Every year, the Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in the United States. Imagine some of the greatest teams in the history of the NFL playing in a playoff bracket to decide the greatest champion of all time. This Super Bowl would be the biggest sporting event in this life or the next. My fantasy Super Bowl bracket includes 6 of the greatest teams/ dynasties of All Time in each Conference from the Super Bowl era. There are some logistics to take care of before this ultimate playoff begins. Naturally, the players from each team would need to be in their primes. The rest of the rules can be chosen by you, the reader, since it is all a fantasy anyway. If you want mix a team’s offense from one season with its defense from another season, it is fair game. If you want to just mix all their best players from different seasons, you can do so. Of course, you can also keep it simple and just take a franchise’s best team in a single season. Another logistic is physicality. Over the years, strength and conditioning has improved. I have gotten into debates about whether the stars of yesterday could compete with the superior athletes today. I am a believer that the best of the best will be great in any era. Nevertheless, I think the playing field would have to be leveled by giving the stars of the past access to current training techniques and nutrition. On the other hand, I will have to ban the use of steroids and PEDs. The final key logistic is rules. Do we go with the pass happy and “safety” precautions of today or allow the smash mouth, hard hitting football of the past? Since we want to watch these great teams completely duke it out, we will need to go with the rules of the past. There will also be no need for instant replay. Since it is all a fantasy, the officiating will be perfect.
Without further adieu, here is my NFC bracket (the years in the bracket only include the seasons between the year of the first Super Bowl victory and the year of the last Super Bowl victory).
1. Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers (1961-1967)
There is a reason the Super Bowl trophy is officially known as the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Lombardi is the greatest coach of all time. His Green Bay Packers are arguably the greatest team of all time. They won 5 NFL Championships in 7 years from 1961 to 167, including the first two Super Bowls. In their first playoff game, the Packers lost the NFL Championship Game to the Philadelphia Eagles 17-13. They were stopped at the Eagles 10 yard line on the final drive of the game as time ran out. After the loss, Lombardi told his team “This will never happen again. You will never lose another championship.” Those words have become a thing of legend as his team never lost a playoff game again and won their next 9 postseason games en route to capturing 5 NFL Championships. They are also one of two teams in NFL history to win three consecutive championships. The other team was the 1929-1931 Green Bay Packers. Their last two championships were the first two Super Bowls. At the time, it was played between two separate football leagues, the NFL and AFL. The NFL was seen and thumped its chest as the superior league. Accordingly, Lombardi was under heavy pressure from the NFL to beat the AFL in the Super Bowl. Losing was not an option as the NFL’s greatest coach and greatest team needed to win the game to reaffirm the belief that the NFL was better. Despite the immense pressure and stress of the heavy expectations, Lombardi and his Packers responded and convincingly beating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in Super Bowl I and the Oakland Raiders 33-14 the following year.
Over the span of this dynasty, the Packers had 10 Hall of Fame Players. The most famous are quarterback Bart Starr and running back Paul Hornung. Starr was seen as an extension of Lombardi on the field. He was very intelligent. Peyton Manning calls audibles at the line but Starr called the game at the line as was the norm for quarterbacks in his time. He was the league MVP in 1966 and was the MVP of the first two Super Bowls. Hornung was one of the most dynamic and versatile football players in NFL history. He was a great short yardage running back, served as the kicker, and could also pass the ball as he played quarterback in college at Notre Dame. On defense, they were anchored by defensive end Willie Davis and linebacker Ray Nitschke. They played in an era that did not record tackles or sacks. Nevertheless, Davis was one of the most disruptive defensive lineman in history. It is estimated that he had over 120 career sacks and he claims he had 25 in one season. Nitschke was known for being a beast and a hard hitter. He was a great overall athlete and had 25 career interceptions.
The Packers are one of the greatest dynasties of All-Time, the only team to win 5 of 7 NFL Championships including three in a row, and worthy of the top seed in my bracket.
2. Bill Walsh’s San Francisco 49ers (1981-1994)
The 49ers were the NFL’s version of the Roman Empire. They were Super Bowl contenders through the 1998 season and won 5 Super Bowls from 1981-1994. While George Seifert coached the last two Super Bowls, he did it with the team Bill Walsh built. The 49ers are also remembered for mastering Walsh’s West Coast Offense. Moreover, they had two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Joe Montana and Steve Young. Young backed up Montana before eventually taking over as the starting quarterback and leading the 49ers to their last Super Bowl victory. Montana was known as Joe Cool for his ability to remain poised and perform under pressure. No moments symbolize this nickname more than two legendary drives, “the Catch” in the 1981 NFC Championship Game and a game winning drive in Super Bowl XXIII in 1988. In the 1981 NFC Championship Game, the 49ers were trailing 27-21 against the Dallas Cowboys with 4:54 remaining and started the drive on their own 11 yard line. As we have certainly seen the highlight over and over again, the 49ers won the game when Montana threw high in the back of the end zone and receiver Dwight Clark made a leaping catch. The play is now known as “the Catch”. The game was also historic as it signaled the shift of power in the NFC from the Cowboys to the 49ers. San Francisco would go on to win its first Super Bowl in 1981. In Super Bowl XXIII, the 49ers trailed the Cincinnati Bengals 16-13 with 3:08 left in the game and started the drive on their own 8 yard line. In one of the legendary moments in NFL history, Montana pointed into the crowd and told his team in the huddle “hey, there’s John Candy” to calm them down and demonstrate his poise. Of course, he drove his team down the field for the game winning touchdown to capture the 49ers’ 3rd Super Bowl. In the following year, they would repeat for their 4th Super Bowl and the last under the leadership of Montana with a 55-10 annihilation of the Broncos. Montana showed his clutch play again throwing for 5 touchdowns, which set the record at that time.
As Montana and Young were on the 49ers at the same time for years, they created the greatest quarterback controversy of all time. Eventually, Steve Young took over full time after Montana suffered an elbow injury that knocked him out of the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Naturally, it was almost impossible taking over for a quarterback that won 4 Super Bowls. As such, Young faced immense pressure against impossible expectations to win a Championship. In 1992 and 1993, he led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game but fell to the Dallas Cowboys both times. Eventually, Young lead them to their fifth Super Bowl in 1994 with a 49-26 thumping of the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl. In that game, Young broke Montana’s touchdown record in the Super Bowl throwing for 6 touchdowns. In memorable clips from the game, Young is seen laughing and celebrating on the sidelines with a teammate pretending to take the proverbial monkey off Young’s back. Of course, both quarterbacks had the luxury of throwing to the greatest wide receiver of all time in Jerry Rice. He joined the dynasty in 1985. Despite breaking and still holding all the receiving records, Rice was a complete player. He was a tireless worker and a great blocker. While these 49ers are known for their great offense, they also had great defenses. The defense was led by Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott in the 1980s. He was one of the most dominant defensive backs with 63 interceptions, 5 defensive touchdowns, and a reputation for being a hard hitting tackler. When the 49ers won in 1994, they had another Hall of Fame corner back in Deion Sanders who was arguably the greatest cover cornerback. He was completely feared by opposing quarterbacks. Part of his reputation as “Prime Time” was due to his ability to return interceptions for touchdowns. He has the NFL record in career defensive and return touchdowns at 19. Imagine if Lott and Sanders played in the same defensive backfield in their primes. Yikes.
The 49ers are more than deserving of this seed and would be one of the favorites to win the whole thing.
3. Jimmy Johnson’s Dallas Cowboys (1992-1995)
Of course, owner Jerry Jones would protest the thought of me calling it Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys. Nevertheless, I give Johnson most of the credit for the dynasty that won 3 Super Bowls in 4 years. For this reason, it was the reason Johnson left after the second Super Bowl as Jerry Jones’s ego needed more attention. Accordingly, head coach Barry Switzer guided the Cowboys to the third Super Bowl victory. Nevertheless, Jones and Johnson were better together than apart as neither was able to replicate the success they had with the Cowboys after the split. These Cowboys are the NFL’s last super team. With the salary cap and free agency the way it is today, there will probably never be a team as loaded as the Cowboys again. In the 1993 season, they had a NFL record 11 Pro Bowlers. Of course, this dynasty was led by the Triplets who are all Hall of Famers: quarterback Troy Aikmen, running back and NFL all-time rushing leader Emmit Smith, and wide receiver Michael Irvin. Jimmy Johnson was able to build his juggernaut with the assist of the Minnesota Vikings. In what is now known as “the Trade”, the Cowboys traded star running back Herschel Walker for 5 players and 8 draft picks in 1989. Two of the trades turned into Emmit Smith and All-Pro safety Darren Woodson. After winning their first two Super Bowls, they drafted Hall of Fame offensive lineman Larry Allen. He was one of the most feared and strongest lineman of all time. After the 1994 season, they were able to sign Deion Sanders from the defending champion San Francisco 49ers. Allen and Sanders added to an already deep and dominant team. They were keys to the third and final Super Bowl win by this dynasty.
One of the symbolic moments in the Cowboys’ championship runs was the 1993 NFC Championship Game. In the 1981 NFC Championship Game, the 49ers overtook the Cowboys to signal the changing of the guard as the 49ers would soon become the dominant franchise in the NFC. History decided to reverse course in 1993. The first drive of the game was a sign that it was not the 49ers’ day. A holding penalty nullified a 63 yard touchdown pass from Steve Young to Jerry Rice. They were denied a fast start and would eventually be denied the victory. The Cowboys took command of the game in the second half en route to the Super Bowl, the first of three in the next four seasons. The Cowboys were absolutely dominating in their Super Bowl victories. In Super Bowl XXVII, they forced 9 Buffalo Bill turnovers that resulted in a 52-17 thrashing. The Cowboys could have had another touchdown on a fumble recovery if defensive lineman Leon Lett did not get stripped right before the goal line for a touchback as he was celebrating too early. Of course, it is one of the funniest bloopers now. Obviously, it would not have been a laughing matter if the game was closer. In the following year, the Cowboys beat the Bills again 30-13. Two years later, the Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 to win Super Bowl XXX.
Memories of the Cowboys dynasty are etched in my memories as their victories occurred in my childhood at the point I started remembering Super Bowls. In addition, I was rooting hard for the Bills to finally win a Super Bowl but the Cowboys simply steamrolled them twice. The Cowboys have earned their place in history and their spot on this playoff bracket.
4. Joe Gibbs’s Washington Redskins (1982-1991)
Most dynasties are anchored by a great coach and great quarterback (e.g. Lombardi and Starr, Walsh and Montana, etc.). As a result, it makes Gibbs’s 3 Super Bowl wins with 3 different quarterbacks very unique and puts him in a league of his own. None of his quarterbacks (Joe Theismann, Doug Williams, and Mark Rypien) are Hall of Famers. Theismann was the best of the three as he made it to the Pro Bowl twice, won the 1983 MVP, and played for 12 seasons with the Redskins. Gibbs was simply one of the greatest offensive coaches in the history of the game. He invented offensive formations that baffled opposing defenses. His Redskins were known for their brilliant running game. They put together a great offensive line known as “the Hogs”. Notable members over the championship runs include Hall of Famer Russ Grimm and ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth. The first Super Bowl win featured Hall of Fame running back John Riggins. George Rogers and Earnest Byer were also Pro Bowlers under Gibbs’s system. Despite not having elite quarterbacks, the Redskins also had an effective passing attack led by Hall of Fame receiver Art Monk. When he retired, he had the NFL record for career receptions at 940. Of course, Jerry Rice has since broken the record and other players have also surpassed it in a more pass friendly league.
While Gibbs and his Redskins won 3 Super Bowls, they actually played in 4 Super Bowls over that span. They won Super Bowl XVII defeating the Miami Dolphins 27-17. John Riggins won the MVP by rushing for a then Super Bowl record 166 yards, including a 43 yard touchdown that gave them a lead they would never relinquish. Their quest for a repeat the following season ended in a 38-9 blowout by the Oakland raiders. Their next championship came in Super Bowl XXII. Despite being down 10-0 after the first quarter, they quickly stormed back with 35 points in the second quarter. The rally was engineered by Super Bowl MVP, quarterback Doug Williams, who threw for 4 touchdowns in that quarter. The third Super Bowl win was against the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI as part of the 1991 season. That Redskins team was the best of the three. It scored the most points in the league at 485 (30.3 points per game) and surrendered the second least points at 224 (14 points per game). They were 14-2 and completely dominated in the playoffs. They beat the Atlanta Falcons 24-7, the Detroit Lions 41-10, and the Buffalo Bills 37-24 en route to the championship. The Redskins had 8 Pro Bowlers that season. It definitely earned its place as one of the greatest teams in history and would be the Redskins team you would want to take into the playoff bracket. Of course, you can also decide to add Joe Theismann or John Riggins to this roster in this fantasy playoff bracket. Regardless, quarterback Mark Rypien and running back Earnest Byer had great seasons in 1991.
5. Bill Parcells’s New York Giants (1986-1990)
The staple of these Giants was the Big Blue Wrecking Crew. It was a 3-4 defense and one of the greatest defenses of all time. It featured arguably the greatest defensive player of all time in linebacker Lawrence Taylor (“LT”) and the greatest defensive mind of all time with Bill Belichick as its defensive coordinator. LT was one of the most athletic and feared defenders in the history of the NFL. He officially tallied 132.5 sacks but sacks were not an official statistic in his rookie season in 1981. He was a 10 time All Pro and 3 time Defensive Player of the Year. Regardless, his impact is beyond simple numbers. Nothing demonstrates his ferocity and power more than his career ending hit on Joe Theismann on Monday Night Football. If you have not seen the video yet, do not watch it if you cannot stand grotesque images. LT immediately screamed for help after seeing the destruction to Theismann’s leg his hit did. During his career, he changed the game. Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs innovated new tight end sets to protect his quarterbacks from LT. In terms of Belichick, his track record as defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells on the Giants, New England Patriots, and New York Jets and his current tenure as the head coach of the Patriots speaks for itself. This defense also had Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson. In the two Super Bowl victories, the defense only surrendered 14.8 and 13.2 points per game respectively. On offense, they were led by a solid quarterback in Phil Simms and power running games. The 1986 Giants are one of the most dominant teams in history. They went 14-2 behind a legendary defense with LT tallying 20 ½ sacks and a smash mouth running game as Joe Morris finished the season with 1,516 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Their postseason performance was nothing short of brilliant. They beat Joe Montana and his 49ers 49-3 in the Divisional Round while blanking Joe Gibbs’s Redskins 17-0 in the Conference Championship. In Super Bowl XXI, quarterback John Elway led his Broncos to a 10-7 lead after the first quarter. However, Phil Simms stepped up after an average regular season. He would go on to complete 22/25 passes for the highest pass completion percentage in Super Bowl history and won the MVP of the game as the Giants defeated the Broncos 39-20. The origins of the Gatorade bath began in this Super Bowl as the Giants players dosed Parcells at the end of the game.
The second Super Bowl run may be more impressive as it was one of the most brilliant coaching jobs in history. The Giants went 13-3 during the regular season with the fewest turnovers in NFL history with 14. However, they lost starting quarterback Phil Simms near the end of the season to a broken foot. As a result, they had to turn to their backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler. In the Divisional Round of the Playoffs, the defense dominated the Chicago Bears and held them to 3 points in a 31-3 win. In the NFC Championship Game, the Giants faced the Joe Montana led San Francisco 49ers trying to win their third consecutive Super Bowl. The 49ers took a 13-9 lead into the fourth quarter. However, the vaunted Giants defense was able to knock Montana out of the game. Parcells made a gutsy call on a fake punt that set up a field goal that cut the lead to 13-12. Later, the Giants forced a fumble that set up a game winning field goal with no time left to complete the upset win and comeback. In Super Bowl XXV, the Giants went up against the juggernaut offense of the Buffalo Bills. Parcells and Belichick came up with the perfect game plan. They knew that the Bills had a far superior offense. As a result, they decided to run the ball so they could keep it away from the Bills offense. It worked as they set a Super Bowl record with a time of possession at 40:33 minutes. Even so, the Bills put themselves in position to win the game with a field goal attempt at the end of regulation. In one of the most famous moments in NFL history, kicker Scott Norwood’s 47 yard field goal attempt went wide right and the Giants held on for a 20-19 win. Despite having one of the greatest defenses of all time, it was still amazing that Parcells and Belichick were able to coach up a team behind a backup quarterback to beat a couple of the best teams of all time en route to a second Super Bowl win.
The Big Blue Wrecking Crew along with coaching from Parcells and Belichick is nothing to overlook. The 1986 Giants can beat anyone. The 1991 Redskins vs. the 1986 Giants would be a great Wild Card game.
6. 1985 Chicago Bears
Without a doubt, the 85 Bears are one of the greatest teams in NFL history. It went 15-1 in the regular season en route to winning the Super Bowl. Ironically, they were denied a perfect season by the only franchise with an undefeated season, the Miami Dolphins. In Week 13 on Monday Night Football, Dan Marino figured out Buddy Ryan’s [Chicago Bears defensive coordinator] legendary 46 defense and carved it up for 38 points. It was a spectacular performance considering the Bears only gave up 198 points during the season (average of 12.4). It created a lot of pressure sacking the quarterback 64 times. More impressively, they forced a mind boggling 54 turnovers and scored 5 defensive touchdowns and 3 safeties. They had a great linebacker core led by Defensive Player of the Year Mike Singletary. Richard Dent was the Defensive Rookie of the Year on the defensive line. He had 17 sacks and forced 7 fumbles. While defense is the part of the 85 Bears that will always be remembered, they also had a top offense that scored the second most points in the league in 1985 at 456 points (28.5 points per game). They were led by Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton and brash quarterback Jim McMahon. Payton had another dominating season rushing for 1,551 yards and 9 touchdowns while adding 49 receptions for 483 yards and two touchdowns. After the loss to Miami in the regular season, the Bears also infamously recorded the music video “The Super Bowl Shuffle”. Youtube it if you are in for a laugh. It is hysterical. The Bears playoff run was nothing short of dominating. They blanked the New York Giants 21-0 and the Los Angeles Rams 24-0 to advance to the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XX, the Bears demolished the New England Patriots 46-10. However, the Patriots can take solace in that it was the only team to score against the Bears in that playoff. It should be noted that the Patriots also upset the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game which denied us a rematch of the regular season game between the Dolphins and Bears. It would have been interesting to see if Marino could have carved up the Bears one more time. After winning the Super Bowl, the players decided to carry Buddy Ryan off the field along with head coach Mike Ditka.
Similar to all the other teams in the NFC bracket, the Bears are another great team that can win my fantasy Super Bowl.
About Pat Wong
Patrick is a contributor for Rookerville. He is an avid sports fan. Before joining Rookerville, he was part of a defunct New York Yankees message board, NYYankeefans, where he was its top poster and was inducted in its Hall of Fame for his contributions. Patrick is also a passionate fan of movies. He has enjoyed reading movie reviews over the years and is excited about the opportunity to review movies.