Which Team Had the Best NFL Season Ever?

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 04 September 2023

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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• Best NFL Team Season Ever
• The Best Season Ever in the NFL? 1972 – Miami Dolphins
• 1985 Chicago Bears: Untouchable Strength
• Miami Dolphins’ 1984 Saga
• 1984 San Francisco 49ers – Outperforming Opponents
• The 1991 Washington Commanders Team
• New England Patriots’ 2007 Masterpiece
• Frequently Asked Questions

Today’s blog aims to take you on a journey through time, looking at the most memorable seasons in the history of the NFL. What was the best NFL season ever? That’s what we will aim to answer today. We will revisit the wins of some of the most iconic NFL teams, look at the factors that contribute to a season being dubbed the best, and relive those memories that NFL fans will treasure forever. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Best NFL Team Season Ever

The NFL, with its rich history and dynamic gameplay, has given us countless seasons to remember. The best NFL team season ever, however, is a subjective topic – and fans of different teams are likely to have different opinions on the answer to this question. Generally speaking, however, the best NFL season ever stands out for its extraordinary displays on the field where teams and players defy odds, shatter records, and defeat teams, time and time again.

Now we’ll get into the nitty-gritty and show you what we think the best NFL team season ever is. If you’re looking to bet online instead, check out our list of sportsbooks with NFL betting options.

The Best Season Ever in the NFL? 1972 – Miami Dolphins

When you start taking a look at the best NFL football season ever, you don’t need to search long to begin seeing one name appear more than any other: the Miami Dolphins. Their 1972 season was a year that remains unmatched in NFL history, and we think it’s more than fair to say it’s the best season ever in the NFL.

This was the time when the Miami Dolphins showcased true perfection on the pitch, winning all 14 of their regular season encounters, blazing through the playoffs, and finishing up with an extraordinary Super Bowl VII win. Their 17-0 record still stands unchallenged, easily carving out the Dolphins’ place at the top of the best NFL teams list ever.

The ’72 Dolphins outmatched all teams in the league in terms of points scored and conceded, and they were pretty much untouchable. They were an incredibly strong team, sure, but they also had amazing strategic flexibility. This was highlighted by their ability to play most of the season with Earl Morrall, their backup quarterback, guiding the team to victory and earning first-team All-Pro honors.

Morrall took the Dolphins through nine back-to-back winning games, but when the playoffs came around, the coach made a daring move that some thought was crazy; he decided to bring Bob Griese back into the mix. This tactical switch was controversial at the time but proved to be a major success. Plus, the defense of the ’72 Dolphins was unlike anything most fans had seen in the league before, earning itself the nickname “No-Name Defense” from the legendary Dallas Cowboys head coach, Tom Landry.

The 1972 Dolphins team was also incredibly skilled at overcoming challenges. For example, unlike today’s system where the best team enjoys home-field advantage, back in 1972, the home field for Conference Championship games was picked through rotation. The Dolphins, despite their flawless regular-season record, found themselves battling it out in Pittsburgh for the AFC Championship. This shows how capable they were at adaptation – although, of course, the world-class players on the team didn’t hurt, either.

Among them were stars like Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Bill Stanfill, and Mercury Morris, each of whom made their mark during the Dolphins’ historic 1972 run. There was also a highly competent coaching team, including Howard Schnellenberger, Bill Arnsparger, Carl Taseff, Monte Clark, and Mike Scarry, who together helped to turn the Dolphins into an unstoppable force in 1972.

1985 Chicago Bears: Untouchable Strength

What’s the best team season in the NFL? Well, if you don’t agree that it was the 1972 Dolphins, then you almost certainly think it’s the Chicago Bears’ 1985 season. It’s one of the most memorable seasons in NFL history, and the team was something else!

In 1985, the Bears were on fire; they racked up a huge number of points, and their defense was second-to-none, conceding fewer points than any other team in the league. In fact, they were 74.9% better than the average team that year, even outperforming the 49ers, who were, for many people, the leading team in the league at the time.

Their defensive abilities allowed them to force 54 turnovers and only let in an average of 12.4 points per game. Plus, they had a bunch of the world’s best players, including three first-team All-Pros and five Pro Bowlers. But it wasn’t just their defense; the whole team was packed with talent.

The team’s star player, Walter Payton, was a real force to be reckoned with. He was incredibly quick and precise, and it was his fifth and last year being selected as an All-Pro. The team only lost one game in the regular season, and that was to the Miami Dolphins.

When it came to the playoffs, the Bears were just as dominant. They didn’t let the New York Giants or the Los Angeles Rams score a single point against them. Then they went on to win Super Bowl XX, beating the New England Patriots by a giant 36 points and cementing their team’s season legacy into the history books.

Even today, the ’85 Bears are remembered as one of the best teams in NFL history. They’re often mentioned when people talk about the greatest teams of all time. They were a team that had it all: talent, strategy, and determination, and their efforts are something pretty much every NFL team dreams of achieving.

1984 San Francisco 49ers – Outperforming Opponents

The 1984 season witnessed the San Francisco 49ers also put their name in the NFL’s history books. Led by their iconic coach Bill Walsh and quarterback Joe Montana, the 49ers enjoyed a season of brilliance that remains memorable in NFL circles even today. The 49ers ended their campaign with a staggering 15-1 regular-season record, a feat few teams have been able to even come close to since.

Throughout the season, the team showed a perfect blend of offensive and defensive abilities. In fact, they ranked second in points scored and led the league in points allowed, showing fans what they were capable of. They were also benefited by the innovative ‘West Coast Offense’ developed by Walsh, which capitalized on short, horizontal pass plays to stretch defenses and open up running lanes.

The 1984 season also saw Montana perform at his absolute best, cementing himself as one of the game’s greats. With his exceptional passing skills and his ability to perform under pressure, Montana led the 49ers’ offensive strategies. Meanwhile, the defense, led by Ronnie Lott, proved to be a nightmare for the opposition, with players seemingly able to predict their opponent’s every move.

The 49ers’ incredible season extended into the playoffs, finishing in a 38-16 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX. If you’re a 49ers fan, you’ll almost certainly agree this was the best season ever in the NFL.

The 1991 Washington Redskins Team

In 1991, the Washington Redskins, now known as the Commanders, had a season that many fans and football historians will never forget. They blazed through the regular season with an impressive 14-2 record, winning almost all their games – usually by a pretty wide margin.

This team was led by coach Joe Gibbs, a man who knew exactly how to inspire his players. Quarterback Mark Rypien was a key player who had a fantastic year, while the team’s running back, Earnest Byner, rushed for over a thousand yards that season, a major career achievement.

But it wasn’t just about their offense. The defense, led by players like Charles Mann and Darrell Green, was strong too. They were a wall that most other teams couldn’t get past, and their season was, for the most part, watched in awe by fans of all NFL teams.

Naturally, the crowning glory of the 1991 season was the Super Bowl – the biggest game of the year. The Redskins dominated the Buffalo Bills, winning 37-24 and delivering the perfect ending to their season. Many football fans maintain to this day that the 1991 Washington Redskins are one of the greatest teams in the history of the game.

New England Patriots’ 2007 Masterpiece

Fast forward to 2007 and the New England Patriots put on a show that left many fans in awe. Led by the iconic coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, they achieved a feat that had only been done once before – a perfect regular season. Winning all 16 regular season games, they became the first team to do so since the NFL expanded the regular season to 16 games in 1978.

Tom Brady was exceptional that year. He threw a record-breaking 50 touchdown passes, with wide receiver Randy Moss catching an incredible 23 of them, a record in its own right. The team’s offense was simply superb, putting up points with ease and leaving their opponents scrambling to catch up.

The Patriots defense was equally as impressive. Players like Vince Wilfork and Rodney Harrison held down the fort, making it difficult for opposing teams to score. The teamwork and strategy employed by the Patriots during this season were near flawless.

However, the dream of a perfect season was spoiled by the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, where the Patriots narrowly lost 17-14. Despite this, the 2007 Patriots season is often remembered as one of the greatest team performances in NFL history. Here’s some useful information from that season: