Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

As we head into the divisional round, I was reminded of the NFL Films Greatest Games documentary on the 1974 “Sea of Hands” game.

In the early part of the documentary the narrator mentions how at least one program referred to that game as “Super Bowl VIII 1/2”.

Out of curiosity, are there any other games in rounds before the Super Bowl itself where people at the time thought featured the two best teams in the league, and whoever won that game would have been favored to win the Super Bowl?

In particular any in the divisional round?

Off the top of my head, one that feels like it could have featured the two best teams that year (at least on paper) is the 2000 AFC Divisional Round match between Baltimore and Tennessee.

Admittedly, the Rams had an excellent offensive team that year, but their defense was worse than either of their Super Bowl teams.

In 1979, I think that Pittsburgh's Week 9 matchup at home against the Cowboys was referred to as SB XIII 1/2.

7DnBrnc53 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 5:12 pm In 1979, I think that Pittsburgh's Week 9 matchup at home against the Cowboys was referred to as SB XIII 1/2.

I could see that. Both had met the previous Super Bowl after all.

That said, any playoff games in rounds before the Super Bowl that were labeled that to your knowledge?

2004/2005 AFC divisional ... Patriots shut down Colts

Probably 7 or 8 of the NFC championship games between 1984 and 1997.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Thu Jan 16, 2025 8:24 pm 2004/2005 AFC divisional ... Patriots shut down Colts

You think Pittsburgh couldn’t have beaten Indianapolis after that?

Granted we did see that happen the following year, but it was very close to going the other way.

Had the Colts played the Steelers in the 2004 AFC championship game, I might believe the Colts beat them, and should have won in 2005 as well but Big Ben makes a desperate tackle that keeps a fumble return from being a clinching TD. Its hard to say; great offense or not, it took Manning awhile to finally win a SB, so the Steelers with a rookie Ben Roethlisberger, might have beaten them as well. Looking back, the Colts werent tough enough at that time until 2006, so its really hard to speculate.

That said, any playoff games in rounds before the Super Bowl that were labeled that to your knowledge?

No, but in hindsight, the 1983 Raiders@Redskins regular season meeting could have been labeled as Super Bowl 17 1/2.

The 49ers/Giants MNF games in 1989/1990

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Fri Jan 17, 2025 4:47 am Had the Colts played the Steelers in the 2004 AFC championship game, I might believe the Colts beat them, and should have won in 2005 as well but Big Ben makes a desperate tackle that keeps a fumble return from being a clinching TD. Its hard to say; great offense or not, it took Manning awhile to finally win a SB, so the Steelers with a rookie Ben Roethlisberger, might have beaten them as well. Looking back, the Colts werent tough enough at that time until 2006, so its really hard to speculate.

One of the things that YouTube documentarian Jon Bois pointed out in his “Bob Emergency” video is that the Colts defense was very good if Bob Sanders was healthy, and rather mediocre when he wasn’t, and he argued that Sanders could’ve been a consensus Hall of Famer if he never got hurt.

In the playoffs following the 2006 season, Sanders returned healthy.

In 2005 and 2007 which were easily two of the best seasons the Colts defense had in that time, he was relatively healthy I believe.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but was Bob Sanders healthy in the playoffs after 2004?