Best Teams of the 21st Century?

[ThaVirus]

I came cross this post on Facebook the other day and it kinda got me thinking on it. This is just some random dude and I know this is a Chiefs site so we’re likely to have some bias..



Most of the top comments were mentioning how the top rated teams couldn’t be considered the best since they didn’t win the Super Bowl.

I think you also have to consider at which point you’re taking them. Is it their peak? Is it a cumulative thing for the entire year?

Initially I wanted to move the 2013 Seahawks up a bit higher, but didn’t know who they could replace. And I also had to question whether placing the 2019 Chiefs there was a homer pick, but that was an amazing squad.

Idk. Lots of thoughts, but which team or teams do you think were the best of the bunch since the year 2000?

[Pablo]

I can't find a lot to argue except we should be #3 instead of #4.

[Bump]

sounds about right

[MagicHef]

8 teams have had a >200 point differential since 2000:

2007 Patriots 315
2019 Ravens 249
2001 Rams 230
2012 Patriots 226
2011 Saints 208
2013 Broncos 207
2010 Patriots 205
2011 Packers 201

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

8 teams have had a >200 point differential since 2000:

2007 Patriots 315
2019 Ravens 249
2001 Rams 230
2012 Patriots 226
2011 Saints 208
2013 Broncos 207
2010 Patriots 205
2011 Packers 201

This is good info.

IMO, the 2019 Ravens, 2016 Falcons, 2015 Panthers and 2011 Packers are all underrated due to their season fizzling out without a Super Bowl win.

I'm most surprised at the 2011 Saints point differential here, though. Their defense was ass, as evidenced by the Beastquake.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

This is good info.

IMO, the 2019 Ravens, 2016 Falcons, 2015 Panthers and 2011 Packers are all underrated due to their season fizzling out without a Super Bowl win.

I'm most surprised at the 2011 Saints point differential here, though. Their defense was ass, as evidenced by the Beastquake.

2010 Saints lost to the Beastquake (in January 2011). 2011 Saints beat the Lions in the playoffs and then lost to the 49ers.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

2010 Saints lost to the Beastquake (in January 2011). 2011 Saints beat the Lions in the playoffs and then lost to the 49ers.

Shit, you're right! That was the crazy showdown where Alex Smith scored the 30-ish yard TD on the designed QB run, IIRC. That one had a lot of action in the 4th.

Great game.

[Why Not?]

Calling a team the "best" when it didn't win the championship that year is oxymoronic. The Chiefs should be #2 on that list.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Calling a team the "best" when it didn't win the championship that year is oxymoronic. The Chiefs should be #2 on that list.

Not really. No team has won every game in a season, they all lost to someone. I’m not sure that the fact that loss came in the Super Bowl should automatically disqualify a team from this list.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Not really. No team has won every game in a season, they all lost to someone. I’m not sure that the fact that loss came in the Super Bowl should automatically disqualify a team from this list.

Betcha a bunch of south Floridians would take issue with your second sentence.

Agree to disagree, I guess. To me, especially in pro sports, you have to win the title to be in any "best of" conversation.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Betcha a bunch of south Floridians would take issue with your second sentence.

Agree to disagree, I guess. To me, especially in pro sports, you have to win the title to be in any "best of" conversation.

True. I guess I was thinking of “21st Century”.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Betcha a bunch of south Floridians would take issue with your second sentence.



Agree to disagree, I guess. To me, especially in pro sports, you have to win the title to be in any "best of" conversation.

I think this argument is terrible and I don't see how anyone could not rank the 2007 Patriots as the best team of the 21st century and keep a straight face.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I think this argument is terrible and I don't see how anyone could not rank the 2007 Patriots as the best team of the 21st century and keep a straight face.

Matter of differing perspectives, I suppose. I understand yours, I just don't agree with it. I'm a championship or bust guy, when it comes to pro sports.

[kccrow]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I think this argument is terrible and I don't see how anyone could not rank the 2007 Patriots as the best team of the 21st century and keep a straight face.

Pretty tough, for sure.

They were #1 in Pts at 589 and #4 in Opp Pts at 274 to go with that margin.

The single best season that ended in victory occurred just before the "21st Century," even though the Super Bowl was in it, with the 99 Rams who finished #1 in Pt Diff at 284, #1 in Pts at 526, and #4 in Opp Pts at 242.

The other next closest to what NEP did in 07 was probably the 98 Vikings.

If I created a list that only included SB winners, I'd probably go with:

1. 2016 New England Patriots (17-2)
#1 Pt Dif (191), #3 Pts For (441), #1 Opp Pts (250). This was the most dominant differential and overall highest combined rankings of any SB winner in the 21st century.

2. 2004 New England Patriots (17-2)
#1 Pt Dif (177), #4 Pts For (437), #2 Opp Pts (260). The next most dominant season in what matters, points.

3. 2017 Philadelphia Eagles (16-3)
#1T Pt Dif (162), #3 Pts For (457), #4 Opp Pts (295). Storybook ending to one of the best seasons as a whole.

4. 2019 Kansas City Chiefs (15-4)
#4 Pt Dif (143), #5 Pts For (451), #7 Opp Pts (308). An electrifying offense and an offseason full of insane comebacks put this one on the list.

5. 2013 Seattle Seahawks (16-3)
#2 Pt Dif (186), #9 Pts For (417), #1 Opp Pts (231). Capped a great season with a dominating defensive performance against a really good offense.

Honorable Mention: 2000 Baltimore Ravens (16-4)
#2 Pt Dif (168), #14 Pts For (333), #1 Opp Pts (165). The most dominating defensive season outside of the '85 Bears needs mentioning.

Here's all the SB Winners since 2000 with their Pt Diff, Pts For, and Opp Pts:

Spoiler!

2000 BAL 16-4 #2 Pt Diff (168), #14 Pts (333), #1 Opp Pts (165)
2001 NEP 14-5 #7 Pt Diff (99), #6 Pts (371), #6 Opp Pts (272)
2002 TBB 15-4 #2 Pt Diff (150), #18 Pts (346), #1 Opp Pts (196)
2003 NEP 17-2 #6 Pt Diff (110), #12 Pts (348), #1 Opp Pts (238)
2004 NEP 17-2 #1 Pt Diff (177), #4 Pts (437), #2 Opp Pts (260)
2005 PIT 15-5 #5 Pt Diff (131), #9 Pts (389), #4 Opp Pts (258)
2006 IND 16-4 #9 Pt Diff (67), #13 Pts (353), #11t Opp Pts (315)
2007 NYG 14-6 #13 Pt Diff (22), #14 Pts (373), #17 Opp Pts (351)
2008 PIT 15-4 #5 Pt Diff (124), #20 Pts (347), #1 Opp Pts (223)
2009 NOS 16-3 #1 Pt Diff (169), #1 Pts (510), #20 Opp Pts (341)
2010 GBP 14-6 #2 Pt Diff (148), #10 Pts (388), #2 Opp Pts (240)
2011 NYG 13-7 #19 Pt Diff (-6), #9 Pts (394), #25 Opp Pts (400)
2012 BAL 14-6 #11 Pt Diff (54), #10 Pts (398), #12 Opp Pts (344)
2013 SEA 16-3 #2 Pt Diff (186), #9 Pts (417), #1 Opp Pts (231)
2014 NEP 16-3 #1 Pt Diff (155), #4 Pts (468), #8 Opp Pts (313)
2015 DEN 15-4 #10 Pt Diff (59), #19 Pts (355), #4 Opp Pts (296) (PM GIFT SEASON)
2016 NEP 17-2 #1 Pt Diff (191), #3 Pts (441), #1 Opp Pts (250)
2017 PHI 16-3 #1t Pt Diff (162), #3 Pts (457), #4 Opp Pts (295)
2018 NEP 14-5 #5 Pt Diff (111), #4 Pts (436), #7 Opp Pts (325)
2019 KCC 15-4 #4 Pt Diff (143), #5 Pts (451), #7 Opp Pts (308)
2020 TBB 15-5 #4 Pt Diff (137), #3 Pts (492), #8 Pts (355)
2021 LAR 16-5 #6 Pt Diff (88), #7t Pts (460), #15 Pts (372)

[smithandrew051]

The 2017-2018 Chiefs had the best backup QB in the history of football