The most dominant teams in NFL history have all had one thing in common: a lethal combination of a great offense and a great defense.
The 1985 Chicago Bears
The 1985 Chicago Bears were one of the most dominant teams in NFL history.
They finished the regular season with a 15-1 record, and then went on to win three playoff games, including a 46-10 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.
The team was led by a number of future Hall of Famers, including quarterback Jim McMahon, running back Walter Payton, defensive end Richard Dent, and linebacker Mike Singletary.
The Bears defense was especially dominant, setting a then-NFL record for fewest points allowed in a season (198).
Although they didn’t win another Super Bowl after 1985, the Bears remained one of the league’s top teams throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
They won the NFC Central division six times between 1984 and 1992, and made it to the NFC Championship game three times during that span.
The 1985 Bears are considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history, and their dominant defense is still revered by many fans today.
If you’re a fan of the team, or just want to learn more about one of the most successful squads in league history, be sure to check out this book.
The 1989 San Francisco 49ers
The 1989 San Francisco 49ers season was the team’s 44th season in the National Football League, and their 48th overall.
The season was marked by the sudden death of head coach Bill Walsh after only ten games.
Under interim head coach George Seifert, the 49ers won all but one of their remaining games en route to finishing 14–2, the best record in the NFL.
They went on to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 30–3 in Super Bowl XXIV, winning their second consecutive championship and fifth overall.
Quarterback Joe Montana recorded his third Super Bowl MVP award while becoming the first player ever to throw for over 300 yards and five touchdowns in a Super Bowl. Wide receiver Jerry Rice had another stellar season, catching 82 passes for 1,483 yards and 17 touchdowns. Running back Roger Craig was the team’s leading rusher with 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also catching 50 passes for 455 yards.
The 49ers’ defense was once again one of the best in the league, allowing only 211 points (an average of 13.2 per game) and 5.5 sacks per game.
Linebacker Charles Haley recorded 12.5 sacks, while safety Ronnie Lott had eight interceptions and defensive end Kevin Fagan tallied 14 sacks.
This season was selected by fans as the greatest in team history during a poll conducted by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gwen Knapp in 2006.
In 2007, ESPN named it the second-greatest Super Bowl team, behind the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
The 1989 San Francisco 49ers season is considered one of the best in NFL history.
After head coach Bill Walsh’s sudden death, the team went on to win 14 of their remaining 16 games under interim head coach George Seifert.
Quarterback Joe Montana recorded his third Super Bowl MVP award while wide receiver Jerry Rice had another stellar season. The 49ers’ defense was once again one of the best in the league, allowing only 211 points (an average of 13.2 per game) and 5.5 sacks per game.
This season was selected by fans as the greatest in team history during a poll conducted by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Gwen Knapp in 2006.
In 2007, ESPN named it the second-greatest Super Bowl team, behind the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
The 1991 Washington Redskins
The 1991 Washington Redskins was the franchise’s 70th season in the National Football League, and their 65th in Washington, D.C.
The team improved on their 10–6 record from 1990, and won their second consecutive NFC East title with an 11–5 record.
They also improved on their playoff performance from the previous year, winning two playoff games en route to their first appearance in the NFC Championship Game since 1983.
However, they were ultimately defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys, who went on to win their third Super Bowl in four years.
Quarterback Mark Rypien had another solid season for the Redskins, throwing for 3,564 yards and 28 touchdowns.
He was supported by a strong running game, which was led by Gerald Riggs and Ricky Ervins. Wide receiver Art Monk continued to be one of the team’s most dependable receivers, catching 61 passes for 869 yards.
Defensively, the Redskins were once again very strong, ranking first in the league in points allowed.
Pro Bowlers like Darrell Green, Wilber Marshall, and Charles Mann anchored a defense that give up just 13.1 points per game.
The Redskins got off to a fast start in 1991, winning their first five games of the season.
They then suffered a three-game losing streak, but rebounded to win their final six games of the regular season.
In the playoffs, they defeated the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions to reach the NFC Championship Game.
There, they were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys, who went on to win Super Bowl XXVII.
Despite the disappointing end to the season, the 1991 Redskins were one of the most successful teams in franchise history.
They finished the year with an 11–5 record, won their second consecutive NFC East title, and made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game.
Mark Rypien was once again named NFC Offensive Player of the Year, while Darrell Green was named NFC Defensive Player of the Year.
Unfortunately, the team would never come as close to winning a Super Bowl again, as they would only make it back to the playoffs twice over the next decade.
Nevertheless, the 1991 season was a highly successful one for the Washington Redskins.
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens
In the 2000 season, the Baltimore Ravens had one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history.
Led by All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens allowed just 10.3 points per game – the fewest in the league.
They also led the league in sacks (45) and interceptions (27).
The Ravens went on to win Super Bowl XXXV, defeating the New York Giants 34-7.
In the 2000 season, the Baltimore Ravens had one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history.
The Ravens’ defense was so dominant that they were nicknamed “The Buzzsaw Defense”.
In addition to Ray Lewis, other key members of the defense included safety Rod Woodson, defensive end Michael McCrary, and linebackers Peter Boulware and Jamie Sharper.
The 2000 Ravens are considered one of the greatest defenses of all time.
They are remembered for their stingy defense and their dominant performance in the Super Bowl.
So there you have it: the most dominant teams in NFL history all had one thing in common – a lethal combination of a great offense and a great defense.
If your team can put together a similar combination, then you’ll be well on your way to dominating your opponents.