Biggest Upset In Sports History?

[Busyman™]

Do you think the New York Giants beating of the New England Patriots in the SB is the biggest upset in sports history?

The Giants are only the second Wild Card team to win it all.

They beat a Pats team that went undefeated in regular season (and the Pats were only the second to do it; the first in over 2 decades).

They beat a Pats team that broke the single season record for points.

They beat a Pats team that had went 3 - 0 in Superbowls with coach Bill Bellichek and QB Tom Brady.

The Wild Card beat the juggernaut.

On a side note:

I guess it looks like Eli and Archie whining about going to the Chargers worked out then?:smilie4:

[deuce6000]

Absolutely it is.I think anyway i'm sure lot think different though.

[Cabalo]

the biggest upset in sports history is Brazil losing the world cup final against Uruguay at home.

[peat moss]

I'd rank the USA hockey team beating the Ruskies higher but I'm a hockey nut . Miracle on ice they called it ?

[Busyman™]

the biggest upset in sports history is Brazil losing the world cup final against Uruguay at home.

...but Brazil wasn't some juggernaut rolling over opponents like the Pats did in the NFL.

They even had a draw in their round-robin competition.

The Pats were 18 and fucking 0 (16 - 0 regular season) and lost the big game to a 10 - 6 Wild Card team.


I'd rank the USA hockey team beating the Ruskies higher but I'm a hockey nut . Miracle on ice they called it ?

Funny enough I just watched that movie and Glory Road recently....weird.

Good fooking movies too.

I probably rank this SB higher because of what a football team has to go through in the regular season, how the Pats set scoring records, and records for TDs and such then they lose at the very end.

I mean in competitions like those, you just don't go through the gruel that an NFL football team goes through. So to come out 18 - 0 is almost unheard of.

[deuce6000]

Actually peat i agree with you.I will switch what i said now.This is the biggest upset in nfl history easily though.As far as Brazil losing i could care less.

[Busyman™]

Actually peat i agree with you.I will switch what i said now.This is the biggest upset in nfl history easily though.As far as Brazil losing i could care less.

Yeah one thing is that the US was sending amateurs over while other countries sent pros to the Olympics.

I want that movie with Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks on Blu-Ray.

[kooftspc11]

i have been a patriots fan all of my life. the culmination of the perfect season (highly unlikely to ever happen again) was completely pissed on by tom bradys inability TO DO A GODDAMN THING!!!!!

definitely the biggest upset in sports in recent times....but to me THE biggest upset ever

[peat moss]

It is great tho guys , and will have to sleep on it . The fun is reading the papers after or listening to the radio shows to digest it . It will keep sports scribes in works for weeks .As it should mind you . :happy:

[DefX]

Funny you ask that Bus. One of the local commentators here in NY was saying earlier that the Broadway Joe's Jets upset of the Colts in the 60's and the Amazin Mets beating the Orioles in 69 were bigger upsets. I was like, wtf?

This upset should definitely be ranked right there at the top. Here's why:

1. The Pats has set countless of team and individual records in the regular season while the Giants were a mere wild card team that everyone has basically written off.

2. Pats has many reps at the Pro Bowl while the Giants has one :blink: On paper, even I had to admit this could get lopsided early if the Giants defense were off their game just a bit.

3) Pats had enumerable players with SB experience while the Giants had three: Strahan, Toomer and some former Pat player.

They had everything going for them except for destiny. This will sting for a while for all New Englanders. I know it would pretty much devastate me if it was my team vying for perfection and immortality.

[Bucktoof]

It was certainly a massive upset, one of the biggest in recent years. But being a more avid hockey and soccer fan, there have been numerous other big upsets so I can't say this one to be the biggest.

About the Brazil example, I would say that's bigger because how often has Uruguay been in the World Cup? Brazil has won it the most times and been to the finals quite often - and the World Cup is held every 4 years and takes a lot of qualifying for a country like Uruguay to go through

[deuce6000]

Funny you ask that Bus. One of the local commentators here in NY was saying earlier that the Broadway Joe's Jets upset of the Colts in the 60's and the Amazin Mets beating the Orioles in 69 were bigger upsets. I was like, wtf?

This upset should definitely be ranked right there at the top. Here's why:

1. The Pats has set countless of team and individual records in the regular season while the Giants were a mere wild card team that everyone has basically written off.

2. Pats has many reps at the Pro Bowl while the Giants has one :blink: On paper, even I had to admit this could get lopsided early if the Giants defense were off their game just a bit.

3) Pats had enumerable players with SB experience while the Giants had three: Strahan, Toomer and some former Pat player.

They had everything going for them except for destiny. This will sting for a while for all New Englanders. I know it would pretty much devastate me if it was my team vying for perfection and immortality.

All great points.The one giant that is actually in the pro bowl said something about maybe boycotting the game just because he thought it was stupid that a super bowl winning team could only have 1 pro bowl player in it.I doubt he does but he is right about that.I wonder how many super bowl teams have had only one pro bowl player if any.

[RPerry]

I still think the Tyson / Douglas fight was sports biggest upset. I watched the Giants play very well against NE in the last regular season game, if not for a Wide-open Randy Moss on 2 plays in a row, the outcome of that game might have been different as well. Kudos to Eli for shutting out the critics and growing up a lot over the past 5 weeks.

[Sanka113]

It's probably not the biggest upset in sports history due to the fact that the giant's had played the pats about a month ago and played them well. I thought that if the pat's were going to go down it'd be to someone that has played them this season...The giants.

I think it is kinda interesting that the Giants lost to Dallas, Green Bay, and NE in the regular season. It must have been sweet beaten those 3 teams when it mattered the most.

[Busyman™]

It was certainly a massive upset, one of the biggest in recent years. But being a more avid hockey and soccer fan, there have been numerous other big upsets so I can't say this one to be the biggest.

About the Brazil example, I would say that's bigger because how often has Uruguay been in the World Cup? Brazil has won it the most times and been to the finals quite often - and the World Cup is held every 4 years and takes a lot of qualifying for a country like Uruguay to go through

What are you talking about?

Didn't Uruguay win the first WC? Brazil lost to them in the 4th one?

Brazil won many WCs after that.


It's probably not the biggest upset in sports history due to the fact that the giant's had played the pats about a month ago and played them well. I thought that if the pat's were going to go down it'd be to someone that has played them this season...The giants.

I think it is kinda interesting that the Giants lost to Dallas, Green Bay, and NE in the regular season. It must have been sweet beaten those 3 teams when it mattered the most.

Good point on your last.

However, one can't discount the fact that a handful of teams played the Pats tough later.

The best team to play the Pats tough was actually the Baltimore Ravens.

Had it not been for a timeout that nullified a stop on 4th down with 1:30 left in the 4th quarter (NE only had 1 timeout left), then B'more had the win.

B'more would have needed to take a knee 3 times.

The was some destiny shit there.

[Cheese]

Greece winning the European Championships in 2004 is in my opinion the biggest sports upset of recent times. They were 150-1 to win the Championships before the tournament and ranked very low in the FIFA rankings, if you went back in time and told people they would win you'd have been laughed at and burnt as a witch.


Uruguay going over Brazil is universally regarded as a massive sporting upset as Brazil were (and are) a footballing powerhouse, they were playing at home (the World Cup having been won by the host nation 2 times out of 3 thus far) and they only needed a draw to win the tournament (1950 had the retarded league system to decided the World Cup winners).

[Barbarossa]

Denmark winning the Euro 92 tournament was a bit of an upset considering they didn't even qualify for the finals :smilie4:

For those unfamiliar with events, they took the place of Yugoslavia who were disqualified for being horrible and fighty and all that, and then went on to beat Germany, who were the reigning world champions.

[Cheese]

Denmark winning the Euro 92 tournament was a bit of an upset considering they didn't even qualify for the finals :smilie4:

For those unfamiliar with events, they took the place of Yugoslavia who were disqualified for being horrible and fighty and all that, and then went on to beat Germany, who were the reigning world champions.

I was thinking about that one as well, I wonder what their odds were before the tournament.

Two of my favourite sporting upsets have to be Cameroon doing over Argentina in 1990 and Senegal beating France in 2002. :happy:

Rey Mysterio winning the 2006 Royal Rumble has to be another candidate for biggest upset in sporting history.

[Barbarossa]

Plymouth Argyle beating West Bromwich Albion in the Quarter Final of the FA Cup in 1984 :emo:

When you're 12, that sort of shit is pretty damn upsetting :cry:

[RoSsoNeRI]

Senegal beating France in 2002. :happy:

yeah that was certainly shocking.....I remember waking up at 4 am to watch that game n just couldn't believe what was happening


Rey Mysterio winning the 2006 Royal Rumble has to be another candidate for biggest upset in sporting history.

wrestling is all fake man....no upsets there

[maebach]

Im going to say one of the biggest was the summit (canada vs USSR) series.

anyways, it was a huge upset, and now I feel like an idiot, because when it was 3 and 15, with 2 min left I turned off teh TV to go to bed tihnking it was over :|

[Cheese]

Rey Mysterio winning the 2006 Royal Rumble has to be another candidate for biggest upset in sporting history.wrestling is all fake man....no upsets there

Wrestling is fake?!?!?! Now I am upset :(

[JROQuinn]

wrestling is all fake man....no upsets there

Wrestling is fake?!?!?! Now I am upset :(


Now see what you gone & done...why dont you just tell him Santa isnt real either...:unsure: oops :P

[Barbarossa]

Eh? Santa's as real as the Tooth Fairy, ffs :angry:

[limpdickkid]

Eh? Santa's as real as the Tooth Fairy, ffs :angry:

^lol
How come no ones said that England winning the 1966 World Cup was (sort of) an upset. Brazil were favourites and due to controversial decisions by referees got knocked out. Another huge world cup upset was in 1978 when Brazil, due to a bad an extremely poor decision by the referee lost in the semi-final, they scored off a corner but the referee said he had already blown the whistle while the ball was in the air. :/

What Barb said about Denmark winning Euro '92 is certainly the biggest upset.

[stoi]

I think it all depends what country your from and what sport you follow.

I agree it was one of the biggest upsets of all time, but i would not say it was the biggest.

some have already mentioned "soccer" ones (i hate that word lol) but here is another one.

Sunderland beating Leeds in the 1972 FA Cup Final.

Leeds had won the league 2 years running, (1st division, premier division now) and Sunderland were languishing in the bottom of the 2nd division (championship now) and Sunderland won 1-0. Leeds were like the Chelsea/Man U/Arsenal of their time back then.

so that to me is one of the biggest upsets of all time. but there are to many to list realy, Hereford beating Newcastle United is another one that springs to mind.

[Busyman™]

I think it all depends what country your from and what sport you follow.

I only said this Superbowl based on the fact that the Pats were undefeated winning 18 straight games with most of them totally demolishing their opponents.

When someone said Brazil in the 4th WC, I saw that they had a draw in round-robin competition so even if Brazil was considered powerhouse coming in (reminds me of seeding in college basketball), they still did not win all their games within the competition.

In NFL football, it has been 35 years since a team went undefeated. 35 years!

Back then, the season was shorter also.

I'm just looking at what's involved. I don't follow soccer but if the same dynamic was involved, I'd pick a soccer game.

I actually understand the Miracle On Ice due to how Russia was demolishing their opponents and they were pros getting beat by amateurs/college students.

[Barbarossa]

As a matter of interest, what were the odds of the Giants winning the match?

[RPerry]

As a matter of interest, what were the odds of the Giants winning the match?


Surprising as it may, the New York Giants remain a big underdog to win the 2008 Super Bowl, a week from the game's start. At the online sportsbook Bodog Sports, the point spread on the Super Bowl 2008 game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots remain stuck at -11 points chalk the Patriots and at another online betting company, Bookmaker, the point spread on the Super Bowl game is now back up to -12 points favoring the Pats. The betting odds on the NY Giants to win the Super Bowl 42 are now down to +380 and the New England Patriots are -460 favorite. The rumors surrounding Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his leg injury briefly lowered the point spread and betting odds on the Super Bowl 2008 game this week, but now everything is going back to "normal", i.e. New England is a big favorite. But Tom Brady's leg cast pictures and missing practice is not the only factor moving the odds. The Surprise comes from the fact that at all online sportsbooks the bettors are taking the +12/+11 on the NY Giants and they have been the most bet on event throughout the entire week, continuing into the weekend. Even the college basketball games weren't able to move the Giants from the top spot on the betting sheet, while the bets on the Patriots to cover the spread are at #4 in the top 10 most bet on events this weekend. Also, at No.6 in that list are the NY Giants winning the Super Bowl 2008... http://www.ogpaper.com/news/news-01627.html I had to got through several sites to find anything worth while since it has been several days. The odds on the Giants before the season ever started were 15/1 btw. in comparison, the odds that Buster Douglas would beat Mike Tyson were 42-1.

[Busyman™]

Surprising as it may, the New York Giants remain a big underdog to win the 2008 Super Bowl, a week from the game's start. At the online sportsbook Bodog Sports, the point spread on the Super Bowl 2008 game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots remain stuck at -11 points chalk the Patriots and at another online betting company, Bookmaker, the point spread on the Super Bowl game is now back up to -12 points favoring the Pats. The betting odds on the NY Giants to win the Super Bowl 42 are now down to +380 and the New England Patriots are -460 favorite. The rumors surrounding Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his leg injury briefly lowered the point spread and betting odds on the Super Bowl 2008 game this week, but now everything is going back to "normal", i.e. New England is a big favorite. But Tom Brady's leg cast pictures and missing practice is not the only factor moving the odds. The Surprise comes from the fact that at all online sportsbooks the bettors are taking the +12/+11 on the NY Giants and they have been the most bet on event throughout the entire week, continuing into the weekend. Even the college basketball games weren't able to move the Giants from the top spot on the betting sheet, while the bets on the Patriots to cover the spread are at #4 in the top 10 most bet on events this weekend. Also, at No.6 in that list are the NY Giants winning the Super Bowl 2008... http://www.ogpaper.com/news/news-01627.html I had to got through several sites to find anything worth while since it has been several days. The odds on the Giants before the season ever started were 15/1 btw. in comparison, the odds that Buster Douglas would beat Mike Tyson were 42-1.

I have to admit the Buster Douglas one is a good one. I believe his mother had just died. That with Robin Given kicking Mike's ass did him in.

Buster didn't just beat him.

He demolished him (I think Mike did knock him down once).

Still a 35 year lull in undefeated seasons kills it.

We'd probably never see it for another 35 years.

It's way to hard to accomplish with the nature of football. In fact, it might very well be that Tom Brady's old injury played a part. I know one of their offensive lineman got injured during the game.

We saw what happened to the Pat's offensive line.:yup:

Demolished.

[RPerry]

I agree that this Superbowl became an emotional upset, I wouldn't have been upset at all to watch someone go undefeated. I'm just pointing out that the Giants were far from a push-over, and also knowing they came awfully close to ending the Patriot's perfect season in week 17, I really don't consider this a statistical upset.

[Cheese]

I think it all depends what country your from and what sport you follow.

I agree it was one of the biggest upsets of all time, but i would not say it was the biggest.

some have already mentioned "soccer" ones (i hate that word lol) but here is another one.

Sunderland beating Leeds in the 1972 FA Cup Final.

Leeds had won the league 2 years running, (1st division, premier division now) and Sunderland were languishing in the bottom of the 2nd division (championship now) and Sunderland won 1-0. Leeds were like the Chelsea/Man U/Arsenal of their time back then.

so that to me is one of the biggest upsets of all time. but there are to many to list realy, Hereford beating Newcastle United is another one that springs to mind.

Given your examples I am going to have to assume you're a mackem.

[grimms]

1986 Mets beating the Boston Red Sox is a bigger upset. I'm pissed my hometown team lost to the Giants. They just didn't want it as much. The'll win it next year for sure!

[Busyman™]

I agree that this Superbowl became an emotional upset, I wouldn't have been upset at all to watch someone go undefeated. I'm just pointing out that the Giants were far from a push-over, and also knowing they came awfully close to ending the Patriot's perfect season in week 17, I really don't consider this a statistical upset.

The Pats still won. Many teams came close to beating them.

Baltimore was an ill-advised time out away from beating them. That was THE closest.

Philly and Indy also with the Pats coming from behind to win.

The Pats still won. Hell the Jets played 'em decent the second time.

The Pats still won.

It don't change 18 straight games in the NFL.

That ain't emotion. That's a statistical anomaly. I don't care if all 18 games were won by 1 point.


1986 Mets beating the Boston Red Sox is a bigger upset. I'm pissed my hometown team lost to the Giants. They just didn't want it as much. The'll win it next year for sure!

Nah if you are talking baseball, the Sawks coming from 3 down to beat the Yanks in the World Series easily trumps that one.

[DefX]

Nah if you are talking baseball, the Sawks coming from 3 down to beat the Yanks in the World Series easily trumps that one.

Actually, that was ALCS, not WS.

And that was more like the Yankees choking/meltdown than an upset. Bosox had a hell of a team in 04 so they were no pushovers.

Mets in '69 beating the O's. Now that was an upset.

Also, after having heard arguments from NFL experts, I've realized that this recent Giants win isn't the biggest upset in SB history either. It comes close but no cigar. I can see how Namath's Jets beating the Colts in '69 was a bigger upset seeing many folks considered the AFL as an inferior league back then before the merger. Also evidenced by the Packers pulvorizing its AFL counterparts in the 2 prior Superbowls. Heck, the 01 Pats were bigger underdogs when they played the Rams in the SB.

[RPerry]

The Pats still won. Many teams came close to beating them.

Baltimore was an ill-advised time out away from beating them. That was THE closest.

Philly and Indy also with the Pats coming from behind to win.

The Pats still won. Hell the Jets played 'em decent the second time.

The Pats still won.

It don't change 18 straight games in the NFL.

That ain't emotion. That's a statistical anomaly. I don't care if all 18 games were won by 1 point.

That still makes it an upset, but not the biggest upset ever. Forgive my lack of explaining that in the post. Upset, yes. biggest upset, hell no.

[Busyman]

Nah if you are talking baseball, the Sawks coming from 3 down to beat the Yanks in the World Series easily trumps that one.

Actually, that was ALCS, not WS.

And that was more like the Yankees choking/meltdown than an upset. Bosox had a hell of a team in 04 so they were no pushovers.

Mets in '69 beating the O's. Now that was an upset.

Also, after having heard arguments from NFL experts, I've realized that this recent Giants win isn't the biggest upset in SB history either. It comes close but no cigar. I can see how Namath's Jets beating the Colts in '69 was a bigger upset seeing many folks considered the AFL as an inferior league back then before the merger. Also evidenced by the Packers pulvorizing its AFL counterparts in the 2 prior Superbowls. Heck, the 01 Pats were bigger underdogs when they played the Rams in the SB.

I think a team coming from 3 games down to win 4 in a row against the Yankees is bigger. I think don't that ever happened in a WS. Ever.

Also I've heard the same about the Jets. However, inferior league, whatever.

They were still pro players. It's not like it was a high school team.

It's hard to get bigger than 18-0 in the NFL. 35 years, man.

[deuce6000]

It wasn't the world series...

[Busyman™]

It wasn't the world series...

Shit my bags. I keep saying WS.:frusty:

[deuce6000]

Yeah because the world series was just an after though after the great series between the sox and yanks.That year will be remembered for the alcs the world series was a given.

[Busyman™]

Yeah because the world series was just an after though after the great series between the sox and yanks.That year will be remembered for the alcs the world series was a given.

Good point. The ALCS was remembered because of the huge upset.

[Swift]

when the National team of Romania lost in the WC quarter finales :( :( against Sweden

[deuce6000]

I hate opinions unless they are mine!!!

[BluRossonero]

I remember two upsets, that brought me into tears! :((

1. in the season 2003-2004 in the Champions League:

1st leg: AC Milan - Deportivo La Coruna 4-1
2nd leg: Deportivo la Coruna - AC Milan 4-0

2. in the season 2004-2005 in the Champions League:

the final of the Champions League between AC Milan and Liverpool.


These results really upset me. :(

[limpdickkid]

I remember two upsets, that brought me into tears! :((

1. in the season 2003-2004 in the Champions League:

1st leg: AC Milan - Deportivo La Coruna 4-1
2nd leg: Deportivo la Coruna - AC Milan 4-0

2. in the season 2004-2005 in the Champions League:

the final of the Champions League between AC Milan and Liverpool.


These results really upset me. :(

:lol:

I agree on both counts but I wouldn't say these were the biggest upsets. The Liverpool/Milan match did upset me quite a bit. But then AC Milan got them last season when Liverpool seemed to deserve it slightly more than Milan, with regards to the final match and not the whole CL series.

[deepee]

Well I duunno why real madrid always loses.. its such a star studded team. Always an upset

[BluRossonero]

Watching today the FA CUP, I saw probably one of the biggest upsets in England, if we consider the levels of the two teams:

Liverpool 1 - 2 Barnsley

Now I'm waiting for the clash between Arsenal - Man UTD

[Barbarossa]

Considering the history of the FA cup, that really wasn't a huge upset, tbh :ermm:

[CrabGirl]

Considering the history of the FA cup, that really wasn't a huge upset, tbh :ermm:

Though, perhaps, one of the funniest for us neutrals that fucking hate Liverpool.

[AmpeD]

stanford over usc american college football, 2007

[BluRossonero]

Considering the history of the FA cup, that really wasn't a huge upset, tbh :ermm:


Yes, you are right, but if you watched the match and saw how many chances of scoring Liverpool had..

Also the comeback Liverpool made from this .. beating Inter 2-0 that's very nice! Happy about this result! :lol:

[j2k4]

Fellow named David beat Goliath a while back.

The point of this thread seems to be determining where the Giants upset of the undefeated Patriots falls relative to other upsets.

In that vein, I still believe the Jets victory over the Colts in S.B. III to be the biggest upset.

The game-time spread was something on the order of 19 points, and I have a vague memory of an initial spread of 45, believe it or not.

As an adjunct argument, would anyone care to tell me why/how, in every discussion I've ever heard about which Super Bowl team is the best ever, the undefeated '72 Dolphins are never even mentioned?


In any case, the "Miracle on Ice" must be considered; same with Tyson/Douglas...Max Baer and James Braddock...I could go on, but, considering my ignorance of international contests not involving the U.S., I will demure.

Perhaps some of you could recount some of these lesser-well-known (but nonetheless worthy-of-consideration) contests we are not all aware of? :whistling

[DefX]

As an adjunct argument, would anyone care to tell me why/how, in every discussion I've ever heard about which Super Bowl team is the best ever, the undefeated '72 Dolphins are never even mentioned?




Two reasons.

(1) The Dolphins weren't even the favorites in that SB. That distinction belonged to their opponent, the Redskins.

(2) It is a well known fact among avid NFL historians that the '72 Dolphins schedule was considered a relatively easy one.

[j2k4]

As an adjunct argument, would anyone care to tell me why/how, in every discussion I've ever heard about which Super Bowl team is the best ever, the undefeated '72 Dolphins are never even mentioned?




Two reasons.

(1) The Dolphins weren't even the favorites in that SB. That distinction belonged to their opponent, the Redskins.

(2) It is a well known fact among avid NFL historians that the '72 Dolphins schedule was considered a relatively easy one.

What's your point?

The Patriots ran roughshod over the league this year, rewrote the record book for offensive production, yet lost the ultimate game.

Does that make them better or worse than the several single-defeat teams of the past few decades?

Are they better (having lost the Super bowl) than the '72 Dolphins?

[DefX]

My point is the undefeated record of the 72 Dolphins is not indicative of their playing strength in comparison to the best teams debated around since their easy schedule paved the way for them to go undefeated in the first place. I looked it up and found out that the overall winning pct of all their opponents that season was .400 :O. They also didn't dominate their playoff opponents (both their playoff games were nailbiters, i believe) which would've put them in the "dominant" pedestal that is prereq for any talk of "greatest team ever".

I think you're putting too much emphasis on the numbers. While noone's arguing that the perfect season of the 72 dolphins is a walk in the park, I would bet my house that they would get trounced by the stifling defense of the 85 Bears, the high powered offense of the 80's 49ers or even the Steelers in the late 70's. All of which are subjective at best but computer game simuls would agree with me.

[j2k4]

My point is the undefeated record of the 72 Dolphins is not indicative of their playing strength in comparison to the best teams debated around since their easy schedule paved the way for them to go undefeated in the first place. I looked it up and found out that the overall winning pct of all their opponents that season was .400 :O. They also didn't dominate their playoff opponents (both their playoff games were nailbiters, i believe) which would've put them in the "dominant" pedestal that is prereq for any talk of "greatest team ever".

I think you're putting too much emphasis on the numbers. While noone's arguing that the perfect season of the 72 dolphins is a walk in the park, I would bet my house that they would get trounced by the stifling defense of the 85 Bears, the high powered offense of the 80's 49ers or even the Steelers in the late 70's. All of which are subjective at best but computer game simuls would agree with me.

You continue to miss my point, which is that the Patriots, in losing, prove the old saw of, "on any given Sunday, blah, blah, blah".

This did not happen to the Dolphins, yet you give the fact no weight.

Answer me this:

If that Giants team played that Pats ten times in a row, who'd win more games?

Are the Pats not amongst the greatest all-time teams?

I would objectively argue that they are, using as proof their record prior to meeting the Giants, and who could argue otherwise?

This is all so much bunkum, you see.

In any case, while the Pats were given maximum kudos for offensive production, their overweening accomplishment was having won eighteen straight, I think you'd agree.

Again, while I personally don't count the Dolphins amongst the greatest teams, I find it sort of appalling they are never even mentioned.

BTW-

Almost any post-'89 offense would have shredded the defense of the '85 Bears.

The 46 was a wonder for a few years, and the Bears maximized it's utility by way of the (almost accidentally) superb collection of athletes Buddy Ryan had to play with.

[DefX]

I did address the issue of the '72 Dolphins perfection. And my stance is that they accomplished that glory not because they were mythical, invincible immortals but because they arguably had a regular season schedule equivalent to playing a bunch of pop warner football teams. Extreme exaggeration but you get my drift. Therefore, the argument that they're the best team ever doesn't hold water especially if you look at the fact that the word dominance isn't synonymous with that perfect season.

As for your original question about how the 72 Dolphins are never mentioned among the greatest teams ever, I found this article to counter that claim:

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/football/teams/greatest.html

[j2k4]

I did address the issue of the '72 Dolphins perfection. And my stance is that they accomplished that glory not because they were mythical, invincible immortals but because they arguably had a regular season schedule equivalent to playing a bunch of pop warner football teams. Extreme exaggeration but you get my drift. Therefore, the argument that they're the best team ever doesn't hold water especially if you look at the fact that the word dominance isn't synonymous with that perfect season.

As for your original question about how the 72 Dolphins are never mentioned among the greatest teams ever, I found this article to counter that claim:

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/football/teams/greatest.html

Hmmm.

Odd that the article comes from the ESPN site (which I certainly don't haunt), but, apart from the discussions I have had myself with others, the rankling omissions have occurred in debates which took place on various ESPN TV programs I have seen.

In any case, good catch, and thanks for the link.

As to the issue of sub-par competition, my contention was that the Dolphins nevertheless were perfect that year, and that alone should have warranted a mention; I was surprised to see the '96 Packers (my team) mentioned, owing to the three losses on their record.

On the other hand, I was gratified to see the '62 Packers ranked 2nd, as their only defeat that year was the Thanksgiving shellacking handed them by the Detroit Lions; they sacked Bart Starr 11 times as I recall, and played so ineptly the game had to be considered an anomaly.

It is precisely such anomalies which, for the most part, preclude perfection.

[RPerry]

Its funny people seem to forget about this team: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1998.htm I on the other hand never forget who my team beats, or gets beaten by. (Tampa Bay) This Minnesota team was probably among the greats, but because they also fell short in a superbowl bid, are hardly mentioned either.

[j2k4]

Its funny people seem to forget about this team: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1998.htm I on the other hand never forget who my team beats, or gets beaten by. (Tampa Bay) This Minnesota team was probably among the greats, but because they also fell short in a superbowl bid, are hardly mentioned either.

Yeah, but gee whiz, Rob - they lost to the frigging Falcons. :whistling

[RPerry]

Its funny people seem to forget about this team: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1998.htm I on the other hand never forget who my team beats, or gets beaten by. (Tampa Bay) This Minnesota team was probably among the greats, but because they also fell short in a superbowl bid, are hardly mentioned either.

Yeah, but gee whiz, Rob - they lost to the frigging Falcons. :whistling

but the falcons were pretty good that year :huh:

[j2k4]

Yeah, but gee whiz, Rob - they lost to the frigging Falcons. :whistling

but the falcons were pretty good that year :huh:

If you insist. :whistling

[Busyman™]

Are the Pats not amongst the greatest all-time teams?
Absolutely. 3 SB wins in 4 appearances in 7 years. Not bad.

Again, while I personally don't count the Dolphins amongst the greatest teams, I find it sort of appalling they are never even mentioned.


Mentioned where? I always hear people mention the Dolphins. I don't see where it goes down in upset history. Although they were undefeated, they actually upset the Redskins.

The '72 Dolphins were mentioned even more this past NFL season for obvious reasons. Easy schedule or not, perfection is not easy in football.


My point is the undefeated record of the 72 Dolphins is not indicative of their playing strength in comparison to the best teams debated around since their easy schedule paved the way for them to go undefeated in the first place. I looked it up and found out that the overall winning pct of all their opponents that season was .400 :O. They also didn't dominate their playoff opponents (both their playoff games were nailbiters, i believe) which would've put them in the "dominant" pedestal that is prereq for any talk of "greatest team ever".

Mmk.

The Patriots played in shitty division....for years.

This year no one in their divsion made the playoffs with the Bills being closest with a nice 7 wins (.438). The rest?

The Jets with 4 wins (.250) and the Dolphins with a mere 1 win (.063).

Well that's 6 games out of a 16 game season right there. Their divisional opponents cumulatively actually averaged the Jets average.

[DefX]

My point is the undefeated record of the 72 Dolphins is not indicative of their playing strength in comparison to the best teams debated around since their easy schedule paved the way for them to go undefeated in the first place. I looked it up and found out that the overall winning pct of all their opponents that season was .400 :O. They also didn't dominate their playoff opponents (both their playoff games were nailbiters, i believe) which would've put them in the "dominant" pedestal that is prereq for any talk of "greatest team ever".

Mmk.

The Patriots played in shitty division....for years.

This year no one in their divsion made the playoffs with the Bills being closest with a nice 7 wins (.438). The rest?

The Jets with 4 wins (.250) and the Dolphins with a mere 1 win (.063).

Well that's 6 games out of a 16 game season right there. Their divisional opponents cumulatively actually averaged the Jets average.

What you say is true. AFC east is one of the weakest in the NFL but despite that, the Pats still had to play tougher opposition overall this season compared to the 72 Dolphins.

Had to look it up but i found out that 72 Dolphins and the 07 Pats had winning percentages of 0.357 and 0.469 respectively.

Thats more than 100 pt differential plus they had to play 6 playoff teams in the regular season.

[C-mos]

my biggest upset was


a semi-final match in Uefa Cup

my team scored 2 goals...in the first half

and if the other team wanted to qualify they had to score 4 goals :-<.


in the last minute they scored the 4th goal ..I cryed like a biatch

[ClodiuS]

Milan-Liverpool The final of Istambul!

[BluRossonero]

my biggest upset was


a semi-final match in Uefa Cup

my team scored 2 goals...in the first half

and if the other team wanted to qualify they had to score 4 goals :-<.


in the last minute they scored the 4th goal ..I cryed like a biatch

Are you talking about the incredible match between Middlesbrough and Steaua Bucharest?

If that is what you are talking about.. that was a very big upset...



Milan-Liverpool The final of Istambul!

You're right man! I also said in an earlier post that this was a very big upset for Milan!
:cry::cry::cry:

Anyway.. Milan always comeback to high level football ( =Final of UCL) :D:D

[Septimus]

when Argentina was out in the first round of the Wordl Cuo 2002

[Ri0T]

If you're a fan of A.C. Milan, then the final vs. Liverpool in UEFA Champs. League 2005.
If you're a fan of the world of track & field, then the Ben Johnson doping scandal in Seoul 1988.