(Nov. 22, 2005) -- TheIndianapolis Colts have won 18 of their past 19 regular-season games, but their 10 most recent victories to begin this season have captured the greatest attention. The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to post an undefeated season without a tie and win the league championship. The Colts aim to match that mark of perfection while sharing many similarities with that legendary Dolphins team. Since 1970, five out of 997 teams (.05 percent) won their first 11 games: the 1972 Miami Dolphins (14-0); 1984 Dolphins (14-2), 1998 Denver Broncos (13-0), 1985 Chicago Bears (12-0), and 1991 Washington Redskins (11-0). Indianapolis will enter Week 12 preparing for a Monday night home game (ABC, 9 ET) against Pittsburgh (7-3), which is tied with Cincinnati (7-3) atop the AFC North. A look at the 2005 Indianapolis Colts vs. the 1972 Miami Dolphins: | 2005 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | CATEGORY | 1972 MIAMI DOLPHINS | | 10-0 | Record through 10 games | 10-0 | | 7 | 10+ point wins in 1st 10 games | 7 | | 2nd | Offense Ranking through 1st 10 | 2nd | | 8th | Defense Ranking through 1st 10 | 1st | | 305 | Points Scored in 1st 10 | 278 | | 153 | Points Allowed in 1st 10 | 127 | | 15.2 | Avg. victory margin in 1st 10 | 15.1 | | 52:20 | Time Trailing through 1st 10 | 105:11 | | Tony Dungy | HEAD COACH | Don Shula | | 2 | Number of teams coached | 2 | | Coached in Florida (Tampa Bay 1996-01) | Odd Coincidence | Coached Colts (1963-69) | | Played for (1977-78) and coached under (1982-88) Chuck Noll with Steelers | Hall of Fame Coaching Relations | Played for Paul Brown
Teammate of Chuck Noll
Noll was Shula assistant w/ Colts (1966-68) | | Peyton Manning | Quarterbacks | Earl Morrall (11 starts); Bob Griese | | Father, Archie, was NFL QB | Father-Son Football | Griese's son, Brian, is NFL QB | | MNF: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | Prime Time 11th Game | MNF: Def. St. Louis Cardinals, 31-10 |
UNDEFEATED "DID YOU KNOW?" The 1972 Dolphins are the only undefeated, untied championship team in NFL history. The 1934 and '42 Chicago Bears went 13-0-0 and 11-0-0, respectively, but lost the NFL championship game. There were four unbeaten teams which tied at least once -- the 1929 Green Bay Packers (12-0-1), 1923 Canton Bulldogs (11-0-1), 1922 Canton Bulldogs (10-0-2) and 1920 Akron Pros (8-0-3). The 1972 Dolphins played the AFC championship game on the road in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, led by former Shula assistant coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Chuck Noll. The championship was a road game for the Dolphins due to the NFL's rotating playoff-site system at the time. "Ironically, we were a team that had more wins than anyone else and we had to take our show on the road," former Dolphins wide receiver and Hall of Famer Paul Warfield said. Added Dolphins Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula: "We knew about it ahead of time. It just made it that much tougher and made the accomplishment that much greater." The Dolphins defeated Pittsburgh 21-17 one week after a 20-14 divisional home playoff victory against Cleveland. |
