Philadelphia Sports: Just-Misses Quiz

Answer: 76ers

The 1982-83 Sixers won their second NBA championship in 1983, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sixers had at the time, the greatest postseason in NBA history, posting an incredible 12-1 record.

Answer: Baltimore Orioles

The Phillies, led by third baseman Mike Schmidt and Cy Young winner John Denny, had beaten the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1983 NLCS. However, they could not carry over this success to the World Series, losing to Cal Ripken, Jr. and the Orioles in five games.

Answer: Edmonton Oilers

The Flyers were an amazing team in 1984-85, winning the President's Trophy by posting 113 points. They cruised through the first three rounds of the playoffs, going 11-2. Unfortunately, they ran into the greatest offensive team in NHL history, the mid-80's Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton's powerful offense scored 21 goals in just five games, helping to beat the Flyers 4-1. Early in the next season, Flyers goaltender Pelle Lindbergh died in a drunk-driving accident. Since he died, Ron Hextall was the only goalie who has been a Flyer for more than five straight seasons. We miss you, Pelle!

Answer: Edmonton Oilers

The Flyers were the Eastern Conference's best team in 1986-87, and proved it in the postseason by advancing to their second Stanley Cup Finals in three years. Once again, they ran into the Edmonton Oilers, and once again, they lost. This time, it was much closer, as Ron Hextall led the Flyers to game 7 before bowing out to the Oilers, 4-3.

Answer: Toronto Blue Jays

The Phillies had one of the most exciting regular seasons in team history in winning the National League East. They then defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-2 in the NLCS. However, their pitching faltered in the World Series, especially in game 6. Mitch Williams let up a series ending walk-off home run to Joe Carter in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Blue Jays won their second straight World Series in 6 games.

Answer: Detroit Red Wings

The Flyers finished third in the Eastern Conference in 1996-97, but were way better than third best in the postseason. They defeated the Penguins, Sabres, and Rangers, all by an impressive margin of 4-1. Philly had nary a chance against the Red Wings, though. Detroit swept the Flyers by outscoring them 16-6, ending a 42 year drought of winning the Stanley Cup.

Answer: New Jersey Devils

The Flyers, who were the East's #1 seed, had disposed of the Buffalo Sabres and Penguins earlier in the playoffs. They also jumped out to a 3-1 series lead in the Conference Finals on the Devils, somehow winning Games 3 and 4 in New Jersey. Then, the Flyers offense stopped producing and they lost the last three games, scoring only one goal in each of them. Game 7 was a particularly agonizing defeat, as the Flyers lost at home 2-1 on a goal by Patrik Elias with just 2:32 remaining in regulation.

Answer: Los Angeles Lakers

The Sixers posted the East's best record in 2000-01. They won pretty much every award that year, except for the NBA Championship. The Lakers were 11-0 heading into the Finals, and won four straight over the Sixers after losing Game 1 to finish 15-1, posting the best record in postseason history.

Answer: St. Louis Rams

The Eagles had just won their first division title in thirteen years in 2001. They followed up that season with an even better postseason, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears, to advance to their first NFC Championship since 1981. However, Marshall Faulk and the Rams were too much for the Eagles, as they won 29-24 in St. Louis. New England Patriots beat St Louis Rams 20-17 I Super Bowl XXXVI (February 2002).

Answer: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Eagles tied their franchise best for wins in a season in 2002 by going 12-4. They then defeated Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Round. Sadly, on January 19, 2003, they could not overcome the Tampa Bay defense in the NFC Championship, as the Bucs prevailed 27-10 in the last Eagles game at Veterans Stadium.