brncs_fan
02-01-2008, 10:34 AM
80. 1979 LOS ANGELES RAMS 9-7 (2-1)
79. 2003 CAROLINA PANTHERS 11-5 (3-1)
78. 2000 NEW YORK GIANTS 12-4 (2-1)
77. 1982 MIAMI DOLPHINS 7-2 (3-1)
76. 1985 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 (3-1)
75. 1986 DENVER BRONCOS 11-5 (2-1)
How did they reach Super Bowl with such mediocre team statistical rankings? Oh yeah, they beat a Marty Schottenheimer-coached team in the AFC title game. Before you make the case that this is the worst Super Bowl team, consider that Denver faced the toughest schedule ever of a Super Bowl participant – .545 opponents' winning percentage. Oh, and they did have a guy named Elway playing quarterback.
74. 1996 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 (2-1)
73. 1993 BUFFALO BILLS 12-4 (2-1)
72. 1999 TENNESSEE TITANS 13-3 (3-1)
71. 1994 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 11-5 (2-1)
70. 1970 DALLAS COWBOYS 10-4 (2-1)
69. 1988 CINCINNATI BENGALS 12-4 (2-1)
68. 1995 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 11-5 (2-1)
67. 1966 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 11-2-1 (1-1)
66. 1992 BUFFALO BILLS 11-5 (3-1)
65. 1974 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 10-4 (2-1)
64. 1987 DENVER BRONCOS 10-4-1 (2-1)
Denver won its second consecutive AFC championship, but the Broncos' defense ultimately capsized. After allowing more than 30 points just once in 12 nonstrike games, Denver coughed up a combined 75 in the AFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. A telling statistic was the 4.44 yards per carry that the Broncos allowed in the regular season, which ranked near the bottom of the league. Washington exploited that weakness to the tune of 280 rushing yards in a Super Bowl blowout.
63. 1975 DALLAS COWBOYS 10-4 (2-1)
62. 1981 CINCINNATI BENGALS 12-4 (2-1)
61. 1977 DENVER BRONCOS 12-2 (2-1)
Although statistically unimpressive, the Broncos tied for the best record in the league against a difficult schedule. Denver had neither a 500-yard rusher nor a 30-catch wide receiver, but still went 8-2 against opponents .500 or better. These Broncos are the only Super Bowl participant to average less than 20 points per game. Craig Morton quarterbacked the team effectively, although he completed just 51.6 percent of his passes, but then chunked against his former team in the Super Bowl, throwing as many interceptions (four) as completions.
60. 1973 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12-2 (2-1)
59. 1972 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 11-3 (2-1)
58. 1989 DENVER BRONCOS 11-5 (2-1)
Yes, this team was the victim of the largest blowout in Super Bowl history. Because of that drubbing, many fans forget that the Broncos allowed the fewest points in the league in '89 – safeties Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith were nasty. All five of Denver's regular-season losses were by seven points or fewer, and its only loss to a team with a losing record came after the Broncos had already clinched home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs. John Elway didn't have an exceptional season, but his scrambling ability made him much more valuable than the numbers might imply.
57. 2002 OAKLAND RAIDERS 11-5 (2-1)
56. 1971 MIAMI DOLPHINS 10-3-1 (2-1)
55. 1967 OAKLAND RAIDERS 13-1 (1-1)
54. 1980 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 12-4 (2-1)
53. 1976 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 11-2-1 (2-1)
52. 1991 BUFFALO BILLS 13-3 (2-1)
51. 1970 BALTIMORE COLTS 11-2-1 (3-0)
50. 2005 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 13-3 (2-1)
49. 1968 NEW YORK JETS 11-3 (2-0)
48. 1967 GREEN BAY PACKERS 9-4-1 (3-0)
47. 2001 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 (3-0)
46. 2004 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 13-3 (2-1)
45. 1969 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12-2 (2-1)
44. 1998 ATLANTA FALCONS 14-2 (2-1)
43. 1990 BUFFALO BILLS 13-3 (2-1)
42. 1988 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 10-6 (3-0)
41. 2005 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 11-5 (4-0)
40. 1980 OAKLAND RAIDERS 11-5 (4-0)
39. 1982 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 8-1 (4-0)
38. 1969 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 11-3 (3-0)
37. 1997 GREEN BAY PACKERS 13-3 (2-1)
36. 1968 BALTIMORE COLTS 13-1 (2-1)
35. 2002 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 12-4 (3-0)
34. 1984 MIAMI DOLPHINS 14-2 (2-1)
33. 1990 NEW YORK GIANTS 13-3 (3-0)
32. 2003 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 14-2 (3-0)
31. 1974 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 10-3-1 (3-0)
30. 1987 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 11-4 (3-0)
29. 2000 BALTIMORE RAVENS 12-4 (4-0)
28. 1983 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 14-2 (2-1)
27. 1983 LOS ANGELES RAIDERS 12-4 (3-0)
26. 1995 DALLAS COWBOYS 12-4 (3-0)
25. 1981 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 13-3 (3-0)
24. 1977 DALLAS COWBOYS 12-2 (3-0)
23. 2001 ST. LOUIS RAMS 14-2 (2-1)
22. 1966 GREEN BAY PACKERS 12-2 (3-0)
21. 1973 MIAMI DOLPHINS 12-2 (3-0)
20. 1997 DENVER BRONCOS 12-4 (4-0)
After 13 consecutive NFC victories in the Super Bowl, oddsmakers made Denver an 11½-point underdog. Little did they understand how much the emergence of Terrell Davis would help John Elway. The balanced Broncos ranked No. 1 in the NFL in points and offensive yardage, and its defense allowed the fifth-fewest yards in the league. One knock on this team is that it didn't win its division, despite having the second-best record in the AFC. But Denver toppled AFC West champion Kansas City in a divisional playoff game en route to its long-awaited first Super Bowl title.
19. 1978 DALLAS COWBOYS 12-4 (2-1)
18. 1976 OAKLAND RAIDERS 13-1 (3-0)
17. 1993 DALLAS COWBOYS 12-4 (3-0)
16. 1979 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 12-4 (3-0)
15. 1971 DALLAS COWBOYS 11-3 (3-0)
14. 1999 ST. LOUIS RAMS 13-3 (3-0)
13. 1975 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 12-2 (3-0)
12. 1998 DENVER BRONCOS 14-2 (3-0)
John Elway compiled the best passer rating of his career, and Terrell Davis became the only NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in the same season. Add two 1,000-yard receivers and a Pro Bowl tight end, and you've got a recipe for an offense that averaged more than 30 points in the regular season and postseason. Both of Denver's losses came after it had already clinched home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs with a 13-0 start. The Broncos became the first AFC team to win consecutive Super Bowls in 19 years.
11. 1994 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 13-3 (3-0)
10. 1991 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 14-2 (3-0)
9. 2004 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 14-2 (3-0)
8. 1986 NEW YORK GIANTS 14-2 (3-0)
7. 1972 MIAMI DOLPHINS 14-0 (3-0)
6. 1996 GREEN BAY PACKERS 13-3 (3-0)
5. 1984 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 15-1 (3-0)
4. 1992 DALLAS COWBOYS 13-3 (3-0)
3. 1978 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 14-2 (3-0)
2. 1985 CHICAGO BEARS 15-1 (3-0)
1. 1989 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 14-2 (3-0)
What, you want to bet against Joe Montana and Jerry Rice? This team gets our nod due to its excellence on both sides of the ball, mind-boggling statistics and perhaps the most dominant postseason run in NFL history. This team gave us Montana, Rice, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott and Charles Haley in their primes. It also boasted the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history, scoring 55 points against the NFL's best scoring defense.
This team had a future Hall of Famer, Steve Young, as its backup quarterback. Montana recorded the third-highest single-season passer rating in NFL history – more than 20 points higher than the No. 2 mark that season. Rice was unstoppable, as he and John Taylor teamed for 142 receptions, 2,560 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Former defensive coordinator George Seifert seemed to push all the right buttons in his first season at the helm, following Bill Walsh's retirement. His offensive coordinator was Mike Holmgren, who would go on to guide three Super Bowl participants as head coach. San Francisco won 13 games by double digits, including playoff scores of 41-13, 30-3 and 55-10. The 49ers also went 8-0 on the road. Their two losses came by a total of five points, and both of those opponents won at least 10 games. To date, only three members of this team are enshrined in the Hall of Fame, which speaks to the value of a tremendous supporting cast that included Brent Jones, Tom Rathman, Jesse Sapolu, Michael Carter, Pierce Holt, Kevin Fagan, Keena Turner, Eric Wright, Tim McKyer, Matt Millen and Bill Romanowski.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=super/rankings/80-61
79. 2003 CAROLINA PANTHERS 11-5 (3-1)
78. 2000 NEW YORK GIANTS 12-4 (2-1)
77. 1982 MIAMI DOLPHINS 7-2 (3-1)
76. 1985 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 (3-1)
75. 1986 DENVER BRONCOS 11-5 (2-1)
How did they reach Super Bowl with such mediocre team statistical rankings? Oh yeah, they beat a Marty Schottenheimer-coached team in the AFC title game. Before you make the case that this is the worst Super Bowl team, consider that Denver faced the toughest schedule ever of a Super Bowl participant – .545 opponents' winning percentage. Oh, and they did have a guy named Elway playing quarterback.
74. 1996 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 (2-1)
73. 1993 BUFFALO BILLS 12-4 (2-1)
72. 1999 TENNESSEE TITANS 13-3 (3-1)
71. 1994 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 11-5 (2-1)
70. 1970 DALLAS COWBOYS 10-4 (2-1)
69. 1988 CINCINNATI BENGALS 12-4 (2-1)
68. 1995 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 11-5 (2-1)
67. 1966 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 11-2-1 (1-1)
66. 1992 BUFFALO BILLS 11-5 (3-1)
65. 1974 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 10-4 (2-1)
64. 1987 DENVER BRONCOS 10-4-1 (2-1)
Denver won its second consecutive AFC championship, but the Broncos' defense ultimately capsized. After allowing more than 30 points just once in 12 nonstrike games, Denver coughed up a combined 75 in the AFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. A telling statistic was the 4.44 yards per carry that the Broncos allowed in the regular season, which ranked near the bottom of the league. Washington exploited that weakness to the tune of 280 rushing yards in a Super Bowl blowout.
63. 1975 DALLAS COWBOYS 10-4 (2-1)
62. 1981 CINCINNATI BENGALS 12-4 (2-1)
61. 1977 DENVER BRONCOS 12-2 (2-1)
Although statistically unimpressive, the Broncos tied for the best record in the league against a difficult schedule. Denver had neither a 500-yard rusher nor a 30-catch wide receiver, but still went 8-2 against opponents .500 or better. These Broncos are the only Super Bowl participant to average less than 20 points per game. Craig Morton quarterbacked the team effectively, although he completed just 51.6 percent of his passes, but then chunked against his former team in the Super Bowl, throwing as many interceptions (four) as completions.
60. 1973 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12-2 (2-1)
59. 1972 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 11-3 (2-1)
58. 1989 DENVER BRONCOS 11-5 (2-1)
Yes, this team was the victim of the largest blowout in Super Bowl history. Because of that drubbing, many fans forget that the Broncos allowed the fewest points in the league in '89 – safeties Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith were nasty. All five of Denver's regular-season losses were by seven points or fewer, and its only loss to a team with a losing record came after the Broncos had already clinched home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs. John Elway didn't have an exceptional season, but his scrambling ability made him much more valuable than the numbers might imply.
57. 2002 OAKLAND RAIDERS 11-5 (2-1)
56. 1971 MIAMI DOLPHINS 10-3-1 (2-1)
55. 1967 OAKLAND RAIDERS 13-1 (1-1)
54. 1980 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 12-4 (2-1)
53. 1976 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 11-2-1 (2-1)
52. 1991 BUFFALO BILLS 13-3 (2-1)
51. 1970 BALTIMORE COLTS 11-2-1 (3-0)
50. 2005 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 13-3 (2-1)
49. 1968 NEW YORK JETS 11-3 (2-0)
48. 1967 GREEN BAY PACKERS 9-4-1 (3-0)
47. 2001 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 (3-0)
46. 2004 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 13-3 (2-1)
45. 1969 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12-2 (2-1)
44. 1998 ATLANTA FALCONS 14-2 (2-1)
43. 1990 BUFFALO BILLS 13-3 (2-1)
42. 1988 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 10-6 (3-0)
41. 2005 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 11-5 (4-0)
40. 1980 OAKLAND RAIDERS 11-5 (4-0)
39. 1982 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 8-1 (4-0)
38. 1969 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 11-3 (3-0)
37. 1997 GREEN BAY PACKERS 13-3 (2-1)
36. 1968 BALTIMORE COLTS 13-1 (2-1)
35. 2002 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 12-4 (3-0)
34. 1984 MIAMI DOLPHINS 14-2 (2-1)
33. 1990 NEW YORK GIANTS 13-3 (3-0)
32. 2003 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 14-2 (3-0)
31. 1974 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 10-3-1 (3-0)
30. 1987 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 11-4 (3-0)
29. 2000 BALTIMORE RAVENS 12-4 (4-0)
28. 1983 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 14-2 (2-1)
27. 1983 LOS ANGELES RAIDERS 12-4 (3-0)
26. 1995 DALLAS COWBOYS 12-4 (3-0)
25. 1981 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 13-3 (3-0)
24. 1977 DALLAS COWBOYS 12-2 (3-0)
23. 2001 ST. LOUIS RAMS 14-2 (2-1)
22. 1966 GREEN BAY PACKERS 12-2 (3-0)
21. 1973 MIAMI DOLPHINS 12-2 (3-0)
20. 1997 DENVER BRONCOS 12-4 (4-0)
After 13 consecutive NFC victories in the Super Bowl, oddsmakers made Denver an 11½-point underdog. Little did they understand how much the emergence of Terrell Davis would help John Elway. The balanced Broncos ranked No. 1 in the NFL in points and offensive yardage, and its defense allowed the fifth-fewest yards in the league. One knock on this team is that it didn't win its division, despite having the second-best record in the AFC. But Denver toppled AFC West champion Kansas City in a divisional playoff game en route to its long-awaited first Super Bowl title.
19. 1978 DALLAS COWBOYS 12-4 (2-1)
18. 1976 OAKLAND RAIDERS 13-1 (3-0)
17. 1993 DALLAS COWBOYS 12-4 (3-0)
16. 1979 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 12-4 (3-0)
15. 1971 DALLAS COWBOYS 11-3 (3-0)
14. 1999 ST. LOUIS RAMS 13-3 (3-0)
13. 1975 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 12-2 (3-0)
12. 1998 DENVER BRONCOS 14-2 (3-0)
John Elway compiled the best passer rating of his career, and Terrell Davis became the only NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in the same season. Add two 1,000-yard receivers and a Pro Bowl tight end, and you've got a recipe for an offense that averaged more than 30 points in the regular season and postseason. Both of Denver's losses came after it had already clinched home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs with a 13-0 start. The Broncos became the first AFC team to win consecutive Super Bowls in 19 years.
11. 1994 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 13-3 (3-0)
10. 1991 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 14-2 (3-0)
9. 2004 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 14-2 (3-0)
8. 1986 NEW YORK GIANTS 14-2 (3-0)
7. 1972 MIAMI DOLPHINS 14-0 (3-0)
6. 1996 GREEN BAY PACKERS 13-3 (3-0)
5. 1984 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 15-1 (3-0)
4. 1992 DALLAS COWBOYS 13-3 (3-0)
3. 1978 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 14-2 (3-0)
2. 1985 CHICAGO BEARS 15-1 (3-0)
1. 1989 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 14-2 (3-0)
What, you want to bet against Joe Montana and Jerry Rice? This team gets our nod due to its excellence on both sides of the ball, mind-boggling statistics and perhaps the most dominant postseason run in NFL history. This team gave us Montana, Rice, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott and Charles Haley in their primes. It also boasted the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history, scoring 55 points against the NFL's best scoring defense.
This team had a future Hall of Famer, Steve Young, as its backup quarterback. Montana recorded the third-highest single-season passer rating in NFL history – more than 20 points higher than the No. 2 mark that season. Rice was unstoppable, as he and John Taylor teamed for 142 receptions, 2,560 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Former defensive coordinator George Seifert seemed to push all the right buttons in his first season at the helm, following Bill Walsh's retirement. His offensive coordinator was Mike Holmgren, who would go on to guide three Super Bowl participants as head coach. San Francisco won 13 games by double digits, including playoff scores of 41-13, 30-3 and 55-10. The 49ers also went 8-0 on the road. Their two losses came by a total of five points, and both of those opponents won at least 10 games. To date, only three members of this team are enshrined in the Hall of Fame, which speaks to the value of a tremendous supporting cast that included Brent Jones, Tom Rathman, Jesse Sapolu, Michael Carter, Pierce Holt, Kevin Fagan, Keena Turner, Eric Wright, Tim McKyer, Matt Millen and Bill Romanowski.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=super/rankings/80-61