Greatest teams of all time

[RavenMad31]

Personally the best team I've ever seen play was the '07 Patriots, but unfortunately they didn't get the job done.

'85 Bears were before my time, I wasn't born 'till 1988.

Homer in me wants to say '91 Redskins, but again I was just 3 years old then, not like I saw them play, but they destroyed teams and had a dominant offense and defense.

That was another team I considered.

[bluejerseyjinx]

It doesn't. Higga nailed it. I go by a combination of record and eye test. I will tell you right now without looking at records that the early 90s Cowboys were insanely good. I'd bet money on the team that beat the Bills the first time over any 49ers team in the 80s or 70s Steeler team. I'm having a hard time placing the 2007 Patriots, not because they didn't finish in the SB, but because the SB exposed a flaw that a 70s Steeler team, 2000 Ravens or 90s Cowboy team could exploit which is getting significant pressure without bringing extra rushers. I think that Pats team would have dissected the 85 Bears, however. One thing to keep in mind is that the Niners dismantling the Broncos is probably a testament to John Elway's greatness as much as it was their own. John Elway essentially dragged a JV team to the Super Bowl three times. He faced great teams each time and understandably got clobbered. The 1986 Giants should probably be in this conversation too. They were devastating on defense and surgically efficient on offense.
Here's how I would sort it out if I were trying to rank them
1. 1992 Cowboys (their first of the 90s)
2. (tie) 1986 Giants, 1988? Niners (the team that beat the Broncos)
3. 1978 Steelers (offense peaked that year to compliment the defense)
4. 2007 Patriots
5. 1985 Bears/2000 Ravens Bears offense better, Ravens defense a little better. If it came down to coaching, Billick is smarter than Ditka.

If we're going by the eye test, how many games did you watch of the 1984 49ers?

The 1984 49ers were # 2 on my list. They were awesome.
1) 1977 Cowboys
2) 1984 49ers
3) 1978 Steelers
4) 1992 Cowboys
5) 1973 Dolphins
6) 1986 Bears
7) 1970 & 1971 Cowboys
8) 2003 & 2004 Patriots

[Zion Wembanyama]

2003 Panthers.

[nbafan38]

I wouldn't say they are the best team ever but I feel a lot of people significantly underrate the 1999 Rams (a lot because people dismiss their greatness due to a weak schedule and weak conference) but that team was absolutely scary good on offense and their defense was very underrated, I think people focus on the greatest show on turf but the defense that year only allowed 242 points) Their point differential was extreme and their three losses were all decided in the final seconds.

[Cactus Jack]

I wouldn't say they are the best team ever but I feel a lot of people significantly underrate the 1999 Rams (a lot because people dismiss their greatness due to a weak schedule and weak conference) but that team was absolutely scary good on offense and their defense was very underrated, I think people focus on the greatest show on turf but the defense that year only allowed 242 points) Their point differential was extreme and their three losses were all decided in the final seconds.

That Rams team is definitely a candidate for most entertaining team of all time. Before the Hawks' moved into the NFC West, those Rams teams were a favorite of mine. So fun to follow & watch. Even the team that lost to the Patriots in SB 36 was a juggernaut.

I was too young to remember the Bears team. But, the early 90's Cowboys teams were the best I can recall.

[Wilts20000th]

The 71 Cowboys had
HOF coach
HOF QB
HOF TE
2 HOF WRs
HOF OT
HOF DT
2 HOF CBs

Along with several other players who didn't make the HOF but were voted all decade and have several first team All Pros

They beat the soon to be back to back superbowl champion Dolphins(who themselves featured half a dozen HOFers) by 3 touchdowns

[Icness]

Good thread! Some nice, thoughtful responses.

My thoughts:

The team I think would beat any other team in my lifetime (born in 1972) is the 1977 Cowboys. Maybe it's because I was quite impressionable at that time, but they have always stood out. I remember their playoff game against Chicago and they destroyed Walter Payton and at that time he was one of the few players I really knew was good.

I wouldn't argue with anyone who says the 1984 49ers. That backfield with Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler behind Montana never gets enough credit. Completely suffocating run defense too.

2001 Patriots, in part because the 2001 Rams they beat in the Super Bowl are also top 10 for me
1992 Cowboys
1986 Bears
1989 49ers
1990 Bills, the first one of their Super Bowls as that was their best defense
1999 Rams
1986 Giants

[bluejerseyjinx]

The 71 Cowboys had
HOF coach
HOF QB
HOF TE
2 HOF WRs
HOF OT
HOF DT
2 HOF CBs

Along with several other players who didn't make the HOF but were voted all decade and have several first team All Pros

They beat the soon to be back to back superbowl champion Dolphins(who themselves featured half a dozen HOFers) by 3 touchdowns

Glad you brought them up. I didn't want to sound like a homer after posting the 1977 and 1978 Cowboys. See, unlike many of the other poster's I don't consider one year wonders like the 86 Bears, Ravens, etc., as greatest even though they were great for one year. Teams that go back to back or somewhat sustained success over a period of time to me means greater. That 1970 and 1971 Cowboys team were awesome. If it wasn't for Craig Morton the Cowboys would have had back to back Super Bowls. Landry wasn't ready for Staubach to take the reigns, even though available (The one that got away and has haunted me till this day, Super Bowl). But the point I'm trying to make here is that was one hell of a team that really never got a whole lot of credit. It took Landry 6 years to build his first team. And In 1966 the Cowboys made back to back NFL Championship games as a very young team vs. the 1960's team of the decade. This team for the most part stayed together for about 9 years, compiling 8 division titles, made it to 6 NFC/NFL Championship games and 2 Super Bowls.