Great Beginnings: 13-0 NFL Teams

SI Staff | Dec 15, 2011

Great Beginnings: 13-0 NFL Teams

2011 Packers

Robert Beck/SI

Behind an MVP-caliber season from Aaron Rodgers the Packers are the eighth NFL team to start a season 13-0. The defending Super Bowl Champions still have some football to play, but here's what those fast starts led to for their predecessors.

1934 Bears: 13-0

AP

The Bears entered the 1934 season looking to three-peat as NFL champions. Although Chicago came up short in '34, the team produced six Hall of Famers, including Bronko Nagurski and Red Grange (pictured).

1972 Dolphins: 14-0

Neil Leifer(3), Walter Iooss Jr./SI

The 1972 Dolphins are the only team to win every regular season game and go on to win a Super Bowl. According to urban legend the surviving members celebrate with champagne when the last NFL undefeated team loses each season.

1998 Broncos: 14-2

Mickey Pfleger, Bob Rosato/SI

John Elway lost three Super Bowls in Denver before the Broncos added running back Terrell Davis, one of six players to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. Elway and Davis combined for two Super Bowls win, the latter coming after a 14-2 season in '98.

2005 Colts: 14-2

John Biever/SI; Chris Gardner/AP

After a record-setting regular season for Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney (93) and the Indianapolis Colts, they lost in their first playoff game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Colts would go on to win the Super Bowl the following year thanks to the return of often-injured safety Bob Sanders and a much-improved playoff defense.

2007 Patriots: 16-0

Damian Strohmeyer, John Biever, Michael O'Neill/SI; David Goldman/SI Imaging

The closest team to match the '72 Dolphins' mark, the 2007 Patriots won every game except the big one. Tom Brady and Randy Moss set single-season records with the most passing TDs (50) and receiving TDs (23), respectively. New England, however, lost to Eli Manning's New York Giants in the Super Bowl that featured David Tyree's famous helmet catch.

2009 Colts: 14-2

David Bergman/SI

In 2009 Peyton Manning would win his fourth AP NFL MVP award and the Colts' would match their franchise best 14-2 record from 2005. Indianapolis is the only team on this list twice, but neither 13-0 start led to a Super Bowl victory. The Colts lost Super Bowl XLIV to the final team on this list.

2009 Saints: 13-3

Simon Bruty, Bob Rosato, Al Tielemans/SI

Drew Brees and the Saints dropped their final three games of the regular season, but outshined everyone in the playoffs. Brees' offense put up 31 points while Darren Sharper and the Saints' defense held Manning to only 17. Four and a half years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans won its first Super Bowl.