The Green Bay Packers, winners of four Super Bowl titles and 13 NFL Championships in total, have had a number of great teams over the course of their 97-year history in the NFL. This article will focus on the ones that were very good, but fell just short of greatness by not winning the Super Bowl. Without further ado, here are the top five best teams in Packers history to never win a Super Bowl.
Ranking the Five Best Teams in Green Bay Packers History To Never Win a Super Bowl
1. 1997 Packers
Coming in at number one is the 1997 Green Bay Packers, the lone team in Packers history to lose a Super Bowl. This Packers team dominated the regular season, losing just three games and finishing first in the NFC. The offense ranked second in points scored and fourth in yards, while the defense ranked fifth in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed. Many of the players who had been on the previous year’s Super Bowl championship team carried over to this season, including star players such as 1997 NFL MVP Brett Favre, Reggie White, LeRoy Butler and Dorsey Levens. Their 13-3 record and division title earned them the number one seed in the NFC, where they went on to defeat the Buccaneers in the divisional round and the 49ers in the NFC Championship. A 31-24 loss in the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos dashed their dreams of winning back-to-back titles, but they’ll always remain one of the best in Packers history to never win it all.
2. 1995 Packers
At the number two spot, we have the 1995 Green Bay Packers. Like the 1997 squad, this team had much of the same personnel that led them to a Super Bowl title just a year later in 1996. The offense ranked sixth in points scored and seventh in total yards, while the defense ranked fourth in points allowed and 14th in yards allowed. Favre won the first of his three straight NFL MVPs, leading Green Bay to an 11-5 record and an NFC Central division title as they went on to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in the wild card and then pulled a 27-17 upset on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. The Packers put up a valiant effort against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship, but would end up losing 38-27 after blowing a 27-24 fourth quarter lead.
3. 2014 Packers
Coming in third is the 2014 Green Bay Packers, who finished with a 12-4 record and won the NFC North. Their offense, led by NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, finished first in points scored and sixth in yards, while the defense finished 13th in points allowed and 15th in yards allowed. During the regular season, this team had all the makings of a Super Bowl champion, even defeating the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in Week 13. The Packers would end up with the NFC’s number two seed, defeating the Cowboys in the divisional round before falling in the NFC Championship to the Seattle Seahawks in heartbreaking fashion. A talented roster included the likes of NFL MVP Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews.
This team, while dominant offensively, never had better than a slightly above league average defense, which is what gives the 1995 Packers the edge here. The 1995 Packers were also able to beat the defending champion 49ers on the road, while these Packers fell on the road in Seattle. Nevertheless, the 2014 Packers had all the tools to win a championship but ultimately fell just short.
4. 2007 Packers
At number four, we have the 2007 Packers, who finished 13-3 and won the NFC North. This team, led by an aging Favre, came as a surprise to many people. In 2006, the Packers had finished just 8-8, and many felt they would do no better in what was expected to be Favre’s final year in the NFL. Instead, they shocked the world and won 13 games, earning the NFC’s number two seed in the process.
On offense, they finished fourth in points scored and second in total yards, while on defense they finished sixth in points given up and 11th in yards allowed. Favre put up one of his best seasons in years, throwing for 4,155 yards and 28 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions. Defensively, they were led by Charles Woodson and Aaron Kampman, the former intercepting four passes and recovering two fumbles and the latter registering 12 sacks. A dominating 42-20 victory over Seattle in the divisional round propelled them to the NFC Championship, where they lost in overtime, 23-20, to eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
5. 2011 Packers
At number five, we have the 2011 Green Bay Packers. This team rolled through the regular season, winning the NFC North with ease and finishing with a 15-1 record. Their offense was record-setting, finishing first in points scored and third in total yards, while defensively they finished 19th in points allowed and 32nd in yards allowed. Coming off of a Super Bowl title the previous season, this iteration of the Packers looked destined to repeat as they earned the number one seed in the NFC and set a team record for wins with 15.
The offense was one of the best in Packers and NFL history and was led by NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who threw a team-record 45 touchdowns. Unfortunately for this team, their Super Bowl aspirations never got past the divisional round as they were shockingly upset in Lambeau by the upstart Giants, 37-20. Had they managed to win at least one playoff game, they would’ve ranked much higher on the list. The defense ranked dead last in yards given up, and the unit was clearly not close to what it was the previous season. Nevertheless, they still remain one of the best and most-talented Packers teams to never win it all.
