Power Rankings: Unbeatens fattening up on cupcakes

Updated Dec. 15

The Miami Dolphins had their perfect season in 1972.

For years, we wondered if there would ever be another. Most said no. Those old-time Dolphins always got the chance to pop their champagne, a media-made sensation that kept them relevant.

Here we are 37 years later and we have two undefeated teams only two years after the New England Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season.

So what does it mean?

There are a lot of really bad teams in the NFL.

This is the first time there have been two 13-0 teams, as the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are still without a loss.

Both teams should be lauded for what they've done, but it also makes you wonder how it can happen. The reason is simple. It's the bottom of the NFL.

It's nasty down there.

That isn't to say that the Colts and Saints have feasted on a bunch of bums, but when there are three or four sprinkled throughout the schedule it allows for breaks. It gives you the chance to win games even when you're not sharp.

The Colts have six victories over teams with winning records, but only three over teams more than one game over .500. The Saints have five victories over teams with winning records, just two over teams that are two games better than .500. They also have four victories by beating the Lions, Rams, Bills and Bucs. Those teams have a combined record of 9-43.

When some of the mines are duds, it's a lot easier to make your way through the minefield.

That isn't to take away from what Indianapolis and New Orleans have done, but it's a way to try to make sense of how we can possibly have three teams go undefeated in the regular season in a two-year span after having none for 35 years.

When the Miami Dolphins went 14-0 in 1972, there were four teams that didn't get to four victories, and that came playing 14 games.

When the Patriots went 16-0 in 2007, there were only two teams that didn't win at least four games. But the 1-15 Miami Dolphins and 4-12 New York Jets were in the Patriots' division, which means they played them twice apiece.

This season we will almost certainly have four who don't win four, and might have five if Kansas City doesn't win again. Since the NFL went to the 16-game schedule in 1978, there has been just one season, not counting strike-shortened 1982, when there has been four teams who haven't won more than three games.

That came in 1991, although the top record that season was 14-2 by the Washington Redskins. From 2003-06 we had a combined total of five teams that didn't win more than three games, none in 2003.

You need garbage teams to get undefeated seasons.

The Colts, who stay in the top spot in our CBSSports.com Power Rankings, have already locked up the No 1. seed in the AFC. That could impact their undefeated chances, although coach Jim Caldwell said the healthy starters would play Thursday at Jacksonville. After that, who knows? My guess is they rest guys the final two games.

The Saints are expected to make a push to go undefeated, which means starters will play even when games don't count.

What if they both accomplish it? Then this season will be remembered for history -- until it happens again next year or the year after.

Is going undefeated in the NFL on its way to becoming the sub-four-minute mile? That was once a big deal. Now everybody blows past it, even high school kids.

Let's hope not. If that's the case, we will be seeing a lot of bad football teams play on Sundays in the coming years.