I don't think that the Bears were that much better than the Saints. In my opinion, Chicago's title window closed in 88-89 after they lost to the Niners in the NFC Title Game, traded away Jim McMahon, and had Dan Hampton get hurt on them after a 4-0 start. Those 90 and 91 Bear teams weren't for real. The NFC Central regressed in 1990, and in 91, they should have lost to the Jets and the Saints, which would have put them out of the playoffs where they belonged.Bears/Saints '90
Strangely 'close' playoff games
Re: Strangely 'close' playoff games
Re: Strangely 'close' playoff games
In defense of the 1998 Cardinals- you can only play who's on the schedule.
The teams they were battling essentially for that last playoff spot did themselves in. The Giants and Buccaneers did what the Cardinals did not do that year- lose to a miserable Washington team. And New Orleans- well, they had Arizona dead to rights with a late lead in week 16 in a de-facto elimination game, and if they had held them off, could have snuck into the playoffs considering Flutie didn't play for the Bills in week 17. While they did have a tough schedule that year (Vikings, Dallas, Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, and of course the 49ers/Falcons), they really could have made things interesting if they hadn't lost to a then-winless Carolina team.
(The Giants and Saints losses to winless teams, BTW, both came on the same day: 11/1/1998)
Tampa Bay could have finished ahead of the Cardinals if they hadn't completely choked against the Redskins in a week 16 Saturday game ala the Eagles last season.
So basically, the Cardinals did what they had to do and the Saints/Bucs/Giants couldn't.
The teams they were battling essentially for that last playoff spot did themselves in. The Giants and Buccaneers did what the Cardinals did not do that year- lose to a miserable Washington team. And New Orleans- well, they had Arizona dead to rights with a late lead in week 16 in a de-facto elimination game, and if they had held them off, could have snuck into the playoffs considering Flutie didn't play for the Bills in week 17. While they did have a tough schedule that year (Vikings, Dallas, Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, and of course the 49ers/Falcons), they really could have made things interesting if they hadn't lost to a then-winless Carolina team.
(The Giants and Saints losses to winless teams, BTW, both came on the same day: 11/1/1998)
Tampa Bay could have finished ahead of the Cardinals if they hadn't completely choked against the Redskins in a week 16 Saturday game ala the Eagles last season.
So basically, the Cardinals did what they had to do and the Saints/Bucs/Giants couldn't.