If the Patriots go undefeated

[Awsi Dooger]

It's not the '72 Dolphins who take the biggest hit in terms of reputation. Their status is secure and they'll always be mentioned as one of the 2 unbeatens.

The team that suffers -- and I'm surprised the media hasn't mentioned this -- is the '85 Bears. It's been fashionable for two decades to identify that Bears team as subjectively the best ever, even if they had the one loss. But now this NE team will comfortably take their place, and the '85 Bears slowly drift alongside the '62 Packers and other mostly-forgotten teams that once were considered the single season standard.

Obviously they were totally different styles of team and that benefits the Bears whenever best defense ever, or most intimidating ever, is the category, but overall they'll be mentioned significantly less frequently if NE manages 19-0.

[El Supremo]

1. Buzz Aldrin

That's what I read today.

All the Pats can hope for is to be like Buzz Aldrin - the SECOND man on the moon.

[WilliamPitt]

2. 19 is better than 17

17 is not as good as 19.

17<19

19>17

Any questions?

[trumad]

5. I absolutely agree that it will be the best season ever

but not by the best team ever....

[DinahMoeHum]

7. The 1970's NFL did not have a 14-game regular season. . .

35-year difference - a lifetime ago.

Hey, congratulations to the Pats if they go all the way and win the Super Bowl; but they will still
only EQUAL the Dolphins in terms of having a perfect, not surpass them. The only way they will surpass is by having BACK-TO-BACK perfect seasons.

That the 1972 Dolphins did not have a 16-game regular season, plus a bye week in the middle of the season, plus a play-off bye week for having the best record, plus home-field advantage throughout the play-offs (and the '72 Dolphins played their AFC championship game in PITTSBURGH, NOT Miami) is not their doing. It's how the NFL was at the time.

We're talking 2 different eras here.

:think:

[Goblinmonger]

8. 0 = 0 n/t

[BulletproofLandshark]

3. That 46 defense will never be forgotten.

I think those '85 Bears will always be remembered as at least one of the top 5 teams ever. The '86 Giants defense is the only one that even comes close to being as scary as they were, at least of any that I've seen.

[northzax]

6. plus, the 85 Bears had style

that's one thing they will never be forgotten for. they went out in public, painted a big red target on themselves and said "come get us" and no one did. can you see the Pats recording a song?

[LiberalFighter]

4. What were the acquistions that made it possible?