Why Peyton Manning’s streak really was incredible, how Oakland’s Super Bowl hangover (from 2002) compares in the annals of NFL lore, and much much more, in Juiced Sports’ biggest NFL preview ever

SCOTT JACOBS

First we discussed the NFC.  Now, its onto its former bitter rival, now partner in crime: the American Football Conference.  Picture me saying that with a Chris Berman like accent. No one circles the wagons like …

The AFC

The biggest story of the offseason is and continues to be Peyton Manning’s health.  Following a serious neck surgery that has taken longer to recover than expected, Manning’s status remains in limbo, and it has already been announced that he will miss his first start since being drafted by the Colts… in 1998!  Jim Irsay did nothing to slow the ravaging fire today, when he tweeted “#18s out for awhile but compete, we will / BELIEVE.” You know who that sounds like?  Dan Gilbert, who after losing his franchise star to the Heat, desperately tried to rally devastated Cleveland fans with optimistic, albeit absurd statements like “We will win a championship before [the Heat] do.”  The reality of the situation is this: without Manning the Colts are screwed. End of story. If he’s gone for the year they could be the worst team in the NFL.  O wait, that spot is already reserved for the Bengals.

Manning’s starts streak, which began 12 years ago and was at 227 and counting, before this surgery is impressive in stature.  But put in perspective, it is more amazing.

Since 1998 the Colts have started 1 QB: Manning.  In that same span, the Dolphins have started — get this — 17 different QBs:

Chad Henne
Chad Pennington
Tyler Thigpen
Cleo Lemon
Trent Green
John Beck
Joey Harrington
Daunte Culpepper
Cleo Lemon
Gus Frerotte
Sage Rosenfels
A.J. Feeley
Jay Fiedler
Brian Griese
Ray Lucas
Damon Huard
Dan Marino

If this is indeed the beginning of the end for Manning and the Colts, the timing is eerie.  After dominating the NFL along with New England and Philly for the past decade or so, the year the Colts finally host a Super Bowl is the year that they probably don’t make the playoffs?  That just adds further credence to the idea that there is such thing as a hometown hosting Super Bowl Curse.  Again, no NFL team has ever won the Big Game the year their city hosted it. That doesn’t look to change one bit this year, especially with the grim possibility that Manning could miss the season.

With Manning out of the picture the AFC South is more open than a hooker on the freeway (I’m not even sure what that means).  Houston looks like the logical choice to supplant the Colts (who have owned the South for years), but don’t sleep on the Titans, who all of a sudden have a veteran QB and their star RB locked up, not held out. The Titans are distraction free in 2011 after a whacky 2010 season. With Vince Young and Jeff Fisher out, and Matt Hasselbeck and Mike Munchak in, could the Titans sneak into a division title?  Meanwhile, I’m still not sure what to make of the Jaguars, who cut David Garrard after 9 seasons. If the plan is to have Luke McCown be the guy, than maybe the Jags have a chance.  But if the reigns are going to be directly passed to rookie Blaine Gabbert somewhere in the middle of the season, then I don’t know what Jack Del Rio and friends are trying to accomplish.  But make no mistake, the AFC South is open for business.

Hard to believe the Chiefs won the west this past season.  It’s like it never happened given how everyone and their mother is expecting the Chargers to seize it right back.  Hard to argue the logic: the Chiefs did catch lightning in a bottle last year, but don’t sleep on the acquisition of Steve Breaston, who along with Dwayne Bowe gives Matt Cassel two really good receivers to throw to.  Speaking of the Chargers the Darren Sproles Era in San Diego is over, meaning the onus is now officially on Ryan Matthews to make good on his lofty 1st round draft pick from a year ago.  Philip Rivers is a really good QB, but too many times last year, San Diego’s lack of a consistent run game caused him and the Chargers offense to become one dimensional.

Meanwhile in Denver the Broncos have 3 QBs and a new Head Coach.  Like they say in college: when you have 2 QBs, you really have none.  More specifically to rekindle a classic scene from American Pie 2:

Jessica: If a guy tells you how many girls he’s hooked up with, it’s not even close to that. You take that number and divide it by three, then you get the real total. OK, so if Kevin is saying it’s been three girls it’s more like one or none.
Vicky: None?
Jessica: The rule of three. It’s an exact science. Consistent as gravity.

Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, and Tim Tebow equal nothing.

Speaking of Tebow, he’s the new Terrell Owens: the media will find a way to bring up his name in conversation no matter what’s going on. And speaking of T.O. he’s still looking for work.  Everytime I come across a re-run of his T.O. Show on VH1 I immediately think to myself: remember when this guy was relevant?

And then there’s the Raiders, coming off an 8-8 season, and looking to make the next step.  Of course they’re doing it with a new coach and the same Redskins castoff QB who Washington would probably kill to have back.  I’m of course talking about Jason Campbell.  Once the NFL’s gold standard for excellence, the Silver and Black haven’t won a division or made the playoffs since 2002, which is the same year they lost in the Super Bowl.  Come to think of it, has any team lost a Super Bowl and then taken that long just to get back to the playoffs?  It’s been almost a decade, and if you look at Super Bowl losers before them, they may have one of the longest streaks ever (keep in mind that the Super Bowl is always played in the next calendar year).

I wanted to find out so I did the research:

(Season that they lost Super Bowl) / Team / (Years until next Playoff appearance, ex: 1966-1968 = 1)

(1966)- Kansas City Chiefs (1)
(1967)- Oakland Raiders (0)
(1968)- Baltimore Colts (1)
(1969)- Minnesota Vikings (0)
(1970)- Dallas Cowboys (0)
(1971)- Miami Dolphins (0)
(1972- Washington Redskins (0)
(1973)- Minnesota Vikings (0)
(1974)- Minnesota Vikings (0)
(1975)- Dallas Cowboys (0)
(1976)- Minnesota Vikings (0)
(1977)- Denver Broncos (0)
(1978)- Dallas Cowboys (0)
(1979)- Los Angeles Rams (0)
(1980)- Philadelphia Eagles (1)
(1981)- Cincinnati Bengals (0)
(1982)- Miami Dolphins (0)
(1983)- Washington Redskins (0)
(1984)- Miami Dolphins (0)
(1985)- New England Patriots (0)
(1986)- Denver Broncos (0)
(1987)- Denver Broncos (1)
(1988)- Cincinnati Bengals (0)
(1989)- Denver Broncos (1)
(1990)- Buffalo Bills (0)
(1991)- Buffalo Bills (0)
(1992)- Buffalo Bills (0)
(1993)- Buffalo Bills (1)
(1994)- San Diego Chargers (0)
(1995)- Pittsburgh Steelers (0)
(1996)- New England Patriots (0)
(1997)- Green Bay Packers (0)
(1998)- Atlanta Falcons (3)
(1999)- Tennessee Titans (0)
(2000)- New York Giants (1)
(2001)- St. Louis Rams (1)
(2002)- Oakland Raiders (8 and counting)

Yup, the Oakland Raiders hold the dubious distinction of taking the longest of any Super Bowl losing team in history to get back to the playoffs.  Eight years and counting.  When you look at this list, and see that only 5 teams before them missed the playoffs the year after losing the Big Game, it’s even more amazing.  That is a situation my friends where the numbers never lie.

In the North it’s expected to be Baltimore and Pittsburgh once again.  With Cincinnati sinking to new lows, and the Browns still putting the pieces together the division will likely be status quo.  But don’t sleep on Colt McCoy.  There’s something about him that I really like. I think the Browns could be a sleeper team in the AFC.  Meanwhile the Carson Palmer Saga continues to drag on quieter than the NBA Lockout. Still in his prime, one could argue, Palmer is officially(unofficially?) retired, but could still return at any point this year to collect his check. Typical Bengals. Weird, weird, and weirder.  Only this year they’re going to be so bad, they’ll be happy to sell off Carson to the highest bidder come offseason.

Finally the East, where the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 2004 season (o the horror).  Which got me wondering: what are the longest Super Bowl droughts.  The first one on that list has to be the Cardinals.  They’ve been around since 1920 and have never won a Super Bowl title, with their last NFL title coming in good ole 1947.  Those were simpler times.  The Pats are clearly spoiled.  They’ve gone 6 seasons and counting without a ring. For New England sports fans nowadays thats a long time.  Unless you ask other NFL title starved cities.  The list please…

Longest Championship Droughts (Current) in the NFL:

(53) Arizona Cardinals Never
(45) Atlanta Falcons Never
(43) Cincinnati Bengals
(43) New York Jets
(42) Kansas City Chiefs
(38) Miami Dolphins
(34) Seattle Seahawks Never
(27) Oakland Raiders
(25) Chicago Bears
(19) Washington Redskins
(16) San Francisco 49ers
(15) Carolina Panthers Never
(15) Jacksonville Jaguars Never
(15) Dallas Cowboys
(12) Denver Broncos
(11) St. Louis Rams
(10) Baltimore Ravens

Sorry New England, it’s pretty hard to feel sorry for you.

And if my predictions come right, you’re going to get another trophy this year.  Buffalo, tied with Detroit for the longest playoff-less drought in the league (11 years and counting) unveiled new uniforms and a shiny white helmet.  Unfortunately, unlike college football, uniforms don’t get you recruits.  Money and location does, and Buffalo lacks in both.  Still, I think the Bills will hover around .500 this year, which for them would be a pretty good year.

Photo: Getty

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