Rank all (18) '80s top-seeds

[74_75_78_79_]

Yes, you-know-what is excluded. Here's my top-18 already...

1) '89 FORTY NINERS
2) '85 Bears
3) '87 Forty Niners
4) '84 Forty Niners
5) '83 Raiders
6) '86 Giants - almost '5b'
7) '81 Forty Niners
8) '83 Redskins - if '83 Forty Niners almost beat them...
9) '80 Falcons
10) '81 Bengals
11) '88 Bengals
12) '80 Chargers
13) '84 Dolphins
14) '87 Broncos
15) '88 Bears
16) '85 Raiders
17) '86 Browns
18) '89 Broncos

Had to place '87 Forty Niners above '84 installment simply due to Jerry Rice being onboard. #1 in both O and D in yardage (#1, #3 in pts respectively) certainly don't hurt. Really, really, really didn't want to place Browns so low. Didn't think, at first, that I was going to. Same may apply to '85 Raiders. More than welcome, all of you, to correct me and with enough corrections, can always change my mind.

[CSKreager]

The '80 Chargers ahead of the '84 Dolphins? IDK about that one.

[74_75_78_79_]

The '80 Chargers ahead of the '84 Dolphins? IDK about that one.

What did it for me was Dolphins being just-passing as opposed to SD at least having Muncie and that Dean-led D-front. Yes, I know statistically Miami's D was #7 in points-allowed but still. You still may inspire me to end up changing my mind. Despite Fouts certainly having his own deadly arsenal, Marino and his weapons (OL included) alone may be able to still get past them head-to-head. Also keep in mind, though, SD doing a lot of shooting themselves in feet with turnovers yet still finishing top-seed and making it to CC.

[7DnBrnc53]

I don't think I would have the 87 Broncos ahead of the 89 Broncos. In 89, the Broncos had a better defense and a good RB. In 1987, Elway was the whole team, and deserved the MVP. That defense was bad when they didn't force turnovers.

[L.C. Greenwood]

Yes, you-know-what is excluded. Here's my top-18 already...

1) '89 FORTY NINERS
2) '85 Bears
3) '87 Forty Niners
4) '84 Forty Niners
5) '83 Raiders
6) '86 Giants - almost '5b'
7) '81 Forty Niners
8) '83 Redskins - if '83 Forty Niners almost beat them...
9) '80 Falcons
10) '81 Bengals
11) '88 Bengals
12) '80 Chargers
13) '84 Dolphins
14) '87 Broncos
15) '88 Bears
16) '85 Raiders
17) '86 Browns
18) '89 Broncos

Had to place '87 Forty Niners above '84 installment simply due to Jerry Rice being onboard. #1 in both O and D in yardage (#1, #3 in pts respectively) certainly don't hurt. Really, really, really didn't want to place Browns so low. Didn't think, at first, that I was going to. Same may apply to '85 Raiders. More than welcome, all of you, to correct me and with enough corrections, can always change my mind.

That 1987 Niners team reeled off 13 wins in their last 14 games after losing their opener at Pittsburgh. Huge favorites to win the NFC, but Anthony Carter and the Vikings gave Bill Walsh one of most disappointing losses ever in the playoffs. Joe Montana was strangely ineffective, and was pulled for Steve Young. As we know, San Francisco would win it all the next two seasons, before being edged by the Giants in the 1990 NFC TG.

[ChrisBabcock]

I don't think I would have the 87 Broncos ahead of the 89 Broncos. In 89, the Broncos had a better defense and a good RB. In 1987, Elway was the whole team, and deserved the MVP. That defense was bad when they didn't force turnovers.

^^^
Yeah, I've got to agree to disagree on this one too.

Here goes... Back down memory lane to my childhood of NFC dominance in Super Bowls!

The top of this list was easy, then the water starts to get muddy after the top 5.

1. ‘85 Bears
2. ‘84 49ers
3. ‘89 49ers... This team was REALLY fun to watch as a 15 year old idolizing Montana/Rice
4. ‘86 Giants
5. ‘83 Redskins... What Riggins did at 34 years old was impressive.
6. ‘87 49ers
7. ‘84 Dolphins... Finally an AFC team!
8. ‘81 49ers... ok maybe I have a 49er bias going on here.
9. ‘88 Bears... I remember picking Bears over Bills for the SB as the playoffs started this year.
10. ‘89 Broncos
11. ‘81 Bengals
12. ‘80 Falcons
13. ‘88 Bengals
14. ‘83 Raiders
15. ‘87 Broncos
16. ‘80 Chargers
17. ‘85 Raiders
18. ‘86 Browns

[74_75_78_79_]

I don't think I would have the 87 Broncos ahead of the 89 Broncos. In 89, the Broncos had a better defense and a good RB. In 1987, Elway was the whole team, and deserved the MVP. That defense was bad when they didn't force turnovers.

You're right. '87 Broncos too high; perhaps place them at #18. Now '86 another story; they were a more respectable SB-participant and they, FWIW, showed it in first half vs Giants in SBXXI (played them good at Meadowlands regular season as well). Both Denver and Cleveland dropped off a bit in '87 but because the AFC was so weak, both got top-2 seeds anyway.

[lastcat3]

'84 Dolphins are way too low. They were probably the best AFC team of the '80's minus perhaps the '83 Raiders.

[7DnBrnc53]

'84 Dolphins are way too low. They were probably the best AFC team of the '80's minus perhaps the '83 Raiders.

I would probably have the 88 Bengals and 83 Raiders ahead of them. Those teams were more balanced. That Miami team got more exposed in future seasons without any kind of defense and running game.

Here's my shot at it:

1. 1985 Bears
2. 1989 49ers
3. 1983 Raiders
4. 1983 Redskins
5. 1984 49ers
6. 1980 Chargers
7. 1986 Giants
8. 1980 Falcons
9. 1987 49ers
10. 1988 Bengals
11. 1981 49ers
12. 1981 Bengals
13. 1984 Dolphins
14. 1988 Bears
15. 1986 Browns
16. 1985 Raiders
17. 1989 Broncos
18. 1987 Broncos