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Every NFL franchise has one team that set the standard for excellence. And while some franchises have been more fortunate than others, each franchise can point to at least one team from its past that stood out from the rest. Even the , a team that has never appeared in a , can point to a team from its semi-recent past that can serve as the example for future teams to follow.With the start of the 2022 season just around the corner, we decided to name each franchise's best team since the start of the Super Bowl era. To create this list, we looked at the following criteria when making our selections.Average margin of victory during the regular seasonOffensive and defensive rankings, specifically as it relates to scoringStrength of the oppositionTalent on the rosterHow far the team advanced in the postseasonUsing this criteria, we were able to identify D.J. Fluker Jersey each franchise's greatest team since the start of the 1966 season. While many readers will agree with our selections, we know that some will object to at least one of our picks, which is certainly fine. Who doesn't like a good sports debate, after all?Without further ado, let's get started.A Super Bowl-winning team will be denoted with (*)12-8 overall recordWon franchise's only NFC championshipFeatured the third-ranked scoring offense during the regular seasonDespite a late-season swoon that saw them lose four games in a five-game span, the Cardinals won the AFC West before going on a roll during the NFC playoffs. In three consecutive weeks, Arizona defeated Atlanta, Carolina and Philadelphia to claim the NFC championship. The Cardinals' high-scoring offense, led by quarterback Kurt Warner and receivers and , scored over 30 points in each of their first three playoff games. Fitzgerald enjoyed one of the greatest postseason performances in history during the '08 postseason, catching 30 pa ses for 546 yards and seven touchdowns. His 127-yard, two-touchdown performance over the , who won the game following last-minute, game-winning drive.16-3 overall recordWon franchise's first NFC championshipBoasted the league's fourth-ranked offense and defense during the regular seasonThe 2016 Falcons were much more competitive in their Super Bowl appearance (holding a 28-3 lead before squandering it against the ), but the '98 Falcons were, statically speaking, a superior team. That season, Atlanta went 14-2 during the regular season before defeating Steve Young and the in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Falcons then defeated the 15-1 in . Atlanta was unable to duplicate that succe s in Super Bowl XXXIII, however, as the Falcons were run over Ethan Pocic Jersey by the defending champion , 34-19.The '98 Falcons, nicknamed the "Dirty Birds" during the regular season, were led by Pro Bowlers Chris Chandler, Jamal Anderson, Bob Whitfield, Je sie Tuggle, Ray Buchanan, and Eugene Robinson. Anderson, the team's lone All-Pro that season, rushed for 1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season. The Falcons' offense also included two 1,000-yard receivers in Tony Martin and Terance Mathis. 16-4 overall recordWon franchise's first Super Bowl titleAllowed 10.3 points per game, the fewest in NFL history during a 16-game seasonThe Ravens' 2012 championship team may have been a more balanced unit, but the utter dominance of Baltimore' Marquise Blair Jersey s 2000 defense gives them the nod as the franchise's greatest team. That season, Baltimore's defense, and Hall of Fame safety Rod Woodson, recorded four shutouts during the regular season before allowing a total of 23 points in four postseason games. In Super Bowl XXXV, the Ravens' defense shut out the ' offense while holding New York to just 152 total yards.Baltimore's 2000 squad also featured the league's best returner in Jermaine Lewis, whose 84-yard kickoff return for a score in Super Bowl XXXV ended any hope of a Giants comeback. The Ravens' offense featured a punishing running game, led by Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes. Baltimore's offense also included Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe, whose 96-yard score spearheaded the Ravens' 16-3 win over Oakland in the AFC Championship Game.15-4 overall recordWon franchise's first AFC titleFinished first in the NFL in scoring and sixth in scoring defenseBuffalo's first of four AFC championship teams was its best. A team that boasted five future Hall of Fame players, the Bills won 13 games during the regular season before scoring a combined 95 Jarran Reed Jersey points in their first two playoff games. The Bills were unable to duplicate that level of succe s , however, as the Giants' ball control offense -- along with a mi sed 47-yard field goal -- allowed New York to escape with a 20-19 victory. The Bills' best players that season included quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas (whose 135 rushing yards in Super Bowl XXV remains the most rushing yards by a losing player in Super Bowl history), receivers Andre Reed and James Lofton, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebackers Darryl Talley, Cornelius Bennett and Shane Conlan, and special teams ace Steve Tasker. The '90s Bills remain the only team to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls.17-2 overall recordFeatured league MVP Finished first in the NFL in scoring and sixth in scoring defenseThe seventh team in NFL history to win at least 15 regular season games, ' average margin of victory was a dozen points during the 2015 season. Carolina carried its regular season momentum into the , dethroning the two-time defending NFC champion in the divisional round before routing the Cardinals in the conference championship game. The Panthers' dream season came to a crashing halt in Super Bowl 50, as 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles helped the Broncos come away with a 24-10 victory.Carolina's talented roster that season included league MVP Cam Newton, who that year became the first player in league history to throw 35 touchdowns and run for 10 touchdowns in the same Nick Vannett Jersey season. Along with Newton, the Panthers' roster also included fellow Pro Bowlers in running back , fullback , tight end , center , right guard , defensive tackle , linebackers and , and cornerback . 18-1 overall recordWon franchise's first Super Bowl titleFinished second in the NFL in points scored and first in fewest points allowedThe Bears' dominant "46" defense is the first thing that usually comes to mind when reflecting back on the '85 Bears, and for good reason. That unit, led by defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, boasted three Hall of Famers in linebacker Mike Singletary and defensive ends Richard Dent and Dan Hampton. The unit also included fellow Pro Bowlers in defensive tackle Steve McMichael, linebacker Otis Wilson and safety Dave Duerson. Together, the 46 defense recorded four shutouts before .While their defense was historically dominant, the Bears' offense that season was a special unit, too. Spearheaded by Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, Chicago's offense -- a unit that also included q