Let’s go WAY back in time…….back to the year 2000……you remember, don’t you ? Super Bowl XXXIV was played. We, as a society, had miraculously made it through doomsday. The computers didn’t take over the world. There weren’t world-wide black-outs as predicted.
Yes, the year 2000. Back when the Houston Texans weren’t even in existence. Back when the Arizona Cardinals played in the NFC East. Back when the Seattle Seahawks played in the AFC. Back when we thought Britney Spears was just a cute little teenager who could sing and dance.
I know it doesn’t seem possible but all of that was just earlier THIS decade. It was the first NFL season of a new century…………and, of course, a new decade. The Steelers owned the 1970’s. The 49ers ruled the 80’s and it was the Cowboys turn to shine in the 90’s.
We all wondered who would own the 00’s as the 2000 regular season began. The Rams had just come off of a huge season in 1999 followed by a SB victory over the Titans. They had tons of young talent on offense. Kurt Warner had come out of nowhere. No one could stop them on offense. It looked like a dynasty in the making. The Rams have won an NFC title in this decade, but have had no more Super Bowl victories.
So how is the first decade of the new century shaping up for each team in the NFL, I asked myself……….we ALL know that this will go down in history as the Patriot’s decade unless one of the other teams can rack up 3 SB victories by the end of the decade to give us something to debate. So, where does each team stand as we near the end of the 00’s ?
I could have just made some notes on each team about how I thought their decade was going……….but what’s the fun in that ? This requires a power ranking supported by a formula, right ? (collective ‘ugh’ from PSH is heard loud and clear—but that still won’t stop me)……….
So, here it is………..the power ranking for the DECADE !! Which teams have had a good decade? Which teams haven’t? I kept this formula quite simple. Feel free to add your thoughts. For a few hours, I looked at probabilities of X occurring over a period of X years and yada yada yada to develop an in-depth formula and then I decided since this is a one-time deal, I would make it simple for everyone………….so here it is…………
Years For Ranking: Starting with the 2000 regular season through the 2007 Super Bowl
Variables:
#1) Regular season victories: 1 victory = 1 point
#2) Each Playoff Berth: Add 10 points
#3) Each Division Championship: Add 15 points
#4) Each Conference Championship: Add 20 points
#5) Each Super Bowl Championship: Add 50 points
#6) Each season with 4 or less victories: Deduct 10 points
Let me explain why each variable was included. Victories, playoff berths, division championships, and conference championships all add to the ‘tradition’ and legacy of an organization. I felt these all needed to be factors in the rankings. Obviously the goal of every team is to ‘win it all’ so I emphasized the importance of a Super Bowl victory by adding the most points to a team’s total with a Super Bowl victory.
When analyzing the ‘lower tier’ teams, I decided that the best variable to use to distinguish the “Redskins” of the world, who usually hover around .500 at least, with the “Texans” of the world, other than regular season victories, was to deduct points for any season in which the team only finished with 1, 2, 3, or 4 victories. These types of years are hard to endure for any organization. For the fans, the coaches, and the media. These types of seasons can affect the tradition and legacy of a team or coach and it obviously deflates the pride their fans have in their team.
Without further ado, here they are, the Decade of 00 power rankings……….
1) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS410 points
5 Division championships and 3 Super Bowl Victories in 7 years. Yup, this is their decade.
2) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS266 Points
6 playoff trips in 7 years and now the monkey off of the back. This is now a GREAT decade for Manning and the Colts.
3) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 230 Points
Ahead of teams with Super Bowl Victories? Yes, this team has 75 regular season victories and 5 division championships this decade. Very impressive.
4) PITTSBURGH STEELERS 227.5 points
The “.5” was from a tie they had in a regular season game. The AFC North has 2 SB victories this decade and the Steelers finally got their 5th ring.
5) BALTIMORE RAVENS 207 Points
The other AFC North Super Bowl winner also has 4 playoff berths and 67 regular season victories to add to their resume.
6) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 188 Points
Dungy built the team that entered the decade as a power in the NFC. Gruden won the Super Bowl with them.
7) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 168 Points
Surprised to see them this high ? 63 regular season victories and 3 division titles gets them this spot.
8) ST. LOUIS RAMS 155 Points
Even AFTER their Super Bowl year, this team has remained very solid, piling up 65 regular season victories and 4 playoff berths this decade.
9) CHICAGO BEARS 143 Points
3 Division Titles and an NFC Championship isn’t too bad in 7 years, eh ?
10) GREEN BAY PACKERS 140 Points
This one surprised me a bit but they were still a force in the league earlier this decade.
11) NEW YORK GIANTS 138 Points
The first NFC Champion of this decade hasn’t been able to make it back to the big dance but 4 playoff berths and 2 division championshipsin the 00’s ain’t too shabby.
12) DENVER BRONCOS 125 Points
I expected this team to be in the top 10 but just 1 division championship and no Super Bowls puts them here.
13) OAKLAND RAIDERS 113 Points
Had a lot of success in the early part of the decade (3 division titles and 1 AFC title)
14) TENNESSEE TITANS 110 Points
Another team with early decade success. I have a feeling the Titans will get back to prominence before the Raiders, though. Call me psychic.
15) NEW YORK JETS 103 Points
This organization has done a lot better than most give them credit for. 4 playoff berths in the last 7 years.
16) CAROLINA PANTHERS 97 Points
Here’s another team I expected to be higher (I had forgotten their 1-15 season though)
17) Tied--KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 95 Points
Consistent organization year in and year out.
17) Tied—NEW ORLEANS SAINTS95 Points
Another organization that isn’t as bad as many think. 2 division titles thus far this decade.
19)MINNESOTA VIKINGS 89 Points
Dominant team at the end of the 90’s continues to search for momentum in the new century.
20) MIAMI DOLPHINS 85 Points
Last team on the list with at least 60 regular season wins. Just not much else to add on for this team.
21) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 83 Points
They weren’t very good early in the decade………
22) ATLANTA FALCONS 76.5 Points
Not a lot of stability within the team/organization
23) DALLAS COWBOYS 69 Points
The 00’s haven’t been as kind to the Cowboys as the 90’s. Zero division titles.
24) Tied—JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 63 Points
One of the most dominant teams at the end of the 90’s has struggled to find it’s footing in the 00’s.
24) Tied—SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 63 Points
Remember, this team had 2 playoff berths and a division title earlier in the decade.
26)WASHINGTON REDSKINS 59 Points
Have never been completely uncompetitive but 1 playoff berth in 7 years isn’t going to cut it.
27) CINCINNATI BENGALS 52 Points
Fortunes may be changing with Lewis, though.
28) BUFFALO BILLS 36 Points
I can’t believe I’m typing this, but…….”they should have never fired Wade”…..
29) CLEVELAND BROWNS 18 Points
They have remained competitive in most seasons and stay out of the bottom 3.
30) ARIZONA CARDINALS 15 Points
I was surprised there were TWO teams below them but then I looked at who they were…………………….
31) HOUSTON TEXANS 13.6 Points
“.6” is from an adjustment in the points I had to make since they have only played 5 seasons and everyone else has played 7
32) DETROIT LIONS 3 Points
Fire Millen and bring back Fred Flintstone (is he still alive?)
410 points
266 Points
230 Points
227.5 points
207 Points
188 Points
168 Points
155 Points
143 Points
140 Points
138 Points
125 Points
113 Points
110 Points
103 Points
97 Points
95 Points
95 Points
89 Points
85 Points
83 Points
76.5 Points
69 Points
63 Points
63 Points
59 Points
52 Points
36 Points
18 Points
15 Points
13.6 Points
3 Points
