....that generation's version of the early 90's Buffalo Bills at the time?
They lost the NFL Championship Game in 5 out of 6 years (1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963). Granted, two of the losses were to loaded Colts teams and two others were to the Lombardi Packers.
The ‘61 game was a slaughterhouse by the Packers. We lost the ‘62 game at home 16-7 to the Pack with swirling, horrific winds..The ‘63 Bears 14-10 win over us at Wrigley was a gift to them. We were up 7-0 and then Shofner dropped a wide open TD pass that should have made it 14-0..YA had his knee effectively shredded by Larry Morris and he threw 5 INTs, 3-4 of them on one, heavily bandaged leg..
It is always hard to compare eras, but a new york comparison of that era would be the football giants with baseball brooklyn dodgers. Great teams, each won their respective divisions/league but would lose the final game of the season.
nDodgers lost repeatedly to Yankees. And there were almost no Yankee fans in New York, except Bronx and out of town business visitors to new york. Anyway the analogy of Giant football of that era with Dodger baseball of the same years works much better that anything to do with the Buffalo Bills of any era.
But the Giants managed to win a championship and the Bill's didn't.
So you decide.
...and I would say, "No."
But then again, it's hard to say because the reference to the Buffalo Bill is after the fact.
Our perspective might be different had the Late 50's / Early 60's Giants somehow -- in a crazy time warp machine -- followed the snake-bitten 90's Bills.
Excellent points Mike!
In the overtime game Frank Gifford always felt he got the first down to clinch the game, but officials missed spot because of Geno Marchetti breaking leg on that play.
Against the Bears Tittle s injury was too much to overcome, they were better than the Bears.
The Colts and Packers were probably the better teams
And they were convinced they were the best and their HCs weren’t real motivators. They were the best team but couldn’t get that extra incentive to win the big game.
1990 aside, honestly - the Bills were simply the best of a inferior Conference. NFC positively RULED most of the 90's.
Bills were better than those Bronco teams, dynamic offenses with excellent receivers and Thurman Thomas was the most dangerous back in football back then. Arguably deserved the SB MVP in 90'.
Elway was better than Kelly - he was better than anyone, Marino and Montana included, IMO. I saw all 3 play. Elway made IMPOSSIBLE throws. Off balance, across the field 50 yard rockets. John Elway was a ridiculous talent who willed a better-than-average football team to 3 consecutive Super Bowls.
When he finally got a very good team, he delivered.
The ‘61 game was a slaughterhouse by the Packers. We lost the ‘62 game at home 16-7 to the Pack with swirling, horrific winds..The ‘63 Bears 14-10 win over us at Wrigley was a gift to them. We were up 7-0 and then Shofner dropped a wide open TD pass that should have made it 14-0..YA had his knee effectively shredded by Larry Morris and he threw 5 INTs, 3-4 of them on one, heavily bandaged leg..
We wuz robbed in 58. And still maintain that if championship games were played at warm-weather neutral sites like the early SBs, we would have beaten the Bears and would have had a much better shot in the '62 home game against the Packers.