The Gipper Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 We have the bracket going on for the greatest team of all time on another thread, but here is perhaps another way to look at it: How much does a championship team (and I only included champions here) dominate the rest of its league? And for this, I am simply looking at point differential averages. By what average did a particular championship team defeat its opponents. As we say, often we cannot compare a team of one era to another, but we can certainly compare a team against its opponents that particular year. And for what its worth, here are the teams that had a least a 14.0 point differential average over their opponents: 1. 1941 Bears 22.6 pt/diff. 2. 1946 Browns 20.4 3. 1961 Oilers 19.4 4. 1949 Eagles 19.2 5. 1962 Packers 19.1 6. 1923 Bulldogs 18.9 7. 1924 Bulldogs 19.8 8. 1948 Eagles 18.3 9. 1999 Rams 17.8 10. 1991 Redskins 16.3 11t. 1947 Browns 16.1 11t. 1985 Bears 16.1 13t. 1984 49ers 15.4 13t. 1996 Packers 15.4 15. 1972 Dolphins 15.3 16. 1976 Steelers 15.1 17. 1958 Colts 14.8 18t. 1931 Packers 14.6 18t. 1943 Bears 14.6 20. 1954 Browns 14.5 21. 1948 Browns 14.2 22. 1922 Bulldogs 14.1 23. 1949 Browns 14.0 Note this: The 2012 Ravens had only a 3.4 point differential average over its opponents. The 2011 NY Giants are the ONLY Champion in history (NFL/AFL/AAFC) who ever had a negative point differential. They scored -0.4 points per game vs. their regular season opponents. I have italicized those teams that are "post NFL/AFL merger", for what that is worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tour2ma Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 It's still the '85 Bears... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted August 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 Here in order are the "Strongest" to "weakest" Super Bowl Champions (since 1966) in terms of point differentials: 1. 1999 Rams 17.8 2. 1991 Redskins 16.3 3. 1985 Bears 16.1 4. 1984 49ers 15.5 5. 1996 Packers 15.4 6. 1972 Dolphins 15.3 7. 1975 Steelers 15.1 8. 1973 Dolphins 13.8 9. 1994 49ers 13.1 --- 1971 Cowboys 13.1 11. 1969 Chiefs 13.0 12. 1966 Packers 12.3 13. 1998 Broncos 12.0 14. 1989 49ers 11.8 15. 1997 Broncos 11.6 16. 2004 Patriots 11.1 17. 2009 Saints 10.6 18. 2000 Ravens 10.5 19. 1992 Cowboys 10.4 20. 1978 Steelers 10.1 21. 1968 Jets 9.9 22. 1975 Steelers 9.6 23. 1977 Cowboys 9.5 24. 2002 Buccaneers 9.4 25. 2010 Packers 9.2 --- 1993 Cowboys 9.2 27. 1995 Cowboys 9.0 28. 1967 Packers 8.8 29. 1986 Giants 8.4 30. 1974 Steelers 8.3 31. 2005 Steelers 8.2 32. 1976 Raiders 8.1 33. 1990 Giants 7.8 --- 2008 Steelers 7.8 35. 1982 Redskins 6.9 --- 2003 Pats 6.9 37. 1981 49ers 6.7 38. 1983 Raiders 6.5 39. 1987 Redskins 6.3 40. 1970 Colts 6.3 41. 1988 49ers 4.7 42. 2006 Colts 4.2 43. 1980 Raiders 3.6 44. 2012 Ravens 3.4 45. 2007 Giants 1.4 46. 2011 Giants -0.4 Note here at the bottom: 4 of the 5 "worst" SB Champs have been within the last 7 years. That sounds like a trend to me. What could be causing that trend? Teams that really aren't all that dominant "get hot" during the playoffs and take the whole thing. I think that is certainly true with the 2 Giants teams and the Ravens last year. No one would have made those teams odds on favorites to win the SB in those years. Maybe not so much with the 2006 Colts. Nevertheless, perhaps history should take another look at those 1999 Rams. We know they were an offensive juggernaut. Perhaps we should actually think beyond that and say that they were one of the most dominant teams in NFL history. You don't score 17.8 pts a game more than your opponents without having your defense have some say in that total. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted August 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 It's still the '85 Bears... I dunno, maybe the 99 Rams woulda taken them. The Rams scored 32.9 points per game vs. giving up 15.1 The 1985 Bears scored 28.5 ppg vs. allowing 12.4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark O Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 I dunno, maybe the 99 Rams woulda taken them. The Rams scored 32.9 points per game vs. giving up 15.1 The 1985 Bears scored 28.5 ppg vs. allowing 12.4. I just simulated that game 5 times on the whatifsports.com website. Played them all indoors on a neutral field. Bears won 4 and the Rams won 1. The Rams won a 13-12 turnover fest. The Bears won 3 in dominating fashion and then one by 7. For what that's worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 I just simulated that game 5 times on the whatifsports.com website. Played them all indoors on a neutral field. Bears won 4 and the Rams won 1. The Rams won a 13-12 turnover fest. The Bears won 3 in dominating fashion and then one by 7. For what that's worth. I was going to say ... I like the Bears in that contest because the 46 defense would slow the Rams down enough IMO that the Bears could outscore them. I think the Bears might stop the 72 Dolphins as well, because they could contain that dolphins run game. (Although, I will vote for the 72 Dolphins to the end, because no one has proven they can be beaten). I think the 84 Niners would have a shot at beating the 85 Bears though. That quick-hitting passing game might be able to move the ball on them and the defense may cause major headaches for McMahon et al. Zombo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark O Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 I was going to say ... I like the Bears in that contest because the 46 defense would slow the Rams down enough IMO that the Bears could outscore them. I think the Bears might stop the 72 Dolphins as well, because they could contain that dolphins run game. (Although, I will vote for the 72 Dolphins to the end, because no one has proven they can be beaten). I think the 84 Niners would have a shot at beating the 85 Bears though. That quick-hitting passing game might be able to move the ball on them and the defense may cause major headaches for McMahon et al. Zombo Same result, Bears win 4 out of 5 but at least one of the wins is a close one. 23-3 Bears 20-7 Bears 41-9 Bears 19-13 Niners 24-23 Bears TD on the last play of the game to win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 Same result, Bears win 4 out of 5 but at least one of the wins is a close one. 23-3 Bears 20-7 Bears 41-9 Bears 19-13 Niners 24-23 Bears TD on the last play of the game to win. Wow, I can't see the 84 Niners getting dominated like that by anyone. Their only loss was to the Steelers in a flukey game 20-17. They outscored their playoff opponents 82-26. It's all fun to speculate though. Zombo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted August 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 I just simulated that game 5 times on the whatifsports.com website. Played them all indoors on a neutral field. Bears won 4 and the Rams won 1. The Rams won a 13-12 turnover fest. The Bears won 3 in dominating fashion and then one by 7. For what that's worth. Interesting that you can do that. Can you do that with some of the matchups in our "Greatest Team" Bracket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted August 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 Same result, Bears win 4 out of 5 but at least one of the wins is a close one. 23-3 Bears 20-7 Bears 41-9 Bears 19-13 Niners 24-23 Bears TD on the last play of the game to win. OOH, and we both voted for the 84 Niners. What does the computer know that we don't? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark O Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 No idea what the computer knows....but anyone can do it. www.whatifsports.com is the website and it's free to simulate any game between any two teams in history as many times as you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted August 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 No idea what the computer knows....but anyone can do it. www.whatifsports.com is the website and it's free to simulate any game between any two teams in history as many times as you like. I did the 1948 Browns vs. the 1950 Browns 5 times. Needless to say, all games were close: Scores: A. 1950 24 1948 17 B. 1948 21 1950 16 C. 1950 13 1948 10 D. 1948 14 1950 10 E. 1950 19 1948 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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