Top 30 teams in NFL history

Top 30 NFL teams in history

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 9: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass as snow falls during a game against the Baltimore Colts at Three Rivers Stadium on December 9, 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Colts 35-13. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 16: Paul Warfield, wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Colts in the Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, December 16, 1972. The Dolphins defeated the Colts 16-0 in the final game of their regular season which led to their 17-0 undefeated season with their win against the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images) /

3. 1972 Miami Dolphins

The 1972 Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to complete a perfect season, going 17-0. So why are they only No. 3 on the list and not No. 1?

While, yes, Miami won every game, they didn’t exactly have a daunting schedule to go through. That’s not to take anything away from what seemed like an impossible accomplishment, but they had a very weak regular season schedule in 1972.

The Dolphins only faced two teams that finished with a winning record in 1972, and they weren’t exactly dominant throughout the year. Sure, they had a 52-0 win over New England and a 23-0 win over the Colts, but by and large their games were mostly competitive.

Let’s focus on the good, though. The Dolphins finished with the NFL’s best offense and best defense. They allowed only 171 points all year, while scoring 385 points offensively. They defeated the Browns and Steelers in the playoffs before beating Washington in one of the more forgettable Super Bowls of all time.

Miami pulled off something that hasn’t been done in the years since, which is a perfect season. That said, another team won more games in a season than they did (which we will get to), and it was done against bad teams. A remarkable accomplishment, but one that needs context to paint the bigger picture.

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