NFL Analysis
7/29/24
9 min read
Ranking The 10 Best Teams In NFL History
NFL history is loaded with excellent teams and incredible seasons.
But ranking them from 10-1 is difficult because each season and team is so different. Some historic teams had tougher roads to the Super Bowl, and others had fantastic seasons but might not have been the most dominant teams in league history.
Today, we will do our best to rank the 10 greatest teams in NFL history. So, without further ado, here is our list:
Ranking NFL's Greatest Teams
10. 1991 Washington Franchise (17-2) 
When you think about the greatest teams in NFL history, Washington's 1991 team might not be the first one you remember. And that’s okay.
They didn’t have a future Hall of Fame quarterback like Joe Montana or Tom Brady, nor a dominant defensive player like Lawrence Taylor. Yet, they make this list as one of the most well-rounded teams in NFL history.
In 1991, Washington had the sixth-best point differential (+261) in NFL history, which doesn’t even include their +61-point differential in the playoffs. It had the No. 1 ranked offense in the league, averaging 30.3 points per game. Washington also had the No. 2 ranked scoring defense, allowing only 14.0 points per game. The most notable part of this team was their offensive line, earning the nickname “The Hogs.”
They also earned the honor of being named the best team of the last 30 years by DVOA, a metric that measures all parts of a team, including special teams, opponents' strength, etc. We don’t think they were the best team since 1990, but they do crack our list.
9. 2007 New England Patriots (18-1) 
The 2007 New England Patriots are the only team on this list that did not win the Super Bowl. However, they deserve to make it, and you can argue they should be higher.
The Patriots went a perfect 16-0 in the regular season with a point differential of +315. That is the highest in NFL history, smashing the 1942 record set by the Chicago Bears (+292).
They were led by Tom Brady, who threw 50 touchdowns on his way to winning the MVP. Randy Moss set the all-time receiving touchdown record (23), and the offense averaged 36.8 points per game, second in NFL history at the time.
New England was upset by the Giants in the Super Bowl, but it was a close contest, and it shouldn’t take away just how dominant this team was in the regular season and in the rest of the playoffs.
8. 1999 St. Louis Rams (16-3) 
Of all the teams on this list, the 1999 Rams might be the most fun. It was one of the most unexpectedly dominant teams in NFL history, with a no-name quarterback in Kurt Warner taking over for an injured Trent Green.
The Rams were 4-12 the previous season, but with Warner under center, they won 13 games in 1999 and posted one of the greatest offensive seasons in NFL history.
The Rams led the league in points scored at 32.9 points per game. Warner led the league in every important quarterback stat, including touchdowns (41), completion percentage (65.1), yards per attempt (8.7), and passer rating (109.2). Not only would he go on to win the NFL’s MVP award, but he also took home the Super Bowl MVP honors in one of the most improbable rise-to-fame moments in the sport’s history.
But the Rams weren’t just a one-man show. Marshall Faulk totaled more than 2,400 yards from scrimmage, and they had weapons galore with Issac Bruce, Torry Holt, and Az-Zahir Hakim. They scored 27 or more points in 15 of their 19 games that season and were held under 21 points just once.
But they weren’t just an offensive team, finishing fourth in scoring defense (15.1 PPG). It’s also worth noting that the 1999 Rams had the second-best point differential (+284) since the merger. The “Greatest Show on Turf” remains one of the league’s most dominant and fun teams in NFL history.
7. 1962 Green Bay Packers (14-1) 
It is difficult to pick just one Green Bay Packers team from the 1960s, but the 1962 team was widely considered the best season for several decades. The Packers went 13-1 in the regular season with a margin of victory of 19.1. Their +267-point differential remains the fifth-highest in NFL history despite only playing 14 games.
This was the second-straight NFL title for the Packers as they defeated the Giants in the final game of the year. They were led by Jim Taylor, who was voted the NFL’s MVP after totaling 1,580 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns.
The offense finished No. 1 in points scored (29.6 PPG), but it was the defense that was the real story. They allowed just 10.6 points per game and had five future Hall of Famers on that side of the ball.
6. 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers (17-2) 
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had several seasons in their franchise history with 13 or more regular-season wins, but the 1978 team easily tops them all.
The Steelers went 14-2 in the regular season, mostly due to their legendary defense. Pittsburgh allowed just 12.2 points per game in the regular season and 15 points in its two AFC playoff games.
They also had Terry Bradshaw, the league's MVP. Lynn Swan and John Stallworth were both in the primes of their careers, and Franco Harris posted yet another Pro Bowl season. The Steelers were loaded with talent, with multiple Hall of Fame players on both sides of the ball.
5. 1992 Dallas Cowboys (16-3) 
The Dallas Cowboys won three Super Bowls from 1992 to 1995, but the first version of their team was the best. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin were all in their primes, and they had a fantastic offense and defense.
Dallas finished No. 1 in yards allowed that season and had the league’s top run defense. On offense, the Cowboys averaged 25.6 points per game, second-most in the NFL. They were incredibly young on both sides of the ball and had a dominant offensive line to control the line of scrimmage.
They finished the regular season with a record of 13-3 and dominated in the playoffs. All three of their playoff wins were by double digits, and their 52 points in the Super Bowl against the Bills is the second-most of all-time.
The 1992 Cowboys were one of the most well-rounded teams in NFL history. With a superstar head coach in Jimmy Johnson on the sidelines, it’s hard to find a weakness on this team.
4. 1989 San Francisco 49ers (17-2) 
The San Francisco 49ers will have several teams on this list, including the 1989 team. The 1989 team was led by an older Joe Montana, who won the NFL MVP. But unlike the 1984 team, they had a superstar receiver in his prime in Jerry Rice. He racked up more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage in 1989, scoring 17 touchdowns. Rice was already the league's best receiver, helping the 49ers become the NFL’s No. 1 ranked scoring offense.
The 49ers waltzed their way through the playoffs, averaging 42 points per game in the postseason. Their 55-10 win against the Broncos in the final game remains the largest margin of victory ever in the Super Bowl. The 49ers only lost two games all season (Rams, Packers) by a combined five points.
3. 1984 San Francisco 49ers (18-1)
There have only been a few teams in NFL history that have gone 15-1 (or better) in the regular season, including the 1984 49ers. Their only loss came against the Steelers in Week 7 after Ray Wersching missed a short field goal that would have sent the game to overtime.
That was their only loss during the regular season, and they dominated the rest of the way. The 49ers won all three of their postseason games by double digits, including a 22-point victory against Dan Marino and the Dolphins in the Super Bowl.
The 49ers had the No. 2 scoring offense in the league (29.7 points per game) and the No. 1 defense. Their +248-point differential in the regular season was the best in franchise history and remains near the top in NFL history.
2. 1985 Chicago Bears (18-1) 
The 1985 Chicago Bears are known for their defense. Any other defense in NFL history is always compared to this unit, and they will never stack up. The Bears allowed just 12.4 points per game and pitched four shutouts.
In fact, the defense held its opponents to 10 or fewer points in 14 of its 19 games that season. But the Bears weren’t just a defensive team. They finished the season No. 2 in points scored (28.5 PPG), with Walter Payton shouldering most of the work on offense.
The Bears did not allow a single point in their two NFC playoff games and allowed just 10 points to the Patriots in their dominant Super Bowl win. Their only loss of the season came against the Dolphins (led by Dan Marino) on Monday Night Football. Otherwise, it was a nearly flawless season for the 1985 Bears.
1. 1972 Miami Dolphins (17-0) 
The pick for the No. 1 team in NFL history wasn’t a difficult one. The Miami Dolphins are still the only team to go undefeated in the regular season and in the postseason. They are also among the only teams in NFL history to have the No. 1 scoring offense (27.5 PPG) and the No. 1 scoring defense (12.2 PPG allowed) in the same season.
The Dolphins had several close games in the regular season, but they finished the year with a point differential of +214 in 14 games. That means their average margin of victory that season was 15.2 points.
The Dolphins put together a perfect season despite playing most of the year with a backup quarterback (Earl Morrall) after Brian Griese was injured early in the season. That didn’t slow Miami down as it was still dominant on both sides of the ball.
