Anyone watch the Vikings-Bears game?

[Strk321]

Some game, huh? Outdoor football returns to Minnesota! (even though it was a blowout loss).

Oh, and give Brett Favre a hand for trying. (clap clap clap)

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Devon Hester — the human highlight reel!

[Strk321]

Buying a championship doesn’t work all that well. Dan Snyder has tried it with the Redskins and never gotten anywhere.

They actually didn’t have a salary cap until 1994, which may explain why the NFC East teams (all among the league’s wealthiest) haven’t enjoyed much success since then. Since 1994, the only title out of that division has come from the Giants (ignoring the ‘95 Cowboys since that was a team built up during the previous few years).

Of course, the Saints had been to the NFC Championship in 2006, so their win wasn’t totally out of the blue.

On the other hand, you have the NBA, which is a total joke. About 20 or so of its teams are not and will never compete.

[Strk321]

“hester was and is amazing”

Except no one will ever forget him baring his butt on national television.

“...it was great to see the bears defense solid as the ryan-ditka days”

Of course, Packers fans will happily point out that a team as awesome as the ‘80s Bears was only able to win one title. But then, they only won it once in the ‘90s.

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Having his butt bared would be more proper wording. And I can’t think of a team that would pass on some a$$ crack if it meant 14 return TDs and such consistently great field position

[Alberta's Child]

Understood. But nowadays teams have a much easier time filling holes in their roster -- even at key positions -- by signing free agents from other teams. Drew Brees of New Orleans is a perfect case in point. Twenty years ago, he would have been the starter in San Diego for at least a few more years while Rivers was groomed to replace him. Instead, the Chargers drafted Rivers knowing full well that they were never going to be able to afford both of them.

New Orleans never would have won that Super Bowl if they had built their roster from scratch.

[Strk321]

In the olden days before free agency, players stayed on a team unless they were cut, retired, or traded. So teams stayed intact for years. Hence, the ‘70s was dominated by the Steelers, Rams, Cowboys, and Vikings. Those four teams posted winning records and playoff appearances year after year. Dolphins might have been dominant too if they hadn’t lost key players to the WFL.

In more recent times, many teams have failed to reach the playoffs or even post a winning record the season after a SB run. This is more often true of the loser, but the 2001 Patriots and ‘02 Buccaneers both missed the playoffs the following season.