Tecmo Bowl features 12 prominent NFL franchises and was primarily based on the 1987 NFL season.
Player personnel, playbook effectiveness, & special teams are key aspects of Tecmo Bowl & play a role when 2 teams match up.
However it ultimately comes down to your skills as a player that determines how good a team is.
Player personnel, playbook effectiveness, & special teams are key aspects of Tecmo Bowl & play a role when 2 teams match up.
However it ultimately comes down to your skills as a player that determines how good a team is.
--The reviews below cover the teams player personnel found on the 1989 USA Nintendo CARTRIDGE version of Tecmo Bowl. --
*Please note that the NesMini & Nintendo Switch use the 1990 Japan Famicom version of Tecmo Bowl. The player personnel on those platforms are slightly different than the cartridge due to roster updates that were introduced to the Japan version nearly 2 years later.
Ultimately a good portion of the info below still applies to the NesMini & Switch version of Tecmo Bowl.
*Please note that the NesMini & Nintendo Switch use the 1990 Japan Famicom version of Tecmo Bowl. The player personnel on those platforms are slightly different than the cartridge due to roster updates that were introduced to the Japan version nearly 2 years later.
Ultimately a good portion of the info below still applies to the NesMini & Switch version of Tecmo Bowl.
New York Giants
Lawrence Taylor, & Carl Banks anchor the best defense in Tecmo Bowl & provide elite speed from bookend positions which is key for stopping the run. They quickly getting into pass coverage on their half of the field as well. Taylor & Banks' high power ratings help with shedding run blocks quickly. There really isn't anyone else to choose from on defense, but you don't need to.
The Giants offense is fairly average, but has enough skill guys to get the job done. Mark Bavaro is the main target & Joe Morris will eventually break a run or 2. Offensively run the ball, control the clock, play field position, & let the defense do its job. Look for Bavaro on Pass 2 after he stops down by the sideline for a safe & easy throw when your opponent is covering a different target.
Sean Landeta's long punts help the defense, as he creates a lot of yards to work with each time they take the field. The Giants defense is challenging for any offense to put points up against. Overall New York is a reliable team that's capable of winning every game.
The Giants offense is fairly average, but has enough skill guys to get the job done. Mark Bavaro is the main target & Joe Morris will eventually break a run or 2. Offensively run the ball, control the clock, play field position, & let the defense do its job. Look for Bavaro on Pass 2 after he stops down by the sideline for a safe & easy throw when your opponent is covering a different target.
Sean Landeta's long punts help the defense, as he creates a lot of yards to work with each time they take the field. The Giants defense is challenging for any offense to put points up against. Overall New York is a reliable team that's capable of winning every game.
San Francisco 49ers
In the hands of a skilled player, the 49ers offense can go toe to toe with any defense. Roger Craig provides above average speed at running back, & is highly effective as a receiver. Craig is solid either in the slot on Pass 3, or as a check down coming out of the backfield on Pass 2. Joe Montana has one of the strongest throwing ratings, & Jerry Rice is the fastest wide receiver. Mike Wilson is not fast, but when your opponent uses a defender from the bottom half of the field, Montana can quickly complete passes to Wilson.
Defensively the 49ers have a couple elite players with Ronnie Lott & Michael Carter. Lott can single-handedly shut down a lot of teams from the top DB position. Michael Carter from his nose tackle position is quick, but can be a liability as he will be need to avoid a blocker on every run play that you don't call. The primary weakness the team has is the lack of a stand out special teams player.
The 49ers are best equipped to take down heavy weights such as the Giants & Bears. The caveat with the 49ers is that you need to make quick precise decision when throwing the ball. An inexperienced player will throw a lot of INTs with San Francisco. Utilize Craig on the ground until you are more familiar with the passing game.
Defensively the 49ers have a couple elite players with Ronnie Lott & Michael Carter. Lott can single-handedly shut down a lot of teams from the top DB position. Michael Carter from his nose tackle position is quick, but can be a liability as he will be need to avoid a blocker on every run play that you don't call. The primary weakness the team has is the lack of a stand out special teams player.
The 49ers are best equipped to take down heavy weights such as the Giants & Bears. The caveat with the 49ers is that you need to make quick precise decision when throwing the ball. An inexperienced player will throw a lot of INTs with San Francisco. Utilize Craig on the ground until you are more familiar with the passing game.
Chicago Bears
The Bears have an elite run game, & they win with a strong defense. Run 1 features a pulling guard that neutralizes the top defensive back better than any other run play in Tecmo Bowl. Walter Payton's speed offsets a conservative passing attack. Opponents have to frequently call run plays, & Jim McMahon can go to the air despite a low throwing rating. Pass 1 offers an effective dump off pass to Payton out in the flat which is the safest option to use.
Mike Singletary leads a fast defense with Richard Dent, Dave Duerson, & Steve McMichael. They aren't in as favorable positions as New York or Washington's primary defenders, but they're still an elite squad. Singletary is blocked on every run play you don't call, but fast enough to get around blockers & make diving tackles. Singletary's speed is great for pass coverage coming from the middle LB position. McMichael often faces a run blocker, but is powerful & quickly sheds them. Duerson is nearly as effective as Ronnie Lott.
Chicago's special teams stand out with the extremely dangerous kick returner Dennis Gentry. Gentry takes it to the house quite often. Kevin Butler has a strong leg and can hit field goals when Chicago reaches the 45 yard line.
Chicago is easily the most user friendly team in Tecmo Bowl. Running Walter Payton often will limit mistakes, & the powerful defense holds up against the run. They match up well with any team in Tecmo Bowl.
Mike Singletary leads a fast defense with Richard Dent, Dave Duerson, & Steve McMichael. They aren't in as favorable positions as New York or Washington's primary defenders, but they're still an elite squad. Singletary is blocked on every run play you don't call, but fast enough to get around blockers & make diving tackles. Singletary's speed is great for pass coverage coming from the middle LB position. McMichael often faces a run blocker, but is powerful & quickly sheds them. Duerson is nearly as effective as Ronnie Lott.
Chicago's special teams stand out with the extremely dangerous kick returner Dennis Gentry. Gentry takes it to the house quite often. Kevin Butler has a strong leg and can hit field goals when Chicago reaches the 45 yard line.
Chicago is easily the most user friendly team in Tecmo Bowl. Running Walter Payton often will limit mistakes, & the powerful defense holds up against the run. They match up well with any team in Tecmo Bowl.
Indianapolis Colts
Despite appearing low on star power, the Colts are a solid team. Eric Dickerson is a monster in the run game, & Indy has the best playbook in Tecmo Bowl. With wide receiver routes spread far apart, big windows open for Jack Trudeau to throw into, which is key despite his low passing rating. The key is to sit in the pocket, let the targets spread apart then choose a safe option. Indy is best suited to utilize the short passing game. On pass 2, put the passing arrow on the top WR & wait for Bill Brooks to park by the sideline. Lure the defender away from Brooks, then make the safe throw to him. Look for Pat Beach out in the flat on Pass 1. Control the ball offensively with short passes, & eventually Dickerson will break off some big runs.
Bottom outside LB Duane Bickett is the focal point of the defense, & their success can be attributed to a great punter & often having a field position edge. It's a blue collar team that's solid but not flashy.
Dean Biasucci is able to hit field goals from deep range as Indy has the top kicking game in Tecmo Bowl. When you can run well, control time of possession, & win field position battles good things will happen! Indy isn't a super star laden team, but with a skilled player at the control & Eric Dickerson's speed they always have a chance.
Bottom outside LB Duane Bickett is the focal point of the defense, & their success can be attributed to a great punter & often having a field position edge. It's a blue collar team that's solid but not flashy.
Dean Biasucci is able to hit field goals from deep range as Indy has the top kicking game in Tecmo Bowl. When you can run well, control time of possession, & win field position battles good things will happen! Indy isn't a super star laden team, but with a skilled player at the control & Eric Dickerson's speed they always have a chance.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland's offense is comprised mainly of average players, but the strong arm of Bernie Kosar is formidable, & poses challenges for any defense. The passing attack is effective due to good route spacing & Kosar is the best of the 2nd tier QBs, able to exploit holes in any defense.
Kevin Mack has the power to run over defenders, but his lack of speed is a detriment to the offense. With Mack's lack of speed, the defense can focus on frequently calling pass plays in an effort to shut down Cleveland. Outside of tight end Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland lacks fast offensive play-makers. Pass 1 offers the safe dump off pass to Mack, & Pass 2 features Newsome stopping by the sideline as a safe option. Kosar however can throw quick strikes downfield into tight windows with frequent success.
Frank Minnifield & Hanford Dixon are the fastest defensive back duo in Tecmo Bowl. There are no viable option in the front 7, but Cleveland's is stout with these DBs. Special teams play is key for the Browns. Gerald McNeil is a legit threat in the return game, & the Browns solid punter helps with field position. Overall the Browns don't have a weak unit, but they don't have that "super-star" type player that the elite teams possess.
Kevin Mack has the power to run over defenders, but his lack of speed is a detriment to the offense. With Mack's lack of speed, the defense can focus on frequently calling pass plays in an effort to shut down Cleveland. Outside of tight end Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland lacks fast offensive play-makers. Pass 1 offers the safe dump off pass to Mack, & Pass 2 features Newsome stopping by the sideline as a safe option. Kosar however can throw quick strikes downfield into tight windows with frequent success.
Frank Minnifield & Hanford Dixon are the fastest defensive back duo in Tecmo Bowl. There are no viable option in the front 7, but Cleveland's is stout with these DBs. Special teams play is key for the Browns. Gerald McNeil is a legit threat in the return game, & the Browns solid punter helps with field position. Overall the Browns don't have a weak unit, but they don't have that "super-star" type player that the elite teams possess.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos feature a strong run game with Tony Dorsett. The slow receivers leave a bit to be desired, but the passing playbook is solid, & Elway's high passing rating gets the ball to the targets in a hurry. Between Elway's strong arm & Dorsett's speed, it's hard for the defense to lean either way with which facet of the offense to key in on.
Rulon Jones at top defensive end does a good job of shutting down the run game. Karl Mecklenburg can be used in certain run situations & is very effective against the pass. Overall these are 2 solid players in the front 7. There's not much else for options though on defense.
The special teams rank near the bottom with a below average kicking game. The poor punting is easily the weak link of the team as they can struggle with the game of field position. Denver's offense can move the ball effectively to offset that issue, & the playbook gives you the option of firing off quick passes with Elway's strong arm. This is evident with Pass 2 as Elway can quickly fire a pass into any of the targets, especially to Dorsett quickly who is in the top slot position. You can let the routes develop as well & make the safe easy throw with Pass 1 to the bottom receiver near the sideline once the defender has gone deep with the other receivers.
Rulon Jones at top defensive end does a good job of shutting down the run game. Karl Mecklenburg can be used in certain run situations & is very effective against the pass. Overall these are 2 solid players in the front 7. There's not much else for options though on defense.
The special teams rank near the bottom with a below average kicking game. The poor punting is easily the weak link of the team as they can struggle with the game of field position. Denver's offense can move the ball effectively to offset that issue, & the playbook gives you the option of firing off quick passes with Elway's strong arm. This is evident with Pass 2 as Elway can quickly fire a pass into any of the targets, especially to Dorsett quickly who is in the top slot position. You can let the routes develop as well & make the safe easy throw with Pass 1 to the bottom receiver near the sideline once the defender has gone deep with the other receivers.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle possesses a fairly balanced offense with good, but not great players. Curt Warner is a solid back, & Largent is one of the faster receivers in Tecmo Bowl, but neither are elite players. Dave Krieg has below average arm strength which hinders the passing attack, but the playbook is solid which helps Seattle be a formidable passing team.
Defensively they don't have a good player from the key bookened positions at D-end, outside LB, or in the defensive backfield. However top middle linebacker Fredd Young is a standout defender in certain run situations, & an excellent option against the pass. Brian Bosworth is a decent complimentary player, but from his bottom middle LB position, he's a liability against the run, & not as fast as Fredd in passing situation.
The special teams unit combined is the worst in the league. The punting & kicking game is horrid & ranks at the bottom. Seattle doesn't have a field position which can be magnified if the offense struggles to move the ball. The run game ultimately needs to click for them to have success, & when it does Seattle can have the look of a really solid offense.
Defensively they don't have a good player from the key bookened positions at D-end, outside LB, or in the defensive backfield. However top middle linebacker Fredd Young is a standout defender in certain run situations, & an excellent option against the pass. Brian Bosworth is a decent complimentary player, but from his bottom middle LB position, he's a liability against the run, & not as fast as Fredd in passing situation.
The special teams unit combined is the worst in the league. The punting & kicking game is horrid & ranks at the bottom. Seattle doesn't have a field position which can be magnified if the offense struggles to move the ball. The run game ultimately needs to click for them to have success, & when it does Seattle can have the look of a really solid offense.
Miami Dolphins
Dan Marino's strong arm & can fit passes into tight windows against the fastest defenders. Receiver speed however leaves a lot to be desired. In certain situations & match-ups Miami can run the ball effectively, but the run game can't be relied upon. Marino will need to carry the load. Pass 3 is Miami's bread and butter play. It has good depth & spacing on the routes & Marino can shred the defense. Pass 1 & 2 are pretty vanilla, but Marino's cannon arm makes those plays hard to defend even with the fastest defenders.
Punter Reggie Roby is key as his long punts can drastically change the field position situation for Miami. The opponent will frequently need a long drive to score thanks to Roby. The defense is below average. John Offerdahl is a viable option in some situation, but ultimately a liability against the run. The field position edge does help the defense though.
Run 1 has a unique run blocking scheme that bottles up interior defenders, but Lorenzo Hampton isn't fast enough to really punish a defense. Occasionally Hampton can be effective & it goes a long way towards making Miami very difficult to stop.
Punter Reggie Roby is key as his long punts can drastically change the field position situation for Miami. The opponent will frequently need a long drive to score thanks to Roby. The defense is below average. John Offerdahl is a viable option in some situation, but ultimately a liability against the run. The field position edge does help the defense though.
Run 1 has a unique run blocking scheme that bottles up interior defenders, but Lorenzo Hampton isn't fast enough to really punish a defense. Occasionally Hampton can be effective & it goes a long way towards making Miami very difficult to stop.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas relies heavily on Herschel Walker to carry the workload. The passing attack is not bad, but there's a need for Walker to play a huge role in the offense as he's the only standout player on offense. Fortunately Walker lines up in the slot on Pass 2. He parks in the middle of the field, & when he catches the ball there he has a lot of field to work with as the option to juke up or down is available. Pass 1 is a pretty standard pass play that requires a quick decision, but Pass 2 has great spacing between all the targets as the receivers separate, & you can let everything play out a bit before choosing your intended target.
Defensively there isn't a speedy option which inevitably allows the opponent to gain extra yards on a lot of plays over the course of the game. Dallas has merely average special teams which doesn't help their situation. What it boils down to is needing the offense to put some points on the board & try to hold on defensively.
Defensively there isn't a speedy option which inevitably allows the opponent to gain extra yards on a lot of plays over the course of the game. Dallas has merely average special teams which doesn't help their situation. What it boils down to is needing the offense to put some points on the board & try to hold on defensively.
Los Angeles Raiders
The Raiders are one of the fastest offensive teams in Tecmo Bowl with Bo Jackson being an elite running back. Additionally Marcus Allen, Tim Brown & Todd Christensen all have solid speed for their positions when compared to other teams. Conversely Jay Schroeder has one of the weaker arms in the game. When the defense is not calling a good game the passing plays are spread out well, allowing Schroeder to make a lot of safe & easy completions. Pass 1 has targets at 3 different depths & heights on the field making it a very difficult play to defend. Pass 2 has Allen & Christensen parked close together up top, with Tim Brown streaking deep downfield giving you the safe underneath throw if the defender covers Brown. Work the underneath routes with LA & wait for Bo or Marcus to break one.
Defensively LA doesn't have a great option other than Howie Long at the bottom D-end position, which is susceptible to giving up quick throws to the top receiver. LA is pretty average in the kicking game & Tim Brown is the standout player as a decent kick returner.
Defensively LA doesn't have a great option other than Howie Long at the bottom D-end position, which is susceptible to giving up quick throws to the top receiver. LA is pretty average in the kicking game & Tim Brown is the standout player as a decent kick returner.
Washington Redskins
Washington has an unimpressive set of offensive skill guys, but its not the offense that will win them games. The defense may very well be the 2nd best in Tecmo Bowl. The Doom Combo of Dexter Manley & Charles Mann at the defensive end positions are very effective at shutting down any run game. Top outside Linebacker Wilbur Marshall is an elite player for his position & gives Washington superior speed in the front 7. Helping out the defense is a strong punter that gives them a long field to work with. Defense & special teams are key for Washington.
Washington has one of the worst passing playbooks in Tecmo Bowl. Doug Williams doesn't possess a strong arm, so be prepared to make many throws into tight windows. Timmy Smith is one of the slowest running backs, & the wide receiver run play isn't particularly effective either. Play it safe offensively & don't be afraid to punt, then try to force your opponent into a mistake.
Washington has one of the worst passing playbooks in Tecmo Bowl. Doug Williams doesn't possess a strong arm, so be prepared to make many throws into tight windows. Timmy Smith is one of the slowest running backs, & the wide receiver run play isn't particularly effective either. Play it safe offensively & don't be afraid to punt, then try to force your opponent into a mistake.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota like Washington has the wide receiver run play, but the Vikings overall have a better offense. Run 1 for Minnesota has a pulling guard & attacks the top Defensive back position, which is key since so many of the best DBs in Tecmo Bowl occupy that spot. The receiver run play is a bit more effective than Washington because Anthony Carter has decent speed. Pass 1 requires a quick decision & sometimes a tight window to throw into. Pass 2 offers a lot of variance with the routes, & best of all the option to check down to Darrin Nelson comong out of the backfield.
Similar to Washington its the defense that's the focal part of the Vikings team. Chris Doleman is an elite player from the top D-end position, & Joey Browner is one of the best defensive backs in Tecmo Bowl. Browner allows Minnesota to take away quick passes up top, & Doleman eliminates run plays to the bottom half of the field.
The kicking game isn't great but Anthony Carter is a solid returner who at least poses a threat on special teams. Carter also offers speed in the passing game as their best offensive player, and can be effective with quick passes up top to him.
Similar to Washington its the defense that's the focal part of the Vikings team. Chris Doleman is an elite player from the top D-end position, & Joey Browner is one of the best defensive backs in Tecmo Bowl. Browner allows Minnesota to take away quick passes up top, & Doleman eliminates run plays to the bottom half of the field.
The kicking game isn't great but Anthony Carter is a solid returner who at least poses a threat on special teams. Carter also offers speed in the passing game as their best offensive player, and can be effective with quick passes up top to him.
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