The perfection of the 1972 Miami Dolphins has earned them the nod as the NFL’s greatest team.
Break out the champagne.
The remaining Dolphins allegedly have toasted themselves and their achievement each year when the final undefeated club loses. That might be apocryphal, but if not, now they can toast each other for edging the 1985 Chicago Bears in balloting by 59 national media members as part of the NFL’s celebration of its 100th season.
Miami earned 2,795 points to 2,767 for Chicago. The difference was 24 first-place selections to 10 for the Bears.
The Dolphins went 14-0 during the regular season, only three games decided by one score. After edging Cleveland in a surprisingly close opening-round playoff, they beat Pittsburgh – fresh off the Immaculate Reception victory over Oakland – to take the AFC championship. And Miami beat Washington in the Super Bowl.
The total margin of victory for those three postseason games was 17 points.
No matter. Perfection was achieved, has not been matched, and thus, those Dolphins of the No-Name Defense and the backfield trio of Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris, are No. 1 all time.
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