Praise For The Bengals Dalton Era.

[Essex Johnson]

(06-07-2020, 12:54 AM)BengalChris Wrote: Might want to take into account the number of teams which can make the playoffs in the different eras. When Anderson came into the league only 4 teams from each conference made the playoffs each year. There were 3 division winners and 1 wildcard team. In 1972, 1976, 1977 Anderson would have made the playoffs under the current format to go along with his 1973, 1975, 1981 and 1982 appearances.

In Boomer's era 5 teams from each conference made the playoffs each year, 3 division winners and 2 wildcard teams.

In Dalton's (and Palmer's) era 6 teams from each conference made the playoffs each year and in three of those 5 Dalton playoff years the Bengals would not have made the playoffs back in Anderson's or Boomer's era because the Bengals got in as the 6th seed.

Now, in the Burrow era 7 teams will from each conference will make the playoffs.

So, Burrow will need lots of playoff appearances.

All of that said, I also have to give the nod to Dalton over Palmer. It's too bad Cook had that shoulder injury cause he would have been the best of them all.

You are correct less teams made playoffs back in the 70s etc.. but you do need to also take into account there were less teams.. 13 vs 16 in the AFC.. so when you look at percentage it would be about a 6.5 percent better chance of making the playoffs now compared to then.. so not as great difference when you factor in 16 vs 13 teams.