I spend most of my time in these virtual pages writing about the White Sox or baseball in general. However, if I am being honest with yous (this is Bridgeport) I was an NFL fan well before I got into Baseball. Or Basketball for that matter, which is the sport I played throughout my yout. My first memories are of the 1984 Chicago Bears, particularly the playoff game at RFK Stadium versus the then Washington Redskins. That game was a huge deal in our household, my dad was quite thrilled since it had been awhile since the Bears had previously won a playoff game.

Since then I’ve been hooked. The endorphin flow that was the 1985 Bears being a high I haven’t personally ingested in football again, I’m remaining a fan even throughout many lean seasons for the beloved. One thing I tend to think about often are teams that just never made it to the Super Bowl. Those fun or interesting or even GREAT teams that don’t really get their due because they caught the wrong end of variance in a one game playoff.

In fact, I thought it might be fun to run down the entire body of Championship week losers for the time I have been a “fan” of the NFL and pick out my top 5 faves. This is THE 5 – Super Bowls That Never Happened

Whew! That’s a lot of seasons and a lot of teams. Feel free to pick your faves as we go along this journey.

Super Bowls That Never Happened

1987 – Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings

The Cleveland Browns and Bernie Kosar were a tortured group. They made the AFC Championship game 3 fucking times and lost to Denver Broncos each time. Including the time when I am not even sure that Rich Karlis made the field goal to beat them. The 1987 version of this squad was probably the best version of Kosar. This was also the strike season (one game was completely wiped out, 3 others were played by replacement players crossing the picket lines).

The Minnesota Vikings of this season weren’t really that good. Their defense was lead by Joey Browner and Chris Doleman, that latter of which was breaking heads out there. They had a very fun playoff game at San Francisco that they had no business winning and that would make them the perfect foil to this cursed Browns team.

This feels like a Super Bowl that those doomed Browns could win, but in the end, they’d probably still fuck it up.

1996 – Carolina Panthers vs Jacksonville Jaguars

These two teams were participating in an expansion draft just 23 months before the Super Bowl following the 1996 regular season, so it would’ve been amazing had they both made the games final contest of the year. Jacksonville Jaguars QB Mark Brunell had a silly year, leading the NFL in passing yards, as well as times being sacked. Dude was running for his life and slinging the ball all around the yard.

The Carolina Panthers on the other hand lived a charmed life, coasting to 12 wins and an NFC West division title behind a goddamn ferocious defense lead by Kevin Greene and his 14.5 sacks. Understudy Kerry Collins (drinky) came on for Steve Beuerlein and made a pro bowl. It was definitely a flash in the pan as the Panthers wouldn’t make the playoffs again until 2003. Brand fucking new teams in the Super Bowl, it could’ve been great!

1998 – Minnesota Vikings vs New York Jets

The 1998 Minnesota Vikings were a got-damned juggernaut. They finished the regular season 15-1, setting the modern standard for points scored in a season at 556 (which would be broken a decade later by the Patriots). This was the second act of Randall Cunningham’s illustrious career, but he was armed with veteran receiver Cris Carter and an absolutely bonkers rookie season by Randy Moss (1,313 receiving yards & 17 touchdowns). Robert Smith and Leroy Hoard carrying the rock and a defense lead by John Randle. An all-time great single season NFL team. In the end, a Gary Andersen missed field goal (his first of the season) lead to a Morten Andersen made field goal and gg on a great year.

The 1998 Jets were just fun, Bill Parcells taking over the OTHER New York team to try and lead them to greatness. Vinny Testaverde also on a resurgent path that would last MUCH LONGER but not burn as bright as Cunningham’s. A young Curtis Martin establishing himself as a lead back. They coasted in an absolutely loaded AFC East that contained 4 playoff teams. This matchup is probably my favorite of the five.

2007 – San Diego Chargers vs Green Bay Packers

Peak LaDainian Tomlinson in the Super Bowl. We deserved it, but never got it. Enough said.

2020 – Buffalo Bills vs Green Bay Packers

This is year 3 Josh Allen, the one we are now all familar with, coming of age throwing for 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns and running for 8 more! It is also peak of his powers Aaron Rodgers being ridonkulous at age 37 and winning the MVP. This is the kinda fireworks I’d have love to seen that year, just back and forth up and down the field, last team with the ball wins kinda excitement!

Which Super Bowl that Never Happened would you’ve like to have seen most?

-BeefLoaf