Alternate Super Bowl History *Redux*

[The Professor]

Back in 2003 I started a thread based on the premise that the teams that lost in each year's League/Conference Championship actually went to the Super Bowl.

Condensing and updating that material here for the end of the 2006 Season.

------------------------------------------------
For imagination's sake: What would have been had the teams that lost in the Conference Championships actually won? No Packers dynasty? Dallas, San Fran, Oakland and the Rams emerge as the great dynasties. The Browns dynasty of the '80s? Jay Schroeder as a Super Bowl trivia answer?

1966: Dallas v. Buffalo -- Dandy Don Meredith against Jack Kemp and the Bills.

1967: Dallas v. Houston -- An "All-Texas" Superbowl, perhaps Meredith and Co. become the first Super Bowl Dynasty...

1968: Cleveland v. Oakland -- No Jets upset! The Browns go up against the Mad Bomber, Daryle Lamonica.

1969: Cleveland v. Oakland -- Round II...

1970: San Francisco v. Oakland -- "Bay Bowl I" features John Brodie versus the Three-Peat possibility in Oakland, their rivals across the bay.

1971: San Francisco v. Baltimore -- Does Unitas get his ring a year later than reality? Does Brodie win two in a row? Is a Niners Dynasty born a decade before they really became one?

1972: Dallas v. Pittsburgh -- Three years before these famous rivals really met we might have seen Staubach and Bradshaw go head-to-head. Miami heads home just shy of perfection.

1973: Dallas v. Oakland -- What a dynasty the Cowboys might have been? How about Oakland for that matter? 4 trips to the Super Bowl in 7 seasons.

1974: LA Rams v. Oakland -- With a twist of history could the LA Rams have become the 'Team of the '70s'?

1975: LA Rams v. Oakland -- Round II...And we have a second run of 3-consecutive Super Bowls for Oakland. Amazing!!!

1976: LA Rams v. Pittsburgh -- Like the Raiders, the Rams could have been in position to grab three straight titles. Even so, just making three consecutive appearances is something!

1977: Minnesota v. Oakland -- Fran Tarkenton makes his first appearance against the AFC's perennial represenative a year later than in reality. Would the result have been any different?

1978: LA Rams v. Houston -- The Rams are back...again, but this time its the punishing ground game of Earl Campbell they must contend with.

1979: Tampa Bay v. Houston -- 'Clockwork Orange' versus 'Love Ya' Blue' is the ultimate in 'colorful' Super Bowls. It is sure to be a hard-hitting one as Campbell and Selmon come face to face.

1980: Dallas v. San Diego -- The Boys get back after a 7 year absence, as Danny White leads them over the hump. 'Air Coryell' actually gets a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.

1981: Dallas v. San Diego -- A classic rematch of White/Dorsett versus Fouts/Winslow/Joiner/Chandler.

1982: Dallas v. New York Jets -- Danny White might have cemented his place among the greats, have fulfilled his promise in the line of great Cowboy QBs. Dallas joins the Raiders and Rams as "Three Peat" possibilities. Oh, and Bama's Richard Todd might actually have followed Namath's footsteps...

1983: San Francisco v. Seattle -- West Coast v Ground Chuck. Joe Montana leads the cutting edge passing attack against the greatest Cinderella team in (our alternate) Super Bowl history. Could Krieg, Largent and Warner have pulled off the upset?

1984: Chicago v. Pittsburgh -- A classic ugly game as the defense oriented Bears and the last legs of the old Steel Curtain clash. Mobile QB's McMahon and Malone battle for the top prize...

1985: LA Rams v Miami -- Dan Marino and the potent Miami offense take on the Cinderella Rams who have upset the mighty Bears. CFL legend Dieter Brock on sports' biggest stage?!? Wow.

1986: Washington v. Cleveland -- The Browns are the first team to represent both the NFL and the AFC in the Super Bowl. Bernie Kosar prepares to duel with surprising Jay Schroeder. Could this herald the start of a late-'80s Browns dynasty?

1987: Minnesota v. Cleveland -- Darrin Nelson catches Wade Wilson's last gasp pass at the goal line and the Vikings go to the Super Bowl. They meet Marty Schottenheimer's emerging dynasty. Could the Browns have been the 'Team of the '80s'?

1988: Chicago v. Buffalo -- The Monsters get back after 4 years while Jim Kelly drives the fueding Bills in a few years ahead of schedule.

1989: LA Rams v. Browns -- the 'Team of the '70s' versus the 'Team of the late '80s'. Young Jim Everett looks to cement what appears to be a promising legacy. Bernie Kosar reaches for legend status.

1990: San Francisco v. Los Angeles -- The second 'Bay Bowl' as the Niners survive the powerful Giants and follow backup Steve Young (subbing for injured Montana) in a matchup against Jay Schroeder, the first QB to lead two different teams into the Super Bowl.

1991: Detroit v. Denver -- Barry Sanders and the surprising Erik Kramer lead the Lions into the big dance while John Elway makes his first appearance and only the third appearance by a Class of '83 alum.

1992: San Francisco v. Miami -- Young takes the Niners to the dance on his own against Marino making his second Super Bowl appearance.

1993: San Francisco v. Kansas City -- Montana (or Dave Krieg, who may have had to engineer the AFC Championship Game victory if Montana was hurt, as he was regularly in 1993) leads the Chiefs to their first ever appearance against a surging Young and the rising 49ers dynasty of the 1990s!

1994: Dallas v. Pittsburgh -- A year ahead of schedule.

1995: Green Bay v. Indianapolis -- The Packers finally make the dance, while the Cinderella Colts and "Captain Comeback" look for the upset.

1996: Caronlina v. Jacksonville -- The Expansion Bowl!

1997: San Francisco v. Pittsburgh -- How about that Niners Dynasty?

1998: Minnesota v. New York -- The high octane Vikings are heavy favorites against the tough, Parcells led, Jets.

1999: Tampa Bay v. Jacksonville -- Great Buc defense is featured in the first All-Florida Bowl. Two bowls in four years for the young Jags is most impressive.

2000: Minnesota v. Oakland -- the Raiders get back 10 years after their last appearance.

2001: Philadelphia v. Pittsburgh -- The Keystone Bowl.

2002: Philadelphia v. Tennessee: The high-flying Eagles go for two in a row while the Titans make that franchise's first appearance in the Super Bowl since 1979, when they were the Oilers.

2003: Philadelphia v. Indianapolis: The high-octane Colts would square off against an Eagles team that might be joining the ranks of 'three-peat' NFL champions. Could the Eagles have pulled it off?

2004: Atlanta v. Pittsburgh: The Falcons make their first Super Bowl appearance (as opposed to 1998 reality) and go up against the Steelers who were in the big game not all that long ago (2001 in alternate reality). Maybe the Steelers make it four straight Lombardi Trophies for the state of Pennsylvania?

2005: Carolina v. Denver: The Panthers make appearance #2 in their short history (went behind Kerry Collins in 1996) while Denver, a much older franchise, also makes only its second appearance (went in 1991 against the Detroit Lions). What would have been the outcome of a battle between the two Jakes?

2006: New Orleans v. New England: It is the 'All New' Super Bowl as both teams make their first appearance in this alternate reality. New Orleans looks to put the perfect ending on a story-book season.

-------------------------------------
EPHEMERA:

I wonder, could it have been the Landry Trophy? Maybe the Collier Trophy? More fittingly the Madden or Knox Trophy? Chuck Knox the first man - possibly - to lead two different teams, from different leagues, to Super Bowl victories (the L.A. Rams of the 1970s, the '83 Seahawks).

Class of '83 guys in the Super Bowl. Kelly once. Marino twice. Elway once.

James Harris of the L.A. Rams is the first black QB to start a Super Bowl, doing so for the 1974 L.A. Rams (some 13 years before Doug Williams really did it for the 1987 Redskins). Williams, himself, could actually have been starting a Super Bowl only 5 years later with the 1979 Bucs.

Some Super Bowl QBs you'd never expect:

Pat Haden
Dan Pastorini
Deiter Brock -- CFL legend status excepted
Dave Krieg (maybe twice)
Mark Malone
Jay Schroeder (remember, first guy to take two different teams to the Super Bowl)
Wade Wilson
Erik Kramer
Mike Tomczak (potentially, for the '88 Bears)
Shaun King

-----------------------------------
The official run-down of "alternate reality" appearances 1966-2005:

NFC EAST
Washington - 1 (1986)
Dallas - 8 (66-67, 72-73, 80-82, 94)
Philadelphia - 3 (01-03)
New York - NA

NFC NORTH
Green Bay - 1 (1995)
Chicago - 2 (1984, 1988)
Detroit - 1 (1991)
Minnesota - 4 (1977, 1987, 1998, 2000)

NFC SOUTH
Tampa Bay - 2 (1979, 1999)
Atlanta - 1 (2004)
Carolina - 2 (1996, 2005)
New Orleans - 1 (2006)

NFC WEST
Arizona - NA
St. Louis - 6 (74-76, 78, 85, 89) (All as Los Angeles Rams)
Seattle - 1 (1983)
San Fran - 7 (1970-71, 1983, 90, 92-93, 1997)

AFC EAST
Miami - 2 (1985, 1992)
New England - 1 (2006)
NY Jets - 2 (1982, 1998)
Buffalo - 2 (1966, 1988)

AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh - 7 (1972, 1976, 1984, 94, 97, 01, 04)
Cleveland - 5 (68-69, 86-87, 89)**
Cincinnati - NA
Baltimore - NA (**5 as the original Browns franchise)

AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis - 3 (1971, 1995, 2003)
Tennessee - 4 (1967, 1978-79, 2002) (3 times as Houston Oilers)
Jacksonville - 2 (1996, 1999)
Houston2 - NA

AFC WEST
Denver - 2 (1991, 2005)
San Diego - 2 (1980-81)
Kansas City - 1 (1993)
Oakland - 9 (68-70, 73-75, 77, 90, 2000) (1x as LA Raiders)

-----------------------------------------

[The Professor]

Super Bowl I
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

BUFFALO BILLS 9-4-1
HC: Joe Collier
358 Points
255 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Jack Kemp, RB Bobby Burnett, LB Mike Stratton

DALLAS COWBOYS 10-3-1
HC: Tom Landry
445 Points
239 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Don Meredith, RBs Don Perkins and Dan Reeves, WR Bob Hayes, DL Bob Lilly, LB Chuck Howley

WhatIf.com Says:

Dallas: 14
Buffalo: 7

MVP: Don Meredith (9-19-159, 2/0)

A defensive struggle as both teams move the ball on the ground while quarterback play is efficient (no INTs from Kemp or Meredith). Field goal kickers are 0 for 5 on the day, though, and Meredith's two scoring strikes (to Pete Gent and Bob Hayes) are enough to move the Cowboys over the Bills.

[The Professor]

Super Bowl II
The Orange Bowl

HOUSTON OILERS 9-4-1
HC: Wally Lemm
258 Points
199 Allowed
Stars of Note: RB Hoyle Granger, QB Pete Beathard, DBs Miller Farr and Jim Norton

DALLAS COWBOYS 9-5-0
HC: Tom Landry
342 Points
268 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Don Meredith, RBs Don Perkins and Dan Reeves, WR Bob Hayes, DL Bob Lilly, LBs Chuck Howley and Lee Roy Jordan, DB Mel Renfro

WhatIf.com Says:

Dallas: 10
Houston: 0

MVP: WR Lance Rentzel (5 rec, 79 yds, 1 TD)

Another brutally efficient game from Landry's Cowboys as they control the clock for most of the game. Houston QB Pete Beathard is constantly harried by the Dallas pass rush, completes only 9 of his 20 passes and throws a critical interception. Cowboys runner Dan Reeves runs for exactly 100 yards on the day while Perkins adds 88.

[The Professor]

Super Bowl III
The Orange Bowl

OAKLAND RAIDERS 12-2
HC: John Rauch
453 Points
233 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Daryle Lamonica, WR Fred Biletnikoff, DB Willie Brown, DL Ben Davidson, OL Jim Otto

CLEVELAND BROWNS 10-4
HC: Blanton Collier
394 Points
273 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Bill Nelsen, RB Leroy Kelly, WR Paul Warfield, DB Erich Barnes, OL Gene Hickerson

WhatIf.com Says:

Cleveland: 31
Oakland: 20

MVP: QB Bill Nelsen (17-26-242, 3/0)

Despite being sacked 6 times by a ferocious Raider defense, Bill Nelsen shreds the Oakland secondary. The Browns ride a 21-point second quarter outburst to a quick lead and then churn out the remainder of the game behind Leroy Kelly (123 yards rushing).

[MorseMoose]

Awesome idea!!

[The Professor]

Super Bowl IV
Tulane Stadium

OAKLAND RAIDERS 12-1-1
HC: John Madden
377 Points
242 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Daryle Lamonica, WR Fred Biletnikoff, WR Warren Wells, DBs Willie Brown and Dave Grayson, OL Jim Otto

CLEVELAND BROWNS 10-3-1
HC: Blanton Collier
351 Points
300 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Bill Nelsen, RB Leroy Kelly, WR Paul Warfield, DL Walter Johnson

WhatIf.com Says:

Cleveland: 31
Oakland: 21

MVP: RB Leroy Kelly (20 rushes, 58 yards, 2 TD)

The Raiders take a 21-17 lead into the final quarter, but the Browns combine a furious defense (sacking Lamonica 4 times in that quarter and forcing a key interception) and a pair of scoring blows (one a 44 yard gallop by backup runner Reece Morrison to clinch the game). The Raiders hopes are crushed when Lamonica is dropped by Walter Johnson on a 4th-and-4 in the final minutes, allowing the Browns to run out the clock.

[bababui]

Great work Professor!!

[The Professor]

Super Bowl V
The Orange Bowl

OAKLAND RAIDERS 8-4-2
HC: John Madden
300 Points
292 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Daryle Lamonica, WR Fred Biletnikoff, WR Warren Wells, DB Willie Brown, TE Ray Chester

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers 10-3-1
HC: Dick Nolan
352 Points
267 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB John Brodie, WR Gene Washington, LB Dave Wilcox, DB Jimmy Johnson

WhatIf.com Says:

San Francisco: 24
Oakland: 21

MVP: RB Ken Willard (20 rushes, 158 yards, 1 TD)

The Raiders scoop a 21-17 lead early in the 4th quarter as Lamonica and Wells hook up on a 10-yard scoring drive. The teams trade punts, but with a little over 2 minutes remaining Brodie and Co. put together a drive that culminates in a scoring pass to Bob Windsor. The Raiders drive to within field goal range in the closing seconds, but George Blanda's 44-yard kick is wide to the left. On a day in which the Raiders running game couldn't find traction, the 49ers Ken Willard provided consistent gains for his side. AFL/AFC teams have yet to win a Super Bowl.

[bababui]

I'm getting the impression that this work has an anti-Raider bias!!

[marc]

Good stuff, it's totally unrealistic though if the Eagles don't lose all 3 SB's.

[The Professor]

Super Bowl VI
Tulane Stadium

BALTIMORE COLTS 10-4-0
HC: Don McCafferty
313 Points
140 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Earl Morrall, LBs Mike Curtis and Ted Hendricks, DL Bubba Smith

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers 9-5
HC: Dick Nolan
300 Points
216 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB John Brodie, WR Gene Washington, RBs Ken Willard and Vic Washington, LB Dave Wilcox, DB Jimmy Johnson

WhatIf.com Says:

San Francisco: 19
Baltimore: 14

MVP: DL Charlie Krueger (4 tackles, 3 sacks)

This game was a tight defensive struggle from the start. The dominating Colts defense stifled the 49ers ground game and neutralized John Brodie's passing most of the day. Bending but never breaking, they forced the 49ers to settle for 4 Bruce Gossett field goals in the early going. A Brodie-to-Vic Washington TD toss late in the third frame was the only Niners touchdown on the day. Unfortunately for Baltimore, QB Earl Morrall was under constant pressure, being dropped 3 times at critical junctures by Charlie Krueger. He also tossed 2 interceptions. A late comeback charge led by the great Johnny Unitas netted a TD pass to TE John Mackey, but the Colts would get no closer than the final score.

[The Professor]

Super Bowl VII
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 11-3
HC: Chuck Noll
343 Points
175 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Terry Bradshaw, RB Franco Harris, DLs Joe Greene, Dwight White, LB Jack Ham, DB Mel Blount

DALLAS COWBOYS 10-4
HC: Tom Landry
319 Points
240 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Craig Morton, RBs Calvin Hill and Walt Garrison, DL Bob Lilly, DB Mel Renfro

WhatIf.com Says:

Pittsburgh: 26
Dallas: 3

MVP: LB Jack Ham (3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT)

Dallas took a quick 3-0 lead on a Tony Fritsch field goal and then disappeared. The Steelers rolled up 20 points in the second quarter as Terry Bradshaw (12-17, 152 on the day) had a pair of TD strikes. Craig Morton set a low standard for Super Bowl QBs completing 7 passes to his team and 4 to the opposing side. The Cowboys couldn't run on the Steel Curtain any more than they could pass. The most one-sided game to date as the AFC finally gets on the board in dominating fashion.

[The Professor]

Super Bowl VIII
Rice Stadium

OAKLAND RAIDERS 9-4-1
HC: John Madden
292 Points
175 Allowed
Stars of Note: WR Fred Biletnikoff, DBs Willie Brown and Jack Tatum, QB Ken Stabler, OLs Art Shell and Gene Upshaw

DALLAS COWBOYS 10-4
HC: Tom Landry
382 Points
203 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB Roger Staubach, RBs Calvin Hill, DL Bob Lilly, LB Lee Roy Jordan, DB Mel Renfro

WhatIf.com Says:

Oakland: 15
Dallas: 6

MVP: QB Ken Stabler (13-18-245, 1/1)

A second straight AFC win. Although the game started with promise as Stabler hooked up with Cliff Branch for an early score, it quickly settled into a duel between the defenses and each teams' kicker (and a safety for the Oakland 'D'). The big difference on the day was Stabler who excelled despite having no running game behind him. Dallas QB Roger Staubach played well enough, but the Cowboys simply couldn't convert third downs when it mattered.

[MorseMoose]

Originally Posted by bababui

I'm getting the impression that this work has an anti-Raider bias!!

There ya go...

[kenyan_cheena]

This is great, Professor. I'm actually running an alternate NFL history thingy aswell using whatifsports. I'm currently at the midpoint of the 1983 season. Just click on the link in my signature if you'd like to check it out.

[Jason Moyer]

This thread is awesome.

[The Professor]

Just to note, I've got every Super Bowl through XXII completed and will post recaps periodically.

Originally Posted by k_c

This is great, Professor. I'm actually running an alternate NFL history thingy aswell using whatifsports. I'm currently at the midpoint of the 1983 season. Just click on the link in my signature if you'd like to check it out.

Yes, I've been following your thread since it started. Great stuff.

[CMH]

This is actually a great idea.

Looking forward to the other bowl games.

[The Professor]

Super Bowl IX
Tulane Stadium

OAKLAND RAIDERS 12-2
HC: John Madden
355 Points
228 Allowed
Stars of Note: WRs Fred Biletnikoff and Cliff Branch, DB Jack Tatum, QB Ken Stabler, OLs Art Shell and Gene Upshaw

LOS ANGELES RAMS 10-4
HC: Chuck Knox
263 Points
181 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB James Harris, OL Tom Mack, RB Lawrence McCutcheon, DLs Merlin Olsen, Fred Dryer and Jack Youngblood, LB Jack Reynolds

WhatIf.com Says:

Los Angeles: 31
Oakland: 9

MVP: RB Lawrence McCutcheon (20 runs, 184 yards)

While James Harris drew attention as the first black starting QB in Super Bowl history (he was 7 for 18 with 2 TD passes), it was the Ram running game that was the story of Super Bowl IX. They rambled for an amazing 303 yards against a shell-shocked Raider defense with Larry McCutcheon picking up the bulk of the yardage on his own (including a record 53 yard sprint in the fourth quarter).

[The Professor]

Super Bowl X
The Orange Bowl

OAKLAND RAIDERS 11-3
HC: John Madden
375 Points
255 Allowed
Stars of Note: WRs Fred Biletnikoff and Cliff Branch, DB Jack Tatum, QB Ken Stabler, LB Ted Hendricks

LOS ANGELES RAMS 12-2
HC: Chuck Knox
312 Points
135 Allowed
Stars of Note: QB James Harris, RB Lawrence McCutcheon, DLs Merlin Olsen and Jack Youngblood, LBs Isiah Robertson and Jack Reynolds

WhatIf.com Says:

Oakland: 13
Los Angeles: 10

MVP: RB Lawrence McCutcheon (17 runs, 110 yards, 1 TD)

An ugly affair defined more by errors than solid play. Raider QB Ken Stabler was intercepted twice but managed to drive his team deep enough into Ram territory for ageless George Blanda to kick them ahead as the third quarter ended. Rams QB James Harris was pressured all evening, throwing 3 interceptions, the last on the Rams' final drive of the game. Nevertheless, Larry McCutcheon was again the performer of the game, this time in a losing cause.