Best team to ever lose the SB?

[Midnightangel]

We've had 48 of them now and there have been some truly great teams among the losers.

In the 48 games we've had, who was the best team to lose it?

I've given this SOME thought but since I'm not ready to form an opinion just yet, I'm looking for some input.

The Dallas teams of the 70's are near the top of the list, as are the Bills that lost to the Giants, the Steelers of SB XXX, the Vikings of the 70's and of course, the Pats of 2007. Those aren't the only ones I have on the list but they're some.

Discuss.

 

[calsnowskier]

The discussion has to start with the '07 Pats. Not sure it is possible for any other team to trump that resume.

 

[Midnightangel]

The discussion has to start with the '07 Pats. Not sure it is possible for any other team to trump that resume.

That's one of the reasons I'm leaning that way. They set so many records and had such a great game in the SB. They fell short by less than a minute. Had they won it all, they'd have been the best team ever.

Had only 1 loss all year and that was the SB.

Still, one has to account for defense being a weakness of theirs and the changes in the rules over the decades.

But they are one of those teams I could see being named as the best team to lose a SB.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

The discussion has to start with the '07 Pats. Not sure it is possible for any other team to trump that resume.

Yup. For a debate you would have to ask, who was #2.

 

[RoboticDreams]

2012-2013 Niners.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

ARIZONA CARDINALS JUST BECAUSE IM A HOMER

 

[France_Steve]

Not to change the thread, but I feel like there are lots of better teams that have lost NFC/AFC championship games. Like the Pats of 07, Vikings of 08 and the year of gary Anderson. The Steelers in 04 were 15-1, the Chargers in 03 I think, were pretty dominant (when they went 14-2 and lost to the Patriots). Titans in 08 should have won it all if not for two terrible fumbles by the backup RB. And of course the 15-1 Packers were pretty great. That would be my quick list of best teams to lose championship games. Any of those teams I feel are better than most Super bowl losing teams, besides Patriots.

 

[cwood]

Not to change the thread, but I feel like there are lots of better teams that have lost NFC/AFC championship games. Like the Pats of 07, Vikings of 08 and the year of gary Anderson. The Steelers in 04 were 15-1, the Chargers in 03 I think, were pretty dominant (when they went 14-2 and lost to the Patriots). Titans in 08 should have won it all if not for two terrible fumbles by the backup RB. And of course the 15-1 Packers were pretty great. That would be my quick list of best teams to lose championship games. Any of those teams I feel are better than most Super bowl losing teams, besides Patriots.

Unfortunately the 15-1 Packers lost in the Divisional round to the future NFL Champions.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Gotta be 18-0 Pats, easily. That offense was insane, Randy Moss was far better than any WR on the Broncos and they had a decent enough D to hang with most teams (better than Denver).

Denver is up there (like top 5) but not best ever to lose. And LOL at the homer picking the 49ers as best team ever to lose. You barely beat Seattle for the division and required a half time "LOL WTF" moment to even stay in the game.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

the undefeated Pats (going in) would have to be #1.
but I think the Cowboys have to liter the top 5.

Lost to the Colts with 2 seconds left. MVP was from the Cowboys losing team.
Then the Cowboys vs. the Steelers. The two top teams of the super bowl era at that time.
(still think the 2nd Cowboy vs. Steelers superbowl was the best ever)

 

[France_Steve]

Unfortunately the 15-1 Packers lost in the Divisional round to the future NFL Champions.

Yeah I forgot it was divisional. Some of those teams I listed may have lost in divisional round, but they were still all great teams that could have won the super bowl.

 

[geezer]

To answer this would expose my lack of knowledge (memory cells) about superbowls past. I can remember who won and lost last year and that's about it. Better to shut up and let you all think I am a football knowledge genius.

 

[NinerSickness]

Off the top of my head:

2007 Pats
2007 Chargers (screwed by the ref's in the AFC Title game)
2009 Colts (Manning to Porter for 6)
2005 Seahawks (screwed by the ref's in SB 40)
1998 Vikings (great time to miss your first kick of the year Gary)
1983 49ers (screwed on a defensive call in NFC Title game last drive)
2001 Rams (Spygate)
1994 Cowboys (Amazing team; especially on D; '94 Niners were just ridiculous)
1992 49ers (same deal; 2 amazing teams; Cowboys were just better)
1991 Bills (a FG away from Kelly's legacy being a whole lot different).
1984 Dolphins (49ers were 15-1 & just better than Marino's Fish)
...was it the '78 Cowboys whose receiver dropped an easy would-be game-winning TD???

I'll stay away from SB 47 because I don't wanna get all worked up again.

 

[Nosferatu]

Off the top of my head:

2007 Pats
2007 Chargers (screwed by the ref's in the AFC Title game)
2009 Colts (Manning to Porter for 6)
2005 Seahawks (screwed by the ref's in SB 40)
1998 Vikings (great time to miss your first kick of the year Gary)
1983 49ers (screwed on a defensive call in NFC Title game last drive)
2001 Rams (Spygate)
1994 Cowboys (Amazing team; especially on D; '94 Niners were just ridiculous)
1992 49ers (same deal; 2 amazing teams; Cowboys were just better)
1991 Bills (a FG away from Kelly's legacy being a whole lot different).
1984 Dolphins (49ers were 15-1 & just better than Marino's Fish)
...was it the '78 Cowboys whose receiver dropped an easy would-be game-winning TD???

I'll stay away from SB 47 because I don't wanna get all worked up again.

Vikes didn't lose because of Gary Andersen...

 

[NinerSickness]

Vikes didn't lose because of Gary Andersen...

I don't know if you mean he doesn't deserve all the blame, but if memory serves he missed a FG. And in a game that goes into overtime a FG's a pretty big deal.

 

[RoboticDreams]

Gotta be 18-0 Pats, easily. That offense was insane, Randy Moss was far better than any WR on the Broncos and they had a decent enough D to hang with most teams (better than Denver).

Denver is up there (like top 5) but not best ever to lose. And LOL at the homer picking the 49ers as best team ever to lose. You barely beat Seattle for the division and required a half time "LOL WTF" moment to even stay in the game.

 

[Clayton]

That undefeated Pats team almost lost to a way undermanned Chargers team

 

[Logicallylethal]

Outside of the 18-1 Pats

It's gotta be the 2001 St Louis Rams

The greatest show on turf was 14-2...had kurt warner, marshall faulk, isaac bruce, torry holt and a defense that only gave up 17 ppg

 

[Cave_Johnson]

That undefeated Pats team almost lost to a way undermanned Chargers team

They also would have lost to the Ravens that year if John Harbaugh hadn't taken a bonehead timeout.

 

[SeattleCoug]

That undefeated Pats team almost lost to a way undermanned Chargers team

Thats right, didnt Rivers play the whole game on a torn ACL and I think LT left after the 1st series.