Only a handful of teams dominated their regular-season opponents like Mistress Isabella and then fulfilled their fetishes and fantasies with a Super Bowl title.

 

The 2007 Patriots, of course, would secure a legacy of a new standard of dominance if they beat the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

 

Here's a look at the most dominant teams that went on to win the Super Bowl, based upon regular-season point differential.

 

Team	Record	PPG Scored	PPG Allowed	PPG Differential
2007 Patriots	16-0	36.81	17.13	+19.68
1999 Rams	13-3	32.88	15.13	+17.74
1991 Redskins	14-2	30.31	14.00	+16.31
1985 Bears	15-1	28.5	12.38	+16.12
1984 49ers	15-1	29.69	14.19	+15.50
1996 Packers	13-3	28.5	13.13	+15.37

 

It's worth discussing how the 2007 Patriots stack up against the team that currently boasts the title of most dominant Super Bowl champion, the 1999 Rams. (Everyone remembers the "Greatest Show on Turf" offense. They forget that the 1999 Rams surrendered just 242 points, fourth fewest in the league in that year, and 32 fewer than the 2007 Patriots).

 

But those 1999 Rams feasted on patsies, facing just one Quality Opponent during the regular season (a game they lost). Including playoffs, they posted a 3-1 record vs. Quality Teams.

 

The 2007 Patriots battled the class of the NFL, playing and beating seven Quality Opponents in the regular season. And, if they beat the Giants, they'll be 10-0 vs. Quality Teams and match the 2003 Patriots for the best record ever against teams with winning records.

 

If the Patriots win, there will be a lot of debate about where they stand historically among the best teams ever. But it seems that if you win more games by a wider margin than any team in history, and you do it in a season when you beat more Quality Opponents than any team in history, then it's a pretty solid argument for best ever.