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There have been several great teams throughout the history of the NFL. Every team has had its share of highlight moments, dream seasons, and dominant performances.
This is the seventh installment of every NFL team's best season by division, now with the NFC South.
Atlanta Falcons NFC Best Team: 1998
The 2016 Atlanta Falcons were much more competitive in their Super Bowl appearance (holding a 28-3 lead before squandering it against the Patriots). But the '98 Falcons were, statistically speaking, a superior team. In 1998, Atlanta's NFC best team went 14-2 during the regular season before defeating Steve Young and the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs' divisional round. In the NFC Championship Game, the Falcons defeated the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings in one of the greatest upsets in NFL postseason history.
Atlanta couldn’t duplicate that success in Super Bowl XXXIII as they were run over by the defending champion Denver Broncos, 34-19. The Falcons were led by Pro Bowlers in quarterback Chris Chandler, running back Jamal Anderson, offensive tackle Bob Whitfield, linebacker Jessie Tuggle, corner Ray Buchanan, and free safety Eugene Robinson. Anderson, the team's lone All-Pro that season, rushed for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Falcons' offense also included two 1,000-yard receivers, Tony Martin and Terance Mathis.
Carolina Panthers: 2015
As the seventh team in NFL history to win at least 15 regular-season games, the 2015 Carolina Panthers' average margin of victory was a dozen points. Carolina carried its regular-season momentum into the playoffs, dethroning the two-time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round. Then, they destroyed the Arizona Cardinals in the conference championship game. The Panthers' dream season did not have a dream ending in Super Bowl 50. Von Miller's 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles helped the Broncos come away with a 24-10 victory.
Carolina's talented roster that season included league MVP quarterback Cam Newton, who became the first player in NFL history to throw 35 touchdowns and run for 10 touchdowns in the same season.
Along with Newton, the Panthers' roster also included fellow Pro Bowlers in running back Jonathan Stewart, fullback Mike Tolbert, tight end Greg Olsen, center Ryan Kalil, right guard Trai Turner, defensive tackle Kawann Short, linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, and cornerback Josh Norman.
New Orleans Saints: 2009
Led by quarterback Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints roared out to a 13-0 start before coasting to the NFC South division title. In the playoffs, the Saints routed the defending NFC champion Cardinals before outlasting Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, and the Vikings in the NFC title game. In Super Bowl XLIV, the Saints overcame a 10-0 deficit to defeat regular-season MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17.
Brees earned Super Bowl MVP honors after going 32-of-39 for 288 yards with 2 touchdowns. While the Saints' offense featured 4 Pro Bowlers in Brees, center Johnathan Goodwin, right guard Jahri Evans, and right tackle Jon Stinchcomb, their defense boasted 3 more Pro Bowlers in middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and safeties Roman Harper and Darren Sharper.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2020
The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will always hold a special place in the hearts of Tampa Bay fans as the franchise's first title team. But the 2020 Buccaneers were a more balanced team. The 2020 Buccaneers also had the "GOAT," quarterback Tom Brady, who won a record seventh Super Bowl and fifth Super Bowl MVP. After a slow 7-5 start, Tampa Bay won its final 8 games.
In the divisional round, they sent quarterback Drew Brees into retirement before defeating league MVP Aaron Rodgers in the NFC title game. In Super Bowl LV, the Buccaneers' often-overlooked defense—led by linebackers Devin White, Shaquil Barrett, and Lavonte David, defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul, and defensive backs Antoine Winfield Jr., Jordan Whitehead, and Carlton Davis—held Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs' mighty offense to just 9 points.
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