DBWI: The Oilers blow it against the Bills

January 3, 1993 was almost a dark day in Houston Oilers history. The team led 35-3 in the third quarter, but Frank Reich, backup QB for the two-time defending AFC champion Buffalo Bills, leads what looks like a miracle rally in front of the home crowd, scoring four touchdowns and almost getting a fifth. However, Reich overthrew Andre Reed, and the Bills settled for a field goal to make it 35-34. The Bills tried an onside kick but didn't convert, and Warren Moon and the Oilers ran out the clock and won. Fortunately for the Oilers, they recovered and won the following week against the Steelers and then defeated the Dolphins 27-17 to go to that amazing Super Bowl, where they upset the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys in overtime.

What if Reich makes that pass? I don't see the Oilers winning if he does. Does the NFL ever adopt the two-point conversion, since the fact that the Bills lost by one when a two-pointer could have sent it to OT and given the Bills a chance to win was the deciding factor in adding the rule (ironically with the Oilers being the deciding vote.) Does Mobil Stadium get built? Or does the city pony up to keep a team that can't win the big one? That stadium deal ended up being a model for other deals. It's hard to picture the NFL without it.
 
Well the Bills might be worse off. I honestly think that for them, losing that game helped more in the long run. After losing back-to-back Superbowls, they were way too tight, and the choker moniker was starting to get to them. Not going back to the Big One in 92-93 helped them to regroup, loosen up and set up the 93-94 Comeback Tour. On top of that, the Oilers gave everyone the blueprint for taking out the Cowboys: score early, score often and don't stop scoring. The modified K-Gun that the Bills rolled out in 93 was the perfect weapon to take out the Boys.

Speaking of the Boys: they might have a better time of it too. Not losing back-to-back Superbowls might convince Jerry Jones that Jimmy knew what he was doing as a coach, and so he doesn't get cut lose after the slow start in 94. This, in turn, stops the Cowboys from completely falling apart by the middle of the decade (I mean, who the hell thinks that Barry Switzer was a good replacement!?). From there, stronger Cowboys means a screw for the rest of the NFC East, and maybe the Pack and the 9ers too. Maybe Cunningham leaves Philly earlier with less success (no idea where he would go). With a less successful Packers, I think that Barry Sanders stays in Detroit longer instead of bolting over to the AFC.
 
Wonder if not winning that lombardi would have make Bud Adams to renew his infamous threat to move, after that sucess he keep quiet and later the city tell him be patient and was rewared with the current Lucas Oil Stadium in Houston(who they shared with Rodeo events) who was a beauty, the idea of removable grass was one even later we cardinals would adopt too.

Would the Browns have move to Nashville to become the Nashville Conductors? would cleveland recover the browns alongside Baltimore getting the Stallions later on?
 
Wonder if not winning that lombardi would have make Bud Adams to renew his infamous threat to move, after that sucess he keep quiet and later the city tell him be patient and was rewared with the current Lucas Oil Stadium in Houston(who they shared with Rodeo events) who was a beauty, the idea of removable grass was one even later we cardinals would adopt too.

Would the Browns have move to Nashville to become the Nashville Conductors? would cleveland recover the browns alongside Baltimore getting the Stallions later on?

Yeah, I can never remember the new name of the stadium. It was Mobil Stadium for a long time and then Lucas Oil bought the naming rights.

I don't know what the Browns would have done if the Oilers move to Nashville. That seemed to be the obvious choice for them if Houston didn't work, but Baltimore badly wanted a team and ended up getting, fittingly, the Colts back.
 
Yeah, I can never remember the new name of the stadium. It was Mobil Stadium for a long time and then Lucas Oil bought the naming rights.

I don't know what the Browns would have done if the Oilers move to Nashville. That seemed to be the obvious choice for them if Houston didn't work, but Baltimore badly wanted a team and ended up getting, fittingly, the Colts back.
OOC: they got a new millenium expansion alongside browns, so it's Brown 2.0 and Stallions based on the CFL team, colts are still in indianapolis, maybe peyton manning-less, who knews....
 
Speaking of the Boys: they might have a better time of it too. Not losing back-to-back Superbowls might convince Jerry Jones that Jimmy knew what he was doing as a coach, and so he doesn't get cut lose after the slow start in 94.

OOC: Johnson was gone at the end of the 93 season regardless. He only wanted to stay there five years. That is the way he was.
 
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