Greatest Football Team Ever

[BettorsChat]

Niners edge Steelers, wear ultimate NFL crown
The readers have spoken.
By a slim 23 votes out of more than 2,400 cast, the 1989 San Francisco 49ers, led by Joe Montana, held off Terry Bradshaw's 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers and have been declared the greatest NFL team of the Super Bowl era.

In the semifinals, the Niners defeated Tom Brady and the 2007 New England Patriots by less than a percentage point in one semifinal, while the Steelers knocked off the 1985 Chicago Bears 52%-48% in the other semi.

In the opening round, the Patriots pulled off a major upset with a resounding victory over the top-seeded 1972 Miami Dolphins 58%-42%.

The other matchups went as expected with the No. 2 seeded Bears dominating the 1998 Denver Broncos 71%-29%. The third- and fourth-seeded teams, the 1978 Steelers and the 1989 49ers both won their quarterfinal matchups with 62% of the reader vote.

USA TODAY received 2,439 votes on the 49ers-Steelers matchup.

A combination of reader nominations and analysis from USA TODAY's NFL team produced the eight-team field.

The eight seeds:

1. 1972 Miami Dolphins

2. 1985 Chicago Bears

3. 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

4. 1989 San Francisco 49ers

5. 1992 Dallas Cowboys

6. 1966 Green Bay Packers

7. 1998 Denver Broncos

8. 2007 New England Patriots

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...-team-ever.htm

[LVJimmy]

Interesting article...I still think Bears '85 is the best team ever.

[MtrCtyPimp]

94 Niners just dont get the respect they deserve

PEACE

[TheRook]

Interesting article...I still think Bears '85 is the best team ever.

I tend to agree...without being too biased.

They were just that dominant with the exception of one game.

Give me another team that dominated the way they did in the playoffs (shutting out the Giants in the NFC Division game, and then shutting out the Rams in the NFC title game, and finally blowing out the Pats 46-10 in the super bowl) and then you can talk to me.

I will take a serious step back on that if the Pats win tomorrow...but it will still be close.

[jcindaville]

Steelers, but im biased

[wayne1218]

Ditka said it himself on Bob & Bob on Sportingnews radio about a month ago ... "We would have no answer for N.E. on defense. They would spread us out and we wouldn't have an answer for that passing game"

Maybe a little like Marino did. At the time, he didn't think the '85 Bears would beat N.E.

[TheRook]

Ditka said it himself on Bob & Bob on Sportingnews radio about a month ago ... "We would have no answer for N.E. on defense. They would spread us out and we wouldn't have an answer for that passing game"

Maybe a little like Marino did. At the time, he didn't think the '85 Bears would beat N.E.

i agree 100%....the bears played no one like miami before or after them.

They were monsters up front but if there was one weakness, it was the secondary.

[Chado1]

I am so young all I can remember is the 98 Broncos with Elway...

[wayne1218]

i agree 100%....the bears played no one like miami before or after them.

They were monsters up front but if there was one weakness, it was the secondary.

He said the famed 46 defense was GREAT but it was vulnerable to a team that could spread them out, had a great offensive line and a great passing game. He said N.E. had all 3 and he honestly didn't think they would be able to stop them. I couldn't believe he said it to be honest but he did.

[jordanrules23]

85 Bears

[TheRook]

85 Bears

you know me....i drink that homeraide...lol

you really think the secondary of Frazier Richardson Duerson and Fencik could stop Moss Welker and Brady?

They'd have to pass 50 times....but i'm worried about that secondary.

[packer34]

I'd agree with the first post except I'd change the Pats and Broncos around. Everyone's saying how great the Patriots are this year and they are a good team but no ones seems to mention that the NFL as a whole was very weak this year and to say the Patriots are the best of all lime is ridiculous!

[wayne1218]

How many teams on this list had to deal with a salary cap and free agency? Everyone underestimates both of those and they shouldn't because back in the day, it was a huge difference with teams keeping players and paying what they want ... unlike today!

[Powerplaypicks]

The 1989 49ers were THE best NFL team of all time. The Best QB in his Prime. The best Football Player of all time Jerry Rice in his Youth, The Best Hard Hitting safety and best DB of all time Ronnie Lott, the second best Pass rusher of all time Charles Haley and the best back up QB of all time Steve Young just incase Montana got the Flu of blew a knee. The 49ers that year lost 2 games by a combined 4 points and just Thrashed everyone in the playoffs by a combined score of 126 to 26. Thats 100 points different. Oh by the way the 49ers COVERED every playoff game that year unlike this Cheating New England Team. JMO

[wayne1218]

The 1989 49ers were THE best NFL team of all time. The Best QB in his Prime. The best Football Player of all time Jerry Rice in his Youth, The Best Hard Hitting safety and best DB of all time Ronnie Lott, the second best Pass rusher of all time Charles Haley and the best back up QB of all time Steve Young just incase Montana got the Flu of blew a knee. The 49ers that year lost 2 games by a combined 4 points and just Thrashed everyone in the playoffs by a combined score of 126 to 26. Thats 100 points different. Oh by the way the 49ers COVERED every playoff game that year unlike this Cheating New England Team. JMO

waaaaaaaa'