Re: NFL 2016-17 II: Playoffs, Super Bowl, and Offseason
#1 – Green Bay Packers
Points: 331.6301 Points
Super Bowl Championships: 4 (I, II, XXXI, XLV)
NFL Championships: 13 (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1996, 2010)
Playoff Appearances: 32 (34-22 (0.607))
The Green Bay Packers top my rankings of the best NFL franchises of all-time. Green Bay has the most NFL Championships (13) and Playoff Appearances (32)* out of any team in NFL history. The Packers are the third-oldest NFL franchise, joining the league in 1919 and had immediate success. Green Bay was named NFL Champions three straight seasons from 1929-1931, the first of their 2 three-peats in franchise history. Indeed, the Packers had only 1 losing season in their first 29 campaigns, and captured NFL Championships in 1936 (defeating the Redskins 21-6), 1939 (defeating the Giants 27-0), and 1944 (defeating the Giants 14-7). Green Bay did struggle in the post-war years, and would not post a winning record from 1948-1958. Fortunately for the Packer faithful, they would rebound with great success under the leadership of Head Coach Vince Lombardi. Green Bay lost the NFL Championship in 1960, but would take 5 NFL Championships from 1961-1967, defeating the Giants in 1961 and 1962, the Browns in 1965, and the Cowboys in 1966 and 1967 for their second three-peat in franchise history. In 1966 and 1967, Green Bay would also cap off their NFL titles with victories in Super Bowls I and II over the Chiefs and Raiders respectively. The Packers would largely struggle after Vince Lombardi retired following the 1967 season, making only 2 playoff trips from 1968-1992, and winning only 1 division title. However, since 1993, Green Bay has been the model of consistency, never going longer than 2 seasons without a playoff appearance. From 1993-2016, Green Bay has made 19 postseason trips, winning 12 division titles, playing in 7 NFC Championship Games, appearing in 3 Super Bowls, and winning 2 more Lombardi Trophies. The Packers knocked off New England in Super Bowl XXXI, and nearly repeated before falling to Denver in Super Bowl XXXII. After losing 7 of their next 10 playoff games, Green Bay won 4 straight in 2010, including a 31-25 victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV. In 2016, the Packers made their 8th straight playoff trip, and advanced to the NFC Championship Game. If Green Bay can continue to make playoff trips and win the occasional Super Bowl, they will likely stay atop these rankings.
*Tied with Dallas and New York Giants.
#2 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Points: 295.0562
Super Bowl Championships: 6 (IX, X, XIII, XIV, XL, XLIII)
NFL Championships: 6 (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008)
Playoff Appearances: 30 (36-24 (0.600))
The Pittsburgh Steelers come in at #2 on this list. Once upon a time, the Steelers were the loveable losers of the NFL, something very difficult to imagine from the franchise with the most playoff victories of all-time. Pittsburgh joined the NFL in 1933, and quickly stumbled to failure. From 1933-1971, Pittsburgh made 1 trip to the NFL playoffs, in 1947, losing 21-0 to Philadelphia. Indeed, the Steelers posted only 8 winning seasons in their first 39 years in the league, 1 of which came in 1943 while combined with the Philadelphia Eagles. After years of futility, the 1970s would prove kind to the Steelers. From 1972-1979, Pittsburgh made 8 postseason trips, won 7 division titles, appeared in 6 AFC Championship Games, and won 4 Super Bowls. Indeed, the Steelers are the only franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowls twice, capturing Super Bowls IX and X over the Vikings an Cowboys respectively, and knocking off the Cowboys and Rams in Super Bowls XIII and XIV respectively. Pittsburgh put together several mediocre seasons in the 1980s, making 4 playoff trips, but were unable to get back to the Super Bowl, coming closest in 1984, falling to Miami in the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers got back to their winning ways in the 1990s, going to the playoffs each season from 1992-1997, winning 5 division titles, appearing in 3 AFC Championship Games, and advancing to Super Bowl XXX, falling to Dallas 27-17. Since 2001, Pittsburgh has put together another strong run of success, making 11 playoff trips, winning 8 division titles, appearing in 6 AFC Championship Games, and advancing to 3 Super Bowls. The Steelers would capture their fifth Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XL, knocking off the Seahawks 21-10. In 2008, Pittsburgh would win their record sixth Super Bowl, taking down the Arizona Cardinals in a 27-23 classic. The Packers denied the Steelers their seventh Super Bowl in Super Bowl XLV, edging out Pittsburgh 31-25. The Steelers have made the playoffs in each of the last 3 seasons, and advanced to the AFC Championship last season, falling to the Patriots. If Pittsburgh can get back to the Super Bowl, and win a seventh Lombardi Trophy, they will push for the #1 spot in these rankings.
#3 – Dallas Cowboys
Points: 269.5644 Points
Super Bowl Championships: 5 (VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
NFL Championships: 5 (1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995)
Playoff Appearances: 32 (34-27 (0.557))
The Dallas Cowboys come in at #3 on this list. Dallas joined the NFL after blackmailing Washington Redskins owner George Marshall with the rights to “Hail to the Redskins” in order to secure his vote to approve the Cowboys as an expansion franchise to the NFL in 1960. Dallas struggled out of the gate, going 0-11-1 in 1960, but would soon build a powerhouse franchise by the mid-1960s. From 1966-1985, Dallas would make 18 playoff appearances, appear in 2 NFL Championship Games and 10 NFC Championship Games, win 12 division titles, advance to 5 Super Bowls, and win Super Bowls VI and XII over Miami and Denver respectively. In that 20 year stretch, the Cowboys never had a losing season, and averaged a playoff win/season. Indeed, Dallas has the top winning percentage all-time at 57.27% (ahead of Green Bay (56.70%) and Chicago (56.50%)). After their impressive run under legendary Head Coach Tom Landry, Dallas would struggle the rest of the 1980s, failing to record a winning season from 1986-1990. However, America’s Team would rebound in the 1990s, making 8 trips to the playoffs in the decade, including 6 division titles, and 3 Super Bowl victories. The Cowboys knocked off the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII, and would enact revenge on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX, after falling to Pittsburgh in Super Bowls X and XIII. The Cowboys have been unable to replicate their franchise’s success thus far in the 21st Century. Dallas has made 6 playoff trips since 2000, but has won only 2 wild card games, and have not advanced past the Division Round since 1995. The Cowboys did go 13-3 last season, winning their division title and capturing the NFC’s #1 seed before falling to Green Bay in an epic Divisional Round thriller. If Dallas can get back on the horse and capture another Lombardi Trophy or two, they could push to move up these rankings.
#1 – Green Bay Packers: 331.6301 Points
#2 – Pittsburgh Steelers: 295.0562 Points
#3 – Dallas Cowboys: 269.5644 Points
#4 - New England Patriots: 255.0217 Points
#5 - San Francisco 49ers: 250.0233 Points
#6 - New York Giants: 222.3167 Points
#7 - Washington Redskins: 189.2103 Points
#8 - Oakland Raiders: 184.5871 Points
#9 - Chicago Bears: 179.4963 Points
#10 - Denver Broncos: 176.9775 Points
#11 - Indianapolis Colts: 175.1663 Points
#12 - Miami Dolphins: 151.2236 Points
#13 - Los Angeles Rams: 138.6384 Points
#14 - Cleveland Browns: 130.1904 Points
#15 - Kansas City Chiefs: 110.0519 Points
#16 - Minnesota Vikings: 105.6669 Points
#17 - Philadelphia Eagles: 105.0247 Points
#18 - Baltimore Ravens: 96.1919 Points
#19 - Buffalo Bills: 95.567 Points
#20 - Seattle Seahawks: 87.379 Points
#21 - Detroit Lions: 82.3896 Points
#22 - Tennessee Titans: 78.9047 Points
#23 - Los Angeles Chargers: 68.583 Points
#24 - New York Jets: 57.2376 Points
#25 - New Orleans Saints: 51.8186 Points
#26 - Arizona Cardinals: 49.1015 Points
#27 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 44.2051 Points
#28 - Cincinnati Bengals: 42.3729 Points
#29 - Atlanta Falcons: 40.6032 Points
#30 - Carolina Panthers: 38.3619 Points
#31 - Jacksonville Jaguars: 9.9472 Points
#32 - Houston Texans: 9.4392 Points
Top 10 Contest:
St. Clown - 48 Points (only poster to correctly predict all Top 10 teams)
mookie1995 - 47 Points
JF_Gophers - 45 Points
Shirtless Guy - 43 Points
Kepler - 35 Points
ShirtlessBob - 32 Points
