The New England Patriots defeated the following teams enroute to Superbowl XX: Wildcard Playoff: New England 26, New York Jets 14 Divisional Playoffs: New England 27, LA Raiders 20 Conference Championship: New England 31, Miami Dolphins 14 Superbowl XX Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10 :(
2007 Patriots, 1985 Bears, 1984 49ers
In the last 10 seasons (2000-2009), the 2007 Cleveland Browns, 2005 Kansas City Chiefs, and 2003 Miami Dolphins all had a record of 10-6 and didn't make the playoffs. There have also been 11-5 teams that didn't make the playoffs including the 2008 New England Patriots and 1985 Denver Broncos.
Since the NFL went to a 16 game regular season in 1978, the 1985 Denver Broncos and the 2008 New England Patriots are the only 11-5 NFL team to not have made the postseason through the 2008 season.
depends on when you are going back to. If you are just talking about this season, it is the NY Giants, but dating back to last season it would be the NE Patriots. It is The San Francisco 49ers with 18.
the denver broncos went 11-5 in 1985 and failed to make the playoffs. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/1985.htm
85' Broncos with an 11-5 record. 1967 Baltimore Colts with an 11-1-2 record. 1963 Green Bay Packers with an 11-2-1 record. Then the 1985 Broncos. As of the 2008 season, those three teams are the only teams in NFL history to win 11 games in the regular season and not make the playoffs.
Through the 2008 season, since the NFL went to a 16 game regular season in 1978, the 2008 San Diego Chargers and the 1985 Cleveland Browns are the only two teams to have won a division title with an 8-8 record. Incredibly, since 1978 there have only been two 11-5 teams that did not make the playoffs. They were the 2008 New England Patriots and the 1985 Denver Broncos. The two seasons that have seen an 8-8 team win a division are also the two seasons that have seen an 11-5 team not make the playoffs.
The Patriots have been to the playoffs 20 times - 1963 1976 1978 1982 1985 1986 1994 1996 1997 1998 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012
Including playoffs (16 game season): 1984 San Francisco 49ers 18-1 1985 Chicago Bears 18-1 2007 New England Patriots 18-1 Including playoffs (14 game season): 1972 Miami Dolphins 17-0 * (only undefeated team in NFL history) 13 game season: 1934 Chicago Bears 13-0 (lost in championship) 11 game season: 1942 Chicago Bears 11-0 (lost in championship) Not including playoffs (16 game season): 2007 New England Patriots 16-0 (18-1, lost in Super Bowl) (14 game season): 1972 Miami Dolphins 14-0 (17-0, won Super Bowl)
As of the 2008 season, since the NFL went to a 16 game regular season in 1978, that has happened only once. That was the 1985 Denver Broncos who went 11-5 but lost out in a tie breaker to the New England Patriots and New York Jets for the Wild Card playoff spots. 5 teams made the playoffs that season, the 3 division winners and 2 wild cards. The best regular season record to not make the playoffs was 11-1-2 by the 1967 Baltimore Colts. They played in the Coastal Division of the NFL and ended the season tied with the Los Angeles Rams. Coming into the final game of the season, which was against the Rams, the Colts were 11-0-2 with the one of the ties being against the Rams. The Rams won the season finale, 34-10, to win the Division. There were no wild card teams back then so the Colts didn't make the playoffs even though they tied for the best record in the NFL. No other team won more than 9 games that season. The 1963 Green Bay Packers went 11-2-1 and didn't make the playoffs, losing out to the 11-1-2 Chicago Bears.
The Mariners (2010), Royals (1985), Blue Jays (1993), and Marlines (2003). With the Pirates making it this year, they broke their streak which had been since 1992.
The NFL teams have finished the season with eighteen wins and one loss:the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Miami Dolphins 38-16 in Super Bowl XIXthe 1985 Chicago Bears, who beat the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XXthe 2007 New England Patriots, who completed a "perfect regular season" and won their divisional and conference playoffs, before losing Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants 17-21.