How Many NFL Teams Have Gone Undefeated?

How Many NFL Teams Have Gone Undefeated?
The answer may surprise you.

Introduction

In the NFL’s 101-year history, only a handful of teams have gone undefeated for an entire season. The 1972 Miami Dolphins were the first and only team to finish the season 17-0, a record that still stands today. In the past 50 years, only four other teams have come close to perfection. Here’s a look at those teams and how they fared.

The 1972 Miami Dolphins

The 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the perfect season. The team became the first and only team in NFL history to finish a season undefeated and untied, going 14–0 in the regular season and 3–0 in the post-season, including Super Bowl VII. The team is considered one of the greatest of all time.

The 2007 New England Patriots

The 2007 New England Patriots went undefeated in the regular season, finishing with a record of 16-0. They became just the second team in NFL history to achieve this feat, after the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The Patriots went on to lose to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, finishing with a final record of 18-1.

The 2009 Indianapolis Colts

The 2009 Indianapolis Colts season was the franchise’s 57th season in the National Football League and the 26th in Indianapolis. The Colts improved upon their 12-4 record from 2008, and won their sixth consecutive AFC South championship, going 14-2. They also became the first team to repeat as AFC South champions since the division’s inception in 2002. The Colts set an NFL record for most consecutive regular season wins (23), surpassing the New England Patriots’ 21-game winning streak set between 2003 and 2004, and also tied the all time NFL record for most wins in a single season with the New England Patriots’ other 14-win seasons in 2003 and 2004. They finished the season with the second best statistical defense in allowing points, ranking behind only the Green Bay Packers. In Super Bowl XLIV, they faced off against the NFC’s New Orleans Saints, defeating them 31–17 to win their second Super Bowl championship.

Conclusion

Only two teams have gone undefeated in an NFL season: the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 2007 New England Patriots. The Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season and then won three playoff games, including Super Bowl VII, to finish 17-0. The Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season and won two playoff games before losing to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.