past NFL seasons

This page contains links to blog compilations that tell the story of past NFL seasons from the eyes of their best teams. Each seasonal package contains the game-by-game narrative of the key playoff teams and others that were consequential to how the year played out. The narrative includes a look at the most important players and allows the reader to experience how the season looked as it was actually unfolding.

The modern era is the focal point and that effectively begins in 1978. A series of three rules changes made this the year that turned the league into what we know today—the schedule was expanded to 16 games. The playoffs were expanded from 8 to 10 teams, meaning the addition of a fourth “wild-card round” was necessary. And most important, the rules were changed to clamp down on the freedom defenses had in defending the pass.

These three elements—a 16-game schedule, four rounds of playoffs and a league geared toward passing are things we take for granted today and mark ‘78 as a crucial threshold year in NFL history.

START READING TODAY!

1978: It was the fight to be the first to three Super Bowl championships. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys were among several teams with two titles and they met in Miami for the Lombardi Trophy. No one adjusted to the new rules better than the Steelers and league MVP Terry Bradshaw and they sealed it with a crown. Other stories included the emergence of Earl Campbell and the continued playoff frustration of the Rams. Download from Amazon today.

1979: As quickly as they had won three, the Steelers made it four. They won a Super Bowl over the suprising Los Angeles Rams, who had one of their weaker teams of the decade yet got hot at the right time. The Rams derailed the career finale of Cowboy quarterback Roger Staubach while the Steelers again turned away Campbell’s Houston Oilers in the AFC. Download from Amazon today.

**********************

1980: For the first time, a wild-card team won the Super Bowl. The Oakland Raiders, with a castoff quarterback in Jim Plunkett, put it all together in January and won four in a row. The Philadelphia Eagles made their first Super Bowl appearance, while Dallas continued winning with Danny White at quarterback and San Diego’s prolific offense got them to an AFC Championship Game. Download from Amazon today.

**********************

1981: Joe Montana arrived on the scene and the San Francisco 49ers started what would be a dynasty run. They beat Dallas in one of the great NFC Championship Games ever played and then survived another team that came out of nowhere, the Cincinnati Bengals, in the Super Bowl. Elsewhere, the Chargers and Dolphins each won division titles and then played arguably the greatest playoff game in league history. Download from Amazon today.

**********************

1982: It was a shattered year, as a strike ripped seven games from the regular season schedule and the playoffs were expanded to 16 teams. The Washington Redskins arrived under the coaching of Joe Gibbs and the running of John Riggins. Don Shula reached a Super Bowl in Miami, while the Jets made a playoff run and the Cowboys again lost an NFC Championship Game. Download from Amazon today.

**********************

1983: The Raiders and the Redskins put together outstanding regular seasons and met in a highly anticipated Super Bowl clash. It proved to be the Marcus Allen Show, as the Raiders won a second title in four years. Montana and the 49ers provided a challenge in the NFC. A class of rookie quarterbacks with names like Elway, Marino and Kelly made their debut and a couple of rookie runners—Eric Dickers and Curt Warner had even more immediate impact. Download from Amazon today.

**********************

1984: Joe Montana and Dan Marino defined the season, as the 49ers went 15-1 while the Dolphins were 14-2 with Marino throwing a then-record 48 touchdown passes. They met in another highly anticipated Super Bowl clash. And for the second straight year the Super Bowl turned into a rout as the 49ers won another title. Other stories included the emergence of Mike Ditka’s Chicago Bears and the first playoff miss for the Dallas Cowboys since 1974. Download from Amazon today.

**********************

1985: It was all about the Bears, as they produced one of the great defenses of all-time and won the Super Bowl with a combination of dominance and flair. The AFC saw Marcus Allen win the MVP award and Marino’s Dolphins make another strong run. But at playoff time the upstart New England Patriots became the first time to win three postseason games on the road. Download from Amazon today.

**********************

1986: Another great defensive performance came from the New York Giants. Lawrence Taylor won the MVP and the Giants won the Super Bowl. The Bears and Redskins were both challengers in the NFC and on the AFC side, John Elway began his legend as he led a 98-yard drive in Cleveland to win the AFC title. Download from Amazon today.

**********************

1987: There was a players’ strike that resulted in one game being cancelled and three others being played with replacements. A season that was chaotic still ended remarkably similar to 1986–the Redskins, Broncos and Browns all reached conference championship games again. Denver & Cleveland again played a classic. And again, the Broncos got wiped out in the Super Bowl, this time with the ‘Skins doing the damage as Joe Gibbs became a multiple-time champion. Download from Amazon today.