Scoring loads of factors normally leads to loads of wins. That was the case for a lot of previous Tremendous Bowl winners. It was definitely the case for final yr’s Tremendous Bowl champion, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who used their offense to assist seize the franchise’s second Vince Lombardi Trophy. 

Whereas there have been a slew of historic offenses over the NFL‘s 101-year historical past (particularly for the reason that AFL-NFL merger in 1970), a couple of of these items really left an indelible mark on the sport within the years since their achievements. And whereas we could also be residing within the NFL’s true passing period, that does not imply that the most effective offensive soccer resides in trendy instances. As an alternative, it seems that the Nineties, an period that noticed a real steadiness of working and passing, produced a number of the greatest offenses which have ever existed on a soccer subject. 

With the 2021 season simply across the nook, we determined to check out the highest ten offenses in league historical past. Together with scoring factors, dominating opponents and fielding a unit with top-tier expertise, you needed to win a Tremendous Bowl as a way to make this minimize, which is why you will not see the Nineties Payments “Ok-Gun” offense, Dan Fouts’ Chargers, Peyton Manning’s 2013 Broncos or both of Randy Moss’ legendary offensive items (the ’98 Vikings and ’07 Patriots) on this record. If the ring is really the factor, you needed to win all of it to earn a spot on this all-time record. 

Honorable Point out: 1991 WFT

Devoid of big-name gamers, Joe Gibbs’ offense was not quick on fireplace energy in 1991. Gibbs’ offense featured 5 Professional Bowlers in quarterback Mark Rypien, working again Earnest Byner, receiver Gary Clark, left sort out Jim Lachey and proper guard Mark Schlereth. The offense additionally featured Corridor of Fame receiver Artwork Monk, fellow receiver Ricky Sanders, working backs Ricky Ervins and Gerald Riggs, and proper sort out Joe Jacoby, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Workforce for the Nineteen Eighties. 

Washington’s offense averaged a league-high 30.3 factors per recreation through the common season. They scored 102 factors in three playoff video games, together with 37 factors in Washington’s win over Buffalo in Tremendous Bowl XXVI. Rypien gained Tremendous Bowl MVP honors after throwing for 292 yards and two touchdowns. Clark and Monk recorded 114 and 113 receiving yards, respectively, whereas the trio of Ervins, Byner and Riggs mixed to amass 152 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. 

John Madden’s offense boasted 5 future Corridor of Fame gamers in quarterback Ken Stabler, receiver Fred Biletnikoff, tight finish Dave Casper, left sort out Artwork Shell and left guard Gene Upshaw. The offense additionally featured receiver Cliff Department (arguably the most effective participant not at present enshrined in Canton, Ohio) and the formidable working again trio of Mark van Eeghen, Clarence Davis and Pete Banaszak. 

The Raiders scored 24 factors apiece of their playoff victories over New England and Pittsburgh, the defending two-time Tremendous Bowl champs. Dealing with the Vikings’ “Purple Individuals Eater” protection in Tremendous Bowl XI, Madden took full benefit of the left aspect of his line, which opened gaping holes for Davis to run for 137 yards on simply 15 carries. All informed, the Raiders rushed for a then-Tremendous Bowl report 266 yards towards one of many best defensive traces in league historical past. Oakland’s offense line additionally offered loads of time for Stabler, whose second-quarter landing move to Casper jumpstarted the Raiders’ assault. Biletnikoff turned the second receiver to win Tremendous Bowl MVP honors after catching three passes that arrange Oakland touchdowns. 

9. 2020 Buccaneers

Regardless of some early rising pains, the Buccaneers’ offense averaged practically 31 factors per recreation through the 2020 season. Throughout their final seven video games (together with the postseason), Tampa Bay averaged 35 factors per recreation. The Bucs scored no less than 30 factors in every of their 4 playoff wins that included a 31-point effort of their blowout win over the defending champion Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LV. Tom Brady gained his fifth Tremendous Bowl MVP award after throwing two landing passes to Rob Gronkowski and one other to Antonio Brown. The Buccaneers’ passing recreation was complemented completely by working backs Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones II, who mixed to achieve 196 all-purpose yards and a landing on 32 touchdowns. Fournette’s 27-yard landing run within the third quarter gave the Buccaneers an insurmountable 28-9 lead. 

Brady’s main goal through the season was former Professional Bowl wideout Mike Evans, who caught 13 landing passes throughout his first season with Brady. Regardless of coping with accidents, fellow receiver Chris Godwin completed second on the Buccaneers in receptions, receiving yards and landing catches. Scott Miller’s 39-yard catch arrange a key landing in Tampa Bay’s win over Inexperienced Bay within the NFC Championship Sport. 

Defending Brady through the Buccaneers’ title run have been Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, Alex Cappa and rookie first-round decide Tristan Wirfs. The unit allowed simply three sacks of Brady through the Buccaneers’ closing three playoff video games. 

8. 1994 49ers 

With future Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan as offensive coordinator, the 49ers’ offense was a minimize above the remaining in 1994. Led by league MVP Steve Younger and Corridor of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, the 49ers’ offense averaged practically 32 factors per recreation through the common season. San Francisco’s offense additionally featured Professional Bowl working again Ricky Watters, fullback William Floyd, wideout John Taylor, Professional Bowl tight finish Brent Jones and Professional Bowl linemen Jesse Sapolu and Bart Oates. 

The 49ers’ offense went into excessive gear through the playoffs. They scored 44 factors on the Bears within the divisional spherical earlier than lighting up the defending two-time champion Cowboys to the tune of 38 factors within the NFC Championship Sport. These performances have been simply an appetizer for what was to come back in Tremendous Bowl XXIX. Younger threw for six landing passes — a still-standing Tremendous Bowl report — whereas additionally serving as the sport’s main rusher. Three of Younger’s landing passes went to Rice, whereas Watters turned the second participant to attain three touchdowns within the Huge Sport. Appropriately, the 49ers put up 49 factors of their 23-point win over the Chargers. 

With reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes beneath middle, the Chiefs scored 51, 35 and 31 factors of their respective playoff victories whereas turning into the primary staff in league historical past to beat three consecutive double-digit deficits in a single postseason. Down 20-10 late in Tremendous Bowl LIV, Kansas Metropolis scored three unanswered touchdowns towards the 49ers’ formidable protection. The comeback began when Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill on a 44-yard completion on a third-and-15 scenario. It ended when working again Damien Williams (who scored the Chiefs’ go-ahead landing) ripped off a 38-yard landing run. 

The primary participant in league historical past to win Tremendous Bowl and league MVP honors earlier than his twenty fifth birthday, Mahomes’ major weapons on offense included Hill, Williams, Professional Bowl tight finish Travis Kelce, and receivers Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson. Hill led all receivers with 105 yards in Tremendous Bowl LIV, whereas Watkins and and Kelce every got here up with large performs through the Chiefs’ late scoring spree. 

Whereas devoid of Professional Bowl illustration, the Chiefs possessed a stable offensive line that included Eric Fisher, Austin Reiter, Mitchell Schwartz, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Andrew Wylie, and Stefen Wisniewski. Fullback Anthony Sherman offered a key block that helped free Williams on his game-clinching landing run. 

The undefeated ’72 Dolphins boasted the league’s greatest protection in addition to the league’s highest scoring offense. Working behind a proficient offensive line that included Corridor of Fame proper guard Larry Little, left guard Bob Kuechenberg, Professional Bowl proper sort out Norm Evans and middle Jim Langer, working backs Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris turned the primary set of teammates in league historical past to every rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. The duo was complemented by fellow working again Jim Kiick, who scored three touchdowns through the postseason, together with two towards Pittsburgh’s “Metal Curtain” protection within the AFC Championship Sport en path to Tremendous Bowl VII. 

The Dolphins’ passing assault featured Corridor of Fame quarterback Bob Griese and fellow quarterback Earl Morrall, who earned All-Professional honors that yr whereas successful all 10 of his begins with Griese out with an damage. Marv Fleming and Jim Mandich proved to be a formidable duo at tight finish, however Miami’s largest risk within the passing recreation was Corridor of Fame receiver Paul Warfield, whose 52-yard reception helped flip the tide in Miami’s AFC title recreation victory over Pittsburgh. Miami’s offense would assist the Dolphins win back-to-back Tremendous Bowls whereas turning into the primary staff to make three consecutive appearances within the Huge Sport. 

5. 1989 49ers 

The ’84 49ers initially held this spot, however after some debating, I in the end gave the nod to the ’89 49ers for a number of causes. The 49ers’ ’84 offense — a unit that overwhelmed the Dolphins’ “Killer B” protection in Tremendous Bowl XIX after besting the following two Tremendous Bowl champions (the Bears and Giants) within the NFC playoffs — had a greater dashing assault, led by Roger Craig (1,324 complete yards, 10 touchdowns) and Wendell Tyler (1,262 dashing yards, seven touchdowns, 5.1 yards per carry). In addition they had a really formidable receiving corps, led by receivers Dwight Clark (16.9 yards per catch) and Freddie Solomon (10 landing receptions) together with tight ends Earl Cooper and Russ Francis. The ’84 49ers additionally had Corridor of Fame head coach Invoice Walsh, the architect of the West Coast offense, an offensive philosophy primarily based on timing, precision and execution. 

Whereas they now not had Walsh (who retired after the 49ers gained Tremendous Bowl XXIII), the ’89 49ers had offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren, who later served as head coach when the Packers defeated the Patriots in Tremendous Bowl XXXI. The ’89 49ers nonetheless had Craig and quarterback Joe Montana, who accomplished over 70% of his passes that yr whereas incomes All-Professional honors. Together with having Tremendous Bowl XXIII hero John Taylor at receiver, the ’89 49ers’ largest benefit on this comparability is Jerry Rice, who got here to San Francisco mere months after the 49ers beat up the Dolphins within the Tremendous Bowl. The ’89 49ers offense additionally had quarterback Steve Younger, who gained all three of his begins through the common season. 

In ’89, the duo of Rice and Taylor mixed to catch 142 passes for two,560 yards and 27 touchdowns. San Francisco’s passing assault was additionally buoyed by fullback Tom Rathman (73 catches, 616 yards) and Brent Jones (40 catches, 500 yards and 4 touchdowns). Craig, the primary participant in league historical past to run and catch for over 1,000 yards in a season, amassed 1,527 all-purpose yards through the common season. San Francisco’s proficient offensive line included Professional Bowl left guard Man McIntyre, middle Jesse Sapolu, and tackles Harris Barton and Bubba Paris. 

The 49ers’ offense had arguably the most effective three-game run of any staff in NFL playoff historical past. After scoring 71 complete factors of their playoff wins over the Vikings and Rams, San Francisco placed on a clinic towards the Broncos in Tremendous Bowl XXIV. Led by Montana’s 5 landing passes, the 49ers scored a Tremendous Bowl report 55 factors whereas recording the most important margin of victory (45 factors) in Tremendous Bowl historical past. Montana turned the primary participant to win three Tremendous Bowl MVP awards, whereas Rice’s three landing receptions nonetheless maintain the single-game Tremendous Bowl report, a report he matched 5 years later in Tremendous Bowl XXIX. 

4. 1979 Steelers 

The ’79 Steelers have been the epitome of excessive danger, excessive reward. Whereas the ’79 Steelers led the NFL in turnovers, in addition they led the league in factors scored whereas that includes 5 Corridor of Fame gamers in quarterback Terry Bradshaw (the reigning league and Tremendous Bowl MVP), working again Franco Harris (1,477 complete yards, 12 touchdowns), middle Mike Webster, and receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Regardless of their turnover woes, Pittsburgh nonetheless managed to attain 53 touchdowns, a franchise report that stood for practically 40 years. The success of the offense allowed the Steelers to win their fourth Tremendous Bowl in a six-year span whereas solidifying their place as arguably the most effective staff of the Tremendous Bowl period on the time. 

Whereas Bradshaw, Harris (the Steelers’ profession dashing chief) and Swann (the MVP of Tremendous Bowl X) have been already family names, the star of the ’79 Steelers’ offense was Stallworth, who lived in Swann’s shadow through the first 4 years of his profession earlier than having fun with a breakout season in ’78 that was capped off by his two-touchdown efficiency in Pittsburgh’s win over Dallas in Tremendous Bowl XIII. In ’79, Stallworth picked up the place he left off as he led the Steelers in receptions, yards and touchdowns whereas successful the staff’s MVP award. In opposition to the Rams in Tremendous Bowl XIV, with the Steelers trailing late and Swann sidelined with a concussion, Stallworth’s 73-yard landing gave Pittsburgh the lead. His 45-yard catch on the Steelers’ subsequent possession arrange Harris’ game-clinching rating. 

Regardless of Stallworth’s late heroics, the MVP of Tremendous Bowl XIV went to Bradshaw, who additionally threw a 47-yard landing move to Swann earlier within the recreation on his option to throwing for 309 yards. Bradshaw, who referred to as Pittsburgh’s performs within the huddle throughout every of its 4 Tremendous Bowl wins, was additionally aided by a proficient duo at tight finish in Bennie Cunningham and Randy Grossman. Together with Bradshaw and Harris, the Steelers’ backfield additionally included Rocky Bleier, who offered stellar blocking for Harris whereas additionally proving to be stable choice as a runner and receiver, and Sidney Thornton, who ran for six touchdowns that season whereas averaging 5 yards per carry. Together with Webster, Pittsburgh’s offensive line featured a number of the greatest within the enterprise in tackles Larry Brown and Jon Kolb and guards Sam Davis and Steve Courson. 

3. 1998 Broncos 

Recent off the franchise’s first-ever Tremendous Bowl win, the ’98 Broncos featured an explosive offensive assault led by Corridor of Fame working again Terrell Davis, who claimed league MVP honors after turning into solely the fourth participant in historical past to hurry for over 2,000 yards in a season. Davis set an NFL report for probably the most yards ever gained by a working again through the common season and postseason, dashing for two,476 yards that included 199-, 167- and 102-yard dashing performances through the playoffs. Davis would have damaged Eric Dickerson’s regular-season dashing report had he not been pulled from a substantial quantity of video games through the season after the Broncos had mounted sizable leads. 

Denver’s ’98 offense additionally featured Corridor of Fame quarterback John Elway, who, regardless of being in his sixteenth and closing NFL season, was nonetheless greater than able to main the Broncos’ offense to victory when defenses zeroed in on Davis. Trailing the Jets 10-0 within the AFC Championship Sport, Elway’s 47-yard completion to receiver Ed McCaffrey (father of Panthers‘ All-Professional working again Christian McCaffrey) ignited the Broncos, who scored the sport’s closing 23 factors. In Tremendous Bowl XXXIII, with the Falcons‘ protection watching Davis’ each transfer, Elway took full benefit, hitting Professional Bowl receiver Rod Smith for an 80-yard landing that gave the Broncos a 17-3 second quarter lead. Elway, who threw for 336 yards in his closing NFL recreation, additionally rushed for a landing whereas incomes MVP honors. 

The ’98 Broncos’ offense included two 1,000-yard receivers in Smith and McCaffrey. It additionally featured Corridor of Fame tight finish Shannon Sharpe, who’s second in franchise historical past in profession receptions and third in landing catches. Denver’s offense additionally boasted a vastly underrated offense line, led by left guard Mark “Stink” Schlereth, middle Tom Nalen, left sort out Tony Jones, proper guard Dan Neil and proper sort out Henry Swyane. Whereas they weren’t the most important of traces, Denver’s entrance 5 assist pry open devastating holes for Davis, who excelled in Mike Shanahan’s zone working system. The road additionally offered sturdy safety for Elway and backup quarterback Bubby Brister, who went 6-0 as a starter when Elway was sidelined by an damage through the common season. 

Just like the 49ers, the Nineties Cowboys had a few legendary offenses to decide on between. In the end, the ’95 Cowboys edged out the ’92 unit for a couple of causes, principally as a result of, by this level, the Cowboys’ offense had developed right into a well-oiled machine whose largest opponent was not the opposition however themselves. If you wish to watch the ’90s Cowboys’ offense at its peak for a full 60-minute recreation, watch Tremendous Bowl XXVII, when Dallas’ offense helped put up 52 factors on the helpless Payments. However when you actually need to see the true excellence of that period of Cowboys’ soccer, watch the primary three possessions of Tremendous Bowl XXX, when Dallas’ offense ran by way of the Steelers‘ formidable protection like a sizzling knife by way of butter. However after scoring on every of its first three drives, an damage to Emmitt Smith neutered Dallas’ offense for the rest of the sport; it was two interceptions by Larry Brown that arrange each of the Cowboys’ second-half touchdowns. 

Whereas Smith’s damage prevented them from placing an exclamation level on their work, the ’95 Cowboys’ offense was, however, probably the most dominant items in league historical past. The engine was Smith, who earned All-Professional honors for a fourth straight season after dashing for a career-high 1,773 yards. He additionally rushed for a then NFL single-season report 25 touchdowns. Within the playoffs, Smith scored six extra touchdowns that included two towards the Steelers, who allowed simply 9 dashing touchdowns through the common season. 

Smith was a part of a trio famously referred to as “The Triplets” that additionally contains receiver Michael Irvin and quarterback Troy Aikman. Irvin, probably the most bodily receivers in league historical past, set profession highs with 110 receptions for 1,603 yards whereas additionally catching 10 touchdowns. Aikman, who has additionally acquired a gold jacket together with a bronze bust in Canton, Ohio, earned his fifth of six consecutive Professional Bowl honors that season. Whereas the main focus of the offense was centered on Smith, Aikman’s regular play beneath middle allowed the Cowboys to attain 30, 28 and 27 factors of their respective video games through the ’95 postseason. He was his typical environment friendly self within the NFC title recreation. Whereas his counterpart that day, Brett Favre, threw for extra yards with yet one more landing move, Aikman accomplished a better proportion of his passes, threw no interceptions (in comparison with Favre’s two picks) whereas posting a 107.5 passser ranking to Favre’s 84 ranking. 

The Cowboys’ offense was extra than simply “The Triplets.” The ’95 unit additionally featured fullback Darryl “Moose” Johnston, tight finish Jay Novacek, receiver Kevin Williams and Corridor of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, who additionally noticed time at receiver that season. Sanders’ 47-yard catch in Tremendous Bowl XXX arrange the sport’s first landing, a brief move from Aikman to Novacek. The Cowboys’ offense additionally included “The Nice Wall of Dallas,” an offensive line that featured Corridor of Fame guard Larry Allen, tackles Erik Williams and Mark Tuinei, middle Ray Donaldson, and left guard Nate Newton. Dallas’ Nice Wall, the NFL’s first line to common 300 kilos per participant, paved the way in which for maybe the best offense the NFL has ever seen. 

1. 1999 Rams 

The 1999 Rams, nicknamed “The Biggest Present on Turf,” featured a number of the quickest, most explosive playmakers within the NFL. That season, Corridor of Fame working again Marshall Faulk, who was acquired from the Colts through the offseason, turned the second participant in league historical past to achieve 1,000 yards dashing and receiving in the identical season. Receiver Isaac Bruce, who will obtain a gold jacket and bronze bust in Canton later this summer time as part of the category of 2020, led the group with 12 landing receptions. Fellow receiver Torry Holt, a rookie that season, caught six landing passes, whereas Az-Zahir Hakim contributed with eight landing catches. 

Corridor of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, who changed an injured Trent Inexperienced through the preseason, loved a Cinderella season, incomes league MVP honors two years after finishing a two-year stint because the Iowa Barnstormers quarterback within the Enviornment Soccer League. In all, the ’99 Rams offense, a unit that additionally included Corridor of Fame lineman Orlando Tempo, scored 526 factors whereas averaging a whopping 32.9 factors per recreation. But it surely was the velocity of their offense that really left followers and opponents gasping for air. That velocity enabled the Rams to attain no less than 30 factors in 12 of their 16 regular-season video games en path to a 13-3 report. The Rams carried their momentum into their divisional spherical playoff matchup with the Vikings. In a basic shootout, Warner accomplished all however six of his 33 makes an attempt for practically 400 yards and 5 touchdowns within the Rams’ 49-37 win. 

After needing a late landing by receiver Ricky Proehl to defeat Tony Dungy’s Buccaneers within the NFC Championship Sport, the Rams had little situation transferring the ball towards the Titans in Tremendous Bowl XXXIV. They did, nevertheless, have points scoring touchdowns, as St. Louis needed to accept three subject targets whereas taking a 9-0 halftime lead. Warner and the Rams did hit pay filth on their first possession of the second half, with Warner discovering Holt ultimately zone for a nine-yard rating. 

Following 16 unanswered factors by the Titans, Warner authored one of many best performs in Tremendous Bowl historical past: a 73-yard landing move to Bruce that was delivered simply earlier than he was leveled by Titans All-Professional move rusher Javon Kearse. The completion gave Warner the then-Tremendous Bowl report for passing yards in a single recreation (414) whereas additionally giving the Rams their first Tremendous Bowl win. Whereas they weren’t all the time nice, the Rams’ “Biggest Present on Turf” was nice after they needed to be, which is among the enduring hallmarks of arguably the best offense professional soccer has ever seen.