[SBR_John]

I always argue the Bears of the early 80's were the best team ever followed by the Montana led 49 ers who were like 20 point superbowl favorites and covered. In 3rd I'd say it was a toss up between the Bradshaw let Steel curtain and the Aikman/Smith led Cowboys.

But the tape doesnt lie. I still wonder if the Pats could score much on that Buddy Ryan led Bear defense. So even if they win out I'm not sure if Im ready to proclaim them all time best but getting closer every week.

[SBR Lou]

They are the best team ever, I'd say so right now. Barring a huge injury to Brady I don't see them slowing down.

John Madden must have said three times tonight that Tom Brady's play is the best he has ever seen. Even elaborated and said that includes being better than Joe Montana ever was. There really is no bigger compliment as Al Michaels pointed out.

[imgv94]

Not even close. Of course

They could win these games by 50 if they wanted too.

[biggamer3]

I am a big believer now

[SBR_John]

If you say they are not even close I just wonder if you saw the mid 80's Bears play?

They were 16-1. Here was there playoff scores of '85:
NFC Divisional Playoff: won 21 - 0 vs. New York Giants
NFC Championship Game: won 24 - 0 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowl: won 46 - 10 at New England Patriots

There was only 1 drive into the bear red zone during the entire playoffs. I say they do compare. Maybe they are not as good as the Pats but they compare.

[MJFtheGenius]

Can not compare, they were in different era's, but the parity is so much greater now, all of the talent is spread out.

[imgv94]

I was born in 1980

[Seattle Slew]

That Bears team in 1986 was dominant because of the defense, which was the best I've seen in my 25 years of watching football. The offense wasn't even good. McMahon was overrated and Payton was at the end of his career. If you start every drive at the 40-yard-line, you'll score enough points to win.

The Bears offense prevented them from winning another title in the next few years. That and Ditka was not a great coach.

[bigboydan]

The 1972 "UNDEFEATED" Dolphins were the best team of all time.

What makes that team so impressive was the fact that they did it all with a back up QB most of the year after Greasie went down with an injury.

[SBR_John]

As I recall those Dolphins were life and death in almost every game that year. It was a magical season of comebacks, great defense and I loved Mercury Morris and Cszonka, the greatest center of all time and a great receiver whos name escapes me. To me the Dolphins were a very good team with great coaching but not even top 4 all time.

[Redchevy]

I don't know about that Dan. Out of their 14 wins only 2 teams had a winning record, which both were 8-6, all the others had a winning % of .367. They pretty much beat up on the Little Sisters of the Poor that year, back up QB or not. I think if NE runs the table this year it would be much more of a feat, considering who they had to beat to get there.

[SBR Lou]

The 1972 "UNDEFEATED" Dolphins were the best team of all time.

I disagree. Played less games back then, and their schedule wasn't particularly harder. I'm not taking anything away from their accomplishment, but I don't think its a fair comparison or one that favors the Dolphins.

The Patriots are playing like the best team ever, if they magically lose a bunch of games and choke in the playoffs obviously this type of run can be written off, but that's probably not going to happen..

I will agree that their defense by itself is not #1 of all time, but this is a team game, and they are working with the best QB/offensive line/ most talented WR/coach of all time. Their defense is excellent.

[bigboydan]

I say that 1999 St. Louis Rams were a better team than this New England Patriots team John. That team put up just as good of offensive numbers without any video taping tainting scandals surrounding them.

[Scorpion]

The Pats are cheaters, even if they go unbeaten their record should have an asterick by it. I don't trust the coach and I don't trust the zionist owner. Something fishy is going on with that team.

I agree 100% John!
Robert Kraft is a zionist and a cheater, a big time cocksuckker!

They won three super bowls by cheating, the team that won the biggest sporting event three times cheated thats why the NFL destroyed all the tapes!

[SBR Lou]

I say that 1999 St. Louis Rams were a better team than this New England Patriots team John.

Now you're getting ridiculous.

That team put up just as good of offensive numbers without any video taping tainting scandals surrounding them.

And I can see why

[onlooker]

Unless they win a championship, then we can not compare. There is still a lot of football to be played. Until then, all the teams mentioned above are better. They have a championship after their great seasons.

[bigboydan]

Crazyl,

The '99 Rams were only the fourth team since the adoption of the 16-game schedule, and sixth since 1950, to outscore their opponents by at least 250 points in a season. Their +17.8 per-game point differential is in the top 3 of all time.

[Scorpion]

what tapes?

The tapes the Pats had on all the teams and their signals! There was an articles about it on ESPN site 2-3 weeks ago!

[SBR Lou]

Crazyl,

The '99 Rams were only the fourth team since the adoption of the 16-game schedule, and sixth since 1950, to outscore their opponents by at least 250 points in a season. Their +17.8 per-game point differential is in the top 3 of all time.

The Patriots are on pace to break these records.

[bigboydan]

Not bad....that almost puts them within a TD of these Pats.

The season isn't over yet. We both know they will start to rest their starters, just like the Rams did during the 1999 season.

[Wheell]

Gentleman, this is the NFL. If you aren't trying to gain every edge you can, you aren't trying. You think these coaches have no lives because they don't want them? Everyone cheats. Pats got caught.

Now, as to the best team ever, there is relative value, and absolute value. The teams (and players) of this era are better than they were in previous eras. There have been a lot of great teams in history, but in absolute value this years Pats would destroy the 72 Dolphins, and would be favored over the best of the 49ers, Cowboys, and Rams. And yes, they would destroy the Steelers.

Now, relative value is a different question. I can say pretty definitively this year's Patriots are the best team of the last ten years, but after that it gets murky. I suspect that a relative value chart would have this year's Patriots ahead of the Bears but I have no way of even attempting to settle that debate.

[bigboydan]

Belichick might want that undefeated season, but he's not dumb enough to risk injury to his stars in order to do it. I mean he's already lost enough running backs to injury this year, and their is no way he will put Brady at any type of risk in a meaningless game.

[Wheell]

Early line is Pats -7.5 Giants. Think he is resting his starters? If he were really afraid of injury why aren't his starters getting taken out early these days?

[SBR Lou]

He's also not dumb enough to let them not get enough playing time. They will have a bye locked up to start the playoffs, so I don't think he's going to be sitting guys without letting them break a sweat. And as we've seen, they can carve up in a hurry.

[djeffectz]

If theres injury to Brady or Moss, they're doom...

[frostno98]

I always argue the Bears of the early 80's were the best team ever followed by the Montana led 49 ers who were like 20 point superbowl favorites and covered. In 3rd I'd say it was a toss up between the Bradshaw let Steel curtain and the Aikman/Smith led Cowboys.

But the tape doesnt lie. I still wonder if the Pats could score much on that Buddy Ryan led Bear defense. So even if they win out I'm not sure if Im ready to proclaim them all time best but getting closer every week.

Uh, how bout them ravens defense in 2001, I think that was the best defense ever assembled and the pats probably wouldn't score more than 27 points. But so far, I would have to say they are the best regular season team ever!

[Dead Money]

They are men amongst boys.

How could a video tape help them score 40 points every game? I could see how it might give an edge to the defense but to those who say that must just be haters.

The pats line up, call a play, and score everytime, ( it seems). How are they cheating?
They got caught using a video camera in 1 out of 64 quarters of ball.
Comparable to a pitcher getting caught throwing a spitball in the first game of the season of baseball, winning 20 games the entire season and people saying his wins shouldn't count because he cheated.
Wake up people.Theese guys are kickin' ass and taking names.

[SBR_John]

Yea the Ravens broke my heart when I was holding a Raigers futures bet for nearly a year at 16-1. They were great alright. As good as they were they were not as good as the Bears of 85.

Richard Dent (dl), Dave Duerson (db), Dan Hampton (dl), Mike Singletary (mlb), Otis Wilson (lb) were flat out great beyond anything ive seen or read about. They also had Fisher as safety (current coach of the titans and Mad dog mandich, refigerator fridge Perry (DL).

To be sure there have been some great defenses like Dallas doomsday defense, Minnasotas purple people eaters with Allen Paige and Jack Lambiert's Steel curtain( a dirty defense i dont care how good they were). But the mid 80's Bears were terrifying like none other. Their 4 man rush was like an all out blitz.

[Seattle Slew]

That Ravens defense was the only one that could compare to Chicago in 1986. Think I'd have to take Chicago, but Ravens were awesome that year.

Uh, how bout them ravens defense in 2001, I think that was the best defense ever assembled and the pats probably wouldn't score more than 27 points. But so far, I would have to say they are the best regular season team ever!