To build on my previous post on the Top Team Tournament, here is my analysis on the AFC East. In each blurb, I break down the team’s stats, successes, and (possible) failures. My goal is to give everyone a bit of background for each team while not diving deep into the histories of them. I will also do my best to not linger on possible heartbreak endings to these fantastic seasons. Along with my background, I will give my brief predictions for the teams in this tournament.
’72 Dolphins – Led by Coach Don Shula, two different QBs, a two-headed RB attack, and a #1 receiver with only 29 catches, these Dolphins are the only team with a perfect season in history including the Super Bowl. They ended the season first in total offense, scoring offense, total defense, and scoring defense. Their average margin of victory during the regular season was 15.3; they dominated their competition, even if it was a “soft” schedule.
| Bob Griese QB (week 1-5) | 638 yds, 4 TDs, 4 Ints | Hall of Fame, Ankle wk 5 |
| Earl Morall QB (week 6-14) | 1360 yds, 11 TDs, 7 Ints | 1st Team All-Pro ’72, CBPOY |
| Larry Csonka RB | 213 Att, 1117 yds, 6 TDs | Hall of Fame, Pro Bowl ‘72 |
| Mercury Morris KR/RB | 190 Att, 1000 yds, 12 TDs | Pro Bowl ‘72 |
| Paul Warfield WR | 29 Rec, 606 yds, 3 TDs | Pro Bowl ‘72 |
| Jim Langer C | Hall of Fame | |
| Larry Little G | HoF, PB ’72, 1st Tm All-Pro ‘72 | |
| Bill Stanfill DE | 2 Fumble Recoveries | ProBowl ’72, 1st Tm All-Pro ‘72 |
| Nick Buoniconti MLB | 2 Interceptions | Hall of Fame, Pro Bowl ‘72 |
| Jake Scott SS | 5 Ints, 2 FR | Pro Bowl ’72, Super Bowl MVP |
| Dick Anderson FS | 3 Ints, 5 FR, 1 TD | ProBowl ’72, 1st Tm All-Pro ‘72 |
In this tournament, I do not have great confidence in this Dolphins team. There are teams in this competition that are much better on both sides of the ball and I fully expect the ’72 Dolphins to suffer their first loss around round 2.
Thurman Thomas and the 90′ Bills were one of the more complete teams in history.
’90 Bills – Being the most complete team of one of the best dynasties of all time, the ’90 Bills earned their spot in this tournament. They had the top passer in Jim Kelly, the most yards from scrimmage from Thurman Thomas, and the Defensive Player of the Year in Bruce Smith. They are tied for best record in franchise history (13-3) and were one kick from winning it all. One of the most impressive pieces from this season was the AFC Championship game where they completely dismantled the Raiders 51-3, the 3rd largest blowout in post-merger NFL history.
| Jim Kelly QB | 2829 yds, 24 TDs, 9 Ints | Hall of Fame, Pro Bowl ‘90 |
| Thurman Thomas RB | 1829 all-purpose yds, 13 TDs | HoF, 1st Tm All-Pro ‘90, PB‘90 |
| Andre Reed WR | 71 Rec, 945 yds, 8 TDs | Hall of Fame, Pro Bowl ‘90 |
| Kent Hull C | ProBowl ’90, 1st Tm All-Pro ‘90 | |
| Bruce Smith DE | 4 FF, 19 Sacks, 101 Tackles | Hall of Fame, DPOY, 1st AP, PB |
| Cornelius Bennett OLB | 3 FF, 4 Sacks, 96 Tackles | Pro Bowl ‘90 |
| Darryl Talley OLB | 2 Ints, 1 TD, 4 Sacks, 123 Tkl | Pro Bowl ‘90 |
| Shane Conlan ILB | 1 Sack, 93 Tackles | Pro Bowl ‘90 |
With five hall-of-famers, these Bills have the potential to make a dent in this tournament. However, their passing attack isn’t great and making Thomas put the team on his back is not going to be the way the Bills win.
’68 Jets – Swagger; the only way to describe these Jets led by “Broadway” Joe Namath. After a fantastic 11-3 season, the Jets advanced to take on the Colts as major underdogs. Despite his mediocre season, Namath gave his famous guarantee of a Super Bowl victory for New York and he delivered by being the best QB in the game, over Hall-of-Famer Johnny Unitas and Earl Morrall. Although they allowed the fewest yards in the AFL, their defense was underrated and they showed their true form getting 4 picks in the Super Bowl.
| Joe Namath QB | 3147 yds, 15 TDs, 17 Ints | PB ’68, 1st Tm AP, HoF, SBMVP |
| Emerson Boozer RB | 441 yds, 5 TDs | Pro Bowl ’68 |
| Matt Snell RB | 747 yds, 7 TDs | |
| Don Maynard WR | 1297 yds, 10 TDs | Pro Bowl ‘68 |
| George Sauer WR | 1141 yds, 3 TDs | Pro Bowl ’68, All-Pro ‘68 |
| Gerry Philbin DE | 2 Fumble Recoveries | Pro Bowl ’68, All-Pro ‘68 |
| Al Atkinson MLB | 2 Interceptions | Pro Bowl ‘68 |
| Johnny Sample CB | 7 Ints, 1 TD, 1 Fmb Recovery |
Up against the ’07 Patriots in the first round, the Jets have a tough road ahead. However, if anyone can overcome, it is the all-time underdogs. Just because they can do it, doesn’t mean it is likely. I do not see this team making it very far in this tournament.
’07 Patriots – Dubbed the greatest team to not win a Super Bowl, the ’07 Patriots tore through their competition, breaking 15 NFL records while doing so. Along with their broken records, they also won a plethora of awards including Coach of the Year (Belichick), MVP (Brady), five 1st team All-Pros, three 2nd team All-Pros, and 8 Pro Bowls. With the highest scoring offense and an underappreciated defense (4th overall league-wide), the Patriots were heavily favored in the Super Bowl. However, this season ultimately ended in heartbreak when Eli Manning and the Giants took the victory in a close game.
| Tom Brady QB | 4806 yds, 50 TDs, 8 Ints | MVP, OPoY, 1st Tm AP ’07, PB |
| Wes Welker WR | 1175 yds, 8 TDs | 2nd Tm All-Pro |
| Randy Moss WR | 1493 yds, 23 TDs | 1st Tm All-Pro ’07, ProBowl ‘07 |
| Matt Light OT | 1st Tm All-Pro ’07, ProBowl ‘07 | |
| Logan Mankins G | 2nd Tm All-Pro ’07, PB ‘07 | |
| Asante Samuel CB | 6 Ints, 1 TD,41 Tkls | 1st Tm All-Pro ’07, ProBowl ‘07 |
| Mike Vrabel LB | 4 Forced Fumbles, 12.5 Sk | 1st Tm All-Pro ’07, ProBowl ‘07 |
| Vince Wilfork DT | 2 Sacks, 36 Tackles | 2nd Tm All-Pro ’07, PB ‘07 |
| Dan Koppen C | 2nd Tm All-Pro ’07, PB ‘07 |
As the title states, this is a battle of the best teams ever. If they play like they are capable of, I believe these Patriots can go far and, perhaps, take the whole thing. They have shown that they can steamroll competitors, but will they continue dominance in this tournament?
Let me know your predictions and any critiques I should make! This is the first of many updates to this tournament and I would like to make it as enjoyable as possible.
Next week I will preview the AFC South, with the ’99 Jaguars, ’11 Texans, ’05 Colts, and ’00 Titans.
Thank you for stopping by and reading!
Devyn Smith Twitter: @smithdev002
Instagram: devyn5mith
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