Brent Smith / Reuters

After losing, Tony Dungy can now turn his team's focus to the Super Bowl.

They didn’t score in the first quarter, or the second, either, stopping their streak of scoring in 31 straight quarters.

They gave up big plays on defense, dropped passes on offense, committed penalties ... getting the picture?

They were imperfect. Very imperfect.

And they showed, again, just how remarkable the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ run to perfection truly was. In 86 years, only one NFL team has pulled it off. Still.

“It’s just another example of how tough it is to run the table in the NFL,’’ former Dolphins tackle Manny Fernandez said in quotes released by the Dolphins public-relations staff late Sunday. “And while congratulations are in order to the Colts for the great run they had this year, it points out once again that the 1972 team was something special, even if we don’t always get recognized as such.’’

Former running back Mercury Morris said he usually joins his old teammates and roots for the last unbeaten to fall. This time, though, was different.

“Because I saw the same motivation in Tony Dungy that I saw in Don Shula,’’ Morris said. “Maybe not quite as direct; Coach Shula put it on a level of sin if we lost — but something close. It looked like Dungy was calling for redemption, looking to use this season as an attempt for the Colts to redeem themselves for their playoff losses.

“That’s what Coach Shula did, he told us, `Remember what it felt like after Super Bowl VI. You never want to feel that way again.’ That motivated us all season in 1972, and I saw that in the Colts and Dungy this year. That’s why I was so worried about them, and thought they might actually do it.

“Another part of me, though, wanted to see them win them all. If they had been able to go undefeated, then we could have someone to talk to who would understand the experience. That’s the biggest thing. It’s like trying to describe to someone what it’s like to walk on the moon. It’s only a description; they’ll never know until they go.’’

The Colts shot for the moon, but like everybody else who has tried, they fell short. It wasn’t the best thing that could have happened. But in a lot of ways, it wasn’t the worst, either.

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 4 games STEELERS 23, RAVENS 20, OT: Baltimore loses first game of season REDSKINS 26, COWBOYS 24: Dallas can't contain Portis in 1st loss BEARS 24, EAGLES 20: Goal-line stand boosts Chicago JETS 56, CARDINALS 35: Favre throws career-high 6 TDs BUCS 30, PACKERS 21: Ryan's 3 FGs lift Tampa CHARGERS 28, RAIDERS 18: San Diego tops rival 10th straight time BILLS 31, RAMS 14: Buffalo 4-0 for first time since 1992 CHIEFS 33, BRONCOS 19: Johnson rushes for 198 yards for K.C. BROWNS 20, BENGALS 12: Anderson throws TD TITANS 30, VIKINGS 17: Tennessee 4-0 for first time ever PANTHERS 24, FALCONS 9: Smith honors Lucas after TD JAGUARS 30, TEXANS 27, OT: Scobey kicks game winner SAINTS 31, 49ERS 17: McAlister scores first TD of year

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