A couple of years back, the New England Patriots came within whiskers of becoming the second team in NFL history to go undefeated after the ‘72 Miami Dolphins. The Pats from Boston had to settle for going 18-1 with their only loss coming where it counts and hurts most: In the Super Bowl against the New York Giants.

Before the Super Bowl era, the ‘34 and ‘42 Chicago Bears flirted with perfection only to lose to the New York Giants (them again) and Washington Redskins. The legendary Cleveland Browns of the AAFC did go undefeated in 1948 with a 15-0 record. In fact, they won 27 games without recording a loss between 1947 and 1949.

Perfection Canadian Style: '48 Stamps Celebrate Grey Cup Win

The talk and mystique of undefeated seasons really is restricted to football. Can you see any baseball, hockey or basketball pro team - 162, 82 and 82 game schedules respective not including the playoffs- going through a season without a loss? Of course not.If you have these visions, consider yourself delusional and seek help immediately. You have realism issues.

So it’s a football thing.

However, the Fish and Browns aren’t the only ones to have gone undefeated. In the CFL, the Calgary Stampeders did it in 1948 and for some reason are rarely, if ever, discussed. Marketing never was the CFL’s strong suit. Anyway, under the guidance of the great head coach Les Lear, the Stamps went 15-0. Today’s teams, by contrast, would be required to go 20-0 0r 21-0 (depending if you get a bye).

The closest any team has come to that mark is when the Edmonton Eskimos went 14-1-1 in 1981. In fact, the Esks have gone 14-2 three times in 1955, 1957 and 1979.

Close but no cigar.

For now, in the annals of perfection, the Miami Dolphins and Calgary Stampeders stand alone.

Image from Calgary Herald.