How would the NFL have shaken out differently?
-1st things 1st.....The 85 Bears probably win that monday night football game vs a marino-less Miami. But, do they go undefeated through the season and get full of their press clippings? maybe they get complacent and lose to the Giants in round 2. Eh, not likely though. Still SB 20 champs.
-You could assume pittsburg would have been much better in the mid/late 80s. By that admission the landscape of the playoffs change with the wins/loses being redistributed and we never see "the drive" in cleveland in january of 87. Maybe "the fumble" the next year never happens.
With no Marino making his magic happen, Don Shula's coaching career in Miami gets cut considerably shorter(by about 10 years).
Bill Cowher doesnt end up in Pittsburg. Again with wins and loses being redistributed this all changes. The whole draft order gets shaken up as well each year, and massive changes in player personnel are afoot. From this point it gets too muddled to speculate much more.
Jerome bettis possibly still drafted by the Rams sees his career go down in flames in LA, or getting traded to a team with the wrong system. Racks up 5,000 rushing yards in his career and retires with no ring.
additional thoughts?
Not sure it effects Doug Williams being the 1st black QB to win SB, or SF winning 4 Super Bowls in the 80's though. Id guess the 80s Super Bowls play out about the same way. Perhaps Denver doesnt make it to 3 of them.
-1st things 1st.....The 85 Bears probably win that monday night football game vs a marino-less Miami. But, do they go undefeated through the season and get full of their press clippings? maybe they get complacent and lose to the Giants in round 2. Eh, not likely though. Still SB 20 champs.
-You could assume pittsburg would have been much better in the mid/late 80s. By that admission the landscape of the playoffs change with the wins/loses being redistributed and we never see "the drive" in cleveland in january of 87. Maybe "the fumble" the next year never happens.
With no Marino making his magic happen, Don Shula's coaching career in Miami gets cut considerably shorter(by about 10 years).
Bill Cowher doesnt end up in Pittsburg. Again with wins and loses being redistributed this all changes. The whole draft order gets shaken up as well each year, and massive changes in player personnel are afoot. From this point it gets too muddled to speculate much more.
Jerome bettis possibly still drafted by the Rams sees his career go down in flames in LA, or getting traded to a team with the wrong system. Racks up 5,000 rushing yards in his career and retires with no ring.
additional thoughts?
Not sure it effects Doug Williams being the 1st black QB to win SB, or SF winning 4 Super Bowls in the 80's though. Id guess the 80s Super Bowls play out about the same way. Perhaps Denver doesnt make it to 3 of them.
