What year was the best in your team's history?

[Ness]

I'm sure this has been done before on this forum. Even if it has, it hasn't been for a while. Just something to spark some debates and pass the time during the offseason.

For me it was the 1984 49ers. I'll let this blurb from Wikipedia explain some of the good points as to why:

In 1984, the 49ers had one of the greatest seasons in team history by finishing the regular season 15-1-0, setting the record for most regular season wins that was later equaled by the 1985 Chicago Bears, the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, and the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, and finally broken by the 2007 New England Patriots (with 16 regular season victories). Their 18 wins overall is also still a record, tied by the 1985 Bears and the 2007 New England Patriots. The 49ers' only defeat in the 1984 season was a 20-17 loss to the Steelers; a late field goal attempt in that game by San Francisco kicker Ray Wersching went off the uprights and was no good. In the playoffs, they beat the New York Giants 21-10, shut out the Chicago Bears 23–0 in the NFC Championship, and in Super Bowl XIX the 49ers shut down a record-setting year by NFL MVP Dan Marino (and his speedy receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper), beating the Miami Dolphins 38-16. Their entire defensive backfield (Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Dwight Hicks, and Carlton Williamson) was elected to the Pro Bowl—an NFL first.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_49ers

[Finz99]

1972 Miami Dolphins:

In 1972 the Dolphins completed the NFL's first perfect season, winning 14 regular season games, two playoff games and Super Bowl VII, defeating the Washington Redskins 14-7. QB Griese fell victim to a broken leg and dislocated ankle in Week 5 versus the San Diego Chargers and was replaced by veteran Earl Morrall for the rest of the regular season, but returned to the field as a substitute during the AFC Championship game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and then started in Super Bowl VII. The Dolphins set the NFL single-season rushing record, and running backs Csonka and Mercury Morris became the first teammates to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season. The offensive line included future Hall of Fame members Jim Langer and Larry Little and Pro Bowler Bob Kuechenberg. The 1972 Dolphins defensive unit, called the No-Name Defense because Miami’s impressive offense received much more publicity, was the league’s best that year. It was led by linebacker Nick Buoniconti, end Bill Stanfill, tackle Manny Fernandez and safeties Dick Anderson and Jake Scott.

[King Carls 5 Year Plan]

I guess it would be 1969 because that was our only Super Bowl Victory, but 1993 was pretty fun to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Kansas_City_Chiefs_season

Don't ask me about what the '69 season was like, my mom was 9 years old.

[CJSchneider]

We're livin' it baby!

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[CC.SD]

In 2003 my high school team won the CIF championship...

Chargers won the title in 1963.

[Dam8610]

We're livin' it baby!

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I would've said last year, then that happened, stupid Hank Baskett costing the Colts a championship. I guess by default I'd have to say 06, had 05 or 09 produced the championships they should have though, they'd rank well ahead,

[SuperMcgee]

Probably 1964, our first AFL Championship. I would've loved to see Cookie Gilchrist play, running behind Billy Shaw and my former teacher, Al Bemiller. And, of course, that defense with Mike Stratton, George Saimes, Tom Sestak, Harry Jacobs. Beautiful.

[Michigan]

Lions:

Either 1957, when we last won the NFL championship, or 1991, where we went 12-4 and had our only playoff victory since then.

[diabsoule]

This past year.

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I'm still basking in the glow.

[Don Vito]

My favorite? Probably 2000-2001.

Our best team was in 2004-2005.

[Paul]

Probably the 92-93 season for the Cowboys. Bursting at the seams with youth and talent.

[yourfavestoner]

1996. Went on a hot streat end our second season ever and proceeding to upset Denver then lost to NE in the AFC Championship Game.

[Thecollegedropout]

I guess it would be 1969 because that was our only Super Bowl Victory, but 1993 was pretty fun to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_Kansas_City_Chiefs_season

Don't ask me about what the '69 season was like, my mom was 9 years old.
69-70 season was the Jets best year too as it was our lone SB year too.

But last year's run had to be No.2. Back in 98 when we faced Denver for a shot at the SB, we had a 4th quarter lead but ultimately blew it vs Elway so it left a bad taste in plenty of people's mouths.And back in 1982, we had a really good team but we were shutdown by the rival Shula's Miami Dolphins in the AFC Title game 14-0 which was a even bigger low blow.

Last year we were expected to do almost nothing but we all of a sudden began clicking, got some HUGE breaks and we did some incredible things in the postseason. Rather than get let down by losing to IND after a competitive halftime game/lead, it was more so a buildup for things to come in my eyes.

So I would rank it as

1) 1969
2) 2009
3) 1998
4) 1982
5) And probably have 2004 as 5th even though Doug Brien made me vomit in what should have been a Pats/Jets AFC Title game.

[WinslowBodden]

Yeah... about that.

[E-Man]

It has the 1992 season. That was the beginning of seeing all those prospects become elite. The 93 and 95 Super Bowl seasons were great too, but they had some scary moments. 92 was damn near perfect.

[ViperVisor]

Eric Wright was before my time but seeing the Super Bowls with him on DVD he was surprisingly quick for a tall CB.

[BuddyCHRIST]

We're livin' it baby!

2XzXTYjfbDk

This......

[Bengals78]

Id go with the 1988 team. ******* 49'ers

[Go_Eagles77]

Ummmm.... 1960?

[vikes_28]

1998 or this year for the vikings. too bad both of them ended the same way...

[Brent]

Id go with the 1988 team. ******* 49'ers
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Anyway, I'd agree with Ness. That 1984 season had to be such a blast to be a Niners fan. Second place, I would argue has to be the 1994 season:

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"biggest point spread in superbowl history"

[the decider13]

1998 easily. Won 13 straight in Elway's final year, TD rushed for over 2000, Elam kicked a 63 yarder and like 9 guys made the pro bowl. Was a great year to be a Bronco fan.

[WinslowBodden]

Eric Wright was before my time but seeing the Super Bowls with him on DVD he was surprisingly quick for a tall CB.

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Jacksonville+Jaguars+v+Cleveland+Browns+7cbz2E3e8c Yl.jpg

[Young Nasty Man]

1969..
Pretty big year in New York as the Knicks, Jets, and Mets all get themselves a ring..

Last year was pretty dandy with the Bombers winning and the Gang Green nearly goin to Miami...

[aNYtitan]

Tennessee Titans

1999-2000 season
The glory
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The tragedy
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Yet it was our best season

[YAYareaRB]

I'm down with that 84 team but I definitely love the 94 team.

Young, Watters, Rice, McCaffrey, Deion, Sapolu, B. Young, Stubblefield, Ken Norton Jr., Merton Hanks. One crazy freakin' team if ya ask me.

[Ness]

I'm down with that 84 team but I definitely love the 94 team.

Young, Watters, Rice, McCaffrey, Deion, Sapolu, B. Young, Stubblefield, Ken Norton Jr., Merton Hanks. One crazy freakin' team if ya ask me.

Don't forget Harris Barton, Bart Oates, Rickey Jackson, Tim McDonald, Charles Mann, Richard Dent, Brent Jones, John Taylor, Lee Woodall, and Gary Plummer.

Some guys like Richard Dent and Charles Mann didn't do much that year, but it's still crazy to think we had a lot of high profile players on one team.

[Mr. Goosemahn]

I'd say the 1975 Steelers, the Steel Curtain.

Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Mel Blount, Mean Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Franco Harris, Chuck Noll, and a couple other guys I'm forgetting.

Rocky Bleier, Dwight White, Mike Wagner, others.

And that was also the year the Terrible Towel was created, by legendary sportscaster Myron Cope (RIP).

[ChiFan24]

1985. And since I'm really not big on pre-merger NFL, I'd rank 2007 second.

[Razor]

I could argue that the 18 and d'oh season was the best season for the Patriots, but since we didn't win I'd say 2004. That team was scary good.

[boknows34]

1976 Oakland Raiders - 13-1 and beat Minnesota 32-14 in Super Bowl XI.

John Madden, Ken Stabler, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Dave Casper, Ted Hendricks, Fred Biletnikoff, Cliff Branch, Ray Guy, George Atkinson, Willie Brown, Jack Tatum, John Matuszak, Phil Villapiano, Otis Sistrunk, Clarence Davis, Mark van Eehgan. 7 Hall of Famers among that lot.

[Monomach]

1985. And since I'm really not big on pre-merger NFL, I'd rank 2007 second.

wtf 2007?

Big Brian Griese fan or something?

[jth1331]

1998 Broncos season was easily their best. Started out 13-0 before succombing to the pressure and losing 2 of the final 3.
Then roflmao-stomped I believe the Dolphins in the playoffs before having a tough game against the Jets, but winning it and proving to much for the Falcons.
1997 team would be 2nd.

[LizardState]

Probably the 92-93 season for the Cowboys. Bursting at the seams with youth and talent.

Maybe the 1990 - 91 yrs. for Dallas, the rollup to the 3 SB rings in 4 yrs.

My only signed sports memorabilia knicknack: the Feb. 8th, 1993 SI cover signed by Troy Aikman with the RIDE 'EM, COWBOY! caption showing Aikman running for a SB TD vs. the Bills.

The springboard was of course the Herschel Walker 16-for-1 trade with the Vikings, no team has been gutted for a single player like that in NFL trading history. Jimmy Johnson built the Dallas team core talent from cherrypicking among those 16 draft picks & players. The downside was the screaming match he had with Jerry Jones after their 2nd SB win together & Johnson quit, Jerry handed the best team in the NFL to his old Arkansas buddy & arguably the most corrupt coach in college NCAA Div. 1 history, Barry Switzer, just tragic. Switzer's SB win should draw an asterisk explaining this debacle.

Shameful too that Jerry still can't control his mouth after he's had a few anymore than Ben Rothlisberger can control his male member when he's had a few. Both of those gentlemen could use rehab IMO more than Amy Winehouse.

Another one would be the 1975 Cowboys, the epic SB fail in the 76 SB vs. the Steelers, Roger Staubach vs. Terry Bradshaw. Late 4th qtr, Dallas down by < a TD: Roger the Dodger throws a low pass to TE Jackie Smith all alone standing on the goal line & Smith drops it.... you could just see the TV sets being turned off all over Texas.

[Addict]

lol for the lions it was probably somewhere in the 1950s

[ironman4579]

I'd say 1953 for the Lions. Went 10-2 and won the Championship.

[BigDawg819]

Honestly for the Ravens' I'd say the 2002 season. It was one season removed from the greatest defense of all time and a Super Bowl domination. We made the playoffs and then came the salary purge. Weren't expected to do much of anything and yet with a bunch of rookies and young guys finished the season in the playoff hunt until the end and finished 7-9.

[7DnBrnc53]

The 1998 team was great, but 1997 was a little better because they had so much more to overcome, and they finally got the 500-pound gorilla off the back of the franchise and the whole City of Denver.