Since the NFL adopted a 16-game schedule, beginning with the 1978 season, 14 other teams won their first eight games. Nine of those teams played in the Super Bowl and six won it.
Then again, four of the teams lost their first playoff game, including the 2011 Packers.
TEAMS TO WIN FIRST EIGHT GAMES OF SEASON SINCE 1978 (When the schedule was expanded to 16 games)
Year TEAM FINAL RECORD PLAYOFF RESULT
1984 MIAMI 14-2 Lost Super Bowl XIX
1985 CHICAGO 15-1 Won Super Bowl XX
1990 SAN FRANCISCO 14-2 Lost NFC title game
1990 NEW YORK GIANTS 13-3 Won Super Bowl XXII
1991 WASHINGTON 14-2 Won Super Bowl XXIII
1998 DENVER 14-2 Won Super Bowl XXXIII (over Falcons)
2003 KANSAS CITY 13-3 Lost in Divisional round
2005 INDIANAPOLIS 14-2 Lost in Divisional round
2006 INDIANAPOLIS 12-4 Won Super Bowl XLI
2007 NEW ENGLAND 16-0 Lost in Super Bowl
2008 TENNESSEE 13-3 Lost in Divisional round
2009 INDIANAPOLIS 14-2 Lost in Super Bowl XLIV
2009 NEW ORLEANS 13-3 Won Super Bowl XLIV
2011 GREEN BAY 15-1 Lost in Divisional round
2012 ATLANTA 8-0 ??????????????????
SOURCE: Elias and pro-football-reference.com
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17 comments Add your comment
Hindu Elvis Pimp
November 7th, 2012
1:10 pm
Anything other than a Super Bowl victory is unacceptable.
For those who say “FIRST”
HA!!
Gordon
November 7th, 2012
1:25 pm
13-3. Lose in conference final. At least we finally win a playoff game.
Rise Up # 9
November 7th, 2012
1:39 pm
Super Bowl or Bust, Go Falcons !
David
November 7th, 2012
2:26 pm
All The Way Baby !
Fools Gold
November 7th, 2012
3:07 pm
Heath Evans sized it up perfectly. He said this team racks up regular season victories but will be manhandled in the playoffs.
Michael M.
November 7th, 2012
3:08 pm
Sure , the Falcons can make it to the Super Bowl with the 2012 Team……………one game at a time, onwards and upwards as I have said all the Season long……………..just think Caint Fans……….” Your Team is next on the List ” …………………hehehehehehehehe
NCDawg
November 7th, 2012
4:19 pm
Fools Gold – you sure have the the first part of the name right. This is a different team. The sports hacks always piss on Atlanta sports teams. No one mentions the long dominance of the Braves any more…but if the Wankees had put together a similar streak they’d be mentioned with every passing breath. But all the prognosticators can stuff it… no one knows what will happen until the game is actually played. Then we will see.
hiramsaint
November 7th, 2012
4:44 pm
those teams also won a playoff game so that would leave the failclowns out !
Post-It
November 7th, 2012
5:03 pm
So hiramtaint has finally crawled back out from under his rock. Hoping beyond hope that his team’s miserable defense can keep us from scoring 40 points on Sunday.
PRICELESS
November 7th, 2012
6:54 pm
wrong post-it . i’m just hoping that jordan or smith accidentally breaks ryans leg. y’all scoring points is a given but a V is gonna cost the frailcons a player
Vegas Falcon Dawg
November 7th, 2012
8:20 pm
New year, new coaches, new schemes, new attitude = different team. These are not your father’s Falcons. They will prove that Sunday. They are on a mission and everyone has bought in. As for the comment by PRICELESS, that is CLASSLESS. Obviously you are a moronic mudbug. The Falcons are the real deal. Welcome to your new reality.
PRICELESS
November 7th, 2012
9:00 pm
sunday will tell the tale and maybe wed. , matty melt will be released from the hospital with a career ending leg injury
sincebartkowski
November 7th, 2012
9:09 pm
So Priceless. Priceless is exactly what it will be when Payton leaves N.O. for Dallas! Get used to being the “aints” again. Kinda like this year, you”aint” going to the playoffs! Or like you “aint” getting your coach back. Still have your paper sacks?
gabill
November 7th, 2012
9:28 pm
You are the type of individual that caused us to develop capital punishment. Thats a harsh punishment but not for a retarded, mentally ill anti-social New Orleans developed inhuman like you
Posts about The Falcons From Other Great Blogs issue #1 | Falcons - NFC South Daily | Atlanta Falcons Blog
November 7th, 2012
9:29 pm
[...] football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, in more… Since 1978, 9 teams have started 8-0 and went on to the Super Bowl – blogs.ajc.com 11/07/2012 Since the NFL adopted a 16-game schedule, beginning with the 1978 [...]
bullrusher1
November 7th, 2012
10:03 pm
Can’t wait for that ??????????? to be replaced with a Super Bowl win. Priceless is really Sean Payton, wanting his players to win by cheap hits. Also, Priceless, can you really call an undefeated team “The Frailcons”? Yeah, didn’t think so. You’re No. 32 Defense falls Sunday. Bring on the ‘Aints!
Haze
November 8th, 2012
12:32 pm
@PRICELESS keep talkin, i’d never wish injury on another team’s player but i think it’d be funny if Abraham knocks Brees the F out! career ending neck injury..