Creative Misfortune’s Tournament of Past Champions!

Sports fans have long debated the merits of one champion over another. With the newer creation of sports simulation software, it is becoming more and more practical to settle these arguments by flipping a few bits to decide which team really should have won a game – or, more appropriately, which team would win a game played outside the confines of space and time.

In reality, the answer to the age old question – could the great players of yesterday compete against the superior athletes of today? – is a resounding NO! They are simply too old. But in virtual reality, where teams from different eras can compete in their primes, the answer becomes a mixed bag of yes, no and maybe, depending on the computer models used, the stats available and the whims of dynamic software engines.

Since we will never be able to see the 1959 Colts lineup against their 2009 counterparts, we are forced to play what if games to determine which of these two teams would win. Luckily, there happens to be numerous computer applications out on the web that allow the average fan to do just this – simulate a game between the 1959 Baltimore Colts and the 2009 Indianapolis Colts.

To that end, Creative Misfortune proudly presents the Tournament of Past Champions!

The What If Sports SimMatchups software (try it for yourself here) allows you to simulate historical games as many times as you would like with teams using different “offensive playbooks” while competing in both home, away or neutral game sites. To determine the game results of the Past Champions invited to participate in this “virtual dance”, each game will be based on the result of 20 head-to-head simulations.

For example, to decide who would prevail – the 1959 Baltimore Colts or the 2009 Indianapolis Colts, 20 game simulations will be run – 10 at the home stadium of the ’59 Colts and 10 at the home stadium of the 2009 Colts.

Each of those 10 simulations will be broken down into “playbook” matchups in order to better gauge the overall strength and weaknesses of each team taking part in the tournament. The What If Sports game engine provides four separate playbook options – Balanced, Run Heavy, Pass Heavy and West Coast style. Over the course of a single, 20-game sim matchup, teams will play eight Balanced sims, four Pass Heavy sims, four Run Heavy sims and four West Coast style sims.

The final score for each team in the virtual matchup will be the average of the team’s scores over the course of all 20 simulations. The higher average “wins” the virtual matchup and that team will advance in the tournament. In case teams are tied after 20 simulations, an additional 10 overtime sims, five at each team’s home stadium, will be played until one winner emerges. 

Results for each virtual matchup will be posted as follows:

            1959 Baltimore Colts             24       

            2009 Indianapolis Colts         21

                        *Baltimore won 14 of 20 simulations

128 championship and near-championship teams will be seeded into one of four brackets - Legendary, Mythical, Fabled and Dauntless - each filled with 32 teams competing to be named Creative Misfortune’s Ultimate Champion.

Teams will be seeded based on their Regular Season Winning Percentage, the number of Regular Season Games Played and whether or not they won their league's championship game. Slight adjustments will be made in the brackets so teams will not face a team they faced in real life within the first two rounds of the tournament (i.e. the 2010 Packers will not face the 2010 Steelers in the first two rounds, even if the above seeding formula would place them in position to do so).

Now that the details of the game simulations, scoring systems and tournament seeding are out of the way, allow me to introduce the 128 teams that will be taking part in Creative Misfortune’s Tournament of Past Champions!

First, the 35 league champions of yesteryear…

            1965    NFL     Green Bay Packers (NFL, 10-3-1)

1965    AFL     Buffalo Bills (AFL, 10-3-1)

1964    NFL     Cleveland Browns (NFL, 10-3-1)

1964    AFL     Buffalo Bills (AFL, 12-2)

1963    NFL     Chicago Bears (NFL, 11-1-2)

1963    AFL     San Diego Chargers (AFL, 11-3)

1962    NFL     Green Bay Packers (NFL, 13-1)

1962    AFL     Dallas Texans (AFL, 11-3)

1961    NFL     Green Bay Packers (NFL, 11-3)

1961    AFL     Houston Oilers (AFL, 10-3-1)

1960    NFL     Philadelphia Eagles (NFL, 10-2)

1960    AFL     Houston Oilers (AFL, 10-4)

1959    NFL     Baltimore Colts (NFL, 9-3)

1958    NFL     Baltimore Colts (NFL, 9-3)

1957    NFL     Detroit Lions (NFL, 8-4)

1956    NFL     New York Giants (NFL, 8-3-1)

1955    NFL     Cleveland Browns (NFL, 9-2-1)

1954    NFL     Cleveland Browns (NFL, 9-3)

1953    NFL     Detroit Lions (NFL, 10-2)

1952    NFL     Detroit Lions (NFL, 9-3)

1951    NFL     Los Angeles Rams (NFL, 8-4)

1950    NFL     Cleveland Browns (NFL, 10-2)

1949    NFL     Philadelphia Eagles (NFL, 11-1)

1949    AAFC  Cleveland Browns (AAFC, 9-1-2)

1948    NFL     Philadelphia Eagles (NFL, 9-2-1)

1948    AAFC  Cleveland Browns (AAFC, 14-0)

1947    NFL     Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 9-3)

1947    AAFC  Cleveland Browns (AAFC, 12-1-1)

1946    NFL     Chicago Bears (NFL, 8-2-1)

1946    AAFC  Cleveland Browns (AAFC, 12-2)

1945    NFL     Cleveland Rams (NFL, 9-1)

1944    NFL     Green Bay Packers (NFL, 8-2)

1943    NFL     Chicago Bears (NFL, 8-1-1)

1942    NFL     Washington Redskins (NFL, 10-1)

1941    NFL     Chicago Bears (NFL, 10-1)

Second, the 45 Super Bowl champions…

            2010    Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers (NFC, 10-6)

2009    Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints (NFC, 13-3)

2008    Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC, 12-4)

2007    Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants (NFC, 10-6)

2006    Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts (AFC, 12-4)

2005    Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC, 11-5)

2004    Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots (AFC, 14-2)

2003    Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots (AFC, 14-2)

2002    Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC, 12-4)

2001    Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots (AFC, 11-5)

2000    Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens (AFC, 12-4)

1999    Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams (NFC, 13-3)

1998    Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver Broncos (AFC, 14-2)

1997    Super Bowl XXXII: Denver Broncos (AFC, 12-4)

1996    Super Bowl XXXI: Green Bay Packers (NFC, 13-3)

1995    Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys (NFC, 12-4)

1994    Super Bowl XXIX: San Francisco 49ers (NFC, 13-3)

1993    Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas Cowboys (NFC, 12-4)

1992    Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys (NFC, 13-3)

1991    Super Bowl XXVI: Washington Redskins (NFC, 14-2)

1990    Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants (NFC, 13-3)

1989    Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers (NFC, 14-2)

1988    Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers (NFC, 10-6)

1987    Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins (NFC, 11-4)

1986    Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants (NFC, 14-2)

1985    Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears (NFC, 15-1)

1984    Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers (NFC, 15-1)

1983    Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders (AFC, 12-4)

1982    Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins (NFC, 8-1)

1981    Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers (NFC, 13-3)

1980    Super Bowl XV: Oakland Raiders (AFC, 11-5)

1979    Super Bowl XIV: Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC, 12-4)

1978    Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC, 14-2)

1977    Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys (NFC, 12-2)

1976    Super Bowl XI: Oakland Raiders (AFC, 13-1)

1975    Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC, 12-2)

1974    Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC, 10-3-1)

1973    Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins (AFC, 12-2)

1972    Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins (AFC, 14-0)

1971    Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys (NFC, 11-3)

1970    Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts (AFC, 11-2-1)

1969    Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs (AFL, 11-3)

1968    Super Bowl III: New York Jets (AFL, 11-3)

1967    Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers (NFL, 9-4-1)

1966    Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers (NFL, 12-2)

Third, the 45 Super Bowl runner-ups now looking for redemption…

            2010    Super Bowl XLV Loser: Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC, 12-4)

2009    Super Bowl XLIV Loser: Indianapolis Colts (AFC, 14-2)

2008    Super Bowl XLIII Loser: Arizona Cardinals (NFC, 9-7)

2007    Super Bowl XLII Loser: New England Patriots (AFC, 16-0)

2006    Super Bowl XLI Loser: Chicago Bears (NFC, 13-3)

2005    Super Bowl XL Loser: Seattle Seahawks (NFC, 13-3)

2004    Super Bowl XXXIX Loser: Philadelphia Eagles (NFC, 13-3)

2003    Super Bowl XXXVIII Loser: Carolina Panthers (NFC, 11-5)

2002    Super Bowl XXXVII Loser: Oakland Raiders (AFC, 11-5)

2001    Super Bowl XXXVI Loser: St. Louis Rams (NFC, 14-2)

2000    Super Bowl XXXV Loser: New York Giants (NFC, 12-4)

1999    Super Bowl XXXIV Loser: Tennessee Titans (AFC, 13-3)

1998    Super Bowl XXXIII Loser: Atlanta Falcons (NFC, 14-2)

1997    Super Bowl XXXII Loser: Green Bay Packers (NFC, 13-3)

1996    Super Bowl XXXI Loser: New England Patriots (AFC, 11-5)

1995    Super Bowl XXX Loser: Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC, 11-5)

1994    Super Bowl XXIX Loser: San Diego Chargers (AFC, 11-5)

1993    Super Bowl XXVIII Loser: Buffalo Bills (AFC, 12-4)

1992    Super Bowl XXVII Loser: Buffalo Bills (AFC, 11-5)

1991    Super Bowl XXVI Loser: Buffalo Bills (AFC, 13-3)

1990    Super Bowl XXV Loser: Buffalo Bills (AFC, 13-3)

1989    Super Bowl XXIV Loser: Denver Broncos (AFC, 11-5)

1988    Super Bowl XXIII Loser: Cincinnati Bengals (AFC, 12-4)

1987    Super Bowl XXII Loser: Denver Broncos (AFC, 10-4-1)

1986    Super Bowl XXI Loser: Denver Broncos (AFC, 11-5)

1985    Super Bowl XX Loser: New England Patriots (AFC, 11-5)

1984    Super Bowl XIX Loser: Miami Dolphins (AFC, 14-2)

1983    Super Bowl XVIII Loser: Washington Redskins (NFC, 14-2)

1982    Super Bowl XVII Loser: Miami Dolphins (AFC, 7-2)

1981    Super Bowl XVI Loser: Cincinnati Bengals (AFC, 12-4)

1980    Super Bowl XV Loser: Philadelphia Eagles (NFC, 12-4)

1979    Super Bowl XIV Loser: Los Angeles Rams (NFC, 9-7)

1978    Super Bowl XIII Loser: Dallas Cowboys (NFC, 12-4)

1977    Super Bowl XII Loser: Denver Broncos (AFC, 12-2)

1976    Super Bowl XI Loser: Minnesota Vikings (NFC, 11-2-1)

1975    Super Bowl X Loser: Dallas Cowboys (NFC, 10-4)

1974    Super Bowl IX Loser: Minnesota Vikings (NFC, 10-4)

1973    Super Bowl VIII Loser: Minnesota Vikings (NFC, 12-2)

1972    Super Bowl VII Loser: Washington Redskins (NFC, 11-3)

1971    Super Bowl VI Loser: Miami Dolphins (AFC, 10-3-1)

1970    Super Bowl V Loser: Dallas Cowboys (NFC, 10-4)

1969    Super Bowl IV Loser: Minnesota Vikings (NFL, 12-2)

1968    Super Bowl III Loser: Baltimore Colts (NFL, 13-1)

1967    Super Bowl II Loser: Oakland Raiders (AFL, 13-1)

1966    Super Bowl I Loser: Kansas City Chiefs (AFL, 11-2-1)

And, finally, three Wild Card teams pulled from the ranks of those modern-era teams so great during the regular season the football world was shocked when they did not make it to the Super Bowl…

1998 Minnesota Vikings (15-1)

2005 Indianapolis Colts (14-2)

1987 San Francisco 49ers (13-2)

Tomorrow, the 32 Legendary bracket teams will be revealed...