Even the 49ers had off years

[xmarkd400x]

This is compiled from Wikipedia. The 49ers excellence lasted a good 15 years. However, they had some down times also (most notably 3 conf. champ. losses). Human memories are short, and probably only remember all the times they saw the Niners win the SB. The loss still hurts, but maybe this takes some edge off. As long as the Patriots have TB they will be in the mix.

1981: 13-3, Won SB 16 (Montana's first full year as a starter)
1982: 3-6, -- (Strike Year)
1983: 10-6, Lost Conference Champ.
1984: 15-1, Won SB 19
1985: 10-6, Lost Wild Card Round
1986: 10-5-1, Lost Divisional Round
1987: 13-2, Lost Divisional Round (Strike season)
1988: 10-6, Won SB 23
1989: 14-2, Won SB 24
1990: 14-2, Lost Conference Champ.(Montana's last as a full time starter)
1991: 10-6, --
1992: 14-2, Lost Conference Champ. (Montana's traded to KC)
1993: 10-6, Lost Conference Champ.
1994: 13-3, Won SB 29
1995: 11-5, Lost Divisional Round
1996: 12-4, Lost Divisional Round
1997: 13-3, Lost Conference Champ.
1998: 12-4, Lost Divisional Round
1999-Present: Not worth mentioning

 

[Sam Malone]

Jeez,the Pats lost the Super Bowl,they didn't have an "off year"

 

[Rocky Mountain Stampede]

I remember the day the 49ers got smoked 49-3 by a superior 1986 New York Giants team at the Meadowlands. Joe Montana got pounded into that hard Giants Stadium turf all afternoon long by Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, Jim Burt and company. It was ugly.

 

[richpats]

One bad thing about the SB loss is that it puts a lot of pressure on the '08 team to get the job done, or we're looking at 4 consecutive seasons of playoff defeats and no Super Bowls. That's what was encouraging about the '07 squad - they had the best Pats team ever and it would have revived the dynasty.

Over the last 3 seasons, the Pats are only a notch above the Seahawks when it comes to playoff success.

 

[nummit]

Over the last 3 seasons, the Pats are only a notch above the Seahawks when it comes to playoff success.

If the Pats played in the NFC they would have gone to 7 consecutive Super Bowls by now

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

uh i dont think this was a 'off yr' , we were 18-0 playing a 5th seed from the nfc..

 

[#12]

I think the OP means even the 49ers didn't win it every year. Thats the truth. Losing in the superbowl sucks but it is what it is. Time to realize that next year is coming and we have a great chance to go back and win.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

I remember the day the 49ers got smoked 49-3 by a superior 1986 New York Giants team at the Meadowlands. Joe Montana got pounded into that hard Giants Stadium turf all afternoon long by Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, Jim Burt and company. It was ugly.

Montana had a back injury early that season that many thought would end his career. The following year the 49ers were a league-best 13-2 with the #1 offense AND defense (yardage) and got smoked in the first round by Minnesota; Montana was even benched for poor play. In 1988, the 49ers were 5-5 after 10 games. Now let's stop the clock and look back at that point...

49ers fans had a two-title team, the last one being in 1984. In 1985 and 1986, the great Joe Montana put up 3 points each time in their one-and-done playoff appearances and then the team blew a prime title chance in 1987 with Montana stinking up the joint at home. Here they sit at a mediocre 5-5 the following year.

You can't tell me that any 49er fan thought they were about to win the next two titles and come real close to playing for a 3-peat.

Much like those 49er fans, we're 3 years removed from the last title. At least the Pats haven't gone one-and-done each year. They were a 3rd-and-4 conversion in 2006 and an Eli-to-Tyree circus play in 2007 from winning two more titles, a far cry from where 49er fans stood after 1987. Who knows what the next several years will bring, but despite coming up short recently, there has been much to enjoy.

Regards,
Chris

 

[dwayne]

At the time (1987), the 49ers very much expected to be in the running for Super Bowls for many a year (much like the Pats should be now). I'm one of the Niner fans who believe that Montana would easily have got number 5 for us instead of Young (which would have been ideal), as well as perhaps more.

Roger Craig's fumble, of course, denied us of the three-peat.

But yes; we've had off years. Including many recently;

 

[Fanfrom1960]

At the time (1987), the 49ers very much expected to be in the running for Super Bowls for many a year (much like the Pats should be now). I'm one of the Niner fans who believe that Montana would easily have got number 5 for us instead of Young (which would have been ideal), as well as perhaps more.

Roger Craig's fumble, of course, denied us of the three-peat.

But yes; we've had off years. Including many recently;

Well, you had a great owner, albeit with some controversy in there and some salary cap woes at the end, and now you have York. Will the 49ers ever rise again with him (and Nolan) in charge? As long as we have Kraft and Belichick, I feel N.E. will keep it going.

 

[Harry Yelreh]

Belichick's defense was the biggest single reason that kept the 49ers from achieving their own historic mark in 1990, when it looked certain that SF was going to win three straight Super Bowls. SF only beat the Giants 7-3 in the regular season that year; so much for Joe Montana lighting every team up in every game of his career. Then in the NFC title game, Giants knocked out Montana and forced a Roger Craig fumble when it looked like SF had it won. Giants, 15-13.

Up until now, that was one of the more devastating defeats as far as preventing a team from achieving history goes.

 

[pheenix11]

Montana's Career

79 Drafted
81 SB Champs
84 SB Champs
88 SB Champs
89 SB Champs

Brady's Career

00 Drafted
01 SB Champs
03 SB Champs
04 SB Champs
07 SB Loss


Brady is actually AHEAD of Montana at this stage. He's appeared in 2 more Superbowls and won 1 more than him.

 

[dwayne]

Montana's Career

79 Drafted
81 SB Champs
84 SB Champs
88 SB Champs
89 SB Champs

Brady's Career

00 Drafted
01 SB Champs
03 SB Champs
04 SB Champs
07 SB Loss


Brady is actually AHEAD of Montana at this stage. He's appeared in 2 more Superbowls and won 1 more than him.

Elway reached 3 Super Bowls well before Montana, no?

 

[dwayne]

Well, you had a great owner, albeit with some controversy in there and some salary cap woes at the end, and now you have York. Will the 49ers ever rise again with him (and Nolan) in charge? As long as we have Kraft and Belichick, I feel N.E. will keep it going.

York and Nolan may fluke it, but I'm not holding out hope....

You're right about Kraft and Belichick. Still, we felt the same about Eddie and Walsh/Seifert. Nothing lasts forever.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Well, then mebbe ya shouldn't have said 5 super bowls in 13 years, specifically. So you're saying you're behind teams like the Packers and Bears and those guys with like 8 NFL titles over 50 years?

Someone would have to go drag up the titles, but I'm sure they've got more than 5.

PFnV

 

[austinpatsfan]

1999-present not worth mentioning haha where is young to rice

 

[pheenix11]

Elway reached 3 Super Bowls well before Montana, no?

Elway

83 Drafted
86 SB Loss
87 SB Loss
89 SB Loss
97 SB Champs
98 SB CHamps

Yup, but he lost them all.

Brady's record so far is quite impressive. Sad part is that he should have 5 rings by now.....