Super Bowl History: The Best To Not Win The Super Bowl
by David Fucillo on Jan 31, 2012 6:01 AM PST
in San Francisco 49ers News
Email
PrintWhile I wish we could be talking about the 49ers chances in the upcoming Super Bowl, we're not quite so fortunate. The folks at National Football Post put together a rundown of the 25 Greatest Teams Not To Win The Super Bowl. In crunching the numbers, the list looks at overall record, per-game point differential, turnover margin, blowout victories, strength of schedule and some "extra credit" depending on the circumstances.
The 1992 49ers and this past year's 49ers were both on the list. It is interesting to note that the 1990 49ers that lost to the Giants in the NFC Championship Game did not make the list. I was a little surprised at first, but when you look at things like turnover margin and point differential, it's not entirely shocking.
The 1992 San Francisco 49ers were ranked No. 11. That team finished 14-2 with a 10.4 points per game differential, winning eight games by ten or more points. They earned a first round bye and then defeated the Washington Redskins 20-13. They hosted Dallas in the NFC Championship Game and lost 30-20. Here is NFP's overview of that team:
The 1992 Niners were as dynamic as their dynastic forebears of the 1980s, with Steve Young succeeding Joe Montana at quarterback and George Seifert seamlessly handling the coaching reins after Bill Walsh retired from thepro game in February 1989. Looking at the numbers, the '92 Niners earned strong marks in point differential (10.4), turnover margin (7), blowout wins (8) and overall record against playoff teams (5-1). For good measure, Young and Co. capped the regular season with eight straight victories -- a necessity for holding off the eventual champion Cowboys in the race for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Not that Dallas needed it to capture its first Lombardi trophy in 15 years.
The 2011 49ers were listed at No. 23 ahead of the 2011 New Orleans Saints and the 1978 Dallas Cowboys. Our 49ers finished 13-3 with a 9.4 points per game differential, winning six games by ten points or more. Here is NFP's brief overview of the recently completed season:
If we were to peruse every Sports Illustrated NFL preview from 1966 to the present ... it's possible the 2011 Niners would be the likeliest squad to finish 3-13 than 13-3 in preseason prognostications. But hey, that's why they play the games; and that's why San Francisco deserves major props for realizing its dream season without the benefit of mini-camp practices ... or some valuable winter/spring time to adjust to new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Yes, we could lament the giant step forward for QB Alex Smith (3,144 yards passing, 19 total TDs) or bankable production from RB Frank Gore (1,325 total yards, 8 TDs); but the story of the 2011 49ers begins and ends with the defense -- a group of fierce tacklers and menacing ball-hawkers who allowed only one 100-yard rusher all season (Seattle's Marshawn Lynch), two total rushing TDs and posted a league-high turnover margin (+28). Add in a supreme record against eventual playoff teams (5-1) ... and it's easy to see how the 49ers are stalwarts for this survey.
19 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
The Title Is Misleading...
You are talking about the teams that never made it to the Superbowl. To answer your question as stated, I would include the the 90’s Buffalo Bills (4 SB losses) and the 70’s Minnesota Vikings (4 SB losses). I also dont really consider the 2011 49ers in the same class as the 92 49ers. The 2011 49ers had a lot of luck and a relatively easy schedule.
Agent Dunham....Walternate testified that in his universe, AleX Smith is a pro-bowl QB for the Saints, and broke Trent Dilfer's season record of 6000 yards passing. Walter....Thats nice, more LSD please.
I disagree on last point
Record setting defense, excellent turnover differential, 5-1 regular season against playoff teams. That’s not just the Niners lucking into 13-3 and the NFCCG.
extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."
by Badly Browned on Jan 31, 2012 7:31 AM PST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
turnover differential
It can be a sign of luck, but also depends on the context. 49ers didn’t recover a crazy amount of total fumbles that might infer luck. And with an aggressive defense, not sure it’s necessarily all about luck.
by David Fucillo on Jan 31, 2012 11:03 AM PST up reply actions
I didn't say it was "all" luck...
…I said “lots” of luck.
Fumble recoveries are more influenced by luck than INTs. But even where INTs are concerned, the skill level of NFL players on both sides of the ball is so high that random chance necessarily plays a large role, too.
Luck?
You don’t just luck into a +28 turnover differential…
You don’t just luck into a 5-1 record against playoff opponents…
You don’t just luck into a 13-3 regular season win-loss record…
Luck is what the Giants needed to beat the 49ers and go to the Superbowl…
I would be more disappointed, but with the talent the 49ers have…I look for them to dominate next season and win the Superbowl.
by rubberman84 on Jan 31, 2012 1:39 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
The 91 9ers win it all but for missing the playoffs at 10-6...
…because the AFC sucked again. They blew out Chicago, who was the #2 seed before the blowout, in the last game of the season. They were looking very 89ish, albeit with Young under center. To my mind they were a better team than the 94 team, notwithstanding their not getting it together until the second half. In any case, they were much better than the Rypien Redskins.
as a side note
we’re so much better than the giants, i die a little inside every time i see eli manning on tv. and i live in ny.
by BKisforSF on Jan 31, 2012 10:12 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
SO much better?
The Possimpible - Where the possible and impossible meet - Barney Stinson
Big Blue View - Supporting the Catalina Wine Mixer since 2011
um, that's what I wrote, right?
i don’t think u went 8-8 in the regular season, (not counting that ‘tuck rule’ caliber laughable call in the arizona game), and were outscored because you are the best or second best team in football. far from it. sorry if the truth hurts.
you are however lucky. very very very lucky. and as the 1990 giants showed, it’s better to be lucky than good.
now in 1990, we were also better than u but didn’t have the rushing attack to beat the bills that u had, so that hurt less. this year just sucks. i wouldn’t mind if it was the packers playing like the packers (as opposed to the bad news bears display they put on for you). but this one left a mark.
Your "truth" is laughable
I’m not saying we were the second best team in football. I’m saying that the level that we are playing at now put us on even ground with the 49ers. If you wanted to say the 49ers regular season was so much better than the Giants, fine, no problem. But this isn’t college ball, so the regular season doesn’t do much for postseason except to say who plays and where. To say you were so much better than the Giants during the playoffs is ridiculous. We stepped up our play, San Fran played consistant all year…made us EQUALS on the field in the NFC Championship game…it’s not like you played better than us, but we ended up winning. Both sides played well and we came out on top.
And what makes “luck.” Because we forced turnovers, got the quarterback, and made plays when we needed to against both Green Bay and San Fran? This isn’t a matter of it being better to be lucky than good, it is us being good and making the plays we need to when we have needed to. The fact that our Wiliams forced the fumble on your Williams wasn’t luck, that was him making a play…the fact that the ball then bounced up in the air so our guy could jump on it and cover it up instead of rolling to the sidelines was.
The Possimpible - Where the possible and impossible meet - Barney Stinson
Big Blue View - Supporting the Catalina Wine Mixer since 2011
David, if Kyle Williams' knee didn't hit the ball on that punt return leading to a Giants TD
you guys wouldn’t have won the game. That’s not being on even ground with your opponent; That’s called getting a break.
[disclaimer: this poster has no idea what the hell he's talking about.]
I has a sad. Its name is Eugene Amano.
by fanoftheunderdogs on Feb 2, 2012 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
So without that play it wasn't an even game?
A team that loses can’t be equals with a team that wins? That’s ridiculous. The fact that at the time each defense was matching up with each offense well and the teams were pretty even through 3 quarters means they were on even ground.
My point is that the two teams were equals and not that San Fran was “so much better” as originally stated. When you have two equally matched teams, fortunate bounces swing a game one way or the other, it doesn’t make a team that is far inferior win a game.
The Possimpible - Where the possible and impossible meet - Barney Stinson
Big Blue View - Supporting the Catalina Wine Mixer since 2011
A team that loses can’t be equals with a team that wins? That’s ridiculous.
Gimme a minute, I need to go spit out all the words you just put in my mouth.
If that football had bounced at least an inch away from Williams’ knee, and the 49ers had retained possession, the Niners still would have had a TD lead on the Giants. It took an (un)lucky bounce and a mental mistake by the Niners for the Giants to be on even ground.
But besides that, you’re at a Niners blog trying to argue why the Niners weren’t the better team when it took a Niners mistake for you to tie the game in the first place! Losing battle, buddy.
Go get ready for the Patriots. Personally, I hope you guys win that game.
[disclaimer: this poster has no idea what the hell he's talking about.]
I has a sad. Its name is Eugene Amano.
by fanoftheunderdogs on Feb 4, 2012 9:58 PM PST up reply actions
90 Niners should have been on the list, no question!
Defending the title and being the bullseye of the league for two consecutive year and still start the season 10-0! A fumble away from the Superbowl (now that’s luck Giants fans), I have no doubt the Niners would have beaten the #12 team on this list 90’ Bills! And the Niners wouldn’t have let it come to a Norwood miss.
by willisHOF on Feb 1, 2012 10:59 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Former high-school star Brian Banks does serious time on trumped-up charge, now hopes for an NFL shot
- Former ‘idiot kicker’ Mike Vanderjagt in trouble after accosting junior-high heckler
- Adrian Peterson blows teammates away in footraces; appears to be on the mend
- UPDATE: Charlie Sheen didn’t buy Lawrence Taylor’s Super Bowl ring
- Alex Smith gets blown up by Jon Beason over Cam Newton comments
