Top 5 teams, '33 thru '65, to not win a title game

[74_75_78_79_]

Can stretch it to a Top 10 if you like.

Any non-NFL teams make this list? '48 (or '49) Niners? '62 Oilers? '63 Raiders?

[conace21]

1934 Bears
1941 Packers
1942 Bears
1951 Browns
1953 Browns

[BD Sullivan]

Can stretch it to a Top 10 if you like.

Any non-NFL teams make this list? '48 (or '49) Niners? '62 Oilers? '63 Raiders?

1942 Bears
1945 Redskins
1948 Cardinals
1953 Browns
1963 Giants

[JohnH19]

I'll add the '64 Colts to the previously listed great teams.

[Saban1]

1942 Bears
1948 49ers
1951 Browns
1953 Browns
1958 Browns
1962 Giants

I know that's 6 teams, but I am giving a bonus pick.

[74_75_78_79_]

Well here's my Top 10 FWIW take from, this here, sub-amateur pre-SB era FB historian (mere amateur at-best SB era)...

10) '56 LIONS, 9-3: Perhaps the best '50s Lions squad that didn't win-it-all. Buried Chicago third-last game, 42-10, but lost to them (and division) in the finale; Lane knocked out 2nd quarter. Would win-it-all the following year tacking on a 3rd Title of the decade.

8) tie - '48 & '49 NINERS: Taking everyone's word on this site that the Browns were "'ready' already" all through their AAFC existence, how can you not put these guys in? Wouldn't their HC go on to win an NFL Title more than a decade later anyway (and against Lombardi, mind you)? Take your pick between these two greats. One, at 12-2 barely losing both games to Browns, or the 9-3 installment a year later that at least split with them (putting up a 56-burger in the one which they won)?

7) '41 PACKERS, 10-1: Both they and Bears split their series, both 10-1, both winning each game vs each other on the road like a true rivalry. Western Division Championship the real Championship Game that year obviously.

6) '50 GIANTS, 10-2: They swept Cleveland regular season, and lost 8-3 to them in the CC - enough said. Gladly place '50 Rams on this list, but didn't they...get SWEPT by their respective conference competitor??

5) '48 CARDINALS, 11-1: Super season, regular-season body-of-work (beating Philly) better than the previous year when they did win-it-all. Maybe Eagles win Title Game anyway, but it was played in a snow storm!

4) '34 BEARS, 13-0: First ever to go unbeaten and untied in regular season. No excuses but a couple key injuries and "Sneakers" helped to avert a 38-year precursor of you-know-what.

2) tie - '51 & '53 BROWNS, 11-1 (two 11-game win-streaks) apiece: Take your pick. Both close losses in Title Games, but do give kudos to Lions, another '50s great.

1) '42 BEARS, 11-0: Four shutouts, eight games allowing no more than 7 pts, ten games allowing no more than 14 (can someone say "'76 Steelers"?); seven games scoring at least 35...


Honorable mentions:

'36 & '37 Bears: The former starting 9-1 but blowing last two, boxing themselves out of Title Game. The latter 9-1-1 who went up against an historic 4th quarter Sammy Baugh perfromance.

'44 Eagles, 7-1-2: 1-0-1 vs division titleist NYG who finished at 8-1-1 (1-0-1 vs 6-3-1 Wash as well). How would they have done (at home) against the Pack?

'63 Packers, 11-2-1: If only they at least split vs Bears they break well into the Top 10. Make that...they don't make the list at all.

[Saban1]

Well here's my Top 10 FWIW take from, this here, sub-amateur pre-SB era FB historian (mere amateur at-best SB era)...

10) '56 LIONS, 9-3: Perhaps the best '50s Lions squad that didn't win-it-all. Buried Chicago third-last game, 42-10, but lost to them (and division) in the finale; Lane knocked out 2nd quarter. Would win-it-all the following year tacking on a 3rd Title of the decade.

8) tie - '48 & '49 NINERS: Taking everyone's word on this site that the Browns were "'ready' already" all through their AAFC existence, how can you not put these guys in? Wouldn't their HC go on to win an NFL Title more than a decade later anyway (and against Lombardi, mind you)? Take your pick between these two greats. One, at 12-2 barely losing both games to Browns, or the 9-3 installment a year later that at least split with them (putting up a 56-burger in the one which they won)?

7) '41 PACKERS, 10-1: Both they and Bears split their series, both 10-1, both winning each game vs each other on the road like a true rivalry. Western Division Championship the real Championship Game that year obviously.

6) '50 GIANTS, 10-2: They swept Cleveland regular season, and lost 8-3 to them in the CC - enough said. Gladly place '50 Rams on this list, but didn't they...get THREPT by their respective conference competitor??

5) '48 CARDINALS, 11-1: Super season, regular-season body-of-work (beating Philly) better than the previous year when they did win-it-all. Maybe Eagles win Title Game anyway, but it was played in a snow storm!

4) '34 BEARS, 13-0: First ever to go unbeaten and untied in regular season. No excuses but a couple key injuries and "Sneakers" helped to avert a 38-year precursor of you-know-what.

2) tie - '51 & '53 BROWNS, 11-1 (two 11-game win-streaks) apiece: Take your pick. Both close losses in Title Games, but do give kudos to Lions, another '50s great.

1) '42 BEARS, 11-0: Four shutouts, eight games allowing no more than 7 pts, ten games allowing no more than 14 (can someone say "'76 Steelers"?); seven games scoring at least 35...


Honorable mentions:

'36 & '37 Bears: The former starting 9-1 but blowing last two, boxing themselves out of Title Game. The latter 9-1-1 who went up against an historic 4th quarter Sammy Baugh perfromance.

'44 Eagles, 7-1-2: 1-0-1 vs division titleist NYG who finished at 8-1-1 (1-0-1 vs 6-3-1 Wash as well). How would they have done (at home) against the Pack?

'63 Packers, 11-2-1: If only they at least split vs Bears they break well into the Top 10. Make that...they don't make the list at all.

Good list. I was thinking of the 1950 Giants. I forgot about the 1963 Pack.

[74_75_78_79_]

Well here's my Top 10 FWIW take from, this here, sub-amateur pre-SB era FB historian (mere amateur at-best SB era)...

10) '56 LIONS, 9-3: Perhaps the best '50s Lions squad that didn't win-it-all. Buried Chicago third-last game, 42-10, but lost to them (and division) in the finale; Lane knocked out 2nd quarter. Would win-it-all the following year tacking on a 3rd Title of the decade.

8) tie - '48 & '49 NINERS: Taking everyone's word on this site that the Browns were "'ready' already" all through their AAFC existence, how can you not put these guys in? Wouldn't their HC go on to win an NFL Title more than a decade later anyway (and against Lombardi, mind you)? Take your pick between these two greats. One, at 12-2 barely losing both games to Browns, or the 9-3 installment a year later that at least split with them (putting up a 56-burger in the one which they won)?

7) '41 PACKERS, 10-1: Both they and Bears split their series, both 10-1, both winning each game vs each other on the road like a true rivalry. Western Division Championship the real Championship Game that year obviously.

6) '50 GIANTS, 10-2: They swept Cleveland regular season, and lost 8-3 to them in the CC - enough said. Gladly place '50 Rams on this list, but didn't they...get THREPT by their respective conference competitor??

5) '48 CARDINALS, 11-1: Super season, regular-season body-of-work (beating Philly) better than the previous year when they did win-it-all. Maybe Eagles win Title Game anyway, but it was played in a snow storm!

4) '34 BEARS, 13-0: First ever to go unbeaten and untied in regular season. No excuses but a couple key injuries and "Sneakers" helped to avert a 38-year precursor of you-know-what.

2) tie - '51 & '53 BROWNS, 11-1 (two 11-game win-streaks) apiece: Take your pick. Both close losses in Title Games, but do give kudos to Lions, another '50s great.

1) '42 BEARS, 11-0: Four shutouts, eight games allowing no more than 7 pts, ten games allowing no more than 14 (can someone say "'76 Steelers"?); seven games scoring at least 35...


Honorable mentions:

'36 & '37 Bears: The former starting 9-1 but blowing last two, boxing themselves out of Title Game. The latter 9-1-1 who went up against an historic 4th quarter Sammy Baugh perfromance.

'44 Eagles, 7-1-2: 1-0-1 vs division titleist NYG who finished at 8-1-1 (1-0-1 vs 6-3-1 Wash as well). How would they have done (at home) against the Pack?

'63 Packers, 11-2-1: If only they at least split vs Bears they break well into the Top 10. Make that...they don't make the list at all.

Good list. I was thinking of the 1950 Giants. I forgot about the 1963 Pack.

Thanks. Made a mistake with that "THREPT" remark about '50 Rams vs Bears.

[BD Sullivan]

Well here's my Top 10

'63 Packers, 11-2-1: If only they at least split vs Bears they break well into the Top 10. Make that...they don't make the list at all.

If Ditka doesn't break about five tackles on a third-and-forever in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh, the Bears don't salvage a tie and the loss ends up deadlocking them with the Pack--all else staying the same. I have no idea where the potential playoff game would have been held.

[LJP]

Well here's my Top 10

'63 Packers, 11-2-1: If only they at least split vs Bears they break well into the Top 10. Make that...they don't make the list at all.

If Ditka doesn't break about five tackles on a third-and-forever in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh, the Bears don't salvage a tie and the loss ends up deadlocking them with the Pack--all else staying the same. I have no idea where the potential playoff game would have been held.

The Playoff was scheduled in late November, to be played in Green Bay.

The Bears had beaten the Packers on the road and at home during the season, so the location may not have made any difference.