So, the 1972 Dolphins are still the greatest team ever!

[JCMach1]

Take that Pats... poetic justice for the cheating... :)

[taterguy]

1. Most of their opponents had losing records and the QB of the Super Bowl team they played was hurt

So yes, they're the greatest team ever.

Congratulations.

[JCMach1]

2. You forget the Dolphins also played through the playoffs and the end of the season

without Griese... Would the Pats have made it through without Brady? I doubt it.

[taterguy]

3. You forget that Griese's backup was a former MVP

You want true greatness?

1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[underpants]

4. Lost in all this discussion have been two teams

the '85 Bears dominated, for one season, unlike anyone ever has and probably ever will

Also, top to bottom (all 53 players) and especially the offensive line the Cowboys of the early 90's were most likely the most talented team to ever lace 'em up.

The Niners of the 80's were incredible but a huge part of that goes to the rather simple concept of pitch-and-catch-and-run of the Bill Walsh's West Coast Offense. This marks one of the only two new ideas in football over the last 20 years the other being Joe Gibbs "counter trey" blocking scheme.

[Awsi Dooger]

13. They will indeed be lost in the discussion

At one point the '62 Packers were the all time best team. Once others came along the memories begin to fade and the witnesses die off, and those teams are naturally replaced by the '85 Bears, and others.

This is what so many people don't realize. That 17-0 is immortal. There will be other teams to take place of the '85 Bears, by going 18-1 or 20-1, or whatever. As long as the '72 Dolphins remain unique as unblemished, that feat grows exponentially in stature and lore.

And after yesterday the unbeaten mark literally has the potential to last for centuries, a one and only Perfectville.

Obviously unbeaten isn't the only criteria or even necessarily the best criteria, but it's a concrete and specific one, something that has surreal endurance and can withstand swaying application of subjectivity.

New England has no idea what it lost yesterday. Multiply by the national debt and that's too low.

[JVS]

5. This kind of question is what video game football is for.

Load em up and let er rip.

[JCMach1]

6. Actually '72 Dolphins and '07 Patriots would be a hell of a game

The only advantage I would see for the Pats is overall defensive speed. It would be a very close game...

I agree with underpants though on a given day, '49ers or Dallas would blow either of these teams out... Also, the Bradshaw era Steelers were pretty damn awesome as well.

I just really hated to see the Pats take such a record from the Dolphins under a cloud. If they run the table next year, there can be no doubts.


One of my favorite games of all-time was Marino and Shula hanging the only loss on the Bears in 1985.

[Donk Yore]

7. I'm watching the same crap over and over on ESPN

and lovin' it

[BulletproofLandshark]

8. Whether they were the greatest can never be known

They were undefeated, but the level of their competition that season was unimpressive to say the least.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

9. Sorry, Joe Montana was a God

nt

[Chan790]

10. No...

I'm with the TV commentator (I wish I could remember who it was) who was arguing that there is a distinct difference between going undefeated (a unique achievement) and being the greatest team ever.

IMO, The greatest team ever...is the 1985 Bears. The 1972 Dolphins were a good, not great (certainly no better than this year's Cowboys, Packers, or Chargers) playing a terrible schedule in a mediocre NFL. They no more belong in the greatest team ever conversation than the youth (under-12) team I was on that finished the regular season undefeated. It's nice, but it doesn't buy you a place in the discussion.

[Bake]

11. Say what you will

They still have the ONLY PERFECT SEASON.

Bake

[Burma Jones]

12. Nope

That would be the 1985 Chicago Bears.

[Awsi Dooger]

14. Underrating the '72 Dolphins is not only a losing proposition

It's remarkable ignorance. I've seen it on DU and elsewhere, the same tired claims.

Miami defeated 5 Hall of Fame QBs in '72, an unprecedented feat before or since. The Dolphins played many teams at peak form, like opening at the Chiefs in a rematch of the famous '71 double OT Christmas Day playoff game. Miami was a 4 point underdog to Hank Stram's Chiefs and virtually every broadcaster and pundit picked the Chiefs due to revenge. Miami won handily, 20-10. It was 20-3 until the final meaningless play as time expired.

Kansas City fell apart later in the season. So now it's convenient ignorant back fitting to claim the Dolphins played no one. Give me a break. Similar to playing the '07 Giants in the first few games, or in the playoffs.

The Dolphins were also 4 point underdog at Minnesota, which had just reacquired Fran Tarkenton. That was a brutally physical game, the closest thing to a defeat,. Garo kept hopes alive with a 50+ FG middle of the 4th quarter, then Griese won it with a pass to Mandich in the final two minutes.

Check Minnesota's record at home in that era, outside at old Metropolitan Stadium.

It's simply laughable when fans try to deny the '72 Dolphins their proper place in history. For one thing, it was hardly a one-hit wonder like the '85 Bears. If the team was a fluke, or overstated, how do you explain the march through the NFL a year later? Miami went 15-2, the only losses 12-7 at a great Oakland team in week two, then a meaningless (but shocking) defeat at lousy Baltimore in the next to last game.

The Dolphins proceeded to dominate the playoffs in '73, winning by 18, 17 and 17. Frankly, only the WFL came along to derail Miami's emerging dynasty. Csonka, Kiick and Warfield were signed away in spring '74 and played that final season as lame ducks. The Steeler dynasty would not have evolved as we know it, if Miami had maintained its full deck. The Dolphins matched up perfectly with the Steelers, using the great OL to thwart Pittsburgh's intimidating aspects, and defeating Pittsburgh 3 straight years from '71 to '73.

[Meshuga]

15. 1972 Dolphins are not the greatest team ever

They are the only undefeated Superbowl champions. They are the only perfect team. Not an easy record to break, ask the Patriots. :-)

In my opinion, this patriots team is a much better team than the 1972 Dolphins, and possibly the best ever.

I really dislike the Patriots but I have to admit that this team is a great team.

I'm glad my Giants got a chance to shock them. :-)

[Westegg]

16. Steelers '74 -'79...

...Best ever. Four Superbowl wins in those six years, and they were arguably at their majestic peak of power when they didn't even make the Super Bowl ('78). I respect the 'Fins and the Pats (and the 'Niners and even, yes, the Cowboys) for their great accomplishments. But as a TEAM, a consistent team, with the same QB and coach, I say Pittsburgh. Maybe you had to come of age there, in that time (as I did) to feel this so passionately. But you know what? There's no escaping your roots.