What NFL team never lost a game?

Asked by: Vincenzo McCullough  |  Last update: March 19, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (4 votes)

The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated and win the Super Bowl, finishing 17-0, a feat unmatched in the Super Bowl era. Several other teams have come close with undefeated regular seasons but lost in the playoffs or Super Bowl, most notably the 2007 New England Patriots, who went 18-1 but lost Super Bowl XLII.

Is there an NFL team that never lost a game?

'The Perfect Season': 1972 Miami Dolphins

The 1972 Miami Dolphins finished 17-0 and won Super Bowl VII over the Washington Redskins. The '72 Dolphins have remained the only NFL team to complete an entire season undefeated.

Has any NFL team ever gone unbeaten?

The Miami Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to have a perfect season, posting a record of 17–0 in the 1972 season.

Which team went 17/0 in the NFL?

The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only NFL team to complete a perfect season, finishing 17-0 (14 regular season wins + 3 playoff wins) and winning Super Bowl VII, making them the sole team to achieve this historic feat. While no team went 17-0 in the current 17-game regular season format (that started in 2021), the '72 Dolphins went undefeated across their entire schedule, including the postseason, a standard no other team has matched.
 

Has any team gone 16/0 in the NFL?

Since the National Football League began in 1920, only one team has played a perfect season: the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who won all fourteen of their regular season games and three postseason games, including Super Bowl VII, to finish the season 17–0–0.

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35 related questions found

Has any NFL team gone 0-16?

Yes, two NFL teams have gone 0-16 in a 16-game season: the Detroit Lions in 2008 and the Cleveland Browns in 2017, making them the only teams to complete a full regular season without a win. The Lions were the first to do it, but the Browns later matched the infamous record. 

What is the best NFL team ever?

While subjective, the 1972 Miami Dolphins (the only perfect season) and the 1985 Chicago Bears (dominant defense) are most frequently cited as the best NFL teams ever, with other strong contenders including the 1989 49ers, 1991 Redskins, and the dynasties of the 1970s Steelers and 1990s Cowboys, depending on whether one values perfection, dominance, or sustained dynasty. 

Which NFL team went 18/0?

The Patriots entered the game with an unprecedented 18-0 record after completing a perfect regular season. New England held a 14-10 lead following Randy Moss's touchdown catch with 2:42 left in the game, but the Giants scored a game-winning touchdown with 35 seconds left.

Has an 8 8 team ever won a Super Bowl?

No, an 8-8 NFL team has never won the Super Bowl; the lowest regular season record for a Super Bowl winner belongs to the 2011 New York Giants (9-7), though teams with mediocre regular seasons have made deep playoff runs, proving that regular season records aren't everything for championship success. 

Has a 1-5 team ever made the NFL playoffs?

Yes, several NFL teams have made the playoffs after starting 1-5, though it's rare, with four teams achieving this feat since the 1970 merger: the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals, 2015 Kansas City Chiefs, 2018 Indianapolis Colts, and 2020 Washington Football Team. These teams proved it's possible to overcome a poor start by winning most of their remaining games to secure a postseason spot. 

What was the best NFL season ever?

The best season in NFL history is often cited as the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only team to complete a perfect, undefeated season (17-0), including a Super Bowl win, dominating in offense, defense, and scoring. However, the 2007 New England Patriots (18-1) had a historically dominant regular season with the highest point differential before their Super Bowl upset, and the 1985 Chicago Bears (15-1) are legendary for their sheer defensive dominance, making these top contenders for "best" depending on criteria like perfection vs. sheer force. 

Who was the quarterback for the 72 Dolphins?

The 1972 Miami Dolphins had two key quarterbacks for their perfect season: starter Bob Griese, who was injured mid-season, and veteran backup Earl Morrall, who stepped in and led the team to an undefeated regular season before Griese returned for the playoffs and Super Bowl VII.
 

Has every NFL team beaten each other?

Has every team in the NFL beaten every other team? Is anyone winless? Could anyone be undefeated vs another franchise? This information was somewhat predictable based on just franchise lifespan alone, but according to “The Football Database”, the Houston Texans are the only team to not complete this feat.

What is the most hated rivalry in the NFL?

The most hated NFL rivalries often stem from long histories, geographic proximity, and intense playoff battles, with top contenders including the Bears vs. Packers, Cowboys vs. Commanders/Eagles, and the Steelers vs. Ravens, fueled by divisional hatred and iconic clashes, creating deep-seated animosity between fanbases, according to various sports analyses and surveys. 

What is the rarest rule in the NFL?

Some of the weirdest NFL rules involve the "Fair Catch Kick" (a potential 3-point field goal attempt after a fair catch), the "Holy Roller Rule" (restricting who can recover a late-game fumble), strict enforcement of player attire (no bandanas, specific sock lengths), and the ability for the league to step in for "unfair acts" via Rule 17, allowing commissioner intervention for egregious offenses, though rarely used.
 

Do janitors get Super Bowl rings?

Yes, janitors often receive Super Bowl rings, though it's up to the team's owner to decide who gets them, and they might be lesser-value versions, with the NFL covering the first 150 rings, and the team deciding on others, including support staff like janitors, cheerleaders, and even office workers, to boost morale and recognize contributions.
 

What player lost 5 Super Bowls in a row?

No single team lost five straight Super Bowls, but backup quarterback Gale Gilbert is the only player to have been on the losing side of five consecutive Super Bowls: four with the Buffalo Bills (1990-1993) and one with the San Diego Chargers (1994). Other players, like Cornelius Bennett and Glenn Parker, also lost five Super Bowls but not consecutively. 

What team went 17/0 in the NFL?

Only one NFL team has ever completed a perfect 17-0 season and won the Super Bowl: the 1972 Miami Dolphins, led by Coach Don Shula, making them the only team in league history to achieve this feat.
 

Can there be a 1-0 NFL game?

Yes, it's possible to score only one point in an NFL game - Yahoo Sports.

Has there ever been a perfect NFL season?

Only one team in NFL history has recorded a perfect season: the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who recorded a 14–0 regular season before winning all three of their playoff games, including Super Bowl VII, to finish with a 17–0 record.

Who favored to win the Super Bowl in 2026?

As of mid-January 2026, the Seattle Seahawks are the overwhelming favorites to win Super Bowl LX, with sportsbooks listing them ahead of the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos, following strong performances in the NFL Playoffs' divisional round, particularly Seattle's dominant defense against the 49ers. Odds fluctuate, but Seattle's defense is a key factor, making them a strong bet against AFC contenders like the Patriots and Broncos, even as the playoff picture narrows. 

Has any QB ever beat all 32 teams?

Only four NFL quarterbacks have beaten all 32 current teams: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre, a testament to their longevity and success across multiple teams, with Favre being the first to achieve it, followed by Manning (Broncos), Brees (Saints), and finally Brady (Buccaneers) completing the exclusive club.
 

What's the best NFL player ever?

There's no single "best" NFL player ever, but Tom Brady (QB) is widely considered the greatest due to his unmatched seven Super Bowl wins, while Jerry Rice (WR) is often cited as the best non-QB for his dominant receiving records and three Super Bowl rings, with Jim Brown (RB) and Lawrence Taylor (LB) also frequently in the top tier for their era-defining dominance. The debate often centers on Brady's unprecedented success at the quarterback position versus the sheer dominance of players like Rice, Brown, and Taylor at their respective spots. 

What is the oldest NFL team?

The Arizona Cardinals are the oldest NFL team, established in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago and joining the league as a charter member in 1920, making them the oldest continuously operating professional football franchise, despite their various city relocations to St. Louis and Phoenix. The Chicago Bears (originally the Decatur Staleys) are the other surviving founding member, but the Cardinals hold the distinction of being the earliest established club still in the league.