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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21460927/
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List 1 of 3

.. Bears of 1940s
.. Bears of 1985

.. Browns of 1950s

.. Colts of 1958-59

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Bears of 1940s

The feared "Monsters of the Midway" were
pro football's first dynasty as owner-coach
George Halas was able to maintain an edge
in talent throughout World War II years.

Both the 1941 team and the undefeated 1942
team, which lost the NFL title game to Wash-
ington, outscored opponents by more than 200
points, a measure of dominance that holds up
through different eras.

Coaches: George Halas, Hunk Anderson and
Luke Johnsos from mid-1942 through 1945

Record: 81-26-3 for the decade.

Titles won: Four -- 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946.

Key players: QB Sid Luckman, G Danny Fort-
mann, RB George McAfee, G-T George Musso,
T Joe Stydahar, C-LB Bulldog Turner, FB Bronko
Nagurski, LB George Connor (all Hall of Famers
played at least one season during 1940s).

Area of excellence: overall superior talent. Bears
led the league in offense for six seasons and in
defense for three during 40s.

Weakest aspect: Teams led league in every cate-
gory at times except rushing.

Stat to know: Bears' 73-0 victory over Redskins
in 1940 NFL title game unveiled modern era of
T-formation with man in motion.

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Bears of 1985

The 1985 Bears are prominent in any discussion
about one single season of dominance. With their
innovative and dangerously aggressive "46" de-
fense and the relentless running of Walter Payton,
they rolled to a 15-1 season ruined only by a
Miami Dolphins team protecting the perfect sea-
son of their 1972 predecessors.

With coach Mike Ditka and defensive coordinator
Buddy Ryan providing bombastic and sometimes
antagonistic leadership, the Bears ripped through
the playoffs by scores of 21-0, 24-0 and 46-10,
capping one glorious and memorable year.

Photo: Walter Payton
http://tinyurl.com/yqtjl3

Coach: Mike Ditka

Record: 18-1 including playoffs.

Titles: One.

Key players: RB Walter Payton, DT Dan Hampton,
LB Mike Singletary, DE Richard Dent, LB Wilber
Marshall, LB Otis Wilson, QB Jim McMahon,
T Jim Covert, C Jay Hilgenberg, T Keith Van Horne,
DT Steve McMichael, DT William "The Refriger-
ator" Perry, S Gary Fencik, S Dave Duerson.

Area of excellence: Running and defense. The Bears
led the league in rushing and defense in 1984, 1985
and 1986.

Weakest aspect: Passing. The Bears never used QB
McMahon to his full potential and never developed
the kind of passing attack that Washington and San
Francisco used to beat them in playoffs.

Stat to know: The 1985 Bears outscored opponents
by 258 points, second only to 1962 Packers among
championship teams.

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Browns of 1950s

Upon joining the NFL after dominating the All-
America Conference, the Browns, under coach Paul
Brown, immediately won an NFL title, beating the
Los Angeles Rams in 1950.

They played in seven championship games in the
decade, winning three times and losing four. Start-
ing in 1946 and counting four straight All-America
titles, Brown and quarterback Otto Graham got the
Browns into 10 consecutive title games, winning
seven. Brown talked Graham out of retirement in
1955 for his final season.

Photo: Cleveland quarterback Otto Graham
evades Lions defenders.
http://tinyurl.com/yrbhbw

Coach: Paul Brown

Record: 72-22-2 from 1950-57.

Titles won: Three-1950, 1954-55.

Key players: QB Otto Graham, E Dante Lavelli,
FB Marion Motley, DE Len Ford, WR Mac Speedie,
T-K Lou Groza, T Mike McCormack, LB-G Chuck
Noll, LB Walt Michaels, CB Don Paul, CB Warren
Lahr, S Kenny Konz, NT Bill Willis, DB Tommy
James, G Abe Gibron, C Frank Gatski, P Horace
Gillom.

Area of excellence: Quarterback-coach combination
of Graham and Brown plus consistently solid defense
and kicking of Lou "The Toe" Groza. From 1950-57,
Browns' defense led league six times in fewest points
allowed and four times in fewest yards allowed.

Weakest aspect: In the six seasons between the prime
of Marion Motley and the arrival of Jim Brown in
1957, the Browns had six different leading rushers.

Stat to know: In 1956, the first year Brown coached
after Graham retired, the Browns slid to a 5-7 record
enabling them to draft Jim Brown.

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Colts of 1958-59

Quarterback Johnny Unitas, a castoff from the Pitts-
burgh Steelers, ushered in the marriage of pro foot-
ball and television when he directed the Colts to a
thrilling 23-17 victory over the New York Giants
in the first overtime championship, mesmerizing a
nationwide TV audience in what is called "The
Greatest Game Ever Played."

The Colts repeated their title over the Giants the
following year, and Unitas finished his season with
a league record 32 touchdown passes.

Photo: Johnny Unitas throws a pass
against San Francisco.
http://tinyurl.com/yrf5ns

Coach: Weeb Ewbank

Record: 18-6 in 1958-59.

Titles won: Two -- 1958-59.

Key players: QB Johnny Unitas, WR Raymond
Berry, DE Gino Marchetti, OT Jim Parker, RB Lenny
Moore, FB Alan Ameche, E Jim Mutscheller, G Alex
Sandusky, DE Ordell Braase, DT Gene "Big Daddy"
Lipscomb, DB Milt Davis.

Area of excellence: Passing offense/Quarterback.
The combination of Unitas to Berry was unparalleled.
The Colts led the league in scoring, total offense and
passing touchdowns.

Weakest aspect: Even though Steve Myhra's 20-yard
field goal sent the 1958 game into overtime, the Colts
made only 11 of 32 field goal attempts in 1958-59,
worst in the league.

Stat to know: From 1956-60, Unitas threw at least
one touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games, an
NFL record that may never be broken.

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