Editor's note: Our series on the greatest NFL teams of all time continues with its seventh installment and a look at the 1989 49ers. The greatest team ever will be revealed on Tuesday, May 15.

	Joe Montana completed 70.3 percent of his passes in throwing for 3,521 yards and 26 TDs.

It had to be tougher than it looked for George Seifert to take over as 49ers head coach from Bill Walsh. After all, Walsh was the primary architect in the 49ers' rise to NFL king of the hill. San Francisco won three Super Bowls in Walsh's last eight years as head coach, including his final season in 1988.

It must have been difficult, but it sure didn't look like it. Although like all teams, the 49ers won some close games; their two losses in 1989 were by a total of five points. Joe Montana had his best season statistically, setting an NFL record with a 112.4 passer rating. His understudy, Steve Young, had an even higher rating of 120.8 in limited action, perhaps giving us a strong clue that he would break Montana's record, which he did in 1994.

As usual, Jerry Rice was the favorite target, catching 82 passes for 1,483 yards and 17 touchdowns, but the "other" wide receiver, John Taylor, also had a great year with 60 receptions for 1,077 yards and 10 scores. With some injuries to the offensive line, the running game wasn't as productive as it had been the year before (the 49ers' rushing output dropped by more than 500 yards and the average per carry fell from 4.6 to 4.0), but Roger Craig did crack the 1,000 yard mark for the third time in his career.

	1989 49ers
	Record: 14-2 Points scored/allowed: 442/253 Adjusted power index: +6.29 Opponents' record: 115-125 (.479)* Record against teams with winning records: 6-2 Points scored/allowed against teams with winning records: 207/156 *For all of these opponents' records, games against this team are excluded.

Like many other dominant teams, and contrary to the "accepted" notion of how football games are won, the 49ers excelled in throwing the ball and in pass defense. San Francisco averaged an amazing 9.49 yards per pass attempt, more than two yards better than the league average and more than a yard better than the next best team. Defensively, the 49ers finished third in the NFL allowing only 6.33 yards per pass attempt. This team was one of only nine since 1950 to average at least three more yards per pass attempt than their opponents.

Want to be surprised again? This number, the difference in yards per pass attempt, correlates better with winning percentage than any other single statistic – better than turnovers, yards rushing or anything else you can name. For example, the nine teams that averaged at least three more yards per pass attempt than their opponents had a combined record of 78-23-5. Six of the nine played in the Super Bowl (or NFL championship game before 1966) and three of them won it all.

Yes, I know who won the Super Bowl this year (remember, I'm a Ravens fan), but one year does not history make. Or something like that.

Eddie Epstein works as a consultant to major league baseball teams. He is the co-author, along with ESPN.com's Rob Neyer, of "Baseball Dynasties: The Greatest Teams of All Time." He has been a regular contributor to ESPN.com's baseball coverage and is a huge football fan.