When Was the Last Time an NFL Team Went Undefeated?
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The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only team in NFL history to complete a perfect season. Here’s a look at the last time each current NFL team went undefeated.
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1972 Miami Dolphins
The 1972 Miami Dolphins were the last NFL team to go undefeated, finishing the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record. They then won all three of their playoff games, including a Super Bowl victory over the Washington Redskins, to finish the season 17-0.
18-0 regular season record
In 1972, the Miami Dolphins became the NFL’s first and only undefeated team, finishing the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record. The Dolphins went on to win the Super Bowl that year, making them the only team to finish an entire NFL season with a perfect record.
Since then, there have been a handful of teams that have come close to matching the Dolphins’ feat, but none have been able to do it. The New England Patriots came the closest in 2007, when they finished the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record before losing to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.
Won Super Bowl VII
The 1972 Miami Dolphins season was the perfect season. The team became the first and only in the National Football League (NFL) to finish a season undefeated, with a record of 17–0. The team remains the only NFL team to go undefeated in a season that included at least one playoff game.
2007 New England Patriots
16-0 regular season record
In 2007, the New England Patriots became the first team in NFL history to finish a regular season undefeated with a 16-0 record. The Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl that year, becoming only the second team to complete a perfect 19-0 season (the 1972 Miami Dolphins were the other).
Lost in Super Bowl XLII
The 2007 New England Patriots became the first team to complete a 16-0 regular season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins, and just the fourth in NFL history. The 2007 Patriots also became the first team ever to win every game by at least ten points, finishing the season with an average victory margin of 21.7 points. They set an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a 16-game season with 10 (seven interceptions, three lost fumbles).
2015 Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers were the last NFL team to go undefeated in a season. They did it in 2015, going 15-1 in the regular season before losing to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. The Panthers were a force to be reckoned with that year, led by MVP quarterback Cam Newton. It was one of the most memorable seasons in NFL history.
15-1 regular season record
The 2015 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise’s 21st season in the National Football League and the fifth under head coach Ron Rivera. The Panthers succeeded their 2014 campaign in which they went 7-8-1 and made it to the NFC Wild Card game against the Arizona Cardinals, which they lost 27-16. They improved on their regular season record of 7-8-1, winning 15 games and losing only one in the regular season, thus becoming only the sixth team in NFL history to do so. They also secured a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Panthers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 31-24 in the Divisional Round and then defeated the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC Championship Game. With their win over Arizona, Carolina notched their first trip to the Super Bowl since 2003, where they would face off against the eventual champion Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. They became only 1 of 16 NFL teams to make 2 or more trips to the Super Bowl.
Lost in Super Bowl L
The 2015 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise’s 21st season in the National Football League and the fifth under head coach Ron Rivera. They entered the season as the defending NFC champions, having defeated the Arizona Cardinals 49–15 in NFC Championship game. They finished the regular season with a 15–1 record, winning their second consecutive NFC South title and securing a first-round bye. They defeated the Seattle Seahawks 31–24 in the Divisional round and then won against the Arizona Cardinals 49–15 in the NFC Championship game. The Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos 24–10 in Super Bowl L.
2016 New England Patriots
The last time an NFL team went undefeated was during the 2016 regular season when the New England Patriots went 14-2. The Patriots also went on to win the Super Bowl that year, making them the first and only team to ever go 19-0.
14-2 regular season record
The 2016 New England Patriots season was the franchise’s 47th season in the National Football League, the 57th overall and the 17th under head coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots entered the season as the defending Super Bowl champions, after winning Super Bowl XLIX 28-24 against the Seattle Seahawks. They also became the first team since 1981 to win back-to-back Super Bowls with different starting quarterbacks (Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo).
Won Super Bowl LI
The 2016 New England Patriots season was the franchise’s 47th season in the National Football League, the 57th overall and the 18th under head coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots entered the season as the defending Super Bowl champions, after winning Super Bowl XLIX 28-24 over the Seattle Seahawks. They also became only the eighth team in NFL history to win 14 games in consecutive seasons. The Patriots finished with a league-best record of 14-2, winning their division for the seventh consecutive season.
