The second overall seed in the tournament? The '85 Bears. We see them here in Region 2.
1. 1985 CHICAGO BEARS v. 16. Play In Winner 1964 CLEVELAND BROWNS v. 1961 NEW YORK GIANTS
1. 1985 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION CHICAGO BEARS
Pythag: 14-2
Off: 2nd
Def: 1st
d. Giants Div Rnd 21-0
d. Rams NFC Title 24-0
d. Patriots Super Bowl 46-10
HC: Mike Ditka, OC: Ed Hughes, DC: Buddy Ryan
1st Team All Pro: RB W.Payton (31) RDE R.Dent (25) LDT S.McMichael (28) MLB M.Singletary (27)
16. 1964 NFL CHAMPION CLEVELAND BROWNS
Pythag: 10-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 5th
d. Colts NFL Title 27-0
HC: Blanton Collier, DC: Howard Brinker
1st team AP: RB J.Brown (28)
16. 1961 NEW YORK GIANTS
Pythag: 11-3
Off: 2nd
Def: 1st
Lost NFL Title Packers 37-0
HC: Allie Sherman, DC: Harland Svare
1st Tm AP: LE D.Shofner (27) LCB E.Barnes (26) LDE J.Catcavage (27) RS J.Patton (28) FB A.Webster (26)
Possible first round matchup between Jim Brown and the '85 Bears if Cleveland survives the Play in Game.
8. 2019 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS v. 9. 2007 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
8. 2019 NFC CHAMPION SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 8th
d. Vikings Div Rnd 27-10
d. Packers NFC Title 37-20
Lost Super Bowl Chiefs 31-20
HC: Kyle Shanahan, DC: Robert Saleh
1st TM AP: TE G.Kittle (26)
9. 2007 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 5th
Def: 5th
d. Titans WC 17-6
d. Colts Div Rnd 28-24
Lost AFC Title Patriots 21-12
HC: N.Turner, OC Clarence Shelmon, DC Ted Cottrell
1st Tm AP: RB L.Tomlinson (28) FB L.Neal (37) RCB A.Cromartie (23)
The Niners have lost 2 Super Bowls and both those teams are in the first two regions; the Chargers were top 5 in both offense and defense.
5. 2015 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS v. 12. 1977 LOS ANGELES RAMS
5. 2015 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 4th
Def: 1st
d. Vikings WC 10-9
Lost Div Rnd Panthers 31-24
HC: Pete Carroll: OC: Darrell Bevell, DC: Kris Richard
1st TM AP: WR T.Lockett (23)
12. 1977 LOS ANGELES RAMS
Pythag: 12-2
Off: 4th
Def: 2nd
Lost Vikings Div Rnd 14-7
HC: Chuck Knox OC: Ray Prochaska DC Ray Malavasi
1st TM AP: None
Our first look at both franchises; both top 5 in offense and defense, both out in the division round. Knox facing his future organization here.
4. 1968 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS v. 13. 1982 NEW YORK JETS
4. 1968 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Pythag: 12-2
Off: 4th
Def: 1st
Lost Div Rnd Raiders 41-6
HC: Hank Stram
1st Team AP: RS J.Robinson (30) RDT B.Buchanan (29) MLB W.Lanier (23)
13. 1982 NEW YORK JETS
Pythag: 6-3
Off: 3rd
Def: 10th
d. Bengals WC 44-17
d. Raiders Div Rnd 17-14
Lost AFC Title Dolphins 14-0
HC W.Michaels, OC: J.Walton, DC: J.Gardi
1st Team AP: RB F.McNeil (23) LDE M.Gastineau (26)
The '82 Jets made the field with the 3rd best offense in strike shortened '82 - they'll meet one of those late 60s Chiefs teams, with the top defense in the AFL.
3. 1997 DENVER BRONCOS v. 14. 2009 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
3. 1997 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DENVER BRONCOS
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 1st
Def: 6th
d. Jags WC 42-17
d. Chiefs Div Rnd 14-10
d. Steelers AFC Title 24-21
d. Packers 31-24 Super Bowl
HC: Mike Shanahan, OC: Gary Kubiak, DC: Greg Robinson
1st Team AP: RB T.Davis (25) TE S.Sharpe (29) RLB J.Mobley (24)
14. 2009 AFC CHAMPION INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 7th
Def: 8th
d. Ravens Div Rnd 20-3
d. Jets AFC Title 30-17
Lost Super Bowl 31-17 Saints
HC: Jim Caldwell, OC: Tom Moore, DC: Larry Coyer
1st Tm AP: QB P.Manning (33) TE D.Clark (30) RDE D.Freney (29)
Both Shanahans represented in Region 2- Mike leading the second Super Bowl Champion in the region against the future Bronco, Manning, and his Colts team that lost the SB.
6. 2006 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS v. 11. 2017 MINNESOTA VIKINGS
6. 2006 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 7th
Def: 2nd
d. Jets WC 37-16
d. Chargers Div Rnd 24-21
Lost Colts AFC Title 38-34
HC: Bill Belichick OC: Josh McDaniels, DC: Dean Pees
1st Tm All Pro: None
11. 2017 MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 10th
Def: 1st
d. Saints Div Rnd 29-24
Lost Eagles NFC Title 38-7
HC: Mike Zimmer OC Pat Shurmur DC George Edwards
1st Tm All Pro: FS H.Smith (28) RCB X.Rhodes (27)
Our third Patriots team in the field; both of these squads had elite defenses, both lost conference title games to the future SB Champion.
7. 1998 ATLANTA FALCONS v. 10. 2021 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
7. 1998 NFC CHAMPION ATLANTA FALCONS
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 4th
Def: 4th
d. Niners Div Rnd 20-18
d. Vikings NFC Title 30-27
Lost Broncos Super Bowl 34-19
HC: Dan Reeves OC: George Sefcik, DC Rich Brooks
1st Tm All Pro RB J.Anderson (26)
10. 2021 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Pythag: 12-5
Off: 2nd
Def 5th
d. Eagles WC 31-15
Lost Rams Division Rnd 30-27
HC Bruce Arians OC Byron Leftwich DC Todd Bowles
Ist Tm All Pro: T T.Wirfs (22)
The 3rd seed in the region was the '97 Broncos - first half of their back to back Super Bowl Champs; the second half beat this '98 Falcons team. Attempting to go back to back and falling in the division round to the eventual SB Champion Rams is Brady's Bucs.
2. 1993 DALLAS COWBOYS v. 15. 1953 LOS ANGELES RAMS
2. 1993 SUPER BOWL CHAMPION DALLAS COWBOYS
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 2nd
d. Packers Div Rnd 27-17
d. Niners NFC Title 38-21
d. Bills Super Bowl 30-13
HC: Jimmy Johnson, OC: Norv Turner, DC Butch Davis
1st Tm AP: RB E.Smith (24)
15. 1953 LOS ANGELES RAMS
Pythag: 9-3
Off: 2nd
Def: 5th
Did not make playoffs
HC: Hampton Pool
1st Team AP: LE CL Hirsch (30) RLB D.Paul (28) RDE A.Robustelli (28)
The number 2 seed in Region 2 - the '93 Cowboys; that makes 3 Super Bowl Champions in Region 2; they meet a Rams team from 40 years prior that did not make the playoffs.
