1979 Redskins vs. 1980 Patriots

[CSKreager]

Both were supremely capable and talented teams that missed the playoffs despite solid 10-6 records, for they were in stacked conferences (1979 NFC had 4 10+ win teams, while the 1980 AFC had everyone that made the playoffs going 11-5).

But both were underachievers in a way- the 1976-1980 Patriots were a classic what-might-have-been team, while Washington in the late 70s had a tendency for late season December swoons.

The '79 Redskins of course famously lost to Dallas on the final day of the season despite having a seemingly comfortable lead- and losing tiebreakers to Chicago (a loss at the Meadowlands against a lackluster Giants team proved costly too, otherwise they could've fallen back on a Wild Card going into the Dallas finale).

While the 1980 Patriots didn't miss the playoffs in quite the same heartbreaking fashion, they had two bad late losses themselves- at San Francisco before the Niners became the Niners, and at Miami on what happened to be the night Cosell famously announced Lennon's death. Tiebreakers really did them in considering how stacked the AFC of 1980 was.

Which of these 10-6 also rans was better, and who could've done more playoff damage had they gotten into the dance?

[74_75_78_79_]

Nice matchup/idea for a comparison!

'80 Pats clobber Cleveland opening week and exchange lopsided affairs with Buffalo, the win against them (24-2) coming the week after the infamous 'Lennon' MNF game at Miami. Those were the only two wins vs winning teams for them. Washington in '79, of course, spilt with Dallas & Philly and beating 9-7 Browns makes it three for them. Pats get clobbered across conference (at home, Week #2) to Atlanta as well as losing to the other playoff team in the NFC West, Rams, while Redskins get crushed across conference at Steelers while losing to the other playoff team in AFC Central, Houston (opening day). '79 Redskins' have the extra win against a winning team, but '80 Pats have seven Pro Bowlers to Redskins' four - 3 of them defenders, one of them Moseley.

Who does more damage in playoffs? I think neither get to CC. Redskins IMO lose at home to Rams just like Dallas did. Pats go 11-5, it'll mean they win division over Buffalo due to the better division record they already had over them; and with their conference record (9-3) already being better than Cleveland (8-4), they at least get 2nd-seed which, with Houston's 7-5 conference record, would box Oilers out making it Raiders at Buffalo for the Wild Card. Despite losing their regular season affair, Raiders find a way to beat Buffalo as well as doing the same in Schaefer a week later (nothing was stopping Oakland).

Yes, got to call this a tie.

Question I do have...what is the official reason why Redskins get homefield throughout with a finale victory at Dallas? They and Eagles would have had same division (6-2) and conference record (9-3).

[BD Sullivan]

Question I do have...what is the official reason why Redskins get homefield throughout with a finale victory at Dallas? They and Eagles would have had same division (6-2) and conference record (9-3).

The FIFTH tiebreaker was best net points in division games: going into the last game, the Redskins had a +42 to +21 advantage and the Eagles had completed their division schedule.

[74_75_78_79_]

Worthy subject to bring back, I think.

I'm still torn.

[Sonny9]

Although he's obviously no slouch in the regular season, Riggins, in the playoffs, is a nice weapon.
It's a shame that Fugett didn't stay healthy. Although Donny Warren did an ok job good job filling in with 26 catches but 0 TDs. Fugett had 3 TDs on 10 catches.

[Brian wolf]

Good running for the Skins but a very anemic passing game with Theismann utilizing his talent with hardly any playmakers at receiver. At least Ricky Thompson got 4 TDs on only 22 catches.

The Patriots of course, had playmakers at receiver but alot of turnovers from Grogan, who could run hot and cold. After getting benched(?) after the loss to the 49ers, they lose a close game to Miami with Cavanaugh only completing three passes to Morgan/Jackson. They missed a last second FG that would have won the game. Could they have won it with Grogan or was he hurt?

[7DnBrnc53]

Raiders find a way to beat Buffalo as well as doing the same in Schaefer a week later (nothing was stopping Oakland).

Well, I don't think you can say that nothing was stopping the Raiders in 1980. And, if they play the Pats on the road, NE should be really fired up to play. This was four years after the bogus Sugar Bear Hamilton call, and two years after Darryl Stingley.

[Brian wolf]

Good call 7D ... I dont think Cavanaugh beats the Raiders in a hypothetical WC game though, had the team made the FG against Miami ... I need to find out what happened to Grogan? From what I read, his knees were bad at the end of the season. Could the Patriots had run on the Raiders?

[74_75_78_79_]

Question I do have...what is the official reason why Redskins get homefield throughout with a finale victory at Dallas? They and Eagles would have had same division (6-2) and conference record (9-3).

The FIFTH tiebreaker was best net points in division games: going into the last game, the Redskins had a +42 to +21 advantage and the Eagles had completed their division schedule.

Very, very belated thanks for that info, BD (forgive the tardiness). Though I did think that the Eagles were a better team than Washington in '79 (I think there is a legitimate debate on the '79 squad being as good, or maybe being even better than, they were in 1980), it would have made better sense anyway considering that Washington would have done something the Birds didn't do...sweep Dallas.

I still think that the Rams top them at RFK in a hypo-divisional match.

Raiders find a way to beat Buffalo as well as doing the same in Schaefer a week later (nothing was stopping Oakland).

Well, I don't think you can say that nothing was stopping the Raiders in 1980. And, if they play the Pats on the road, NE should be really fired up to play. This was four years after the bogus Sugar Bear Hamilton call, and two years after Darryl Stingley.

I don't know, just my opinion, I always have felt that once their slow early start was out the way, that Oakland was tops in the league for the remainder, finishing the regular season 9-2 with those two defeats being close ones to Philly and Big D (they could have finished 13-3 instead). Erhardt not that good a HC, nowhere near as good as he was an (underrated) OC. Even at Schaefer, and with Sugar Bear/Stingley still fresh, I see Grogan and especially Cavanaugh throwing just enough INTs to cost them against that high-speed swagger-some defense.

[CSKreager]

Question I do have...what is the official reason why Redskins get homefield throughout with a finale victory at Dallas? They and Eagles would have had same division (6-2) and conference record (9-3).

The FIFTH tiebreaker was best net points in division games: going into the last game, the Redskins had a +42 to +21 advantage and the Eagles had completed their division schedule.

Very, very belated thanks for that info, BD (forgive the tardiness). Though I did think that the Eagles were a better team than Washington in '79 (I think there is a legitimate debate on the '79 squad being as good, or maybe being even better than, they were in 1980), it would have made better sense anyway considering that Washington would have done something the Birds didn't do...sweep Dallas.

I still think that the Rams top them at RFK in a hypo-divisional match.

Raiders find a way to beat Buffalo as well as doing the same in Schaefer a week later (nothing was stopping Oakland).

Well, I don't think you can say that nothing was stopping the Raiders in 1980. And, if they play the Pats on the road, NE should be really fired up to play. This was four years after the bogus Sugar Bear Hamilton call, and two years after Darryl Stingley.

I don't know, just my opinion, I always have felt that once their slow early start was out the way, that Oakland was tops in the league for the remainder, finishing the regular season 9-2 with those two defeats being close ones to Philly and Big D (they could have finished 13-3 instead).

Albeit that finish came against a soft schedule (7 of those 9 wins were against teams .500 or worse, none of them after SD/PIT). IMO those 1980 Raiders was honestly one of the weakest SB teams of all time.