Undefeated Steelers: Here’s a look at the 16 other teams that started 10-0 in the Super Bowl era

Two weeks ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers became the first team in franchise history to win their first eight games. In Week 10, Pittsburgh became the NFL’s first 9-0 team since the 2015 Panthers. Last Sunday, the Steelers improved to 10-0 after beating the Jaguars in Jacksonville, 27-3. The last unbeaten team in the NFL, the Steelers currently have a one-game lead over the defending champions Chiefs in the race to secure the AFC’s No.1 seed. They also have a three-game lead over the Browns for first place in the AFC North.

Since the start of the Super Bowl era, 17 teams, including the 2020 Steelers, have won in the last 10 games before losing their first game. Of those teams, 10 reached the Super Bowl, with six teams ending the year with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Here’s a look at every 10-0 NFL team since the start of the Super Bowl era. As you can see below, teams that started out hot have had more success on the road than recent seasons.

1969 Rams	11-0	11-3	No
1972 Dolphins	14-0	14-0	Yes
1975 Vikings	10-0	12-2	No
1984 Dolphins	11-0	14-2	No (lost to San Francisco)
1985 Bear	12-0	15-1	Yes
Giants of 1990	10-0	13-3	Yes
1990 49ers	10-0	14-2	No
1991 Washington	11-0	14-2	Yes
1998 Broncos	13-0	14-2	Yes
2007 Patriots	16-0	16-0	No (lost against the giants)
Titans 2008	10-0	13-3	No
2009 Colts	14-0	14-2	No (lost to New Orleans)
2009 Saints	13-0	13-3	Yes
Packers 2011	13-0	15-1	No
Patriots 2015	10-0	12-4	No
Panthers 2015	14-0	15-1	No (lost to Denver)

While it’s too early to predict the Steelers’ playoff fortunes, Pittsburgh’s depth at different positions should allow them to hold up better than most clubs. It will also give them more versatility when it comes to their eventual playoff games.

One-dimensional teams rarely win the Super Bowl; just ask the ’84 Dolphins, whose prolific passing attack was unable to deliver a third Lombardi Trophy to Miami. Conversely, the 2006 Colts, after missing their goal the previous season, received a significantly better game in their defense, which allowed them to win the franchise’s first title since moving from Baltimore to Indianapolis.

The Pittsburgh team in 1978, whose 7-0 start was the franchise’s highest score until passed by the current team, is another example of a team that had a full squad in the three phases. The Steel Curtain Defense, although a little older, was still the most dominant unit in the league. The Pittsburgh offense received a career year from quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who this season became the first and last Steeler to win the league MVP. And while Bradshaw and passing play were the center of the attack, Bradshaw certainly didn’t forget his talented field duo of Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, who both scored touchdowns in the 35-31 win. of Pittsburgh vs. Dallas in Super Bowl XIII.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s right-hand man has been the Steelers’ primary transport in attack. Roethlisberger may be edged out by Alex Smith for Player of the Year, but he is currently one of the first to win the league MVP title. In Sunday’s win over Jacksonville, Roethlisberger threw two touchdowns while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. He’s now set to throw for 4,054 yards with 40 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.

Roethlisberger has been successful in spreading the wealth when it comes to the Pittsburgh players. Five Steelers have caught at least 25 assists this season, with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool and Dionate Johnson leading the way with 146 receptions for 1,631 yards and 17 touchdowns. are on track to capture a total of 158 passes for 1,806 yards and 21 touchdowns. James Washington, a 2018 second-round pick, made several clutch holds, while tight new element Eric Ebron turned out to be one of the NFL’s best free agent acquisitions of 2020.

The Steelers defense, led by TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Bud Dupree, Vince Williams, Joe Haden and Minkah Fitzpatrick, didn’t miss a beat after being one of the league’s best units in 2019. The Steelers defense is currently the NFL’s top-10 in points allowed, passing yards, rushing yards, sacks and forced turnovers. Watt, Dupree and Tuitt have combined to total 24 sacks so far, while Fitzpatrick leads the team with four interceptions, including three picks in Pittsburgh’s last two games. On Sunday, Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds became the first pair of safeties this century to each record two interceptions in the same game.

In Sunday’s win over the Bengals, the Steelers did not allow a third conversion in a game for the first time since defeating the eventual NFC Champion Eagles in the middle of the 2004 season. Pittsburgh also has the No.1 defense in the league with a fourth efficiency, as teams convert just 28.6% of their fourth tries.

Pittsburgh continues to employ one of the league’s top kickers, Chris Boswell, who has had all but three of his 48 field goal attempts since the start of last season. Ray-Ray McCloud, a surprising inclusion in the team’s initial roster of 53, is averaging nearly 14 yards per punt return. His 58-yard return provided a first-half touchdown in Pittsburgh’s Week 8 win over the Titans, while his 45-yard punt return in Week 10 set the Steelers’ final score in a win. 36-10 against the Bengals.

The Steelers have corrected several of their perceived weaknesses in recent weeks. Their third defense, which was a cause for concern earlier in the season, saw their last two opponents win a total of 4 of 26 on the third try. Pittsburgh’s rushing offense, which failed to win 50 in each of its previous three games, gained 106 yards in Sunday’s victory over Jacksonville. James Conner, who had 89 yards Sunday in just 13 carries, is back on track to become Pittsburgh’s first 1,000-yard runner since Le’Veon Bell in 2017.

“The guys are playing hard and playing fast and well together,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said on Sunday when his defense improved on the third down. “We’re getting some turnovers. But I think the catalyst for it all is that the guys are playing extremely hard and fast. And I think that creates the frenzy that gives the wave we ride.”

Can the Steelers go undefeated? They have the talent to do it, but health is likely to play a big role in making it happen. The Steelers also have four games to play against teams with record wins that include clashes against divisional opponents Baltimore and Cleveland. And while they may sew AFC North relatively early, the fact that only the No.1 seed will get a playoff pass will likely keep the Steelers playing their starters for all 16 games as long as the Chiefs are. always on their heels.

A bigger question is whether Pittsburgh has what it takes to dethrone Kansas City as the AFC champion. While they have their weaknesses (especially on defense), the Chiefs, led by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, should still be seen as the team to beat in the AFC. That being said, the Steelers, through 10 games, have proven to be a worthy challenger to win the Chiefs crown in January.