The National Football League (NFL) has been around for a long time. As the leading sport in the entire USA, it always draws a lot of attention. The current season at any given time is only one side of the story since fans love discussing the history, the fantasy, and the what-if scenarios as much as the current events. It is often said that you need to understand or at least be familiar with what used to be if you mean to be good at it now. But is that really the case with following football and being the most knowledgeable fan out there?
Well, it is certainly not as black and white as a yes/no answer. It is true that you don’t need to know the history of the NFL to make successful NFL picks, but it never hurts. Throughout the history of the league, there have been some dominant teams that have stood out from the rest of the pack. It is not always the dark horse, but it is also not the clear favorite.
It’s not easy to put together a list of the best teams in NFL history, but there does seem to be a pretty clear break after the top seven. Here is a look at the seven best teams in NFL history, and not all of these teams went on to win the Super Bowl. Sadly, being the best in a season does not always equal the ultimate prize.
8. 1998 Denver Broncos
John Elway and Terrell Davis led the offense for the 1998 Denver Broncos, and Bill Romanowski manned the middle of that defense. This was the second straight Super Bowl Championship for the Broncos and they did it in dominant fashion.
Elway was at the end of his career at this time, but he was still good enough to deliver big plays for his team when it mattered most. There have been some great Broncos teams throughout the years, but this team was the best.
7. 1992 Dallas Cowboys
The 1992 Dallas Cowboys featured an offense that had six Pro Bowlers on it, and they could score in a variety of ways. Dallas seemed to dominate the 1990s, but this was their best overall team.
Not only could the Cowboys score whenever they wanted to, but they also had a defense that was dominant in every single way. The 1992 Dallas Cowboys didn’t just beat teams, but they beat teams badly.
6. 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers
All of the teams on this list were loaded with talent, but the 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers might have been the deepest. There were 11 different Pro Bowlers on the Steelers roster in 1975, and the defense will go down as one of the best in league history.
The mid-1970s is when parity started to take over throughout the NFL, but the Steelers were able to separate from the rest of the pack. This team controlled both sides of the ball, and several players ended up in the Hall of Fame.
5. 1989 San Francisco 49ers
A lot of teams on this list were able to dominate teams on the defensive side of the ball. When looking to make NFL predictions on the 1989 San Francisco 49ers, everything started with the offense.
Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Jerry Rice were all on this team on the offensive side of the ball, and those three players were some of the best to ever play this game. San Francisco dominated the 1980s, but it was the 1989 team that stands out among the rest.
4. 2007 New England Patriots
We have now reached the top three on this list, and we are going to start with a team that didn’t manage to win the Super Bowl. If the 2007 New England Patriots were able to finish the year with a title, then they would easily be the best NFL team of all-time.
Tom Brady led an explosive offense for New England, and the defense was also among the best in the league. The Patriots absolutely rolled to a perfect 18-0 record, but they couldn’t win the biggest game of the year as the New York Giants tripped them up.
3. 1985 Chicago Bears
During the 1985 season, all NFL expert picks were leaning towards the Chicago Bears. This not only was one of the most complete teams in NFL history, but it was also one of the most dominant.
Running Walter Payton led the way on offense, but quarterback Jim McMahon could also pick up yards in the passing game. Oh, and the defense might have been the best defense in league history as they just completely beat up on opponents.
2. 1972 Miami Dolphins
You will find some pretty good arguments for some other teams to be included on the list, but there is no arguing about which team is the best in NFL history. That title would belong to the 1972 Miami Dolphins, as that team remains the only team to finish the season with a perfect record.
What makes the 1972 Dolphins so special is that they weren’t a team that was absolutely loaded with some of the best players of all time. There were definitely some Hall of Fame players on that roster, but they did it as a team.
Until another NFL team finishes the year with a perfect record, you have to keep this team on top.
1. The 2010s: Seattle Seahawks
The 2010s ushered in a new era of success for the Seattle Seahawks. Led by Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback, Russell Wilson, and all-world safety, Kam Chancellor, they won the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 2013 with a victory over Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos.
The Seahawks continued their outstanding play throughout the decade, consistently making deep playoff runs. A notable feat was their 2014 season when they became the first team since the 1985 Chicago Bears to boast a top 10 defense and offense in the same year.
From 2012 to 2016, Seattle went 10-4 or better every year and led the NFL in total wins for those five years (62). Their impressive run helped make them one of most revered teams from their decade and one of the most storied teams in NFL history.
Conclusion
In summary, there have been so many amazing teams throughout the history of the NFL. While there may be debate about exactly which team deserves to be considered the greatest, one thing is undeniably true: The NFL has provided sports fans with decades’ worth of exciting players, legendary plays and incredibly competitive games. Whether you’re a fan of teams from the past or just discovering them now, you’ll find that each team has its own unique story that adds to the rich tapestry of NFL history.