Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The ’90s squads who were one game away from making it to the Super Bowl. Here they all are to look at and shuffle-up…

1990: Raiders & Forty Niners
1991: Broncos & Lions
1992: Dolphins & Forty Niners
1993: Chiefs & Forty Niners
1994: Steelers & Cowboys
1995: Colts & Packers
1996: Panthers & Jaguars
1997: Steelers & Forty Niners
1998: Vikings & Jets
1999: Jaguars & Buccaneers

Number 1 for me would have to be 1998 Vikings. 1994 Cowboys also should be pretty high up.

The team at the bottom, probably 1995 Colts.

As for the Niner teams here (seems a lot of roads lead there around here): I say 97, 90, 92, and 93 in that order among them.

1) ’90 Forty Niners
2) ’94 Cowboys
3) ’98 Vikings
4) ’99 Jaguars
5) ’92 Forty Niners
6) ’94 Steelers
7) ’95 Packers
8) ’98 Jets
9) ’99 Buccaneers
10) ’93 Chiefs
11) ’93 Forty Niners
12) ’96 Jaguars
13) ’96 Panthers
14) ’97 Forty Niners
15) ’95 Colts
16) ’97 Steelers
17) ’90 Raiders
18) ’91 Broncos
19) ’92 Dolphins
20) ’91 Lions

The 92 Niners would have to rank high based on resume alone:

1st in points scored
3rd in points scored

Beat 5 playoff teams (NO 2x, Eagles/Dolphins/Vikings in 3 consecutive weeks, WSH)

15) ’95 Colts

This is surprising!

1. 1998 Vikings
2. 1992 49ers
3. 1999 Jaguars
4. 1994 Cowboys
5. 1990 49ers
6. 1993 49ers
7. 1998 Jets
8. 1996 Panthers
9. 1997 49ers
10. 1994 Steelers
11. 1995 Packers
12. 1991 Broncos
13. 1990 Raiders
14. 1997 Steelers
15. 1992 Dolphins
16. 1999 Buccaneers
17. 1991 Lions
18. 1993 Chiefs

If either of these bottom two miraculously won their CCG they would easily be the worst SB participant ever.
19. 1995 Colts
20. 1996 Jaguars

1. 1998 Vikings

Exactly.

Also, I would have the 1994 Steelers rated ahead of some of the teams ahead of them, like the 1996 Panthers and 1997 49ers.

If either of these bottom two miraculously won their CCG they would easily be the worst SB participant ever.
19. 1995 Colts
20. 1996 Jaguars

Worse than the 1994 Chargers? No way. Jacksonville could have defeated Green Bay. The Colts may have done better against Dallas than some believe, although that wasn't a great team, and Faulk wasn't healthy at that time.

Despite running the ball better, the 1999 Bucs had a very pedestrian passing attack led by Dilfer/King at QB. Their two leading receivers combined for five TDs. Defense was very strong but a number of NFC team runner-ups were better than they were.

ChrisBabcock wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2026 3:06 pm

15) ’95 Colts

This is surprising!

ChrisBabcock wrote: ↑Thu Oct 15, 2026 3:18 pm 1. 1998 Vikings
2. 1992 49ers
3. 1999 Jaguars
4. 1994 Cowboys
5. 1990 49ers
6. 1993 49ers
7. 1998 Jets
8. 1996 Panthers
9. 1997 49ers
10. 1994 Steelers
11. 1995 Packers
12. 1991 Broncos
13. 1990 Raiders
14. 1997 Steelers
15. 1992 Dolphins
16. 1999 Buccaneers
17. 1991 Lions
18. 1993 Chiefs

If either of these bottom two miraculously won their CCG they would easily be the worst SB participant ever.
19. 1995 Colts
20. 1996 Jaguars

I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I should place more weight on each of them losing those seven games during the regular season, but both the Colts & Jags got the 'bite' with me! Both were not 9-7 teams who were statistically horrific with zero, or so, quality wins.

Colts? Middling offense but #7 defense! Positive PD and positive net Y/P. Get swept by the Bills but do sweep Miami. Beat San Fran in Wk#7! Back to the middling offense, they were still a dangerous unit with Harbaugh.

And the Jags...yes, a minus-10 PD but a positive yardage-wise albeit total or Y/P. #2 offense in the league along with splitting with the Steelers and beating the Panthers. Not a good defense, not yet, but not bad either.

Both tore into the playoffs as road-warriors. And not quite '98 Cardinal-like regular-season-wise.

1990 49ers
1994 Cowboys
1993 Chiefs
1992 49ers
1998 Jets
1998 Vikings
1992 Dolphins
1999 Jaguars
1994 Steelers
1991 Lions
1990 Raiders
1993 49ers
1995 Packers
1996 Panthers
1997 49ers
1997 Steelers
1999 Buccaneers
1991 Broncos
1995 Colts
1996 Jaguars