Top 10 NFL Teams of All Time

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Apr 20, 2010

Top 10 NFL Teams of All Time

1985 Bears

Led by Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka, the '85 Bears held regular season opponents to a total of just 198 points en route to a 15-1 season. Chicago stormed through the postseason, shutting out their first two playoff opponents before thumping the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

1972 Dolphins

The Dolphins boasted the league's top-ranked offense and top-ranked defense in 1972, helping lead them to the only undefeated season in NFL history. Miami's Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first running back tandem to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

1978 Steelers

After a 14-2 regular season on the strength of the Steel Curtain defense and MVP quarterback Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh blasted Houston and Denver before facing Dallas in the title game. The Steelers won 35-31 and Bradshaw collected Super Bowl MVP honors.

1989 49ers

Joe Montana completed over 70 percent of his passes in 1989, mostly to his two favorite targets: Jerry Rice (1,483 yards, 17 TDs) and John Taylor (1,077 yards, 10 TDs). The 49ers crushed Denver 55-10 in the Super Bowl after jumping out to a 27-3 advantage by halftime.

1962 Packers

The Pack's defense was dominant in 1962, allowing less than 11 points per game and holding the Eagles to just 54 yards of offense in a regular season meeting. The champions' offense was no slouch either, leading the NFL in points and boasting the league's top passer, Bart Starr, and top rusher, Jim Taylor (inset).

1994 49ers

San Fran already had one of the league's most vaunted offenses, with Steve Young at the helm and Jerry Rice hauling in 112 passes for a league-high 1,499 yards in 1994. But the addition of Deion Sanders and Ken Norton boosted the Niners' defense to No. 6 in the NFL, helping them go 13-3 before winning their fifth Super Bowl.

1998 Broncos

Denver opened the '98 season with 13 straight victories and never looked back. Broncos' running back Terrell Davis rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 21 TD's, and was named NFL MVP. Denver won their second consecutive NFL title in Super Bowl MVP John Elway's final season.

2007 Patriots

After adding wideout weapons Randy Moss and Wes Welker to an offense masterminded by Bill Belichick and led by Tom Brady, the Patriots steamrolled through the regular season with a 16-0 record. But New England came up short of an undefeated season, losing to the Giants by a field goal in Super Bowl XLII.

1991 Redskins

Washington outscored opponents 485-224 in the regular season thanks to an offense that included Super Bowl MVP quarterback Mark Rypien, 1,000-yard rusher Ernest Byner, and Hall of Fame wide receiver Art Monk. The Redskins won each '91 playoff game by double digits, including a 37-24 win over Buffalo in the Super Bowl.

1976 Raiders

Led by Hall of Fame coach John Madden, the Raiders went 16-1 including the playoffs in 1976, winning their first Super Bowl. Oakland's offensive line was one of the best and most dominant in NFL history, including Hall of Famers Art Shell and Gene Upshaw. Honorable mentions: 1950 Browns, 1975 Steelers, 1986 Giants, 1992 Cowboys and 2001 Rams