SB but I think the Niners defense led by Lott would have shut them down. It would have been a win with Young as he would have ran wild against the slower Bills linebackers as long as Bennett was blocked ...

Maybe, but I don't see the 49er defense slowing down the Bills offense. They didn't have Belichick's special scheme. They also lacked a stud RB that year (they should have tried to trade Craig for Marcus Allen, or they should have drafted a different RB in the 1990 draft, like Harold Green or Chris Warren).

[Brian wolf]

In the SB, Young would have been the stud RB and there is no way the Bills secondary could have stayed with Rice, Taylor, Jones and possibly Craig if his treatment during the week was good. The Bills with Smith and Bennett would have to get to Young ...