Best team of all time?

[KJJ]

You can make the argument, and Football Outsiders, among others, did in 2017. If the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 1991, they would probably be considered the best defense of all-time. This is Ryan's defense without Ryan, run by Bud Carson.

The Eagles had problems on offense, and that is not on the defense. Rich Kotite may be the worst coach of the past 50 years. Cunningham went down the first game for the season. The O-line sucked balls, one of the worse in the league. They played on more short fields than any team. They had to play, just in the East, the team with the best offensive DVOA (Washington), the fourth (Cowboys), and sixth (Giants) twice. Only the 2002 Bucs have had a better pass DVOA, and the 2000 Raven's a better run DVOA. Teams ran a ridiculous low 2.97 ypc. QB's only completed 44% of their passes against that team. 55 sacks, 43 forced fumbles, and 26 interceptions. That is insane. I also believe they led the league in fewest points, fewest rush yards, and fewest pass yards.

Anyone trying to make the argument the 91 Eagles defense was better than the 85 Bears defense would lose the argument big time! You can make all the excuses you want for the Eagles offense and their head coach. The 2000 Ravens had a worse offense and QB and still won the Super Bowl with their defense. The 85 Bears gave up 51 fewer points than the 91 Eagles D. The 85 Bears had four shutouts, including two in the playoffs compared to only one shutout for the 91 Eagles. The 85 Bears had 54 takeaways compared to 48 takeaways for the 91 Eagles. Anyone trying to say the 91 Eagles had a better defense than the 85 Bears is just wasting their time.

 

[Flamma]

The 00 Ravens D was better, and it's not close.

You think they were better than the '85 Bears? I know the Ravens D was great, but their weak schedule helped them out a bit. The 1975 Rams D gave up even less points per game than the Ravens, and their D were paper tigers. I'm just saying, when you play a lot of teams with crap to average QB play, your D can look a lot better than it is.

 

[Flamma]

Personally, I think the 99 Rams are ranked too high on that list. Their offense was one of the all-time greats, but they lost three games that year and barely survived Tennessee in the Super Bowl. I haven’t seen any all-time team rankings where they’re ranked that high. Most have the 91 Washington team in the top five. They were 11-0 until the Cowboys beat them on the road. It was that win against Washington when I started thinking the Cowboys might have a chance to do something special the following season. I remember immediately after that game Jimmy was asked if it was the biggest win he’s had in his coaching career. He said it’s a big win, but we’re going to have bigger wins and when he said it I got goosebumps!

I think so too. I'd put the '99 Rams where it says other, and even below two other teams from the past. The Rams were really good, and a fun team to watch. I just wouldn't put them that high. I would put the '91 skins above them, and the '86 Giants. Those two teams left bigger impressions on me.

 

[Established1971]

First of all the 73 Dolphins were a better team than 72 .

And I’m not sure how you have a list of best all time without listing one of 60’s Packers teams which are only team in NFL history to win 5 Rings.

And if you’re going to list the 07 Patriots who were upset in SB , the 68 Colts were arguably the greatest team ever upset in SB.

I'm glad someone else remembers that, the 73 Dolphins were a better team than the 72 team.

 

[ColoradoCowboy]

Dan and the Fins found out just how hard it was to make it to the Superbowl. I remember an interview where he said that after his rookie year, he expected to get back often. Never happened.

Which makes the Jim Kelley Bills so special. Sure they never won the big one, but they climbed the mountain FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.

Also, of the 7 teams list in the OP, the Rams, Cowboys, and as much as it galls me to say, the Pats are head and shoulders above anyone else on that list. But the '92 Cowboys are the strongest TEAM, from top to bottom, in that list.