10. 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers land at number 10 on our list. They were known for their stifling defense led by defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. The Bucs held opponents to just 12.3 points per game during the regular season. Led by Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, they went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII, showcasing one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history.

Overall Record: 15-4

Super Bowl XXXVII Champion

9. 1991 Washington Redskins

Securing a spot among the all-time greats, the 1991 Washington Redskins come in at #9. Coached by Joe Gibbs and led by a potent offense featuring Mark Rypien and the “Posse” of wide receivers, the Redskins went 14-2 in the regular season and dominated in the playoffs, culminating in a Super Bowl XXVI victory. The team is often overlooked amongst the greats but is still one of the best NFL teams of all time.

Overall Record: 17-2

Super Bowl XXVI Champion

8. 1999 St. Louis Rams

The 1999 St. Louis Rams, under the leadership of head coach Dick Vermeil and quarterback Kurt Warner, introduced the NFL to the “Greatest Show on Turf.” The Rams’ high-flying offense, featuring Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, led them to a Super Bowl victory and a place among the greatest NFL teams of all time.

Overall Record: 16-3

Super Bowl XXXIV Champion

7. 1971 Dallas Cowboys

The 1971 Dallas Cowboys, coached by the legendary Tom Landry, earn their spot at number 7. This team featured the “Doomsday Defense” and was led by stars like Roger Staubach and Duane Thomas. The Cowboys won Super Bowl VI, marking the beginning of their dominance in the 1970s.

Overall Record: 14-3

Super Bowl VI Champion

6. 1992 Dallas Cowboys

The 1992 Dallas Cowboys, were led by head coach Jimmy Johnson and featured the iconic “Triplets”. Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin powered this unstoppable Cowboys offense. This memorable team clinched Super Bowl XXVII, marking the start of a dynasty.

Overall Record: 16-3

Super Bowl XXVII Champion

5. 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

The 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers, the last of their four Super Bowl-winning teams in the ’70s, earned their spot at number 5. The Steel Curtain defense, featuring legends like Mean Joe Greene and Jack Lambert, powered the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XIII.

Overall Record: 17-2

Super Bowl XIII Champion

4. 1984 San Francisco 49ers

The 1984 San Francisco 49ers, coached by the legendary Bill Walsh, showcased the brilliance of the West Coast Offense. Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and a stellar supporting cast led the 49ers to a 15-1 regular-season record and a Super Bowl XIX victory, solidifying their place among the all-time greats.

Overall Record: 18-1

Super Bowl XIX Champion

3. 1985 Chicago Bears

The 1985 Chicago Bears, led by head coach Mike Ditka and a ferocious defense are hailed as one of the greatest teams of all time. Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, and the Bears dominated the regular season with a 15-1 record and stormed through the playoffs to win Super Bowl XX.

Overall Record: 18-1

Super Bowl XX Champion

2. 2007 New England Patriots

The 2nd spot goes to the 2007 New England Patriots, who finished the regular season with a flawless 16-0 record. Coached by Bill Belichick and led by Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and a dynamic offense, the Patriots came within one game of a perfect season. They ultimately fell short, losing in Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants. That one blemish keeps them from the top spot in our top 10 list.

Overall Record: 18-1

1. 1972 Miami Dolphins

The 1972 Miami Dolphins, coached by Don Shula and quarterbacked by Bob Griese, accomplished a feat no other team has matched: a perfect season. They capped off this amazing feat with a Super Bowl VII victory. The Dolphins undefeated run secures their position as the best team in NFL history.

Overall Record: 17-0

Super Bowl VII Champion

If you enjoyed this list be sure to check out our 10 best Super Bowl games of all time.

The post Top 10 NFL Teams of all Time appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

When it’s all said and done, Justin Jefferson could be one of the best wide receivers the NFL has ever seen. Jefferson is only 23 and is already a 3x Pro Bowler and 1x All-Pro. He continues to get better each year despite getting double-covered regularly and blanketed by every NFL defense. In his first 3 seasons, he has given us incredible highlights including a one-handed catch for the ages in a critical situation.

When Jefferson was drafted in the 1st round by the Minnesota Vikings it wasn’t a big surprise. If you watched the potent LSU offense you saw a star in the making. Although raw, Jefferson showed outstanding ball skills and would catch just about everything thrown his way. During his final year in College, he lined up primarily in the slot and there were questions on if he could excel in the outside role. It’s safe to say that those questions can already be put to rest as it doesn’t matter where Jefferson is lined up. He has shown he will consistently win in any position.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill recently claimed that he would break the single-season receiving yards record. While Hill is talented and very well could come close, it will instead be Justin Jefferson who does it. The Dolphins also have Jaylen Waddle and he will account for a good amount of the target share. Before we look ahead at how Justin Jefferson will break the receiving record, let’s first dive into his stats.

Justin Jefferson Stats

It’s hard not to be in awe when looking at Justin Jefferson’s receiving stats. In 2022 alone, he was first in total receptions (128), first in First Downs Receiving (80) and second in Yards Before Catch (1,185). Jefferson also had a drop rate of only 2.7% which is impressive given the number of targets that went his way (184). His 1,809 receiving yards in 2022 was good for 6th all-time. Jefferson was on pace to break the record last year but was uncharacteristically quiet in his final two games. He had only 5 catches for 53 yards during that span with 0 touchdowns.

Next, I want to take a look at comparing Justin Jefferson to the best wide receiver of all time, Jerry Rice. I took the overall stats from both of their first 3 seasons and here is what I found.

• Jefferson had 124 more receptions than Rice (324 vs 200)
• Jefferson also had 1,250 more receiving yards than Rice (4,825 vs 3,575)
• Rice had 15 more touchdowns than Jefferson (40 vs 25)

As you can see the numbers are similar given that Rice played in 6 less games than Jefferson in his first three seasons. The 40 touchdowns by Rice in that span is the second most all-time just behind Randy Moss who had 43. It’s still too early to put Jefferson in the class of the greats but you can see where the stats are trending.

How Justin Jefferson Will Break the Record

So far, we’ve recapped Jefferson’s first three seasons and broke down some key statistics vs the greats. Now let’s point out how he will break the single-season receiving record in 2023.

Next season, the Minnesota Vikings have a fairly manageable schedule. They are in the middle of the pack in terms of strength of schedule. While NFL teams’ success can change drastically from year to year, I expect the Vikings to finish first in the NFC North. The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions finished towards the bottom in NFL total team defense last year and I expect the Packers defense will take a step back.

Putting the schedule aside, I project that Jefferson will finish the year with 2,015 receiving yards. If you look at the stats above, Jefferson has averaged around +200 yards each season and +20 receptions.

The Vikings also drafted Jordan Addison in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. While some will say this is going to take away from Jefferson’s production, I am going in the opposite direction. This will only help Jefferson as some of the defensive attention will now be off him with an additional weapon on the field. With that said, I expect Justin Jefferson to break the single-season receiving yards record in 2023 and I can’t wait to watch him do it.

The post Why Justin Jefferson Will Break the Receiving Yards Record in 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The NFL has witnessed countless alpha wide receivers (with swag) in its existence. There has been a plethora of Hall of Fame-caliber WRs over the prior 15 years — such as “Megatron”, Larry Fitzgerald, Terrell Owens, and Randy Moss. So, where do these recent, electric wideouts stand amid the best-ever WRs? Well, I’m going to untwine the 10 best WRs of all time.

1. Jerry Rice

The legendary San Francisco 49ers wideout Jerry Rice may have used stickum, but he was undoubtedly the best WR to play the game. Rice was a first-team All-Pro a whopping 10 times! He had eight seasons of 13+ receiving touchdowns. Furthermore, he ousted six seasons of 1,499+ receiving yards. He even won Offensive Player of The Year in 1987 and in 1993.

2. Randy Moss

Before Justin Jefferson mopped the floor against opposing cornerbacks in Minnesota, there was a mythical character named Randy Moss that terrorized opponents. Moss had 17 receiving touchdowns as a rookie – which led him to garner Offensive Rookie of The Year. His most impressive season arrived in 2007 with Tom “The GOAT” Brady – where he unveiled a record-breaking 23 receiving touchdowns in a single season.

3. Don Hutson

Don Hutson may be a dinosaur-like WR – as he started his NFL journey in 1935. Nonetheless, he ascended into an unstoppable force with the Pack. He was named first-team All-Pro a whopping eight times in his football life. In 1942, he (quite) impressively unleashed 1,211 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns.

4. Chris Carter

The other greek god-like Vikings WR to make this list is none other than Chris Carter. The eight-time Pro Bowler finished with 13,899 receiving yards and 130 touchdowns. Carter – also known as “Sleepy” – ousted three seasons of 13+ touchdowns. Could another NFC North wideout be ranked after him?

5. Calvin Johnson Jr.

“Peace through Tyranny” – Megatron

The former unearthly Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson Jr. once summoned two New Orleans Saints cornerbacks to guard him on a play. Johnson Jr. wasn’t only a WR from a different planet, but he also played at an unusually high level with pedestrian QB play. Megatron ousted 1,681 receiving yards and 16 TDs in 2011 and then managed to unleash 1,964 yards in 2012.

6. Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens, also known as Antonio Brown before Antonio Brown, was a pillar of top-tier domination over a long duration of time. He somehow managed to unleash seven seasons of 13+ receiving touchdowns. He also had nine seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards. TO was named first-team All-Pro five times in his career.

*TO also played in a Super Bowl with a broken leg!

7. Larry Fitzgerald

The Arizona Cardinals legendary wideout Larry Fitzgerald made a whopping 11 Pro Bowls in his “only Cardinals” career. Fitz has notched eight seasons of at least 8 TD catches. Furthermore, he’s unleashed nine seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards. He finished his AZ career with 121 TDs & 17,492 yards. He also co-won Walter Payton Man of The Year in 2016.

8. Marvin Harrison

Marvin Harrison was undeniably a gift from the football gods to the Indianapolis Colts. Harrison unleashed eight seasons of 10+ receiving touchdowns. He also had three seasons of 1,500+ receiving yards. He was named first-team All-Pro three times, made eight Pro Bowls, and even took second place in the OPOY voting in 2002. Let’s not forget that he and Peyton Manning won Super Bowl XLI.

9. Antonio Brown

The utterly talented & controversial WR Antonio Brown has been a wrecking ball over the past decade. Brown has been named first-team All-Pro four times and he’s also made seven Pro Bowls. He’s recorded 12,291 total yards and 83 touchdowns. Of course, AB picked up his pivotal Super Bowl ring with Tom Brady last season. So, the question is: is AB done in the NFL?

10. Steve Largent

The Seattle Seahawks greek god-like WR Steve Largent unleashed eight seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards. He finished with an impressive clear-cut 100 receiving touchdowns in his football life. He obtained seven Pro Bowl selections and was named at least second-team All-Pro five times. Largent dazzled opponents long before DK Metcalf in the Rainy City.

The post 10 Best Wide Receivers of All Time appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is coming off of one of the greatest rookie seasons ever. Throughout his first year in the NFL, Jefferson performed at a high level nearly every week. 

Many people also believed that the receiver was deserving of the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, which hasn’t been won by a wide receiver since 2014 when Odell Beckham Jr. won the award. 

His impact on the Vikings have already led people to question just how good he can be in this league. The duo of Jefferson and veteran receiver Adam Thielen was arguably the best one-two punch in the entire NFL. The pair combined for 162 receptions, 2325 yards, and 21 touchdowns. They were a pivotal piece in the success of not just the Vikings offense, but to the team as a whole. 

When looking at what Jefferson achieved in his first season, it is hard to not compare him and his accomplishments to that of other great receivers. From Odell Beckham Jr. and Deandre Hopkins to Stefon Diggs and Randy Moss, we will take a look at how Jefferson’s first year stacks up against each of these players. 

Jefferson in Year One 

Before comparing Jefferson to the elite wide receivers of the NFLs past and present, you first have to look at what he accomplished in his first season. 

Jefferson had one of the greatest rookie performances ever seen. He caught 88 passes on 125 targets and  went for exactly 1400 receiving yards. He also turned this into seven touchdowns. 

Jefferson excelled at different things during his rookie season but there were two areas that stood out the most; his route running abilities and what he was able to do after he got the ball in his hands. 

Jefferson excelled at gaining yards after catch in college. He was able to bring that same success to the NFL. 

His strong route running also transitioned to the NFL. From his first day in the NFL, his ability to get open has been clear. He can create separation at the line of scrimmage and get away from his primary defender, whoever it may be. 

Jefferson’s strong rookie season led him to join elite company. He is seen as one of the top talents in the NFL and was voted to the Pro Bowl. He was just the fifth rookie receiver to be voted into the game in the last 20 seasons, and the first since 2015. 

Stefon Diggs

When Jefferson first arrived in Minnesota, many people believed that he would not be able to live up to the standards that had been set by Stefon Diggs. The two players were basically traded for one another. 

Even with being in two very different situations, the two receivers produced somewhat similar numbers. 

Outside of nearly 40 more receptions, the two receivers kept pace with each other. Jefferson averaged almost four more yards per reception while Diggs averaged almost 8.5 more yards per game. 

Both receivers had elite stat lines on almost a weekly basis as well. They were two of the most productive all around receivers in the league and came to play every week.

Until one of the two receivers retires, their careers will be linked. They will constantly be linked with one another and the comparisons will continue. 

Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Beckham Jr. rookie season may be the best comparison, from a stat standpoint, for Jefferson. Neither receiver was expected to make the impact that they did in their first season yet both were able to make an instant impact. 

Outside of both being products of LSU, the two players are very similar from an athletic standpoint. 

From a statistical standpoint, the two receivers produced nearly similar numbers in their rookie seasons.  

The similarities from the players are clear, but the edge should fall towards Odell, only because he played in just 12 games his rookie season, unlike Jefferson who appeared in all 16. Even so, the two receivers recorded two of the greatest rookie seasons the league has ever seen. Jefferson could soon find himself on a path very similar to that of Odell’s. 

Deandre Hopkins

Deandre Hopkins has turned into a superstar. He is arguably the best receiver in the NFL and has been held to this regard for a couple years now. But it was not always like this. 

Hopkins wasn’t chosen until near the end of the first round. The Houston Texans selected him with the 27th overall pick.
In his first year in the NFL, Hopkins’ production was less than outstanding. He caught 52 passes and crossed just over 800 receiving yards. He also scored just two times during his rookie season. 

While Hopkins is often regarded as a big receiving target, he is not much bigger than Jefferson. Both receivers are the same height and Hopkins outweighs Jefferson by just 10 pounds. 

From a production standpoint, Hopkins rookie season is drastically different than that of Jeffersons. Jefferson and Hopkins had just a .5 difference in yards per reception, but the similarities end there. Jefferson gained 600 more yards, five more touchdowns, and caught 36 more passes

When looking at how good Hopkins has become, it offers an interesting insight to see how he performed in his first season. Jefferson was able to produce stats that were not all that far off from Hopkins’ even best seasons.

Randy Moss

Since Jefferson first exploded onto the scene in a week three game against the Tennessee Titans, the comparisons to Randy Moss have not stopped; from the flashiness of their play to how they have stood out on the field. 

In 1998, Moss had arguably the greatest season ever for a rookie wide receiver. He started just 11 games for the Vikings but, much like Jefferson, made an instant impact in Minnesota. Moss had just 69 receptions but was still able to gain 1313 receiving yards. He also caught 17 touchdowns, a record that still stands for rookie receivers, over twenty years later. 

Moss held nearly every rookie receiving record in Minnesota. And then Jefferson came and broke almost all of them. Jefferson now holds the records for both receptions and yards in a season. 

The Future for Jefferson

Jefferson has already exceeded expectations in his short time in the NFL. Year one went almost as good as it could have gone, especially when considering that he is sharing a ball with Adam Thielen. He was able to have one of the greatest seasons ever for a rookie receiver.

Jefferson is already being compared to some of the NFL’s best. If he is able to continue to perform at a high level, the comparisons will continue.

For years, all rookie receivers will be held in comparison to Jefferson, and that may prove to be unfair for them. Production like that is rare and hard to come by.

His sophomore season could prove to be even better. Jefferson has already proven to have the drive to want to be the best and he is on a path headed towards that. After receiving a Pro Bowl nod in year one, he could find himself on an All-Pro team in year two. 

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