5 best NFL teams you’ve seen in your lifetime

[TheBrownBear]

Surprised to see so many say the '98 Vikings.  They went 15-1, but the NFC was weak that year (the Falcons went 14-2 and were just a "good" team as the Super Bowl showed us).

 

I was born in the late 70's, so here's my list:

 

1985 Bears

1989 Niners

1994 Niners

2000 Ravens

2007 Patriots

 

The 1990 Bills from like week 10 through the Super Bowl belong with the teams above if they had sealed the deal against the Giants.  They were totally dominating in the second half of that season.

Just now, Rico said:

I see 2000 Ravens on some lists. That team was 5-4 after week 9 and made the playoffs as a wild-card team. The absolute greatest teams to me dominated their year from start to finish, so they are not in the conversation to me.

Their defense was basically impenetrable late in the season.  They posted 4 shut outs and gave up 3, 10, 3, and 7 points in the postseason.  They are on my list for sure.  No one could do anything against that defense.

[Rico]

4 minutes ago, TheBrownBear said:

Surprised to see so many say the '98 Vikings.  They went 15-1, but the NFC was weak that year (the Falcons went 14-2 and were just a "good" team as the Super Bowl showed us).

 

I was born in the late 70's, so here's my list:

 

1985 Bears

1989 Niners

1994 Niners

2000 Ravens

2007 Patriots

 

The 1990 Bills from like week 10 through the Super Bowl belong with the teams above if they had sealed the deal against the Giants.  They were totally dominating in the second half of that season.

Their defense was basically impenetrable late in the season.  They posted 4 shut outs and gave up 3, 10, 3, and 7 points in the postseason.  They are on my list for sure.  No one could do anything against that defense.

I'll give them one of the top 5 greatest hot streaks to end a season.

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

3 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

If the 1990 Bills had won the Super Bowl, they would be regarded as one of the best teams of all time.  Because they lost, they were relegated to the dust bin of history, right next to Mahogany Rush.

How dare you blaspheme Mahogany Rush 🤘🎸… are you going to throw shade at Iron Butterfly next? 😂

Edited January 7, 2022 by AlCowlingsTaxiService

[Greg S]

What no love for the 84 and 85 Bills?

[stinky finger]

1 hour ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Probably the most accurate list I've seen so far.

 

I have difficulty placing the Pats. A great team, but a different game. They certainly have a place in history so far as their 2 decade long dominance. 

 

I just don't think the '07 team measures up to some of these others.

 

As much as I hate them, I feel I'm being objective.

 

 

[Brand J]

Yeah that 2000 Ravens D was being compared to the 85 Bears, the Steel Curtain, the Purple People Eaters. It was an extremely suffocating defense and a team I’d put among the best I’ve seen since I started watching football. I’m sure there were others that were better, but they were before my time. 

[Amaru523]

A couple teams that aren't on any lists, but deserve honorable mention for me, are the 86 Giants and 13 Seahawks. The 86 Giants only lost 2 games that year by a combined 8 points against a very tough schedule. Absolutely destroyed the 49ers in the playoffs 49-3, shutout the WTF, then ran away from the Broncos in the 2nd half to win the SB. LT MVP.

 

The 2013 Hawks had one of the best defensive backfields of all time and a damn good offense as well. Went 16-3, also against a very tough schedule. The Legion of Boom has to be considered one of the best defenses ever. Obliterated Peyton Manning in the SB.

 

 

 

[Rico]

4 minutes ago, inaugural balls said:

 

I have difficulty placing the Pats. A great team, but a different game. They certainly have a place in history so far as their 2 decade long dominance. 

 

I just don't think the '07 team measures up to some of these others.

 

As much as I hate them, I feel I'm being objective.

 

 

I can't put any team from the post-free agency, watered-down era up there either.

[BillsPride12]

15 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

Yeah that 2000 Ravens D was being compared to the 85 Bears, the Steel Curtain, the Purple People Eaters. It was an extremely suffocating defense and a team I’d put among the best I’ve seen since I started watching football. I’m sure there were others that were better, but they were before my time. 

Top5 all time defense for sure but would not put that overall team as a top 5 team.  Their offense was very average.

[Freddie's Dead]

28 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

How dare you blaspheme Mahogany Rush 🤘🎸… are you going to throw shade at Iron Butterfly next? 😂

 

Don't hate me man.  It was a Wayne's World 2 reference.  "I feel like I'm in the delete bin of life next to Mahogany Rush."

[Chandler#81]

#5 ‘66 Packers

#4 ’69 Chiefs

#3 ’76 Raiders

#2 ’90 Bills

#1 ‘64 Bills

[filthymcnasty08]

85 Bears

2000 Ravens

07 Pats

89 Niners

One of the early 90's Cowbitch teams that pummeled us...trying not to remember or I'll have to go watch the Gary video

 

Honorable Mention:  90 Bills, 86 Giants, 06 Colts

[Marcus Aurelius]

Don't anyone forget the 1965 Buffalo Bills.

AFL sorry  ...

Edited January 7, 2022 by Marcus Aurelius

[msw2112]

Again, I don't think you can call a team the "best" if they didn't close the deal and win the championship (which would be the Super Bowl in the Super Bowl era).  This is why the 90 Bills and 07 Pats are not on my list.  But, hey, the '65 Bills DID close the deal (although it was a little bit before my time)!

[Talley56]

1. 94 San Francisco

2. 92 Dallas

3. 99 St Louis

4. 14 NE

5. 91 Washington - Yes, this may be an unpopular one but this team just rolled a lot of their competition, including the Lions twice who were the 2nd best team in the NFC.  And then, well, you know, the SB that we shall not speak of.

 

All this keeping in mind I didn't start getting into football until 90 so I missed the 85 Bears and all of the 49ers teams of the 80s.

[The Jokeman]

6 hours ago, Governor said:

Mark Rypien and the Redskins has to be on that list. They destroyed everyone that year.

 

2003 Bucs. I believe the Raiders were actually favored in that SB and Tampa annihilated them.

 

No Bills team could be on that list.

That 1991 Redskins team was great on both sides of the ball. 

[CaptnCoke11]

2008 Lions and the 2017 Bowns.  Very very impressive to go 16 games and not win 1.  

[RichRiderBills]

Folks citing modern teams; no way with the rule changes and style of play and officiating the last 15 years is any team remotely to be considered. 

 

For me the sweet spot is 1985 - 2003 

 

I'm not listing any of the Pats teams from that era. They were never great teams.

 

The 85 Bears were the best. 1988 49ers, 92 Skins, 93 Cowboys.

 

I'd put the 1990 Bills in strong contention. The hall of famers alone justify it. Several other players on the team deserve to be in the hall. 

[Weatherman]

9 hours ago, major said:

What say you? I’ve got:

1. 1985 Chicago Bears

2. 1990 Buffalo Bills

3. 1998 Minnesota Vikings

4. 1994 San Francisco 49ers
5. 1984 San Francisco 49ers

1. 1990 Buffalo Bills

2. 1991 Buffalo Bills

3. 1992 Buffalo Bills

4. 1964 Buffalo Bills 

5. 2021 Buffalo Bills 

Edited January 8, 2022 by Weatherman

[FireChans]

9 hours ago, major said:

What say you? I’ve got:

1. 1985 Chicago Bears

2. 1990 Buffalo Bills

3. 1998 Minnesota Vikings

4. 1994 San Francisco 49ers
5. 1984 San Francisco 49ers

The 2007 Pats were better than the 90 Bills. 
 

unless you died before 2007 and are in fact a ghost, then never mind.