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The rankings: No. 80 to No. 61 | No. 60 to No. 41 | No. 40 to No. 21 | No. 20 to No. 1

40. 1980 OAKLAND RAIDERS     11-5 (4-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
364	22.8	306	19.1	+58	7 of 28	16 of 28	10 of 28	11 of 28	.508	6-5	102-56
Super Bowl: Beat Philadelphia 27-10     Coach: Tom Flores Key players: QB Jim Plunkett (2,299 yards, 18 TD), RB Mark van Eeghen (838 yards), RB Kenny King, WR Cliff Branch, OT Art Shell, LB Ted Hendricks, LB Rod Martin, CB Lester Hayes

Not the greatest team of all time, but certainly the team you'd like to have a few adult beverages with. Or purchase stickum from. Infamous for tearing up New Orleans with its partying leading up to the Super Bowl, this team also provided one of the unheralded great Super Bowl moments: commissioner Pete Rozelle handing the Lombardi Trophy to Al Davis (who was involved in a lawsuit against the NFL at the time). Ordinary statistically (they relied on a league-leading 35 interceptions, including 13 by Lester Hayes), the Raiders ramped things up in the postseason. They romped against Houston's No. 2 scoring defense, won road games against the Browns and Air Coryell Chargers (both division champions) and convincingly beat a favored Eagles team in the Super Bowl.

39. 1982 WASHINGTON REDSKINS     8-1 (4-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
190	21.1	128	14.2	+62	12 of 28	7 of 28	1 of 28	4 of 28	.481	3-1	110-48
Super Bowl: Beat Miami 27-17     Coach: Joe Gibbs Key players: QB Joe Theismann (91.3 QB rating), RB John Riggins, WR Art Monk, WR Charlie Brown, OG Russ Grimm, OT Joe Jacoby, DE Dexter Manley, DT Dave Butz, K Mark Moseley

How bizarre was the 1982 strike-shortened season? Kicker Mark Moseley was named NFL MVP. That is not a misprint (he was 20-of-21 on field goals but, oddly, just 16-of-19 on extra points). A year after beginning his head coaching career 0-5, Joe Gibbs piloted the Redskins to their first Super Bowl victory. Despite allowing the fewest points in the NFL during a nine-game, strike-shortened regular season, Washington was a three-point underdog in the Super Bowl. Behind The Hogs, John Riggins rumbled for a then-Super Bowl record 166 rushing yards, becoming the first NFL player to rush for 100 or more yards in four consecutive postseason games.

38. 1969 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS     11-3 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
359	25.6	177	12.6	+182	2 of 10	3 of 10	1 of 10	1 of 10	n/a	4-2	53-20
Super Bowl: Beat Minnesota 23-7     Coach: Hank Stram Key players: QB Len Dawson (1,323 yards, 9 TD), RB Mike Garrett, WR Otis Taylor, OG Ed Budde, DT Buck Buchanan, DT Curley Culp, LB Willie Lanier, LB Bobby Bell, K Jan Stenerud

We give this team credit for boasting five future Hall of Famers and convincingly beating a Vikings squad that ranked No. 1 in the NFL in points scored and fewest points allowed. Kansas City's only Super Bowl victory evened the series between the AFL and NFL at 2-2 in the final premerger clash. But there are negatives. The Chiefs didn't even win their division, getting swept by the Raiders and losing to the second-year Bengals. Their primary quarterback, Len Dawson, threw 13 interceptions and just nine touchdowns.

37. 1997 GREEN BAY PACKERS     13-3 (2-1)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
422	26.4	282	17.6	+140	2 of 30	4 of 30	5 of 30	7 of 30	.521	7-1	68-48
Super Bowl: Lost to Denver 31-24     Coach: Mike Holmgren Key players: QB Brett Favre (3,867 yards, 35 TD), RB Dorsey Levens (1,435 yards), WR Antonio Freeman, WR Robert Brooks, TE Mark Chmura, DE Reggie White, S Leroy Butler, S Eugene Robinson

Coming off a Super Bowl title and a dominant regular season, the Packers were perceived to still be the class of the NFL. They were No. 2 in points scored and entered the Super Bowl as an 11½-point favorite. Brett Favre won his third MVP award and the supporting cast on offense was even better statistically than in '96. The '97 Pack got 1,805 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns from Dorsey Levens and more than 1,000 receiving yards from both Antonio Freeman and Robert Brooks. The Packers went 7-1 against teams with a record of .500 or better. But the Pack had one weakness: stopping the run. Terrell Davis rushed for 157 yards and three TDs and Denver had the upset.

36. 1968 BALTIMORE COLTS     13-1 (2-1)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
402	28.7	144	10.3	+258	2 of 16	4 of 16	1 of 16	2 of 16	n/a	7-1	67-30
Super Bowl: Lost to New York Jets 16-7     Coach: Don Shula Key players: QB Earl Morrall (2,909 yards, 26 TD), QB Johnny Unitas, RB Tom Matte, WR Jimmy Orr, TE John Mackey, OT Bob Vogel, DE Bubba Smith, DT Fred Miller, LB Mike Curtis

There were many reasons this team was the second-biggest favorite in Super Bowl history. It allowed the fewest points in the NFL and ranked No. 2 in points scored. Its only loss came against Cleveland, a division champion. Baltimore's Bubba Smith-led defense held opponents to 10 or fewer points 10 times in 14 regular-season games, including three shutouts. The Colts are one of six Super Bowl participants – and the only loser – to score twice as many points as their opponents in the regular season and the postseason. This was a great team and we're ranking the Colts ahead of the team that beat them in Super Bowl III.

35. 2002 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS     12-4 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
346	21.6	196	12.3	+150	18 of 32	23 of 32	1 of 32	1 of 32	.482	4-4	106-37
Super Bowl: Beat Oakland 48-21     Coach: Jon Gruden Key players: QB Brad Johnson (3,049 yards, 22 TD), RB Mike Alstott, WR Keyshawn Johnson (1,088 yards), DT Warren Sapp, DE Simeon Rice, LB Derrick Brooks, CB Ronde Barber, S John Lynch

Defense, defense, defense. Tampa Bay's offensive rankings were even worse than those of the 2000 Ravens. But the Bucs' defense was tops in the league in points, yardage and intimidation (this team actually allowed fewer points than the famed '85 Bears). It scored three touchdowns in the Super Bowl – one more than Oakland's offense. OK, so the running game was minimal (Michael Pittman, anyone?), but underrated quarterback Brad Johnson was No. 3 in the NFL in passer rating, with 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions, and Keyshawn Johnson topped 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time.

34. 1984 MIAMI DOLPHINS     14-2 (2-1)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
513	32.1	298	18.6	+215	1 of 28	1 of 28	7 of 28	19 of 28	.428	6-1	92-76
Super Bowl: Lost to San Francisco 38-16     Coach: Don Shula Key players: QB Dan Marino (5,084 yards, 48 TD), RB Tony Nathan, RB Woody Bennett, WR Mark Clayton (18 TD), WR Mark Duper, C Dwight Stephenson, DT Bob Baumhower

No old-school coach adapted to the new NFL better than Don Shula. He abandoned his love of the ground game after drafting Dan Marino, and the second-year pro enjoyed an incredible statistical season, compiling the eighth-highest passer rating in NFL history. Marino's 48 touchdowns were a league record until 2004, and his 5,084 yards remain the record. Wide receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper each topped 70 receptions and 1,300 yards as the Dolphins scored more touchdowns than any team in NFL history (70). Miami's bend-but-don't break defense – ranked seventh in points, but 19th in yardage – was ultimately exposed by the explosive 49ers in the Super Bowl.

33. 1990 NEW YORK GIANTS     13-3 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
335	20.9	211	13.2	+124	15 of 28	16 of 28	1 of 28	2 of 28	.508	4-3	66-35
Super Bowl: Beat Buffalo 20-19     Coach: Bill Parcells Key players: QB Phil Simms (2,284 yards, 15 TD), QB Jeff Hostetler (614 yards, 3 TD), RB Ottis Anderson, TE Mark Bavaro, C Bart Oates, DT Erik Howard, LB Lawrence Taylor, LB Pepper Johnson

We can already hear the uproar from Gotham over this one. Yes, we're ranking a 13-3 Bill Parcells-coached team that beat a strong Bills squad in the Super Bowl this low. But there's no way around the facts. This team finished in the bottom half of the NFL in points scored and won the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl by a combined three points. Its leading rusher, Ottis Anderson, didn't approach the 1,000-yard mark, and none of its wide receivers caught 30 passes. It started a relatively green Jeff Hostetler as its postseason quarterback and ultimately relied on the errant foot of Scott Norwood to secure its championship. How did the Giants win? They didn't make mistakes, committing just 14 turnovers -- the fewest since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978.

32. 2003 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS     14-2 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
348	21.8	238	14.9	+110	12 of 32	17 of 32	1 of 32	7 of 32	.484	7-0	73-57
Super Bowl: Beat Carolina 32-29     Coach: Bill Belichick Key players: QB Tom Brady (3,620 yards, 23 TD), RB Kevin Faulk, WR Deion Branch (803 yards), DE Richard Seymour, LB Willie McGinest, LB Tedy Bruschi, LB Mike Vrabel, CB Ty Law, S Rodney Harrison

How did this team go 14-2? Bill Belichick didn't even have his magic hoodie yet. Despite outgaining its opponents by just 339 yards and outscoring them by just 110 points, the Pats lost only twice. New England's stout defense made up for a pedestrian offense, as the Patriots allowed the fewest points in the league for the only time in franchise history. After a shaky 2-2 start, the Pats reeled off 12 consecutive victories to close the regular season. They had an efficient march through the playoffs (17-14 over Tennessee, 24-14 over Indianapolis as Ty Law picked off Peyton Manning three times in snowy conditions), but faced a weak Super Bowl foe in the Panthers.

31. 1974 PITTSBURGH STEELERS     10-3-1 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
305	21.8	189	13.5	+116	6 of 26	8 of 26	2 of 26	1 of 26	.431	3-3-1	72-33
Super Bowl: Beat Minnesota 16-6     Coach: Chuck Noll Key players: QB Terry Bradshaw (785 yards, 7 TD), QB Joe Gilliam (1,274 yards), RB Franco Harris (1,006 yards), DT Joe Greene, DE L.C. Greenwood, LB Jack Ham, LB Andy Russell, CB Mel Blount

This season was a turning point in the history of the Steelers franchise. First, Pittsburgh selected Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth and Mike Webster – all future Hall of Famers – in the draft. Then it witnessed the coronation of the Steel Curtain as the team captured its first championship in 42 NFL seasons. Pittsburgh made up for its lack of a strong passing attack by pounding the ball effectively on the ground. The team's top receiver, Frank Lewis, had just 30 receptions, but Franco Harris and company were second in the league in rushing yardage.

30. 1987 WASHINGTON REDSKINS     11-4 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
379	25.3	285	19.0	+94	4 of 28	3 of 28	6 of 28	18 of 28	.427	1-1	80-37
Super Bowl: Beat Denver 42-10     Coach: Joe Gibbs Key players: QB Doug Williams (1,156 yards, 11 TD), QB Jay Schroeder (1,878, 12 TD), RB George Rogers, WR Gary Clark (1,066 yards), OT Joe Jacoby, DE Charles Mann, CB Darrell Green

As Super Bowl XXII kicked off, it was difficult to know what to expect from the Redskins, who were three-point underdogs to Denver. Washington entered the playoffs with a quarterback controversy and a defense ranked 18th in yards allowed. It had just the third-best record in the NFC, even with a soft schedule and a 3-0 mark in games involving replacement players. As it turned out, unheralded Timmy Smith ran for a Super Bowl-record 204 yards, and Doug Williams and Ricky Sanders burned the Broncos' secondary in an easy victory.

29. 2000 BALTIMORE RAVENS     12-4 (4-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
333	20.8	165	10.3	+168	14 of 31	16 of 31	1 of 31	2 of 31	.426	3-4	95-23
Super Bowl: Beat New York Giants 34-7     Coach: Brian Billick Key players: QB Trent Dilfer (1,502 yards, 15 TD), RB Jamal Lewis (1,364 yards), TE Shannon Sharpe, OT Jonathan Ogden, DT Sam Adams, LB Ray Lewis, CB Chris McAlister, S Rod Woodson

We struggled where to rank this team more than any other. Statistically, this was the best defense in NFL history (the Ravens allowed 33 fewer points than the '85 Bears). Led by Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis, it allowed just 10.3 points per game and 2.69 yards per rushing attempt. Including the postseason, the Ravens held their opponents to 10 or fewer points 15 times, including four shutouts. Baltimore allowed a mere 5.8 points per game in four postseason contests. If not for a kickoff returned for a touchdown, the Ravens would have recorded the only shutout in Super Bowl history. Alas, defense is only half the game. Baltimore's offense, which went five consecutive games without a touchdown at one point and saw Tony Banks benched for Trent Dilfer, relied heavily on rookie running back Jamal Lewis (backup Priest Holmes wasn't too shabby, either). Also, note that the Ravens played a soft schedule and didn't even win their division (Tennessee went 13-3).

28. 1983 WASHINGTON REDSKINS     14-2 (2-1)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
541	33.8	332	20.8	+109	1 of 28	3 of 28	11 of 28	12 of 28	.484	7-2	84-66
Super Bowl: Lost to Los Angeles Raiders 38-9     Coach: Joe Gibbs Key players: QB Joe Theismann (3,714 yards, 29 TD), RB John Riggins (1,347 yards, 24 TD), RB Joe Washington, WR Charlie Brown (1,225 yards), WR Art Monk, OT Joe Jacoby, DT Dave Butz

The Redskins seemed to be on the verge of a dynasty. Coming off a victory in Super Bowl XVII, Washington boasted the second-highest point total in NFL history at 541. Both of its losses were by a single point. The weapons were plentiful: Joe Thiesmann (career highs in passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating), John Riggins (career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns), Joe Washington (1,226 yards from scrimmage) and Charlie Brown. Something often overlooked regarding this team is its ordinary defense, which ranked 11th in points allowed and 12th in yards allowed and featured just one Pro Bowler (Dave Butz). Some of the yards did result from opponents trying to play catch-up (the Redskins were last in passing yards allowed, but first in interceptions).

27. 1983 LOS ANGELES RAIDERS     12-4 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
442	27.6	338	21.1	+104	3 of 28	7 of 28	13 of 28	4 of 28	.496	5-4	106-33
Super Bowl: Beat Washington 38-9     Coach: Tom Flores Key players: QB Jim Plunkett (2,935 yards, 20 TD), RB Marcus Allen (1,014 yards), TE Todd Christensen (1,247 yards, 12 TD), DE Howie Long, LB Matt Millen, CB Lester Hayes, S Vann McElroy

The Raiders brought Los Angeles its only Super Bowl title as it avenged a regular-season defeat at Washington by shutting down the high-powered Redskins. The impressive Super Bowl win helps vault this team to No. 27 despite some shaky times during the regular season (the Raiders allowed more than 30 points five times). Los Angeles won all three of its postseason games by more than two touchdowns (although the Raiders were helped when 9-7 Seattle upset 12-4 Miami in the divisional round). Second-year pro Marcus Allen had an excellent season, with 1,604 yards from scrimmage, 11 touchdowns and 68 receptions. Todd Christensen led the league with 92 receptions, an NFL record at the time for a tight end.

26. 1995 DALLAS COWBOYS     12-4 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
435	27.2	291	18.2	+144	3 of 30	5 of 30	3 of 30	7 of 30	.484	8-2	95-55
Super Bowl: Beat Pittsburgh 27-17     Coach: Barry Switzer Key players: QB Troy Aikman (3,304 yards, 16 TD), RB Emmitt Smith (1,773 yards, 25 TD), WR Michael Irvin (1,603 yards), OT Larry Allen, OT Erik Williams, LB Charles Haley, CB Deion Sanders

We thought about ranking the Cowboys higher and then remembered Barry Switzer was the coach. And that they lost twice to a 6-10 Redskins team. Still, it seemed this team could turn it up whenever it needed to -- and won its third Super Bowl in four years with a team that ranked third in the NFL in both points scored and fewest points allowed. Emmitt Smith enjoyed his finest season with career highs in rushing yards, touchdowns and receptions. This team equaled the 8-2 mark against teams .500 or better of the '93 Cowboys and had 10 players named to the Pro Bowl. After ousting the emerging Packers in the NFC Championship Game, Dallas captured the franchise's fifth championship thanks in large part to Larry Brown's two Super Bowl interceptions.

25. 1981 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS     13-3 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
357	22.3	250	15.6	+107	7 of 28	13 of 28	2 of 28	2 of 28	.418	6-1	92-72
Super Bowl: Beat Cincinnati 26-21     Coach: Bill Walsh Key players: QB Joe Montana (3,565 yards, 19 TD), WR Dwight Clark (1,105 yards), WR Freddie Solomon, OG Randy Cross, DE Fred Dean, LB Jack Reynolds, CB Ronnie Lott, S Dwight Hicks

San Francisco's dynasty was born in its final two games of this season: the NFC Championship Game victory capped by "The Catch" and the Super Bowl XVI victory in Pontiac, Mich. Despite the reputation of the 49ers' passing attack, with Joe Montana, Dwight Clark and Freddie Solomon, the team's defense was actually more impressive, ranking No. 2 in the NFL in points and yards allowed – the big reason for the team's rise from 6-10 in 1980 was the addition of rookie defensive backs Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson, all Super Bowl starters. The rushing attack was substandard, however, averaging a lowly 3.47 yards per attempt. The 49ers went 6-1 against teams with a .500 record or better, but enjoyed a soft schedule overall.

24. 1977 DALLAS COWBOYS     12-2 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
345	28.8	212	15.1	+133	2 of 28	1 of 28	8 of 28	1 of 28	.485	5-2	87-23
Super Bowl: Beat Denver 27-10     Coach: Tom Landry Key players: QB Roger Staubach (2,620 yards, 18 TD), RB Tony Dorsett (1,007 yards), WR Drew Pearson, DT Randy White, DE Harvey Martin, DE Too Tall Jones, S Cliff Harris, S Charlie Waters

Ironically, we ranked the '78 edition of the Cowboys higher, even though this team won the Super Bowl. By adding rookie Tony Dorsett to an offensive mix that included Roger Staubach in his prime, Dallas reached its fourth Super Bowl and won the big game for the second time. The Cowboys' average margin of victory was 21.8 points in the postseason. It won its first eight games of the season and its last four. Dallas' defense wasn't as stout as it would be the following year, as it ranked eighth in points allowed, five spots lower than in '78.

23. 2001 ST. LOUIS RAMS     14-2 (2-1)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
503	31.4	273	17.1	+230	1 of 31	1 of 31	7 of 31	3 of 31	.473	6-1	91-61
Super Bowl: Lost to New England 20-17     Coach: Mike Martz Key players: QB Kurt Warner (4,830 yards, 36 TD), RB Marshall Faulk (1,382 yards, 21 TD), WR Torry Holt, WR Isaac Bruce, OT Orlando Pace, DE Leonard Little, CB Aeneas Williams

Wait … here are the 2001 Rams, this far ahead of the team that beat them in the Super Bowl? Exactly. We're saying the Rams were better – by a wide margin – but were surprised by an opportunistic (code name for "lucky") New England squad. St. Louis ranked No. 1 in the NFL in points scored (despite committing the most turnovers in the league) and offensive yardage and third in the league in yards allowed – 21 spots ahead of the Pats. More evidence? The Rams outgained their opponents by an astonishing 2,219 yards while New England was outgained overall. Marshall Faulk topped 2,000 yards from scrimmage, and Kurt Warner passed for the second-most yards in NFL history. The Rams' losses were by just seven and three points. Blame Mike Martz for the Super Bowl loss. Or Lady Luck.

22. 1966 GREEN BAY PACKERS     12-2 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
335	23.9	163	11.6	+172	4 of 15	7 of 15	1 of 15	3 of 15	n/a	6-1	69-37
Super Bowl: Beat Kansas City 35-10     Coach: Vince Lombardi Key players: QB Bart Starr (2,257 yards, 14 TD), RB Jim Taylor, RB Elijah Pitts, WR Carroll Dale, OT Forrest Gregg, DE Willie Davis, DT Henry Jordan, LB Ray Nitschke, CB Herb Adderly, S Willie Wood

This might be considered a low ranking for the first Super Bowl champion, a team that routed its AFL challenger. But we're grading teams here, not dynasties, and we believe that the '62 Packers were the best of the bunch offered by Vince Lombardi. The '66 team was pretty mediocre on offense, ranking in the middle of the NFL pack in yards gained, and its leading rusher, Jim Taylor, averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. Nevertheless, this team suffered its two losses by a combined four points, and regular-season MVP Bart Starr enjoyed his finest season with a 105.0 passer rating. This team had nine future Hall of Famers on its roster.

21. 1973 MIAMI DOLPHINS     12-2 (3-0)
Pts	Avg	Pts All.	Avg	Diff.	Rank Pts	Rank Yards	Rank Pts All.	Rank Yds All.	Opp. W-L	.500+	Post. Score
343	24.5	150	10.7	+193	5 of 26	9 of 26	1 of 26	3 of 26	.474	5-1	85-33
Super Bowl: Beat Minnesota 24-7     Coach: Don Shula Key players: QB Bob Griese (1,422 yards, 17 TD), RB Larry Csonka (1,003 yards), Mercury Morris (954 yards), WR Paul Warfield, C Jim Langer, DE Bill Stanfill, S Jake Scott, S Dick Anderson

This team doesn't quite boast the same credentials as the celebrated '72 Dolphins, but it did enjoy much more lopsided postseason victories, winning by an average of 11.7 more points than its predecessor. Miami's offense dropped to fifth in the NFL in points and ninth in yards gained – down from No. 1 in each category in 1972. Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards, and while Bob Griese didn't throw much (Miami was last in the NFL in pass attempts), he did compile the No. 2 passer rating in the AFC. And special kudos to the pass D: The Dolphins allowed just five passing TDs while making 21 interceptions. The Super Bowl was much like the regular season: Griese attempted only seven passes (something tells us this strategy wouldn't fly in the modern NFL), completing six.

STATISTICAL KEY: Pts: points scored; Pts: Points allowed; Avg.: Average; Diff.: Point differential; Rank Pts.: League ranking in points scored; Rank Yards: League ranking in yards gained; Rank Pts. All.: League ranking in points allowed; Rank Yds All.: League ranking in yards allowed; Opp. W-L: Combined winning percentage of opponents (includes games played against featured team); .500 +: Record against teams with record of .500 or better; Post. Score: Cumulative score in postseason games. Note: All statistics are regular season only.

 

Rankings by Kevin Jackson, Thomas Neumann and David Schoenfield. Capsules by Thomas Neumann and David Schoenfield. Statistical sources include "The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia," espn.com, pro-football-reference.com, databasefootball.com, superbowl.com, profootballhof.com and Eddie Epstein's "Dominance: The Best Seasons of Pro Football's Greatest Teams."

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