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NFL history articles

The 1985 New York Jets Return To The Playoffs

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The New York Jets had been a playoff team at the outset of the 1980s, reaching the postseason in 1981-82 and getting to the AFC Championship Game the latter trip. Then head coach Walt Michaels suddenly retired, Joe Walton took over and the Jets promptly went 7-9 the next two seasons. Walton needed to deliver a playoff season and that’s what he did, as the 1985 New York Jets contended all year for the AFC East crown and ultimately got in as a wild-card.

Another Near-Miss For The 1985 Miami Dolphins

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The 1985 Miami Dolphins were in the franchise’s third year with Dan Marino quarterback. The first two years had seen a pair of AFC East titles, a Super Bowl trip and an MVP award. All that was left was to win the Lombardi Trophy itself. The Dolphins didn’t achieve that goal in ’85, but they […]

The Improbable Super Bowl Run Of The 1985 New England Patriots

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The franchise had never made the Super Bowl, or even an AFC Championship Game. The last playoff appearance had been in the strike-torn year of 1982. They had undergone a coaching change mid-season in 1984. There was nothing to suggest history in the making, but that’s what the 1985 New England Patriots made, becoming the first team to reach the Super Bowl with three road playoff wins.

1984 Pittsburgh Steelers: A Division Championship Run

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The early 1980s aren’t a memorable part of Pittsburgh Steelers lore, not in a franchise that has won six Super Bowls. The early 1980s didn’t provide that, but the Steelers produced three respectable teams that made the playoffs in consecutive years. The 1984 Pittsburgh Steelers concluded that three-year run. GREAT 1980s SPORTS MOMENTSStart reading today.  1984 […]

1984 New York Giants: Bill Parcells’ First Playoff Trip

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The Bill Parcells era in New York would be the greatest in the franchise’s Super Bowl era, producing Super Bowl trophies in 1986 & 1990. But after a 3-12-1 start to Parcells’ head coaching career in 1983, the heat was on to produce. The 1984 New York Giants made it into the playoffs and paved […]

1984 Los Angeles Raiders: A Repeat Bid Comes Up Short

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The 1984 Los Angeles Raiders were coming off a Super Bowl win and for a half-season it looked like they might pull off a repeat. But they were in a tough division and slipped to a wild-card, then to a quick playoff exit. GREAT 1980s SPORTS MOMENTSStart reading today.  Marcus Allen had electrified the nation with […]

The 1984 Seattle Seahawks Go To The Air & Keep Winning

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The 1984 Seattle Seahawks overcame some unexpected adversity on their way to a big year. Coming off a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 1983, the first under head coach Chuck Knox, Seattle had established itself as a run-first team. Then running back Curt Warner hurt his knee in the season’s opening game, the […]

The 1984 Miami Dolphins: Dan Marino’s Super Bowl Season

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Dan Marino was one of the great quarterbacks of all-time and maybe even the greatest of the modern era of the NFL. The one knock on him was that he never won a Super Bowl, though he certainly dragged some otherwise bad teams to respectability and the playoffs. And he did reach the Super Bowl […]

1984 San Francisco 49ers: An All-Time Great Champion

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The San Francisco 49ers had won the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 1981 under the tandem of head coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana. After a brief step back in the strike-torn year of 1982, the 49ers reached the NFC Championship Game. And one year later they made it all the way back, as […]

The Super Bowl Season Of The 1983 Los Angeles Raiders

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The 1983 Los Angeles Raiders were on a mission in their second season since relocating from Oakland. The franchise had won its second Super Bowl in a five-year period in 1980, but then slipped to 7-9 a year late. In the strike-shortened year of 1982, they were the AFC’s top playoff seed before being upset […]

The 1983 San Francisco 49ers Get A Dynasty Back On Track

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After a surprise run to win the Super Bowl in 1981, the San Francisco 49ers slipped back to 3-6 in the strike-shortened year of 1982. The possibility that the championship year was a fluke appeared a real possibility. The 1983 San Francisco 49ers didn’t win it all, but by reaching the NFC Championship Game they […]

The 1983 Detroit Lions Run To The NFC Central Title

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The 1983 Detroit Lions were a steadily improving team with one of the star running backs in the NFL, Billy Sims. The Lions drafted Sims following a 2-14 season in 1979 and immediately went 17-15 over the next two years. They made the playoffs at 4-5 in the strike-shortened year of 1982, and in 1983 […]

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