I give the Whiners the biggest *Asterisk* of them all.
Because, during their "run of greatness", they played in an NFC West consisting of the Rams, the Saints and the Falcons............all of whom, collectively, coincidentally during that 'Niner run, had a winning percentage of perhaps .300; All three of them, for a LONG, LONG time, averaged maybe 3-4 wins a year.
There's a lot to be said about momentum not only during a game, but as a season goes on. I remember in one of those 'Niner years, that the 'niners played their division the first eight games of the season (after the expansion Panthers also joined the NFC Lest). I'll never forget my eyes popping out when I saw the schedule that summer!! Right then and there, I remember thinking "CONSPIRACY"!! Sure 'nuff, they went into the second half of the season 8-0! That's why they were seeded so well in the playoffs alot. Because in their own division, it was an automatic 8 wins for like a decade.
Every year during the rivalry between Dallas and the Whiners, I'd look at the schedules of each and be amazed at how easy the Whiners had it, EVERY YEAR!!! Meantime, we'd get the Packers every year, the Whiners themselves, and a host of other playoff teams to get through. NOT TO MENTION what was the "Baddest" division in football, the NFC East. The Division with the MOST Super Bowl wins and MOST Super Bowl appearances as well.
I'll NEVER give the Whiners half the credit that most folks do. NEVER!!! I don't think "the catch" was anything special (except for WHO it happened against), I don't think that the "west coast offense" was "genius", I don't think that Montana was the "greatest ever", and neither was Rice.
What I DO KNOW is that their owner was the ONLY owner EVER to be stripped of his team for being a mafioso convicted crime lord! THAT, I do know!!
