After hours upon hours of exhaustive research, Page 2 is settling the debate once and for all with our definitive hierarchy of the first 80 Super Bowl participants.
OK, we admit it, we're just pouring more fuel on the fire. But what better football debate is there to have while we bide our time until this year's big game?
So seek out your favorite team on our list. We hope you'll be pleased with the result although we're reasonably certain you won't. If you're curious to know how we arrived at our rankings, and to read the top five lists from John Clayton and Len Pasquarelli, click here.
The rankings: No. 80 to No. 61 | No. 60 to No. 41 | No. 40 to No. 21 | No. 20 to No. 1
80. 1979 LOS ANGELES RAMS 9-7 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
323 | 20.2 | 309 | 19.3 | +14 | 15 of 28 | 13 of 28 | 11 of 28 | 8 of 28 | .473 | 3-6 | 49-50 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Pittsburgh 31-19 Coach: Ray Malavasi Key players: QB Vince Ferragamo (5 TD, 10 INT in 110 PA), RB Wendell Tyler (1,109 yards), OT Jackie Slater, DE Jack Youngblood, LB Jack Reynolds, LB Jim Youngblood, C Rich Saul |

79. 2003 CAROLINA PANTHERS 11-5 (3-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
325 | 20.3 | 304 | 19.0 | +21 | 15 of 32 | 16 of 32 | 10 of 32 | 7 of 32 | .445 | 3-3 | 101-68 |
Super Bowl: Lost to New England 32-29 Coach: John Fox Key players: QB Jake Delhomme (3,219 yards, 19 TD), RB Stephen Davis (1,444 yards), WR Steve Smith (88 rec, 1,110 yards), DT Kris Jenkins, DE Julius Peppers, DE Mike Rucker, S Mike Minter |

78. 2000 NEW YORK GIANTS 12-4 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
328 | 20.5 | 246 | 15.4 | +82 | 15 of 31 | 13 of 31 | 5 of 31 | 5 of 31 | .445 | 4-4 | 68-44 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Baltimore 34-7 Coach: Jim Fassel Key players: QB Kerry Collins (3,610 yards, 22 TD), RB Tiki Barber (over 1700 total yards), WR Amani Toomer, OG Ron Stone, DE Michael Strahan, LB Jessie Armstead, DT Keith Hamilton |

77. 1982 MIAMI DOLPHINS 7-2 (3-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
198 | 22.0 | 131 | 14.6 | +67 | 10 of 28 | 19 of 28 | 2 of 28 | 1 of 28 | .444 | 3-2 | 93-53 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Washington 27-17 Coach: Don Shula Key players: QB David Woodley (63.5 passer rating), RB Andra Franklin, C Dwight Stephenson, OG Bob Kuechenberg, DT Bob Baumhower, DE Doug Betters, LB A.J. Duhe, CB Don McNeal |

76. 1985 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 (3-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
362 | 22.6 | 290 | 18.1 | +72 | 10 of 28 | 9 of 28 | 6 of 28 | 5 of 28 | .496 | 4-5 | 94-94 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Chicago 46-10 Coach: Raymond Berry Key players: QB Tony Eason (11 TD, 17 INT, 67.5 QB rating), RB Craig James (1,227 yards), WR Irving Fryar, OG John Hannah, LB Andre Tippett, LB Steve Nelson, CB Fred Marion |

75. 1986 DENVER BRONCOS 11-5 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
378 | 23.6 | 327 | 20.4 | +51 | 6 of 28 | 15 of 28 | 15 of 28 | 10 of 28 | .545 | 7-4 | 65-76 |
Super Bowl: Lost to New York Giants 39-20 Coach: Dan Reeves Key players: QB John Elway (3,485 yards, 19 TD), RB Sammy Winder (789 yards), WR Mark Jackson, DE Rulon Jones, LB Karl Mecklenburg, CB Mike Harden, S Dennis Smith |

74. 1996 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 11-5 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
418 | 26.1 | 313 | 19.6 | +105 | 2 of 30 | 7 of 30 | 14 of 30 | 19 of 30 | .512 | 4-5 | 69-44 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Green Bay 35-21 Coach: Bill Parcells Key players: QB Drew Bledsoe (4,086 yards, 27 TD), RB Curtis Martin (1,152 yards, 14 TD), WR Terry Glenn (90 rec, 1,132 yards), TE Ben Coates, OT Bruce Armstrong, DE Willie McGinest |

73. 1993 BUFFALO BILLS 12-4 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
329 | 20.6 | 242 | 15.1 | +87 | 7 of 28 | 6 of 28 | 5 of 28 | 27 of 28 | .500 | 7-4 | 72-66 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Dallas 30-13 Coach: Marv Levy Key players: QB Jim Kelly (3,382 yards, 18 TD, 18 INT), RB Thurman Thomas (1,315 yards), WR Andre Reed, DE Bruce Smith, LB Cornelius Bennett, CB Nate Odomes, OT Howard Ballard |

72. 1999 TENNESSEE TITANS 13-3 (3-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
392 | 24.5 | 324 | 20.3 | +68 | 7 of 31 | 13 of 31 | 15 of 31 | 17 of 31 | .461 | 5-2 | 90-69 |
Super Bowl: Lost to St. Louis 23-16 Coach: Jeff Fisher Key players: QB Steve McNair, QB Neil O'Donnell, RB Eddie George (1,304 yards, 13 TD), TE Frank Wycheck, OG Bruce Matthews, DE Jevon Kearse, S Blaine Bishop, CB Samari Rolle |

71. 1994 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 11-5 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
381 | 23.8 | 306 | 19.1 | +75 | 5 of 28 | 11 of 28 | 9 of 28 | 15 of 28 | .543 | 4-3 | 65-83 |
Super Bowl: Lost to San Francisco 49-26 Coach: Bobby Ross Key players: QB Stan Humphries (3,209 yards, 17 TD), RB Natrone Means (1,350 yards, 12 TD), WR Tony Martin, DE Leslie O'Neal, DE Chris Mims, LB Junior Seau, K John Carney |

70. 1970 DALLAS COWBOYS 10-4 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
299 | 21.4 | 221 | 15.8 | +78 | 10 of 26 | 4 of 26 | 4 of 26 | 4 of 26 | .487 | 3-4 | 35-26 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Baltimore 16-13 Coach: Tom Landry Key players: QB Craig Morton (1,819 yards, 15 TD), RB Duane Thomas (803 yards), RB Calvin Hill, WR Bob Hayes, DT Bob Lilly, LB Chuck Howley, CB Mel Renfro, CB Herb Adderley |

69. 1988 CINCINNATI BENGALS 12-4 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
448 | 28.0 | 329 | 20.6 | +119 | 1 of 28 | 1 of 28 | 17 of 28 | 17 of 28 | .482 | 5-3 | 58-43 |
Super Bowl: Lost to San Francisco 20-16 Coach: Sam Wyche Key players: QB Boomer Esiason (3,572 yards, 28 TD), RB Ickey Woods (1,066 yards, 15 TD), RB James Brooks (931 yards), WR Eddie Brown (1,273 yards), OT Anthony Munoz, S David Fulcher |

68. 1995 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 11-5 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
407 | 25.4 | 327 | 20.4 | +80 | 5 of 30 | 6 of 30 | 9 of 30 | 3 of 30 | .495 | 4-3 | 77-64 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Dallas 27-17 Coach: Bill Cowher Key players: QB Neil O'Donnell (2,970 yards, 17 TD), RB Erric Pegram (813 yards), WR Yancey Thigpen (1,307 yards), C Dermontti Dawson, LB Kevin Greene, LB Greg Lloyd, CB Rod Woodson |

67. 1966 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 11-2-1 (1-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
448 | 32.0 | 276 | 19.7 | +172 | 1 of 9 | 1 of 9 | 2 of 9 | 2 of 9 | n/a | 6-2-1 | 41-42 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Green Bay 35-10 Coach: Hank Stram Key players: QB Len Dawson (2,527 yards, 26 TD), RB Mike Garrett, WR Otis Taylor (1,224 yards), DE Buck Buchanan, DT Jerry Mays, LB Bobby Bell, LB E.J. Holub, DB Johnny Robinson |

66. 1992 BUFFALO BILLS 11-5 (3-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
381 | 23.8 | 283 | 17.7 | +98 | 3 of 28 | 2 of 28 | 4 of 28 | 13 of 28 | .492 | 6-3 | 111-103 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Dallas 52-17 Coach: Marv Levy Key players: QB Jim Kelly (3,457 yards, 23 TD), RB Thurman Thomas (over 2,000 total yards), WR Andre Reed, OG Will Wolford, DE Bruce Smith, LB Cornelius Bennett, S Henry Jones |

65. 1974 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 10-4 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
310 | 22.1 | 195 | 13.9 | +115 | 5 of 26 | 3 of 26 | 3 of 26 | 10 of 26 | .454 | 4-3 | 50-40 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Pittsburgh 16-6 Coach: Bud Grant Key players: QB Fran Tarkenton (2,598 yards, 17 TD), RB Chuck Foreman (777 yards, 15 TD), WR John Gilliam, OT Ron Yary, DT Alan Page, DE Carl Eller, S Paul Krause |

64. 1987 DENVER BRONCOS 10-4-1 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
379 | 29.3 | 288 | 19.2 | +91 | 4 of 28 | 2 of 28 | 7 of 28 | 9 of 28 | .464 | 5-3 | 82-85 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Washington 42-10 Coach: Dan Reeves Key players: QB John Elway (3,198 yards, 19 TD), RB Sammy Winder, WR Vance Johnson, WR Ricky Nattiel, OL Keith Bishop, DE Rulon Jones, LB Karl Mecklenburg, CB Mike Harden |

63. 1975 DALLAS COWBOYS 10-4 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
350 | 25.0 | 268 | 19.1 | +82 | 8 of 26 | 3 of 26 | 9 of 26 | 5 of 26 | .459 | 4-2 | 71-42 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Pittsburgh 21-17 Coach: Tom Landry Key players: QB Roger Staubach (2,666 yards, 17 TD), RB Robert Newhouse (930 yards), WR Drew Pearson, OT Rayfield Wright, DE Harvey Martin, LB Lee Roy Jordan, S Cliff Harris |

62. 1981 CINCINNATI BENGALS 12-4 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
421 | 26.3 | 304 | 19.0 | +117 | 3 of 28 | 2 of 28 | 12 of 28 | 12 of 28 | .463 | 6-1 | 76-54 |
Super Bowl: Lost to San Francisco 26-21 Coach: Forrest Gregg Key players: QB Ken Anderson (3,754 yards, 29 TD), RB Pete Johnson (1,077 yards, 16 TD), WR Cris Collinsworth (1,009 yards), TE Dan Ross, OT Anthony Munoz, DE Ross Browner |

61. 1977 DENVER BRONCOS 12-2 (2-1) | |||||||||||
Pts | Avg | Pts All. |
Avg | Diff. | Rank Pts |
Rank Yards |
Rank Pts All. |
Rank Yds All. |
Opp. W-L |
.500+ | Post. Score |
274 | 19.6 | 148 | 10.6 | +126 | 10 of 28 | 17 of 28 | 3 of 28 | 8 of 28 | .520 | 8-2 | 64-65 |
Super Bowl: Lost to Dallas 27-10 Coach: Red Miller Key players: QB Craig Morton (1,929 yards, 14 TD), DL Lyle Alzado, LB Randy Gradishar, LB Tom Jackson, CB Louis Wright, CB Billy Thompson, KR Rick Upchurch |

STATISTICAL KEY: Pts: points scored; Pts: Points allowed; Avg.: Average; Diff.: Point differential; Rank Pts.: League ranking in points scored; Rank Yards: League ranking in yards gained; Rank Pts. All.: League ranking in points allowed; Rank Yds All.: League ranking in yards allowed; Opp. W-L: Combined winning percentage of opponents (includes games played against featured team); .500 +: Record against teams with record of .500 or better; Post. Score: Cumulative score in postseason games. Note: All statistics are regular season only. |
Rankings by Kevin Jackson, Thomas Neumann and David Schoenfield. Capsules by Thomas Neumann and David Schoenfield. Statistical sources include "The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia," espn.com, pro-football-reference.com, databasefootball.com, superbowl.com, profootballhof.com and Eddie Epstein's "Dominance: The Best Seasons of Pro Football's Greatest Teams."
Do you take issue with our rankings? Sound off here.