Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Of course making the ‘Playoff Bowl’ doesn’t count. A few teams come to mind right away. One who was undefeated going into regular season finale, one whose key back was suspended for the season but still almost won division (NFL Championship Game berth), and finally (likely my #1) an 11-3 team that almost swept a certain 13-1 historic juggernaut in their division thus almost tying them both at 12-2 and forcing a tiebreaker.

Here are mine...

1) ’62 Lions
2) ’67 Colts
3) ’63 Packers
4) ’68 Rams
5) ’63 Browns

’68 Rams get robbed vs Bears in second-to-last game. Otherwise, the finale would have been another de facto division title game against Colts. Others whom I considered for top-5 were ’60 Browns, ’64 Cardinals, and even (for a moment) the ’63 Raiders. The ’64 Patriots should at least get a mention as well.

EDIT - actually that last sentence is an understatement. ’64 Pats seem better than ’63 Raiders, especially on defense which Oak didn’t exactly seem to have down the stretch; and NE did have quite an offense themselves. I guess it’s the whole Raiders sweeping SD that can’t help but to pop out first with me. Pats #1 AFL team to not make post-season, Raiders #2 - how’s that?

74_75_78_79_ wrote:Of course making the ‘Playoff Bowl’ doesn’t count. A few teams come to mind right away. One who was undefeated going into regular season finale, one whose key back was suspended for the season but still almost won division (NFL Championship Game berth), and finally (likely my #1) an 11-3 team that almost swept a certain 13-1 historic juggernaut in their division thus almost tying them both at 12-2 and forcing a tiebreaker.

In no particular order:

1967 Baltimore Colts
1963 Green Bay Packers
1968 Los Angeles Rams
1966 Cleveland Browns
1962 Detroit Lions
1960 Cleveland Browns

I know, there are 6 teams, but I figured there is a tie in there someplace.

My top 5 pretty much as they came to me right after seeing this thread's title... (so not much thought put into this)

1. 1967 Colts
2. 1963 Packers
3. 1962 Lions
4. 1967 Chiefs
5. 1964 Patriots