15 most successful NFL Franchises of the Super Bowl Era statistically ranked
By Daniel
A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet – Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
5. Green Bay Packers: 282 Points
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The team that took home the first two Super Bowl Championships comes in at number five. They’re the only team on this list to win Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks that will all (at some point) end up in the Hall of Fame.
The Packers’ lack of division championships (12) is what is keeping them from being higher on this ranking. But considering their abysmal stretch from 1970-1990, a number five ranking is quite an accomplishment. Although it all comes down to timing. With Lombardi’s success, imagine where the Pack would be on this list if the Super Bowl Era began just five years earlier.
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4. New England Patriots: 300 Points
The highest-ranked team on this list from the AFL, the NFL’s old rival football league which later merged with the NFL, are the Pats. It isn’t necessarily their three Super Bowl championships that got them this high, although those certainly helped. But rather their impressive seven conference championships.
Of course 20 playoff appearances sprinkled throughout numerous decades doesn’t hurt either. The Patriots climbed this list thanks to the right arm of the always stoic Tom Brady and the evil mastermind himself — head coach Bill Belichick. Will they add a few more points before Brady hangs ’em up?
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3. San Francisco 49ers: 370 Points
This is where the top three teams really separate themselves from the rest of the pack. The Niners won five Super Bowls in a 14 year span thanks to quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young. That’s the most ever over a 14 year period. They also won six conference championships and saw the postseason 24 times.
They’re one of the most iconic franchises of the Super Bowl Era and seem to be on the verge of adding to their illustrious Super Bowl Era history with Colin Kaepernick at the helm. Number three on this list is an amazing place for a franchise to land in a ranking that covers an almost 50-year span of the nation’s favorite sport. They landed exactly where they should on this list.
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2. Pittsburgh Steelers: 428 Points
Upon seeing this article many Steelers fans may have been waving their Terrible Towels as they read, expecting to find their beloved boys in black at number one. I understand that it may shock some to see the Steelers come in at second on this list, as they have won the most Super Bowls in NFL history (6).
This list isn’t just a comparison of rings. We wouldn’t need analysis of any kind to figure that list out. The Steelers won an incredible eight conference championships, which is two less conference championships than the team at number one. They saw the playoffs a few less times as well (27).
They did win their division an impressive 20 times, though. It isn’t that the Steelers weren’t just as great as the number one team, they just weren’t quite as consistent. But their 70s dynasty and recent competitiveness simply cannot be ignored. They are one of the NFL’s preeminent flagship franchises and should be proud of their spot on this list. They beat out 31 other franchises.
Next: Hit Next To See The No. 1 Franchise of the Super Bowl Era