Since the NFL season was expanded to 16 games in 1978, the Rams are the only team to reach the Super Bowl despite winning nine games or fewer during the regular season. Their regular-season record of 9-7 was followed by postseason victories against the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's also worth mentioning that the Rams' overall record during their inaugural 1950 season was 7-9-1.
The Rams made their debut on January 15,1950, at home against the Chicago Cardinals. They won that game 17-7 and went on to finish first in the Pacific Division with a record of 7-9-1. The following year, they played in their first ever playoff game but lost to the Detroit Lions 14-6 at home. The Rams finished second in the Pacific Division with a 10-4-0 record.
In 1953, the franchise moved to Los Angeles where they have been based ever since. They changed their name from Rams to Chargers in 1961 before reverting back to the Rams two years later. The Rams have reached the Super Bowl every year since their inception except for 1956 when they fell short of the championship game yet again. They have never lost more than three games in a row during the regular season since their first year.
Los Angeles has always been a favorite city for football fans across the nation because of its sports culture.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the NFC's franchises won 16 of the 20 Super Bowls. During these years, teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, and New York Giants stood out.
The Los Angeles Rams went undefeated during the 1982 season but lost the Super Bowl to the Miami Dolphins by a score of 13-10. The 1983 season saw them back again for an opportunity at history, but they too fell short, this time losing to the San Francisco 49ers 14-6. The 1984 season saw them go 11-5 but they didn't get another chance until 2000 when they returned to the big game after a decade-long absence. They lost that game 19-14 to the St. Louis Rams.
The Seattle Seahawks have been one of the most successful teams in NFL history. In their first two seasons, they went 15-1 and made it to the Super Bowl both times, losing 34-12 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1986 and 1994, respectively. Since then, they've gone 89-77 but still hold the record for the best regular season performance ever.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started off badly with just one win in their first two seasons (1979-80) but turned things around later on by winning the Super Bowl in 2001.
After the NFL expanded its schedule to 16 games in 1978, the 1984 San Francisco 49ers became the first team in NFL history to go 15-1. Once there, the 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 38-16 to win Super Bowl XIX. The 1985 Chicago Bears are another example of a 15-1 season, but that team lost to the Los Angeles Raiders in the championship game.
Since then, two other teams have gone 15-1: the 1997 Denver Broncos and the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Both of these teams failed to make it out of their respective conferences. The 2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one play away from being 16-0; however, they lost at the end of the season to the New York Giants 21-20 in overtime. This was also the year the Bucs broke the huddle for the last time with Dirk Johnson at quarterback.
There have been many other great teams that have been close but could never quite get it done. Here are some others: the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the 1974 Washington Redskins, the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers, the 2009 New Orleans Saints, and the 2010 Green Bay Packers.
Two men have won the Super Bowl as players and coaches: George Allen (49ers) and Joe Gibbs (Cowboys).
Dallas (1992–1993) and New England (2001–2003–2004) are the only teams who have won three straight Super Bowls. With their victory in Super Bowl VII, the 1972 Miami Dolphins completed the only flawless season in NFL history.
However, since then, no other team has been able to win all their games during a single season. The 1997 Chicago Bears were one game away from reaching the Super Bowl, before losing to the San Francisco 49ers 24-14. That same year, the Baltimore Ravens lost all 16 games they played and failed to score a touchdown. They ended up finishing last place in the AFC West with a record of 0-16.
A team has never finished first in its division or conference and missed the playoffs. The 1992-93 Dallas Cowboys were the first team to do so after winning their third straight Super Bowl. Since then, only the Patriots have done this. In 2001-02, the Patriots won their first title in 2001 and again in 2002. After missing the playoffs in 2003, the Steelers matched Dallas' feat in 2004.
There have been many attempts but none succeeded. The 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers were one game away from reaching the Super Bowl before losing to the Oakland Raiders 17-16 in overtime.
The Colts had won a few titles before to the inaugural Super Bowl, but the Baltimore Colts made their first participation in the Super Bowl during the 1968 season (Super Bowl III). Earl Morrall led the Colts that season, throwing for 2,909 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. He also ran for 772 yards and 9 scores as he helped guide his team to its first NFL title.
The Colts were defeated by San Francisco 49ers 31-49. However, this game took place at its original location of Miami Stadium and is therefore not considered official by many fans and experts. The winner of this game would go on to face the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl V.
During Super Bowl I, the Patriots and Colts battled it out on February 3, 1967. The game was originally scheduled to take place in New York City, but due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, it was moved to Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida. The score was tied 14-14 at halftime, and neither team was able to advance into the end zone during regulation time. Thus, the game needed to be decided in overtime.
In OT, Boston College quarterback Steve Spurrier threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Wes Chandler to give the Patriots a 21-14 victory over the Colts. This was the first ever Super Bowl win for New England Patriots.
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