FanNation - The Republic of Sport

i B4 e:FN blows monkey chunks said 09/27, 09:13 AM
This is my first tournament so be gentle. You're right it is difficult to narrow down so many great teams to one. Look at the choices - Fins, Cowboys, 49ers, Steelers, how does one decide? What should one take into account as to what makes a good team the best? I don't know, but here goes my best effort. You made a fine choice by the way. I am going to buck tradition a bit and it may cost me but here goes nothing. I say the Jets in SB III

Are you friggin' crazy? Well, maybe but hear me out. The SB was started as way for the NFL to display its prowess. The NFL got all the attention and all the glory. The AFL was just a nuisance. So, the SB founders (which were mostly NFL execs) decided to have a championship game between the best of the NFL - the might Baltimore Colts and the best of the AFL - the lowly NY Jets. The first two SBs only further cemented the NFL's dominance. Then in 1969 along came the Jets with a cocky QB who would not be silenced and refused to believe the hype. Huge underdogs, the Jets pulled off the biggest upset in football at that time and established the legitimacy of the AFL.

i B4 e:FN blows monkey chunks said 09/27, 06:53 PM
This is still the greatest upset in SB history. If the Colts won that game it would have been 3 straight for the NFL. The AFL probably would have never recovered and we would not have the great NFC-AFC debates we enjoy today. The Colts were considered the cream of the crop. The Jets were inferior because they played in the AFL. Everyone knows about Namath's famous guarantee, but how many of you know that Coach Shula was scared at half time. A partial quote from his half-time speech: "We're making stupid mistakes, we're stopping ourselves. You've got them believing in themselves. You've got them believing that they're better than we are." This sounds like a desperate coach. In the end it didn't matter because the Jets continued to dominate the vaunted Colts. The game was never close. The Colts did not score until the 4th quarter when they were already down 16-0. Here's a question for you: Besides Namath, how many players can you name from that team? That's what I thought. How many can you name from the Colts? See what I mean, the Jets had a bunch of no name players. In fact, only Namath and Don Maynard are in the HOF from that team.

This is why the 1969 Jets were the best SB team

i B4 e:FN blows monkey chunks said 09/28, 05:00 PM
You're making it really tough to beat your arguments ;>) but I suppose that's the whole point. The real challenge here is proving that besides SB III being the best SB; is proving that the 1969 Jets were the best SB team. What is the best way to argue this? The Jets completely dominated what was regarded as the best team in football at that time. They never trailed and they forced 5 Colts turnovers. Namath complete 60% of his passes that game. Compare this to the 49ers, they had to come from behind to win (albeit a beautiful drive) against a lesser opponent. If it weren't for Jerry Rice, Montana would have never won MVP. Namath won the MVP without his best receiver - Maynard. He played but was injured and used as a decoy. The Jets, in that game, made the SB what it is today.

Does all of this mean that those Jets would beat the `89 49ers? No stinkin' way. The Jets are the best SB story and SB III was the best superbowl, but if those two teams met on the field, the 49ers would have a field day.

You picked the right team for this TD Rodclo and I humbly bow out. I don't think I would be able to garner enough votes to prevail, but I had to go out swinging.