Sparked by some conversation in another thread, I thought I'd look at - in the Super Bowl era anyway - the teams with the best 2-year periods. To begin with, I made a ruling that the only two-year teams that qualified HAD to have won the Super Bowl both years. So that ruled out insanely good two-year teams such as the 1985-86 Chicago Bears, who were unbelievable, winning the SB after a 15-1 season in 1985, and then going 14-2 with a defense that surrendered even FEWER points than their famed 1985 defense did. Sorry guys, this group, as good as they were, doesn't make the cut because that 1986 team lost to the Redskins in the divisional round.
In light of that criterion, there are only eight contenders:
1966-67 Packers
1972-73 Dolphins
1974-75 Steelers
1978-79 Steelers
1988-89 49ers
1992-93 Cowboys
1997-98 Broncos
2003-04 Patriots
I then looked at these teams' win-loss record, offensive and defensive rankings, point differential, and offensive and defensive SRS ratings as compiled by pro-football-reference.com. I then ranked each team by those categories and added up their total rankings (I took their points ranking and yards ranking and averaged them together). If a team had something unique about it that was worth adding to the mix, I threw that in there as well. Here's how these teams came out:
1. 1972-73 Dolphins. 13 total ranking points, by FAR the fewest (i.e., best) total. 12 points ahead of the next best team.
- Win%: .929 (1st)
- Avg offensive ranking: 4.0 (5th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 1.8 (1st)
- Offensive SRS: 4.8 (3rd)
- Defensive SRS: 7.4 (2nd)
- Point diff per game: 14.5 (1st)
Just an overall juggernaut, even calibrating for the era in which they played. Utterly dominant, two years in a row. Their defense was even better than the famed Steel Curtain, all things considered. I hate them, but this two year run was the best the NFL has ever seen in the Super Bowl era. Having a totally undefeated season didn't hurt.
2. 1974-75 Steelers. 25 total ranking points.
- Win%: .815 (3rd)
- Avg offensive ranking: 6.5 (6th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 2.3 (3rd)
- Offensive SRS: 3.9 (7th)
- Defensive SRS: 6.7 (3rd)
- Point diff per game: 11.7 (3rd)
Another dominant team, following on the heels of the great Dolphins' run.
3. 1978-79 Steelers, 27 total ranking points.
- Win%: .813 (t4th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 3.8 (4th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 2.8 (4th)
- Offensive SRS: 4.7 (4th)
- Defensive SRS: 5.4 (5th)
- Point diff per game: 9.8 (6th)
The end of the great Steeler dynasty, this team was just about as good as the 74-75 editions, but a hair short of them. Still one of the great all-time groups.
4. 1992-93 Cowboys, 27 total ranking points.
- Win%: .781 (6th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 3.0 (3rd)
- Avg defensive ranking: 4.5 (5th)
- Offensive SRS: 5.7 (2nd)
- Defensive SRS: 4.1 (6th)
- Point diff per game: 10.1 (5th)
We may forget how good this Cowboys team really was. Strong on D, but a better offense than most of us remembered.
5. 2003-04 Patriots, 33 total ranking points.
- Win%: .875 (2nd)
- Avg offensive ranking: 10.0 (8th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 4.8 (7th)
- Offensive SRS: 4.2 (5th)
- Defensive SRS: 5.7 (4th)
- Point diff per game: 9.0 (7th)
Ok, here's where there may be some controversy. The total ranking points may suggest that this team should be ranked lower on this list of eight. They just weren't quite as statistically dominant as some of the other teams. But I'm putting them here for three main reasons. First, the salary cap. To do it in the modern era was just remarkable. Second, their winning streak. 18 straight during the season, and 21 straight including postseason. And third, their consistency. 14-2 each of the two seasons, 17-2 each of the two seasons including playoffs. This wasn't fueled by one insanely great year followed by another very good year. This was two 14-2 (17-2) seasons, back to back.
Others here (given that this is a Pats' forum) may put this group at the top. I think the reality doesn't warrant them being higher, but I understand that this is subjective.
6. 1966-67 Packers, 29 total ranking points.
- Win%: .778 (7th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 7.5 (7th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 2.0 (2nd)
- Offensive SRS: 3.3 (8th)
- Defensive SRS: 8.1 (1st)
- Point diff per game: 10.5 (4th)
Much better defensively than I would have thought. They are below the Patriots here because there was no free agency, no salary cap, and the AFC was weak, so their Super Bowl opponents just weren't very good at the time. Still, obviously an all-time great team.
7. 1997-98 Broncos, 25 total ranking points.
- Win%: .813 (t4th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 1.8 (1st)
- Avg defensive ranking: 7.5 (8th)
- Offensive SRS: 8.8 (1st)
- Defensive SRS: 1.0 (8th)
- Point diff per game: 11.8 (2nd)
Statistically, they should be much higher than the Patriots, or even higher than the Steelers or Cowboys. They get points for knocking off Favre and the great Packers team that was bidding itself to be on this list. But I'm holding against them the fact that they were TWICE found guilty of salary cap violations, so this team achieved its success largely because they were able to construct their franchise illegally. The reason I didn't punish the Steelers for steroid use in the 70s is because it wasn't illegal then, so they weren't breaking the rules.
8. 1988-89 49ers, 37 total ranking points.
- Win%: .750 (8th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 2.8 (2nd)
- Avg defensive ranking: 4.5 (6th)
- Offensive SRS: 4.0 (6th)
- Defensive SRS: 3.3 (7th)
- Point diff per game: 8.3 (8th)
Hard to believe that this great two-year run for the Niners is only 8th on this list. But that's in large part to their 10-6 season in 1988. They won the SB in dramatic fashion over Cincy, but that wasn't a great 49ers team. They only had a 4.7 point differential, and their record just wasn't great. Still, winning two SBs in back-to-back seasons puts them on the list, which itself is a remarkable achievement, and we know they were loaded with hall of fame caliber players.
In light of that criterion, there are only eight contenders:
1966-67 Packers
1972-73 Dolphins
1974-75 Steelers
1978-79 Steelers
1988-89 49ers
1992-93 Cowboys
1997-98 Broncos
2003-04 Patriots
I then looked at these teams' win-loss record, offensive and defensive rankings, point differential, and offensive and defensive SRS ratings as compiled by pro-football-reference.com. I then ranked each team by those categories and added up their total rankings (I took their points ranking and yards ranking and averaged them together). If a team had something unique about it that was worth adding to the mix, I threw that in there as well. Here's how these teams came out:
1. 1972-73 Dolphins. 13 total ranking points, by FAR the fewest (i.e., best) total. 12 points ahead of the next best team.
- Win%: .929 (1st)
- Avg offensive ranking: 4.0 (5th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 1.8 (1st)
- Offensive SRS: 4.8 (3rd)
- Defensive SRS: 7.4 (2nd)
- Point diff per game: 14.5 (1st)
Just an overall juggernaut, even calibrating for the era in which they played. Utterly dominant, two years in a row. Their defense was even better than the famed Steel Curtain, all things considered. I hate them, but this two year run was the best the NFL has ever seen in the Super Bowl era. Having a totally undefeated season didn't hurt.
2. 1974-75 Steelers. 25 total ranking points.
- Win%: .815 (3rd)
- Avg offensive ranking: 6.5 (6th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 2.3 (3rd)
- Offensive SRS: 3.9 (7th)
- Defensive SRS: 6.7 (3rd)
- Point diff per game: 11.7 (3rd)
Another dominant team, following on the heels of the great Dolphins' run.
3. 1978-79 Steelers, 27 total ranking points.
- Win%: .813 (t4th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 3.8 (4th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 2.8 (4th)
- Offensive SRS: 4.7 (4th)
- Defensive SRS: 5.4 (5th)
- Point diff per game: 9.8 (6th)
The end of the great Steeler dynasty, this team was just about as good as the 74-75 editions, but a hair short of them. Still one of the great all-time groups.
4. 1992-93 Cowboys, 27 total ranking points.
- Win%: .781 (6th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 3.0 (3rd)
- Avg defensive ranking: 4.5 (5th)
- Offensive SRS: 5.7 (2nd)
- Defensive SRS: 4.1 (6th)
- Point diff per game: 10.1 (5th)
We may forget how good this Cowboys team really was. Strong on D, but a better offense than most of us remembered.
5. 2003-04 Patriots, 33 total ranking points.
- Win%: .875 (2nd)
- Avg offensive ranking: 10.0 (8th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 4.8 (7th)
- Offensive SRS: 4.2 (5th)
- Defensive SRS: 5.7 (4th)
- Point diff per game: 9.0 (7th)
Ok, here's where there may be some controversy. The total ranking points may suggest that this team should be ranked lower on this list of eight. They just weren't quite as statistically dominant as some of the other teams. But I'm putting them here for three main reasons. First, the salary cap. To do it in the modern era was just remarkable. Second, their winning streak. 18 straight during the season, and 21 straight including postseason. And third, their consistency. 14-2 each of the two seasons, 17-2 each of the two seasons including playoffs. This wasn't fueled by one insanely great year followed by another very good year. This was two 14-2 (17-2) seasons, back to back.
Others here (given that this is a Pats' forum) may put this group at the top. I think the reality doesn't warrant them being higher, but I understand that this is subjective.
6. 1966-67 Packers, 29 total ranking points.
- Win%: .778 (7th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 7.5 (7th)
- Avg defensive ranking: 2.0 (2nd)
- Offensive SRS: 3.3 (8th)
- Defensive SRS: 8.1 (1st)
- Point diff per game: 10.5 (4th)
Much better defensively than I would have thought. They are below the Patriots here because there was no free agency, no salary cap, and the AFC was weak, so their Super Bowl opponents just weren't very good at the time. Still, obviously an all-time great team.
7. 1997-98 Broncos, 25 total ranking points.
- Win%: .813 (t4th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 1.8 (1st)
- Avg defensive ranking: 7.5 (8th)
- Offensive SRS: 8.8 (1st)
- Defensive SRS: 1.0 (8th)
- Point diff per game: 11.8 (2nd)
Statistically, they should be much higher than the Patriots, or even higher than the Steelers or Cowboys. They get points for knocking off Favre and the great Packers team that was bidding itself to be on this list. But I'm holding against them the fact that they were TWICE found guilty of salary cap violations, so this team achieved its success largely because they were able to construct their franchise illegally. The reason I didn't punish the Steelers for steroid use in the 70s is because it wasn't illegal then, so they weren't breaking the rules.
8. 1988-89 49ers, 37 total ranking points.
- Win%: .750 (8th)
- Avg offensive ranking: 2.8 (2nd)
- Avg defensive ranking: 4.5 (6th)
- Offensive SRS: 4.0 (6th)
- Defensive SRS: 3.3 (7th)
- Point diff per game: 8.3 (8th)
Hard to believe that this great two-year run for the Niners is only 8th on this list. But that's in large part to their 10-6 season in 1988. They won the SB in dramatic fashion over Cincy, but that wasn't a great 49ers team. They only had a 4.7 point differential, and their record just wasn't great. Still, winning two SBs in back-to-back seasons puts them on the list, which itself is a remarkable achievement, and we know they were loaded with hall of fame caliber players.