This is different from the other three lists in one major
way. People remember more about these teams than any other teams. Name the
small forward on the 2007 Spurs or any pitcher on the 2008 Phillies or a second
liner from the 2006 Hurricanes. Exactly you can't...but chances are you can
name multiple players on any of these teams. That's why this list is different.
You think you know what order these teams should be in. But there are a few
things that might have been missed or forgotten by everyone. In addition there
are a few things that advanced stats can help us see that we wouldn't normally
pick up.
In making this list I considered many factors but there were
four main ones. First off regular season record for obvious reasons. Then I
used the profootballreference.com stat expected record to get a better look at
how successful each team was in the regular season and see how much of a factor
luck played. I also used the stat SRS or Simple Ranking System. This basically
subtracts the value of a teams strength of schedule from its average margin of
victory. There are a few flaws with this stat such as favoring offensive teams
and being inflated by blowouts so it's important to take it with a grain of
salt. However it is, for the most part, a pretty useful tool. In addition, I
considered how dominant each team was on it's playoff run through average
margin of victory. I combined all four of these factors and used a few others
to create this list.
10. 2011 New York Giants: Record 9-7, Expected Record
7.9-8.1 SRS:1.6 (League average is 0)
In 2011 we were treated to possibly the strangest NFL seasons in
years. Passing records fell like leaves in the fall while teams took the entire
season to figure out their identity. I could go on for days about how weird
this season was but I think saying that the Super Bowl champion had a negative
point differential will suffice. That's right, the team that brought home the
Lombardi Trophy allowed six more points than they scored the entire season.
They also only won nine games and based on their performance were lucky to win
that many. These Giants had the worst expected record of anyone on the list,
the worst SRS, and the worst record. Lets take a look at who they beat in the
regular season real quick. They defeated awful teams (Rams), teams that were
struggling early in the year (Arizona, Philly, Miami), teams that were below
average (Buffalo), and teams that were falling apart at the end of the year
(Dallas, NY Jets). Of course they also lost twice to the Rex Grossman-led Washington
Redskins as well. Anything can happen in a season that follows a lockout and
the Giants showed us just that in January. They defeated teams that had gone a
combined 52-12 in the regular season to claim their fourth Super Bowl in
franchise history.
9. 2007 New York Giants:Record 10-6, Expected 8.6-7.4 SRS
3.2
Before we proceed I
should probably clear something up, I do not in fact hate the New York Giants.
I was as happy as anyone when they defeated the Evil Patriots in Super Bowl 42,
it literally made my year. I bought the commemorative T-shirt and book on the
season. I loved it, I watch the highlights on Youtube about once a month. Now
that it's clear that i'm not just a hater with an ax to grind, I think it's
safe to say that these Giants just weren't very good most of the year. Eli had
a pretty below-average year and no one was scared of their offense. Believe it
or not they had a pretty average defense as well. However, after falling down
14-3 to the Buffalo Bills in the first half week 16, a memorable run ensued.
They dominated the second half to win 38-21 and then nearly knocked off the
undefeated Patriots the next week(38-35). After giving one of the best teams of
all time a game Eli Manning and the Giants gained the confidence needed to make
a historical run. They beat Tampa Bay in the wild card round (24-14), shocked
top seeded Dallas in the divisional round (21-17), and outlasted the previously
14-3 Packers in overtime(23-20) to advance to Super Bowl 42. In the biggest
game of the sports year, the Giants were matched up against those same Patriots
from a few weeks ago. The rest, as they say, is history. The Giants may not
have been the best Super Bowl champion of all time, but they gave us some of
the best memories.
8. 2012 Baltimore Ravens: Record 10-6 Expected record
9.4-6.6 SRS 2.9
This year’s Ravens were one of the least-impressive
champions ever. They barely scraped by in the regular season barely beating
inferior opponents in a watered-down AFC and almost blew the division to the “we’re
just happy to get our asses handed to us in the wild-card round every year”
Bengals. The Ravens had the league’s 10th best offense, 12th
best defense and were 11th in point differential. They beat a Colts
team who Football Outsiders called “the
worst 11-5 team of all time” in the first round. They then engaged in an epic
duel with the Broncos in the next round and took advantage of a horrendous day
for Denver’s secondary to grab a double-overtime win. The Birds then preyed on
the Patriots in the AFC Championship, sending the Pats home without the
Lombardi trophy for the eighth year in a row. In the Super Bowl, much like the
AFC Championship, the Ravens relied on the poor play of San Fran’s secondary to
secure a victory. The Ravens deserved the Lombardi Trophy but they couldn’t
have been less impressive in earning it.
7. 2006 Indianapolis Colts: Record 12-4, Expected Record
9.6-6.4 SRS: 5.9
The 2006 Colts were the beginning of the end for the motto
"defense wins championships." They were the 32nd ranked run defense
and 23rd overall defense. Yet they started the season 9-0, mostly through the
effort of Peyton Manning and their second ranked offense. As you can see above
they outperformed their expected record by a wide margin in 2006 just as they
did every year from 2002-2010. But they
couldn't overcome the awful play of their defense the last few weeks of the
year as the Colts dropped to 12-4 and out of a first round bye. Then something
incredible happened that January. In the first round the league's worst run
defense held the league's leading rusher to under 30 yards as the Colts toppled
Larry Johnson and the Chiefs 23-8. They then held the #2 seeded 13-3 Ravens to
six points in a 15-6 field goal fest. In the AFC Championship they finally got
over the New England hump in a 38-34 comeback win. In the Super Bowl the RB
tandem of Dominic Rhodes and Joe Addai ran all over the top ranked Bears
defense. These Colts will always be remembered for Peyton Manning getting his
only Super Bowl win, but perhaps they should be remembered as the beginning of
the "defense doesn't matter era." Yes this team was 16-4 but with the
league's worst run defense and a point differential of 4.2 points a game, they
were lucky to do so.
6. 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers: Record 11-5 Expected Record
11.6-4.4 SRS: 7.8
Yes, the first six seed to ever win the Super Bowl is
seventh on this list. This team should not have been a six seed. The Men of
Steel had the same record (11-5) as they division champion Bengals, the 5th
seeded Jaguars, and had a better record than the 4th seeded Patriots so you can
throw that out the window as a knock against the team. Now consider that this
team had a higher expected record than all but three teams on this list and had
a 7.8 SRS (the league average is 0). This team was much better than it's
remembered. Especially when you consider their playoff run. They destroyed
division rival Cincinatti, eeked out a win over the top seeded 14-2 Colts, and
then dominated Denver in the AFC Championship. But I bet you all you remember
about the playoff run is the Super Bowl full of fishy calls and poorly thrown
balls. Yes they were a six seed and were less than impressive in the Super Bowl
but that doesn't tell the whole story. This was a great team that dominated in
the playoffs and for most of the regular season.
5. 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers: Record 12-4 Expected Record
11.8-4.2 SRS:9.8
This was as solid and un-flashy as Super Bowl Champions get.
The 2008 Steelers were of course the league's best defense and had an above
average offense. They had a very simple formula for winning games. They shut
down the opposing team's offense and closed them out late in the 4th quarter
with a game winning drive. Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes was as clutch
of a combination as there was in the league at that time. The only real knock
on these Steelers was their offensive line. Their inability to run block
severely hurt the team's traditionally-strong run game. If they had anyone but
master sack-avoider Big Ben at QB, it may have been an even bigger detriment to
their offense. But poor line play didn't stop them from putting away San Diego
in the divisional round, Baltimore in the AFC Championship, and then Arizona in
one of the most memorable Super Bowls of all time. This was a solid, wire to
wire great team with an all time defense.
4. 2003 New England Patriots: Record 14-2 Expected Record
11.4-4.6 SRS 6.9
3. 2010 Green Bay Packers: Record 10-6 Expected Record
12.1-3.9 SRS 10.9
Based on these team's regular season records, they appear to
be backwards in ranking. Yet you'll notice the advanced stats favor the
Packers. Why is that and do they deserve a higher spot than the Patriots? Well
yes and here's why. First off the Packers did not trail by more than a
touchdown the entire season. Think about that....this may be the most
incredible stat in NFL history. They didn't trail by more than seven points one
minute for the entire season but they lost six games by three points each. This
was their only weakness, their inability to close teams out. This will come up
again later. Meanwhile the Patriots were quite the opposite. They had a knack
for winning close games and/or not having a good enough offense to sepereate
enough from anyone. This was the league's 17th ranked offense. Brady was very
good but not yet great, the receiving core was solid but lacked a true number
one, and they went with a platoon at running back but didn't have anyone that
ran for 700 yards or 5 tds. But they did have a defense that scored five
touchdowns and set them up for many other scores. This defense allowed the
least points in football that year AND created offense. Not to mention they
also had the intangible that is Adam Vinitieri. Meanwhile Green Bay had a better
defense than anyone remembers. They were second in points allowed in the NFL
and scored four return touchdowns. Meanwhile the offense ranked 10th in points
scored, but became so much better than that down the stretch.
These teams are incredibly close by these standards but what
sepereates them is their playoff runs. The Patriots squeaked out a win over the
Titans 17-14, beat the Colts and MVP Peyton Manning 24-14, and then won a
closely contested Super Bowl over the upset minded Panthers 32-29 on a
Vinitieri field goal. The Packers dominated the playoffs but had trouble
putting the teams away, just like the regular season. Only unlike the regular season
they came out victorious in January. They beat the incredibly dangerous Eagles
21-16, destroyed the number one seeded Falcons 48-21, beat the division
champion Bears 21-14, and then ran out to a huge lead over the mighty Steelers
before holding on 31-25. I had to give this one to the Packers. It takes a
truly special team to not trail by more than a touchdown for an entire season.
But their lack of ability to put teams away prevents them from being higher on
this list.
2. 2009 New Orleans Saints: Record 13-3 Expected Record
11.6-4.4 SRS 10.8
(This was originally written as a contrast between them and the 2002 Bucs who no longer qualify for the list)
The Saint's offense and the Buc's defense basically cancel
each other out as they are both easily the best units on this list and some of
the best all time. The Bucs gave up less than 200 points while also causing
nearly 50 turnovers. The Saints scored over 500 points in the regular season
and over 100 in three post season games. They nearly went undefeated after
starting the season 13-0. So basically the Saint's offense and Buc's D are
taken out of the equation while the other units are considered. The Saints
defense was below average and was 20th in points allowed. Meanwhile the Bucs
offense was 18th in the leauge in points scored. Again there's not much of a
difference. Thrown in their split of expected record and SRS and basically this
is a wash. The only factor that puts the Bucs over the Saints is how utterly
dominant they were down the stretch. The Saints annihilated the Cardinals in
the divisional round 45-14, outlasted the Vikings in the NFC Championship 31-28
in overtime, and beat the Colts in the Superbowl 31-17.
1. 2004 New England Patriots Record 14-2 Expected Record
12.4-3.6
To conclude this list we have the biggest ass kicking, wire
to wire best team in the league, complete team of decade. As you can see the
Patriots were 14-2, showing dominance in the regular season. They were the
leagues 4th best offense and it's 2nd best defense. Remember those problems
from the 2003 team? A lack of spark on offense? Solution: Tom Brady becomes the
Tom Brady we now know and is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. David
Patten and David Givens become reliable enough receivers. Oh yeah and they
acquired the best running back in the league at that time, Corey Dillon. All he
did was run for 1635 yards or about 1000 more than anyone ran for in 2003.
Meanwhile the defense remained the same. That's right, there were this many
improvements on a 14-2 team. This is why the Patriots are always among the
best, they're ahead of the curve. They continued to amaze in the playoffs. In
the division round they held the 500 point scoring Colts and 49 touchdown
throwing Peyton Manning to three points in a 20-3 victory. In the AFC
Championship they let their offense shine as they put up 41 on the league's
best defense in Pittsburgh. The Super Bowl featured one of their patented three point victories, this time over the Eagles. So to recap they held a record
breaking offense to three points, put up 41 points on the league's best
defense, and then beat the 13-3 NFC winning Eagles in the Super Bowl. Not a bad
run.
Stay Hungry My Friends.
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