Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Here are my, honestly unbiased (but JMHO just the same), Top 20 of a decade we can ALL get into discussing...

1) '75 Steelers
2) '78 Steelers
3) '72 Dolphins
4) '73 Dolphins
5) '76 Raiders
6) '79 Steelers
7) '77 Cowboys
8) '78 Cowboys
9) '71 Cowboys
10) '74 Steelers
11) '75 Cowboys
12) '73 Vikings
13) '72 Redskins
14) '76 Vikings
15) '77 Broncos
16) '70 Colts
17) '71 Dolphins
18) '74 Vikings
19) '70 Cowboys
20) '79 Rams

What are yours?

75 Steelers
76 Raiders
78 Steelers
73 Dolphins
77 Cowboys
71 Cowboys
72 Dolphins
74 Steelers
70 Colts
78 Cowboys
79 Steelers
71 Dolphins
73 Vikings
75 Cowboys
70 Cowboys
74 Vikings
77 Broncos
72 Redskins
76 Vikings
79 Rams

Yes, I ranked the 79 Steelers lower because they were sloppy that year and won more on intimidation than dominance. Still, the Rams and Oilers blew their games and the Steelers took advantage going back-to-back.

The Broncos had a great season in 1977 but a pedestrian offense.
The Raiders and Steelers werent the same after the 74-76 seasons, though the Steelers opened up their offense for their great 78 season.

Despite an undefeated season in 1972, the Dolphins went most of their campaign with Morrall at QB, who nearly lost to the Browns. Had Bradshaw not gotten hurt, the game would have been much closer in the championship at Pitts but Griese excelled in both the second half of that game and the SB.

At first, I thought 75 Steelers over 78 sounded a little wild. But then I dug a little deeper and can see 74_75's point

The 75 team scored 17 more points and allowed 33 fewer points in 2 less games

The AFC Central was tougher (1978 had 1 10-win team while 75 had 2 such teams 1 that literally went undefeated outside of their own division)

Playoff opponents: I think the 75 Colts were better than 78 Denver, 75 OAK was definitely better than 78 HOU. While I would take the 78 Cowboys over 1975's Dirty Dozen (their best non-SB winning team ever IMO), SB 10 for whatever reason doesn't seem to have the same aura and reputation that SB 13 does despite being closer.

Heck, even that week 2 BUF home loss- it should be noted those Bills were the highest scoring team in not just 75 but literally the entire decade (even the meaningless week 14 vs LA that meant nothing for other team they only allowed 10 points.)

CSKreager wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:00 pm At first, I thought 75 Steelers over 78 sounded a little wild. But then I dug a little deeper and can see 74_75's point

The 75 team scored 17 more points and allowed 33 fewer points in 2 less games

The AFC Central was tougher (1978 had 1 10-win team while 75 had 2 such teams 1 that literally went undefeated outside of their own division)

Playoff opponents: I think the 75 Colts were better than 78 Denver, 75 OAK was definitely better than 78 HOU. While I would take the 78 Cowboys over 1975's Dirty Dozen (their best non-SB winning team ever IMO), SB 10 for whatever reason doesn't seem to have the same aura and reputation that SB 13 does despite being closer.

Heck, even that week 2 BUF home loss- it should be noted those Bills were the highest scoring team in not just 75 but literally the entire decade (even the meaningless week 14 vs LA that meant nothing for other team they only allowed 10 points.)

Yeah, the 75 Steelers probably sound worse at first glance because people tend to think Terry Bradshaw's early career wasn't as good. They have their points, but in 1975, he threw 18 touchdowns to nine picks and had a passer rating of 88.0, which was fifth best that season, and the highest in any full season of his career (albeit on lower volume than years later obviously).

Moreover, not only did the 1975 team score more points, but they did so in two fewer games and didn't have the Mel Blount rule unlike 78. 75 admittedly had two fewer games to play to allow points in, but they also allowed slightly fewer points per game than 78.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but form a Seahawks fan, the 1975 Steelers get overlooked.

1976 gets a lot of praise for rebounding after the injuries they had (and they did play excellent that regular season), and 1978 is often labeled one of the few best teams ever by NFL Films (as you stated winning one of the most iconic Super Bowls there is lifts 78 in people's minds, and there's also the fact that all the Hall of Fame players as of 2025 were starting), but if you look at the entire performance, I think the 75 Steelers are the best Steelers team, and one of the best seasons ever played.

I probably have the Raiders ranked too low while, maybe, having the '79 Steelers too high.

Maybe I should have Oakland at #3. The blemish(es) of that '76 Raider team that can anchor them from being even higher up on an 'all-time' list is their one loss being a blowout at New England; and then in the rematch at home in the divisional round, they win by a controversial play - and then Franco & Rocky not playing the following week doesn't help though, as I said before a few times, I a Steeler-fan doesn't put it in stone that Pittsburgh automatically wins had both RBs played. I consider it a 50/50 chance in such a hypothetical.

'79 Steelers? I guess I should mix in those two eggs they laid at Cincy & SD when factoring them as a whole. At their very best, they were better than they were in '78; had more 'bite'. But they were not at their best all season long. '78 only lost two games with neither one being lopsided and whereas they beat Houston lopsided in the AFCCG and were up on Big D, 35-17, late in SBXIII, the '79 version didn't win their division until the final week and in the playoffs they won close against Houston and the Rams. But then I still keep looking at their Wk#8-thru-#11 performance which I think could very well be the most compact/dominant stretch of that Dynasty! Of course da '85 Bears should be ahead of the '79 Steelers on an 'all-time' list. But in a highest-stakes-possible game between the two, I like Terry's chances to make the difference with that key long bomb play, or two, to either Swann, Stallworth, or both!

I used to think that the '78 Cowboys may have been better than they were the year before. But now I see them as beneath them even if still by a little. Perhaps once that 6-4 start, that prompted THIS article - https://vault.si.com/vault/1978/11/13/i ... e-playoffs - was out of the way, they very well may have been better than they ever were in '77. But they DID lose those four games as opposed to just two the season before, '77 had the #1 offense and #1 defense, and they WON their Super Bowl and did so decisively, so they get the nod over '78 just like '92/'93 should get the nod over '94.

I hate putting the Rams at #20. Once that 5-6 start was out the way, that Ferragamo/Tyler squad may be better/more-dynamic than the Rams ever were the entire decade! But six losses going into a meaningless finale is still six losses going into a meaningless finale. Which then leads back to me, perhaps, placing the very team who beat them in SBXIV a few spots lower because of those four defeats, two of them convincers.

Yes, I treat the '75 Steelers as a one-loss team. I think they are the best team of the modern era. Just imagine if their special teams was just a bit better? Just imagine if their special teams was MORE THAN just a bit better?? I haven't said it yet, but comparing both "for their era, adjusting inflation", I may have to place the 1941 Chicago Bears as better than them. I just may. But that, IMHO, would be the only team in the history of the pro game that I'd place over the '75 Steelers. At the very least, they're tied for first. That, or...da Bears being better.

74_75_78_79_ wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 4:16 pm
Yes, I treat the '75 Steelers as a one-loss team. I think they are the best team of the modern era. Just imagine if their special teams was just a bit better? Just imagine if their special teams was MORE THAN just a bit better?? I haven't said it yet, but comparing both "for their era, adjusting inflation", I may have to place the 1941 Chicago Bears as better than them. I just may. But that, IMHO, would be the only team in the history of the pro game that I'd place over the '75 Steelers. At the very least, they're tied for first. That, or...da Bears being better.

How good are the 1962 Packers in your opinion?

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:46 pm

74_75_78_79_ wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 4:16 pm
Yes, I treat the '75 Steelers as a one-loss team. I think they are the best team of the modern era. Just imagine if their special teams was just a bit better? Just imagine if their special teams was MORE THAN just a bit better?? I haven't said it yet, but comparing both "for their era, adjusting inflation", I may have to place the 1941 Chicago Bears as better than them. I just may. But that, IMHO, would be the only team in the history of the pro game that I'd place over the '75 Steelers. At the very least, they're tied for first. That, or...da Bears being better.

How good are the 1962 Packers in your opinion?

Not far at all beneath the '75 Steelers. Just beneath the '78 Steelers.

https://profootballresearchers.com/foru ... php?t=6516

https://www.profootballresearchers.org/ ... 174#p56442

https://profootballresearchers.org/foru ... 0314068ced

I started this thread almost ten years ago...

https://www.profootballresearchers.org/ ... php?t=3092

This is when I opined that the '73 Dolphins were "definitely" better than the year before. I have recently changed that since though I still highly regard '73. I think '62 GB & '73 isn't lopsided, but now I feel there's just enough distance for it to not be a thread IMO. I place '62 GB over '72 Mia as well.

'48 Browns, '49 Eagles, '84 & '89 Forty Niners, '85 Bears...they're right there in that very elite group! Better than any team at all beyond the '80s.

74_75_78_79_ wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 8:50 pm

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:46 pm

74_75_78_79_ wrote: ↑Thu Apr 10, 2025 4:16 pm
Yes, I treat the '75 Steelers as a one-loss team. I think they are the best team of the modern era. Just imagine if their special teams was just a bit better? Just imagine if their special teams was MORE THAN just a bit better?? I haven't said it yet, but comparing both "for their era, adjusting inflation", I may have to place the 1941 Chicago Bears as better than them. I just may. But that, IMHO, would be the only team in the history of the pro game that I'd place over the '75 Steelers. At the very least, they're tied for first. That, or...da Bears being better.

How good are the 1962 Packers in your opinion?

Not far at all beneath the '75 Steelers. Just beneath the '78 Steelers.

https://profootballresearchers.com/foru ... php?t=6516

https://www.profootballresearchers.org/ ... 174#p56442

https://profootballresearchers.org/foru ... 0314068ced

I started this thread almost ten years ago...

https://www.profootballresearchers.org/ ... php?t=3092

This is when I opined that the '73 Dolphins were "definitely" better than the year before. I have recently changed that since though I still highly regard '73. I think '62 GB & '73 isn't lopsided, but now I feel there's just enough distance for it to not be a thread IMO. I place '62 GB over '72 Mia as well.

'48 Browns, '49 Eagles, '84 & '89 Forty Niners, '85 Bears...they're right there in that very elite group! Better than any team at all beyond the '80s.

In my view, there are nine seasons that always stand out in my mind (not saying they are the nine greatest teams of all time, but they should be considered great for what they are in my book):

1941 Bears (highest statistical separation of all time by my score percentage stat)

1946 Browns (Given how influential Paul Brown was, and how influential some of his players were, this might be one of the most influential dominant seasons there is)

1962 Packers (In addition to having all the Hall of Famers they do, they also had the number one offense and defense, and due to the way voting works, they will likely forever hold the record for most first or second team all pros as voted by the Associated Press with 14)

1972 Dolphins (Only undefeated season that featured multiple playoff wins)

1975 Steelers (Most pro bowl players of any Super Bowl champion post merger, and being the best team in my book of one of the best dynasties puts you very high up)

1985 Bears (An all time great defense coupled with the second best offense by points, and the latter had an offensive line that might’ve been overlooked by some)

1989 49ers (Arguably one of the greatest playoff runs that followed a dominant season)

1991 Redskins (As I argued in another thread, one of the most well rounded teams there is, and the most dominant statistical season by a Super Bowl champion that played 16 games or more in the regular season)

2007 Patriots (Highest raw point differential ever, and while they lost the Super Bowl, if they had theoretically won, I think they could be considered the best team of all time with a stronger consensus than anyone is in reality as they’d have had the longest perfect regular season, and highest regular season point differential of all time; but having held the latter distinction is no small feat as is).

As for the other teams you listed, they should also be considered excellent, even better than some of the nine I thought deserved a shoutout in some cases.

The 1984 49ers of course were 15-1 with a better regular season point differential than the 89 team (I also have heard that they lost the Steelers game on a debatable call).

The 1949 Eagles had an excellent season out of Steve Van Buren, and a great defensive performance. Also Tommy Thompson was the top player by passer rating.

If you want to say that the 1973 Dolphins were better than 72, I could totally see it. For that matter, the 73 squad had more pro bowlers I believe, and the 1948 Browns were an excellent, undefeated team in the AAFC.

Two other teams that deserve shoutouts in my book for accomplishing great feats are the 1996 Packers (only team post salary cap to have the number one offense and number one defense), and the 1994 49ers (another well rounded team, and the only team to have both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year on their roster and have both be different players). Those aren’t the best teams ever obviously, but I’d say in the teens of that ranking.

What do you think?

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sat Apr 26, 2025 8:22 pm

74_75_78_79_ wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 8:50 pm

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 8:46 pm

How good are the 1962 Packers in your opinion?

Not far at all beneath the '75 Steelers. Just beneath the '78 Steelers.

https://profootballresearchers.com/foru ... php?t=6516

https://www.profootballresearchers.org/ ... 174#p56442

https://profootballresearchers.org/foru ... 0314068ced

I started this thread almost ten years ago...

https://www.profootballresearchers.org/ ... php?t=3092

This is when I opined that the '73 Dolphins were "definitely" better than the year before. I have recently changed that since though I still highly regard '73. I think '62 GB & '73 isn't lopsided, but now I feel there's just enough distance for it to not be a thread IMO. I place '62 GB over '72 Mia as well.

'48 Browns, '49 Eagles, '84 & '89 Forty Niners, '85 Bears...they're right there in that very elite group! Better than any team at all beyond the '80s.

Two other teams that deserve shoutouts in my book for accomplishing great feats are the 1996 Packers (only team post salary cap to have the number one offense and number one defense), and the 1994 49ers (another well rounded team, and the only team to have both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year on their roster and have both be different players). Those aren’t the best teams ever obviously, but I’d say in the teens of that ranking.

What do you think?

I've opined on these two teams numerous times.

I once thought that both GB and Denver were "equal" in '96 and how I thought it was a shame that Jax upset Denver. The Pack beat Denver lopsided late in the season, but Elway sat out; Shanny having them on cruise-control going into the playoffs. Others here have inspired me to think differently now. When it comes to 1996, Green Bay was the best if only just a little bit better than Denver. The Packers did have the #1 O and #1 D.

However, when it comes to 'All-Time' stuff, the '96 Packers would look better Historically to me had they, if not beat Dallas on MNF, at least play against and beat them in the NFCCG along with they beating an Elway-led Denver in SBXXXI. Same thing with the '77 Cowboys. Playing, and beating, a better team than the one-dimensional barely-good Bears in the divisional round (Rams or Redskins instead), beating a Viking team with Tarkenton for the conference, and beating either the Steelers or Raiders in SBXII (albeit neither team quite on-par with '75 & '76 respectively) would have made for a much better look in hindsight. Still super teams to look back on. I feel more-likely that both win-it-all anyway, but - fair or not - I drop them each a slight peg Historically because.

Yes, one of them actually made the Super while the other one didn't, but a '77 Broncos VS '96 Panthers wouldn't make for a bad thread despite me picking the former!

The '94 Forty Niners? I see them as better than the '96 Packers. But I place them a hair beneath the '92/'93 Cowboys (all three even if the wind blows just right), and of course I place them beneath my personal since-1980 Holy Trinity...'84 Forty Niners, '85 Bears, and '89 Forty NIners. But maybe, just maybe, they may be better than ALL of them (maybe but most likely not)!

Is my reason for not placing them in such a spot because myself, and I'm sure most of you, would not want to actually place them over those Super Bowl Shufflers along with rather considering a San Fran team with Montana, Lott, Craig, etc the best-ever Forty Niner squad instead of the more flamboyant team with the IMO much less esteemed uniforms? Or do I actually see '89 & '84 SF as well as da '85 Bears as each being better? Most likely the latter, but the door is always open for me to hold '94 SF to such Historic esteem.

Once that black-eye defeat to Kotite's Eagles and the beginning of the following week at Detroit was out the way, they sure were a runaway train of an offense frighteningly running on all cylinders (Steve Young's tour de force)! And the Defense...just look at the NAMES on that roster! Maybe they still top Big D in '94 had JImmy still been their HC. Maybe.