NFL 1980s Trivia

1. What young quarterback threw an astounding 35 interceptions and had a 48.8 passer rating in 1988?

From Quiz The 1988 NFL Season

Answer: Vinny Testaverde

Testaverde, a first-overall pick in 1987, led the disappointing Buccaneers to a 5-11 season in 1988.

From Quiz A Pigskin Decade: The 1980s

Answer: Archie Manning

The Saints' only win in the season was not until Week 15 when they defeated the Jets, 21-20. Manning threw for 3716 yards in the season, but threw 20 interceptions compared to 24 touchdowns. The Raiders won Super Bowl XV over the Eagles.

From Quiz NFL 1980s

Answer: Dan Fouts

Dan Fouts of the San Diego Chargers threw for 4,715 yards to lead the NFL during the 1980 regular season. Fouts was a Charger for all 15 of his NFL seasons, leading the NFL in passing yardage 4 consecutive times from 1979-82. Steve Bartkowski of the Atlanta Falcons threw for 3,544 yards good enough for 4th in the NFL. However, Bartkowski did lead the NFL with 31 touchdown passes in 1980. Brian Sipe of the Cleveland Browns finished 2nd in passing yardage to Fouts with 4,132 yards, and matched Fouts and Vince Ferragamo with 30 touchdown passes, one behind Bartkowski. Archie Manning finished the regular season with 3,716 passing yards, 3rd best in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints.

From Quiz NFL in the 1980s #2

Answer: A player strike shortened the season to nine games

After several episodes of labor unrest in the 1970s failed to stop regular season play, the 1982 season was interrupted by a strike following the second week of games. No football was played for eight more weeks. The NFL cancelled all the missed games, shortened the schedule to nine games, and modified its playoff structure for the season. Five years later, another mid-season strike occurred, but this time, after one week of inactivity, the owners fielded teams of replacement players. The replacements played for three weeks, with the results counting in the standings, before the regular players ended the strike. The Washington Redskins seemingly benefited, winning the Super Bowl for both of the strike seasons.

From Quiz NFL in the 1980s #1

Answer: Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins under Joe Gibbs seemingly had something for every football fan in the 1980s, mixing solid ground control running with big play passing on offense, and throwing in a solid defense, to win Super Bowls in 1982, 1987, and 1991. Few NFL offensive lines were ever colorful enough to merit a nickname, but when the Redskins' line coach told them they "looked like a bunch of hogs," they took the name as a badge of pride that they wore for the rest of the decade. The Smurfs were the team's undersized receiving corps, nicknamed after a cartoon about little blue people that was popular at the time. The Fun Bunch was the group who would gather in the end zone after a touchdown for a mass high-five. And the Diesel was their tireless Hall of Fame running back John Riggins, who seemed to get stronger after his 30th carry of a game.

From Quiz The 1988 NFL Season

Answer: Miami Dolphins

Even with QB Dan Marino, the Dolphins struggled in 1988, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

From Quiz NFL 1980s

Answer: Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack

As a rookie fullback in 1985, Kevin Mack led the Browns with 1,104 rushing yards during the regular season. Mack never bested 1,000 yards again during his 9-year career. Earnest Byner broke the 1,000 plateau by 2 yards in 1985. Byner also had consecutive 1,000 yard seasons while playing for the Washington Redskins in 1990 and 1991.

From Quiz NFL in the 1980s #1

Answer: Al Davis & Pete Rozelle

The Davis vs. Rozelle courtroom dustup took shape when Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis wanted to move his team to Los Angeles. Blocked from doing so by a 22-0 vote of NFL owners (five owners abstained), Davis sued NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle for antitrust violations related to the league's interference in his move of the team. Davis prevailed in the suit, winning an $18 million settlement, plus $35 million in damages, in 1982. "In their mind, it's their team," Davis said of the Oakland fans. "In my mind, it's not." For many, the highlight of the Davis-Rozelle battle came when the Raiders won the Super Bowl in January 1981, right in the midst of the ongoing lawsuit. Rozelle handed the Super Bowl trophy to Davis with two hands to avoid having to shake hands with his nemesis, Davis replied with some barely audible mumbles, and some observers marvelled that neither hit the other with the heavy object.

From Quiz The 1988 NFL Season

Answer: 6-5

The 1988 49er team (10-6) got hot late in the season, reeled off four straight wins after a 6-5 start, and passed the Rams to win the NFC West.

From Quiz A Pigskin Decade: The 1980s

Answer: Baltimore Colts

The others won their division, and saw the Redskins win Super Bowl XVII over the Dolphins. The Colts threw only five touchdowns in those nine games against 10 interceptions.

From Quiz NFL 1980s

Answer: George Rogers

New Orleans Saints rookie running back George Rogers led the NFL for the 1981 regular season with 1,674 rushing yards. Rogers came to the NFL highly regarded after winning the 1980 Heisman Trophy while rushing for the Gamecocks of South Carolina. Rogers would break the 1,000 yard rushing barrier 4 times during his 7-year NFL career. Ottis Anderson finished 5th in rushing yards in 1981, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1979, Ottis Anderson set the record for rushing yardage as a rookie with 1,605 yards before being bested by Rogers. Anderson would later be named the MVP of Super Bowl XXV for the New York Giants. Second year player Billy Sims of the Detroit Lions ran for 1,437 yards, finishing 3rd in the NFL. Sims finished 5th in rushing yardage during his rookie campaign in 1980. Sims won the 1978 Heisman Trophy while playing for the Oklahoma Sooners. William Andrews of the Atlanta Falcons ran for 1,301 yards in 1981 finishing 7th in the NFL. Both Andrews (6 NFL seasons) and Sims (5 NFL seasons) had shortened careers due to severe knee injuries.

From Quiz NFL in the 1980s #1

Answer: Joe Montana, his 49ers trailing late in the game, 92 yards from the end zone, coolly pointed out John Candy in the stands before driving to the winning score

Montana's mix of coolness and being starstruck as Super Bowl XXIII neared its climax is one of the most widely cited examples of the quarterback's grace under pressure. Trailing Cincinnati 16-13 with just over three minutes remaining, Montana huddled the team 92 yards from the end zone. Looking up in the stands, he pointed out comic actor John Candy to the players. Getting his mind back on football, he then led the team down the field, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds left.

From Quiz The 1988 NFL Season

Answer: Detroit Lions

Wayne Fontes replaced Darryl Rogers as head coach of the 2-9 Lions in 1988. The team finished 4-12 and Fontes stayed for several more years.

From Quiz A Pigskin Decade: The 1980s

Answer: Todd Christensen

The others were Cincinnati Bengal running backs in the season. Christensen caught 92 passes for 1247 yards and 12 touchdowns, mostly from the arm of quarterback Jim Plunkett. The Raiders embarrassed the Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII, 38-9.

From Quiz NFL 1980s

Answer: Charles White

Charles White led the NFL with 1,374 yards playing in 15 games for the Los Angeles Rams. During White's 7 other NFL seasons, he never even came within 1,000 yards of his 1987 mark. Eric Dickerson ran for 1,288 that season in only 12 games. He was traded from Rams after 3 games in a three team deal to the Indianapolis Colts for the final 9 games of the regular season, in which he amassed 1,011 yards. Herschel Walker ran for 891 yards in 12 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 1987. In 1988, Walker finished second in rushing yards to Dickerson. Marcus Allen ran for 754 yards as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders. Both Charles White and Marcus Allen won the Heisman Trophy while playing running back at USC in college, White in 1979, and Allen in 1981.

From Quiz NFL in the 1980s #1

Answer: Art Shell

Shell, a former Raiders offensive tackle, was brought in two games into the 1989 season and led the team to a 54-38 record and three playoff appearances in six seasons. Thinking the team was underachieving, the Raiders fired Shell after the 1994 season, then proceeded to go another six years before having another winning season or playoff appearance. Before Shell, the league's last black coach had been Fritz Pollard with the 1921 Akron Pros.

From Quiz A Pigskin Decade: The 1980s

Answer: Miami Dolphins

The other teams did not win more than three games in the season. The Dolphins went 14-2 and were the only team to score over 500 team points. Marino threw for a record (later broken) 48 touchdowns in the season, with 18 of those to Mark Clayton. Miami lost to San Francisco, 38-16.

From Quiz NFL 1980s

Answer: Todd Christensen

Todd Christensen, while playing tight end for the Los Angeles Raiders, led the NFL with 95 receptions in 1986. Christensen was the premier tight end in the NFL from 1983-86 while averaging 87 catches for 1099 yards and 8 touchdowns during that 4-year span. In 1986, Jerry Rice finished 2nd to Christensen with 86 receptions, but did lead the NFL with 1,570 receiving yards. Washington Redskins wide receiver Art Monk finished the 1986 season with 73 receptions. In 1984, Monk broke the NFL single-season record with 106 receptions. Monk's record stood for 8 years until former Green Bay Packer wide receiver Sterling Sharpe caught 108 passes in 1992 (Sharpe's record has since been broken). Steve Largent only had 70 receptions in 1986, but went on to a Hall of Fame career (1995 inductee) while playing 14 seasons, all for the Seattle Seahawks.

From Quiz The 1988 NFL Season

Answer: Mark Gastineau

New York Jets DE Mark Gastineau retired during the 1988 season to be with his ailing girlfriend Brigitte Nielson.

From Quiz A Pigskin Decade: The 1980s

Answer: Steve Fuller

McMahon played in only 13 games while Fuller played in all 16. However, it was McMahon who led the team in stats with 2392 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, compared to Fuller's 777 yards and one touchdown.

From Quiz NFL in the 1980s #2

Answer: Elway wanted no part of Kush, the authoritarian coach of the Baltimore Colts, forcing Baltimore to trade Elway to the Broncos after drafting him

Frank Kush was a successful college coach at Arizona State, and often compared to Vince Lombardi for his strict rules and rough practices. Brought to the NFL to revive the struggling Baltimore Colts, he failed to get the same results, going 0-8-1 in his 1982 first season with the team. The poor record got the Colts the right to draft Elway, who announced he would not play for Kush (Elway was a talented baseball player as well, and made it known he was willing to pursue that route). The Colts eventually traded Elway to the Broncos for two players and a draft pick. Elway led Denver to five Super Bowls, winning two, and was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Colts snuck their team out of Baltimore under dark of night during a snow storm on March 28, 1984, moving to Indianapolis. Kush was fired in 1984 after compiling an 11-28-1 record with the team.

From Quiz The 1988 NFL Season

Answer: 12-4

The Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, and Chicago Bears all finished 12-4 in 1988. All made Conference Championship appearances, but none would win the Super Bowl.

From Quiz A Pigskin Decade: The 1980s

Answer: New York Giants

From 1983-1990, Parcells had the Giants, then from 1993-1996 the Patriots. Bill then helmed the Jets for three seasons before taking the reins of the Cowboys in 2003. The Giants defeated the Broncos in the Super Bowl, 39-20.

From Quiz NFL 1980s

Answer: Minnesota Vikings

Doug Martin played his entire 10-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. He is the first player to lead the NFL in sacks. The NFL made the quarterback sack an official stat starting in 1982. Martin edged out Dennis Harrison of the Philadelphia Eagles by one sack to claim the sack title.

From Quiz The 1988 NFL Season

Answer: Tom Landry & Landry

Tom Landry coached the Cowboys in 1988, his final season in the NFL, leading Dallas to a disappointing 3-13 record.

From Quiz A Pigskin Decade: The 1980s

Answer: Neil Lomax

Lomax also finished third with his 24 passing touchdowns. The Cardinals finished 7-8 in the season and failed to make the playoffs. The 49ers had the best record in the season with their 13-2, but were bounced out in the Divisional Playoff by the Vikings, 36-24. Super Bowl XXII saw the Redskins down the Broncos, 42-10.

From Quiz NFL 1980s

Answer: Neil Lomax

St. Louis Cardinal quarterback Neil Lomax finished 2nd in passing yardage during the 1984 NFL regular season with 4,614 yards. Phil Simms of the New York Giants finished 3rd with 4,044 passing yards, the highest single season total for Simms in his 14-year career. Joe Montana threw for 3,630 yards good enough for 6th in the NFL in 1984. Houston Oilers rookie quarterback Warren Moon threw for 3,338 in 1984. Dan Marino not only led the NFL in passing yardage during the 1984 season, but also broke the single season passing yardage record by throwing for 5,084 yards, (previously held by Dan Fouts 4,802 yards in 1981). Marino also broke the single season touchdown passes mark by throwing 48, a record that stood for 20 years until it was broken by the Colts Peyton Manning 49 touchdown passes in 2004.

From Quiz NFL in the 1980s #2

Answer: To help their quarterback spot his receivers

When quarterback Joe Ferguson threw 25 interceptions in 1983, the most of his NFL career, someone in their organization noticed that in Buffalo's AFC East division, all five teams had white helmets, unique among NFL divisions. So the Bills switched to a red helmet, making them the only team in the division using that color, in hopes that it would make it easier for Ferguson to spot his receivers. In terms of improving the Bills, the experiment failed. The team went 2-14 in 1984 and Ferguson was traded to Detroit after the season. However, the basic helmet design they adapted for 1984 stayed with the team longer than any previous helmet in their history, making it an unqualified aesthetic success.

From Quiz The 1988 NFL Season

Answer: Philadelphia Eagles

The Bears beat the Eagles 20-12 to advance to the NFC Championship where they would lose to the 49ers. Both games took place at Soldier Field in Chicago.

From Quiz A Pigskin Decade: The 1980s

Answer: Ron Jaworski

Jaws played for three seasons with the Rams, then 10 with the Eagles before packing his bags for Miami. Ron threw for only 123 yards and one touchdown in the season. He retired after the season.

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