Best Seasons EVER for Each NFL Franchise

The NFL is one of the most storied professional leagues on the entire planet. Nowhere else can you get such hard hitting, high flying, talented battles of good old American football. With 32 teams in the league, and a ton of history to draw from, it can be hard to narrow down what year was the best for each squad. Don’t worry, we did all of the work. Listed below you’ll find the BEST season EVER from each NFL franchise. Enjoy!

Houston Texans – 2012

For a single season the Texans and their fans wouldn’t even need cosmetic dentistry to make their smiles shine. The Texans went 12 – 4 as J.J. Watt turned in a historic defensive year, racking up 20.5 sacks. J.J. Watt alone probably bought enough dental implants for opposing linemen. The Texans would lose in the Divisional Round but they still had a very successful year that has not yet been duplicated.

Cincinnati Bengals – 2015

The Bengals turned in an elite season by the play of Pro Bowl duo Andy Dalton (QB) and AJ Green (WR). The Bengals won the AFC North after going 12 – 4 before ultimately losing in the Wild Card Playoffs to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, this was a huge season for an otherwise young team with a fanbase that has borderline clinical depression over their recent struggles.

Cleveland Browns – 1964

Once upon a time the Browns weren’t abysmal. In 1964 fans watched as Cleveland went 10 – 3 – 1 en route to an NFL Championship, before the Super Bowl Era ever got started. This is Jim Brown’s Cleveland team.

Arizona Cardinals – 2015

Franchise success in Arizona predates successful teeth implants. We’re only kind of kidding. In 2015 the Cardinals went 13 – 3 behind a resurgent Carson Palmer at QB. Arizona would go on to get blown out in the NFC Championship game by the Carolina Panthers.

Philadelphia Eagles – 2004

When your NFL team makes it to the Super Bowl, and you aren’t from New England, it’s a big deal. The Eagles went 13 – 3 in 2004 on their way to a Super Bowl berth against the Patriots. Philly, behind Donovan McNabb, would hang tight before ultimately losing 24 – 21.

Tennessee Titans – 1999

In 1999 the Tennessee Titans competed in one of the most exciting Super Bowls of all time, against the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’. The Titans would famously be tackled inches short of tying Super Bowl XXXIV on the last play of the game. Tennessee went 13 – 3 that season and hasn’t found success like it since.

Buffalo Bills – 1990

Before re-joining NFL mediocrity, the Buffalo Bills had an incredible string of four straight Super Bowl appearances. The Bills would lose all of them, but none hurt more than 1990’s heartbreaker against the Giants. Still, this is one of the best non-Super Bowl winning teams of all time.

Detroit Lions – 1953

You have to go back half of a century to get back to elite Detroit football. The ’53 Detroit Lions won an NFL Championship after going 10 – 3 during the regular season. Doak Walker, the Hall of Fame running back, was the engine on this tough team.

San Diego Chargers – 2006

LaDainian Tomlinson scored 28 rushing touchdowns, the Chargers went 14 – 2, and for a moment San Diego had the NFL magnifying glass on them. Unfortunately the Chargers dreams would be dashed by the Patriots in the Divisional Round, 24 – 21. Recurring theme, eh? Clinical depression, indeed.

Jacksonville Jaguars – 1999

Jacksonville won 14 games in 1999 before losing in the AFC Championship. Things haven’t gotten better for the Jags ever since. In Bortles we trust?

Atlanta Falcons – 2016

Ooof, this one will sting for awhile. Atlanta scored an MVP Award for QB Matt Ryan as they moonwalked into the Super Bowl. The Falcons would go up 20 points on New England before suffering the worst collapse in NFL history and, potentially, all of sports.

Carolina Panthers – 2015

Cam Newton led an elite defense to a 15 – 1 record before falling apart in the Super Bowl. Cam and the Panthers lost to Denver, 24 – 10.

Minnesota Vikings – 1999

Randal Cunningham to Randy Moss and Cris Carter. 15 – 1 record. Lost in the NFC Conference Championship. What an exciting team.

Baltimore Ravens – 2012

Is Joe Flacco elite? Who cares. The 2012 Ravens went 10 – 6 before beating San Francisco in the Super Bowl. Baltimore would collapse in 2013, but 2012 was sweet indeed.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2002

Led by Coach Jon Gruden and an elite defense, the Buccaneers would go 12 – 4 before dismantling the hapless Oakland Raiders in the Super Bowl. This Tampa Bay squad had Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and John Lynch.

Kansas City Chiefs – 1969

Kansas City was blown out in the Super Bowl before but they made up for it ASAP. The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV over the Vikings after going 11 – 3 during the regular season.

New York Jets – 1968

‘Broadway’ Joe Namath guaranteed a victory over the favored Colts and he lived up to it. New York went 11 – 3, won the AFL East, and scored a Super Bowl ring.

New Orleans Saints – 2009

Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees led the Saints to a 13 – 3 record en route to landing a Super Bowl title over the Indianapolis Colts. This was a huge season for one of the most exciting offenses in football.

Seattle Seahawks – 2013

The Legion of Boom was born and the Seahawks shocked the league with a dominant Super Bowl win over Denver. Seattle went 13 – 3 and in doing so turned QB Russell Wilson into the face of the NFL.

St Louis Rams – 1999

The ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ glued fans in their seats thanks to a slew of Hall of Fame offensive talent: Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce and even Torry Holt. The Rams would win a Super Bowl nailbiter over Tennessee.

Dallas Cowboys – 1993

It sure is hard to narrow it down for this storied franchise. Dallas went 12 – 4 in 1993 while QB Troy Aikman relied upon Emmitt Smith to do the heavy lifting. Dallas would blow Buffalo out in Super Bowl XXVIII.

Indianapolis Colts – 2006

QB Peyton Manning led an electric offense to the Super Bowl after going 12 – 4 in the regular season. The Colts would blow out the Chicago Bears’ vaunted defense for Peyton’s first championship.

Pittsburgh Steelers – 1975

Big Ben doesn’t make the list. In 1975 the Steelers went 12 – 2, hosting the highest point differential in the NFL. The Steelers won Super Bowl X by the skin of their teeth over the Dallas Cowboys.

Green Bay Packers – 1966

You could pick just about any Packer Super Bowl squad here. We’ll go old school to Bart Starr’s ’66 squad. The Packers went 12 – 2 before winning Super Bowl I.

Denver Broncos – 1998

Terrell Davis rushed for over 2,000 yards while the Broncos rolled to a 14 – 2 record before winning the Super Bowl. You can’t beat that.

New York Giants – 2007

Eli Manning’s heroics turned this Giant squad into one of the biggest underdog stories of all time. The Giants overcame New England’s perfect season (literally) in order to win a last second Super Bowl.

Washington Redskins – 1991

Redskin fans haven’t had much to cheer for lately. However, back in 1991 QB Mark Rypien was slinging the ball en route to a Super Bowl win. The Redskins went 14 – 2 before winning SB XXVI.

Oakland Raiders – 1976

Oakland has been pretty abysmal since their first Super Bowl win, back in 1976. This season saw the Raiders go 13 – 1 behind Coach John Madd and star wide out Fred Biletnikoff.

San Francisco 49ers – 1984

There are so many golden teams to pick from. However, the ’84 squad is the only one of ‘em to win 15 games along with a Super Bowl. Joe Montana was the man under center for this legendary roster.

Chicago Bears – 1985

Da Bears became the Monsters of the Midway in earnest as they posted 15 – 1 record on their way to a huge Super Bowl win over New England. Chicago’s defense in ’85 remains the poster boy for elite defenses to today.

Miami Dolphins – 1972

The Dolphins went 14 – 0 in order to become the only unbeaten team (including the playoffs) in league history. Miami hasn’t won a Super Bowl since.

New England Patriots – 2007

Before Eli Manning-to-David Tyree became a thing, the Patriots were enjoying the best season ever by an NFL franchise. In 2007 the Patriots went a perfect 16 – 0, joining NFL royalty in the process. Unfortunately the Patriots would screw it all up, losing Super Bowl XLII to the Giants.