IDF
08-12-2007, 07:39
What is it? With the undefeated Patriots, this is bound to be an issue. The 72 phins might end up in the news too if the Patriots lose.
I'm of course going with my biased choice of the 1985 Chicago Bears, but I can back it up.
Defense The Bears had the greatest defense in NFL history. 10 of the 11 starters were Pro-Bowlers. The only non-Pro Bowler on the defense was William "The Refrigerator" Perry.
It is very rare that the players in the trenches get recognition, but the Bear line was good enough that everyone knows that line. On one end you had Richard Dent. He will eventually be in the hall of fame as he was a 4 time Pro-Bowler and Superbowl MVP. At the opposite side the defensive end was hall of famer Dan "The Danimal" Hampton. Those two ends have a combined 220+ sacks. That is an amazing pass rush for down linemen. The defensive tackles were Perry (who wasn't great, but he stuffed the run and did his job) and Steve McMichael. He was a Pro-Bowler and recorded nearly 100 sacks from the defensive tackle position (which is hard as sacks are easier off the ends).
The linebacking corp was the best in NFL history. Singletary, Wilson, and Marshall were unstoppable. Singletary may not have been the best MLB in Bear history (Butkus has that distinction) he was certainly the smartest. He worked well with his two OLBs. The talent at linebacker allowed Buddy Ryan to implement the 46 Defense. Wilson and Marshall linedup on the same side of the line and were able to blitz at will netting several sacks. No O-line could block them. The 46 set sent 7 pass rushers after the QB and made the Bears defense the best in NFL history.
The secondary was amazing too. Fencik and Frazier were an amazing pair at safety. Fencik was near the end of his career, but was still amazing. Frazier unfortunately suffered a knee injury in the Superbowl which ended his career during a period when he was showing amazing upside. The corners of Duerson and Richardon ensured that the QBs couldn't dump passes off to avoid sacks from the blitzing linebackers of the 46 set.
Offense McMahon wasn't a hall of fame QB, but he was great when healthy. Realize he only was a starter for 4 years before Charles Martin destroyed his shoulder in the cheapshot at Green Bay. McMahon never started after that point and was a good QB until that bullshit. He was a mobile QB who scrambled as well as Steve Young and even caught a few TD passes (courtesy of Walter Payton).
The runningbacks don't even need mention. The Bears had Walter Payton, the greatest football player in NFL history. Sanders and Sayers were better rushers, but Payton could run, block, pass, and catch. He was the most complete football player ever. He led the team in receptions and the NFC in rushing despite the fact he was on the downside of his career at this point and already the NFL's all-time leading rusher. Suhey was a great fullback who blocked for Payton and scored during the Superbowl.
The receivers were good too. Gault was faster than Hester ever will be. He was an Olympic sprinter who got screwed by the US boycott in 1980. He recently set the world record for the over 40 age bracket in the 100. He was an amazing receiver and kick returner as no one could catch him. McKinnon wasn't fast, but he had great hands. Moorehead was a great Tightend who could block and catch as needed.
Coaching and other stuff The Bears had Ditka (who can kick Chuck Norris's ass) and Buddy Ryan. Enough said. Oh and did I mention they did it without stealing radio signals from the other team? Fuck off Belichick! Ditka did it all on his own, AND he also beat a hurricane, won the Indy 500 (driving a giant bus), and won the gold medal in Olympic basketball all on his own. some of you will get that last joke
As for playoff performances, the Bears only allowed 10 points in 3 playoff games. They shut out two of their 3 playoff opponents and 7 of the 10 points were scored against a second string defense.
I'm of course going with my biased choice of the 1985 Chicago Bears, but I can back it up.
Defense The Bears had the greatest defense in NFL history. 10 of the 11 starters were Pro-Bowlers. The only non-Pro Bowler on the defense was William "The Refrigerator" Perry.
It is very rare that the players in the trenches get recognition, but the Bear line was good enough that everyone knows that line. On one end you had Richard Dent. He will eventually be in the hall of fame as he was a 4 time Pro-Bowler and Superbowl MVP. At the opposite side the defensive end was hall of famer Dan "The Danimal" Hampton. Those two ends have a combined 220+ sacks. That is an amazing pass rush for down linemen. The defensive tackles were Perry (who wasn't great, but he stuffed the run and did his job) and Steve McMichael. He was a Pro-Bowler and recorded nearly 100 sacks from the defensive tackle position (which is hard as sacks are easier off the ends).
The linebacking corp was the best in NFL history. Singletary, Wilson, and Marshall were unstoppable. Singletary may not have been the best MLB in Bear history (Butkus has that distinction) he was certainly the smartest. He worked well with his two OLBs. The talent at linebacker allowed Buddy Ryan to implement the 46 Defense. Wilson and Marshall linedup on the same side of the line and were able to blitz at will netting several sacks. No O-line could block them. The 46 set sent 7 pass rushers after the QB and made the Bears defense the best in NFL history.
The secondary was amazing too. Fencik and Frazier were an amazing pair at safety. Fencik was near the end of his career, but was still amazing. Frazier unfortunately suffered a knee injury in the Superbowl which ended his career during a period when he was showing amazing upside. The corners of Duerson and Richardon ensured that the QBs couldn't dump passes off to avoid sacks from the blitzing linebackers of the 46 set.
Offense McMahon wasn't a hall of fame QB, but he was great when healthy. Realize he only was a starter for 4 years before Charles Martin destroyed his shoulder in the cheapshot at Green Bay. McMahon never started after that point and was a good QB until that bullshit. He was a mobile QB who scrambled as well as Steve Young and even caught a few TD passes (courtesy of Walter Payton).
The runningbacks don't even need mention. The Bears had Walter Payton, the greatest football player in NFL history. Sanders and Sayers were better rushers, but Payton could run, block, pass, and catch. He was the most complete football player ever. He led the team in receptions and the NFC in rushing despite the fact he was on the downside of his career at this point and already the NFL's all-time leading rusher. Suhey was a great fullback who blocked for Payton and scored during the Superbowl.
The receivers were good too. Gault was faster than Hester ever will be. He was an Olympic sprinter who got screwed by the US boycott in 1980. He recently set the world record for the over 40 age bracket in the 100. He was an amazing receiver and kick returner as no one could catch him. McKinnon wasn't fast, but he had great hands. Moorehead was a great Tightend who could block and catch as needed.
Coaching and other stuff The Bears had Ditka (who can kick Chuck Norris's ass) and Buddy Ryan. Enough said. Oh and did I mention they did it without stealing radio signals from the other team? Fuck off Belichick! Ditka did it all on his own, AND he also beat a hurricane, won the Indy 500 (driving a giant bus), and won the gold medal in Olympic basketball all on his own. some of you will get that last joke
As for playoff performances, the Bears only allowed 10 points in 3 playoff games. They shut out two of their 3 playoff opponents and 7 of the 10 points were scored against a second string defense.