UNBEATENS DON'T STAY THAT WAY.(SPORTS)

Byline: RICK GOSSELIN Dallas Morning News

Perfection in October is a rare feat for the New England Patriots, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles. They are the last of the NFL's unbeatens this season, all at 5-0.

In the last 25 years, the Patriots and Jets have never been the last team standing in October. And you'd have to go all the way back to 1981 to find the last time Philadelphia was the last of the NFL's unbeatens in a season. The Eagles will attempt to match that 6-0 start of 1981 when they visit the Cleveland Browns today.

The Miami Dolphins are the only team to play a perfect regular season in NFL history, posting a 14-0 record in 1972 on the way to their first Super Bowl championship.

The Denver Broncos came close in 1998, winning their first 13 games on the way to a 14-2 season. The 1985 Chicago Bears won their first 12 games on the way to a 15-1 season.

Of the 27 teams that carried unbeaten records deepest into each of the last 25 seasons, 17 saw their run at perfection end on the road. In addition to the Eagles, the Jets also are on the road this weekend visiting, ironically, the Patriots.

The best spoiler in the last 25 years has been the Colts, who have ended three perfect seasons. In 1980, playing out of Baltimore, the Colts ended Buffalo's 5-0 start. In the 1990s, playing out of Indianapolis, the Colts twice ended perfect starts by the Dolphins (at 6-0 in 1992 and 4-0 in 1995).