Filed under: 49ers, Broncos, Chiefs, Cowboys, Lions, Giants, Packers, Patriots, Raiders, Steelers, NFL Playoffs, NFL Analysis
The presence of the Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens make the NFL's quarterfinals seem a bit familiar. So, to a lesser extent, do the Packers and Bears.But looking at from a different angle, the NFL of the past 15-20 years has been infinitely more balanced than the NFL of the previous 20 years, made that way by the presence of free agency and a salary cap.
In the 1970s, the AFC dominated, led by the Steelers, who won four Super Bowls in six years, and the 1980s and 1990s, the NFC at one point won 13 in a row -- five by the 49ers, one by the 1985 Bears and the rest by teams from the NFC East: the Redskins, Giants and Cowboys. But both then and now, the quarterfinal round, officially known as the "divisional round," produced some memorable games and some remembered only by fans of the teams involved.
Here are six of my personal favorites from this round. Some were thrillers, some not so much. All were what I call "first-step'' games, games that led to the emergence of a long-term power.
1. Dec. 23, 1972. Pittsburgh 13, Oakland 7, Three Rivers Stadium: The "Immaculate Reception.'' It has to be No. 1 although it's been chronicled so often and re-shown so often that ... well, one reason Ed Sabol is a finalist for the Hall of Fame is that NFL Films, which he created, has done such a great job of chronicling these classics.
Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/12/dirty-half-dozen-defining-nfl-quarterfinal-games/
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