The Undefeated Dolphins

Great travelogue boys, but since it's play off time and bowl time I'd like to get back to some football. Brucie served to remind me that the 'Skins were favored in SB VII despite the fact that Miami had yet to lose a game. This is incredible to me. The 'Skins were simply the best of a mediocre NFC. Both the Vikings and Rams had down years. If you recall the Pack had a fluke 10 -4 year, their only play off appearance in the Devine era. The Niners won the West with an 8 - 5- 1 record. Dallas was the only other NFC team that was any good. The 'Skins had 6 gimme wins in the NFC East from the Giants, Cardinals, and Eddie Khayat's 2 -11 -1 Eagles juggernaut.

The 'Skins had a one dimensional offense predicated on the running of Larry Brown who had a great year. Their passing game was weak. Billy Kilmer, while a great locker room leader, couldn't pass worth a lick. His arm was weak and he couldn't throw a spiral. Charley Taylor was very good receiver but was on the downside of his career.

On the other hand, Miami had perhaps the best running game since the Lombardi Packers. Griese didn' t have to throw a lot but was very effective and accurate when he did. He had the great Paul Warfield as well as other capable receivers. Remember Jim Mandich's catch in the Supe. Also the Dolphins had a superb defense which was underrated. Could this have been racial?

The superiority of Miami was evident and they should have won the game 17 -0 or at the very least 14 - 0, if not for Garo's bonehead play. I also believe that almost all of the other AFC play off teams would have beaten the 'Skns that year. The Raiders and Steelers definitely woudl have beaten them and the Browns would have given them a tough battle.

As for the undefeated season, we will never see it again under the current format. The talent is too diluted and the salary cap prevents teams from keeping all of their players. The Colts of '05 and the Broncos of '98 are the closest we'll ever get. Look at the stats. In the last 30 years there have been only three Supe winners with one loss. They would be the '76 Raiders, '84 Niners, and '85 Bears.