Thursday, August 31, 2006
The Ultimate Super Bowl Tournament
When I’m up late at night waiting to feed my daughter these are the things I think of. What would happen if all 40 super bowl winners met in a tournament? In my mind, this is what would happen. Keep in mind this is just my mind and opinions will vary. Matchups were selected at random. Also, 24 teams got first-round byes at random, leaving just eight first-round match-ups. Something else to keep in mind is that since it’s random you could have some darkhorses advance deep and some legendary teams exit early if they end up playing each other. For example, since it’s a random draw the 85 Bears could end up playing the 72 Dolphins in one of the early rounds. I’ll post the first-round matchup results today and hopefully will have time to do another round today or sometime in the near future. Let’s get it on...
First Round
2000 Ravens (12-4) vs. 1994 49ERS (13-3): Talk about defense vs. offense. The Ravens allowed the fewest points in a 16-game season and allowed just one offensive touchdown in four playoff wins. They were as ferocious as they come with Ray Lewis leading a nasty charge. The offense, though, ranked 14th and was led by Trent Dilfer whose job was simply not to lose the game. The Niners spent their money wisely in 94, signing defensive studs like Deion Sanders and Ken Norton. That helped them rank sixth in defense. And the offense was out of this world. Steve Young set what was then a record for passing efficiency, threw for 35 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. Jerry Rice was at this best, catching 112 passes and the running game hummed with Ricky Watters running behind William Floyd who had a sensational rookie season. The Niners scored 505 points and put up 44, 38 and 49 in their three playoff wins while ending the Cowboys bid for a 3-peat.
OUTCOME: 49ERS 24, Ravens 10. Ravens defense was dominant but this offense was a machine and the Ravens would have to do some damage offensively which I doubt would happen.
1988 49ERS (10-6) vs. 2002 Buccaneers (12-4): Winning percentage wise, the 88 Niners are the worst super bowl champion ever, going 10-6. But the Niners were firing at the right time, overcoming a 6-5 start, destroying the Vikings and Bears in the playoffs by 25 points each and then edging the Bengals, who had the league’s best record, 20-16 on Joe Montana’s famous 92-yard last-minute touchdown drive. Montana was banged up in 88 and not surprisingly he’s return to health coincided with the Niners late-season success. Rice played hurt throughout the season so Roger Craig carried them at times, rushing for more than 1,500 yards. The defense was also solid, ranking eighth in the league. The Buccaneers mirrored the Ravens with their defensive prowess, allowing just 196 points, but this was an underrated offensive team as well. Brad Johnson threw 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while Keyshawn Johnson, Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius formed a nice receiving trio.
OUTCOME: Call this a minor upset, but I’ll go with the Bucs 20-17 as they bottle up Craig.
1969 Chiefs (11-3) vs. 2001 Patriots (11-5): The Chiefs finished second in their division to the Raiders but beet the Raiders in Oakland for the final AFL championship. The Patriots came out of nowhere as Tom Brady filled in for an injured Drew Bledsoe and created one of the great cinderealla stories in NFL history. The Chiefs were tough on both sides of the ball, ranking No. 2 in offense and No. 1 on defense. Hank Stram created an innovative offense led by Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson and quality running backs and receivers like Mike Garrett and Otis Taylor. The defense was nasty with five players making the pro bowl. That unit allowed just 20 points in three playoff games. The Chiefs were a few plays from going 14-0, losing three games by 12 points. The Patriots started 0-2 and 5-5 before winning their last nine games and shocking the heavily favored Rams in the super bowl as Brady’s legend was born. This was the weakest of the Patriots three championship teams but they still ranked No. 6 in offense and defense. Brady was efficient while Antowain Smith had his best year and Troy Brown became a 1,000-yard receiver.
OUTCOME: Chiefs 21, Patriots 10. The Patriots were tough but the Chiefs have too much on both sides of the ball in this one.
1995 Cowboys (12-4) vs. 1975 Steelers (12-2): Even in super bowl tournaments these two end up playing each other. Great rivalry between two five-time winners. This was Dallas’s last hurrah but what a team it was. They ranked third in offense and defense and sent 10 players to the Pro Bowl. Emmitt Smith had his best year, running for 1,773 yards and a then-record 25 touchdowns. Troy Aikman threw just seven interceptions in 432 attempts, Michael Irvin had 1,603 yards and 10 touchdowns and the offensive line blew up opposing d-lines. The Steelers repeated as champions, ranking fifth in offense and second in defense. They sent 11 players to the pro bowl. Franco Harris rushed for over 1,200 yards while Lynn Swann caught 11 touchdowns. The defense was brutal for opponents, holding seven of them to single digits.
OUTCOME: Steve Sabol will probably be mad at me but I’m going with Dallas here, 20-14. I think their offensive line was dominant and would be able to give Aikman enough time to pass and Smith enough time to run while its defense would frustrate Bradshaw into some costly mistakes.
1981 49ERS (13-3) vs. 1967 Packers (9-4-1): This was the start of the Niners dynasty and the end of the Packers. The Niners came out of nowhere after a 6-10 finish to record the best record in the league and defeat the Bengals in the Super Bowl. The Packers struggled at times, but finished 9-4-1 despite losing Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor in the offseason. The Niners had difficulty running the ball but Joe Montana’s play and Bill Walsh’s innovative game plans helped them rank seventh in the league. The defense really carried the Niners, though, finishing second in the league and allowing just 250 points. Dwight Clark and Freddie Solomon were a nice receiver tandem with Clark topping 1,000 yards and Solomon 900 yards. The Packers lost their last two regular-season games but recovered in time, defeating the Rams and then the Cowboys in the famous Ice Bowl before hammering the Raiders in Super Bowl II. The defense ranked third but the offense slipped to No. 9. Bart Starr had a rough year, throwing 9 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. With Taylor and Hornung gone, Donny Anderson, Ben Wilson and Jim Grabowski became the featured backs and each rushed for more than 400 yards while Boyd Dowler and Carroll Dale combined for more than 1,500 receiving yards.
OUTCOME: This is a tough one but I’ll go with the youthful Niners to frustrate Starr and the Packers enough to pull the upset. I’ll say Niners 23, Packers 17.
1973 Dolphins (12-2) vs. 1979 Steelers (12-4): While the 72 Dolphins went undefeated, the 73 team might have been even better. Their defense was outstanding, allowing just 150 points and the offense ranked fifth while featuring a vicious running game. Larry Czonka and Mercury Morris combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards while Bob Griese threw 17 touchdowns. Paul Warfield stretched defenses and caught 11 touchdowns. The defense held seven teams to single digits and then allowed just 33 points in three playoff games. This was the end of the line for the Steelers who lost 35-7 to the Chargers in the regular season and survived scares from the Oilers and Rams in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl. Franco Harris again topped 1,000 yards while Terry Bradshaw threw for 26 touchdowns and 3,724 yards...although he did throw 25 interceptions. The defense was still good but not dominant, allowing four teams to top 30 points.
OUTCOME: Dolphins 24, Steelers 10. The Dolphins would grind the ball out and keep Bradshaw Inc. off the field for long stretches.
1987 Redskins (11-4) vs. 1971 Cowboys (11-3): The Redskins blitzed the Broncos 42-10 in the Super Bowl but won two nailbiters in the NFC playoffs, rallying from 14 down to beat the Bears 21-17 and stopping the Vikings at the goal line in the final minute of the NFC championship and winning, 17-10. Washington actually was 8-4 since three of its wins came during the strike via replacement players. Still, this was a solid team that put up a lot of points. Doug Williams replaced Jay Schroeder as the starter and combined those two threw for 23 touchdowns in just 12 games. George Rogers and Kelvin Bryant formed an nice backfield duo although it was rookie Timmy Smith who rushed for more than 200 yards in the super bowl. Gary Clark, Art Monk and Ricky Sanders were a potent receiving trio and the Hogs were outstanding up front and the defense was underrated but solid. The Cowboys ranked first in offense and seventh in defense. They dominated the Dolphins in the super bowl, holding them to a record-low three points. That unit also allowed just 18 points in three playoff games. Roger Staubach split time with Craig Morton but was outstanding, throwing for 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Duane Thomas, Calvin Hill and Duane Thomas formed a three-headed monster backfield while Lance Alworth and Bob Hayes were as tough to cover as they came back then.
OUTCOME: The Redskins hang tough, but I think Staubach would have his way. Call it Cowboys 28, Redskins 17.
1977 Cowboys (12-2) vs. 1983 Raiders (12-4): It’s Doomsday vs. The Silver and Black. As nasty as the Cowboys defense was it ranked just eighth that year. Still, players like Randy White, Harvey Martin, Ed Too Tall Jones and Charlie Waters could make life miserable for opposing offenses as evidenced by them allowing just 23 postseason points. Staubach was solid as usual while rookie Tony Dorsett burst onto the scene and rushed for 1,007 yards and 12 touchdowns. I think people forget how good the Raiders were in 83. Remember, they beat the defending champion Redskins 38-9 in the super bowl and people were talking about how the Redskins might be the best offense ever after scoring a then-record 500+points. The Raiders ambushed three straight playoff opponents, winning 106-33. Eight players made the pro bowl. Marcus Allen ignited the offense, rushing for 1,014 yards and nine touchdowns. He gained a then-record 191 yards in the super bowl. Jim Plunkett handled most of the quarterbacking but Marc Wilson also saw some time and combined they threw for 28 touchdowns.
OUTCOME: I think this might be considered an upset but I don’t think the Raiders get enough respect and I think they win this one, 17-14.
Here is the Field of 32 and the Second-Round Matchups
Note: I will try to keep updating this in the coming days
1994 49ERS vs. 1972 Dolphins
2002 Buccaneers vs. 1978 Steelers
1969 Chiefs vs. 1986 Giants
1995 Cowboys vs. 1980 Raiders
1981 49ERS vs. 2004 Patriots
1973 Dolphins vs. 2005 Steelers
1971 Cowboys vs. 1999 Rams
1983 Raiders vs. 1993 Cowboys
1985 Bears vs. 1998 Broncos
1992 Cowboys vs. 1966 Packers
1991 Redskins vs. 1974 Steelers
1968 Jets vs. 1982 Redskins
1976 Raiders vs. 2003 Patriots
1989 49ERS vs. 1996 Packers
1984 49ERS vs. 1990 Giants
1970 Colts vs. 1997 Broncos
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