***My replies follow....
Nolan;
I am sure you probably know more about the team than I do.
***Ohhhhhhhhh, low blow! I'm only 40, which means I started watching pro football about 1970. C'mon, you've got me covered, right ARI?
But based on my recollection of the game,over 30 years ago,I do remember some of the players on that team.I agree the Colts had a very good defense.But they had Morrall,who if I remember was nothing to write home about & Unitas, who I think was injured during the season.But wasn't he at the end of his career at that time? Other than the great John Mackey I don't remember anything special about their other skill people.Matte,Hill & Orr were ok players,but IMO nothing special.
***My knowledge of the team is purely historical. I saw these Colts at the end of their careers, in the early 70s. Unitas was still one of the NFL's best QBs (he was an 11 year vet by that time). He retired five years later from the Chargers. So, while he was ionjured, he was still a part of the team. Matte was a solid back. Mackey was one of the all-time best. Not sure when Ray Berry retired but he was a hall of famer. Mike Curtis was an All-Pro. Interesting thing about Colts was -- they were a TEAM. They were not a collection of superstars with egos. Give me 22 VERY GOOD starting players versus a team with a couple of primmadonas, any day. Of course, it's all a matter of opinion.
I am sure that the average margin of victory that you have stated is correct.But is that the true way to tell how good a team is?
***I looked it up, so the margin is correct -- and it is impressive considering this was the era when defenses were stronger than they are now. Not sure how to determine how good a team is -- do we judge by number of Hall of Famers? Hall induction is so cheap now, that that's doesn't mean anything, in my opinion. I think margin of victory (or perhaps record against the spread) might be a damn good indictor of team excellence. Not too many teams had average margins of victory at 18 points per game. That's an ass kicking every week. Take out the singel loss they had that year, and it means the games they actually won were won by 20+ points on average.
Although the three teams you mentioned had excellent defenses,I don't remember Minn.or the Rams having potent offenses.
***Rams were a pretty explosive team with Roman Gabriel (1968 MVP, if I recall correctly). Jack Snow. Coached by George Allen.
I don't expect you to do any research,but how good were the other teams that they played that year?
***I know I will sound biased, but Dallas was the class of the league that year. They went 12-2. They had lost two striaght to the Packers in the NFL championships, then were stunned in an upset loss to the Browns in 68. Cowboys had Merideth (his last year -- he shcoked everyone by retiring at the top of his game), Bob Hayes, Don Perkins, Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro and several great players. Minnesota was QBed by Joe Kapp, but was known for the Purple People Eaters -- great defense. They went to the SB the next year after beating the Rams in the championship game. Packers went 7-7 that year, but were still a legendary team at the end of its run. Cleveland was still a very good team. Chicago was a loser, but still had the best MLB of all time and arguably the best RB of all time (Sayers). Redskins and Giants were mediocre teams, but were QBed by phenomenally talented Jugenson and Tarkenton. Eages and Steelers were horrible teams. Rams were a very good team, as well. Lions were average, but would improve and make the playoffs the next season. New teams were the Saints and Falcons, who were awful. San Franciso was also an up and comeing team with John Brodie, one of the league's best QBs.
Right from the start I always thought that the line to that superbowl was out of whack.I guess the BM's took the Colts great stats that you mentioned & the perception that the upstart league was no match for the established NFL.
***Yes, and the fact that the Jets were very lucky to be in the game at all. Didn't they get by the Raiders in that wacky AFL championship game? Sorry, but my knowledge of the AFL is not as good, I'd have to go look that up.
But in truth,I think the Jets stats were comparable to the Colts.
***I think they got lucky one year. They were hardly heard from again either before or after. Weeb Euwbank couldn't carry Don Shula's jockstrap (and I was trashing Shula earlier). I'm sure some will disagree but what I think constitutes a GREAT team is being able to put a string of consecutive years together with the ame personnel. Any team can flash in the pan and disappear (1968-69 Jets) the next. But the Colts were solid pretty much from 1958 all the way up to 1972. I mean, they were a contender EVERY year, winning the NFL championship in 1958, 1964, and 1972 (note the 14 year span). Did the Jets do anything after January 1969? Nope.
And some of the Jets opponents(Oakland & KC) were more potent than the opponents the Colts played.
***I'd put Minnesota and the Browns up there with those teams. But I get your point.
However, I don't remember their other opponents.
Again I am going by memory of a season that was over 30 years ago,but I still think that the Colts were an over-rated team.
***Just to turn the tables on you....who were the top 5 (or 10) NFL teams of all-time, in your opinion?
Good discussion.
ND
