This afternoon, I realized how many things in the NFL seem connected. Even without getting to the Super Bowl game, I believe Rick is originally from Ohio (?). That would explain things about the Chiefs and not liking the John Elway Broncos. I see the times in the mid-1980s where the Browns were one game away from a Super Bowl appearance (which hasn't happened in the Super Bowl era). Depending on which fans you ask, it seems like maybe they did get there, if you consider the Baltimore Ravens to be the current Cleveland Browns. There's also the "expansion" team that keeps drafting Tim Couch, Brady Quinn, Brandon Weeden, and Johnny Manziel.
From what I can tell, the Browns started to make playoff appearances in the second year of Marty Schottenheimer's stint as the head coach. Their first AFC Championship loss was in 1987. That was a home game against Elway and the Broncos. Based on knowing who made the Super Bowl from the NFC, could the Browns have beaten the 1986 Giants? I am a G-Men fan, but that season was before I had some awareness of the NFL. Just looking at the stats, they had 50 takeaways in their 19 games. Lawrence Taylor was a sack machine. Mark Bavaro was "Rob Grownkowski" before Gronk started to be the rare tight end who can't be tackled in space. For the Browns, I don't see a 1,000 yard rusher or wide receiver.
The next season, it looks like there was a strike or only 15 games on the schedule. The Broncos had the AFC's best record, hosted the championship, and led by as much as 28-10. I'm not sure about how those Browns would've matched up with the Redskins (ANOTHER NFC East team - who had lost the conference title game to the 1986 Giants?!!).
Marty Schottenheimer switched to the Chiefs in 1989, so that part makes sense. For as long as I can remember, the Chiefs also would've been divisional rivals with the Denver Broncos, who were led by John Elway at QB until the late 1990s. By the time he retired, I think Elway played in FIVE Super Bowl games??!!! Besides Tom Brady, I can't think of any modern QB with that kind of resume.
In the game tonight, I believe that the Broncos are playing for the eighth time. That ties them with multiple teams (Cowboys, Steelers, Patriots). They were the first franchise to lose five Super Bowls a couple of years ago. How many teams even get the CHANCE to lose it five times? It looks like ten teams have played at least that many Super Bowl games: Dolphins, Redskins, Raiders, Giants, Packers, 49ers, Broncos, Patriots, Cowboys, Steelers. Believe it or not, one of the teams right behind them in losses are the Patriots (4-4 overall record). The only teams with four consecutive losses are the Vikings (0-4), and the Bills (0-4 in four straight appearances). In other words, the Broncos could also be the first franchise with a sixth Super Bowl loss.
Peyton Manning is only 1-2 in Super Bowl games. I think I favored him to win all three. Only the game against the Saints felt like a true "upset," because the Colts held a lead, and were driving with a chance to tie the score. If he drops to 1-3 in Super Bowls, how does that look on his stat sheet? Brett Favre is right near him in most of the passing records, and he only played in two Super Bowls (it could've been four), with what I'm thinking is a 1-1 record. It's kind of like, what's more impressive - getting there in the first place (meaning you didn't throw the INT to let another team get there like Favre), or finishing with a losing record?
The Broncos obviously have a longer history in these games. They've been outscored by a total of 126 points! That's 60 more than any other team, and only one point less than the Vikings and the Bills combined. Their closest loss looks like 17 points to the Cowboys. Then it was 19 to the Giants, and 32 against another NFC East team (Redskins). Their best win was by 15 points over the Falcons.
The game I focused on was Super Bowl 24, played in 1990. The 49ers won by 45 (they even missed an extra point). I think that still ranks as the biggest winning margin (only five teams have scored at least 45 points in a Super Bowl game). Follow my "logic." That game was played in New Orleans. You'd associate New Orleans with the NFC South (three divisional games played there per season). The 2015 Panthers won the NFC South division. You'd also associate New Orleans with ... the birthplace of Peyton Manning.
Peyton Manning now plays for the Broncos. That makes New Orleans/the NFC South and the Broncos associated with this game. All we're missing are the 49ers. Well, Levi's Stadium has an address in "Santa Clara," but it's the stadium where the San Francisco 49ers play their home games.
Statistically, the 49ers would probably be considered the best team in the 1980s. It looks like the Raiders won two titles that decade (while switching locations - adding another Bay Area title). The Redskins won twice in three attempts. The 49ers were undefeated, and had the league's first 18-1 season along the way.
One team that briefly peaked during the 1980s were the Chicago Bears. I'm surprised they only had that one Super Bowl appearance. It was almost an undefeated season. The 1984 49ers and the 1985 Bears should still be the only 18-1 teams in league history. I'm not sure how many teams have reached a Super Bowl at 17-1 and managed to lose. That might be a first if it happened. What's interesting about those 1985 Bears is that they included a player named Ron Rivera, who now coaches the Panthers.
So, you add all of that up, but I'm still not sure what it means. If things are "fair" or balance out over time, it would be neat for the QB from New Orleans to get Denver a win on the field that represents a team that beat them badly in Super Bowl 24. The AFC only has one 18-1 team that comes to mind (2007 Patriots), and their loss came in the Super Bowl. The NFC is trying for a third 18-1 team.
Then again, you could have a coach who once played on an 18-1 team, bringing his current team to the field of another 18-1 franchise, completing another 18-1 campaign, since the Broncos do have that pattern of losing by anywhere between 17 and 45 points.
That's a lot of writing, isn't it? The Panthers' games in the playoffs this season almost looked "scripted" or like teams quit trying to beat them. I don't think of Cam as "controversial" just because he dances. It's strange how he's able to keep taking hits as a runner or a ball carrier and still be able to throw 35 TD passes (probably more when you add the playoffs). If you actually COULD knock him out of a game, it would be interesting to see someone else step into that offense.
I also can't think of a "#1 defense" that didn't WIN a Super Bowl (Seattle a few years ago, or the 2000 Ravens), no matter if the offense was kind of average. The question I would have to ask is, what STAT are you using to say "the #1 defense"? I remember the Panthers being very good in fantasy, probably leading the league in both takeaways and turnover margin, while barely giving up 18 or 19 points each game. They also had to win some shootouts. It's hard to tell if two strong defenses kind of cancel out, and then you'd need to look at the offensive units. The Panthers didn't need a bunch of yards to get all of their points, possibly because of field position or defensive scores.
The only way to know for sure is to watch in another hour or so. About the only other variable that made me curious was the distance from each team's city and time zone changes. In Super Bowl 48, both teams were traveling thousands of miles. Seattle probably had to shift a higher number of time zones (I think Denver is technically split into two different time zones as a city), but they still won. The Patriots would've been doing more adjusting and traveling last year, but they managed to win. For Denver this season, I wonder if it might be like a "home" game, or who will have more fans. Carolina would have to adjust more to the time zone, but the timing of the game is on a different schedule than the regular season anyway.
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WWE 2K18 ROSTER & MATCH TYPES | ||||
If you see multiple of the same name, it just means different versions that can be in the ring together. Names highlighted in blue are Cruiserweights | ||||
1 Up Man Adam Cole Aerostar Aiden English AJ Styles Akam Akira Tozawa Albert Aleister Black Alexander Wolfe Andrade "Cien" Almas Andre The Giant Angelo Dawkins Animal Apollo Crews Ariya Daivari Arnold T101 Austin Aries B Brian Blair Bam Bam Bigelow Baron Corbin Barron Blade Batista '10 Beautiful Bobby Eaton Big Boss Man '91 Big Boss Man '99 Big Cass Big E Big Show Big Show '00 Bo Dallas Bobby Fish Bobby Roode Booker T Braun Strowman Bray Wyatt Bret Hart '97 Bret Hart '98 Brian Kendrick British Bulldog Brock Lesnar Brutus Beefcake Bryan Danielson Buddy Roberts Butch Cactus Jack '92 Cactus Jack '98 Captain Jobber Cedric Alexander Cesaro Chad Gable Chris Jericho |
Chris Jericho '00 Christian Col Sanders Cole Quinn Curt Hawkins Curtis Axel Daniel Bryan Dark Link Darren Young Dash Wilder DDP '92 DDP '98 Dean Ambrose Dennis Condrey Diesel Doc Louis Dolph Ziggler Donatello Drago Drew Gulak Drew McIntyre Dude Love Dusty Rhodes Earthquake Eddie Guerrero Edge El Mago Elias Enzo Amore Epico Colon Eric Young Erick Rowan Fandango Finn Balor Finn Balor Demon The Godfather Goldberg Goldust Gorgeous George Gran Metalik Greg Valentine Hawk Heath Slater Hideo Itami Hurricane Jack Gallagher Jake Roberts Jason Jordan JBL Jeff Hardy Jey Uso Jim Brunzell |
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VALETS & MANAGERS Anyone above can be a "manager" plus... | ||||
Bobby Heenan Lana |
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*** ONE ON ONE *** Normal |
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MATCH MODIFIERS | ||||
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Over the Top Rope On, Off K.O. Last Man Standing |
Perform Finisher to Win On, Off First Blood Climb out of Cage (Cage Match Only) DQ |
Rope Break (Automatic) On, Off Ring Out Elimination |
Falls Count Anywhere On, Off Time Limit Entrance Interval (Chamber/Rumble) |
SUPER SMASH BROS. ROSTER & SETTINGS | |||
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BATTLE TYPES TIME BATTLE: All characters battle for a set amount of time scoring one point per KO and LOSING one point each time they are KO'ed. STOCK BATTLE: All characters have a set number of lives and when they run out, they're done. When combined with a time limit whomever has more lives left when time runs out wins. COIN BATTLE: For 2-4 characters ONLY! Coins are knocked out of characters as they battle. After a fixed time limit whomever has the most coins wins. SETTINGS TIME LIMIT: Can be from 1 to 15 minutes. |