Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Many of the Super Bowl champions of the past have occasionally laid uncharacteristic eggs on the road to glory. Some examples that come to mind are:

The 1968 Jets giving the Bills their only win of the year through the courtesy of three Joe Namath pick sixes.
The 1979 Steelers being ambushed 34-10 by the cellar-dwelling Bengals.
The 1993 Cowboys getting clobbered by Richie Petitbon's Redkins on the season's Monday Night opener.
The dominant 1994 49ers, stunningly losing their mojo for one week and getting whacked 40-8 by the Eagles.
The Patriots' getting slaughtered by the Chiefs last season.

Any other prime examples?

'70 Colts losing at home, 24-44, to a Chiefs team that didn't make the playoffs.

'76 Raiders in their lone defeat getting clubbed, 17-48, at Schaffer.

'88 Niners getting ripped apart at home to eventual 5-11 Falcs, 17-34.

1980 Raiders lost 31-17 at home in Week 5 to the Chiefs, though it was 31-3 at the half. This was the game where Pastorini broke his leg.

1981 49ers lost 15-12 at home to a 4-6 Cleveland team that would lose its last five games.

2007 Giants losing 41-18 to the Vikings at home

I've heard it said that at least once a season, even a very good team will have a game in which they don't show up.

Todd Pence wrote: The 1979 Steelers being ambushed 34-10 by the cellar-dwelling Bengals.

In that episode of "America's Game" they blamed that loss on being distracted by the Pittsburgh Pirates World Series game being played at the same time.

MatthewToy wrote:

Todd Pence wrote: The 1979 Steelers being ambushed 34-10 by the cellar-dwelling Bengals.

In that episode of "America's Game" they blamed that loss on being distracted by the Pittsburgh Pirates World Series game being played at the same time.

Which is total BS because that Steelers game kicked off at 1 p.m. and the World Series game began at roughly 4:30.

That Bengals loss was one of the few times I saw Noll explode on the sidelines. I imagine he kept up the rage that week in practice because they destroyed Denver in their next game--a home MNF game.

2001 Pats: Got destroyed 30-10 in Miami in Brady's second start.

2003 Pats: Getting destroyed 31-0 in Week 1 in Buffalo after Lawyer Milloy was cut and went to the Bills.

BD Sullivan wrote:

MatthewToy wrote:

Todd Pence wrote: The 1979 Steelers being ambushed 34-10 by the cellar-dwelling Bengals.

In that episode of "America's Game" they blamed that loss on being distracted by the Pittsburgh Pirates World Series game being played at the same time.

Which is total BS because that Steelers game kicked off at 1 p.m. and the World Series game began at roughly 4:30.

That Bengals loss was one of the few times I saw Noll explode on the sidelines. I imagine he kept up the rage that week in practice because they destroyed Denver in their next game--a home MNF game.

Despite getting Cincy back the following December, 37-17, that loss would signify the 'Burgh's struggles with them in the decade that would immediately follow. Starting with back-to-back sweeps the following two seasons, the Bengals would compile a 15-6 record vs the Steelers from the '80 thru '90 season. Despite Noll's struggle of a final season, he was able to sweep them in '91 which, in effect, would signify what Cincy would now have in store for the Cowher and also Tomlin Eras.

1983 Raiders had a bad 34-21 home loss to Seattle (though avenged in January)

1995 Cowboys lost 38-20 at home to a hobbling 49ers team (it was worse than the final score indicated) and got SWEPT by 6-10 Washington