Coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Raiders, the Washington Redskins started to look long in the tooth and
slower on the field. RB John Riggins could still pound the ball, but he lost a step from previous years. QB Joe
Theismann could still throw the rock though, and Art Monk was the recipient of most of those passes, setting the
single season mark for catches. Still, the Skins managed to post 11 win and another division championship.
GREAT: Art Monk’s 106 catches
GOOD: John Riggins’ 1200 yards and 14 TDs
UGLY: Losses the first two games to Super Bowl participants, Miami and San Francisco
slower on the field. RB John Riggins could still pound the ball, but he lost a step from previous years. QB Joe
Theismann could still throw the rock though, and Art Monk was the recipient of most of those passes, setting the
single season mark for catches. Still, the Skins managed to post 11 win and another division championship.
GREAT: Art Monk’s 106 catches
GOOD: John Riggins’ 1200 yards and 14 TDs
UGLY: Losses the first two games to Super Bowl participants, Miami and San Francisco
Tom Landy’s 25th campaign was the beginning of the end for the only coach the Dallas Cowboys had ever known. Landry’s Cowboys
still had some firepower, but an attempt to change quarterbacks led to some dissension in the ranks. Danny White’s arm was in doubt
and Gary Hogeboom was brought in, but his results were just average and White would be given a second chance. The Cowboys finished
second in the division, but 9-7 wasn’t good enough for the playoffs and they sat home for only the second time in 19 years.
GREAT: The secondary. Second in ratings, fifth in INTs.
GOOD: TE Doug Cosbie became a go-to guy with 60 receptions.
UGLY: A week 12 loss to the hapless Bills and a sweep by the Giants.
Perhaps the most dramatic turnaround came with the New York Giants. A team that couldn’t seem to get anything to click in ’83, the
Giants began to gel in 1984. Phil Simms remained healthy and productive and the defense was second only to the Bears. Lawrence
Taylor was a do-everything man and his supporting cast only got better. The only part of the Giants that held them back was the running
game.
GREAT: The defense. Lawrence Taylor, Jim Burt, Leonard Marshall, etc…
GOOD: Phil Simms. The Giants needed his leadership and stability.
UGLY: RB Butch Woolfolk. The starter averaged 2.3 yards per carry.
The St. Louis Cardinals were a team of destiny. Unfortunately, that destiny was to once again be the bridesmaid and not the bride. The
Cards missed the playoffs on the last play of the last game of the year. A field goal that sailed wide gave them a 29-27 loss to the
Redskins and cost them not only a division championship but a trip to the payoffs. Coach Jim Hanifan’s team would never recover.
GREAT: Neil Lomax was spectacular this season. He can thank Roy Green.
GOOD: The top three running backs all averaged more than 4 yards a carry.
UGLY: 6 losses by fewer than a touchdown, including 2 to the Redskins.
The Philadelphia Eagles sealed their fates early. Losing 4 of the first five games, the Eagles never got on track. Shaky ownership, poor
fan participation a new coach, and an offense that couldn’t run the ball didn’t do much to help. QB Ron Jaworski was injury prone and Joe
Pisarcik was a check-down specialist. The defense managed to keep them close enough to win 6 games.
GREAT: Rookie 12th round kicker, Paul McFadden hit 30 of 37 field goals, most in NFL.
GOOD: The front 3 defensive linemen totaled 38 ½ sacks on the year.
UGLY: Wil Montgomery led team with 739 yards, a poor 3.9 average and only 2 TDs.
still had some firepower, but an attempt to change quarterbacks led to some dissension in the ranks. Danny White’s arm was in doubt
and Gary Hogeboom was brought in, but his results were just average and White would be given a second chance. The Cowboys finished
second in the division, but 9-7 wasn’t good enough for the playoffs and they sat home for only the second time in 19 years.
GREAT: The secondary. Second in ratings, fifth in INTs.
GOOD: TE Doug Cosbie became a go-to guy with 60 receptions.
UGLY: A week 12 loss to the hapless Bills and a sweep by the Giants.
Perhaps the most dramatic turnaround came with the New York Giants. A team that couldn’t seem to get anything to click in ’83, the
Giants began to gel in 1984. Phil Simms remained healthy and productive and the defense was second only to the Bears. Lawrence
Taylor was a do-everything man and his supporting cast only got better. The only part of the Giants that held them back was the running
game.
GREAT: The defense. Lawrence Taylor, Jim Burt, Leonard Marshall, etc…
GOOD: Phil Simms. The Giants needed his leadership and stability.
UGLY: RB Butch Woolfolk. The starter averaged 2.3 yards per carry.
The St. Louis Cardinals were a team of destiny. Unfortunately, that destiny was to once again be the bridesmaid and not the bride. The
Cards missed the playoffs on the last play of the last game of the year. A field goal that sailed wide gave them a 29-27 loss to the
Redskins and cost them not only a division championship but a trip to the payoffs. Coach Jim Hanifan’s team would never recover.
GREAT: Neil Lomax was spectacular this season. He can thank Roy Green.
GOOD: The top three running backs all averaged more than 4 yards a carry.
UGLY: 6 losses by fewer than a touchdown, including 2 to the Redskins.
The Philadelphia Eagles sealed their fates early. Losing 4 of the first five games, the Eagles never got on track. Shaky ownership, poor
fan participation a new coach, and an offense that couldn’t run the ball didn’t do much to help. QB Ron Jaworski was injury prone and Joe
Pisarcik was a check-down specialist. The defense managed to keep them close enough to win 6 games.
GREAT: Rookie 12th round kicker, Paul McFadden hit 30 of 37 field goals, most in NFL.
GOOD: The front 3 defensive linemen totaled 38 ½ sacks on the year.
UGLY: Wil Montgomery led team with 739 yards, a poor 3.9 average and only 2 TDs.
The Detroit Lions thought they were finally turning the corner on their losing ways after 1983 closed. They had
won the division, albeit a weak one, with a 9-7 record and lost to power San Francisco by a point in the playoffs.
Buoyed by the strong legs of Billy Sims and a good run-stopping defense, the Lions were looking for big things in ’
84. What they received was a career-ending injury to Sims in week 4 against the Vikings. A 1-3 start dwindled to a
pathetic 4-11-1 after that and the Lions never righted the ship.
GREAT: Run defense
GOOD: Sims until he got hurt
UGLY: The Lions pass defense
won the division, albeit a weak one, with a 9-7 record and lost to power San Francisco by a point in the playoffs.
Buoyed by the strong legs of Billy Sims and a good run-stopping defense, the Lions were looking for big things in ’
84. What they received was a career-ending injury to Sims in week 4 against the Vikings. A 1-3 start dwindled to a
pathetic 4-11-1 after that and the Lions never righted the ship.
GREAT: Run defense
GOOD: Sims until he got hurt
UGLY: The Lions pass defense
The Chicago Bears took the reins from the Lions in 1984 and steered themselves to a 10-6 record and a divisional championship.
Walter Payton was reliable as always and Jim McMahon, when healthy, was very sharp. It was the Bears’ defense. However, that made
them the immovable object they would remain for years to come.
GREAT: The Bear’s 46 defense and their league-leading 72 sacks.
GOOD: Walter Payton
UGLY: The QB situation- the Bears used 5 different QBs, most ineffective
How ‘bout them Bucs? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have finished 6-10, but it was an improvement over their 2-14 the year
before. No team relied on one person more than the Bucs looked to RB James Wilder. Wilder accounted for more than 40% of the
Tampa offense and fell just short of the all-time combined yardage mark. For the first time in history, the offense ranked higher than the
defense. The defense, getting long in the tooth, still was solid, led by LB Hugh Green and Leroy Selmon. Green, however, missed 8
games during the season due to an auto accident.
GREAT: RB James Wilder
GOOD: QB Steve DeBerg provided a stable passing game for the first time in years.
UGLY: The rush defense suffered this season.
The Green Bay Packers looked to Forest Gregg to coach the team past the middle ground they’d been hanging around in, but 1984
would be no different. An 8-8 year is as middle of the road as one can get. Aging Lynn Dickey still showed some arm and the running
game got a lift from healed RB Eddie Lee Ivory, but the defense was mediocre and the offensive line was no more than average. Add
them up and you get an 8-8 team.
GREAT: Dickey to WR James Loften kept butts in theseats.
GOOD: Eddie Lee Ivory’s 5 yard average helped.
UGLY: Penalties. No defense gave up more yardage than the Packers.
What happened the Minnesota Vikings in 1984? In few words, Les Steckel happened. The first year coach brought a discipline first
attitude that didn’t suit the Vikings’ players and it showed on the field. Erratic passing by sometimes brilliant Tommy Kramer and the
underwhelming rushing of halfback Darrin Nelson did nothing to help the situation. Minnesota balanced their third worst rush defense
with a revolving secondary that suffered from defensive back amnesia while trying to find an identity. One close loss was followed by a
blowout the next weak. Steckel was gone after one year.
GREAT: Uh, they were relatively penalty-free.
GOOD: Rookie RB Alfred Anderson showed promise leading the team in rushing.
UGLY: Uneasy quarterbacking, defensive line leaked like a sieve, poor secondary.
Walter Payton was reliable as always and Jim McMahon, when healthy, was very sharp. It was the Bears’ defense. However, that made
them the immovable object they would remain for years to come.
GREAT: The Bear’s 46 defense and their league-leading 72 sacks.
GOOD: Walter Payton
UGLY: The QB situation- the Bears used 5 different QBs, most ineffective
How ‘bout them Bucs? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have finished 6-10, but it was an improvement over their 2-14 the year
before. No team relied on one person more than the Bucs looked to RB James Wilder. Wilder accounted for more than 40% of the
Tampa offense and fell just short of the all-time combined yardage mark. For the first time in history, the offense ranked higher than the
defense. The defense, getting long in the tooth, still was solid, led by LB Hugh Green and Leroy Selmon. Green, however, missed 8
games during the season due to an auto accident.
GREAT: RB James Wilder
GOOD: QB Steve DeBerg provided a stable passing game for the first time in years.
UGLY: The rush defense suffered this season.
The Green Bay Packers looked to Forest Gregg to coach the team past the middle ground they’d been hanging around in, but 1984
would be no different. An 8-8 year is as middle of the road as one can get. Aging Lynn Dickey still showed some arm and the running
game got a lift from healed RB Eddie Lee Ivory, but the defense was mediocre and the offensive line was no more than average. Add
them up and you get an 8-8 team.
GREAT: Dickey to WR James Loften kept butts in theseats.
GOOD: Eddie Lee Ivory’s 5 yard average helped.
UGLY: Penalties. No defense gave up more yardage than the Packers.
What happened the Minnesota Vikings in 1984? In few words, Les Steckel happened. The first year coach brought a discipline first
attitude that didn’t suit the Vikings’ players and it showed on the field. Erratic passing by sometimes brilliant Tommy Kramer and the
underwhelming rushing of halfback Darrin Nelson did nothing to help the situation. Minnesota balanced their third worst rush defense
with a revolving secondary that suffered from defensive back amnesia while trying to find an identity. One close loss was followed by a
blowout the next weak. Steckel was gone after one year.
GREAT: Uh, they were relatively penalty-free.
GOOD: Rookie RB Alfred Anderson showed promise leading the team in rushing.
UGLY: Uneasy quarterbacking, defensive line leaked like a sieve, poor secondary.
Bill Walsh’s San Francisco 49ers were the class of the league and nearly went undefeated, losing only to
Pittsburgh in week 7. QB Joe Montana was masterful at throwing to the right receiver, the combination of RBs
Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig were unstoppable and a secondary led by Ronnie Lott punished opposing
offenses. Walsh’s west coast system matured and the 49ers took the league by storm.
GREAT: Walsh- putting in a system that allowed the Niners to flourish.
GOOD: DE Dwayne Board’s 10 sacks
UGLY: RB Wendell Tyler’s 13 fumbles
Pittsburgh in week 7. QB Joe Montana was masterful at throwing to the right receiver, the combination of RBs
Wendell Tyler and Roger Craig were unstoppable and a secondary led by Ronnie Lott punished opposing
offenses. Walsh’s west coast system matured and the 49ers took the league by storm.
GREAT: Walsh- putting in a system that allowed the Niners to flourish.
GOOD: DE Dwayne Board’s 10 sacks
UGLY: RB Wendell Tyler’s 13 fumbles
Was it Eric Dickerson, his offensive line or a combination of both? Whatever the reason, the Los Angeles Rams made history as
coach John Robinson’s philosophy of run hit the jackpot. Dickerson’s 2105 yards shattered the rushing record and the Rams rolled into
the post-season having won 3 of the last 4 games. The New York Giants showed a good defense will shut down a one-dimensional
offense and coach Robinson quickly went looking for a new quarterback to replace Jeff Kemp.
GREAT: HB Eric Dickerson’s record setting year
GOOD: The defense’s rush defense ranked 3rd in the league
UGLY: The passing game. Jeff Kemp would last one year as a starter.
The New Orleans Saints nearly accomplished a feat they had never before reached in the franchise’s history: a winning season. In
their 18th season, the Saints thought they might finally have the break-out season they longed for. Coach Bum Phillips, a run first, run
second and if at all possible run again coach, reached out and picked up former Jet QB Richard Todd, but Todd had his poorest
season and the Saints again ended up with a bigger number in the loss column than in the winning side.
GREAT: RB Hokie Gajan, a role player, led the league with a 6.0 average
GOOD: The Saints defense was top-notch, leading the league in pass defense.
UGLY: Richard Todd was a disappointment and RB Earl Campbell (brought in later) was past his prime.
The high hopes of the Atlanta Falcons were dashed in pre-season when All-Pro RB William Andrews went down with what would end
up being a career-ending knee injury. Add to that a poor defense and an injury prone quarterback and you have the makings of a
disastrous year for the Falcons. Still, they managed 4 wins and found a new running threat in Gerald Riggs.
GREAT: HB Gerald Riggs had 1400 yards and was an All-Pro selection.
GOOD: WR Stacey Bailey was a 1000 receiver and had 67 catches
UGLY: The defense. 22nd in points allowed and 23 in turnover differential.
coach John Robinson’s philosophy of run hit the jackpot. Dickerson’s 2105 yards shattered the rushing record and the Rams rolled into
the post-season having won 3 of the last 4 games. The New York Giants showed a good defense will shut down a one-dimensional
offense and coach Robinson quickly went looking for a new quarterback to replace Jeff Kemp.
GREAT: HB Eric Dickerson’s record setting year
GOOD: The defense’s rush defense ranked 3rd in the league
UGLY: The passing game. Jeff Kemp would last one year as a starter.
The New Orleans Saints nearly accomplished a feat they had never before reached in the franchise’s history: a winning season. In
their 18th season, the Saints thought they might finally have the break-out season they longed for. Coach Bum Phillips, a run first, run
second and if at all possible run again coach, reached out and picked up former Jet QB Richard Todd, but Todd had his poorest
season and the Saints again ended up with a bigger number in the loss column than in the winning side.
GREAT: RB Hokie Gajan, a role player, led the league with a 6.0 average
GOOD: The Saints defense was top-notch, leading the league in pass defense.
UGLY: Richard Todd was a disappointment and RB Earl Campbell (brought in later) was past his prime.
The high hopes of the Atlanta Falcons were dashed in pre-season when All-Pro RB William Andrews went down with what would end
up being a career-ending knee injury. Add to that a poor defense and an injury prone quarterback and you have the makings of a
disastrous year for the Falcons. Still, they managed 4 wins and found a new running threat in Gerald Riggs.
GREAT: HB Gerald Riggs had 1400 yards and was an All-Pro selection.
GOOD: WR Stacey Bailey was a 1000 receiver and had 67 catches
UGLY: The defense. 22nd in points allowed and 23 in turnover differential.