ESPN's list of the Best Teams of past 25 year: 1992 Cowboys come in at #22

[Roughneck]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=schoenfield/040614

Other NFL teams mentioned:
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers - #19
1984 San Francisco 49ers - #17
1994 San Francisco 49ers - #12
1989 San Francscio 49ers - #8

There sure are a lot of forty-whiners in that article. Of course, I would expect no less from ESPN. :mad:

[ddh33]

Was Berman the one voting? If so, it would be full of 49ers teams and second-place Bills.

[BillsFan]

The Cowboys get a mention at number 22. The writer was a bit harsh though.


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=schoenfield/040614

[Doomsday]

ESPN's opinion doesnt mean jack, they have no idea what they are talking about. Isnt that the same sports media outlet that tried to push off the Bills as the team of 90's? Obviously the Cowboys of the early 90s were one of the best teams of all time.

Its always amazed me that the Dallas Cowboys of the 90s and the 1986 Boston Celtics continually get slighted and the 1996 Bulls get hailed as the best ever by media outlets. Michael Jordan was a great player but both the Celtics and Lakers had better teams from the top to the bottom of their rosters in the 80s. Jordan is the best ever and could take over a game at the end but so could Bird and Magic. Not to mention that the Lakers, Celtics and Cowboys all dominated in a time where there were other dominate teams unlike the Bulls who played in one of the weakest eras in NBA history.

This writer has to be from Chicago.

[Roughneck]

The Cowboys get a mention at number 22. The writer was a bit harsh though.


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=schoenfield/040614
Um BillsFan, I already mentioned that the Cowboys were at 22 and provided a link.

[BillsFan]

I started a thread. We must have started one at the same time and it was combined or something. I dunno, don't matter.

[Hostile]

I started a thread. We must have started one at the same time and it was combined or something. I dunno, don't matter.
They were merged. 20 minutes apart.

[calico]

Damn, this stuff makes me physically feel sick to my stomach. After just reading how one of the most dominating teams in NFL and sporting history is overrated because they had a soft schedule...yet the played well in the playoffs and SB, but that does not matter.

But, when SF plays well in the playoffs, then it is a huge deal...give me a break. ESPN is just getting rediculous now.

[DallasEast]

His article questions, "Which is the best team of the past 25 years?" Yet, in the same article, a caption reads, "Did Leon Lett's showboating cost the '92 Cowboys a few places in the rankings?"

How could Lett's showboating possibly affect the ranking of the '92 team in any way, form or fashion? The caption is unwarranted. Lett's almost TD involved one play. The evaluation of the "best team of the past 25 years" should be based on many various criteria--and the results should omit mentioning one individual Super Bowl moment.

Kinda petty, if you ask me.

[Roughneck]

They were merged. 20 minutes apart.
Thanks Hostile. I was just wondering.

[BadKarma]

Three 49ers teams make it in the last 25 years! Man, someone from ESPN is doing some major a$$ sucking.

[jkbear11]

Three 49ers teams make it in the last 25 years! Man, someone from ESPN is doing some major a$$ sucking.

no kidding!!! this ranking makes me sick!!!!

[blindzebra]

How can you rank a team out of context.

The 79 Steelers were the end of a dynasty, so were the 89 49ers. The 85 Bears never got back, neither did the 94 49ers.

The 92 Cowboys were the beginning of the greatest 4 year run in the Super Bowl era in NFL history. That Cowboy team 92-95 was the best team in history.

[ctalker]

If the 1994 San Francisco 49ers are at #12 then you would have to put the 94 Boys at #12b. I have seen the championship game too many times and you will never convince me the best team won that day.

[playmakers]

94 49ers? Didn't we beat them in 92-93 with 90 percent of that roster? After that, with 90 percent of the 94 team's roster [in the 95 season], who went to the SuperBowl that season?


The only difference was Deion. But if espn makes that much of a deal about him, then the 95 Boys should be there too. Im dumbfounded how hi the 94 49ers are listed considering where the team of the 90's.

[Sarge]

Three 49ers teams make it in the last 25 years! Man, someone from ESPN is doing some major a$$ sucking.

I'm surprised one of the Bills teams didn't come in at 23.

[CapnComeback]

94 49ers? Didn't we beat them in 92-93 with 90 percent of that roster? After that, with 90 percent of the 94 team's roster [in the 95 season], who went to the SuperBowl that season?


The only difference was Deion. But if espn makes that much of a deal about him, then the 95 Boys should be there too. Im dumbfounded how hi the 94 49ers are listed considering where the team of the 90's.

94 Niners were a great team, period. However, there was no maintenance of their greatness. The 95 Niners got smacked in the second round by the Pack. Who were then smacked by......you guessed it: the 95 Cowboys who went on to defeated the hated Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.

The '85 Bears were always overrated anyway. 1985 was the last time that the Bears reached the Super Bowl. People were more in awe of them because they won the Super Bowl without much offense...much like the overrated Baltimore Ravens in 2000.

[chicago JK]

Three 49ers teams make it in the last 25 years! Man, someone from ESPN is doing some major a$$ sucking.
ESPN is doing a special every tuesday for the next 14 weeks I believe. The show is 2 hours long. Did anyone see last week's? Dan patrick went out to San Fran with Montana and Dwight Clark and re-created the catch. They key theme was that play ascended the 49er franchise to greatness while it ended the Cowboys greatness. I was too young to remember that play, but I found it pretty funny.

[Henry]

There is no way the 85 Bears (15-1) are overrated. They had the single most dominant season in NFL History. Not only did they have the #1 defense in the NFL, but they also had the #6 offense. Unlike the 2000 Ravens (11-5) who failed to score an offensive TD in five straight games, the Bears were a scoring machine. They were 2nd in the league in points scored and the lowest amount they scored in any one game was 16 points. The Ravens, on the other hand, were 14th in points scored and scored 16 or fewer points 8 times, including a three game losing streak in which they scored 3, 6 and 6 points. In fact, the Ravens lost more games in 2000 than the Bears did in 85 and 86 combined. (The Bears were actually NOT one-season wonders, as they went 14-2 the following year.)

As far as the rest of the list goes, I do find it a bit sad that the 49ers get so much love. I dont think there's any way that 94 team should make the list, especially considering how the Cowboys were right there with them that season. Personally, I'd have the 91 Redskins there instead, but that's just me. :)

Mike and Mike on the radio this morning also noted there were two women's college Basketball teams in the top ten. I have plenty of respect for women athletes, but that's a bit silly if you ask me.

[DandyDon]

I agree...the '94 niners are ranked that much higher than the '92 boys? That's insane...........

[IndianaCowboyFan]

There is a web site, cannot recall at the moment, that "matches" teams of history in games never played. When I ran across this site I matched the 93 Cowboys against both the 85 Bears and the undefeated Dolphins team and the Cowboys won both matchups. Actually they won every match I put them in. I personally do not think the Steelers were any better, just a bit luckier.

[NOVA 22]

94 Niners were a great team, period. However, there was no maintenance of their greatness. The 95 Niners got smacked in the second round by the Pack. Who were then smacked by......you guessed it: the 95 Cowboys who went on to defeated the hated Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.

The '85 Bears were always overrated anyway. 1985 was the last time that the Bears reached the Super Bowl. People were more in awe of them because they won the Super Bowl without much offense...much like the overrated Baltimore Ravens in 2000.

Lets not forget that if not for a couple of awful turnovers, and a blatant no call on Deion interfering with Irvin in the endzone - Dallas probably beats SF in that 94 Championship game. Either way, I'll go to my grave saying Dallas was the better team that year. I'd also argue that the 1993 Dallas team was the greatest in NFL history.

[shnagy]

This guy obviously does not know what he is talking about. He ranks the best "teams" over the last 25 years, however, Leon Lett cost the Cowboys a few spots in the rankings, and one of the reasons that the Bulls were number one was because "they had Jordan." So individuals cause teams to slip or rise in the "team" rankings :rolleyes: . This guy is absurd.

[calico]

looks like an intern from the bay area made the list.

[trickblue]

So it's like this...

92 Cowboys - SB Champs
93 Cowboys - SB Champs
94 Niners - SB Champs
95 Cowboys - SB Champs

They rank 12... we rank 22... and as it says... we were nothing special cause we didn't lead the league in any category... it is called BALANCE you morons...

If I remember correctly... and I may not... we lost that one single game in the NFC Championship to them... after 4 turnovers...

Outside of the close NFC Championship in 92... we thumped them pretty handily after that...

This has Berman written all over it...

[jay cee]

So it's like this...

92 Cowboys - SB Champs
93 Cowboys - SB Champs
94 Niners - SB Champs
95 Cowboys - SB Champs

They rank 12... we rank 22... and as it says... we were nothing special cause we didn't lead the league in any category... it is called BALANCE you morons...

If I remember correctly... and I may not... we lost that one single game in the NFC Championship to them... after 4 turnovers...

Outside of the close NFC Championship in 92... we thumped them pretty handily after that...

This has Berman written all over it...

Thank you Trickblue. That pretty much sums it up. Oh how I wish Jones and Johnson could have held it together a little longer. No way anyone would be talking about the '94 San Fran team period.

[ABQCOWBOY]

There is no way the 85 Bears (15-1) are overrated. They had the single most dominant season in NFL History. Not only did they have the #1 defense in the NFL, but they also had the #6 offense. Unlike the 2000 Ravens (11-5) who failed to score an offensive TD in five straight games, the Bears were a scoring machine. They were 2nd in the league in points scored and the lowest amount they scored in any one game was 16 points. The Ravens, on the other hand, were 14th in points scored and scored 16 or fewer points 8 times, including a three game losing streak in which they scored 3, 6 and 6 points. In fact, the Ravens lost more games in 2000 than the Bears did in 85 and 86 combined. (The Bears were actually NOT one-season wonders, as they went 14-2 the following year.)

As far as the rest of the list goes, I do find it a bit sad that the 49ers get so much love. I dont think there's any way that 94 team should make the list, especially considering how the Cowboys were right there with them that season. Personally, I'd have the 91 Redskins there instead, but that's just me. :)

Mike and Mike on the radio this morning also noted there were two women's college Basketball teams in the top ten. I have plenty of respect for women athletes, but that's a bit silly if you ask me.

I agree with almost every thing you say Henry. I would disagree about the Bears only because, I think the Dolphines are the only undefeated team and so I would say, for that reason, that they were the most dominant but certainly, that Bears team was right there.

[Henry]

I agree with almost every thing you say Henry. I would disagree about the Bears only because, I think the Dolphines are the only undefeated team and so I would say, for that reason, that they were the most dominant but certainly, that Bears team was right there.

I can buy that. It's hard to argue against a perfect season, no matter who you're playing. If an easy schedule was all it took lots of other teams would have done it by now. Frankly, I'm suprised the 72 Dolphins didn't crack the top 25, but I since I think 90% of that list is bunk anyway I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. :)

[ABQCOWBOY]

I can buy that. It's hard to argue against a perfect season, no matter who you're playing. If an easy schedule was all it took lots of other teams would have done it by now. Frankly, I'm suprised the 72 Dolphins didn't crack the top 25, but I since I think 90% of that list is bunk anyway I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. :)

Sounds like the kind of advice I would be stupid not to take. With that, I better get back to work. Let me know how this thing turns out.

[windward]

I can buy that. It's hard to argue against a perfect season, no matter who you're playing. If an easy schedule was all it took lots of other teams would have done it by now. Frankly, I'm suprised the 72 Dolphins didn't crack the top 25, but I since I think 90% of that list is bunk anyway I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. :)

That's cause it's the top 25 teams in the past 25 years

[Henry]

That's cause it's the top 25 teams in the past 25 years

'72 was more than 25 years ago?

God I'm getting old. :)

[ctalker]

Another thing that struck me as inconsistant about that article and the rankings is that they knock the 92 boys for having a soft schedule. But if memory serves me correctly the 49ers division was always extremely soft in the 80's and 90's when they were dominating while the NFC east was always one of the stronger divisions.

It seems like the 49ers were able to drive up stats and wins by playing the likes of N.O, Rams, and ATL twice a year who always were pathetc at the time. Which, of course also helped them get home field advantage in the playoffs. Of course, maybe I just have selective memory.

[Sarge]

Another thing that struck me as inconsistant about that article and the rankings is that they knock the 92 boys for having a soft schedule. But if memory serves me correctly the 49ers division was always extremely soft in the 80's and 90's when they were dominating while the NFC east was always one of the stronger divisions.

It seems like the 49ers were able to drive up stats and wins by playing the likes of N.O, Rams, and ATL twice a year who always were pathetc at the time. Which, of course also helped them get home field advantage in the playoffs. Of course, maybe I just have selective memory.

Not selective memorry - aside from a couple good years by the Rams - that division was putrid.

[crazylegs]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=schoenfield/040614

Other NFL teams mentioned:
1979 Pittsburgh Steelers - #19
1984 San Francisco 49ers - #17
1994 San Francisco 49ers - #12
1989 San Francscio 49ers - #8

There sure are a lot of forty-whiners in that article. Of course, I would expect no less from ESPN. :mad:


Standard stamped vote for the underdog, but yet throw a bone to the real winners for creditability ESPN ranking system.

How many times have we seen this, and how many times do we have to comment on it?