Super Bowl Winning Team Components

What team unit is the most important to winning Super Bowls?

There’s a wide held belief that “defense wins championships” in football but is having the best defense, or even a good one, required to be able to win it all?

What about offense or special teams? Do they matter?

We’re currently in a quarterback driven league, does that mean you need an elite quarterback to be able to win the title?

Looking into our NFL past (since 1983) will provide answers to all of these questions and it might also give us insight into who has the best chance of taking home the championships yet to be decided.

Every top ranked unit for each of the 3 phases of the game and their final season result will be analyzed and based on its positional importance, the same will be done for quarterbacks.

Overall team rating will also be looked at, to see if having statistically the best overall regular season team matters in the postseason.

Uncovering fact from fiction will occur when the actual Super Bowl winners yearly ranking in every single one of these categories is revealed.

Sections:

NFL Top Ranked Defense Season Result

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Updated August 10, 2022

Top Ranked Defense Season Result Percentage Breakdown

The following is a percentage breakdown of each top ranked defense season end result, their overall team ranking is in parentheses:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 1985 (1), 1996 (1), 2002 (1), 2008 (4), 2013 (1), 2015 (8) = 6 Total = 14.6%
  • Super Bowl Appearance – 2001 (1), 2010 (2) = 2 Total = 4.8%
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 1984 (3), 1994 (2), 1997 (4), 2009 (9), 2011 (8), 2017 (2) = 6 Total = 14.6%
  • Division Round Appearance – 1986 (1), 1987 (1), 1988 (1), 1989 (3), 1993 (4), 1995 (1), 1998 (5), 2000 (1), 2005 (17), 2006 (2), 2021 (2) = 11 Total = 26.8%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance – 1981 (1), 1982 (12), 1992 (4), 2003 (7), 2007 (11), 2014 (11), 2018 (5), 2019 (3), 2020 (8) = 9 Total = 21.9%
  • Missed Postseason – 1983 (10), 1990 (11), 1991 (5), 1999 (12), 2004 (3), 2012 (6), 2016 (15) = 7 Total = 17%

Last 10 top ranked defense season end result:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 2013 (1), 2015 (8) = 2 Total = 20%
  • Super Bowl Appearance –
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 2017 (2) = 1 Total = 10%
  • Division Round Appearance – 2021 (2) = 1 Total = 10%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance – 2014 (11), 2018 (5), 2019 (3), 2020 (8) = 4 Total = 40%
  • Missed Postseason – 2012 (6), 2016 (15) = 2 Total = 20%

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NFL Top Ranked Offense Season Result

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Updated August 10, 2022

Top Ranked Offense Season Result Percentage Breakdown

The following is a percentage breakdown of each top ranked offense season end result, their overall team ranking is in parentheses:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 1989 (1), 1991 (1), 1994 (3), 1995 (2), 1998 (1), 2006 (7) = 6 Total = 14.6%
  • Super Bowl Appearance – 1983 (1), 1984 (2), 1988 (2), 1990 (3), 2001 (1), 2005 (3), 2007 (1), 2013 (2), 2016 (3), 2017 (6) = 10 Total = 24.3%
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 1981 (3), 1992 (3), 1993 (2), 2012 (3), 2014 (3), 2018 (1), 2020 (3) = 7 Total = 17%
  • Division Round Appearance – 1982 (3), 1987 (1), 1999 (10), 2003 (1), 2004 (5), 2008 (2), 2010 (1), 2011 (2), 2015 (1), 2019 (1), 2021 (2) = 11 Total = 26.8%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance – 1985 (3), 1997 (6), 2000 (10), 2009 (1) = 4 Total = 9.7%
  • Missed Postseason – 1986 (14), 1996 (14), 2002 (4) = 3 Total = 7.3%

Last 10 top ranked offense season end result:

  • Super Bowl Winner –
  • Super Bowl Appearance – 2013 (2), 2016 (3), 2017 (6) = 3 Total = 30%
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 2012 (3), 2014 (3), 2018 (1), 2020 (3) = 4 Total = 40%
  • Division Round Appearance – 2015 (1), 2019 (1), 2021 (2) = 3 Total = 30%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance –
  • Missed Postseason –

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NFL Top Ranked Special Teams Season Result

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Updated August 11, 2022

Top Ranked Special Teams Season Result Percentage Breakdown

The following is a percentage breakdown of each top ranked special teams season end result, their overall team ranking is in parentheses:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 1991 (1), 2012 (10) = 2 Total = 4.7%
  • Super Bowl Appearance – 2006 (5) = 1 Total = 2.3%
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 1983 (7), 1985 (5), 1996 (5), 2001 (2), 2010 (14) = 5 Total = 11.9%
  • Division Round Appearance – 1981 (13), 1986 (15), 1989 (6), 1993 (9), 1994 (9), 1995 (3), 2000 (2), 2003 (1), 2016 (5) = 9 Total = 21.4%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance – 1982 (12), 1984 (7), 1987 (2), 1990 (17), 1998 (9), 2013 (7) = 6 Total = 14.2%
  • Missed Postseason – 1988 (8), 1989 (18), 1992 (21), 1997 (11), 1999 (19), 2002 (11), 2004 (3), 2005 (25), 2007 (20), 2008 (22), 2009 (27), 2011 (15), 2014 (7), 2015 (18), 2017 (7), 2018 (26), 2019 (31), 2020 (22), 2021 (19) = 19 Total = 45.2%

Last 10 top ranked special teams season end result:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 2012 (10) = 1 Total = 10%
  • Super Bowl Appearance –
  • Conference Championship Appearance –
  • Division Round Appearance – 2016 (5) = 1 Total = 10%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance – 2013 (7) = 1 Total = 10%
  • Missed Postseason – 2014 (7), 2015 (18), 2017 (7), 2018 (26), 2019 (31), 2020 (22), 2021 (19) = 7 Total = 70%

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NFL Top Ranked Quarterback Team Season Result

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Updated August 16, 2022

Top Ranked Quarterback Team Season Result Percentage Breakdown

The following is a percentage breakdown of each top ranked quarterback team season end result, their overall team ranking is in parentheses:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 1989 (1), 1991 (1), 1993 (1), 1994 (3), 1999 (1), 2006 (7), 2019 (4) = 7 Total = 16.2%
  • Super Bowl Appearance – 1984 (2), 1988 (2), 2001 (1), 2007 (1), 2013 (2), 2016 (3), 2017 (6) = 7 Total = 16.2%
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 1981 (3), 1987 (3), 1992 (3), 1993 (2), 1997 (4), 1998 (3), 2003 (2), 2012 (3), 2014 (3), 2015 (2), 2018 (1), 2020 (3) = 12 Total = 27.9%
  • Division Round Appearance – 1982 (3), 2002 (6), 2004 (5), 2005 (1), 2008 (8), 2009 (13), 2010 (1), 2011 (2), 2012 (2), 2021 (8) = 10 Total = 23.2%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance – 1990 (6), 2000 (6) = 2 Total = 4.6%
  • Missed Postseason – 1983 (23), 1985 (16), 1986 (3), 1995 (10), 1996 (16) = 5 Total = 11.6%

Last 10 top ranked quarterback team season end result:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 2019 (4) = 1 Total = 9%
  • Super Bowl Appearance – 2013 (2), 2016 (3), 2017 (6) = 3 Total = 27.2%
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 2012 (3), 2014 (3), 2015 (2), 2018 (1), 2020 (3) = 5 Total = 45.4%
  • Division Round Appearance – 2012 (2), 2021 (8) = 2 Total = 18.1%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance –
  • Missed Postseason –

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NFL Top Ranked Overall Team Season Result

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Updated August 16, 2022

Top Ranked Overall Team Season Result Percentage Breakdown

The following is a percentage breakdown of each top ranked overall team season end result:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2013, 2016 = 14 Total = 34.1%
  • Super Bowl Appearance – 1983, 2001, 2007, 2014 = 4 Total = 9.7%
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 1982, 1994, 2004, 2008, 2018 = 5 Total = 12.1%
  • Division Round Appearance – 1986, 1987, 1988, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 = 15 Total = 36.5%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance – 1981, 2009, 2021 = 3 Total = 7.3%
  • Missed Postseason –

Last 10 top ranked overall team season end result:

  • Super Bowl Winner – 2013, 2016 = 2 Total = 20%
  • Super Bowl Appearance – 2014 = 1 Total = 10%
  • Conference Championship Appearance – 2018 = 1 Total = 10%
  • Division Round Appearance – 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 = 5 Total = 50%
  • Wildcard Round Appearance – 2021 = 1 Total = 10%
  • Missed Postseason –

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Super Bowl Winner Unit Rankings

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Updated August 16, 2022

Super Bowl Winner Unit Rankings Percentage Breakdown

The following is a percentage breakdown of each Super Bowl winner distinct unit rankings:

Defense:

  • Top 1 – 1985, 1996, 2002, 2008, 2013, 2015 = 6 Total = 14.6%
  • Top 5 – 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2017, 2020, 2021 = 14 Total = 34.1%
  • Top 10 – 1981, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2004 = 6 Total = 14.6%
  • Outside Top 10 – 1982, 1987, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 = 15 Total = 36.5%
  • Bottom 5 –

Last 10 winners defense ranking:

  • Top 1 – 2013, 2015 = 2 Total = 20%
  • Top 5 – 2017, 2020, 2021 = 3 Total = 30%
  • Top 10 –
  • Outside Top 10 – 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 = 5 Total = 50%
  • Bottom 5 –

Offense:

  • Top 1 – 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2006 = 6 Total = 14.6%
  • Top 5 – 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 = 15 Total = 36.5%
  • Top 10 – 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1990, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021 = 12 Total = 29.2%
  • Outside Top 10 – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2015 = 8 Total = 19.5%
  • Bottom 5 –

Last 10 winners offense ranking:

  • Top 1 –
  • Top 5 – 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 = 4 Total = 40%
  • Top 10 – 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021 = 4 Total = 40%
  • Outside Top 10 – 2012, 2015 = 2 Total = 20%
  • Bottom 5 –

Special Teams:

  • Top 1 – 1991, 2012 = 2 Total = 4.8%
  • Top 5 – 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021 = 12 Total = 29.2%
  • Top 10 – 1988, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2016 = 10 Total = 24.3%
  • Outside Top 10 – 1986, 1987, 1989, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 = 15 Total = 36.5%
  • Bottom 5 – 1981, 2009 = 2 Total = 4.8%

Last 10 winners special teams ranking:

  • Top 1 – 2012 = 1 Total = 10%
  • Top 5 – 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021 = 4 Total = 40%
  • Top 10 –
  • Outside Top 10 – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 = 5 Total = 50%
  • Bottom 5 –

Quarterback:

  • Top 1 – 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2006, 2019 = 7 Total = 17%
  • Top 5 – 1981, 1982, 1984, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 = 15 Total = 36.5%
  • Top 10 – 1985, 1988, 1990, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2018 = 9 Total = 21.9%
  • Outside Top 10 – 1983, 1986, 1987, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2017 = 8 Total = 19.5%
  • Bottom 5 – 2000, 2015 = 2 Total = 4.8%

Last 10 winners quarterback ranking:

  • Top 1 – 2019 = 1 Total = 10%
  • Top 5 – 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 = 4 Total = 40%
  • Top 10 – 2013, 2018 = 2 Total = 20%
  • Outside Top 10 – 2012, 2017 = 2 Total = 20%
  • Bottom 5 – 2015 = 1 Total = 10%

Overall Team:

  • Top 1 – 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2013, 2016 = 14 Total = 34.1%
  • Top 5 – 1983, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 = 16 Total = 39%
  • Top 10 – 1982, 1987, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018 = 7 Total = 17%
  • Outside Top 10 – 1981, 2001, 2007, 2011 = 4 Total = 9.7%

Last 10 winners overall team ranking:

  • Top 1 – 2013, 2016 = 2 Total = 20%
  • Top 5 – 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 = 5 Total = 50%
  • Top 10 – 2012, 2015, 2018 = 3 Total = 30%
  • Outside Top 10 –

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