Top 10 greatest NFL teams of all time
Unlike searching on the pinnacle quarterbacks of all time, wherein we do no longer need to attention completely on championships, the closing team intention inside the NFL is to win a Super Bowl. Ranking the finest NFL teams of all time became a extra contentious communique within the PFN staff than I imagined it being. The finest groups in NFL history had to do it on both sides of the ball.
We looked at the relative dominance of every team of their respective years. Two metrics we weighed heavily have been points scored above the mean and factors allowed underneath the imply. Only one crew in this listing of the pinnacle 10 groups of all time did not win the last aim. Some dominance is so obvious that it cannot be disregarded.
It’s vital to note we discussed two honorable mentions for the listing. The 1962 Green Bay Packers have a controversy as the finest NFL team of all time, however they handiest performed in one playoff sport and the championship earlier than the Super Bowl generation. The mythical Vince Lombardi additionally coached them.
Every group on the listing is from the Super Bowl generation. The 1976 Oakland Raiders went sixteen-1, however their résumé of dominance does not compete. They ranked fourth in scoring and twelfth in points allowed. However, they grew to become the ball over more than their opponents. Furthermore, the Raiders have been 6-0 in one-rating video games. They had an tremendous passing assault but lacked the chutzpah of the opposite teams on the listing, in spite of their document.
Greatest NFL teams of all time | 10-6
Which teams in NFL history are amongst the top 10 greatest of all time?
10) 1998 Denver Broncos
The 1998 Denver Broncos rode what became an absolute workhorse in Terrell Davis to their 2d instantly Super Bowl. The Broncos’ offense had seven players make the Pro Bowl, while Bill Romanowski and Steve Atwater made it on the protection.
This offense became just like the Cowboys from 1992. It become a top-10 gadget in each class outdoor of passing attempts. Nevertheless, the actual hero is No. 30 (Davis). Davis averaged a hundred twenty five.5 yards in line with game, 5 yards according to convey, and scored 23 total touchdowns. The subsequent leading rusher at the team, Derek Loville, averaged simply three yards consistent with carry on 53 rushing attempts.
Quarterback John Elway became 38 on the time and ignored 4 video games throughout the regular season. Backup Bubby Brister definitely posted a higher completion percent, a higher touchdown price, and a lower interception price in his four starts. In the give up, this crew became about speeding and rush protection.
9) 1992 Dallas Cowboys
The 1992 Cowboys aren’t in contrast to that of the 2020 Cowboys. After all, the ’ninety two Cowboys noticed six players on offense make the Pro Bowl and none on protection. Actually, that’s in which the similarities cease due to the fact the protection in 1992 was stellar.
The ’92 Cowboys were 2nd in scoring offense and fifth in scoring protection. They’re one of the finest teams in NFL records due to the fact they had been so consistent on each sides of the ball.
The protection was first in yards allowed, first downs allowed, and speeding yards allowed. The offense turned into definitely steady across the board, ranking outside of the pinnacle 10 in just one metric — bypass tries. The Cowboys had been fifth in passing touchdowns, 1/3 in internet yards in step with pass strive, fifth in dashing yards, and 2d in dashing touchdowns.
8) 1999 St. Louis Rams
The “Greatest Show on Turf” had to have an implausible offensive output, proper? Yes, definitely.
The 1999 Rams scored 58% more factors than the league average, making them one of the greatest NFL teams of all time. Still,hiya benefited from the very best electricity of schedule of any of the pinnacle groups (-5.88). But you can simplest play who’s in the front of you.
The team produced 4 first-group All-Pros in 1999. What may be even more dazzling is that this offense had four destiny Hall of Fame members. In truth, Kurt Warner simply overlooked out on our list of the pinnacle 10 greatest quarterbacks of all time.
The protection probably doesn’t get the like it deserves as it became only fourth in scoring. Still, they ranked second in factors according to pressure. Furthermore, the dashing defense allowed a league-low 4 speeding touchdowns all season!
7) 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers
The 1975 Steelers boasted eleven Pro Bowl gamers and three All-Pros. The 3 All-Pro gamers all made their livings on the protecting facet of the ball. L.C. Greenwood, Jack Ham, and Mel Blount all acquired first-team reputation. The great amount of character expertise at the roster makes this one of the finest groups in NFL records.
They didn’t have the maximum explosive offense on the list, because it was the “worst” of the ten groups. Yet, their defensive factors allowed underneath the average changed into a whopping forty three.Eight%, which tops even the ’eighty five Bears’ that season.
The Steelers defense was one way or the other still 2d in points allowed, trailing the Los Angeles Rams. The protection allowed simply 9 passing touchdowns at the same time as intercepting 27 passes.
6) 1989 San Francisco 49ers
2) 1985 Chicago Bears
The argument between the 1985 Chicago Bears and 1984 49ers for the second best NFL crew of all time was the maximum hard. After all, they came about in back-to-lower back seasons. Both groups completed 2nd in points scored and primary in factors allowed.
The Bears were a mixed seventy four.9% better than the mean in points scored (32.Four%) and points in opposition to (forty two.5%.) The 49ers, meanwhile, were 73.1% in that class but skewed a bit extra toward offensive dominance (40%) in place of protecting dominance (33.1%).
The Bears’ defense additionally forced fifty four turnovers and allowed simply 12.Four points in keeping with recreation. That defense boasted three first-team All-Pros and 5 Pro Bowlers. Overall, the group generated five first-crew All-Pros and 9 Pro Bowlers. But what placed the ’85 Bears over the ’84 49ers was the energy of schedule. The Bears SOS become -0.19 as compared to the 49ers -2.75.
They have been doing the Super Bowl Shuffle, and Walter Payton changed into dual-threatening his way towards his fifth and very last All-Pro choice.
1) 1972 Miami Dolphins
The undefeated 1972 Dolphins take a seat on the throne of the best NFL groups of all time. They had, by using all money owed, a cupcake of a agenda. Red velvet, perhaps?
Despite their -four.27 SOS (electricity of agenda), this is simplest good for the second one easiest at the list (stay tuned). The ’seventy two Dolphins are the simplest team in this list to quality the league in factors for and factors towards.
The terrific element approximately the 1972 season is they did it basically with backup quarterback Earl Morrall on the helm, prevailing 9 video games. He become additionally named as a first-crew All-Pro that season. Additionally, each Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris (which nevertheless might be the greatest call of all time) rushed for over 1,000 yards and made the Pro Bowl in 1972.
Legendary Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry coined the ’72 Dolphins’ protection because the “No-Name Defense” due to the fact the offense gained the headlines at the same time as the defense quietly ruled. The group ended up with 4 All-Pro picks and nine Pro Bowlers.
Now permit’s hit the nutty numbers narrative.
As already stated, they led in factors for and against. The Dolphins had been also first in yards won and yards allowed. They tied the Steelers for first in fumbles recovered and have been 2d in protecting interceptions.
Additionally, Miami become second in offensive first downs and allowed the least quantity of first downs inside the league. The Dolphins ranked third in each internet yards gained and allowed in step with bypass attempt. If that wasn’t enough, they ranked first in rushing attempts, yards, and yards in line with strive. Despite rushing the ball sixty nine extra times than the following-closest crew, and 354 more instances than they exceeded the ball, they ranked 2d in yards in step with bring with four.Eight.
The best team we’ll probable ever see.