This one could be interesting: Seattle takes RB Marcus Allen, USC, with the 6th overall pick in the 1982 Draft.
In the 1982 season, Seattle went 4-5, with the 27th ranked offense in the league, averaging a pathetic 88.333 rushing yards per game. The passing game wasn't too bad, but if the run was an option, it probably would have done a lot better, as, anybody who played Seattle knew they had to throw it, because they sure as hell couldn't run it.
Meanwhile, they had the 5th best D in the league. That's on a team that turned the ball over 24 times in 9 games.
Marcus Allen averaged 77.4 yards per game rushing all by himself in '82. The Seahawks, as a team, averaged less than 11 yards more than him per game.
You put Allen in the Seattle backfield in '82, you probably save Jack Patera's job and, further, you probably hand the #1 overall pick in the 1983 draft to the Oilers.
The Oilers only won one game in 1982...against the Seahawks.
They didn't exactly run away with it either, it was a close one, 23-21.
Seattle got 80 yards on the ground in that game. Against the 20th ranked rushing D in the league.
With Marcus Allen running the ball, Seattle probably wins that game. Oilers probably go 0-9, Elway probably ends up in Houston, the Oilers probably are still in Houston today.
That's a big 'ol honkin' buttefly right there.
How much better would Seattle be?
Probably good enough to reach the playoffs.
Of course, when I initially thought of this one, I forgot to factor in how this affects the team that DID take Allen, the (newly) Los Angeles Raiders.
First, the Seahawks...
Week 1, at home, against Cleveland, OTL, they had 40 rushing yards and 180 total yards of offense, and 3 turnovers...and still only lost 21-7. I think Allen could be the difference in that game. Opening weekend is always a wild ride though, so this game could still go either way.
Week 2, @ Houston, see above.
Week 3, @ Denver, they won (barely), against a bad Broncos team. With Allen, they probably do better.
Week 4, home against the Steelers, they won 16-0, and, actually got some rushing yards against Pittsburgh without a decent running back (124). I think Allen would have had a huge game there.
Week 5, @ Raiders.
This is where I realized I forgot to factor in the impact on the Raiders.
OTL, Allen rushed 24 times for 156 yards and 2 TDs AGAINST Seattle...and the Raiders only managed a 5 point win at home. Flip the Allen factor around and it's a loooong day in LA for da' Raidahs.
More on the Silver and Black Attack later...
Week 6, home against daaaa Bearsss. 20-14 win by Seattle, OTL, probably a wider margin TTL.
Week 7, home against the Pats, lost 16-0...53 rushing yards, 171 total yards, SIX turnovers. Pats had the 7th ranked D in the league, but 25th against the run. I think Seattle has a shot to win this one with a running back that can actually move the ball and playing in Thunder Dome. Does Jim Zorn throw those 4 INTs if he doesn't have to throw the ball 35 times for 'Lack of a Back'? Probably not. They can win this game, but the Pats weren't so bad it's a guarantee, so this one could go either way too.
Week 8, @ Cinci...as it was, it was a tough defensive battle on both sides of the ball, Seattle probably gets more than OTL's 79 yards on the ground, but it's hard to pick against the defending conference champs in their own house, especially in late December.
Week 9, home, against Denver...with Allen in the backfield, this doesn't end anywhere near the 13-11 squeaker it was OTL.
I think the Seahawks finish either 7-2 or 6-3 and go to the AFC Playoffs for the first time in their history.
Now, as to The Raidahs...
Marcus Allen played a HUGE role in the Raiders offense in 1982; the difference between an OTL 8-1 finish and a...less than 8-1 finish TTL.
Question: If the Raiders can't take Allen, do they trade for a established RB or take a different RB in the 1982 Draft?
Allen's Impact:
Week 1 @ San Francisco:
23 rushes for 116 yards, 4 catches for another 64 yards in a 23-17 win over the defending Super Bowl champs in their own house.
Without Allen, I think that's a game the 49ers win- which might change the whole complexion of their season, but, with RB woes of their own, perhaps all it means is a 4-5 finish, rather than a 3-6 finish.
Week 2 @ Atlanta:
12 rushes for 56 yards and a TD, 4 catches, 39 yards and another TD in a 38-14 Raiders victory.
This one could go either way, as the Falcons were a playoff team in '82, and are only 2 years removed from a 12-4 season where they won the NFC West.
The question: Can the Raiders offense still put up the 24 non-Allen points of OTL without his contributions on offense? Jim Plunkett had decent day throwing the ball, so maybe this one's a little closer, and the Raiders still win, but the Falcons could win this one too.
Week 3 vs. San Diego:
At one point, the Chargers were running away with this game, jumping out to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter, headed into the half up 24-7.
And then...Marcus Allen.
18 carries, 87 yards, TWO second half TDs, 5 catches, 37 more yards.
I don't know if the Raiders come all the way back without Allen in this game; he accounted for two of their three second half TDs (in a game they won 28-24) and 124 of their 326 yards of offense.
I think the Raiders lose this game.
Week 4 @ Cincinnati: Raiders lost this game OTL, no reason to think it plays out any different without him.
Week 5 vs. Seattle:
See above. Seahawks win.
Week 6 @ Kansas City:
Quiet day from Allen, 18 carries, 47 yards, 1 catch for 1 yard.
Raiders still won that game OTL 21-16, as Jim Plunkett had a great day throwing against the Chiefs: 18 of 33, 303 yards, 3 TDs and an INT. Don't see this game changing much as the Raiders won the game through the air with only 59 total rushing yards as it was OTL.
Week 7 vs. Rams:
Marcus Allen: 25 carries, 93 yards, 3 TDs, 8 catches, 61 yards in a game the Rams were winning 21-7 at the half...until Marcus Allen explodes in the second half, where he scored all three of his TDs- including the game winning score in the 4th quarter, an 11 yard scamper to put the game away.
Without Marcus Allen, I think the Raiders don't come back (at least not all the way) and lose, which makes things interesting for the Rams, as this win makes them 3-6, rather than 2-7 as per OTL. This has an effect on the '83 Draft, but we'll get to that later.
Week 8 vs. Denver:
While Allen was held to a putrid 16 yards on 12 carries, he TORCHED the Broncos for 5 catches, 91 yards and 2 TDs...in a game the Raiders won 27-10.
Now, the Broncos weren't the best team in 1982, so they can still lose this game (they turned the ball over 6 times in this game), but I think they could have a shot to win it too.
Probable Raiders win, but possible Broncos upset (which would make the Broncos 3-6...)
Week 9 @ San Diego:
The Marcus Allen Show, Part 2 (or 3, or...never mind.
)
20 carries, 126 yards, 2 TDs.
3 catches, 40 more yards.
OTL: Raiders 41, Chargers 34 in a wild one.
Without Allen...um, no.
If the Chargers win both games against the Raiders, they finish 8-1 and get the #1 seed in the AFC Playoff tourney.
The Raiders...3-6.
Now, watch as this one pick magically turns the 1983 NFL Draft on it's ear!
1. Houston (0-9)
2. Baltimore (0-8-1)
3. ?
The Raiders probably lose against either the Broncos or the Rams...two teams that finished 2-7 OTL.
That one loss makes two of them 3-6. The team that finishes 2-7 picks 3rd.
There's a slew of 3-6 and 4-5 teams, and I don't have time (or knowledge of how the draft works) to sort it out, but, if someone wants to take a stab at it, this is worth exploring.
Like I said, I think Elway goes to Houston (unless somebody really wows the Oilers with a trade they CANNOT turn down) and the Colts, with no chance of ever having Elway...didn't their GM want Marino?
At that point, Dickerson probably ends up with ? (2-7) and I think the Raiders start looking at Curt Warner.
Hell, if the Broncos AND Rams beat the Raiders, the Raiders go 2-7 and probably grab Dickerson with the #3 pick.
But I'll leave that to further discussion...