AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME LOSSES-WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?

by grapes on Jul 2, 2009 12:20 AM EDT

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES LOST-WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?

The Steelers have lost seven AFC Championship games since 1972, which games should they or could they have won, and what would have been the Super Bowl results? How many more trophies would we have?

Consider the following:

1972 Miami at home-this was the undefeated season for the Dolphins, we were 11-3. This was the game after the Immaculate Reception-Steelers lose by four-Miami goes on to beat the Redskins
1976 Oakland away-Steelers play without Harris and Bleier-lose by 17-some think this was the best Steelers defense ever-Raiders go on to beat the Vikings
1984 Miami away-almost unstoppable offense led by Marino-Steelers lose by 17-we went 9-7 this year-Miami is stunned in Super Bowl by San Francisco winning their second Super Bowl
1994 San Diego home-Steelers were 12-4 with a hot defense-shockingly lose by four-Chargers go on to get smoked by the 49ers winning their fifth Super Bowl
1997 Denver home-we were 11-5-Elway beats us after we have a promising start-we lose by three-they go on to upset the Packers
2001 New England home-horrible special teams play dooms us after a great 13-3 season-we lose by seven-Pats go on to upset the Rams
2004 New England home-Big Ben's rookie season-we lose by 14-Patriots defeat Eagles

By far the weakest team of the bunch was 1984, if somehow we could of beaten the Dolphins, it would have been tough to take out the Montana led 49ers in the Super Bowl-although we handed them their only loss of the season in October-doubt it would have happened twice.

I think the 72 team probably beats the Redskins and the 76 team probably beats the Vikings if Harris/Bleier return to play.

94 would have been tough-Steve Young had that offense running like a well oiled machine-can't see us winning that one-maybe our defense could have slowed them down

97-Favre in his prime-their defense played poorly though-toss up

01-Warner and that high powered offense? hardest one of all to pick

04-toss up-rookie qb against a good Eagles defense-who knows

I guess all in all I'm saying we could have 3-4 more, wow, how great would that be!

Just something to think about

Let me know of any errors-I'm half asleep while typing this.

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Comments

l've often thought about it.

I’d only want to go to the Superbowl to win, so I think ‘72,’76,‘97,’01,‘04 would be the most disappointing. I’ve always looked at it this way – If the team that beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship wins the SB then the Steelers were #2 in the league. But then again, I hate being #2!!!!

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile - Albert Einstein.

by fanofsteel on Jul 2, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

Just one correction

That 1976 defense wasn’t just the best Steelers defense ever, it was the best NFL defense ever.

by worldtrip on Jul 2, 2009 5:47 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Damn straight

Bleeding Black and Gold since 1989 baby, Blitzburgh is back, time for a repeat!

by Michael Hewitt on Jul 2, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions

true dat!!!!!!!! my mistake!!!!!

by grapes on Jul 3, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow!

That ‘76 D was IMO the best D to ever run onto a football field. I remember the shut out countdown very well. The loss of Franco and Rock in the Baltimore game unfortunately could not be overcome and the Raiders… Oh well. Yes, we would have won that SB. I was at the Immaculate Reception game and the Dolphin game. I was upset by the loss to the Phins. It was indeed heartbreaking, but many of us knew the Steelers were at the threshold of being something special. I was in my early twenties during those years and man being there when “Da Burg,” and Western PA, was giving birth to Steeler Nation are probably some of the best memories of my life. I believe we would have beat the Skins. I knew we wouldn’t make it in ‘84. 1994 I wrote about on the other thread, but had we won that AFCCG from the Bolts I know we would have had a much better showing against the 49ers if we didn’t win it. ‘97 Yes! Another SB. ’01 Yes! Cowher was definitely on my S list by this time. ’04 was an unexpected surprise for me. I knew as most of us die hard older Steeler maniacs knew that we finally had a QB capable of leading us into the Promised land. Footnote: I’m ecstatic that our QB has a terrific head coach to help guide him.

by steelersrock08 on Jul 2, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions