Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Which of these franchise accomplishments do you find the most impressive?

1. From 2011-2018 the New England Patriots played in eight straight AFC championship games.

2. From 2018-2024, the Kansas City Chiefs made seven straight AFC championship games hosting five in a row.

3. From 1970-1982, the Dallas Cowboys made 10 of 13 NFC championship games.

saturdaysarebetter wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 12:04 pm Which of these franchise accomplishments do you find the most impressive?

1. From 2011-2018 the New England Patriots played in eight straight AFC championship games.

2. From 2018-2024, the Kansas City Chiefs made seven straight AFC championship games hosting five in a row.

3. From 1970-1982, the Dallas Cowboys made 10 of 13 NFC championship games.

On one hand Dallas’s stretch is longer, but on the other hand I’ve heard that at least in the early and mid 70’s that there wasn’t a ton of parity in the league. (in particular on the NFC side the Cowboys, Vikings, Rams, and Redskins received 75% of all playoff appearances from 1970-1977)

New England I’ve of course heard about the cheating scandals and all that. To be fair though, I don’t know how many things like that helped them in the Divisional Round games they won.

As for Kansas City, they had a really good stretch too, and one that probably should have ended a year or so sooner than it did (felt like they were running out of gas in 2024, culminating in the Super Bowl blowout loss). They played pretty darn well, though I’ve seen some of you here criticize the quality of their opponents.

The front offices of all three teams if nothing else built successful teams that stayed up there for years and years.

I might say the Cowboys are the most impressive if only slightly. They also were able to continue their for a few years under a different quarterback.

The Cowboys did it with three QBs, starting with Morton in 1970 but they had a certain aura about them those years. They had lots of talent but critics also felt they had favoritism from Rozelle due to his friendship with Tex Schramm. The NFL seemed to welcome the Cowboy's dominance of the 3-3:30pm time slot every sunday. I always felt the Cowboy's popularity, had a role in creation of the Monday Night and Sunday Night packages that have now become a monster.

What NE did might have been the most impressive, though they also seemed to get advantages from the league that other teams didnt get. Despite the allegations of cheating, they also seemed to get a prime-time home divisional game every year on a saturday night. With the cold weather of course, thats more an advantage than playing earlier games on sat or sunday. Those saturday night games were usually blowouts as well, as they got home calls from the referees, early and often.

Still, other teams like the Texans, Titans, Chiefs, etc had to overcome it but they didnt as the Patriots dominated in an era of free agency movement and parity. They still faced better teams in the championship games than the Chiefs from 2018-2024, IMO.

The Cowboys' run was the most annoying. Grew sick of having the "America's Team" bullshit constantly shoved down our throats. But I admired the hell out of Staubach and respected Landry. Served their country and were class acts on and off the field.

I will say the Dallas run did produce one of my favorite all-time football quotes. When asked at the Super Bowl about "The Ultimate Game," Duane Thomas responded, "If it's the ultimate game, why are they playing it again next year?"

Dallas's is the most impressive because most of that run was before the 1978 rule changes that favored more offense. Those NE and KC teams have really benefitted from the rule changes over the years, and that helps overrated QB's like Brady and Mahomes.

Also, the Pats played in a weak division during those eight seasons (and from 2001-10, I might add). The only other teams from the AFC East that made the playoffs from 2011-18 were the 2016 Dolphins and 17 Bills. Neither won their playoff game. The Bills returned two years later (and became a mainstay because they drafted Allen), but it took Miami six years to get back to the postseason.

7DnBrnc53 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2026 10:21 pm Dallas's is the most impressive because most of that run was before the 1978 rule changes that favored more offense. Those NE and KC teams have really benefitted from the rule changes over the years, and that helps overrated QB's like Brady and Mahomes.

Also, the Pats played in a weak division during those eight seasons (and from 2001-10, I might add). The only other teams from the AFC East that made the playoffs from 2011-18 were the 2016 Dolphins and 17 Bills. Neither won their playoff game. The Bills returned two years later (and became a mainstay because they drafted Allen), but it took Miami six years to get back to the postseason.

What do you think of the defenses of New England and Kansas City in those years?

What do you think of the defenses of New England and Kansas City in those years?

They probably had their best defenses in that era from 2014-16 before going downhill after losing guys like Wilfork, Mayo, Chandler Jones, and Jamie Collins.

As for KC, they were solid after 2018 because they added Steve Spagnuolo as DC.

Those NE and KC teams have really benefitted from the rule changes over the years, and that helps overrated QB's like Brady and Mahomes.

But the rule changes benefitted all teams did they not? A rising tide raises all ships.

Whats interesting about these teams are the possible HOF players that could come out their dominance?

The Cowboys from 1970 - 1982 -- have Lilly, Staubach, Wright, Howley, Harris, Dorsett, White, Pearson, Hayes and Renfro, with Ditka and Alworth as well, yet some fans want other players like Neely, Niland, Martin, Green and Jordan as well.

The Patriots from 2011- 2018 will soon have inductees Brady, Belichick, Gronk and possibly Wilfork ... fans also feel that Harrison, Gostkowski, McCourty(PFF)Slater, Mankins, Jones, Talib and Gilmore have cases as well. Thuney could also join that group? Doubtful alot of these players, especially the defensive backs get elected. Law, Seymour and Vinny got elected from an earlier era.

The 2018 - 2024 Chiefs will have Mahomes and Kelce get elected, with possibly, Jones and Hill joining them. Tyrann Mathieu, Thuney, Humphrey and McDuffie are also building cases. Can the Chiefs get back on the winning track this year?