Ending the regular season, opening the playoffs

[Alexander]

Ending the regular season, opening the playoffs
1:37 PM Mon, Dec 28, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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We talked about this not long ago, but here's an update on how many times teams have closed the regular season and opened the playoffs.

If the Cowboys and Eagles meet again in the wild-card round of the playoffs, it would be the 10th time teams have met in successive weeks since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990.

Here's the breakdown:

1991 - Kansas City vs. Raiders
Dec. 22 at Los Angeles - Chiefs win, 27-21
Dec. 28 at Kansas City - Chiefs win, 10-6
1992 - Buffalo vs. Houston
Dec. 27 at Houston - Oilers win, 27-3
Jan. 3 at Buffalo - Bills win, 41-38, OT
1993 - Denver vs. Raiders
Jan. 2, 1994 at Los Angeles - Raiders win, 33-30, OT
Jan. 9, 1994 at Los Angeles - Raiders win, 42-24
1993 - Detroit vs. Green Bay
Jan. 2, 1994 at Detroit - Lions win, 30-20
Jan. 8, 1994 at Detroit - Packers win, 28-24
1997 - New England vs. Miami
Dec. 22 at Miami - Patriots win, 14-12
Dec. 28 at New England - Patriots win, 17-3
2000 - New Orleans vs. Seattle
Dec. 24 at New Orleans - Rams win, 26-21
Dec. 30 at New Orleans - Saints win, 31-28
2001 - NY Jets vs. Raiders
Jan. 6, 2002 at Oakland - Jets win, 24-22
Jan. 12, 2002 at Oakland - Raiders win, 38-24
2001 - Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay
Jan. 6, 2002 at Tampa Bay - Eagles win, 17-13
Jan. 12, 2002 at Philadelphia - Eagles win, 31-9
2004 - Denver vs. Indianapolis
Jan. 2, 2005 at Denver - Broncos win, 33-14
Jan. 9, 2005 at Indianapolis - Colts win, 49-24

==

Interesting bit of trivia: Who was the head coach of the Denver team that lost back to back games to the Raiders in 1993?

 

[theebs]

We have not won a season ending game in 9 years.

We have not beat a nfc east opponent the last week since I believe 99.

We have not won a playoff game in 12 years.

its time to get all these things off this teams back.

 

[BigDPlayer]

We have not won a season ending game in 9 years.

We have not beat a nfc east opponent the last week since I believe 99.

We have not won a playoff game in 12 years.

its time to get all these things off this teams back.

INDEED!

 

[Don Corleone]

We have not won a season ending game in 9 years.

We have not beat a nfc east opponent the last week since I believe 99.

We have not won a playoff game in 12 years.

its time to get all these things off this teams back.

If nothing else, I'd say we are due.

Also, no team in the NFC really scares me this year. Saints, Vikings, Cards are all proving to be brutally inconsistent.

The team with a consistent (not necessarily spectacular) QB and a solid defense will win the conference. That narrows it down to two teams: Dallas and Green Bay.

 

[Hypnotoad]

that breakdown is encouraging. I could have sworn Mike and Mike were talking about how 4 out of 5 times in NFL history the teams split back to back regular finale and playoff.

 

[goliadmike]

We have not won a season ending game in 9 years.

We have not beat a nfc east opponent the last week since I believe 99.

We have not won a playoff game in 12 years.

its time to get all these things off this teams back.

We may as well get those monkeys off our backs. This seems to be the year to do it.

Trivia question answer: Wade Phillips

 

[Alexander]

Trivia question answer: Wade Phillips

Correct. Now isn't that comforting?

 

[Hypnotoad]

Correct. Now isn't that comforting?

I don't know anything about that particular situation so I can't get my hate on for Wade... Reach for those who do.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Gah, I hate playing Philly back-to-back weeks.

If we win, we're faced with the dilemma of beating an NFCE opponent 3 times in a season. VERY hard to do.

If we lose, we have to go to Philly and win in their house again. Very hard to do.

I'm not too fond of either scenario.

 

[goliadmike]

Correct. Now isn't that comforting?

Ummm, on the surface... no, but that was a long time ago and I really do believe in this team this year.

 

[Joe Realist]

Some of those regular season finales were meaningless - keep that in mind.

 

[Don Corleone]

Correct. Now isn't that comforting?

It was 16 years ago under different circumstances and with a different team. I'll reserve judgement until I see how this plays out.

On a related note, why is everyone so scared of playing the Eagles? This team has a chance to atone for last year's debacle, and the team and fans should welcome the opportunity.

 

[NextGenBoys]

It was 16 years ago under different circumstances and with a different team. I'll reserve judgement until I see how this plays out.

On a related note, why is everyone so scared of playing the Eagles? This team has a chance to atone for last year's debacle, and the team and fans should welcome the opportunity.

Because IMO NFCE games are such a toss up. Same reason I didnt want to play NY in 07 when everyone thought we were going to crush them.

 

[sonnyboy]

Gah, I hate playing Philly back-to-back weeks.

If we win, we're faced with the dilemma of beating an NFCE opponent 3 times in a season. VERY hard to do. Not exactly. When we win next week, we'll only have to beat them once in the Play-offs.

If we lose, we have to go to Philly and win in their house again. Very hard to do. Agreed, this would be harder.

I'm not too fond of either scenario.

Well this list of the previous 10 times this scenario played out should make you feel better.

 

[Alexander]

It was 16 years ago under different circumstances and with a different team. I'll reserve judgement until I see how this plays out.

On a related note, why is everyone so scared of playing the Eagles? This team has a chance to atone for last year's debacle, and the team and fans should welcome the opportunity.

Beating a team twice in a year is hard to do, especially when each is a divisional rival who knows each other very well. Three times is even more difficult. That is the main reason I want nothing to do with them more than anything else.

 

[MagicMan]

Beating a team twice in a year is hard to do, especially when each is a divisional rival who knows each other very well. Three times is even more difficult. That is the main reason I want nothing to do with them more than anything else.

Exactly my thoughts.....if my memory is right, the 'boys swept the Giants the year they went 13-3, and had home field throughout only to lose to the Giants at home in the first round. That still is engraved in my mind. This is why the eagles could be dangerous for Dallas in the playoffs. I think the 'Boys can beat the eagles this week, it is the next encounter that would have me worried.

oh boy, why is it always something???

 

[JBS]

I feel like I am the only one who feels this way, but I really do not care about this weeks game. If we win great, if we lose big deal..I have no issues with going into Philly in the first round..

 

[Don Corleone]

Exactly my thoughts.....if my memory is right, the 'boys swept the Giants the year they went 13-3, and had home field throughout only to lose to the Giants at home in the first round. That still is engraved in my mind. This is why the eagles could be dangerous for Dallas in the playoffs. I think the 'Boys can beat the eagles this week, it is the next encounter that would have me worried.

oh boy, why is it always something???

2007 was a different year for several reasons:

1) We had an injured TO, and had some other injuries across the team. This team is much healthier right now. knock on wood.

2) The defense folded the tent at the wrong time. This defense is stepping up right now. Defense has given up 4 TDs in the past 3 games, against some teams that have high powered offenses (SD and Saints).

3) Our QB is entering January with confidence. Romo is playing outstanding football right now. That wasn't the case in 2007, even with a 13-3 record. Romo was struggling at the end of 2007.

I do have concerns with short yardage offense, but all teams have deficiencies right now. I'm in Louisiana as I write this, and you would think that Saints fans are ready to jump off of bridges right now.

 

[lurkercowboy]

If Dallas had beaten the Vikings in the final game of the 1982 season, the teams would have played again in the first round of the playoffs.

That was the game where Dorsett had the 99 yard run, but Dallas still lost the game and played Tampa Bay in the first round.

 

[28 Joker]

Correct. Now isn't that comforting?