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Greatest scoring offenses, Super Bowl Era
Cold, Hard Football Facts for March 24, 2008
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Here's a look at the most prolific offenses of the Super Bowl Era. The list includes every team that scored 30.0 or more points per game (23 teams).
At 36.81 PPG, the 2007 Patriots go down as the most prolific offense of the Super Bowl Era and the second most prolific offense in all of NFL history, behind the standard set by the 1950 Rams (38.83 PPG).
As you'll see from the list below, fielding a great offense is not really that important. After all, only four of the 23 most prolific offenses in the Super Bowl Era went on to win the championship. All the rest stumbled somewhere along the way. In fact, only 10 of the 23 teams even reached the Super Bowl.
The failure of the greatest offensive teams proves a Cold, Hard Football Facts maxim that balance in many areas is more important than dominance in a single area.
When looking at the list below, it pays to keep in mind that there is a vast difference between the Dead Ball and Live Ball Eras in modern NFL history. Essentially, it grew increasingly difficult to score in the late 1960s and 1970s, culminating in a 1977 season that was utterly dominated by defense. The NFL changed a number of rules before the 1978 season to open up offense. Scoring shot up dramatically in the following years, and continues to remain quite high compared with league-wide scoring in the mid-1970s.
Put in this perspective, it's pretty impressive what the 1975 Bills (30.0 PPG) were able to accomplish in an era ruled by defense. Luckily, they had O.J. Simpson that year to mercilessly slash through opposing teams.
GREATEST SCORING OFFENSES (Super Bowl Era)
|
|
Team |
Games |
Points |
PPG |
Record |
Result |
|
1 |
2007 Patriots |
16 |
589 |
36.81 |
16-0 |
Lost SB XLII |
|
2 |
1998 Vikings |
16 |
556 |
34.75 |
15-1 |
Lost NFC title game |
|
3 |
1983 Redskins |
16 |
541 |
33.81 |
14-2 |
Lost SB XVIII |
|
4 |
2000 Rams |
16 |
540 |
33.75 |
10-6 |
Lost NFC wildcard |
|
5 |
1967 Raiders (AFL) |
14 |
468 |
33.43 |
13-1 |
Lost SB II |
|
6 |
1999 Rams |
16 |
526 |
32.88 |
13-3 |
Won SB XXXIV |
|
7 |
2004 Colts |
16 |
522 |
32.63 |
12-4 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
8 |
1968 Raiders (AFL) |
14 |
453 |
32.36 |
12-2 |
Lost AFL title game |
|
9 |
1984 Dolphins |
16 |
513 |
32.06 |
14-2 |
Lost SB XIX |
|
10 |
1966 Chiefs |
14 |
448 |
32.00 |
11-2-1 |
Lost SB I |
|
11 |
1982 Chargers |
9 |
288 |
32.00 |
6-3 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
12 |
1966 Cowboys |
14 |
445 |
31.79 |
10-3-1 |
Lost NFL title game |
|
13 |
1994 49ers |
16 |
505 |
31.56 |
13-3 |
Won SB XXIX |
|
14 |
2001 Rams |
16 |
503 |
31.44 |
14-2 |
Lost SB XXXVI |
|
15 |
1998 Broncos |
16 |
501 |
31.31 |
14-2 |
Won SB XXXIII |
|
16 |
1968 Cowboys |
14 |
431 |
30.79 |
12-2 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
17 |
2006 Chargers |
16 |
492 |
30.75 |
14-2 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
18 |
1987 49ers |
15 |
459 |
30.60 |
13-2 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
19 |
1991 Redskins |
16 |
485 |
30.31 |
14-2 |
Won SB XXVI |
|
20 |
2000 Broncos |
16 |
485 |
30.31 |
11-5 |
Lost AFC wildcard |
|
21 |
2003 Chiefs |
16 |
484 |
30.25 |
13-3 |
Lost div. playoff |
|
22 |
2004 Chiefs |
16 |
483 |
30.19 |
7-9 |
Missed playoffs |
|
23 |
1975 Bills |
14 |
420 |
30.00 |
8-6 |
Missed playoffs |
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