ESPN Rankings of Best Championship Offseason

[XLIX]

ESPN put together an interesting list.... they looked at the best offseasons for defending Super Bowl Champions, using the start of the salary cap era as their base.

Out of 24 spots, the Patriots hold numbers 1, 2, 4, 18, and 19 with the #1 ranking being this current offseason.

It's a fun read and an interesting trip down memory lane.

Ranking Super Bowl champs' offseasons: Is Patriots' 2017 best ever?

 

[Mountain_Commando]

ESPN put together an interesting list.... they looked at the best offseasons for defending Super Bowl Champions, using the start of the salary cap era as their base.

Out of 24 spots, the Patriots hold numbers 1, 2, 4, 18, and 19 with the #1 ranking being this current offseason.

It's a fun read and an interesting trip down memory lane.

Ranking Super Bowl champs' offseasons: Is Patriots' 2017 best ever?

Please summarize the list here so we don't have to give clicks to BSPN, thanks.

 

[Tony2046]

Please summarize the list here so we don't have to give clicks to BSPN, thanks.

Every Super Bowl winning team's offseason during the salary cap era ranked from worst to best. Acquisitions, injuries, loss of key players or coaches to other teams, arrests etc.... were part of the reasoning.

Reference: ESPN.com - Ranking Super Bowl champs' offseasons: Is Patriots' 2017 best ever?

24. 2012 Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl title: XLVII

23. 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl title: XL

22. 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl title: XXXVII

21. 1995 Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl title: XXX

20. 2000 Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl title: XXXV

19. 2004 New England Patriots
Super Bowl title: XXXIX

18. 2014 New England Patriots
Super Bowl title: XLIX

17. 1993 Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl title: XXVIII

16. 1994 San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl title: XXIX

15. 1998 Denver Broncos
Super Bowl title: XXXIII

14. 2015 Denver Broncos
Super Bowl title: 50

13. 2007 New York Giants
Super Bowl title: XLII

12. 2011 New York Giants
Super Bowl title: XLVI

11. 1999 St. Louis Rams
Super Bowl title: XXXIV

10. 2006 Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl title: XLI

9. 2009 New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl title: XLIV

8. 2010 Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl title: XLV

7. 2013 Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl title: XLVIII

6. 1996 Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl title: XXXI

5. 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl title: XLIII

4. 2001 New England Patriots
Super Bowl title: XXXVI

3. 1997 Denver Broncos
Super Bowl title: XXXII

2. 2003 New England Patriots
Super Bowl title: XXXVIII

1. 2016 New England Patriots
Super Bowl title: LI

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

The 2001 offseason was interesting as they had a pretty solid draft with Deion Branch, Daniel Graham, David Givens, and Jarvis Green, but they didn't make enough personnel changes to shore up a defense that was inept at stopping the run. Kansas City absolutely undressed that defense in game 3 OT win and then other teams followed suit.

 

[DarrylS]

From my comfy couch, it seems that they are not as reliant on the draft and are using more and more quality players from other teams.. also seems that they are looking for more quality in the DB, as assuming any player can be coached up to play in that phase did not have great outcomes..

 

[PatsDeb]

Hmmm. I wonder how the 2003 NE Pats can't be No. 1 on this list as they were back-to-back SB Champs. Even if they just stood pat, how can you argue that they didn't have the best off season? Oh well, just a fun exercise leading to the real season.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

couple of things - how do you measure something like this? also, how can our offseason this year be ranked so high when the season hasn't even started?

 

[PatsDeb]

couple of things - how do you measure something like this? also, how can our offseason this year be ranked so high when the season hasn't even started?

Agreed. If we go 10-6 and miss the playoffs, we'll be OTL ("off the list" an abbreviation my husband uses when a restaurant does not measure up to his dining standards.)

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

couple of things - how do you measure something like this? also, how can our offseason this year be ranked so high when the season hasn't even started?

My only explanation is that it was put together by experts in the offseason...Jet fans.

but, if that was the case, the Patriots wouldn't be rated so high.

I'm at a loss to explain it too.

 

[XLIX]

Please summarize the list here so we don't have to give clicks to BSPN, thanks.

I did summarize the list. If you don't want to read it, that your decision, but Ian has strict rules against plagiarizing so I can report the entire darn thing.

 

[Biffins]

Hmmm. I wonder how the 2003 NE Pats can't be No. 1 on this list as they were back-to-back SB Champs. Even if they just stood pat, how can you argue that they didn't have the best off season? Oh well, just a fun exercise leading to the real season.

Well you don't know yet if the 2016 Pats are also back-to-back SB Champs, so don't dismiss the list just yet. The 2003 Pats are ranked 2 only losing out to 2016 Pats.

 

[Jackson 2]

Please summarize the list here so we don't have to give clicks to BSPN, thanks.

Please summarize the list here so we don't have to give clicks to BSPN, thanks.

Sure, come by and mow my lawn and wash my vehicles and we'll be even...

 

[captain insano]

ESPN put together an interesting list.... they looked at the best offseasons for defending Super Bowl Champions, using the start of the salary cap era as their base.

Out of 24 spots, the Patriots hold numbers 1, 2, 4, 18, and 19 with the #1 ranking being this current offseason.

It's a fun read and an interesting trip down memory lane.

Ranking Super Bowl champs' offseasons: Is Patriots' 2017 best ever?

espn ****. they get no clicks from me.

 

[oldrover]

How do we talk about this offseason being #1 before we even see how they do during the ACTUAL season?

This all sounds very Jets-y to me.

 

[brdmaverick]

How can the Broncos be at #15 when they lost their starting quarterback (John Elway) to retirement?

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Im totally confused at at least half of these teams.... Guess theres not much to choose from. But most notably...

2004 pats - lost ted johnson, ty law , phifer (?), tedy b stroke, totally wiffed in fa/trades that year. mankins was a great pick and thats about all i can remember of note on the positives (hobbs , kaczur were OK).

2012 ravens - didnt they basically have a firesale after flacco's new contract. They missed the playoffs next year.

2015 broncos- hhuh??????

 

[Joker]

"It's all TWUE...ESPN said so!"