Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

All 32 NFL Franchises Statistically Ranked In Order Of All-Time Greatness
http://nflspinzone.com ^ | Daniel D. Zillmer

Posted on 09/22/2014 8:10:32 PM PDT by NKP_Vet

Attention NFL purists, this piece is for you.

The 2014 NFL season is right around the corner. That sentence alone is enough to get the blood pumping of the millions of Americans that live for the NFL — the most popular sport in the country by a landslide. I share that enthusiasm, not only for the NFL, but for its history. And in this instance, for quantifying that history. I believe it to be a shame that MLB has preserved its history so well that its ancient heroes are fondly remembered and its legendary teams revered, while NFL history sits in relative obscurity. This history remains there, even when one of the more discussed topics in NFL circles is debated: Which franchise is truly the greatest in NFL history? Mind you, professional football has no New York Yankees. To answer this, the entirety of the sport’s history must be accounted for.

With that in mind, I set out to definitively answer the elusive ‘greatest’ NFL franchise debate. My goal was to shed some light on NFL history, and subsequently on every NFL franchise. This list isn’t the byproduct of arguments between fans or some run of the mill ranking of franchises based almost entirely on how many Super Bowl trophies each franchise has collected. Anyone can look up those numbers and anyone can form a baseless opinion. I dug much deeper, because that is what the NFL, and its history, deserves.

(Excerpt) Read more at nflspinzone.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: football; nfl
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last
Great article. Great list. I agree with #10 and #1. The rest are up for debate.
1 posted on 09/22/2014 8:10:32 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet

Too many pages to click through.


2 posted on 09/22/2014 8:13:22 PM PDT by ansel12
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet
Oh Yeah!


3 posted on 09/22/2014 8:15:08 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Patiently waiting for the jack booted kick at my door.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

Only 5 pages... you had me thinking it was going to be one of those lists where every item gets one or two or three pages to click through.

All I can say is Giants! #2! Woo-hoo! And I don’t mind one bit coming in second to Green Bay.


4 posted on 09/22/2014 8:16:44 PM PDT by dangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet
Well, this list is biased simply towards the length of time the team has existed. The top teams are the oldest, the bottom team is the youngest. Not much higher math equations necessary.

I am surprised the Broncos scored so poorly, even thought they are a younger team. Pat Bowlen, the current owner, is the most successful current owner, with 25 winning seasons and 5 losing seasons.

5 posted on 09/22/2014 8:21:32 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangus

That list plus $3.50 will get you a decent cup o joe.


6 posted on 09/22/2014 8:22:32 PM PDT by rickomatic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dangus
Much as I hate to admit it, I'd put the Steelers #1.

They not only dominated the '70s,but have save for a few years, been very good.

I'd put Cowboys up there, but I can't help but think of the last decade.

Green Bay I'll always give props to.

When it came down to the Super Bowl, they really set the standard in the '60s.

I KNOW the AFL was a "joke" at the time, but the Jets proved they were ready for the big show.

7 posted on 09/22/2014 8:29:32 PM PDT by boop (I was unaware that beating up people is wrong. Until the NFL seminar told me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet

Bart Starr, Sunday school teacher, MVP of the first two super bowls and proof that nice guys can finish first.


8 posted on 09/22/2014 8:30:34 PM PDT by yarddog (G)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yarddog

Dittos to that!!! And has there ever been a better Off. backfield than Bart Starr, Paul Hornung and Jimmy Taylor when they were at full throttle? (In a mix of the years 1957-1966 so). They get my vote as the best!!


9 posted on 09/22/2014 8:51:07 PM PDT by bobby.223
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet

Woo Hoo We’re Number 17!


10 posted on 09/22/2014 8:52:56 PM PDT by dfwgator (The "Fire Muschamp" tagline is back!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet

BS list. The highest ranked teams aren’t the ones that have won the most..., they’re the ones that have been around the longest. It’s like a union promoting personnel based on seniority....


11 posted on 09/22/2014 8:53:53 PM PDT by freebilly (How about this-- we stop trying to elect the unelectable)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bobby.223

I have never seen a running back who could run over people like Jimmy Taylor.


12 posted on 09/22/2014 8:55:09 PM PDT by yarddog (G)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: bobby.223

Back then the Quarterback called the plays on the field. Third down and inches to go. Bart would drop back and throw a bomb to Boyd Dowler when everyone on the defense was expecting a run up the middle.

Elijah Pitts was another good one. He seemed to have the same cat like style as Hornung.


13 posted on 09/22/2014 9:00:36 PM PDT by yarddog (G)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: boop
Much as I hate to admit it, I'd put the Steelers #1. They not only dominated the '70s

All things considered, I'd put the Steelers #1 also. But I'd do it because they lead in SB victories, and the NFL has never been tougher or more competitive than in the SB era. But the Steelers did not dominate the '70s in terms of wins - the Cowboys did. The Steelers have never led any decade in wins. They dominated between '74-'79 and have played well with 2 SB wins in the Roethlisberger era.
14 posted on 09/22/2014 9:02:33 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: freebilly

Yeah, it’s obviously stacked against the younger franchises, but hey, but when you are talking all time greatness that’s a factor.

As a Seahawks fan I’m pretty sure that Curt Warner and Kenny Easley at their prime would hang with the all time greats, but their careers are not in the same league as the more well known icons of other teams. That’s why they aren’t in the HOF or more well known.

The Seattle franchise as a whole ain’t a patch on Da Bears or Green Bay, or even their current great rival, San Francisco. I’m ok with that, and I’m just enjoying the current tides of Seahawks fortune, but who knows what next Sunday will bring?


15 posted on 09/22/2014 9:08:10 PM PDT by M1911A1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet

As a Cheesehead...yes!!!


16 posted on 09/22/2014 9:14:56 PM PDT by ExCTCitizen (I'm ExCTCitizen and I approve this reply. If it does offend Libs, I'm NOT sorry...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: boop

Meh. Steelers are .515 lifetime, compared to .548 for the Giants and .563 for the packers. They’re 74-79 run is truly impressive; the NFL’s only true dynasty, although I’d hear arguments for the 70-78 Cowboys as well... but they were simply never good until 1970. And 80-92 was a pretty long dry spell, too.

I might be just a tad negative towards them seeing the way they had to politicize things for President Obama.


17 posted on 09/22/2014 9:15:46 PM PDT by dangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet

shouldn’t they be ranked in terms of domestic violence?


18 posted on 09/22/2014 9:21:04 PM PDT by Cubs Fan (Where we're headed is worse than mere socialism http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-tyranny)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NKP_Vet

In terms of historical greatness, I would put the Packers #1 and my Bears #2. Maybe the Giants #3. And I think those are the three teams with the most championships.


19 posted on 09/22/2014 9:37:33 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson (Just watched the Bears win.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangus
Agreed, but being a great football team that happens to donate to liberals?

Sure I hate their politics, but still a great franchise.

And WTF with the Lions? They've been around forever.

20 posted on 09/22/2014 9:46:47 PM PDT by boop (I was unaware that beating up people is wrong. Until the NFL seminar told me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson