When was the earliest no undefeated teams were left in an NFL season?
The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only undefeated team in NFL history, and this season they might be breaking out the champagne earlier than expected.
We are almost a month into the NFL regular season, and if this season has taught us anything it’s that nothing is a given. The NFL takes pride in the parody from top to bottom on a year to year basis, and each weekend to the NFL teaches us that any team is liable to lose on any given Sunday.
How long until 72 Dolphins pop the champagne?
Week 4 gave us some jaw dropping upsets, and eye popping scoreline. From the Titans taking down the Bengals, to the Steelers getting blown out by C.J. Stroud and the Texans to the, while the Dolphins got crushed by the Buffalo Bills which means there are only two teams that have survived four weeks undefeated.
Speaking of the Dolphins, they are only franchise in the history of the league to go through a regular season, post season and the Super Bowl undefeated . The 1972 Miami team will forever be remembered as one of the best teams ever, and as of today, they stand alone on the summit of the NFL.
Every year, the members of that record setting team still celebrate when the last remaining undefeated team falls each and every season. Some years they are made to sweat it out longer than others, like when the 2007 New England Patriots went undefeated through the regular season, and reached the Super Bowl before losing to the New York Giants.
Eagles and Niners remain undefeated
Other years they pop open the bubbly and spark their cigars early in the season. The earliest the league has been left without any undefeated teams was Week 4. It’s happened twice, once in 2010 and again in 2014.
In 2010, the Bears, Steelers and Chiefs all reached Week 4 undefeated while other 29 teams in the league had suffered at least one defeat, but neither Chicago, nor Pittsburgh, nor Kansas City survived that weekend. In 2014, it was the Eagles, Bengals and Cardinals who were the last teams standing going into Week 4, and all three lost.
This year, there are only a two teams that remain undefeated coming out of Week 4. The Philadelphia Eagles are 4-0 looking to get back to the Super Bowl for a second straight year. The San Francisco 49ers are also 4-0 and without question are the most complete team, and at the top of everyones Power Rankings going into Week 5.
Miami travels to Buffalo this week
Brian Gresie, Larry Csonka and the rest of the gang from the ‘72 Dolphins will be watching and waiting with angst until the final undefeated falls this season. The Dolphins may not have to wait too long considering who Philly and San Fran are playing this week.
The Eagles travel to LA to take on the revamped Rams and one of the best receievers in the game in Puca Nacua. The Niners will be locking horns with the Dallas Cowboys in what will no doubt be the game of the week. Philly and LA play on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET, and the Cowboys and Niners will wrap up the Sunday slate of games from Levi Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET.