Clemson Dominates Alabama In Historic Fashion: Is There An NFL Comparison?

by Chase Stuart on January 8, 2019

in College, History, Playoffs

Through 14 games this season, Alabama outscored its opponents by 31.5 points per game. Last night, in the most shocking national championship game I can remember, Clemson dominated Alabama in historic fashion. The Tigers beat Alabama 44-16, a 28-point margin of victory against a Nick Saban Alabama team that in 12 seasons had never lost a game by more than 14 points.

No team in NFL history has outscored opponents by 20 points per game and then lost a playoff game by 20+ points. The closest comparisons:

The 1967 Raiders outscored opponents by 16.8 points per game. Oakland defeated Houston 40-7, to up its average points differential per game to 17.9 through 15 games. Then, in the Super Bowl against the Packers, Oakland lost by 19 points, 33-14.
The 1969 Vikings outscored opponents by 17.6 points per game. After a couple of close playoff wins, Minnesota lost Super Bowl IV by 16 points, 23-7.

In more recent times: the 2012 Patriots outscored opponents by 14.1 points and lost in the playoffs by 15 points, the 2013 Broncos outscored opponents by 12.9 points and lost by 35 points, and the 2011 Packers outscored opponents by 12.6 points and lost by 17 points.

My first reaction was to think of the 1983 Redskins: that year, Washington outscored opponents by 13.1 points and lost by 29 points.

What I wanted to do was plot team points differential in the regular season against each team’s worst playoff loss. I plotted regular season points differential on the X-Axis and worst playoff margin on the Y-Axis; then I realized we just want to focus on the bottom right quadrant of that graph (positive regular season points differential, negative playoff margin). So here is that bottom right quadrant of the graph:

Some notable games on that outer hull: the Redskins losing 73-0 to Chicago in 1940 after outscoring opponents by 9.4 points per game, the 1954 Lions (12.3 points differential per game, lost by 46), the 1968 Chiefs (14.4, -35), the 1964 Colts (14.5, -27) and the 1942 Bears (26.5, -8).

Below is the full dataset for every team to make the playoffs from 1933 to 2017.

Team	Year	PD/G	Worst PG
CHI	1942	26.5	-8
CHI	1941	22.6	19
CLE	1946	20.4	5
NWE	2007	19.7	-3
HOU	1961	19.4	7
PHI	1949	19.2	14
GNB	1962	19.1	9
BAL	1968	18.4	-9
PHI	1948	18.3	7
STL	1999	17.8	5
MIN	1969	17.6	-16
DAL	1968	17.5	-11
OAK	1967	16.8	-19
WAS	1991	16.3	13
MIN	1998	16.3	-3
CHI	1985	16.1	21
CLE	1947	16.1	11
SFO	1949	15.8	-14
OAK	1968	15.7	-4
SFO	1984	15.5	11
CLE	1953	15.5	-1
CHI	1934	15.4	-17
GNB	1996	15.4	14
MIA	1972	15.3	4
PIT	1975	15.1	4
RAM	1973	15	-11
CLE	1951	14.9	-7
BAL	1958	14.8	6
DAL	1966	14.7	-7
CHI	1943	14.6	20
PIT	1976	14.6	-17
CLE	1954	14.5	46
BAL	1964	14.5	-27
RAM	1967	14.4	-21
STL	2001	14.4	-3
KAN	1968	14.4	-35
CLE	1948	14.2	42
NWE	2012	14.1	-15
CRD	1948	14.1	-7
MIN	1975	14.1	-3
CLE	1949	14	10
CLE	1950	13.8	2
MIA	1973	13.8	17
SFO	1987	13.7	-12
MIN	1970	13.7	-3
MIA	1984	13.4	-22
DAL	1971	13.1	8
NYG	1944	13.1	-7
RAM	1950	13.1	-2
SFO	1994	13.1	10
WAS	1983	13.1	-29
KAN	1969	13	7
NOR	2011	13	-4
DEN	2013	12.9	-35
NWE	2010	12.8	-7
DAL	1973	12.8	-17
DET	1952	12.7	10
RAM	1975	12.6	-30
SDG	1961	12.6	-7
GNB	2011	12.6	-17
GNB	1941	12.5	-19
SFO	1995	12.4	-10
BAL	1971	12.4	-21
DET	1954	12.3	-46
GNB	1966	12.3	7
KAN	1966	12.3	-25
BAL	1976	12.2	-26
SFO	1992	12.2	-10
GNB	1961	12	37
DEN	1998	12	13
CAR	2015	12	-14
NYG	1963	12	-4
PIT	1972	12	-4
IND	2005	12	-3
DEN	2012	12	-3
NWE	2016	11.9	6
SFO	1989	11.8	27
SDG	2006	11.8	-3
IND	2007	11.8	-4
SEA	2013	11.6	6
DEN	1997	11.6	3
RAM	1976	11.5	-11
WAS	1942	11.4	8
SEA	2005	11.3	-11
BUF	1964	11.3	13
NYG	1941	11.3	-28
OAK	2000	11.3	-13
CHI	1963	11.2	4
JAX	1999	11.2	-19
DTX	1962	11.1	3
RAM	1977	11.1	-7
SFO	1993	11.1	-17
NWE	2004	11.1	3
ARI	2015	11	-34
DAL	1978	11	-4
CLE	1955	10.9	24
RAM	1951	10.9	7
PHI	2002	10.9	-17
GNB	1936	10.8	15
MIN	1988	10.8	-25
RAM	1945	10.8	1
CHI	2006	10.8	-12
IND	2004	10.7	-17
NWE	2011	10.7	-4
NYG	1961	10.6	-37
NOR	2009	10.6	3
BAL	2000	10.5	13
NYG	1938	10.5	6
SEA	2012	10.4	-2
DAL	1969	10.4	-24
DAL	1992	10.4	10
DAL	1994	10.4	-10
DET	1970	10.4	-5
CHI	1986	10.3	-14
SDG	1979	10.3	-3
BUF	1990	10.3	-1
SDG	1963	10.3	41
BAL	1959	10.3	15
GNB	2009	10.3	-6
GNB	1960	10.3	-4
NYG	1933	10.2	-2
PHI	2017	10.1	5
PHI	1980	10.1	-17
NWE	2017	10.1	-8
RAM	1949	10.1	-14
MIA	1971	10.1	-21
CLE	1987	10.1	-5
PIT	1978	10.1	4
NWE	1976	10	-3
NYJ	1968	9.9	4
NYY	1947	9.9	-11
MIN	2009	9.9	-3
NYG	1950	9.8	-5
PIT	1973	9.8	-19
CHI	1956	9.8	-40
GNB	1944	9.7	7
NWE	2014	9.7	4
TEN	2000	9.7	-14
OAK	1969	9.6	-10
PIT	1979	9.6	12
RAM	1952	9.6	-10
ATL	1998	9.6	-15
GNB	1938	9.5	-6
DAL	1977	9.5	17
NYG	1959	9.5	-15
BAL	2006	9.5	-9
KAN	2003	9.5	-7
SFO	2011	9.4	-3
SFO	1998	9.4	-2
TAM	2002	9.4	17
NYJ	1998	9.4	-13
NWE	2015	9.4	-2
WAS	1940	9.4	-73
CAR	1996	9.3	-17
LAR	2017	9.3	-13
JAX	2017	9.3	-4
NOR	1987	9.3	-34
GNB	2010	9.3	5
SFO	1985	9.3	-14
NWE	2006	9.3	-4
MIN	1976	9.2	-18
WAS	1943	9.2	-20
DAL	1993	9.2	10
PHI	1981	9.2	-6
CHI	1937	9.2	-7
MIN	1973	9.1	-17
OAK	2002	9.1	-27
SEA	2015	9.1	-7
OAK	1974	9.1	-11
WAS	1973	9.1	-7
DAL	1995	9	10
BAL	1975	9	-18
DEN	1977	9	-17
DAL	1982	9	-14
GNB	2007	9	-3
DAL	1980	8.9	-13
PIT	2010	8.9	-6
KAN	1997	8.9	-4
NWE	2009	8.9	-19
WAS	1974	8.9	-9
SFO	1996	8.8	-21
BAL	2008	8.8	-9
TEN	2008	8.8	-3
WAS	1945	8.8	-1
GNB	1967	8.8	4
NYJ	1982	8.8	-14
BUF	1991	8.8	-13
GNB	1997	8.8	-7
PIT	2001	8.8	-7
SEA	2014	8.8	-4
CIN	2015	8.8	-2
CHI	1946	8.7	10
CLE	1964	8.7	27
MIA	1983	8.7	-7
SFO	1983	8.7	-3
CLE	1968	8.6	-34
OAK	1977	8.6	-3
GNB	2014	8.6	-6
OAK	1975	8.6	-6
DEN	2005	8.6	-17
DEN	1989	8.5	-45
SEA	1984	8.5	-21
CLE	1994	8.5	-20
NYG	1986	8.4	17
RAM	1980	8.4	-21
CHI	2001	8.4	-14
PHI	2001	8.4	-5
GNB	2003	8.4	-3
HOU	1991	8.4	-2
WAS	1972	8.4	-7
SFO	2013	8.4	-6
ATL	2016	8.4	-6
SDG	2009	8.4	-3
OAK	1973	8.4	-17
OAK	1972	8.4	-6
HOU	1962	8.4	-3
NYG	2008	8.3	-12
ATL	1980	8.3	-3
SDG	2004	8.3	-3
PIT	1974	8.3	10
CAR	2005	8.3	-20
MIN	1974	8.2	-10
NYG	1962	8.2	-9
PIT	2005	8.2	3
MIN	2017	8.1	-31
BAL	2009	8.1	-17
HOU	1993	8.1	-8
NOR	1991	8.1	-7
DAL	2007	8.1	-4
CLE	1957	8.1	-45
CLE	1952	8.1	-10
OAK	1976	8.1	3
SDG	1965	8.1	-23
NYJ	1985	8.1	-12
NOR	1992	8	-16
DEN	2014	8	-11
SDG	2007	8	-9
SFO	1986	7.9	-46
SFO	2001	7.9	-10
PHI	2008	7.9	-7
MIA	1974	7.9	-2
ATL	2010	7.9	-27
PHI	2004	7.9	-3
CHI	1940	7.8	73
MIN	1992	7.8	-17
CIN	2013	7.8	-17
CAR	2013	7.8	-13
KAN	2013	7.8	-1
PIT	2008	7.8	4
NYG	1990	7.8	1
GNB	2001	7.8	-28
SFO	2012	7.8	-3
PIT	2007	7.8	-2
NOR	2017	7.6	-5
MIN	1971	7.6	-8
PIT	2004	7.6	-14
NYG	1939	7.5	-27
ATL	2012	7.5	-4
BAL	1965	7.5	-3
SDG	1982	7.4	-21
MIA	1982	7.4	-10
TAM	2000	7.4	-18
DAL	1983	7.4	-7
STL	2003	7.4	-6
CIN	1988	7.4	-4
SFO	1972	7.4	-2
MIA	1978	7.4	-8
KAN	2015	7.4	-7
BUF	1966	7.4	-24
CIN	1981	7.3	-5
KAN	1995	7.3	-3
DAL	1976	7.3	-2
GNB	1939	7.3	27
NYG	1985	7.3	-21
DEN	2000	7.3	-18
WAS	1984	7.3	-4
DEN	1996	7.3	-3
DAL	2014	7.2	-5
DAL	2016	7.2	-3
RAM	1988	7.1	-11
SFO	1990	7.1	-2
CLE	1958	7.1	-10
NYG	1935	7	-19
NYJ	2009	7	-13
DEN	1984	7	-7
BAL	2011	7	-3
KAN	1990	7	-1
DAL	2009	6.9	-31
IND	2003	6.9	-10
TEN	2003	6.9	-3
WAS	1982	6.9	10
NWE	2003	6.9	3
SFO	1997	6.9	-13
NOR	2013	6.9	-8
BAL	2003	6.9	-3
WAS	1937	6.8	7
PHI	1992	6.8	-24
IND	2009	6.8	-14
NYG	2005	6.8	-23
MIA	1985	6.8	-17
NYG	1946	6.7	-10
HOU	1960	6.7	8
KAN	1971	6.7	-3
CIN	1975	6.7	-3
SFO	1981	6.7	1
JAX	2007	6.7	-11
BAL	2014	6.7	-4
DET	1935	6.7	19
RAI	1982	6.7	-3
DAL	1998	6.6	-13
PHI	2000	6.6	-10
NWE	2013	6.6	-10
GNB	1965	6.6	3
NWE	1996	6.6	-14
NWE	1986	6.6	-5
RAI	1983	6.5	16
PIT	2015	6.5	-7
PIT	1982	6.4	-3
HOU	2011	6.4	-7
IND	2000	6.4	-6
SEA	2007	6.4	-22
GNB	1982	6.3	-11
WAS	1987	6.3	4
CRD	1947	6.3	7
PHI	1960	6.3	4
DET	1995	6.3	-21
BUF	1965	6.2	23
BAL	1970	6.2	3
NWE	2001	6.2	3
WAS	1971	6.1	-4
BUF	1992	6.1	-35
HOU	1990	6.1	-27
PIT	2011	6.1	-6
PIT	2017	6.1	-3
CIN	1982	6.1	-27
SFO	1970	6.1	-7
DEN	1987	6.1	-32
MIA	2000	6.1	-27
CHI	1988	6.1	-25
PHI	1990	6.1	-14
GNB	2012	6.1	-14
SFO	1971	6	-11
CHI	1950	6	-10
NYJ	1969	6	-7
NYG	1989	6	-6
GNB	1994	5.9	-26
SDG	1992	5.9	-31
MIA	1990	5.9	-10
HOU	1992	5.9	-3
RAM	1974	5.9	-4
DAL	1975	5.9	-4
JAX	2005	5.8	-25
PHI	2009	5.8	-20
BUF	1988	5.8	-11
SDG	2008	5.8	-11
BUF	1989	5.8	-4
STL	1975	5.7	-12
NOR	2006	5.7	-25
SDG	1980	5.7	-7
BUF	1999	5.7	-6
DAL	1972	5.6	-23
GNB	1995	5.6	-11
RAI	1984	5.6	-6
IND	1999	5.6	-3
DAL	1981	5.6	-1
NYG	1956	5.6	40
GNB	1972	5.6	-13
NYY	1946	5.6	-5
DAL	1970	5.6	-3
IND	2014	5.6	-38
DEN	1993	5.6	-18
GNB	1998	5.6	-3
DET	1953	5.5	1
SDG	1981	5.5	-20
ATL	2002	5.5	-14
PHI	1947	5.5	-7
RAM	1969	5.5	-3
PIT	1996	5.4	-25
BUF	1993	5.4	-17
DET	2011	5.4	-17
PHI	2003	5.4	-11
BAL	2010	5.4	-7
CAR	2008	5.3	-20
HOU	2012	5.3	-13
WAS	1976	5.3	-15
BAL	1977	5.3	-6
DAL	1967	5.3	-4
DEN	1978	5.3	-23
MIA	1979	5.3	-20
NYG	1958	5.3	-6
NYG	1993	5.2	-41
RAM	1989	5.1	-27
NYG	2000	5.1	-27
PIT	1994	5.1	-4
CLE	1986	5.1	-3
BOS	1963	5	-41
DEN	2003	5	-31
WAS	1990	5	-18
CLE	1989	5	-16
PIT	1995	5	-10
NWE	1997	5	-1
IND	2008	4.9	-6
CHI	1987	4.9	-4
MIA	1970	4.9	-7
KAN	2016	4.9	-2
DEN	2004	4.8	-25
CHI	1984	4.8	-23
PIT	1984	4.8	-17
SEA	2003	4.8	-6
NOR	2010	4.8	-5
STL	1974	4.8	-16
MIN	1989	4.8	-28
JAX	1997	4.8	-25
DAL	1999	4.8	-17
KAN	2017	4.8	-1
SFO	1988	4.7	4
SDG	1994	4.7	-23
DAL	2006	4.7	-1
PIT	1992	4.6	-21
DET	1997	4.6	-10
NWE	1985	4.5	-36
PIT	2016	4.5	-19
NWE	1978	4.5	-17
WAS	1986	4.5	-17
OAK	2001	4.5	-3
NYJ	2004	4.5	-3
RAM	1978	4.4	-28
CIN	2005	4.4	-14
CIN	2012	4.4	-6
KAN	1991	4.4	-23
GNB	2002	4.4	-20
MIA	1981	4.4	-3
PHI	2006	4.4	-3
RAI	1990	4.3	-48
DEN	1991	4.3	-3
STL	2000	4.3	-3
CHI	1990	4.3	-28
PHI	1989	4.3	-14
PIT	2014	4.3	-13
TEN	1999	4.3	-7
NYJ	1981	4.3	-4
HOU	1967	4.2	-33
IND	2006	4.2	4
BUF	1998	4.2	-7
IND	1987	4.1	-17
KAN	1992	4.1	-17
MIA	1995	4.1	-15
WAS	2005	4.1	-10
ATL	2008	4.1	-6
WAS	1999	4.1	-1
CIN	1970	4.1	-17
PIT	1997	4.1	-3
MIN	1999	4	-12
TAM	2007	4	-10
RAM	1985	3.9	-24
NYJ	2010	3.9	-5
MIN	2015	3.9	-1
CIN	1973	3.9	-18
CHI	1933	3.9	2
SEA	2016	3.9	-16
PHI	2010	3.9	-5
MIA	1994	3.9	-1
DET	1983	3.8	-1
SEA	1987	3.8	-3
PHI	1988	3.8	-8
BUF	1980	3.8	-6
PHI	2013	3.8	-2
DEN	2015	3.7	2
MIA	1992	3.7	-19
HOU	1988	3.7	-7
CLE	1969	3.6	-20
OAK	1980	3.6	2
GNB	1993	3.6	-10
CHI	2005	3.6	-8
DAL	1979	3.6	-2
CHI	1979	3.6	-10
PHI	1979	3.6	-7
MIA	1998	3.5	-35
IND	2013	3.4	-21
BAL	2012	3.4	3
MIA	2001	3.4	-17
JAX	1998	3.4	-10
BUF	1996	3.3	-3
PIT	1983	3.3	-28
ATL	2011	3.3	-22
BOS	1936	3.3	-15
DEN	1986	3.2	-19
ARI	2009	3.1	-31
NYG	1934	3.1	17
NOR	2000	3.1	-18
WAS	2012	3	-10
CHI	2010	3	-7
SDG	2013	3	-7
TAM	1981	2.9	-38
CLE	1980	2.9	-2
IND	2010	2.9	-1
SDG	1964	2.9	-13
MIN	2008	2.9	-12
RAI	1985	2.9	-7
PIT	1977	2.9	-13
MIN	1968	2.9	-10
WAS	1992	2.8	-7
GNB	2015	2.8	-6
PIT	2002	2.8	-3
DET	1991	2.8	-31
GNB	2016	2.8	-23
TAM	2001	2.8	-22
HOU	1980	2.8	-20
GNB	2004	2.8	-14
CLE	1965	2.7	-11
NYG	1943	2.7	-28
TEN	2002	2.7	-17
CLE	1967	2.6	-38
LAC	1960	2.6	-8
MIN	1994	2.6	-17
RAM	1986	2.6	-12
NYG	1997	2.6	-1
NWE	2005	2.6	-14
NYG	2002	2.6	-1
KAN	2010	2.5	-23
SEA	1999	2.5	-3
NWE	1994	2.4	-7
DET	2014	2.4	-4
RAM	1955	2.4	-24
BAL	2001	2.4	-17
NYG	1981	2.4	-14
ATL	2017	2.4	-5
KAN	1993	2.3	-17
IND	2002	2.3	-41
TAM	1997	2.3	-14
TAM	1979	2.3	-9
DAL	1996	2.3	-9
CAR	2017	2.3	-5
BUF	1981	2.2	-7
TAM	1999	2.2	-5
DAL	1991	2	-32
KAN	1986	2	-20
HOU	1979	1.9	-14
MIN	2012	1.9	-14
OAK	2016	1.9	-13
CHI	1991	1.9	-4
RAM	1984	1.9	-3
DAL	2003	1.8	-19
MIA	2008	1.8	-18
DEN	1979	1.7	-6
PIT	1993	1.7	-3
DET	1957	1.7	4
MIN	2000	1.6	-41
HOU	2015	1.6	-30
NYG	2016	1.6	-25
TAM	2005	1.6	-7
WAS	2007	1.5	-21
DAL	1985	1.5	-20
CLE	2002	1.5	-3
NYJ	2002	1.4	-20
ATL	1991	1.4	-17
BUF	1974	1.4	-18
NYG	2007	1.4	3
PHI	1996	1.4	-14
CLE	1972	1.4	-6
NYJ	2006	1.3	-21
CIN	2011	1.3	-21
CIN	2014	1.3	-16
KAN	1994	1.3	-10
NYJ	1991	1.3	-7
CAR	2003	1.3	-3
PHI	1978	1.3	-1
RAM	1983	1.1	-44
SFO	2002	1	-25
KAN	2006	1	-15
CLE	1988	1	-1
BUF	1995	0.9	-19
DET	1994	0.9	-4
IND	1995	0.9	-4
BUF	1963	0.9	-18
RAM	1979	0.9	-12
CIN	2009	0.9	-10
CLE	1971	0.9	-17
ATL	1995	0.8	-17
NYJ	2001	0.8	-14
MIA	1997	0.8	-14
ARI	2014	0.7	-11
MIN	2004	0.6	-13
SEA	1988	0.6	-8
WAS	2015	0.6	-17
MIN	1980	0.6	-15
DET	1982	0.6	-24
NWE	1998	0.5	-15
OAK	1970	0.5	-10
CIN	1990	0.5	-10
BCL	1948	0.4	-11
SEA	1983	0.4	-16
DET	1993	0.4	-4
MIN	1977	0.3	-17
TEN	2007	0.3	-11
ATL	2004	0.2	-17
BUF	1948	0.1	-42
CHI	1977	0.1	-30
MIN	1987	0.1	-7
RAI	1991	0.1	-4
ARI	2008	0.1	-4
DET	1999	-0.1	-14
NOR	1990	-0.1	-10
HOU	1969	-0.1	-49
SDG	1995	-0.1	-15
NYG	1984	-0.1	-11
SEA	2004	-0.1	-7
HOU	1987	-0.3	-24
MIN	1997	-0.3	-16
SFO	1957	-0.3	-4
NYG	2011	-0.4	3
SEA	2006	-0.4	-3
CLE	1985	-0.4	-3
NYG	2006	-0.4	-3
MIA	1999	-0.6	-55
JAX	1996	-0.6	-14
GNB	2013	-0.7	-3
MIN	1978	-0.8	-24
DET	2016	-0.8	-20
MIN	1993	-0.8	-7
NYY	1949	-0.8	-10
HOU	1978	-0.9	-29
IND	1996	-1.1	-28
MIN	1996	-1.1	-25
MIA	2016	-1.1	-18
MIN	1982	-1.2	-14
PHI	1995	-1.3	-19
RAI	1993	-1.3	-6
TEN	2017	-1.4	-21
NYJ	1986	-1.4	-3
NWE	1982	-1.6	-15
DEN	1983	-1.6	-24
PIT	1947	-1.6	-21
BUF	1949	-1.7	-10
ATL	1982	-1.8	-6
IND	2012	-1.9	-15
CAR	2014	-2.2	-14
TAM	1982	-2.2	-13
CHI	1994	-2.3	-29
HOU	1989	-2.9	-3
HOU	2016	-3.1	-18
ATL	1978	-3.1	-7
ARI	1998	-3.3	-20
BUF	2017	-3.6	-7
PIT	1989	-3.8	-1
STL	1982	-3.9	-25
STL	2004	-4.6	-30
CLE	1982	-4.7	-17
DEN	2011	-5.1	-35
SEA	2010	-6.1	-11

What’s the closest game you can think of that reminds you of Alabama/Clemson?

Tagged as: Alabama, Clemson

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