538's Complete History of the NFL

raduray · Oct 4, 2015

Interesting analysis and graphic representation of the strength of all NFL teams across the years. It shows the 49er's '81-'98 run as being the greatest dynasty to date. NE's current run, has a few best ever years.

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/complete-history-of-the-nfl/

Nikolai · Oct 4, 2015

I can't disagree with their conclusions really. The 49ers had an amazing run from the 1980s through the 1990s. The Pats have a chance to equal or better that as long as TFB is still playing at this or similar level for a few more years. Personally, I'd say the Pats and 49ers are pretty damned equal as far as dynasties go. The only knock is that the 49ers did win one more SB after Joe left...if the Pats get that fifth SB...well...

Soul_Survivor88 · Oct 4, 2015

Nikolai said:
I can't disagree with their conclusions really. The 49ers had an amazing run from the 1980s through the 1990s. The Pats have a chance to equal or better that as long as TFB is still playing at this or similar level for a few more years. Personally, I'd say the Pats and 49ers are pretty damned equal as far as dynasties go. The only knock is that the 49ers did win one more SB after Joe left...if the Pats get that fifth SB...well...

The 49ers cheated the system by circumventing the salary cap....so I don't hold them in as much high regard as you do

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-09-25/sports/sp-42797_1_salary-cap

Ivan · Oct 4, 2015

Nate Silver is a cold hearted snake. And I mean that in the best way possible. He's Mr. Spock, it's pure numbers no emotion.

Nikolai · Oct 4, 2015

Chiuba E. Obele said:
The 49ers cheated the system by circumventing the salary cap....so I don't hold them in as much high regard as you do

http://articles.latimes.com/1994-09-25/sports/sp-42797_1_salary-cap

That's pretty harsh, especially if you consider that from 1981-1993, there was no salary cap. Those were the 49ers most dominant years. Ehhhh...

Soul_Survivor88 · Oct 4, 2015

Nikolai said:
That's pretty harsh, especially if you consider that from 1981-1993, there was no salary cap. Those were the 49ers most dominant years. Ehhhh...

Yes I get that we're only talking a few years in the 90s, but it still has to be taken into consideration.

http://yourteamcheats.com/SF#Salarycapgate-2000

Nikolai · Oct 4, 2015

Chiuba E. Obele said:
Yes I get that we're only talking a few years in the 90s, but it still has to be taken into consideration.

http://yourteamcheats.com/SF#Salarycapgate-2000

I see what you're saying, but for my money, it's the Montana years that made the run special. Once we can get to a point where we're comparing a 17-year Pats run to the 17-year 49ers run, then I'm with you. No matter what people say about the Pats, cheating the salary cap is a far more consequential violation than the placement of a camera.

jmt57 · Oct 4, 2015

If you are going to compare football 'dynasties', then you really need to separate those franchises in to two groups: one before the salary cap and free agency, another in the free agency/salary cap era.

To compare the two is apples and oranges. It's no different than comparing quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham and even Dan Marino to today's quarterbacks based simply on raw stats.

Nikolai · Oct 4, 2015

jmt57 said:
If you are going to compare football 'dynasties', then you really need to separate those franchises in to two groups: one before the salary cap and free agency, another in the free agency/salary cap era.

To compare the two is apples and oranges. It's no different than comparing quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas, Otto Graham and even Dan Marino to today's quarterbacks based simply on raw stats.

That's quite true, but maybe that's what makes what the Pats have done so transcendant. Even with a salary cap, you can compare the Pats to the best in NFL history. Makes me reconsider placing them on par with the 49ers when you put it in that light. This might be one of the great achievements in sport...

bresna · Oct 5, 2015

Why were they so selective with their charts? They chart the 49'ers for a 20 year period and the Patriots for a 95 year period, making the 49'ers look a lot better than the Pats. Charting the Patriots from 1995 through to today (20 year period) presents a more favorable comparison of the two teams.

patsfan13 · Oct 5, 2015

The best way to compare QB's across time is their W-L %, while rules and play styles vary, the QB has to perform in the clutch for their team to get the W.

538's Complete History of the NFL

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