-
one fumble changed the league
Interesting besides the fact Carl was already on his way out..but everything else believable..
Nobody ever could have, or would have, predicted that one play could cost multiple teams playoff spots and Super-Bowl winning coaches their jobs and change the course of NFL history.
But it did.
Go back to the San Diego Chargers-Kansas City Chiefs game on Dec. 14, and the NFL’s most significant play of the season.
With 1:13 remaining in a game that San Diego trailed 21-16, Chargers punter Mike Scifres — did he have an incredible season or what? — attempted an onside kick. It bounced into the usually sure hands of Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe — and bounced out.
And history changed.
If Bowe held onto that onside kick, Kansas City would have won the game. Instead, Bowe dropped it, Chargers wide receiver Kassim Osgood recovered it and San Diego pulled out an improbable 22-21 victory.
If Kansas City had won the game, it’s very likely that Chiefs president Carl Peterson wouldn’t have resigned the next day, opening the job that went to Scott Pioli.
If Bowe held onto the onside kick, San Diego would have lost and Denver would have clinched the AFC West title that day, meaning Broncos coach Mike Shanahan wouldn’t have been fired and Josh McDaniels wouldn’t have been hired in his place.
If Kansas City had won that game, San Diego would have traveled to Tampa Bay the next Sunday as a team eliminated from the playoffs instead of a rejuvenated and dangerous one, meaning the Buccaneers likely would have won the game and clinched a playoff spot. But San Diego won, and Tampa Bay continued its tailspin that led to the firing of coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen and the hiring of Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik.
If Tampa Bay had beaten San Diego, the Philadelphia Eagles would have been eliminated from the playoffs and wouldn’t be playing in the NFC Championship Game.
It all goes back to one play. One single play. If Bowe holds on, Shanahan stays, San Diego goes home, Chargers coach Norv Turner might be in trouble, Gruden advances, Philadelphia sits and history changes. Now history changes in an entirely different way on the basis of the result of one play. One single play.
Hollywood gives us sliding doors, and so does the NFL. But in football, it takes a little time before anyone realizes it.
-
Interesting post. It is really neat how history is all connected. So, not only did KC knock out the Pats All-Pro QB, we stole away their star executive, and we also cost them their OC. Now if we could just have a share in all of their good fortune. Sorry Pats fans!
-
Very interesting. Pats fans will 4ever hate the Chiefs.
-
I might add in here, that History was not changed in anyway. History is always in the past.
-
It's all about D-Bowe... !!!D-Bowe_D-Bowe_D-Bowe!!! Jk- good article PA.
-
That's pretty cool, never put all those together. Now I just hope it all works out in our favor.
-
Looking at the title, I though this was going to be about the Hochule blown dead fumble in the Chargers/Broncs game :P
-
its an interesting connection, but there's too many what if's.
-
It does lead to some eerie coincidences, but I still blame that game on Herm. Why did he randomly call timeouts throughout the second half? He couldn't have been conserving time on the clock since we were already up. Did he want San Diego to come back to win? That's how it looks to me.
-
So does Bowe win the Chiefs MVP now?
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
Bookmarks