Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Currently we've seen the Rams, Seahawks, 49ers and Cardinals each play 14 games.
Their records are 11-3, 11-3, 10-4, and 3-11 respectively.

In 1975, the AFC Central (Steelers, Bengals, Oilers and Browns) were similarly 12-2, 11-3, 10-4, and 3-11 respectively.

I've got several questions right now:

Firstly, how do these eight teams compare to one another and which division is better?

Would you favor the Rams to have the best record, season by the numbers (75 Steelers led in my score% metric), and win the Super Bowl like the Steelers did? Not many teams did all three.

Could you see the Seahawks being a playoff team that wins a wild card game and loses in the divisional round? (functionally on par with Cincinnati in 75)

Could you see the 49ers being a one and done with a solid record for a low seed? (Oilers didn't make the playoffs but they'd be a low seeded 10 win team under today's format)

And could the Cardinals go into the books as playing the hardest schedule of their generation like the Browns did? (Browns of 1975 were handed the hardest schedule of all time of at least 12 games)

So far, pending thurs night game, the Rams are playing well but they arent as dominating as the '75 Steelers. We have to see how it plays out. The Seahawks were lucky to beat Indy but could still win the division. The Niners go as far as McCaffery can take them, though Kittle is gaining momentum. A Lions loss could help a number of teams trying to clinch a playoff spot by next week.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 2:09 am So far, pending thurs night game, the Rams are playing well but they arent as dominating as the '75 Steelers. We have to see how it plays out. The Seahawks were lucky to beat Indy but could still win the division. The Niners go as far as McCaffery can take them, though Kittle is gaining momentum. A Lions loss could help a number of teams trying to clinch a playoff spot by next week.

Rams certainly aren't as dominant as the 75 Steelers, granted that is an extremely high bar to clear. (75 Steelers had an average margin of victory of 15.1 points per game and hold the record for pro bowlers for a Super Bowl champion with eleven)

That said if they win on Thursday (from a Seahawks fan I don't know how well we'll do against them) could they win it all if they are on top of a division this strong?

Just one man's opinion (as a Dallas Cowboys' fan). I think the 1975 Steelers were the best team in the last fifty years. Part of this is because there really was not space for top draft selections like Dave Brown and Walter White. I think their defense would make quick work of today's teams.

With the Eagles struggling and Chiefs out, its a wide open year but I feel the Seahawks have as good a chance as the Rams, Bills or Eagles to go all the way. Denver can win and clinch a first-round bye if the Ravens upset the Patriots. What is weird is that Sam Darnold faces the exact same situation with the Hawks that he went through with the Vikings last year. He has to win a big game against the Rams after failing against the Lions last year. Can he take the next step? Can the Seahawks offensive line continue to keep playing well?

Halas Hall wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 10:42 am Just one man's opinion (as a Dallas Cowboys' fan). I think the 1975 Steelers were the best team in the last fifty years. Part of this is because there really was not space for top draft selections like Dave Brown and Walter White. I think their defense would make quick work of today's teams.

I don’t know if I would quite go that far, but from a Seahawks fan I do think that there’s a roundabout way to argue that the 75 Steelers may be the greatest team of all time (I’d probably say top ten to maybe five myself and the best Steeler team ever), and yeah, a player of Dave Brown’s caliber being left unprotected for the expansion draft is a testament to the roster they must’ve had.

That '75 Steelers team was so good, Wagner/Edwards kept Donnie Shell on the bench! Had Edwards not had his salary/malingering beef with the Steelers, could he had made the HOF? Or deteriorated too quickly? Where are you at, Bryan ... whats the story?

Are these Cardinals better or worse than the 75 Browns?