What Teams Have Gone Undefeated in the NFL?
Contents
NFL teams that have gone undefeated include the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the 2007 New England Patriots, and the 2009 Indianapolis Colts.
Introduction
In the history of the National Football League, only two teams have completed a perfect regular season undefeated, with no ties or losses – the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 2007 New England Patriots. These are the only teams to have gone 14–0 in the NFL regular season since the league expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978.
In 2007, the Patriots became only the second team to finish their regular season undefeated since the 1972 Miami Dolphins accomplished the feat. The 2007 Patriots went 16–0 in the regular season, winning every game by at least eight points and outscoring their opponents by a total of 556 to 358 points, for an average victory margin of 11.6 points. Quarterback Tom Brady was named MVP of the season.
In 1972, head coach Don Shula led the Miami Dolphins to a perfect regular season record of 14–0. The Dolphins finished their regular season schedule with seven wins at home and seven wins on the road. They outscored their opponents 332–156 during the regular season, for an average victory margin of 13 points per game. In Super Bowl VII, they defeated the Washington Redskins by a score of 14–7 to complete their perfect 17–0 season – becoming the first and only team in NFL history to achieve an undefeated and untied championship season.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins
The 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the perfect season. The only one in NFL history. They are the only team to go undefeated and win the Super Bowl. Head coach Don Shula led the Dolphins to a 14–0 regular season record before winning all three post-season games, including Super Bowl VII against the Washington Redskins, to finish 17–0. The undefeated campaign followed a now-iconic 1971 season in which the Dolphins lost the Super Bowl by a single point.
The Dolphins finished their regular season undefeated with a record of 14–0. They then won their first playoff game against the Cleveland Browns, which was followed by victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders, setting up a Super Bowl matchup against the Washington Redskins. QB Bob Griese led 6 scoring drives as Miami won their 1st Super Bowl title by a score of 14–7, cementing their legacy as one of NFL’s all-time greats.
The 2007 New England Patriots
The 2007 New England Patriots were the most recent team to finish the regular season undefeated. They finished with a record of 16-0, becoming only the second team in NFL history to do so. The other team was the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who finished with a perfect record of 17-0.
The 2009 Indianapolis Colts
The 2009 Indianapolis Colts were a professional American football team who competed in the National Football League (NFL). They completed the regular season with an undefeated record of 16–0, becoming the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to finish a season undefeated and untied. However, they failed to win the Super Bowl after losing to the New Orleans Saints 31–17 in Super Bowl XLIV.
The Green Bay Packers (1929-1931)
The Green Bay Packers, led by head coach Curly Lambeau, were the first team in NFL history to go undefeated and untied in a season. The Packers accomplished this feat in 1929, 1930, and 1931. In all three seasons, the Packers had a perfect record of 12-0-0.
The Packers were not the only team to go undefeated and untied in a season; the Chicago Bears did it in 1934, the New York Giants did it in 1938, and the Cleveland Browns did it in 1948 (all before the modern era of professional football began). However, the Packers are the only team to have done it three times.
The Chicago Bears (1932)
The Chicago Bears went 13-0 in the regular season before beating the Portsmouth Spartans in the NFL Championship Game, 9-0. The Spartans were actually a Division II team in 1932 and only made the championship game because the league’s top team, the New York Giants, refused to play them. The Bears are one of only four teams to have a perfect regular season and win the NFL Championship.
The Los Angeles Rams (1949)
The Los Angeles Rams were the last team to go undefeated in an NFL season, finishing the 1949 regular season with a record of 12-0. They then won their playoff game against the Cleveland Browns, but lost the NFL Championship to the 1949__49ers.
The Cleveland Browns (1948-1949)
The Cleveland Browns were a professional football team that played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1995. The Browns were founded in 1945 by businessman Arthur B. Modell as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). When the AAFC dissolved after the 1949 season, the Browns joined the NFL.
The Browns went undefeated in 1948 and 1949, winning the NFL Championship in both seasons. In 1950, they became the only team in NFL history to repeat as champions, and they did it again in 1954 and 1955. The Browns also won the 1954 and 1955 NFL Championships, making them the only team to win four consecutive championships.
The Browns went on to win the 1964 NFL Championship, but they have not won a championship since then. They have made it to the playoffs several times since then, but they have not been able to make it back to the Super Bowl.
The New York Giants (1916)
The New York Giants went undefeated in the 1916 NFL season. They were 9-0-1, with their only tie coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Giants outscored their opponents by a combined score of 166-23.
The Detroit Lions (1934-1935)
The Detroit Lions are the only team in NFL history to have gone an entire season without a win. In 1934, the Lions posted a 0-11 record, and followed that up with another winless campaign in 1935, going 0-8-1. The Lions wouldn’t get their first victory until 1936, when they beat the Chicago Cardinals, 13-7.
