1988 NFL Replay Summary

1988 NFL Season

Strat O Matic Replay

NFL Replay 1988

As a Buffalo Bills fan, I saw one of the greatest sports tragedies of all time take place in my backyard. The Buffalo Bills between 1988 and 1996 were likely the best team ever not to win a Super Bowl. This period of time, famously brought 4 consecutive Super Bowl losses (XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII). Forgotten over time is the amount of character and resiliency this team showed to continue to get off the mat, over and over again, displayed most commonly in the “Comeback Game”, January 3rd, 1993 as the team overcame a 35-3 second half deficit, (and a throttling at the hands of the same opponent a week earlier) to win in overtime en route to Super Bowl XXVII. This comeback was accomplished without Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Cornelius Bennett.

This team and my mental health, deserve a second chance, if only on my computer and this forum.
Starting with 1988.

This was also a very interesting period of time for the NFL in general. Coming off the strike in 1987 where replacement players were actually used, the league began to really grow and drive its roots into every household in America. June of 1988 was when groundbreaking video game title John Madden Football by Electronic Arts was released for the first time. This franchise over the years has played a key role in delivering the NFL, its brands, and superstars into everywhere, USA.

The Super Bowl continued to increase in popularity as commercials started to cross over into entertainment value led by the “Bud Bowl” which featured Budweiser vs. Bud Light in a football game played by bottles. Bud Bowl I was played during Super Bowl XXIII at the end of the 1988 season. Bud Bowl was only outdone later on MTV in 1992 by the “Butt Bowl” which featured the cartoon Beavis and Butthead.

This long-scope replay will begin in the 1988 season. The replay will utilize Strat O Matic's 2014 windows version.  The goal of the replay is “As Played”, however, it is also in the spirit of “what if”. Injuries are off, and the QB starter file is in effect. I will attempt to keep everything close to real life, and account for major injuries, however, any mix ups I don’t want to torture myself and that will be chalked up to the “what if” category.

I will be coaching 100% of the Buffalo Bills schedule. I will coach other games as the home team. Visiting teams I will leave to the CPU manager. The first goal is fun. Second goal is realism. Third goal is to see if the Bills will end up on the podium at the end of one of these seasons. Theoretically, it would be a complete success if everything concluded with identical results.

Rules:
Penalties – Yes
Player Overusage – No
Use QB Starter File – Yes
QB Overusage – No
Running Back Fatigue – Yes
Home Field Advantage – Yes
Linebacker Run Containment – Yes
Low Usage RB Containment – No
Use Individualized Fumble Ratings – Yes
Do Not Allow Exceeding Longest Run – Yes
Do Not Allow Exceeding Longest Reception – Yes
Exhausted RBs Will Get Injured – No
Don’t Allow QBs to get Injured – Yes
No Injuries
Dumpoff Rule – Yes
Updated Sack Rule – Yes
In Game Rest System – No
Emphasize 6-Rated LBs – Yes
Great Player Impact Rule – No
Looser Substitution Restrictions – No
Empty Flat Pass = Guessed Wrong – Yes
Use Variable FG Rule – Yes
QB End Run Limits – Yes
Use Actual Team Interception Returns – Yes
Use Historical Team Pace – Yes