Sporting News 10 best teams in NFL history

[PC]

1. 1972 Dolphins (17-0)
2. 1984 49ers (18-1)
3. 1985 Bears (18-1)
4. 1978 Steelers (17-2)
5. 1962 Packers (14-1)
6. 1958 Colts (10-3)
7. 1992 Cowboys (16-3)
8. 2004 Patriots (17-2)
9. 1977 Cowboys (15-2)
10. 1976 Raiders (16-1)

It’s Sporting News 125th anniversary and they’ve done an all-time top 10 NFL teams list.  Yes, the Dolphins were 17-0, the only undefeated team blah blah blah, but they aren’t the best team in NFL history.  Hell, they were UNDERDOGS in the Super Bowl!

And where are the 1991 Redskins?

[sportsfan882]

Where the hell are the Patriots from a few years ago that almost went undefeated?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Only one team from 1985 to 2004?  Only one of those 49er teams?  I guess it was limited to championship teams, but you could make a case for some of those Bills Kelly/Thomas/Bruce Smith teams, even if they did not win the last game.  4 teams from the 70s plus two from the first half of the 80s.  6 of the 10 in a 15 year period.  I assume this is also only in the TV era. Papa Bear Halas says hi.

Seems like some middle aged guys liked the way the game was played when they were in their 20s and early 30s and the Sporting News was a relevant publication.  IOW, before they got bitter about life. 

[PANatsFan]

Where the hell are the Patriots from a few years ago that almost went undefeated?

How can a great team lose the superbowl?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

How can a great team lose the superbowl?

One game is a crap shoot and about match ups.  A team can dominate the league, consist of great players, but blow a game.  The 1985 Bears lost one game to Miami.  Had that been the Super Bowl, would that have knocked them completely off the list?

[MarquisDeSade]

3. 1985 Bears (18-1)

I'm sorry but the '85 Bears are the best Super Bowl-era NFL team so far.  DA BEARS!!!

[MarquisDeSade]

One game is a crap shoot and about match ups.  A team can dominate the league, consist of great players, but blow a game.  The 1985 Bears lost one game to Miami.  Had that been the Super Bowl, would that have knocked them completely off the list?

Don't forget the '98 Vikings.

[spidernat]

One game is a crap shoot and about match ups.  A team can dominate the league, consist of great players, but blow a game.  The 1985 Bears lost one game to Miami.  Had that been the Super Bowl, would that have knocked them completely off the list?

But it wasn't the SB so that loss is not as costly as the Patriots loss to the Giants. I have no problem limiting the list to SB champions. I think the 1989 49ers deserved recognition.

[Lintyfresh85]

The 2007 Patriots were the most dominant team I've ever seen. Their offense was damn near unstoppable... so much so, that no matter what the odd makers put out as a spread, they out did it week after week.

I don't care that they lost the Super Bowl, that's just one game... to me, they're still the best team I, or anyone else, will ever see.

As for the Bills, I'm biased obviously, but I think one of their early 90's teams deserved recognition as one of the best teams ever.

[MarquisDeSade]

The 2007 Patriots were the most dominant team I've ever seen. Their offense was damn near unstoppable... so much so, that no matter what the odd makers put out as a spread, they out did it week after week.

Except for the SB where I made out like mad by taking the under big.

[Lintyfresh85]

Except for the SB where I made out like mad by taking the under big.

Excellent point.

[PANatsFan]

One game is a crap shoot and about match ups.  A team can dominate the league, consist of great players, but blow a game.  The 1985 Bears lost one game to Miami.  Had that been the Super Bowl, would that have knocked them completely off the list?

Yeah. The Super Bowl is the Super Bowl. Otherwise, how many Bills teams would be on there?

[Lintyfresh85]

Yeah. The Super Bowl is the Super Bowl. Otherwise, how many Bills teams would be on there?

ALL OF THEM!

And, as a kid, I'm never teased with BILLS = Boy I Love Losing Super Bowls

Sigh.

[tomterp]

The 2007 Patriots were the most dominant team I've ever seen. Their offense was damn near unstoppable...

Is that during the period when they were stealing defensive signals from the other teams?  If so, that might explain some of the unstoppability.

[HalfSmokes]

personally the 1994 49ers were the best team I've ever seen.

[HalfSmokes]

Yeah. The Super Bowl is the Super Bowl. Otherwise, how many Bills teams would be on there?

that's absurd, you're actually saying the 2007 giants better than the 2007 patriots?

[Lintyfresh85]

Is that during the period when they were stealing defensive signals from the other teams?  If so, that might explain some of the unstoppability.

I think the whole sign stealing thing was from years past.

I believe they were punished in the preseason of 2007 for it.

[tomterp]

I think the whole sign stealing thing was from years past.

I believe they were punished in the preseason of 2007 for it.

Upon further research, it appears the scandal broke early in the 2007 season.

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/new_england_patriots_cheating_scandal/

[EdStroud]

1. 1972 Dolphins (17-0)
2. 1984 49ers (18-1)
3. 1985 Bears (18-1)
4. 1978 Steelers (17-2)
5. 1962 Packers (14-1)
6. 1958 Colts (10-3)
7. 1992 Cowboys (16-3)
8. 2004 Patriots (17-2)
9. 1977 Cowboys (15-2)
10. 1976 Raiders (16-1)

It’s Sporting News 125th anniversary and they’ve done an all-time top 10 NFL teams list.  Yes, the Dolphins were 17-0, the only undefeated team blah blah blah, but they aren’t the best team in NFL history.  Hell, they were UNDERDOGS in the Super Bowl!

And where are the 1991 Redskins?

Good point the 91 Skins only lost 2 games to 11-5 Dallas and 10-6 Philly(man what a division) by a total of 5 points.  Should be a Top 10 team.

[PANatsFan]

that's absurd, you're actually saying the 2007 giants better than the 2007 patriots?

No, I didn't say that. I said a truly great team wins the Superbowl. Others can sneak by the 1 game.

[HalfSmokes]

No, I didn't say that. I said a truly great team wins the Superbowl. Others can sneak by the 1 game.

I'd buy that about NBA teams winning the championship and to a lesser extent about baseball teams winning the world series (2006 Cards not withstanding), but in one football game anything can happen and the better team doesn't necessarily win. I think that is one of the only good (though almost never made) arguments for the BCS since #1 plays #2 and in a playoff, there is no guarantee that would happen

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Good point the 91 Skins only lost 2 games to 11-5 Dallas and 10-6 Philly(man what a division) by a total of 5 points.  Should be a Top 10 team.

Should be top 5, IMO.  They were very dominant, and look at how they shredded teams in the postseason.  They made mincemeat of a Bills team that almost won the Super Bowl the year before.

Then again, I never really watched them so I'm really just going off numbers here.

Also, I think the best team I've seen would be the '98 Broncos, but they don't get any credit on these things.

[EdStroud]

Should be top 5, IMO.  They were very dominant, and look at how they shredded teams in the postseason.  They made mincemeat of a Bills team that almost won the Super Bowl the year before.

Then again, I never really watched them so I'm really just going off numbers here.

Also, I think the best team I've seen would be the '98 Broncos, but they don't get any credit on these things.

One thing that hurts them is one of the two back-to-back losses was to an 8-8 team.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

But it wasn't the SB so that loss is not as costly as the Patriots loss to the Giants. I have no problem limiting the list to SB champions. I think the 1989 49ers deserved recognition.

Then don't call it a best team list.  Call it a best champion list.  Team #10 on that list is a complete joke.  They should have been  knocked out of the first round of the playoffs except for 2 outrageous calls - no interference on Villipiano and roughing the passer to save their last drive.  just not anywhere near as dominant as several of the Steeler teams from that period.  They were a complete fluke.  Like I said, just some guys who were nostalgic about their youth when their publication was relevant.

[blue911]

Shouldn't the Cleveland Browns of the late 40's get a mention? They where the champions all 4 years of the All American Football Conference was in existence, then went into the NFL and won the title there.