To Live And Die In LA (Rams 1994-)

[Manning2Harrison]

Los Angeles Rams 1994 Schedule

SEP 04 INDIANAPOLIS
SEP 11 WASHINGTON
SEP 18 @ San Francisco
SEP 25 @ Dallas
OCT 02 SEATTLE
OCT 09 @ Jacksonville
OCT 16 ARIZONA
OCT 23 Bye (Week 8)
OCT 30 @ NY GIANTS
NOV 06 ST. LOUIS
NOV 13 @ Minnesota
NOV 20 NEW ORLEANS
NOV 27 @ Arizona
DEC 04 PHILADELPHIA
DEC 11 @ Seattle
DEC 18 @ Houston
DEC 24 SAN FRANCISCO

[Manning2Harrison]

Division Overview: NFC West (the Rest)


San Francisco 49ers
1993 record: 10-6, 1st in NFC West
1993 Playoffs: Defeated Giants 33-3 in Divisional, Lost 38-21 to Cowboys in NFC Championship
Head Coach: George Seifert (6th season)
QB: Steve Young
RB: Ricky Watters
WR’s: Jerry Rice & John Taylor
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE Rickey Jackson, CB Deion Sanders, SS Tim McDonald

Since the 1988 and 1989 49ers won back-to-back Super Bowls spanning the transition from Bill Walsh to George Seifert, San Francisco has gone 0-3 in NFC championship games, including last year’s 17 point loss to the Cowboys. This is a team on a mission, and the Young-to-Rice connection is as lethal as ever. While the composition of the NFC West has changed, the Niners should still dominate it.


Seattle Seahawks
1993 record: 6-10, 5th in AFC West
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Tom Flores (3rd season, 8-14)
QB: Rick Mirer (2nd overall pick, 1993)
RB: Chris Warren
WR’s: Brian Blades, Kelvin Martin
Top 3 Defensive Players: DT Cortez Kennedy, OLB Rufus Porter, FS Eugene Robinson

As the “newest” franchise in the AFC West, the Seahawks were tabbed to be one to move from there into the reconfigured NFC West. They have not been to the playoffs since 1988, when they were coached by Chuck Knox. Before coming to Seattle, Tom Flores coached the Raiders from 1979 through 1987. Flores and the Raiders won the Super Bowl in his second season and went to the playoffs 4 more times, including a SB loss, but in his final two seasons Flores was 8-8 and 5-10. In 1988 Flores was with the Raiders front office, then he was president and GM of the Seahawks from 1989 through 1991. Last season the Seahawks improved their record by 4 games and Rick Mirer set a new record for passing yards for a rookie and was the Rookie of the Year runner-up to Jerome Bettis. Freed from having to play 8 competitive AFC West games each season, the Seahawks may get a chance to improve enough to be a wild card contender. While they can be expected to get swept by San Francisco, they should broom LA and at least split with the Cardinals.


Arizona Cardinals
1993 record: 7-9, 4th in NFC East
1993 Playoffs: N/A (Last Appearance: 1982)
Head Coach: Buddy Ryan (1st Season)
QB’s: Steve Beurlein, Jay Schroeder, Jim McMahon
RB’s: Ronald Moore, Garrison Hearst
WR’s: Gary Clark, Randal Hill, Ricky Proehl
Top 3 Defensive Players: CB Aeneas Williams, OLB Seth Joyner, MLB Eric Hill

The Cardinals have not resided east of the Mississippi since 1959, their final year in Chicago, and now they are finally in a division which makes geographic sense. While they have escaped the Cowboys and Giants as divisional rivals, they are now going to have to face the 49ers twice each year, but aside from San Francisco, Arizona had the best 1993 record and can reasonably hope for a second place finish in the reformed NFC West, largely depending on how they face in their two games vs. the Seahawks. Buddy Ryan is beginning his second head coaching gig after leading the Philadelphia Eagles from 1986 through 1990, where he made the playoffs in his final three seasons but was nevertheless fired after going 0-3 in the postseason. He is coming to Phoenix after a year as the defensive coordinator of the Houston Oilers. Between his time in Philly and Houston, he was a television commentator. Steve Beurlein is the incumbent starter at QB, but he could face a challenge from former Redskins and Raiders signal-caller Jay Schroeder.

[Manning2Harrison]

Division Overview: NFC East



Dallas Cowboys
1993 record: 12-4, 1st in NFC East
1993 Playoffs: Def. Packers 27-17 in Divisional, Def. 49ers 38-21 in NFC Championship
Super Bowl: Def. Bills 30-13
Head Coach: Barry Switzer (1st season)
QB: Troy Aikman
RB: Emmitt Smith
WR’s: Micahel Irvin & Alvin Harper
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE Charles Haley, SS Darren Woodson, CB Kevin Smith

Following Jimmy Johnson’s retirement after back-to-back Super Bowl wins, the Cowboys hired former Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer, who had been out of circulation since his scandal-fueled resignation in 1989. The Cowboys most notable draft pick of 1994 turned out to be second-round guard Larry Allen out of little Somoma St. in California. Allen went on to have a Hall of Fame career, being inducted in 2013. He went to 11 Pro Bowls, was first team All-Pro 7 times, and was named to the All-Decade teams of both the 1990‘s and the 2000‘s. Can they ‘Boys have continued success after having lost their head coach and both coordinators? A chimp could win with a roster this stacked.


New York Giants
1993 record: 10-6, 2nd in NFC East, Wild Card
1993 Playoffs: Def. Vikings 17-10 in Wild Card, Lost 44-3 to 49ers in Divsional
Head Coach: Dan Reeves (2nd Season)
QB: Dave Brown
RB: Rodney Hampton
WR’s: Mike Sherrard & Chris Calloway
Top 3 Defensive Players: OLB Michael Brooks, DE Michael Strahan, DT Erik Howard

Following the 1992 season the Giants fired Bill Parcells successor Ray Handley after two seasons in which he went 8-8 and 6-10. Also fired that year, after going 8-8, was Denver’s Dan Reeves, who had been with the Broncos for 12 seasons and who had won 3 AFC titles in a span of four years. In his first season with the Giants, Reeves got them back into the playoffs, but while they won their wild card game, they got obliterated by the 49ers in the divisional round. Following the '93 season, two-time Super Bowl winner Phil Simms underwent surgery for a torn labrum. Doubting Simms’ ability to sufficiently recover from the operation, and on a day which co-owner Wellington Mara called one of “overwhelming sadness”, the Giants released Simms. Rather than try to test the shoulder and catch on with another team, Simms opted to retire. Without Simms, the G-Men will be hard-pressed to make another playoff run. Under center will be untested (7 career pass attempts) third-year man Dave Brown.


Philadelphia Eagles
1993 record: 8-8, 4th in NFC East
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Rich Kotite (4th season, 29-19, 1-1 postseason)
QB: Randall Cunningham
RB: Herschel Walker
WR’s: Fred Barnett & Calvin Williams
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE William Fuller, CB Eric Allen, OLB Bill Romanowski

Philly head coach Rich Kotite may be running out of time. Last season his team slumped from 11-5 and a playoff appearance to 8-8 and no postseason. Another absence would make it three out of four years, which does not cut it many places in the leauge, especially ones with a fan base like the Eagles’. A big reason for last year’s dip was that Randall “The Ultimate Weapon” Cunningham only played in 4 games. And Herschel Walker, who has only gone over 1,000 yards twice in his NFL career, rushed for only 746 yards and 1 yes, one touchdown. A lack of production from that pair will doom the Iggles to another also-ran finish unless Bill Romanowski manages to disable enough of the opposition.

Washington Redskins
1993 record: 4-12, 5th in NFC East
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Norv Turner (1st season)
QB’s: Heath Shuler (R), John Friesz, Gus Frerotte (R)
RB’s: Ricky Ervins and Brian Mitchell
WR’s: Henry Ellard and Desmond Howard
Top 3 Defensive Players: CB Darrell Green, OLB Ken Harvey, SS Martin Bayless

Joe Gibbs successor Richie Petitbon last only one season before getting sacked and replaced by Norv Turner, who is coming to Washington after three years as offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won back-to-back Super Bowls. His landing spot has Dallas fans chagrined and may heat up the rivalry provided he can field a competitive team. Hoping he can help get things turned around, the Skins invested the third overall pick in Heisman runner-up Heath Shuler, but this league is tough on rookie QB’s.

[Manning2Harrison]

Division Overview: NFC North


Detroit Lions
1993 record: 10-6, 1st in NFC Central
1993 Playoffs: Lost 28-24 to Packers in wild card
Head Coach: Wayne Fontes (6th season)
QB: Dave Krieg
RB: Barry Sanders
WR’s: Herman Moore & Anthony Carter
Top 3 Defensive Players: MLB Chris Spielman, CB Robert Massey, FS Bennie Blades

It could be said that Detroit’s heyday was the 1950‘s, when it won 3 NFL titles, but in terms of playoff appearances, the 1990‘s was the Lions’ most successful decade. Because Barry. The ‘91 Lions got as far as the NFC title game but they got blown out by the Redskins. Last year they won the division but were one and done. Pressure is mounting on head coach Wayne Fonts to push the Leos to the limit.


Green Bay Packers
1993 record: 9-7, tied for 2nd in NFC Central
1993 Playoffs: Def. Lions 28-24 in wild card, lost 27-17 to Cowboys in divisional
Head Coach: Mike Holmgren (3rd season)
QB: Brett Favre
RB’s: Edgar Bennett & Reggie Cobb
WR’s: Sterling Sharpe & Robert Brooks
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE Reggie White, DE Sean Jones, OLB Bryce Paup

In Mike Holmgren’s second season, the Packers reached the playoffs for the first time since 1982 and the second time since 1972. Will it be another decade before the cheeseheads see their Pack in another postseason game. With Bill Walsh and gunslinger Brett Favre in the house, chances are the wait won’t be nearly as long and they’re good for the Pack to have back-to-back playoff appearances since winning Super Bowls I and II back in the pre-merger days. Favre, howver, is going to have to be less in love with his arm and make fewer mistakes. Last year his TD/INT ratio was upside down at 19/24.


Minnesota Vikings
1993 record: 9-7, tied for 2nd in NFC Central
1993 Playoffs: Lost 17-10 to Giants in wild card
Head Coach: Dennis Green (3rd season)
QB: Warren Moon
RB: Terry Allen
WR’s: Cris Carter, Jake Reed
Top 3 Defensive Players: DT John Randle, CB Anthony Parker, MLB Jack Del Rio

Are the Vikings who we think they are? Denny Green’s first two seasons have yielded a division title and a wild card berth, but Green has an 0-2 playoff record. That lack of postseason success may change now that the Vikes have acquired Warren Moon, provided Moon still has something in the tank. Wide receiver Cris Carter is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. Last year he had 86 catches for 1,071 yards and 9 TD’s. He says that’s “just getting started”.


Chicago Bears
1993 record: 7-9, 4th in NFC Central
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Dave Wannstedt (2nd season)
QB’s: Erik Kramer, Steve Walsh
RB: Lewis Tillman
WR’s: Jeff Graham, Curtis Conway
Top 3 Defensive Players: SS Shaun Gayle, CB Donnell Woolford, OLB Joe Cain

With quarterback Jim Harbaugh having moved on to the Colts, the signal-calling reins have been passed to Erik Kramer, who played in 25 games in three seasons with the Lions, making head coach Dave Wannstedt’s 80's porn 'stache the most impressive thing about the '94 Bears. Wannstedt, who was Jimmy Johnson’s DC in Dallas from 1989-92, led Da Bears to a two game improvement in his first year at the helm. Another such incremental increase could put Chicago in playoff contention, but that may be a tall order given the divisional competition.

[Manning2Harrison]

Division Overview: NFC South

The newly formed NFC South consists of three teams which were geographic square pegs in their previous divisions, and one of the four expansion teams, setting up an all-new set of rivalries.


New Orleans Saints
1993 record: 8-8, 2nd in NFC West
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Jim Mora (8th season)
QB: Jim Everett
RB: Mario Bates
WR’s: Michael Haynes, Quinn Early
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE Wayne Martin, ILB Sam Mills, OLB Renaldo Turnbull

In 1991 and 1992, the Saints went 11-5 and 12-4 and were the NFC’s wild card team, going one and done both times. but last year they fell to 8-8 and missed the postseason. Given the level of competition in the division, Jim Mora should be able to get the Saints back into the playoffs.


Atlanta Falcons
1993 record: 6-10, 3rd in NFC West
1993 Playoffs:
Head Coach: June Jones (1st season)
QB: Jeff George
RB: Craig “Ironhead" Heyward
WR’s: Terance Mathis, Andre Rison
Top 3 Defensive Players: MLB Jessie Tuggle, CB D.J. Johnson, OLB Clay Matthews

1993 was the final season in the four year tenure of Jerry Glanville, who was unable to replicate the success he had with the Houston Oilers. To replace Glanville, the Falcons have stayed in-house, promoting offensive coordinator June Jones, who was in that position for three years. Jones was a quarterback with the Falcons from 1977 through 1981. In college at Portland St., Jones was the signal-caller who brought national attention to the run and shoot offense.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1993 record: 5-11, 5th in NFC North
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Sam Wyche (3rd season, 10-22)
QB’s: Craig Erickson, Trent Dilfer (R)
RB: Errict Rhett
WR’s: Charles Wilson, Lawrence Dawsey
Top 3 Defensive Players: CB Martin Mayhew, FS Thomas Everett, CB Charles Dimry

Head coach Sam Wyche has not had double digit wins since his 1988 Bengals lost the Super Bowl. He was fired by Cincinnati after a 3-13 record in 1991 and he has two 5-win seasons in Tampa Bay.


Carolina Panthers
1993 record: N/A
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Dom Capers (1st season)
QB’s: Trent Green, Kent Austin, Danny McManus
RB: Ryan Hanson
WR’s: Ray Alexander, Darren Flutie
Top 3 Defensive Players: DT Dave Chaytors, MLB Brian Ford, CB Charles Gordon

Dom Capers arrives in Charlotte having received his first head coaching opportunity after 8 years as a NFL assistant, the last 2 as defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers under Mike Holmgren. The Packers were 18-14 in those two seasons, with one playoff appearance. At quarterback, second year man Trent Green, who was an 8th round pick of the Chargers last year, has gotten the nod over CFL vets Kent Austin and Danny McManus, who played their college ball at Ole Miss and FSU.

[Manning2Harrison]

Division Overview: AFC North

Three former AFC Central teams have been joined by the expansion Baltimore Ravens to form the brand new AFC North.


Pittsburgh Steelers
1993 record: 9-7, 2nd in AFC Central
1993 Playoffs: Lost 27-24 (OT) to Kansas City in wild card
Head Coach: Bill Cowher (3rd season, 20-12, 0-2 postseason)
QB: Neil O’Donnell
RB’s: Barry Foster, Bam Morris
WR’s: Charles Johnson, Yancey Thigpen
Top 3 Defensive Players: OLB Kevin Greene, OLB Greg Lloyd, CB Rod Woodson

The Steelers missed the playoffs in Chuck Noll’s last two seasons, but they’ve made it in Bill Cowher’s first two, although they still don’t have a postseason win since 1989. QB Neil O’Donnell threw for 3,208 yards and had a 2/1 TD INT ratio in 1993, while Barry Foster rushed for 711 yards at 4.0 yards per carry. It’s safe to say the strength of this team is its defense.


Cleveland Browns
1993 record: 7-9, 3rd in AFC Central
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Bill Belichick (4th season, 20-28)
QB: Vinny Testaverde
RB’s: Leroy Hoard, Eric Metcalf
WR’s: Mark Carrier, Derrick Alexander
Top 3 Defensive Players: CB Don Griffin, FS Eric Turner, DT Michael Dean Perry

Coming into his 4th season with a losing record, 1994 could be playoffs or bust for head coach Bill Belichick. Last season (his first in Cleveland), Vinny Testeverde wrested the starting QB job from Bernie Kosar, but running back Eric Metcalf was the team’s leading receiver and that needs to change.


Cincinnati Bengals
1993 record: 3-13, 4th in AFC Central
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Dave Shula (3rd season, 8-24)
QB: David Klingler, Jeff Blake
RB’s: Derrick Fenner, Steve Broussard
WR’s: Carl Pickens, Darnay Scott
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE Alfred Williams, CB Rod Jones, OLB James Francis

Quarterbacks David Klingler and Jeff Blake both came into the league in 1992. Klingler was the 6th overall pick by the Bengals, while Blake went to the Jets in round 6. Klingler has struggled his first two seasons and was challenged in camp by Blake, who arrived in Cincinnati with 9 career pass attempts, and his job is by no means secure. Neither is that of head coach Dave Shula, who went from 5-11 his first year to 3-13 in 1993. The running game is anemic and quality receivers Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott have been withering on the vine due to the lackluster play of Klingler.


Baltimore Ravens
1993 record: N/A
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (1st season)
QB: John Congemi
RB: Sheldon Canly
WR’s: Robert Clark, Chris Armstrong
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE Jearld Baylis, CB Karl Anthony, CB Anthony Charles

Former Raiders head coach Mike Shanahan is getting a second chance with the upstart Ravens, who are bringing professional football back to Baltimore after a 10 year absence. Shanahan’s opportunity comes as result of the past two seasons spent as the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, who went 24-8 during his time as OC, losing the NFC title game both years. During that time Steve Young threw for 7,488 yards and 54 touchdowns. He’s not going to get nearly as much production from his current QB, John Congemi. Congemi, who was Dan Marino’s successor at Pitt, had to go to the CFL to play professional football. Last season he also spent some time with the Arena League’s Miami Hooters. Other QB’s on the roster are Tracy Ham, Shawn Jones and Jim Miller. Ham, who is only 5‘-11“ and is now 39 years old, is another player who previously spent his entire career in the CFL, where he was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 1989. He is most noted for becoming the first college player to rush for 3,000 yards and throw for 5,000 in a career. As a sophomore in 1990, Jones led Georgia Tech to an 11-0-1 record, a 45-21 Citrus Bowl victory over Nebraska, and a split national championship shared with Colorado. In 1993 he joined the Vikings as an undrafted safety and played in one game. Miller is a rookie out of Michigan St. who could be Congemi’s biggest challenger. Miller was a 3-year starter for the Spartans and threw for 2,269 yards last season, but due to less-than-spectacular sophomore and junior seasons, he had an upside-down TD/INT ratio.

[Manning2Harrison]

Division Overview: AFC South

Take the Colts out of the AFC East and the Oilers out of the disbanded AFC Central and add not one but two expansion teams, and you have the freshly-minted AFC South.


Houston Oilers
1993 record: 12-4, 1st in AFC Central
1993 Playoffs: Lost 28-24 to Chiefs in Divisional
Head Coach: Jack Pardee (5th season)
QB: Cody Carlson
RB’s: Lorenzo White, Gary Brown
WR’s: Webster Slaughter, Haywood Jeffries
Top 3 Defensive Players: CB Chris Dishman, DT Ray Childress, DE Lamar Lathon

The Oilers have gone to the playoffs for seven straight seasons- in each of head coach Jack Pardee’s first four and in the final three of Jerry Glanville- but did not get past the divisional round in any of them. During the offseason Houston traded away 37-year-old QB Warren Moon, who has been to six consecutive Pro Bowls and who was the 1990 MVP, to the Vikings in exchange for a 4th round pick this year (CB Mike Davis) and a third round pick in 1995. Surely age was a factor, but Moon showed no signs of deterioration in 1993 and the Oilers may have gotten fleeced. The trade leaves them starting Cody Carlson, who was a third round pick in 1987 and who has been backing up Moon ever since. So he knows the system, but if he has starting capabilities they should have been detected before now. Still, the Oilers did not draft a QB this year, which is either a show of confidence or a plan to tank for the ‘95 draft. Considering the divisional competition is a 1993 last-place team and two expansion ones, Carlson may need to be nothing more than a game manager for the Oilers to go to their eighth consecutive postseason.


Indianapolis Colts
1993 record: 4-12, 5th in AFC East
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Ted Marchibroda (4th season, 21-27)
QB: Jim Harbaugh
RB: Marshall Faulk (R)
WR’s: Sean Dawkins, Floyd Turner
Top 3 Defensive Players: CB Eugene Daniel, DE Tony Bennett, OLB Quentin Coryatt

Ted Marchibroda is a coach on the hot seat and the Colts have changed horses under center. The Colts traded up to make Jeff George the no. 1 overall pick in the 1990 draft, but traded him to the Falcons this past offseason (because he was a nickname for Richard: https://www.si.com/vault/1993/08/09/...n-as-a-quitter) and former Bears signal-caller Jim Harbaugh has been signed. Harbaugh may be an improvement, but he did not have a great ‘93 campaign. Perhaps a good plan would be to feed the rock a lot to the second overall pick of the 1994 draft, three-time Heisman candidate Marshall Faulk. At least the Colts find themselves with a much easier divisional slate, leaving the contentious AFC East and landing where they’ll have four divisional games against expansion teams.


Jacksonville Jaguars
1993 record: N/A
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Tom Coughlin (1st season)
QB: Todd Dillon
RB: Dave Dinnall
WR’s: Earl Winfield, Richard Nurse
Top 3 Defensive Players: OLB Steve McKee, CB Greg Eaglin, CB Eric Carter

As their inaugural head coach the expansion Jaguars have tapped Boston College head coach Tom Coughlin, who was also Doug Flutie’s OC there in the 80‘s. BC went 17-6-1 in the second two of Coughlin’s three seasons there, with his most notable win being a 41-39 upset of then-no. 1 Notre Dame, the Eagles’ first-ever victory over the Irish. Coughlin also has seven years of experience as a NFL assistant, including three with the Giants under Bill Parcells. Jacksonville is an early favorite to possess the no.1 pick in the 1995 NFL draft. Quarterbacking the Jaguars in their first season will be unknown Todd Dillon, who played at Long Beach St. (Mudcat’s mother’s alma mater) and spent two seasons in the USFL before going to Canada, where he has played for the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Hamilton Tiger Cats (1988-1993).


St. Louis Steamers

1993 record: N/A
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Butch Davis (1st season)
QB’s: Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia (R)
RB: Tony Stewart
WR’s: Allen Pitts, Demetrius Smith
Top 3 Defensive Players: CB Greg Frers, CB Doug Craft, DE Kenny Walker

The NFL is returning to St. Louis for the first time since the Cardinals bolted to Phoenix in 1987. The distinction of being the first head coach in Steamers history goes to Butch Davis, who is getting is first head coaching job at any level aside from 1 year at Will Rogers high school in Oklahoma. His NFL experience leading into this gig is four years as the defensive line coach and 1 year as the defensive coordinator of the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, with whom he has collected a pair of rings. Doug Flutie is returning to the NFL after four years in Canada to quarterback the fledgling franchise, and backing him up is developmental prospect Jeff Garcia, who was an All-American at San Jose St. in his junior season in 1992.

[Manning2Harrison]

Division Overview: AFC East


Buffalo Bills
1993 record: 12-4, 1st in AFC East
1993 Playoffs: Def. Raiders 29-23 in divisional, def. Chiefs 30-13 in AFC championship,
lost 30-13 to Cowboys in Super Bowl
Head Coach: Marv Levy (8th season)
QB: Jim Kelly
RB: Thurman Thomas
WR’s: Andre Reed, Don Beebe
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE Bruce Smith, OLB Darryl Talley, CB Thomas Smith

The Bills are coming of their fourth consecutive Super Bowl loss, and one has to wonder if the repeated disappointments are finally going to affect the team’s psyche. Without a significant loss of personnel, however, Buffalo is primed to make a run at a fifth trip to the Big Dance.


Miami Dolphins
1993 record: 9-7, 2nd in AFC East
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Don Shula (25th season)
QB: Dan Marino
RB’s: Bernie Parmalee, Terry Kirby
WR’s: Irving Fryar, Mark Ingram, O.J. McDuffie
Top 3 Defensive Players: MLB Bryan Cox, CB J.B. Brown, SS Michael Stewart

Since losing the 1985 AFC title game in a 5th straight playoff appearance and a 7th in 8 years, the Dolphins have only reached the postseason twice, most recently losing another championship game in 1992. However, they still represent the best chance for a different AFC East champ in 1994.


New York Jets
1993 record: 8-8, 3rd in AFC EAst
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Pete Carroll (1st season)
QB: Boomer Esiason
RB’s: Johnny Johnson
WR’s: Rob Moore, Art Monk
Top 3 Defensive Players: CB James Hasty, FS Ronnie Lott, DE Jeff Lageman

The Jets fired Bruce Coslett after an 8-8 1993 season and a 26-38 record and a wild card loss, and who did they hire to replace him? His defensive coordinator, Pete Carroll, who was with him four all four unsuccessful seasons. That decision and a weak roster is going to doom Gang Green to further mediocrity.


New England Patriots
1993 record: 5-11, 4th in AFC East
1993 Playoffs: N/A
Head Coach: Bill Parcells (2nd season)
QB: Drew Bledsoe
RB’s: Marion Butts
WR’s: Michael Timpson, Vincent Brisby
Top 3 Defensive Players: DE Mile Pitts, CB Maurice Hurst, SS Harlon Barnett

After getting crushed by the 1985 Bears in the Super Bowl, the Patriots lost in the divisional round in 1986. They have not been to the postseason since and they are on their third head coach since Raymond Berry was fired after going 5-11 in 1989. Bill Parcells has the track record of 2 Super Bowl wins, but in his first year with the Pats, the team only improved from 2-14 to 5-11. While the Bills and Dolphins vie for the division title, the Pats and Jets will be battling to avoid the division cellar.