Best NFL Teams of All Time

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Sep 2, 2008

Best NFL Teams of All-Time

1972 Miami Dolphins

Still the only undefeated team in NFL history, the Dolphins went 17-0 even without starting quarterback Bob Griese, injured in the fifth game of the season, who returned to lead the Dolphins to a 14-7 win in Super Bowl VII. Six players from the team are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1979 Pittsburgh Steelers

Known most for its Steel Curtain defense, the '79 Steelers were just as proficient on offense, finishing second in the league in both passing and rushing yards. It was two long pass plays from Terry Bradshaw -- 47 yards to Lynn Swann and 73 yards to John Stallworth -- that led the Steelers to a 31-19 Super Bowl win over the Rams.

1984 San Francisco 49ers

Joe Montana and the 49ers set a record for regular season wins with 15 and ended Dan Marino's last shot at a championship with a 38-16 win in the Super Bowl.

1985 Chicago Bears

Running back Walter Payton was offensive player of the year and linebacker Mike Singletary was defensive player of the year on a team that lost just one game, giving up just 10 points in three playoff games.

1989 San Francisco 49ers

Joe Montana set the record for the highest quarterback rating (112.4) and earned his first MVP award as the 49ers third-ranked defense helped San Francisco to a 14-2 record.

1991 Washington Redskins

Without stars on offense, Mark Rypien led the Redskins to a 14-2 record and the team was never challenged in the playoffs.

1999 St. Louis Rams

The Greatest Show on Turf outscored opponents by 284 points behind Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk. The Rams scored over 30 points in all but three regular season games.

1971 Dallas Cowboys

Roger Staubach led the Cowboys at quarterback -- after sharing time with Craig Morton during the first half of the season -- but it was the Cowboys defense that gave up just 18 points in three playoff games.