Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I think CS, that the Minnesota win against SF was an example of a good defensive line having their way with a smaller SF offensive line. It happened also with the Giants fronts in some other playoff losses. The Niners did a good job of handling the Vikings the next two years though. It also seemed like whatever Wilson threw up, Carter was coming down with. A great game from a receiver who should have had better career numbers but the Viking QBs just didnt get the ball to him enough.

I don’t know if I would say the 87 49ers are the best team to go one and done ever, but they are certainly in the conversation for me.

2011 Packers also deserve mention, as do the 2019 Ravens.

With a point differential of plus-192 (in a 14-game season) and one of the best defenses of all-time, the 1970 Vikings deserve mention.

My issue with the 1987 49ers being included is their record and PD is inflated by the strike games.

The 2011 Packers went 15-1 and lost that one game by only five points. Then they got blown out at home by the New York Giants in the divisional round after a bye. One of the greatest offenses ever (and while the defense's numbers were bad, there was a lot of garbage time this season). They certainly have a case for this title.

readjack wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2026 7:02 pm

CSKreager wrote: ↑Thu Jul 23, 2026 1:17 pm2006 Chargers

Absolutely. 14-2. Tomlinson MVP. Gates AP1. Merriman 3rd in DPOY — 17 sacks in 12 games! (PED suspension). Rivers really solid in first year as a starter. Losses to the 13-3 Ravens and 9-7 KC. 1st in points, 7th in points allowed. Dominant as a team and had true game-breakers.

Not as shocking as the Colts the year before, since the Colts had been around longer and the Chargers lost to the Pats. But shocking.

'96 Broncos to me was the big one. Losing, and the opponent, and how it happened. All three. Stunning.

If they beat New England are they beating Indianapolis as well in your book?

Ten Minute Ticker wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 1:11 pm With a point differential of plus-192 (in a 14-game season) and one of the best defenses of all-time, the 1970 Vikings deserve mention.

My issue with the 1987 49ers being included is their record and PD is inflated by the strike games.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If Fran Tarkenton is on the Vikings his entire prime, then in 1970 they would’ve had a better chance than they ever did with him in reality.

The Purple People Eaters were better in 69 and 70 than 73-77, and in 1970 specifically had they played Dallas, they’d face Craig Morton, not Roger Staubach, and the AFC team was the 1970 Colts (in my book a worse opponent than the four teams they lost to)

Crazy Packers Fan wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 9:13 pm The 2011 Packers went 15-1 and lost that one game by only five points. Then they got blown out at home by the New York Giants in the divisional round after a bye. One of the greatest offenses ever (and while the defense's numbers were bad, there was a lot of garbage time this season). They certainly have a case for this title.

I’ve heard that they had a safety that had a career ending injury. Nick Collins I think his name is?

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sun Jul 26, 2026 1:07 am

Crazy Packers Fan wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 9:13 pm The 2011 Packers went 15-1 and lost that one game by only five points. Then they got blown out at home by the New York Giants in the divisional round after a bye. One of the greatest offenses ever (and while the defense's numbers were bad, there was a lot of garbage time this season). They certainly have a case for this title.

I’ve heard that they had a safety that had a career ending injury. Nick Collins I think his name is?

Yep, he would have been a real star in the NFL, some say a Hall of Famer (I'm not going to go that far). He had the pick-six in the Super Bowl as his crowning achievement.

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sun Jul 26, 2026 1:06 am

Ten Minute Ticker wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 1:11 pm With a point differential of plus-192 (in a 14-game season) and one of the best defenses of all-time, the 1970 Vikings deserve mention.

My issue with the 1987 49ers being included is their record and PD is inflated by the strike games.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If Fran Tarkenton is on the Vikings his entire prime, then in 1970 they would’ve had a better chance than they ever did with him in reality.

The Purple People Eaters were better in 69 and 70 than 73-77, and in 1970 specifically had they played Dallas, they’d face Craig Morton, not Roger Staubach, and the AFC team was the 1970 Colts (in my book a worse opponent than the four teams they lost to)

Take away San Fran's scab games, and it's still 10-2. As for #1 in offense and defense, not sure if those stats hold-up if you take away Wks#4-thru-#6. I can't imagine it'd be much less. They were still a SB-win-caliber team to me, only losing at Pittsburgh in the very first game and allowing the Saints, who also finished 10-2, to split with them. I guess they and the '96 Broncos would have to be the top-two teams in this given thread. This, especially, considering they'd each go on to win back-to-back Super Bowls the next two seasons!

The '70 Vikings not only didn't have Tarkenton, but not Kapp either. This definitely keeps them from 'best' one-and-done. And not just that...but no Chuck Foreman yet either! He needs to be mentioned in this in the same way that Fran is!

Of course you got to love Joe Kapp's style - a 'football player' as much as he was a QB! Gritty, smash-mouth, LBer-mentality, played with a kicker's mask, etc. But truthfully, MVP season aside, he was a downgrade from HOFer-to-be Tarkenton. IMO the Vikings with Fran instead don't beat the Chiefs either in SBIV, but maybe with he and Foreman, they have an even-odds chance! And they definitely ought to win-it-all in 1970 with, again, an even-odds chance to beat Dallas (then Miami) in '71 as well.

I've very recently come to the opinion (writing this, actually, for the first time) that the 1973 Vikings are now the best Viking team ever, thus very recently demoting 1969. They did win 12 games, started 9-0, and within that very start beat three winning teams: one of them an AFFCG-participant, and another a team that finished 12-2 just as they did! Yes, Minny's defense by then was beneath their turn-of-the-decade status from a few years prior, but not at all by much. STILL the Purple People Eaters! Tarkenton & Foreman, however, a significant upgrade! Just like I think had Ferragamo/Tyler been with the Rams all decade long, the Rams at least make it to (maybe, just maybe, even win) a Super Bowl prior to '79 - on a bigger scale - I think Fran/Chuck, '69-thru-'71, wins Minny at least one Super Bowl period.