The Baltimore Ravens just finished a 24-game preseason winning streak, but how does it stack amongst the most impressive streaks in NFL history?
Joey Slye’s game-winning kick sealed the Washington Commanders’ 29-28 upset of the Baltimore Ravens, snapping an NFL record 24-game preseason win streak.
It’s an impressive feat, considering that the NFL record for the longest win streak, including the regular season and playoffs, is 23 regular season victories in a row by the Indianapolis Colts from 2008-2009. Preseason or not, it’s a historic achievement. But that’s where the credit ends. The reality is, despite how long it lasted and as impressive as it was, there’s a reason that preseason records don’t count.
Long win streaks are just part of NFL History, but some have more significance than others.
So, how do you rate a winning streak by a team? For one, they had to be good, and second, within the streak, something miraculous had to have been accomplished, like say, a Super Bowl title. That said, let’s break down the Top 5 most impressive win streaks in NFL history. Size doesn’t matter as much as quality. We start our countdown off with a streak from way back in the ’70s.
No. 5 most impressive NFL win streak: 1972-1973 Miami Dolphins, 18 consecutive victories including playoffs.
Within this streak, Miami captured a Super Bowl title against Washington and completed the NFL’s first and only undefeated season. While the Super Bowl MVP was awarded to safety Jake Scott, a legitimate argument could be made that the entire “No Name Defense” could have received the award. That’s not how it works, however. Scott played a good game and deserved the award, but there’s a reason this group was and still is, the perfect team.
Under Earl Morrall and Bob Griese, the Dolphins offense rode a running game of Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Mercury Morris to a 14-0 regular season record in 1972 and three straight playoff wins including the big game. Miami would then win the season opener in 1974 before the streak ended against Oakland in Week 2. The Dolphins went on to win the Super Bowl against Minnesota that season to go back-to-back, so the late great Don Shula still got the last laugh.
No. 4 most impressive NFL win streak: 2014-2015 Carolina Panthers, 18 consecutive regular season victories.
While the Cats are the only team on this list to not have a title, they did accomplish something special during their winning streak.
The franchise made it to Super Bowl 50 before falling to Peyton Manning and the Broncos. However, quarterback Cam Newton, tight end Greg Olsen, and linebacker Luke Kuechly had a lot to do with the run that not only launched the “Dab” but brought a level of swag that the team hadn’t seen since their 2003 Super Bowl run.
After finishing strong in 2014, before falling to the Seahawks in the divisional round, Carolina started the 2015 season 14-0 before the streak ended against the Atlanta Falcons.
Despite the numerous amounts of criticism the Panthers endured during this magical season, the streak is still impressive enough to land on this list. Apologies to those who believe otherwise, but the results are what they are.
No. 3 most impressive NFL win streak: 1997-1998 Denver Broncos, 18 consecutive victories including playoffs.
The streak in the Mile High City began with the regular season finale of the 97 season when Denver defeated the Chargers. The Broncos would then win four postseason games including Super Bowl XXXII against Green Bay.
In 1998, the team started 13-0 before the streak ended against the New York Giants. Denver would complete the 98 season as Super Bowl Champions for the second consecutive season with their win over the Atlanta Falcons.
The Broncos were led by Hall of Fame QB John Elway and league MVP Terrell Davis, who ran for over 2,000 yards that season behind a strong offensive line. Denver’s defense, as aggressive as it possibly gets, played a large role in helping achieve the title. Oh, and let’s not forget Denver’s tight end, Shannon Sharpe, who had a very productive year and was the voice of the team during their winning streak.
No. 2 most impressive NFL win streak: 2008-2009 Indianapolis Colts, 23 consecutive regular season victories.
While this may be the longest winning streak on the list, it comes in at No. 2. Still, it’s hard to overlook what happened in the Hoosier State. Peyton Manning is one of the all-time greats and the Colts had a dominant group of offensive skill players during this time including wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark.
The defense was also impressive, headlined by two dominant pass rushers in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
The streak ended against the New York Jets, whom the Colts would beat to win the AFC Championship and advance to Super Bowl XLIV. However, Tracy Porter happened, and the New Orleans Saints left South Beach with a 31-17 win over the Colts.
Without a Super Bowl ring during this winning streak, it’s hard to place Peyton and Co. at No. 1. Nevertheless, it’s very likely nobody will ever break this record anytime soon and that deserves a standing ovation.
No. 1 most impressive NFL win streak: 2003-2004 New England Patriots, 21 consecutive victories including playoffs.
Coincidentally, Washington was the team that kicked off this Patriots win streak. At 2-1 in 2003, their lone loss coming in the season opener against former Patriot Lawyer Milloy and the Buffalo Bills (this prompted Tom Jackson’s “They Hate their coach” segment), the Patriots suffered an upset against the team known formerly as the Redskins.
It would be the last time the team lost until October of the following year.
21 straight wins including Super Bowl XXXVIII, the longest win streak at the time including the playoffs. While the Pittsburgh Steelers ended the game on Halloween in 2004, Tom Brady and friends got the last laugh in the AFC Title game before beating Terrell Owens and the Philadelphia Eagles in the big show to cement a dynasty.
Tedy Bruschi, Deion Branch, Corey Dillon, Rodney Harrison, and of course Brady. The records speak for themselves.