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Page 2's ultimate NFL power rankings, Nos. 1-10
By Thomas Neumann
Page 2
(Archive | Contact)
Updated: September 17, 2008 Which franchise is king of the NFL?
This is what 32 teams set out to decide each year through a 16-game regular season and subsequent playoff tournament. ESPN.com even breaks down its NFL power rankings on a weekly basis.
But which franchise is the best in the NFL … period?
To answer that question, Page 2 created power rankings on steroids -- the ultimate power rankings. This study analyzes data since the AFL-NFL merger in the 1970 season through the 2007 season. This starting point eliminates any question of competitive disparity between the NFL and its former rival leagues, the AFL and the AAFC. Teams that joined the NFL after 1970 are admittedly at a disadvantage for scoring in some categories, but they have a consequent advantage in negative categories. Additionally, regular-season winning percentage is weighted heavily to give these teams a fair appraisal.
Our formula measures the following criteria:
• Super Bowl championships and appearances
• Postseason history (playoff wins and crushing defeats)
• Regular-season consistency (overall winning percentage, number of seasons with 12 or more wins and number of seasons with four or fewer wins)
• Individual star power (number of selections to the Associated Press All-Pro first team)
• Overall franchise stability (number of coaching changes and draft busts)
• Media buzz and fan interest ("Monday Night Football" appearances)
An exact description of the scoring mechanism can be found along the right column of this page.
Curious about where your favorite team rates among all others in "Monday Night Football" appearances? Coaching changes? All-Pros? Click here to check out the standings in each category.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]1.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Dallas Cowboys[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5945-32610256696211,498
The Cowboys might not be your team, but they are indeed America's Team. Since the merger, no team has displayed as much consistent excellence across as wide a variety of criteria as Dallas. During the NFL's modern era, the Cowboys lead the NFL in Super Bowl berths and playoff victories. No other team has won a Super Bowl under three different coaches. The Cowboys have ranked in the top three in scoring 11 times and in scoring defense eight times since 1970 -- advancing to the NFC Championship Game an astonishing 14 times in that period. Only Pittsburgh has had more first-team All-Pros. Only San Francisco has had more seasons of 12-plus wins. Only Miami has had more "Monday Night Football" appearances. How good are the Cowboys? So good that they won a Super Bowl with Barry Switzer as coach. Certainly, the Cowboys have had their share of off-the-field issues. That's a case study for another day. What we'd really like to know is … how did these guys ever lose to the Lions and Cardinals in the playoffs?!
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]2.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Pittsburgh Steelers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.6035-1236062572021,495
The Steelers narrowly missed out on bragging rights to the top spot. But before you blame Page 2, notice that Dallas was penalized with two "crushing" postseason defeats to Pittsburgh's zero. Left off that list was the Steelers' loss to San Diego in the 1994 AFC Championship Game, which occurred days after some Pittsburgh players met with a choreographer to make plans for a music video for a Super Bowl rap song called "The Blitzburgh." Embarrassing? Certainly. Crushing? Probably not. So if you need to blame someone, we suggest Neil O'Donnell. Those two dubious interceptions to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX amount to a 50-point swing. On the positive side, Pittsburgh has enjoyed the NFL's most stable coaching situation -- consider that the Steelers have employed as many head coaches since the merger (three) as the Falcons have in the past nine months. Pittsburgh also leads the league in first-team All-Pros since 1970, with nine players being so honored at least five times. The Steelers have advanced to 13 AFC Championship Games, winning six.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]3.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]San Francisco 49ers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5685-02011555619111,294
Most of the 49ers' glory came during a 14-year window of dominance from 1982 to 1994, when under Bill Walsh and George Seifert, they became the first team to win five Super Bowls. They're also the only team with more than one Super Bowl appearance to have a perfect record in the big game. They have the most seasons of 12-plus wins since the merger. Only the Cowboys and Dolphins have made more "Monday Night Football" appearances. If not for the rebirth of the Cowboys in the early 1990s, San Francisco likely would've added to its trophy case. Consider that the 49ers led the NFL in scoring each season from 1992 to '95 but won just one Super Bowl in that span. Recent history hasn't been as kind to the 49ers, as they haven't made a playoff appearance since coach Steve Mariucci was jettisoned after the 2002 season.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]4.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Miami Dolphins[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.6082-3186256736101,276
Even in the wake of the Cam Cameron era season, the Dolphins still maintain a slight edge over the Steelers for the highest regular-season winning percentage since the merger. The bulk of the credit goes to Don Shula, of course, who went 257-133-2 (.658) at the helm in Miami. Tony Sparano is the Dolphins' sixth coach since 1996, following the 26-season tenure of Shula. Miami loses out on a chance at the No. 3 spot based on the crushing 62-7 playoff loss to the Jaguars in the last game for Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson in 2000. Although the Dolphins came within 35 seconds of losing their exclusive claim to NFL perfection, Miami still boasts the only perfect championship season in NFL history … as Mercury Morris just reminded us.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]5.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Denver Broncos[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5862-4157139576211,138
Although the Broncos didn't break into the championship club until the 1997 season, Denver has been a model of consistency. Only the Cowboys have played in more Super Bowls, and only once has Denver failed to win at least five games in a nonstrike season since 1970. Under coach Mike Shanahan, Denver has a regular-season record of 130-78 (.625) with two Super Bowl victories and a 20-6 mark against the hated Raiders. Shannon Sharpe leads the Broncos with four first-team All-Pro selections. Surprisingly, John Elway never was an All-Pro first-teamer, although he was named to nine Pro Bowl squads.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]6.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Oakland Raiders[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5583-11965496010431,028
Although the past five seasons in Oakland have been brutal, the Raiders still boast a fine postmerger winning percentage. That's how excellent the team was in the 1970s and early '80s. Oakland went 56-13-1 (.807) from 1973 to 1977 under John Madden, reaching the AFC Championship Game five consecutive times and winning one Super Bowl. The Raiders won three Super Bowls, had just one losing season and made only one coaching change from 1970 to '86. Since then, they've lost their only Super Bowl appearance, suffered 10 losing seasons and made nine coaching changes. The Raiders are the only team in our study saddled with four crushing playoff defeats, culminating with Super Bowl XXXVII. For those who might not consider that loss to the Bucs to be of the "crushing" variety, consider that Oakland is 19-61 since that game.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]7.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Minnesota Vikings[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5720-3164152476301,024
Ultraconsistent Minnesota checks in as the highest-ranked team in our study without a Super Bowl title. The Vikings boast the highest winning percentage, the most playoff wins, the most "Monday Night Football" appearances and the most first-team All-Pro selections since 1970 of any team not to win the big game. Only once since the merger have the Vikings failed to win at least four games, and for that embarrassment in 1984, the team fired coach Les Steckel after one season. So although Vikings fans have endured more than their share of postseason misery and seem to be stuck in a rut right now (they haven't won 10 or more games since 2001), at least they've enjoyed a persistent winner.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]8.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Washington Commanders[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5583-2173231551013998
A three-time Super Bowl champion ranked behind a team that has never laid its hand upon the Lombardi Trophy? Blasphemy, you say? Consider this: Despite the disparity in Super Bowl success, the Vikings have a better winning percentage and 21 more first-team All-Pro selections. Washington also has 10 coaching changes -- to Minnesota's six -- with five of those during Daniel Snyder's ownership. Despite Snyder's big spending in recent years, the Commanders have made the playoffs just three times in the past 15 seasons; in fact, they've made the playoffs 11 times since the 1977 season -- 10 times with Joe Gibbs as coach.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]9.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]St. Louis Rams[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5341-2156444531111947
Despite the high-flying "Greatest Show on Turf" years, the Rams' record since 1990 is worse than .500 (126-130). So it's easy to forget how consistently good the Rams were during the 1970s and '80s. Back in their Southern California days, the Rams went to the playoffs 14 times from 1973 to 1989. Ultimately, they captured their first Super Bowl championship in their fifth season in St. Louis, and earned their third conference title two years later. However, 11 coaching changes -- including George Allen's two-game stint during the '78 preseason -- indicate periods of instability.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]10.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]New England Patriots[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5193-3174627361220905
As any Pats fan could tell you, the team's fortunes under Bill Belichick stand in stark contrast to its previous history. Since 1970, New England is 91-37 (.711) under Belichick and 212-244 (.465) under all other coaches. The Pats raised their postmerger winning percentage from .505 to .519 during the 2007 season alone, but the shocking manner in which their season ended must be considered "crushing." Surprisingly, the Pats have just 27 first-team All-Pro selections since joining the NFL -- just one more than the much-maligned Bengals.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]11.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]New York Giants[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4853-113473039801859
The Giants earn the highest ranking in this study by a team with a post-merger winning percentage under .500. Of course, three Super Bowl titles go a long way in erasing memories of Joe Pisarcik and Dave Brown. So do the eight first-team All-Pro selections of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. The Giants have also retained nine head coaches since the merger for an average tenure of more than four seasons. Considering the glare of the New York media, that's actually reasonably consistent. The Jets have had 15 coaches over the same span.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]12.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Chicago Bears[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4971-18563851702793
The Bears are victims of the depth of greatness in the NFC in the 1980s and '90s. Despite making seven playoff appearances in eight years under Mike Ditka, Chicago hoisted the Lombardi Trophy just once. Not counting the Bears' two Super Bowl seasons, they have just four playoff wins since the merger. Then again, maybe that's not so bad, considering that the team's pre-eminent quarterback since 1970 is Jim McMahon. Alas, there have also been too many Rashaan Salaams and Cedric Bensons and too few Walter Paytons.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]13.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Philadelphia Eagles[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5110-213453645912776
Despite the Eagles' reputation for breaking the hearts of their fans, this team has been remarkably consistent. Even Rich Kotite was able to guide Philly into the playoffs. Yes, the NFC Championship Game losses were bitter -- we rate the one against Carolina, the Eagles' third in a row, as the crushing variety -- but they are above .500 since the merger. They also have six postseason appearances and three seasons of 12-plus wins under Andy Reid.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]14.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Green Bay Packers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5091-112572251802745
Even if you've grown tired of hearing about Brett Favre, his impact on the Packers' franchise is undeniable. Green Bay made 11 trips to the playoffs, won a Super Bowl and suffered just one losing season in Favre's 15 seasons. In addition to the gaudy personal statistics, he went 160-93 (.632) as a starter. Conversely, the Pack went 119-185-8 (.394) from 1970 to '91. Can the Packers approach the lofty standards reached with Favre now that Green Bay is Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood?
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]15.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Baltimore Ravens[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5031-04211710200678
Imagine how stable this team could be if it ever established a franchise quarterback. The Ravens rank in the top half of our study despite having Kyle Boller as their career leader in passing yards. Nevertheless, the team made four playoff appearances and won a Super Bowl under Brian Billick, thanks primarily to a stingy defense anchored by Ray Lewis. However, five selections as a first-team All-Pro weren't enough to make him Baltimore's "franchise player."
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]16.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Indianapolis Colts[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4852-011692529141669
When breaking down the Colts, one undeniable turning point is apparent: the draft selection of Peyton Manning. From 1970 to '97, the Colts went 177-245-2 (.420) with eight playoff appearances and 13 coaching changes. From 1998 to 2007, they went 105-55 (.656) with eight postseason trips and one coaching change. All of the team's seasons of 12-plus wins since the merger came with Manning under center. If the Colts had drafted Ryan Leaf instead of Manning back on April 18, 1998, would we be talking about the grand opening of Lucas Oil Stadium … or the ongoing search for a franchise quarterback by the Los Angeles Colts?
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]17.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Tennessee Titans[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4810-1124834331010669
In the words of former Oilers coach Bum Phillips, "You don't know a ladder has splinters until you slide down it." Indeed, the Oilers/Titans franchise quickly slid downward when Phillips was fired after the 1980 season. The Oilers had gone 32-16 (.667) and reached the playoffs each year in Phillips' last three seasons. Then they went 23-66 (.258) with zero playoff appearances during the splinter-plagued six seasons afterward. More recently, the franchise has gone 115-99 (.537) with five trips to the playoffs and a Super Bowl appearance under Jeff Fisher. Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews accounts for seven of the team's 34 first-team All-Pro selections.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]18.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Buffalo Bills[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4740-4124933381131667
Welcome to Buffalo, the gold standard of postseason agony. The Bills would rank three spots higher if not for three crushing playoff defeats. But the significance of Buffalo's defeats in Super Bowls XXV and XXVII and the "Music City Miracle" can't be overlooked. Give credit to Jim Kelly for getting his team this high in the standings, however. Kelly went 101-59 (.631) as a starting quarterback for the Bills, who are 175-424-2 (.415) with all others under center since 1970. What, you've forgotten team passing leaders like Alex Van Pelt and Vince Ferragamo?
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]19.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Seattle Seahawks[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4920-17232224502641
While Seattle fans won't soon forget questionable calls from Super Bowl XL, they can take solace in knowing that a victory in that game wouldn't change their ranking in this study (OK, maybe that wouldn't really help them feel better). Of course, if either that game or the "We want the ball, and we're going to score" game had made our list of 25 crushing playoff defeats, the Seahawks would drop at least one spot. The team's overall stability in coaching also helps Seattle's placement -- although the drafting of Dan McGwire and Rick Mirer did not.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]20.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Jacksonville Jaguars[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5430-0521611100634
Expansion franchises such as the Jags don't have enough history to be considered among the NFL's elite. But in this study, overall winning percentage was strongly weighted in order to level the playing field for expansionists. Also, while newer teams had a disadvantage in some criteria, they enjoyed a clear advantage in negative categories. Jacksonville ranks ninth in the NFL in winning percentage since 1970, and its five postseason wins in 13 seasons trump the totals of five teams (Browns, Chiefs, Cardinals, Lions and Saints) that have been in the league since 1970.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]21.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Kansas City Chiefs[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5061-13353735913596
Kansas City has enjoyed a solid regular-season history, thanks largely to former coach Marty Schottenheimer, who went 101-58-1 (.634) in 10 seasons. Alas, the team's postseason struggles mirror those of Schottenheimer. In fact, the Chiefs have won as many postseason games -- three -- in the past 38 seasons combined as they won in their final AFL campaign in 1969. The Chiefs have suffered a number of agonizing postseason defeats over the years -- their 1995, '97 and 2003 postseason losses all came at home in the divisional round after a 13-3 regular season. We'll count the loss in '97 to division foe Denver as a top seed as being of the crushing variety.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]22.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Carolina Panthers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4660-1612127200588
The Panthers have been more than respectable since joining the NFL in 1995. Only twice has the team failed to win at least seven games, and it changed coaches each time. If you throw out the disastrous 1998 and 2001 campaigns, the Panthers' winning percentage rises from .466 to .523. Then again, we suppose John Kasay would like to throw out that kickoff from Super Bowl XXXVIII, and CBS would probably like to throw out that halftime show while we're at it.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]23.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]San Diego Chargers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4630-183837301312563
By our criteria, the Chargers have made great strides in recent seasons, with 12 first-team All-Pro selections, two 12-plus win seasons, two playoff wins and three "Monday Night Football" appearances since 2004. That helps cover the stench of three prolonged periods of losing since the merger. But despite finishing above .500 in each of the past four seasons, the Chargers have only 13 total winning records to their credit in the past 38 … and only a small portion of that futility can be blamed on Kevin Gilbride.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]24.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Cincinnati Bengals[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4470-252112627804494
Two Super Bowl appearances. One winning season since 1990. The Bengals' fleeting moments of success aren't enough to overcome a legacy of losing in a study such as this. Surprisingly, the Bengals have changed coaches just eight times since the merger. This would seem to indicate either that the franchise has continuity or that the Brown family is too cheap to buy out a bad coach with money remaining on the contract. We'll leave it to you to answer that question.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]25.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.3931-05182116601474
Here lies our lowest-ranked Super Bowl champion. While the Bucs have been playoff regulars under Jon Gruden and Tony Dungy, the team's creamsicle years can't be swept under the rug. Tampa Bay won just two playoff games in its first 21 seasons and the Bucs are the only team not named the Texans with a winning percentage under .400 since 1970. They've won at least 12 games in a season just once -- in their Super Bowl season of 2002. Heard enough? They once had a year in which they threw three touchdown passes … and 30 interceptions.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]26.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Atlanta Falcons[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4220-1621115301401362
The past 12 months must make the Super Bowl season of 1998 seem like a hallucination for Falcons fans. The legal woes of Michael Vick and the misadventures of Bobby Petrino might even have some of them longing for the days of Dan Henning and David Archer. Amazingly, Atlanta's paltry .422 winning percentage is the second best in the NFC South. At least Atlanta has been to a Super Bowl since the merger. That's something the Chiefs, Lions, Jets, Browns, Texans, Saints and Cardinals can't claim.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]27.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Detroit Lions[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4250-011722251204350
Admit it, Lions fans. You're privately breathing a sigh of relief that your team didn't rank worse than this. So thank Barry Sanders, whose six first-team All-Pro selections single-handedly pushed Detroit past the Browns and Jets. Conversely, the disaster that is the Matt Millen era (31-81, .277) has lowered the team's post-merger winning percentage from .460 to .425. Incidentally, the Lions haven't appeared on "Monday Night Football" since 2001, a streak that remains intact this season.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]28.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]New York Jets[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4350-0611219381404338
Brett Favre's lawn mower has seen more glory than the post-merger Jets franchise. With the exception of the expansion Texans, the Jets have the worst winning percentage in the AFC since 1970. The team's 14 coaching changes -- including the one-day tenure of Bill Belichick -- have the Jets tied for most in the league. In all likelihood, the Jets have benefited from the size of the New York market in landing 38 appearances on "Monday Night Football," which boosts them into a tie with Cleveland. The Jets' edge in playoff wins breaks the tie.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]29.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Cleveland Browns[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4580-041713251223338
What in the name of Tim Couch is going on here? No. 29! Not to heap more suffering on members of the Dawg Pound, but the statistics tell the story. Consider that the Ravens have more first-team All-Pro selections and postseason wins in 12 seasons than the Browns do in the past 35. Now add two crushing playoff defeats -- not including Red Right 88. Unlike the teams ranked below, the Browns' franchise isn't without splendor. Unfortunately, nearly all of it came before 1970.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]30.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Houston Texans[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.3330-000210100308
The Texans don't have much history to work with, so it's understandable that they would finish near the bottom of this study. Nevertheless, Houston has played down to a level that would have to be considered poor by even expansion standards. The franchise enjoyed its first nonlosing season in 2007, and that increased its all-time winning percentage to only a miserable .333. Take heart, Texans -- the No. 1 overall draft selection of David Carr isn't even considered a bust in our criteria, and the city's pro football fans are used to bad teams: The Houston Oilers once went 1-13 in back-to-back seasons.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]31.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]New Orleans Saints[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4180-0221113241302287
Drew Brees. Marques Colston. Reggie Bush. Those are three reasons the Saints reached the NFC Championship Game two seasons ago. They're also three reasons why it's easy to forget how hapless this franchise was for so long. The Saints didn't have their first winning season until 1987 -- 20 years after they joined the NFL. They traded an entire draft for Ricky Williams in 1999 and kept him for only three seasons. Their fans pioneered the wearing of grocery bags over their heads when the Saints went 1-15 in 1980.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]32.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Arizona Cardinals[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4020-0101023181303285
Page 2 isn't trying to pick on the downtrodden in this project. We feel for Cardinals fans. Both of you. But the evidence speaks for itself: 10 seasons of four or fewer wins; zero seasons of 12 or more wins; fewer "Monday Night Football" appearances than any nonexpansion team. Only the Falcons and Colts have more coaching changes since 1970. Three stadiums. Two markets. One playoff victory. Zero luck. The common thread through all the years of futility is the ownership of the notoriously cheap Bidwill family.
Rankings formula
Teams compiled points based on 10 criteria from 1970-2007:
Winning percentage: One point per mill of a team's regular-season winning percentage. For example, a .500 team gets 500 points. +1
Super Bowls: 50 points per win; 25 points per loss. +50/25
Playoff victories: 10 points per win (not including Super Bowls). +10
12-win season: 10 points for each season of 12 or more victories. +10
Four-win season: Minus-10 points for each season of four or fewer victories (not including the 1982 strike season). -10
All-Pros: Five points each for every time a player was named first team All-Pro. +5
"MNF": To measure prestige, one point for each appearance on "Monday Night Football." +1
Coaching changes: Minus-10 points for each coaching change (includes interim coaches). -10
Crushing postseason defeats: Minus-20 points for suffering one of the 25 most-crushing postseason defeats since the AFL-NFL merger (as selected by Page 2, see list below). -20
Busts: Minus-10 points for selecting one of the 50 biggest draft busts as selected by ESPN.com. (See list here) -10
Tiebreakers: 1, Super Bowl victories; 2, playoff victories.</B>
Notes: Per NFL policy, Arizona includes the St. Louis and Phoenix Cardinals; Cleveland includes the old and new Browns; Indianapolis includes the Baltimore Colts; New England includes the Boston Patriots; Oakland includes the Los Angeles Raiders; St. Louis includes the Los Angeles Rams;
Tennessee includes the Houston Oilers.
• Ties are counted as half a win and half a loss in calculating winning percentage, in accordance with official NFL records.
The 25 crushing postseason defeats:
• Dec. 23, 1972: Steelers 13, Raiders 7 (Immaculate Reception).
• Dec. 28, 1975: Cowboys 17, Vikings 14 (Hail Mary).
• Jan. 21, 1979: Steelers 35, Cowboys 31, Super Bowl XIII (Jackie Smith's end zone drop).
• Jan. 10, 1982: 49ers 28, Cowboys 27, NFC Championship Game (The Catch).
• Jan. 22, 1984: Raiders 38, Commanders 9, Super Bowl XVIII (Washington was a three-point favorite).
• Jan. 26, 1986: Bears 46, Patriots 10, Super Bowl XX.
• Jan. 4, 1987: Giants 49, 49ers 3 (Jim Burt knocks Joe Montana out of game).
• Jan. 11, 1987: Broncos 23, Browns 20, AFC Championship Game (The Drive).
• Jan. 17, 1988: Broncos 38, Browns 33, AFC Championship Game (The Fumble).
• Jan. 31, 1988: Commanders 42, Broncos 10, Super Bowl XXII (Denver was a three-point favorite).
• Jan. 28, 1990: 49ers 55, Broncos 10, Super Bowl XXIV (largest victory margin in a Super Bowl).
• Jan. 20, 1991: Bills 51, Raiders 3, AFC Championship Game.
• Jan. 27, 1991: Giants 20, Bills 19, Super Bowl XXV (Scott Norwood, wide right).
• Jan. 3, 1993: Bills 41, Oilers 38, OT (Houston led 35-3 in third quarter).
• Jan. 31, 1993: Cowboys 52, Bills 17, Super Bowl XXVII.
• Jan. 4, 1998: Broncos 14, Chiefs 10 (Chiefs lose second divisional game in three seasons at home as top seed.)
• Jan. 17, 1999: Falcons 30, Vikings 27, OT (Minnesota, 16-1, loses after Gary Anderson misses first FG attempt of season.)
• Jan. 8, 2000: Titans 22, Bills 16 (Music City Miracle).
• Jan. 15, 2000: Jaguars 62, Dolphins 7. (last game for Dan Marino, Jimmy Johnson).
• Jan. 14, 2001: Giants 41, Vikings 0, NFC Championship Game.
• Jan. 19, 2002: Patriots 16, Raiders 13 (Tuck Rule).
• Feb. 3, 2002: Patriots 20, Rams 17, Super Bowl XXXVI (St. Louis was a 14-point favorite).
• Jan. 26, 2003: Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21, Super Bowl XXXVII (Oakland was a three-point favorite).
• Jan. 18, 2004: Panthers 14, Eagles 3, NFC Championship Game (Philadelphia's third consecutive loss in NFC Championship Game).
• Feb. 3, 2008: Giants 17, Patriots 14, Super Bowl XLII.
__________________
By Thomas NeumannPage 2
(Archive | Contact)
Updated: September 17, 2008 Which franchise is king of the NFL?
This is what 32 teams set out to decide each year through a 16-game regular season and subsequent playoff tournament. ESPN.com even breaks down its NFL power rankings on a weekly basis.
But which franchise is the best in the NFL … period?
To answer that question, Page 2 created power rankings on steroids -- the ultimate power rankings. This study analyzes data since the AFL-NFL merger in the 1970 season through the 2007 season. This starting point eliminates any question of competitive disparity between the NFL and its former rival leagues, the AFL and the AAFC. Teams that joined the NFL after 1970 are admittedly at a disadvantage for scoring in some categories, but they have a consequent advantage in negative categories. Additionally, regular-season winning percentage is weighted heavily to give these teams a fair appraisal.
Our formula measures the following criteria:
• Super Bowl championships and appearances
• Postseason history (playoff wins and crushing defeats)
• Regular-season consistency (overall winning percentage, number of seasons with 12 or more wins and number of seasons with four or fewer wins)
• Individual star power (number of selections to the Associated Press All-Pro first team)
• Overall franchise stability (number of coaching changes and draft busts)
• Media buzz and fan interest ("Monday Night Football" appearances)
An exact description of the scoring mechanism can be found along the right column of this page.
Curious about where your favorite team rates among all others in "Monday Night Football" appearances? Coaching changes? All-Pros? Click here to check out the standings in each category.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]1.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Dallas Cowboys[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5945-32610256696211,498
The Cowboys might not be your team, but they are indeed America's Team. Since the merger, no team has displayed as much consistent excellence across as wide a variety of criteria as Dallas. During the NFL's modern era, the Cowboys lead the NFL in Super Bowl berths and playoff victories. No other team has won a Super Bowl under three different coaches. The Cowboys have ranked in the top three in scoring 11 times and in scoring defense eight times since 1970 -- advancing to the NFC Championship Game an astonishing 14 times in that period. Only Pittsburgh has had more first-team All-Pros. Only San Francisco has had more seasons of 12-plus wins. Only Miami has had more "Monday Night Football" appearances. How good are the Cowboys? So good that they won a Super Bowl with Barry Switzer as coach. Certainly, the Cowboys have had their share of off-the-field issues. That's a case study for another day. What we'd really like to know is … how did these guys ever lose to the Lions and Cardinals in the playoffs?!
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]2.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Pittsburgh Steelers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.6035-1236062572021,495
The Steelers narrowly missed out on bragging rights to the top spot. But before you blame Page 2, notice that Dallas was penalized with two "crushing" postseason defeats to Pittsburgh's zero. Left off that list was the Steelers' loss to San Diego in the 1994 AFC Championship Game, which occurred days after some Pittsburgh players met with a choreographer to make plans for a music video for a Super Bowl rap song called "The Blitzburgh." Embarrassing? Certainly. Crushing? Probably not. So if you need to blame someone, we suggest Neil O'Donnell. Those two dubious interceptions to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX amount to a 50-point swing. On the positive side, Pittsburgh has enjoyed the NFL's most stable coaching situation -- consider that the Steelers have employed as many head coaches since the merger (three) as the Falcons have in the past nine months. Pittsburgh also leads the league in first-team All-Pros since 1970, with nine players being so honored at least five times. The Steelers have advanced to 13 AFC Championship Games, winning six.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]3.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]San Francisco 49ers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5685-02011555619111,294
Most of the 49ers' glory came during a 14-year window of dominance from 1982 to 1994, when under Bill Walsh and George Seifert, they became the first team to win five Super Bowls. They're also the only team with more than one Super Bowl appearance to have a perfect record in the big game. They have the most seasons of 12-plus wins since the merger. Only the Cowboys and Dolphins have made more "Monday Night Football" appearances. If not for the rebirth of the Cowboys in the early 1990s, San Francisco likely would've added to its trophy case. Consider that the 49ers led the NFL in scoring each season from 1992 to '95 but won just one Super Bowl in that span. Recent history hasn't been as kind to the 49ers, as they haven't made a playoff appearance since coach Steve Mariucci was jettisoned after the 2002 season.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]4.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Miami Dolphins[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.6082-3186256736101,276
Even in the wake of the Cam Cameron era season, the Dolphins still maintain a slight edge over the Steelers for the highest regular-season winning percentage since the merger. The bulk of the credit goes to Don Shula, of course, who went 257-133-2 (.658) at the helm in Miami. Tony Sparano is the Dolphins' sixth coach since 1996, following the 26-season tenure of Shula. Miami loses out on a chance at the No. 3 spot based on the crushing 62-7 playoff loss to the Jaguars in the last game for Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson in 2000. Although the Dolphins came within 35 seconds of losing their exclusive claim to NFL perfection, Miami still boasts the only perfect championship season in NFL history … as Mercury Morris just reminded us.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]5.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Denver Broncos[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5862-4157139576211,138
Although the Broncos didn't break into the championship club until the 1997 season, Denver has been a model of consistency. Only the Cowboys have played in more Super Bowls, and only once has Denver failed to win at least five games in a nonstrike season since 1970. Under coach Mike Shanahan, Denver has a regular-season record of 130-78 (.625) with two Super Bowl victories and a 20-6 mark against the hated Raiders. Shannon Sharpe leads the Broncos with four first-team All-Pro selections. Surprisingly, John Elway never was an All-Pro first-teamer, although he was named to nine Pro Bowl squads.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]6.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Oakland Raiders[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5583-11965496010431,028
Although the past five seasons in Oakland have been brutal, the Raiders still boast a fine postmerger winning percentage. That's how excellent the team was in the 1970s and early '80s. Oakland went 56-13-1 (.807) from 1973 to 1977 under John Madden, reaching the AFC Championship Game five consecutive times and winning one Super Bowl. The Raiders won three Super Bowls, had just one losing season and made only one coaching change from 1970 to '86. Since then, they've lost their only Super Bowl appearance, suffered 10 losing seasons and made nine coaching changes. The Raiders are the only team in our study saddled with four crushing playoff defeats, culminating with Super Bowl XXXVII. For those who might not consider that loss to the Bucs to be of the "crushing" variety, consider that Oakland is 19-61 since that game.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]7.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Minnesota Vikings[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5720-3164152476301,024
Ultraconsistent Minnesota checks in as the highest-ranked team in our study without a Super Bowl title. The Vikings boast the highest winning percentage, the most playoff wins, the most "Monday Night Football" appearances and the most first-team All-Pro selections since 1970 of any team not to win the big game. Only once since the merger have the Vikings failed to win at least four games, and for that embarrassment in 1984, the team fired coach Les Steckel after one season. So although Vikings fans have endured more than their share of postseason misery and seem to be stuck in a rut right now (they haven't won 10 or more games since 2001), at least they've enjoyed a persistent winner.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]8.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Washington Commanders[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5583-2173231551013998
A three-time Super Bowl champion ranked behind a team that has never laid its hand upon the Lombardi Trophy? Blasphemy, you say? Consider this: Despite the disparity in Super Bowl success, the Vikings have a better winning percentage and 21 more first-team All-Pro selections. Washington also has 10 coaching changes -- to Minnesota's six -- with five of those during Daniel Snyder's ownership. Despite Snyder's big spending in recent years, the Commanders have made the playoffs just three times in the past 15 seasons; in fact, they've made the playoffs 11 times since the 1977 season -- 10 times with Joe Gibbs as coach.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]9.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]St. Louis Rams[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5341-2156444531111947
Despite the high-flying "Greatest Show on Turf" years, the Rams' record since 1990 is worse than .500 (126-130). So it's easy to forget how consistently good the Rams were during the 1970s and '80s. Back in their Southern California days, the Rams went to the playoffs 14 times from 1973 to 1989. Ultimately, they captured their first Super Bowl championship in their fifth season in St. Louis, and earned their third conference title two years later. However, 11 coaching changes -- including George Allen's two-game stint during the '78 preseason -- indicate periods of instability.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]10.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]New England Patriots[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5193-3174627361220905
As any Pats fan could tell you, the team's fortunes under Bill Belichick stand in stark contrast to its previous history. Since 1970, New England is 91-37 (.711) under Belichick and 212-244 (.465) under all other coaches. The Pats raised their postmerger winning percentage from .505 to .519 during the 2007 season alone, but the shocking manner in which their season ended must be considered "crushing." Surprisingly, the Pats have just 27 first-team All-Pro selections since joining the NFL -- just one more than the much-maligned Bengals.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]11.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]New York Giants[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4853-113473039801859
The Giants earn the highest ranking in this study by a team with a post-merger winning percentage under .500. Of course, three Super Bowl titles go a long way in erasing memories of Joe Pisarcik and Dave Brown. So do the eight first-team All-Pro selections of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. The Giants have also retained nine head coaches since the merger for an average tenure of more than four seasons. Considering the glare of the New York media, that's actually reasonably consistent. The Jets have had 15 coaches over the same span.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]12.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Chicago Bears[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4971-18563851702793
The Bears are victims of the depth of greatness in the NFC in the 1980s and '90s. Despite making seven playoff appearances in eight years under Mike Ditka, Chicago hoisted the Lombardi Trophy just once. Not counting the Bears' two Super Bowl seasons, they have just four playoff wins since the merger. Then again, maybe that's not so bad, considering that the team's pre-eminent quarterback since 1970 is Jim McMahon. Alas, there have also been too many Rashaan Salaams and Cedric Bensons and too few Walter Paytons.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]13.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Philadelphia Eagles[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5110-213453645912776
Despite the Eagles' reputation for breaking the hearts of their fans, this team has been remarkably consistent. Even Rich Kotite was able to guide Philly into the playoffs. Yes, the NFC Championship Game losses were bitter -- we rate the one against Carolina, the Eagles' third in a row, as the crushing variety -- but they are above .500 since the merger. They also have six postseason appearances and three seasons of 12-plus wins under Andy Reid.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]14.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Green Bay Packers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5091-112572251802745
Even if you've grown tired of hearing about Brett Favre, his impact on the Packers' franchise is undeniable. Green Bay made 11 trips to the playoffs, won a Super Bowl and suffered just one losing season in Favre's 15 seasons. In addition to the gaudy personal statistics, he went 160-93 (.632) as a starter. Conversely, the Pack went 119-185-8 (.394) from 1970 to '91. Can the Packers approach the lofty standards reached with Favre now that Green Bay is Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood?
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]15.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Baltimore Ravens[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5031-04211710200678
Imagine how stable this team could be if it ever established a franchise quarterback. The Ravens rank in the top half of our study despite having Kyle Boller as their career leader in passing yards. Nevertheless, the team made four playoff appearances and won a Super Bowl under Brian Billick, thanks primarily to a stingy defense anchored by Ray Lewis. However, five selections as a first-team All-Pro weren't enough to make him Baltimore's "franchise player."
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]16.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Indianapolis Colts[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4852-011692529141669
When breaking down the Colts, one undeniable turning point is apparent: the draft selection of Peyton Manning. From 1970 to '97, the Colts went 177-245-2 (.420) with eight playoff appearances and 13 coaching changes. From 1998 to 2007, they went 105-55 (.656) with eight postseason trips and one coaching change. All of the team's seasons of 12-plus wins since the merger came with Manning under center. If the Colts had drafted Ryan Leaf instead of Manning back on April 18, 1998, would we be talking about the grand opening of Lucas Oil Stadium … or the ongoing search for a franchise quarterback by the Los Angeles Colts?
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]17.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Tennessee Titans[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4810-1124834331010669
In the words of former Oilers coach Bum Phillips, "You don't know a ladder has splinters until you slide down it." Indeed, the Oilers/Titans franchise quickly slid downward when Phillips was fired after the 1980 season. The Oilers had gone 32-16 (.667) and reached the playoffs each year in Phillips' last three seasons. Then they went 23-66 (.258) with zero playoff appearances during the splinter-plagued six seasons afterward. More recently, the franchise has gone 115-99 (.537) with five trips to the playoffs and a Super Bowl appearance under Jeff Fisher. Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews accounts for seven of the team's 34 first-team All-Pro selections.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]18.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Buffalo Bills[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4740-4124933381131667
Welcome to Buffalo, the gold standard of postseason agony. The Bills would rank three spots higher if not for three crushing playoff defeats. But the significance of Buffalo's defeats in Super Bowls XXV and XXVII and the "Music City Miracle" can't be overlooked. Give credit to Jim Kelly for getting his team this high in the standings, however. Kelly went 101-59 (.631) as a starting quarterback for the Bills, who are 175-424-2 (.415) with all others under center since 1970. What, you've forgotten team passing leaders like Alex Van Pelt and Vince Ferragamo?
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]19.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Seattle Seahawks[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4920-17232224502641
While Seattle fans won't soon forget questionable calls from Super Bowl XL, they can take solace in knowing that a victory in that game wouldn't change their ranking in this study (OK, maybe that wouldn't really help them feel better). Of course, if either that game or the "We want the ball, and we're going to score" game had made our list of 25 crushing playoff defeats, the Seahawks would drop at least one spot. The team's overall stability in coaching also helps Seattle's placement -- although the drafting of Dan McGwire and Rick Mirer did not.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]20.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Jacksonville Jaguars[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5430-0521611100634
Expansion franchises such as the Jags don't have enough history to be considered among the NFL's elite. But in this study, overall winning percentage was strongly weighted in order to level the playing field for expansionists. Also, while newer teams had a disadvantage in some criteria, they enjoyed a clear advantage in negative categories. Jacksonville ranks ninth in the NFL in winning percentage since 1970, and its five postseason wins in 13 seasons trump the totals of five teams (Browns, Chiefs, Cardinals, Lions and Saints) that have been in the league since 1970.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]21.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Kansas City Chiefs[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.5061-13353735913596
Kansas City has enjoyed a solid regular-season history, thanks largely to former coach Marty Schottenheimer, who went 101-58-1 (.634) in 10 seasons. Alas, the team's postseason struggles mirror those of Schottenheimer. In fact, the Chiefs have won as many postseason games -- three -- in the past 38 seasons combined as they won in their final AFL campaign in 1969. The Chiefs have suffered a number of agonizing postseason defeats over the years -- their 1995, '97 and 2003 postseason losses all came at home in the divisional round after a 13-3 regular season. We'll count the loss in '97 to division foe Denver as a top seed as being of the crushing variety.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]22.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Carolina Panthers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4660-1612127200588
The Panthers have been more than respectable since joining the NFL in 1995. Only twice has the team failed to win at least seven games, and it changed coaches each time. If you throw out the disastrous 1998 and 2001 campaigns, the Panthers' winning percentage rises from .466 to .523. Then again, we suppose John Kasay would like to throw out that kickoff from Super Bowl XXXVIII, and CBS would probably like to throw out that halftime show while we're at it.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]23.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]San Diego Chargers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4630-183837301312563
By our criteria, the Chargers have made great strides in recent seasons, with 12 first-team All-Pro selections, two 12-plus win seasons, two playoff wins and three "Monday Night Football" appearances since 2004. That helps cover the stench of three prolonged periods of losing since the merger. But despite finishing above .500 in each of the past four seasons, the Chargers have only 13 total winning records to their credit in the past 38 … and only a small portion of that futility can be blamed on Kevin Gilbride.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]24.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Cincinnati Bengals[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4470-252112627804494
Two Super Bowl appearances. One winning season since 1990. The Bengals' fleeting moments of success aren't enough to overcome a legacy of losing in a study such as this. Surprisingly, the Bengals have changed coaches just eight times since the merger. This would seem to indicate either that the franchise has continuity or that the Brown family is too cheap to buy out a bad coach with money remaining on the contract. We'll leave it to you to answer that question.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]25.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Tampa Bay Buccaneers[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.3931-05182116601474
Here lies our lowest-ranked Super Bowl champion. While the Bucs have been playoff regulars under Jon Gruden and Tony Dungy, the team's creamsicle years can't be swept under the rug. Tampa Bay won just two playoff games in its first 21 seasons and the Bucs are the only team not named the Texans with a winning percentage under .400 since 1970. They've won at least 12 games in a season just once -- in their Super Bowl season of 2002. Heard enough? They once had a year in which they threw three touchdown passes … and 30 interceptions.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]26.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Atlanta Falcons[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4220-1621115301401362
The past 12 months must make the Super Bowl season of 1998 seem like a hallucination for Falcons fans. The legal woes of Michael Vick and the misadventures of Bobby Petrino might even have some of them longing for the days of Dan Henning and David Archer. Amazingly, Atlanta's paltry .422 winning percentage is the second best in the NFC South. At least Atlanta has been to a Super Bowl since the merger. That's something the Chiefs, Lions, Jets, Browns, Texans, Saints and Cardinals can't claim.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]27.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Detroit Lions[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4250-011722251204350
Admit it, Lions fans. You're privately breathing a sigh of relief that your team didn't rank worse than this. So thank Barry Sanders, whose six first-team All-Pro selections single-handedly pushed Detroit past the Browns and Jets. Conversely, the disaster that is the Matt Millen era (31-81, .277) has lowered the team's post-merger winning percentage from .460 to .425. Incidentally, the Lions haven't appeared on "Monday Night Football" since 2001, a streak that remains intact this season.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]28.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]New York Jets[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4350-0611219381404338
Brett Favre's lawn mower has seen more glory than the post-merger Jets franchise. With the exception of the expansion Texans, the Jets have the worst winning percentage in the AFC since 1970. The team's 14 coaching changes -- including the one-day tenure of Bill Belichick -- have the Jets tied for most in the league. In all likelihood, the Jets have benefited from the size of the New York market in landing 38 appearances on "Monday Night Football," which boosts them into a tie with Cleveland. The Jets' edge in playoff wins breaks the tie.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]29.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Cleveland Browns[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4580-041713251223338
What in the name of Tim Couch is going on here? No. 29! Not to heap more suffering on members of the Dawg Pound, but the statistics tell the story. Consider that the Ravens have more first-team All-Pro selections and postseason wins in 12 seasons than the Browns do in the past 35. Now add two crushing playoff defeats -- not including Red Right 88. Unlike the teams ranked below, the Browns' franchise isn't without splendor. Unfortunately, nearly all of it came before 1970.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]30.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Houston Texans[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.3330-000210100308
The Texans don't have much history to work with, so it's understandable that they would finish near the bottom of this study. Nevertheless, Houston has played down to a level that would have to be considered poor by even expansion standards. The franchise enjoyed its first nonlosing season in 2007, and that increased its all-time winning percentage to only a miserable .333. Take heart, Texans -- the No. 1 overall draft selection of David Carr isn't even considered a bust in our criteria, and the city's pro football fans are used to bad teams: The Houston Oilers once went 1-13 in back-to-back seasons.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]31.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]New Orleans Saints[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4180-0221113241302287
Drew Brees. Marques Colston. Reggie Bush. Those are three reasons the Saints reached the NFC Championship Game two seasons ago. They're also three reasons why it's easy to forget how hapless this franchise was for so long. The Saints didn't have their first winning season until 1987 -- 20 years after they joined the NFL. They traded an entire draft for Ricky Williams in 1999 and kept him for only three seasons. Their fans pioneered the wearing of grocery bags over their heads when the Saints went 1-15 in 1980.
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]32.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]Arizona Cardinals[/FONT]
Pct.SBPlay. W≥ 12W≤ 4WAll-ProMNFCCCPDBustsTotal.4020-0101023181303285
Page 2 isn't trying to pick on the downtrodden in this project. We feel for Cardinals fans. Both of you. But the evidence speaks for itself: 10 seasons of four or fewer wins; zero seasons of 12 or more wins; fewer "Monday Night Football" appearances than any nonexpansion team. Only the Falcons and Colts have more coaching changes since 1970. Three stadiums. Two markets. One playoff victory. Zero luck. The common thread through all the years of futility is the ownership of the notoriously cheap Bidwill family.
Rankings formula
Teams compiled points based on 10 criteria from 1970-2007:
Winning percentage: One point per mill of a team's regular-season winning percentage. For example, a .500 team gets 500 points. +1
Super Bowls: 50 points per win; 25 points per loss. +50/25
Playoff victories: 10 points per win (not including Super Bowls). +10
12-win season: 10 points for each season of 12 or more victories. +10
Four-win season: Minus-10 points for each season of four or fewer victories (not including the 1982 strike season). -10
All-Pros: Five points each for every time a player was named first team All-Pro. +5
"MNF": To measure prestige, one point for each appearance on "Monday Night Football." +1
Coaching changes: Minus-10 points for each coaching change (includes interim coaches). -10
Crushing postseason defeats: Minus-20 points for suffering one of the 25 most-crushing postseason defeats since the AFL-NFL merger (as selected by Page 2, see list below). -20
Busts: Minus-10 points for selecting one of the 50 biggest draft busts as selected by ESPN.com. (See list here) -10
Tiebreakers: 1, Super Bowl victories; 2, playoff victories.</B>
Notes: Per NFL policy, Arizona includes the St. Louis and Phoenix Cardinals; Cleveland includes the old and new Browns; Indianapolis includes the Baltimore Colts; New England includes the Boston Patriots; Oakland includes the Los Angeles Raiders; St. Louis includes the Los Angeles Rams;
Tennessee includes the Houston Oilers.
• Ties are counted as half a win and half a loss in calculating winning percentage, in accordance with official NFL records.
The 25 crushing postseason defeats:
• Dec. 23, 1972: Steelers 13, Raiders 7 (Immaculate Reception).
• Dec. 28, 1975: Cowboys 17, Vikings 14 (Hail Mary).
• Jan. 21, 1979: Steelers 35, Cowboys 31, Super Bowl XIII (Jackie Smith's end zone drop).
• Jan. 10, 1982: 49ers 28, Cowboys 27, NFC Championship Game (The Catch).
• Jan. 22, 1984: Raiders 38, Commanders 9, Super Bowl XVIII (Washington was a three-point favorite).
• Jan. 26, 1986: Bears 46, Patriots 10, Super Bowl XX.
• Jan. 4, 1987: Giants 49, 49ers 3 (Jim Burt knocks Joe Montana out of game).
• Jan. 11, 1987: Broncos 23, Browns 20, AFC Championship Game (The Drive).
• Jan. 17, 1988: Broncos 38, Browns 33, AFC Championship Game (The Fumble).
• Jan. 31, 1988: Commanders 42, Broncos 10, Super Bowl XXII (Denver was a three-point favorite).
• Jan. 28, 1990: 49ers 55, Broncos 10, Super Bowl XXIV (largest victory margin in a Super Bowl).
• Jan. 20, 1991: Bills 51, Raiders 3, AFC Championship Game.
• Jan. 27, 1991: Giants 20, Bills 19, Super Bowl XXV (Scott Norwood, wide right).
• Jan. 3, 1993: Bills 41, Oilers 38, OT (Houston led 35-3 in third quarter).
• Jan. 31, 1993: Cowboys 52, Bills 17, Super Bowl XXVII.
• Jan. 4, 1998: Broncos 14, Chiefs 10 (Chiefs lose second divisional game in three seasons at home as top seed.)
• Jan. 17, 1999: Falcons 30, Vikings 27, OT (Minnesota, 16-1, loses after Gary Anderson misses first FG attempt of season.)
• Jan. 8, 2000: Titans 22, Bills 16 (Music City Miracle).
• Jan. 15, 2000: Jaguars 62, Dolphins 7. (last game for Dan Marino, Jimmy Johnson).
• Jan. 14, 2001: Giants 41, Vikings 0, NFC Championship Game.
• Jan. 19, 2002: Patriots 16, Raiders 13 (Tuck Rule).
• Feb. 3, 2002: Patriots 20, Rams 17, Super Bowl XXXVI (St. Louis was a 14-point favorite).
• Jan. 26, 2003: Buccaneers 48, Raiders 21, Super Bowl XXXVII (Oakland was a three-point favorite).
• Jan. 18, 2004: Panthers 14, Eagles 3, NFC Championship Game (Philadelphia's third consecutive loss in NFC Championship Game).
• Feb. 3, 2008: Giants 17, Patriots 14, Super Bowl XLII.
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