Best NFL Teams of the 2000s (2000-2009): Ranked by Win Percentage
From dynasties to defensive juggernauts, the 2000s were a golden era in the NFL. We rank the top 10 teams from 2000–2009 based on winning percentage, highlighting their most dominant seasons, playoff runs, and franchise legends. See which team owned the decade—and who just missed the top spot.
From dynasties to defensive juggernauts, the 2000s were a golden era in the NFL. We rank the top 10 teams from 2000–2009 based on winning percentage, highlighting their most dominant seasons, playoff runs, and franchise legends. See which team owned the decade—and who just missed the top spot.
10. San Diego Chargers (Los Angeles)
Record: 85-75-0 (.531 Winning Percentage)
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The San Diego Chargers didn’t start the 2000s strong, but by mid-decade, they had become one of the most feared teams in the NFL. Behind the rocket arm of Philip Rivers, the dominance of LaDainian Tomlinson, and the leadership of head coach Marty Schottenheimer and later Norv Turner, the Chargers climbed the ranks fast.
Between 2004 and 2009, the Chargers won five AFC West titles. The 2006 season was the crown jewel — a 14-2 record, an MVP award for Tomlinson, and an offense that seemed unstoppable. The defense, led by stars like Shawne Merriman and Quentin Jammer, complemented the high-powered offense with punishing physicality.
Despite regular-season success, postseason heartbreak defined this team’s narrative. They reached the AFC Championship in 2007 but fell short of a Super Bowl appearance. Still, San Diego's rise from mediocrity to dominance makes them a worthy entry in the top ten of the 2000s.
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9. New York Giants
Record: 88-72-0 (.550 Winning Percentage)
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The New York Giants didn’t always look like contenders during the 2000s, but when they were on, they were unstoppable. Their signature moment came in 2007, when they pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NFL history — defeating the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Led by quarterback Eli Manning, head coach Tom Coughlin, and a ferocious pass rush featuring Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck, the Giants proved that grit, timing, and belief could topple even the greatest of dynasties.
Their playoff runs were often improbable, including that magical 2007 journey as a wild card team, where they won three straight road games before toppling the 18-0 Patriots. The team’s regular-season record may not have screamed dynasty, but their ability to rise in the biggest moments made them one of the defining teams of the decade.
8. Tennessee Titans
Record: 91-69-0 (.569 Winning Percentage)
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Quietly consistent, the Tennessee Titans were one of the NFL’s steadiest franchises throughout the 2000s. Under head coach Jeff Fisher, the Titans leaned on tough defense, strong line play, and a blue-collar mentality that kept them competitive year after year.
Coming off of a heart-breaking 1999 season and their one yard loss in Super Bowl XXXIV, the Titans decade began with a bang — a 13-3 record in 2000 and a narrow playoff loss. In 2002, they reached the AFC Championship, coming just one win short of the Super Bowl. Steve McNair was a key figure, sharing the 2003 MVP award and becoming a symbol of toughness and leadership.
As McNair exited, Vince Young brought a new energy, and in 2008, the Titans finished 13-3 again, riding the explosive legs of Chris Johnson and the power of Eddie George. Though they never quite got over the championship hump, Tennessee’s ability to stay relevant and dangerous made them a top-tier team of the 2000s.
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7. Baltimore Ravens
Record: 92-68-0 (.575 Winning Percentage)
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The Ravens of the 2000s were the epitome of defensive dominance. Their 2000 season still resonates in NFL history — a campaign that ended with a Super Bowl XXXV victory and one of the most fearsome defenses ever assembled.
That defense, led by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata, consistently ranked among the league’s best throughout the decade. Even when their offense sputtered, Baltimore’s defense could win games single-handedly.
The quarterback position was a revolving door — from Trent Dilfer to Kyle Boller — but the Ravens remained competitive, posting double-digit win seasons in 2000, 2003, and 2006. When Head Coach John Harbaugh and rookie QB Joe Flacco arrived in 2008, the team reached the AFC Championship, setting the tone for a new era.
The Ravens were never flashy, but they were relentless. Their defensive excellence and postseason presence earn them a solid place on this list.
6. Denver Broncos
Record: 93-67-0 (.581 Winning Percentage)
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Following the late-1990s Super Bowl wins, the Denver Broncos remained a playoff-caliber team for much of the 2000s. Head coach Mike Shanahan kept the offense humming with zone-blocking schemes and a rotating cast of thousand-yard rushers.
The post-John Elway era found stability in Jake Plummer, who led the team to consistent success, including a 13-3 season in 2005 and a trip to the AFC Championship Game. The defense, while not elite, featured solid contributors like Champ Bailey, one of the best cornerbacks of his generation.
Denver’s ability to reload and stay competitive was impressive. Their playoff appearances in 2000, 2003, 2004, and 2005 showcased a franchise that refused to fade away. Although they never returned to the Super Bowl during this decade, their sustained winning made them one of the top teams of the 2000s.
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5. Green Bay Packers
Record: 95-65-0 (.594 Winning Percentage)
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The Packers of the 2000s featured the closing chapters of Brett Favre and the rise of a new superstar — Aaron Rodgers. That transition alone made Green Bay one of the most interesting teams of the decade.
Under coaches Mike Sherman and Mike McCarthy, the Packers won four division titles and made the playoffs six times. Favre’s gunslinger style kept Green Bay in contention nearly every season, and in 2007, they reached the NFC Championship, losing in overtime to the Giants.
Rodgers took over in 2008 and began showing flashes of the greatness that would define the next decade. On defense, playmakers like Charles Woodson, Nick Barnett, and Al Harris helped keep the team balanced.
While they didn’t win a Super Bowl in the 2000s, the Packers were always in the mix — a result of quarterback continuity, strong drafting, and a winning culture in Titletown.
T-3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Record: 103-56-1 (.647 Winning Percentage)
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The 2000s was a second golden age for the Steelers, who reclaimed their identity as a hard-nosed, smashmouth football team — and added two more Super Bowl titles to their trophy case.
With Bill Cowher and later Mike Tomlin at the helm, the Steelers’ foundation was their punishing defense, led by Troy Polamalu, James Harrison, Casey Hampton, and Joey Porter. On offense, the consistent play of Hines Ward and the rise of Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 transformed the team into a perennial contender.
The Steelers went 15-1 in Roethlisberger’s rookie season and won Super Bowl XL in 2005. They repeated the feat in dramatic fashion in Super Bowl XLIII, defeating the Cardinals in one of the most thrilling finishes in NFL history.
Few teams in the era combined elite defense with clutch quarterback play the way Pittsburgh did in the 2000s. Their two championships and relentless consistency make them one of the top teams of the decade.
T-3. Philadelphia Eagles
Record: 103-56-1 (.647 Winning Percentage)
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If the Steelers were defined by toughness, the Eagles were defined by excellence and heartbreak. Under head coach Andy Reid, Philadelphia was a fixture in the playoffs, winning six NFC East titles and reaching five NFC Championship Games.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb, wide receiver Terrell Owens, and running back Brian Westbrook powered an offense that was creative and explosive. Meanwhile, Jim Johnson’s defense was among the league’s most aggressive, with stars like Brian Dawkins, Jeremiah Trotter, and Lito Sheppard.
The high point came in 2004, when the Eagles reached Super Bowl XXXIX, only to fall to the Patriots in a close contest. Still, their ability to dominate the NFC for the better part of a decade is undeniable.
Despite only one Super Bowl appearance, Philly’s sustained greatness — and unmatched consistency in the NFC — earns them a share of the third spot on this list.
2. New England Patriots
Record: 112-48-0 (.700 Winning Percentage)
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The Patriots dynasty began in the 2000s — and it reshaped the league. With Bill Belichick at the controls and Tom Brady under center, New England crafted the blueprint for modern NFL greatness.
They won three Super Bowls in four years (2001, 2003, 2004), went 16-0 in the 2007 regular season, and posted double-digit wins in all but two seasons during the decade. Their playoff presence was constant. Their preparation was unmatched.
Players like Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law, Willie McGinest, and Rodney Harrison led a bend-but-don’t-break defense, while Brady evolved from game manager to superstar.
Though they fell short in Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots were the team of the decade in terms of titles, innovation, and execution. Only one team outpaced them in winning percentage — but none defined the decade more than the Patriots.
1. Indianapolis Colts
Record: 115-45-0 (.719 Winning Percentage)
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At the top of the 2000s stands the Indianapolis Colts — a team of precision, dominance, and elite quarterback play. Peyton Manning was the centerpiece, a cerebral assassin at quarterback who could dissect defenses like no one else.
Under head coaches Tony Dungy and later Jim Caldwell, the Colts posted seven seasons of 12+ wins and made the playoffs nine times in 10 years. From 2003 to 2009, they won six of seven AFC South titles, showcasing unparalleled regular-season consistency.
The highlight, of course, was their victory in Super Bowl XLI, where they defeated the Chicago Bears and solidified Manning’s place among the greats.
With weapons like Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Edgerrin James, the Colts were an offensive juggernaut. Defensively, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis wreaked havoc off the edges.
Though they “only” won one Super Bowl, their .719 win percentage and regular-season dominance gives them the best regular season win percentage of the 2000s.
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