OT: 1972 Dolphins or 2007 Patriots

[Enigma869]

Okay...it is clear that we have some AWESOME sports fans on MR. I got to thinking that Miami fans are all going to say the 1972 Dolphins were the greatest team ever, even if the Patriots win out, and the Patriots fans are going to feel the opposite is true. Here are some stats for the two teams:

72 Dolphins 2007 Patriots

Opponent's Winning Percentage: .359 .489
Average Margin Of Victory: 15.3 20.8
Yards Per Game: 359.7 (1st) 425.0 (1st)
Yards Allowed Per Game: 235.5 (1st) 294.0 (4th)
Points Per Game: 27.5 (1st) 37.4 (1st)
Points Per Game Allowed: 12.2 (1st) 16.6 (4th)

The most compelling stat is that during the 1972 season, there were 6 teams in the entire NFL who had 10 wins or more. The Dolphins didn't play a single one of those teams. The Patriots have presently played: San Diego, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Dallas, who all presently have 10 wins. They have also played Cleveland, who will end up with 10 wins (they presently have 9). They have defeated every single one of those teams, and dominated most of them! They also have the Giants on the last game of the season, who will probably have 10 wins. Okay great sports fans of MR...Take your pick, and you're not allowed to pick against the Patriots just because you hate them Everyone hates them, so that's not a good enough reason!


John from Boston

[NealIsGod]

Okay...it is clear that we have some AWESOME sports fans on MR. I got to thinking that Miami fans are all going to say the 1972 Dolphins were the greatest team ever, even if the Patriots win out, and the Patriots fans are going to feel the opposite is true. Here are some stats for the two teams:



Opponent's Winning Percentage: .359 .489
Average Margin Of Victory: 15.3 20.8
Yards Per Game: 359.7 (1st) 425.0 (1st)
Yards Allowed Per Game: 235.5 (1st) 294.0 (4th)
Points Per Game: 27.5 (1st) 37.4 (1st)
Points Per Game Allowed: 12.2 (1st) 16.6 (4th)

The most compelling stat is that during the 1972 season, there were 6 teams in the entire NFL who had 10 wins or more. The Dolphins didn't play a single one of those teams. The Patriots have presently played: San Diego, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Dallas, who all presently have 10 wins. They have also played Cleveland, who will end up with 10 wins (they presently have 9). They have defeated every single one of those teams, and dominated most of them! They also have the Giants on the last game of the season, who will probably have 10 wins. Okay great sports fans of MR...Take your pick, and you're not allowed to pick against the Patriots just because you hate them Everyone hates them, so that's not a good enough reason!


John from Boston

Maybe you should wait until they finish their undefeated season before you post this. You may have jinxed them.

[Red13JoePa]

Johnno, has it occurred to you that you may be obsessed with the New England Patriots?

[Rockindeano]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

[NealIsGod]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

Colts or Steelers could do it if they don't turn the ball over.

[RedWingFan]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

Absolutely better than the Pats! Not so sure of the 72 Dolphins cuz that was the year I was born.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs

Hopefully, if Moss wins a ring I might have to quit the NFL.

and Hillary is our next president.

Not a chance. I'm hoping she's your nominee though. 52% say they will NOT vote for her no matter what. Only hope she has is a 3rd party jumping in, same thing that got Mr. 42% Clinton in.

[Rockindeano]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

Colts or Steelers could do it if they don't turn the ball over.

Steelers were a fraud before last night's game and they lose Jerry Porter to a broken stick injury. They are one and done.

Jacksonville is the scary team.

My pick to win the AFC.

[lights1961]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

Colts or Steelers could do it if they don't turn the ball over.

Steelers were a fraud before last night's game and they lose Jerry Porter to a broken stick injury. They are one and done.

Jacksonville is the scary team.

My pick to win the AFC.

cant compare different eras not fair. The Dolphins had the whole package that year--The Pats had the tuck rule to begin their dynasty, if oakland kept the fumble that game, Brady would not be the star he is today.

Picks for NFC is the Cowboys---brain talking not emotions and New England for the AFC
I almost thein San Diego, as they will be hungary to overcome what happened last year.


Rick

[lights1961]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

Colts or Steelers could do it if they don't turn the ball over.

Steelers were a fraud before last night's game and they lose Jerry Porter to a broken stick injury. They are one and done.

Jacksonville is the scary team.

My pick to win the AFC.

cant compare different eras not fair. The Dolphins had the whole package that year--The Pats had the tuck rule to begin their dynasty, if oakland kept the fumble that game, Brady would not be the star he is today.

Picks for NFC is the Cowboys---brain talking not emotions and New England for the AFC
I almost thein San Diego, as they will be hungry to overcome what happened last year.


Rick

[lights1961]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

Colts or Steelers could do it if they don't turn the ball over.

Steelers were a fraud before last night's game and they lose Jerry Porter to a broken stick injury. They are one and done.

Jacksonville is the scary team.

My pick to win the AFC.

cant compare different eras not fair. The Dolphins had the whole package that year--The Pats had the tuck rule to begin their dynasty, if oakland kept the fumble that game, Brady would not be the star he is today.

Picks for NFC is the Cowboys---brain talking not emotions and New England for the AFC
I almost thein San Diego, as they will be hungry to overcome what happened last year.


Rick

[Natalie]

RICK, WE GET THE POINT ALREADY!!!!!!!

[Higgy]

The 1972 Dolphins didn't steal plays.

[larryfromnextdoor]

i see ricks point, too tough to compare them but those guys in the past seemed to play harder to me.. but they werent as big,, has anyone ever played harder than larry csonka...
this is a pretty cool video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC4Gnxt_2V4

[ScarabGator]

Are you kidding me??? Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, Paul Warfield, Manny Fernandez, Jim Kiick, Jake Scott, Bob Griese, Nick Buoniconti, Coach Don Shula and the rest are the cream of the crop and definetly better than the 2007 Patriots.

[conversationpc]

"As a teen Chuck Norris impregnated every nun in a convent tucked away in the hills of Tuscany. Nine months later the nuns gave birth to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only undefeated and untied team in professional football history."

[xflajrnylvr]

Cant compare 2 different Eras

But will agree with DEano JAcksonville is scary right now I wouldnt want to play them in the pllayoffs and How fred taylor wasnt invited to the pro bowl ever just blows my mind

[Liam]

The 1972 Dolphins didn't steal plays.

Yup. That's why I'd pick the '72 'Fins over this years Pats.
But...Deano mentioned the '85 Bears....that was a scary fucking team to play. DAMN GOOD on both sides of the ball. The "Super Bowl Shuffle" is what killed that team for me though.

There are other teams I could pick that would be contenders for "The Best" like the '71 Cowboys or the '79 Steelers then again...this is all opinion in my eyes.

[ScarabGator]

Cant compare 2 different Eras

But will agree with DEano JAcksonville is scary right now I wouldnt want to play them in the pllayoffs and How fred taylor wasnt invited to the pro bowl ever just blows my mind

Oh man, I was shocked about FT also!!! I watched him at UF and he blew me away with his abiltiy to break off tackles. He was my MVP of the 97 season!

[Enigma869]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

The 85 Bears team were the best defensive team, EVER! That said, they weren't even in the top 100 offenses of all time! In spite of having Walter Payton (one of the greatest backs, EVER), they were a VERY average offensive team! I can tell you that Jim McMahon was as average as average gets, at the QB position, and Payton was at the end of his career!


John from Boston

[Enigma869]

Johnno, has it occurred to you that you may be obsessed with the New England Patriots?

Joepa...

I'm not obsessed with the Patriots, at all. I'm actually obsessed with sports, in general, and the NFL, more specifically! I'm a Patriots fan, first and foremost, but I watch every NFL game I can watch!


John from Boston

[Enigma869]

if oakland kept the fumble that game, Brady would not be the star he is today.


Rick

This might be the single most moronic statement I've ever seen in my life! You're actually advancing the premise that the suckass Oakland Raiders are the reason Brady is a first ballot hall of famer? How the hell does the "tuck rule", which incidentally was called 100% correctly, according to the NFL rule, make Brady an average player or a better player? One play going the other way and you think it turns Brady into Cleo Lemon??? You need to go back to football school!!!!!

Listen, as I've said here many times, I have ZERO problem with people hating Brady or the Patriots. Whether you hate the Patriots or Brady doesn't change what reality is, and the reality is that by the time the guy's career is over, he will be considered one of the three greatest quarterbacks, in the history of the NFL, period, end of story! Anyone who truly believes otherwise has ZERO credibility in the football knowledge department!


John from Boston

[RedWingFan]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

The 85 Bears team were the best defensive team, EVER!

My vote goes to the 2000 Ravens defense.

[Red13JoePa]

The 1972 Dolphins didn't steal plays.

Point taken

[Enigma869]

My vote goes to the 2000 Ravens defense.

The 2000 Ravens defense was IMMENSE! Like the 85 Bears, they were a one-trick pony (i.e. all defense and ZERO offense)! According to ESPN, the top defense of all time were the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the 1985 Bears at number 2, and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens in 3rd place. ESPN isn't just looking at the statistics, but also factoring how difficult each team's schedule was, which I think matters a lot more than people seem to think it does. The 1972 Dolphins were a bit before my time. I was born in 1970, so didn't see them play. That said, I'm not anywhere near as impressed by them going undefeated, after learning their opponents had a 35% winning percentage! That's as easy of a schedule as a team could ever have!


John from Boston

[Enigma869]

The 1972 Dolphins didn't steal plays.

Neither did the 2007 Patriots. Their coach did for the first half of ONE GAME (the first game of the season), against a team they were beating with or without any coach's signals! Ask the San Diego Chargers, who go annhialated by the Patriots in week 2, if they were a pushover team, after their coach got his videographer taken away from him!


John from Boston

[StoneCold]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

Da Bears!

[Greg]

I also think it's a little early to ask this question as well. Certainly if the Pats win out, I'd give them edge since they would've played more games than what the 72 Dolphins did. One thing though, the Pats are drifting to their finish. Which means, they are still winning, but not dominating....at least not according to the score.

Could be a very interesting playoff for the AFC.

[garyt]

I think the Bears of 85 were better than BOTH teams.

And yes, I am on record as saying NE will lose in the playoffs and Hillary is our next president.

Colts or Steelers could do it if they don't turn the ball over.

Steelers were a fraud before last night's game and they lose Jerry Porter to a broken stick injury. They are one and done.

Jacksonville is the scary team.

My pick to win the AFC.

The lost Willie Parker too. Put a fork in 'em, they're done.

If the Pats go undefeated it puts them above the '72 Dolphins because they had to win 16 games instead of 14. Mercury Morris says it will make them "Undefeated Junior" but he's just a bitter old man hanging on to something from 35 years ago.

Would loved to have seen Don Shula's face when the Ravens called that timeout and cost themselves the win against the Pats. Priceless

[NealIsGod]

"As a teen Chuck Norris impregnated every nun in a convent tucked away in the hills of Tuscany. Nine months later the nuns gave birth to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only undefeated and untied team in professional football history."

Damn, wish I had posted that.

[Enigma869]

Okay...this is funny. I got home and picked up today's edition of NFL Live off of my TiVo. They had a 07 Patriots versus 72 Dolphins discussion. They went on to play the game on screen (EA's Madden Football), and the Patriots won the game in a shootout...31-27. Earl Morrall threw a bomb to Paul Warfield at the end of the game, but he was tackled on the 10 yard line! I know the results mean NOTHING, but it was just humourous to me that this was their topic of the day. For what it's worth, I think the main reason the Patriots of today would beat the Dolphins of 72, somewhat easily, is the sheer size difference of football players, in today's game. The heaviest guy on the entire 72 team was a whopping 275lbs, which is downright tiny in today's NFL!


John from Boston