The 10 Best NFL Teams of the Last Decade
1. 2007 New England Patriots
nERD: 19.08
Record: 16-0, lost Super Bowl XLII
There’s a reason why Peyton Manning’s 2007 -- one of his most efficient and incredible passing seasons ever -- saw him rank just second in the league that year. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady outdid him in arguably the best quarterback season we have seen in the modern era, in the same year.
It’s almost impossible to overstate how impressive Brady’s 2007 season was, as his 0.43 Passing NEP per drop back ranks second among all starters since 2000. His raw Passing NEP alone doesn’t put him tops all-time, but with his 98 yards rushing and two ground touchdowns that year, the value he added in Rushing NEP bumps him to the catbird seat. If for no other reason, the historic nature of Brady being the first quarterback to ever pass for 50 touchdowns in a season makes this year one to remember.
Add in the fact that running backs Kevin Faulk and Laurence Maroney both were in the top-25 at their position in Total NEP that season, not to mention slot receiver Wes Welker ranking eighth among wide receivers in this metric, and it’s a pretty good year. Oh, that’s right: wide receiver Randy Moss also had the fourth-best wide receiver season in Total NEP that season, catching 98 passes for 1,493 yards and an NFL record 23 touchdowns.
If that wasn’t reason enough to quake in your boots, the Pats also had the second-best defense in the league that year. Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, linebacker Mike Vrabel, and cornerback Asante Samuel all earned All-Pro honors, and anchored a team that outscored its opponents by an average of 19.7 points per game. They roared through the postseason, decimating the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chargers before losing by just three points to the New York Giants on a miraculous drive highlighted by wide receiver David Tyree's fluky, improbable helmet catch.
They ended the season 18-1, but the 2007 Patriots are the single greatest team in the past decade of the NFL.
