Catching up with a few things...

I'm back on the blogging horse after a little break.  I'll be better at updating this more often.  Here's just a few things on my mind...

BCS Title Game -- It is a shame for Alabama that this game will always be remembered as the game Colt McCoy got hurt.  That's not to say Texas would have won with McCoy, but as soon as he went out it was over and sucked the life out of the game.  Yes, Texas rallied, but that was basically because Nick Saban went into a super-conservative offense with McCoy out and let his excellent running backs do the work.  I know the Big 12 teams are used to facing more spread offenses so they probably aren't used to the pound-it-out style, but Mark Ingram really does look a lot like Emmitt Smith when he runs and Trent Richardson may actually be more explosive.

The 2010 BCS Championship will be mostly remembered for McCoy's injury (photo from Cleveland.com)

Nick Saban -- As for Nick Saban himself, have you ever seen a less joyful man?  Would you want to play for this guy if you were an 18-year-old?  I can understand being a little upset the moment after being clocked on the side of your head and neck by the Gatorade bucket, but after the initial shock wouldn't most people smile and celebrate such huge accomplishment? 

I'm not saying a coach shouldn't take his profession and his team seriously, but Saban seems to sap the joy out of it.  Even in the rare times he smiles he looks less comfortable doing so than Mr. Burns.  Look, Jim Tressel is button-downed to the point of being labeled Senator Tressel, but there are many moments where he smiles, shows joy and is a little corny.  Pete Carroll was a fun-loving guy and Mack Brown seems like he understands there is a fun element to it all and they are two highly successful college coaches.  I get what Alabama brings to the recruiting table (tradition, SEC school, great facilities and a coaching staff that will well prepare the athlete), but a lot of schools have the same things without such a grump as the coach.

Mr. Burns' smile is about as natural as Nick Saban's

NFL Playoffs -- Hopefully this weekend will be a little more interesting than the Wild Card round last weekend.  I know the Cardinals-Packers game was great theater, but those other three games were brutal.  The Bengals and Eagles never showed up and the Patriots just aren't the same.  I do think many people don't realize this was a transition year for the Pats because they jettisoned many defensive stalwarts of the past and were beginning the process of rebuilding.  To make the playoffs in a year like that is an accomplishment and they get the home-game gate money.  In addition, they won't fall into the final eight teams that fall under the NFL uncapped year free agent restrictions, so if you aren't going to win a Super Bowl, then that's a good way to go.

NFL Picks for this weekend:
Cowboys over VIKINGS -- As much as it pains me, Dallas is this year's "hot" team in the playoffs and recent history shows they have a solid chance to go to the Super Bowl.

SAINTS over Cardinals -- If this game was in Arizona or a neutral field, I'd think about taking the Cardinals.  However, in the atmosphere of the Superdome with the extra time off to study the Cards and the Cards passing defense having to go against Drew Brees & Co., I'll go with the Saints.

CHARGERS over Jets -- I think the Jets can hang in this game since they do play solid defense and have a good running game.  I just don't think they will pull it out going across the country to play a team that is much better than the lame Bengals, who the Jets have played the last two weeks.  I'm not sure they can gear up enough for the balanced Chargers attack on the road.  The Bolts have enough weapons that they don't have to go at Revis like Cincy had to with no extend-the-field WR.

COLTS over Ravens -- Peyton Manning with extra time to study an opponent with a home game.  I know it isn't that simple, but sounds good, eh?  Also, there is no way Baltimore wins this game with Joe Flacco throwing 10 passes or less like last week and despite what he says, he isn't 100% or seemed to be even that close to it.  If he struggles, it will be tough for the Ravens offense to keep pace with the Colts offense.  The Ravens defense is good, but this isn't the 2000 Ravens defense at the corners, in particular.

NBA Jam -- In case you missed it, EA Sports made a fantastic announcement last week that they planned on bringing back NBA Jam for the Wii system using the original programmers!  For those in the proper age range, this was one of the landmark games both at the arcade and home consoles.  I can close my eyes and still hear the "BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA" and the "He's on FIRE!!"  I was a big fan of the Gary Payton/Shawn Kemp combo.  They could do it all.  It will be cool to see what they do with the modern players (Shaq and LeBron?) and with the technology today.  Wouldn't you have to pick Kevin Harlan with his loud style?  That would be perfect. 

Could the new NBA Jam have LeBron looking like this? (animation from Armchair Empire)

Pete Carroll/USC/Lane Kiffin -- First on Carroll.  I think he is going to have a tough time in Seattle because he's been gone from the NFL game for a long time and won't be able to bring in recruits/talent like at USC.  Also, he has a QB situation there and that is death for college-to-pro coaches.  He needs to fix that and the Seahawks' offensive lines ASAP and has to hit on their two high first-round picks.

As for USC, what a mess they made their coaching search.  They had to know Pete always wanted to go back to the pro level at some point, so why didn't they have a short list of names ready?  Most USC people will even tell you that Mike Garrett shouldn't be a major college athletic director and this just is another notch in that direction.

Many USC people think Mike Garrett is no genius (photo from LA Times)

I understand why Lane Kiffin would want to go back to USC.  Let's get that out of the way.  However, the "stealing back" of the Tennessee recruits is pretty low-brow and I understand why Tennessee and their fans/alums are so angry.  Tennessee is one of the major programs in the United States and one of the upper crust teams in the SEC.  A legit national title contender with the right players, and not many schools can say that.  This betrayal really stings.  As has been discussed at length recently, I am not sure there is a great solution to the part where student-athletes who come to a school because of a coach can't leave just like the coach.  The best I can suggest, as I have heard others like Dan Patrick bring up,  is to set a different timeframe on when coaches can and cannot be allowed to leave and change when the recruiting signing day takes place to help curb this as well.  All of that being said, I think Lane certainly comes off like a spoiled brat and I know many hope he fails, but with a good coaching staff and being at a school like that, if he stays he should win consistently there.  Still, his history of pushing the NCAA envelope will be heavily watched.

Lane Kiffin shown here trying to explain himself...again. (photo from The Big Lead)

Braylon Edwards -- I have to admit, as a Buckeye fan I was never the biggest Braylon Edwards guy but I tried my best went he to my hometown Browns.  He never wanted to be there and was hurt that Miami didn't draft him as they said they would.  Miami is what he wanted-- the flash and dash of the exciting city.  He never wanted blue-collar Cleveland.  Now, if he had just gone out and played hard the town would have embraced him. But when you drop easy passes repeatedly and make excuses for that and other off-field behavior that city will turn on you with the drop of a hat.  So, now that he is in the big city like he always wanted, I am glad to see him still drop passes and still make excuses but now he gets called out on a nationwide level and not just little Cleveland.  We'll see how he responds...

Edwards will always be remembered in Cleveland for images like this

Baseball Hall of Fame -- Congrats to Andre Dawson for making the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He was one of my favorites growing up and when his knees were healthy he was a dynamic player.  I know there is discussion about whether he'll go in as a Cub or Expo.  Here's one person rooting for the Expos, but I think in the end the Cubs will win out.  I think Roberto Alomar got squeezed by the anti-first ballot crew.  The pitting incident and dogging it to a degree while with the Mets, where many HOF voters are in NY, probably did him in this year. 

Dawson should go into the Hall of Fame as an Expo

Alomar's rep "dogging it" while in NY may have cost him a first-ballot election (photo from NY Daily News)

To me, a Hall of Famer is a Hall of Famer.  Yes or no.  Now, you can make arguments for people you think should be in like I do with Jack Morris, but the fact is 75 percent need to agree with you.  At what point is it clear the person is a borderline candidate?  Nothing against Jim Rice or Dawson, but it shouldn't take that long to get into the Hall.  A true Hall of Famer should be obvious.

Random Thoughts...

Just some things on my mind:

Adam James & Texas Tech -- I don't want anyone to think I endorse Mike Leach's actions when it came to handling Adam James' medical situation.  Now that is clear, this situation stinks.  You had an administration that didn't like its coach, whether that is due to his quirky attitude or the fact he has entertained other jobs.  This resulted in contentious negotiations for Leach's new contract after the big success he had last year.  Now, with the Adam James situation, the administration saw this as its chance to get rid of this problem once and for all.

Texas Tech thought Leach was only out for more money and was waiting for its chance.  Like when Indiana canned Bobby Knight for the whole "Hey, Knight!" episode with a student.  The James thing just opened the door.  The truth was they didn't want to pay the guy or give him his $850K bonus due at the end of the year.

As for James, what stinks is by all accounts this kid is a lazy, spoiled, wussy jerk.  The fact that he is getting Leach out of there has to be a big point of pride to his bruised ego, when in truth, Leach should have kicked him off the team two years ago so this never would have happened.  I don't think the ESPN job part of his dad Craig's background had as much to do with it as his dad is an entitled athlete who makes/made a lot of money and isn't used to not getting his way.  It is a bummer this family is what caught up to Leach.

I wish someone would remove Adam James' smug smile

Cleveland Cavaliers and Shaq--Folks have been all over the Cavaliers case due to the slow start out of the gate and because Shaquille O'Neal isn't the player he used to be.  What they don't understand is the Cavaliers really don't need Shaq until the playoffs.  They went 66-16 last year without him, but they need him basically to play Dwight Howard, the Celtics and the Lakers big front line.  The Christmas Day game at Los Angeles showed how important he can be vs. the Lakers, as he, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao have the size to matchup and cause problems.  Shaq also helped Cleveland win in Orlando in the only matchup so far this season. 

As for the slow start, the Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference and only a game behind the Lakers (who have had an easy schedule) in the NBA. So it looks like the Cavaliers and Shaq are learning to play together.  They just need to keep everyone healthy because they are certain to have no worse than the three seed (and probably no worse than the two seed) heading into the playoffs.  Chill out, pundits.  It is VERY early.

Cleveland Browns and Eric Mangini--I have to give Eric Mangini credit for getting the Browns to come together and play as hard as they did, winning four straight to end the season, during a time when most teams would have quit following a 1-11 start.  In most cases, he probably would keep his job.  However, I have a feeling Mike Holmgren will make a change.

Holmgren understands this job will impact his legacy and he has the unique opportunity of having a franchise's keys being handed to him.  I don't see how he wouldn't want to do it his way from the start with so much on the line.  It is like going to a car lot with the pick of whatever car you want, no matter the price.  You may be driving a nice Mercedes that has served you well.  Luxury car.  Gets the job done.  Would be a solid car going forward.  Still, how many times would you ever get like that?  You could pick a Lotus or Ferrari or anything else that catches your eye and at no cost.  Could you just say, "No, I'll pass because at least I know my Mercedes is reliable."?  Didn't think so.  He's a West Coast offense guy with a deep family tree.  I'm not saying he won't keep Mangini, but I don't see it happening.

This guy won't be smiling if the Browns fail while not doing it his way

Winter Classic and team relocation--Hockey's premier non-Stanley Cup event took place on New Year's Day at historic Fenway Park between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.  It is one of the few marketing things the NHL does right.  The majority of the game was dull this year until things picked up, along with the Bruins' offense, midway through the third period.  However, the great ending that was capped by the Team USA hockey roster announcement worked out big for the NHL. 

Word is they are going to get the Washington Capitals and star Alexander Ovechkin in the game next year vs. probably the New York Rangers at either Yankee Stadium or Citi Field.  The other new idea is to have an annual outdoor game between two Canadian franchises.  A long overdue idea.  That country adores the game and with the Canadian dollar doing a complete turn over the last decade against the American dollar, they should take this opportunity to take some of the warm-weather American teams and move them back to Canada.  How can Winnipeg or Hamilton not have teams, but Nashville, Tampa, Atlanta and Miami do?  That's crazy!  Then Gary Bettman talks about how they don't plan to relocate franchises and that they'd expand first.  Someone should drug test him.  Don't they realize the Phoenix Coyotes just went bankrupt and the league had to buy them??

The poor Winnipeg fans have no Jets, but at least Phoenix has a team!-logo from sportslogos.net

The Ohio State BCS Bowl Theory and the 2010 Rose Bowl

The Ohio State BCS Bowl Theory:
--First, I'll start with why OSU struggles so much in the BCS bowl games.  Let me start by saying that the speed differential is a myth, for the most part.  I do think the speed of the SEC defensive fronts in the two BCS title games took them by surprise, but they have since recruited differently and adjusted.  Ok, no more about the speed because otherwise it is a push. 

OSU recruits as well as any team in the country and actually has the most Florida blue-chippers than any non-Florida school.  Heck, OSU is the only non-warm weather school that is a consistent national title contender (USC, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU and Alabama lately and Florida State, Miami, Tennessee and other SEC schools can be included over recent time).  The problem is OSU regularly outrecruits the rest of the Big Ten on an annual basis.  Sure, Penn State or Michigan may get a class here or there ranked higher, but the Buckeyes are always in the top 10 classes and don't fall off like the other schools.

This means OSU has more talent than its Big Ten foes and can play a very conservative, don't-turn-the-ball-over and field possession style.  This allows them to win about nine out of 10 Big Ten games, which wins them conference titles, recent wins over Michigan and sends them to BCS bowls.  Why would anyone want to rock that boat?  I get why Jim Tressel coaches as he does.  It accomplishes just about every goal every year. 

Why change things when teams like Minnesota can't hang?

The problem comes when they face teams of equal or better talent who are used to playing other teams of that talent level.  Those teams play more aggressive and more one-on-one, man-to-man styles.  It creates a faster style of play, but also opens a team up to more mistakes and chances of losses.  But it is a "playing to win" style.  OSU plays "not to lose" during Big Ten play because it pays off.  Purdue, with less talent than the Buckeyes, is only going to string together maybe two 12-play drives vs. the OSU defense and maybe scores 17 points, as long as OSU doesn't make turnovers.  The problem is that eight-yard pass the Purdue receiver makes is a 25-yard gain by Percy Harvin.  The top SEC schools and USC play other teams of equal talent several times a year and are better prepared for that style.  Then OSU has to sit around after a long layoff and try to play a style they are not used to.  The result is a BCS burnout.

The Buckeyes weren't ready for the pace of the SEC teams - photo UPI

Now, things started changing last year vs. Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.  OSU came out aggressive because they had nothing to lose after being embarassed in the previous two BCS Championship games.  As a result, it came down to a terrific drive by Colt McCoy and a late touchdown to scratch out the win.  Then this season, as the newly-recruited speed on the defensive line resulted in the best D-line since the 2002 title team, they played an aggressive defense instead of their passive zone and it made all the difference and will continue to going forward.

2010 Rose Bowl:
--OSU really came to play against Oregon.  First of all, Oregon was the first team the Buckeyes have played in four bowls they had more overall talent.  Oregon plays a faster style and has fast players, but OSU is far deeper, especially on defense.  The key was OSU played to win.  Tressel turned Terrelle Pryor loose and it made all the difference in the world.  This was a case of Oregon not playing defenses like OSU's during the year and they couldn't gear up for it.  The shoe was a bit on the other foot.  Hats off to OSU for learning their lesson.  It should be an interesting 2010 season.

Oregon wasn't ready for the Silver Bullets - photo TheOregonian

No picks this week!

In honor of half the teams mailing it in this weekend in the NFL, I will to in their honor.  I will have a post on several topics going up tomorrow.

Week 16 picks...

Alright, not such a great Week 15, going just 8-7.  We'll see if I can rebound:

Friday
San Diego 28, TENNESSEE 24
--Two of the hottest teams in football, but San Diego is probably the hottest.

Sunday

ATLANTA 20, Buffalo 10
--Both of these teams are out of the playoff chase, but Buffalo's offense struggles so much. I think this game being in Atlanta on the turf favors the Falcons.

CINCINNATI 30, Kansas City 17
--Bengals are a better team, at home and need the win.  I also think they will be inspired in their first home game following Chris Henry's death.

CLEVELAND 20, Oakland 17
--Both teams have played well this month despite the games not mattering.  Both will have backup QBs starting, but the game in Cleveland with the positive mojo there may make the difference.  Charlie Frye coming back home may put too much pressure on himself.

GREEN BAY 34, Seattle 17
--Seattle was embarassed at home and won't be able to rally in the cold of Wisconsin against a good offense in GB and turnover-causing defense.  The Packers need this too after blowing the game at Pittsburgh last week.

PITTSBURGH 22, Baltimore 19
--A tough call here.  Both teams know each other so well, but neither defense is what people are used to seeing.  My initial reaction was to go with Baltimore, I can't get past the Steelers passing for over 500 yards last week against a good Packers defense.

Houston 28, MIAMI 24
--The Dolphins are playing some good football and Chad Henne has impressed.  I like Houston's firepower in this game.

NY GIANTS 38, Carolina 10
--It may be too little too late for the Giants, but I think their pass rush will get to the young Panthers QB and force him into mistakes.  Once they get behind to a team like the Giants on the road, it could get ugly.


NEW ENGLAND 23, Jacksonville 14
--Just an ugly football game, but it being in the cold of New England and the veterans they have there, I don't see the Jags getting it done.

NEW ORLEANS 38, Tampa Bay 17
--Brees & Co. will come out aggressive to work out the kinks from the last few weeks and attack TB at the Superdome.  Tampa is slowly getting better, but not this good this fast.

ARIZONA 30, St. Louis 16
--St. Louis is heading for the #1 pick in the draft and the Cardinals need this game at it is in Arizona...

SAN FRANCISCO 20, Detroit 17
--I think they Lions hang in there, as they haven't showed quit all year.  Something about the 49ers offense doesn't make me think they'll run away with it.  I wouldn't be shocked with an upset here.

PHILADELPHIA 31, Denver 27
--The return of Eagles' legend Brian Dawkins is getting a lot of play in Philly, but the Eagles offense is rolling and I think Denver makes one too many mistakes to keep up with them on the road.

INDIANAPOLIS 17, NY Jets 13
--This game all depends on what the Colts do with Manning and their other key starters.  The Jets will be fired up after last week's heartbreak, but they have been fired up at other points this year too and didn't get it done then either.

Dallas 33, WASHINGTON 13
--Washington and Jim Zorn have cashed it in for the season and the Cowboys will come into this game with a lot on the line and a ton of confidence.

Monday

Minnesota 24, CHICAGO 10
--The Bears are a mess and Minnesota will be trying to make sure they execute a gameplan similar to earlier this season when they were so efffective.  The Bears effort last week vs. Baltimore was a joke.

Weekend thoughts...

Just some things from this weekend I wanted to cover...

Cleveland Browns thoughts:
The Browns have won two in a row!  Yes, I know the second win was at the terrible Kansas City Chiefs, but when you are the Browns a win is a win, especially on the road.  Now they sit at 3-11 and are pretty much locked into the #5 pick in the draft.  That actually in some ways is better than the #1 pick because of salary cap ramifications and the pressure on the top pick.  However, it probably mean Ndamukong Suh will not play in Cleveland.

Joshua Cribbs-- What can you say about the man?  SI's Don Banks said he is the closest thing in the NFL to a one-man team, Peyton Manning included.  That sounds about right.  They guy can do it all.  He even leads the team in special team tackles.  Obviously, he should and will get the contract he has so long desired.  I'm not a religious person, but it is cool his initials are J.C.!  Sunday he had his seventh and eighth career kickoff returns (100 and 103 yards, respectively) for touchdowns against a Chiefs team that had not allowed a return longer than 37 yards this season to become the all-time NFL leader...in five seasons!  Among the names he passed are Dante Hall, Mel Gray, Ollie Matson and Gale Sayers.  That's saying something.

Does this man walk on water like another J.C.?

Jerome Harrison-- When Harrison was a senior at Washington State in 2005, he led all of Division I with a school-record 1,900 yards rushing.  The knock on him was his size and blocking ability, despite his accomplishments coming in a major conference like the Pac-10. 

Before this season, his best game was 80 yards on just three carries in a Monday night win last year at Buffalo, the last Browns win of the year.  Heck, in that game he had a 72-yard touchdown run, which was the last RB touchdown for the Browns until last week!  He had 121 yards in week four this season at CIN, but then disappeared to the bench with highs of just 10 carries and 35 yards since.  So what happened vs. KC?  He only goes and breaks Jim Brown's 1961 Browns single-game rushing mark of 237 with 286 yards on 34 carries, the third-best rushing day in NFL history!  Ummm...I think the Browns should use him a little more in the coming weeks.

Harrison had a big day despite being a little guy

Mike Holmgren-- So, it looks like Mike Holmgren is going to take the Browns football "czar" spot that has been long discussed.  I guess full control of a franchise and a 10-year, $50 million contract can win a guy over even with his family and house in Seattle.  The thing that worries me is I think he wants to coach in addition to his player personnel duties.  Not many have been successful doing this.  They usually are a great coach or a great personnel guy, but not both.  Butch Davis couldn't do it in Cleveland.  Mike Shanahan was fired in Denver not because of his coaching, but because of some terrible player moves.  Even Bill Belichick had guys like Scott Pioli and other advisors to assist his control of the Patriots.  Holmgren has done both before, but it takes away from one another.  But I get the feeling he has that coaching itch.  I'm not saying Eric Mangini is the answer, but I do like how the players are still playing hard for him and they have a few wins despite very little skill-position talent.  We'll see what happens this week.  Stay tuned.

Butch Davis looked like this a lot while with the Browns.

Two Dynasties:
Penn State women's volleyball-- In case you didn't see it, and most probably didn't, Penn State's women's volleyball team won their third consecutive national title on Saturday vs. Texas, rallying from down two-sets-to-none to win the final three sets.  That brought their absurd winning streak to 102 matches!  They played 217 sets in the first 100 games of the streak and went 210-7 in those sets.  Just giving a little credit in my little world of the blogosphere.

Don't mess with these Lions!

Mount Union football-- The Mount Union Purple Raiders lost to Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday in the Division III title game.  The two teams are far-and-away the class of the division, having played the last five years in the Stagg Bowl with Mount Union leading 3-2.

Here's some mind-blowing numbers to consider if you think a place like USC or Florida State's 15-year run are amazing:

• Head Coach Larry Kehres just finished his 24th season and has a 289-22-3 (.929) record with 20 Ohio Athletic Conference titles and 10 national titles in the last 17 seasons.
• Since 1990, they have made 19 playoff appearances and are 259-12-1 (.956) with 10 national titles.
• Since 2000, they are 139-5 (.965).  Of the five losses, three have come in the national title game, one in the semifinals and just one has come in the regular season (Ohio Northern, 21-14 in 2005)!
• They also have had 55- and 54-game winning streaks during the dynasty.  Just thought I'd shed some light on a 2,200 person school in little Alliance, Ohio.

Larry Kehres may be the best coach in college football

Have we had enough of the '72 Dolphins?

With the Colts and Saints still unbeaten this late in the season, the talk swings back to the 1972 Dolphins undefeated season.  What does that mean?  Time for the members of that team to start popping up on TV talk shows spewing forth their greatness and rubbing it in people's faces about them popping champagne every year the last unbeaten team drops a game.  They have become annoying, crotchety old men and I don't think they deserve the credit they believe they have earned.

Yes, they are the only unbeaten and untied team in NFL history.  Yes, I give them credit for being among the best teams in history.  Don't forget, they did appear in three consecutive Super Bowls, losing in 1971 and winning back-to-back in 1972 and 1973.  However, you can't sell me on that 1972 team being the greatest of all time just because they didn't win a game.  Let's take a closer look...

I couldn't remember where I saw the information, so I found it on the internet just to verify (thanks bleacherreport.com!), and the '72 Dolphins played the second-easiest schedule by a Super Bowl champion (.357) next to the 1970 Colts (.352).  They also only played a 14-game regular season, so they had less games to play, especially a factor late in the year when teams get injured and as the recent Colts have shown, they may have had clinched their playoff spot by that point and easied off the gas.  But that's speculation.  Back to the facts.

Here's the 1972 Miami Dolphins schedule with opponents' records and scores, obviously all wins:

at KC (8-6) 20-10
HOU (1-13) 34-13
at MIN (7-7) 16-14
at NYJ (7-7) 27-17
SD (5-9) 24-10
BUF (4-9-1) 24-23
at BAL (5-9) 23-0
at BUF (4-9-1) 30-16
NE (3-11) 52-0
NYJ (7-7) 28-24
STL (4-9-1) 31-10
at NE (3-11) 37-21
at NYG (8-6) 23-13
BAL (5-9) 16-0

What you'll notice is they played just two teams above .500 and both were only 8-6.  The Chiefs in week one and the Giants in week 13.  Like I said, they were a great team and they did beat a 10-4 Cleveland team at home, a 11-3 Pittsburgh team on the road and then win the Super Bowl (even if it was one of the worst ever) vs. 11-3 Washington.  The debate is whether they are the best of all-time because they did not lose or tie a game.

The team from my youth that comes to mind that passes the "eye test" is the 1985 Chicago Bears.  That season the Bears dropped a Monday Night Football road game at Miami for the only loss.  However, they played SIX regular season games vs. teams with 10 or more wins and two others against 8-8 teams. Let's not for get the did not allow a point to either the 10-6 Giants or the 11-5 Rams in the playoffs before destroying 11-5 New England in one of the biggest championship game mismatches in sports history.  Oh yeah, they played two extra regular season games too.

Was that team great?  You bet.  Would they have beaten the '72 Dolphins?  We don't know and that's part of the fun of sports, but don't go waxing poetic about that Dolphin team just because they didn't get a loss.  They accomplished something, but best team ever?  I only compared them to one team and there's others who make a strong case.  So, be proud of your accomplishment, Dolphins of that year, but upon further review it isn't a stand-alone season for the ages.  In the meantime, I just hope these '72 Dolphins would just show some class and shut up, because the act is tired.

I'm tired of you, Mercury Morris.