I was watchin around the horn today, and a great point was brought up. How can Barry Bonds get an asterick next to his homerun ball never being found guilty of knowingly taking steroids, but the Patriots get away free with nothing being caught red handed cheating?

The 1972 Dolphins played only TWO teams with winning records and they were 8-6.

Shula and his boys are way to serious about possibly sharing that record, they won't have to worry, NE will lose a game, sooner or later they will have to rely on someone other than Brady and his Wr's to win a game.

The Patriots will lose at least 2 games IMO. I could be wrong, but I don't see them going undefeated. I hope they don't.

 

No way they lose 2 games. They have the Bills, Eagles, Ravens, Steelers, Jets, Dolphins & Giants left. I know your saying that those 2 losses will come from Pitt & NY but I just don't see it happening.

 

Pittsburg beats NE

 

We'll see

The 1972 Dolphins played only TWO teams with winning records and they were 8-6.

 

Really? Do you have a link to their schedule that season, I'd like to take a gander.

 

I thought Shula was embarrasing with his statement today. You're in the Hall of Fame, you've won your Super Bowls, you have your undefeated season, why not take the high road and something along the lines of "if it happens, we'll enjoy the company."

 

Miami only had to win 14 in the regular season, and if they only played two 8-6 teams during the regular season, that waters down the accomplishment a bit more. I know what that team did is unmatched to date, but Shula's statements today really make me want to root for New England (and that's hard to type).

Shula's statements today really make me want to root for New England (and that's hard to type).

 

I can't stand NE but I 100% agree with this sentiment. Watch them put about 70 on the Dolphins when they come a-calling to Foxboro.

That '72 Dolphins team is one of the big reasons I've been a lifelong Dolphins fan. I too don't like what Shula said (though I give leadway to the all time winningest coach in NFL history).

 

But before we besmudge what the Fins did in '72 let's look at the WHOLE record and story.

 

Did they play only 2 winning teams in '72. That might be right. They played in a very weak AFC East that had a beaten up Namath and OJ at the peak of his career. Still, they did beat the Cowboys that year and Vikings when they were starting their stranglehold on the NFC Central.

 

In the playoffs the Dolphins beat the Browns and then had to go to 3 Rivers and beat the Steelers who were beginning their run of glory. (Immaculate reception was the week before)

 

I would like to add one other thing. The Dolphins did this after Hall of Famer QB Bob Griese went down in the fourth game of the season with a broken leg. He did not return until the AFC title game vs. Pittsburgh. So Miami went 11-0 with a back up (Earl Morrall) the whole way. Could New England do that without Brady? Could the Niners without Montana, Steelers without Bradshaw?

 

If you want proof this team was no fluke look at the years around the record.

 

*The Dolphins were the first team to go to 3 straight Super Bowls. (winning 2 in a row)

*Miami went 32-2 over 2 years (1972 and 1973) winning the titles. No one else has ever done that.

*When the Miami playoff run ended (8-1 from '71-'73) in '74 it took a last second heave by Ken Stabler (while being tackled) to a double covered Clarance Davis to end the run (at Oakland). The next year Csonka, Kiick, and Warfield were gone to the WFL.

 

Was Shula wrong? Yes. Is he bitter? Why? It might be that no one respects his work or what the Dolphins did. He is the all-time winningest coach but few speak of him with Chuck Noll, Bill Walsh, or even the Tuna. He went to 6 Super Bowls as a coach (2-4) and won with power running ('70's Dolphins) and big passing (Marino's teams) but nobody looks at the Dolphin franchise with the same glory as others.

 

Okay, my rant is done. Good luck to the Pats because they are awesome and if they go perfect, they've earned it. Just like the '72 team did.

 

One final rant. How is this different than all the Trinity supporters I heard when Boyle was so close to their 50 game winning streak? It's human nature folks.

Really? Do you have a link to their schedule that season, I'd like to take a gander.

 

).

 

Did they play only 2 winning teams in '72. That might be right. They played in a very weak AFC East that had a beaten up Namath and OJ at the peak of his career. Still, they did beat the Cowboys that year and Vikings when they were starting their stranglehold on the NFC Central.

 

 

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia1972.htm

 

They did not play the Cowboys in 1972. The Vikings were 7-7.

It's sounding more and more like the 72 Dolphins were simply the best of a bad group. Still, undefeated is undefeated.

The 1972 Dolphins played only TWO teams with winning records and they were 8-6.

 

So, the team they played in the Super Bowl and playoffs were 8-6?

Washington was 11-3. As was, Pittsburgh and Cleveland 10-4. So that, is 5 teams that had winning records in their undefeated season of 19-0.

 

And another that had a winning record when Miami played them late in the season.

 

Jets were 6-3 at the time they played Miami, although they did finish 7-7.

 

Chargers were 2-1-1 when they played Miami.

If I were a betting man, and I am, I'd be putting my money on an undefeated season, and I am.

 

This is the best team in the NFL in the last 10 years - perhaps the best since the glory days of the 49ers. I think if they want to go 16-0, they will go 16-0.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia1972.htm

 

They did not play the Cowboys in 1972. The Vikings were 7-7.

 

Your right. I went back and saw it was in '73 that they beat the Cowboys.

So, the team they played in the Super Bowl and playoffs were 8-6?

Washington was 11-3. As was, Pittsburgh and Cleveland 10-4. So that, is 5 teams that had winning records in their undefeated season of 19-0.

 

And another that had a winning record when Miami played them late in the season.

 

Jets were 6-3 at the time they played Miami, although they did finish 7-7.

 

Chargers were 2-1-1 when they played Miami.

 

I think its safe to assume that once they hit the playoffs that they played winning teams.

 

What the record was when they played a team is irrelevant.

 

When you look back at the entire season, they played ONLY 2 teams with winning records in the regular season. NE will have played a tougher schedule by the end of this season.

So, the team they played in the Super Bowl and playoffs were 8-6?

Washington was 11-3. As was, Pittsburgh and Cleveland 10-4. So that, is 5 teams that had winning records in their undefeated season of 19-0.

 

And another that had a winning record when Miami played them late in the season.

 

Jets were 6-3 at the time they played Miami, although they did finish 7-7.

 

Chargers were 2-1-1 when they played Miami.

 

 

Actually they Dolphins played a 14 game regular season and 3 games in the playoffs. (Their streak went to 19 and was snapped in the the third game the next year)

 

 

BTW, thanks for the Dolphin support LBC.

I think its safe to assume that once they hit the playoffs that they played winning teams.

 

What the record was when they played a team is irrelevant.

 

When you look back at the entire season, they played ONLY 2 teams with winning records in the regular season. NE will have played a tougher schedule by the end of this season.

 

It will be tougher but not noticably tougher. Although that could change by the end of the season.

 

The Patriots only have 5 teams on their schedule that presently have winning records.

 

Add in the two games that the Dolphins had against the Jets and you could see a point that they had 4 games against tough competition. It seems the Dolphins were one of the main reasons why the Jets were not a team with a winning record.