Really well written article that puts into perspective how special the achievement was, not just because we're going on 100 years of NFL history (including pre-SB era) but also because the '72 team wasn't a collection of star players. As the article puts it they were mostly a bunch of "misfits" with a coach that got the players to just outwork the rest of the league. Also cool this appeared in a British publication! https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/49446625 btw.. going all the way back to 1920 we really are the only team to have WON all games in the season including the championship game. Prior to 1932 there was no playoff system and you had 4 "undefeated" teams but they didn't win all games because of at least one tie: 1920 Akron Pros (8-0-3), 1922 Canton Bulldogs (10-0-2), 1923 Canton Bulldogs (11-0-1) and 1929 Green Bay Packers (12-0-1). Then you had 3 teams since 1932 that won all games except the championship game: 1932 Chicago Bears (13-1), 1942 Chicago Bears (11-1) and 2007 New England Patriots (18-1). So basically in 100 years we're the only perfect team. Something to be proud of even if we're (temporarily) bottom feeders right now.
It was really well written, and because it is for a foreign audience takes the time to explain some little things that American sportswriters assume everyone knows. George Wilson (the HC before Shula) often claimed Shula just took credit for the team he built. But the players themselves completely refute this by saying how much more serious they were about football after Shula arrived.