Most dominant NFL franchise ever?

[Haley94]

I was arguing with a friend who is die-hard Giants fan. He has been voicing his opinion, in his arrogant New Jersey way, that the Giants dominated the Cowboys the last two seasons, and in his skewed opinion, are the better franchise. He wants me to honor the fact that they are division champs. I countered by saying that only matters in the playoffs (the Giants were roasted 0-23) and that this is a new year and reminded him of the head to head record of 51-35-2 and 5 Superbowl wins to their 2 and 8 conference championships to their 3. That got me thinking, with all the list that seem to be the sports writing norm these days, how could you argue against the Cowboys being the most dominant NFL franchise in the Superbowl era? I don't think one can do it in a logical way. I knowing I'm kind of preaching to the choir here, but if anyone can point out a counter argument one might use I would appreciate it. To further extend the argument I would have to say that The Cowboys are the most dominate franchise in the history of the NFL because I do believe that about any team in the NFL today would beat any championship team in say the 1950"s. Of course, that up for debate.

 

[Bizwah]

I was arguing with a friend who is die-hard Giants fan. He has been voicing his opinion, in his arrogant New Jersey way, that the Giants dominated the Cowboys the last two seasons, and in his skewed opinion, are the better franchise. He wants me to honor the fact that they are division champs. I countered by saying that only matters in the playoffs (which the Giants were roasted 0-23) and that this is a new year and reminded him of the head to head record of 51-35-2 and 5 Superbowl wins to their 2 and 8 conference championships to their 3. That got me thinking, with all the list that seem to be the sports writing norm these days, how could you argue against the Cowboys being most dominate NFL franchise in the Superbowl era? I don't think one can do it in a logical way. I knowing I'm kind of preaching to the choir here, but if anyone can point out a counter argument one might use I would appreciate it. To further extend the argument I would have to say that The Cowboys are the most dominate franchise in the history of the NFL because I do believe that about any team in the NFL today would beat any championship team in say the 1950"s. Of coarse, that up for debate.

You'll get no arguement from me......

How can he possibly say that the Giants dominated us last year?

I just rewatched the first game yesterday. I remember the Giants fans, players, and the media saying that they "gave one away" to Dallas.

This is just a flat-out stupid statement.

We totally dominated that game. The Giants didn't have over 100 yards total offense until the fourth quarter. They were 0 for 10 in third downs until late in the fourth quarter. Sure they had four TOs, but so did we....If it weren't for TOs, we'd have destroyed the Giants. We would drive 60 yards on the Giants only to have penalties and TOs kill our drives. While the Giants couldn't even cross midfield unless we turned the ball over.

 

[RiggoForever]

1985 Chicago Bears finished number 1 in both offense and defense, and had 2 playoff shut outs on the way to the Super Bowl.

Until someone duplicates that feat, they are the most dominant team ever in my eyes.

 

[The30YardSlant]

The 1992 Cowboys would crush the '85 Bears, and just about every other team that ever was

 

[Haley94]

1985 Chicago Bears finished number 1 in both offense and defense, and had 2 playoff shut outs on the way to the Super Bowl.

Until someone duplicates that feat, they are the most dominant team ever in my eyes.

I'm talking about the franchise not individual teams. I'm talking about the magic of the star.

 

[genghiskhan]

1985 Chicago Bears finished number 1 in both offense and defense, and had 2 playoff shut outs on the way to the Super Bowl.

Until someone duplicates that feat, they are the most dominant team ever in my eyes.

The discussion was about the most dominant franchise over the 40 year super bowl era as a whole, not any one single season.

 

[Hostile]

I don't know that there has been a dominant team in the Super Bowl era, but the NFCE has had a chance to dominate.

There have been 40 Super Bowls. The Cowboys have played in 8. The Commanders have played in 5. The Giants have played in 3. The Eagles have played in 2. That's 18 of the 40 Super Bowls. Almost half of the entire NFC representation.

Wins is just as impressive. The Cowboys have 5. The Commanders have 3. The Giants have 2. The Eagles have...

:trophy:

Sorry, that never bores me.

That's 10 of the wins for 255 of the total wins for the whole NFL.

Dallas has played in the most. The 49ers have never lost. Pittsburgh had 4 in 6 years. Those are the only team in the discussion for dominant, but I don't think there is an obvious choice.

 

[genghiskhan]

I'm talking about the franchise not individual teams. I'm talking about the magic of the star.

Talking about the magic of the Star to a Commanders fan is like talking about quantum physics to a 3 year old.

 

[RiggoForever]

The 1992 Cowboys would crush the '85 Bears, and just about every other team that ever was

I don't know about that one. I wouldn't even say the 1991 Commanders (who allowed 9 sacks that entire season and had the best offensive line ever), were more dominating then the 85 Bears.

It would be unfair to match the 1992 Boys or 1991 Skins against those Bears though, because the "46 defense" was no longer a novelty.

I don't think a team has dominated more within one season, then the 1985 Bears did.

 

[RiggoForever]

I'm talking about the franchise not individual teams. I'm talking about the magic of the star.

Damn, then in that case... Cowboys, Steelers, and 49ers.

 

[ghst187]

1985 Chicago Bears finished number 1 in both offense and defense, and had 2 playoff shut outs on the way to the Super Bowl.

Until someone duplicates that feat, they are the most dominant team ever in my eyes.

any 90's Cowboy SB team + the '94 team would destroy the '85 Bears.
just for the record...
Honestly, I don't think the '85 Bears could beat the two Denver SB-winning teams, they were too good on defense and too balanced overall.

As for single season domination....can it get more dominating than going 16-0? Miami has that record and its going to stand for a while longer

As for franchises in general in the SB era...
I think you can only talk about 3 franchises:
Dallas
Pitt
San Fran

San Fran is probably a clear 3rd because they have been garbage except for two decades, the 80s and 90s.
I think Dallas and Pitt would have a pretty close race overall.
No other teams have enough SB wins or appearances or division titles or playoff appearances to really compete with those 3 teams.

 

[theogt]

Two obvious answers:

All time - Greenbay

SB era - Dallas

 

[Seven]

I don't know that there has been a dominant team in the Super Bowl era, but the NFCE has had a chance to dominate.

There have been 40 Super Bowls. The Cowboys have played in 8. The Commanders have played in 5. The Giants have played in 3. The Eagles have played in 2. That's 18 of the 40 Super Bowls. Almost half of the entire NFC representation.

Wins is just as impressive. The Cowboys have 5. The Commanders have 3. The Giants have 2. The Eagles have...

:trophy:

Sorry, that never bores me.

That's 10 of the wins for 255 of the total wins for the whole NFL.

Dallas has played in the most. The 49ers have never lost. Pittsburgh had 4 in 6 years. Those are the only team in the discussion for dominant, but I don't think there is an obvious choice.

CA-LASSIC!!!!!!! That was pure Mozart.

There are 10,000 useless facts to bring to the table for most dominant team/franchise, as well as for the worst. Depends on what kind of mood you're in while debating or how much alcohol you've consumed.
Who knows.

 

[AdamJT13]

1985 Chicago Bears finished number 1 in both offense and defense

The 1985 Bears' offense finished No. 6.

 

[Haley94]

Yes but the tiebreaker in my opinion is Superbowl appearances.

Cowboys-8
Pittsburgh-6
San Fran-5

 

[genghiskhan]

Wins is just as impressive. The Cowboys have 5. The Commanders have 3. The Giants have 2. The Eagles have...

:trophy:

Sorry, that never bores me.

:lol:

Dallas has played in the most. The 49ers have never lost. Pittsburgh had 4 in 6 years. Those are the only team in the discussion for dominant, but I don't think there is an obvious choice.

I think there is an obvious choice, and it's Dallas. The Cowboys are tied with those other 2 with the most Super Bowl wins, but they are 2 ahead of Pittsburgh in appearances and 3 ahead of San Fran in appearances.

Winning 3 out of 4 negates Pittsburgh winning 4 of 6. SF never having lost one isn't as impressive to me as appearing 8, because it means that we've had 3 seasons that were more successful than any non super bowl season of SF.

Then, if my memory serves me correctly (I don't feel like looking it up but I believe I'm correct), we beat both franchises in playoff appearances, Championship game appearances, winning percentage and winning seasons.

I believe we tie or trump both of those franchises in every meaningful category.

 

[RiggoForever]

any 90's Cowboy SB team + the '94 team would destroy the '85 Bears.
just for the record...
Honestly, I don't think the '85 Bears could beat the two Denver SB-winning teams, they were too good on defense and too balanced overall.

As for single season domination....can it get more dominating than going 16-0? Miami has that record and its going to stand for a while longer

As for franchises in general in the SB era...
I think you can only talk about 3 franchises:
Dallas
Pitt
San Fran

San Fran is probably a clear 3rd because they have been garbage except for two decades, the 80s and 90s.
I think Dallas and Pitt would have a pretty close race overall.
No other teams have enough SB wins or appearances or division titles or playoff appearances to really compete with those 3 teams.

I didn't put Miami there because they had a number of close calls against lesser-caliber teams.

The Cowboys in the 1990s were great, but they weren't clearly dominant. From 1992-1995 you had to share the spotlight with the 49ers and it was never clear cut who would be making the Super Bowl.

The 1985 Bears were blowing out playoff teams both in the regular season and in the playoffs. They beat the Commanders, Giants, and Dallas that year by a combined margin of 110-10. And neither of those 3 teams were slouches.

 

[RiggoForever]

The 1985 Bears' offense finished No. 6.

I stand corrected, I thought it was 1st.

But in scoring offense, they were 2nd.

 

[Hostile]

Yes but the tiebreaker in my opinion is Superbowl appearances.

Cowboys-8
Pittsburgh-6
San Fran-5

5 wins in 5 appearances is 100%.

5 wins in 6 appearances is 82.5%

5 wins in 8 appearances is 62.5%.

There are always arguments against.

 

[genghiskhan]

CA-LASSIC!!!!!!! That was pure Mozart.

There are 10,000 useless facts to bring to the table for most dominant team/franchise, as well as for the worst. Depends on what kind of mood you're in while debating or how much alcohol you've consumed.
Who knows.

I would guess that the worst is pretty easy too. I can't imagine any franchise having less success in just about every measurable category than the St Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals.