Power Ranking The Decade: The Final Poll #10-1
by Chris Brophy
5/3/2010
In the final part of our countdown of team rankings over the course of the decade we take a look at the elite teams. Who is king of the mountain? Who could have been king had they not slipped up just a couple of times? Who is the best team of this past decade not to win the ultimate prize? Read on to find out:
10, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 79 - 81 (0.494)
Play-off Appearances: Five (3-4)
Division Titles: Two (2002, 2007)
Super Bowl Appearances: One (2002)
World Championships: One (2002)
After been the leagues laughing stock for most of their history the Buccaneers won't much care where they come here and I don't blame them. How sweet it must have been. Still, that team of Tampa legends is long gone now and the franchise is back at the bottom of the barrel for now. Since that Super Bowl win they have failed to win a play-off game in their two returns to post season.
9, Tennessee Titans
Record: 91 - 69 (0.569)
Play-off Appearances: Five (2-5)
Division Titles: Three (2000, 2002, 2008)
Super Bowl Appearances: None
A team that always gives you a battle in the regular season, producing good results but once in post season they tend to get found out. 2008 was the biggest disappointment as they rode the arm of veteran Kerry Collins to a 10-0 start but couldn't finish the season as strong and went out at the first time of asking in the post season.
8, Green Bay Packers
Record: 93 - 67 (0.581)
Play-off Appearances: Six (3-6)
Division Titles: Four (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007)
Super Bowl Appearances: None
It's generally been a good decade for the Packers, six double-digit winning seasons and four division titles but then again, they never managed to get back to the Super Bowl with a certain Mr Favre. Still, some extra brownie points for having Aaron Rodgers step into those massive shoes and produce so well so quickly. The future looks to be in good hands.
7, New Orleans Saints
Record: 83 - 77 (0.519)
Play-off Appearances: Three (5-2)
Division Titles: Three (2000, 2006, 2009)
Super Bowl Appearances: One (2009)
World Championships: One (2009)
Just like the Buccaneers the 00's finally brought ultimate success for a team that has traditionally been an NFL doormat. This decade saw the Saints get their first ever play-off win and whilst it hasn't come all at once, they have then built on that to get to the Championship game in 2006 before taking the ultimate prize just a week or so ago. Add in the marks Drew Brees has set, including becoming only the second player ever to pass for over 5000 yards in a season and the decade can't have gone any better than any Saints fan could have ever dreamed of.
6, Baltimore Ravens
Record: 92 - 68 (0.575)
Play-off Appearances: Five (6-4)
Division Titles: Two (2003, 2006)
Super Bowl Appearances: One (2000)
World Championships: One (2000)
Can you say defense? Mention the Ravens in the context of this decade and that's the first word that should spring to mind. It helped them win the first Super Bowl title of this ten year count and has kept them competing ever since although maybe the end of the 00's is seeing a slight change of the guard as the young exciting offensive talent of Joe Flacco and Ray Rice looks to lead the Ravens charge for success into the new decade. Having said that, let's not forget Jamal Lewis notched up a 2000 yard rushing season in 2003 though.
5, New York Giants
Record: 88 - 72 (0.550)
Play-off Appearances: Six (6-5)
Division Titles: Three (2000, 2005, 2008)
Super Bowl Appearances: Two (2000, 2007)
World Championships: One (2007)
They don't quite have the regular season wins mark of some of the teams above and below them in this ranking but they might have arguably the most incredible Super Bowl victory of the decade with maybe the play of the decade (David Tyree's one hand helmet catch) and the fact they have maintained a competitive team for most of the decade in the tough NFC East is worthy of their top five place.
4, Philadelphia Eagles (No change)
Record: 103 - 55 - 1 (0.644)
Play-off Appearances: Eight (9-8)
Division Titles: Five (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
Super Bowl Appearances: One (2004)
A model of consistency throughout the decade and whilst they have never actually won the ultimate prize they got very close and it's hard to ignore the fact that no team in the NFC has won more games in the regular season or appeared in more play-off games than the Eagles in the 00's. Yes, they would probably swap places with the Giants in some ways, especially for the Super Bowl win but this is about respecting their consistency with coach, system and QB and looking at the results it has brought. They are a fine set or results.
3, Indianapolis Colts
Record: 115 - 45 (0.719)
Play-off Appearances: Eight (8-6)
Division Titles: Six (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009)
Super Bowl Appearances: Two (2006, 2009)
World Championships: One (2006)
Where would they have been had they won a week or so ago? Number two in the rankings almost definitely and they'd have an argument for number one overall. However, the recent failure at the final hurdle goes along with a lot of other post season disappointments for a team that never fails to dominate the regular season and who boast (arguably) the player of the decade (if not the best QB ever?). No one has won more regular season games and Peyton Manning has MVP awards coming out of his ears but like it or not, two other teams have been more clutch more consistently in the play-offs.
2, Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 103 – 56 - 1 (0.644)
Play-off Appearances: Six (10-4)
Division Titles: Six (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)
Super Bowl Appearances: Two (2005, 2008)
World Championships: Two (2005, 2008)
Had the Colts won I think the Steelers would have had to slip down to third but at the end of the day, er, decade, they have posted a better post season record than the Colts and won one more world title. It's not been quite the 1970's but that's hardly a genuine compliant!!!
1, New England Patriots
Record: 112 - 48 (0.700)
Play-off Appearances: Seven (14-4)
Division Titles: Six (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Super Bowl Appearances: Four (2001, 2003, 2004, 2007)
World Championships: Three (2001, 2003, 2004)
Three world titles and this team has grown over the course of the decade, getting better and better then peaking with a 16-0 regular season in 2007 before been stopped at the very last minute by a special teamer with stick 'um on his helmet (joke Giant fans, don't melt our server!!). Who would have thought as Drew Bledsoe ran out of bounds and injured his shoulder it would have such a dramatic effect? In these salary cap times the Patriots have proven it is possible to still have a dynasty.
Don't forget, you can follow the Diner and offer feedback on all our articles via Facebook and Twitter.
|
