From Manning to Mahomes, Belichick to McVay, this past decade has given us some of the most potent offenses in NFL history. Here is a list of the top 10 from the past ten years.
10. 2011 New England Patriots
It wouldn’t be a comprehensive list of the top offenses in the decade without leading off with the franchise of the decade, the New England Patriots. In 2011 Brady, Belichick and company continued their run of dominance, posting numbers in the top five of all major offensive statistical categories. With General Brady leading the way the Patriots ran through the AFC with a conference best 13-3 record on their way to the 7th Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. Although they lost the Super Bowl to the other Manning and the New York Giants it wouldn’t be the last time we’d see the tandem of Belichick and Brady on the big stage this decade (or the last time on this list for that matter).
9. 2010 New England Patriots
Ah, what do you know? Another New England Patriots team sitting in the top 10, shocker. The 2010 season was a revenge tour of sorts for the Patriots after suffering an embarrassing first round loss to the Ravens in 2009. Brady led an offense that posted league leading numbers like 32.4 ppg and an NFL all-time low of 10 turnovers. With poise and confidence of any Patriots team from the last decade, they marched to the playoffs with a league best 14-2 record only to once again fall in the first round, this time to the New York Jets.
8. 2019 Baltimore Ravens
“Not bad for a running back”, that infamous quote from Ravens MVP QB Lamar Jackson foreshadowed the offensive fire play we would see from Jackson and company in the 2019 season. Leading the league in rushing ypg with 206, five more yards per game than they averaged through the air, the Ravens were electric must watch T.V. the entire season. With not one but two 1000 yard rushers on the season, a la Jackson and late bloomer Mark Ingram, the Ravens showed that the running game is not dead in the NFL.
7. 2018 Los Angeles Rams
What do you get when you put two young, high powered offenses led by two of the greatest coaching minds in the NFL at center stage on a Monday night? Well, the highest scoring Monday Night Football game of all time (3rd of any game). The 2018 Mcvay and Goff led Rams were one of those team (look higher up the list for the other). Racking up 421 ypg and nearly 33 points per game, young star QB Goff and coaching savant Mcvay continuously outpaced opponents the entire 2018 season.
6. 2016 Atlanta Falcons
Despite suffering easily the most embarrassing loss of the decade, the 2016 Atlanta Falcons had weapons that spanned from sideline to sideline. Led by veteran QB Matt Ryan, the Falcons averaged 415 ypg and put up 33 ppg. While Ryan was the field general, he had a trio of weapons to turn to at any given notice in Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, and Tevin Coleman. Jones, a top 3 WR in the league, amassed 1409 receiving yards, averaging a career best 100 ypg. Despite the offensive success of the Falcons that season they will forever be known as yet another victim of the Brady-Belichick dynasty as they gave up 25 straight points in the Super Bowl and lost in overtime.
5. 2012 New England Patriots
After falling to Eli Manning and the tenacious Giants defense in 2011, the New England Patriots were poised to make a run and reclaim the Super Bowl title. Tom Brady along with Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez led the NFL in ppg (34) and ypt (427) on their way to the AFC championship game, where they eventually lost to the Baltimore Ravens. The TE duo of Gronkowski and Hernandez coupled with the shifty WR Welker meant that Brady had free range of the field with targets everywhere.
4. 2011 New Orleans Saints
Record shattering doesn’t even begin to describe the year that the Saints had in 2011. Brees set the single season passing record with 5,746 yards while the ever elusive Darren Sproles set the all purpose yards record with 2,696. Oh ya, and the team set the record for most yards from scrimmage with 7.474 on their way to the playoffs.
3. 2011 Green Bay Packers
2011 was arguably the best offensive year in NFL history with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers leading the way, slicing and dicing defenses every step of the way. Putting up 405 ypg and averaging 3 passing touchdowns per game, Rodgers proved yet again that no one should think of Brett Farve when they think of the Packers. The Packers scored 35 points nine times through the season (1 of 5 teams to ever do so) and were one of only two teams ever to score 42 points in six or more games. Rodgers didn’t do it alone though, head coach Mike McCarthy put together an insane WR core with Randall Cobb, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and Jordy Nelson. Whew, no wonder Rodgers had a career season as he could just throw the ball up and it was bound to land in one of his receiver’s hands.
2. 2013 Denver Broncos
Admittedly, the 2013 Denver Broncos being ranked second on this list may be ever so slightly biased but you’ll hear that argument next. Peyton Manning’s second season in Denver was nothing shy of remarkable as he set career highs in completions, attempts, yards, and touchdowns as he re-wrote the record books along with way as well. Averaging a whooping 37.9 ppg and 457 yards through the air, it was no surprise that Denver was representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.
1. 2018 Kansas City Chiefs
Well, clearly there is only one team left that could take this top spot none other than your Kansas City Chiefs. Led by sophomore, first-year starter Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs set off on a season that seemed destined for the Super Bowl from the jump. Mahomes had by far the best season a young quarterback has had amassing 4955 yards and 50, yes 50, passing touchdowns. Andy Reid put on an offensive display that the NFL had not seen before, EVER. With speed and weapons across the board, Reid was able to use Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt to put defenses in a mental pretzel with his misdirection driven offense. Ending the year with 35 ppg and 3 passing touchdowns per game, the Chiefs fell short in the AFC Championship. But as we all know, this season laid the groundwork for Mahomes and company to win Super Bowl LIV.
The 2019 Ravens are too low, and the 2013 Broncos should be first. This list sucks lmao, put your team bias aside.