17 Jul 2025 2 min read

Memory Lane - Best Defenses

NFL Defenses 1961-1977

From 1961 to 1977 (17 seasons) the NFL played 14 game in a season and during that time the following 20 defenses gave up the fewest points in a season. Note: the 1968 Chiefs are the only AFL team in the top 20.

* - Lost in Super Bowl.

# - Won Super Bowl.

@ - Won NFL Championship

Team	Year	W	L	T	Pct	PF	OFF PPG	PA	DEF PPG
ATL Falcons	1977	7	7	0	.500	179	12.8	129	9.2
MIN Vikings*	1969	12	2	0	.857	379	27.1	133	9.5
LA Rams	1975	12	2	0	.857	312	22.3	135	9.6
PIT Steelers	1976	10	4	0	.714	342	24.4	138	9.9
MIN Vikings	1971	11	3	0	.786	245	17.5	139	9.9

BAL Colts	1971	10	4	0	.714	313	22.4	140	10.0
MIN Vikings	1970	12	2	0	.857	335	23.9	143	10.2
BAL Colts*	1968	13	1	0	.929	402	28.7	144	10.3
CHI Bears#	1963	11	2	2	.786	301	21.5	144	10.3
LA Rams	1977	10	4	0	.714	302	21.6	146	10.4

DEN Broncos*	1977	12	2	0	.857	274	19.6	148	10.6
GB Packers@	1962	13	1	0	.929	415	29.6	148	10.6
MIA Dolphins#	1973	12	2	0	.857	343	24.5	150	10.7
PIT Steelers#	1975	12	2	0	.857	373	26.6	162	11.6
GB Packers#	1966	12	2	0	.857	335	23.9	163	11.6

MIN Vikings	1973	12	2	0	.857	296	21.1	168	12.0
KC Chiefs	1968	12	2	0	.857	371	26.5	170	12.1
MIA Dolphins#	1972	14	0	0	1.000	385	27.5	171	12.2
MIA Dolphins*	1971	10	3	1	.714	315	22.5	174	12.4
PIT Steelers	1972	11	3	0	.786	343	24.5	175	12.5

A few things should stand out on this list. First, there were a handful of dominate defenses during this period, second, only 30% of the top 10 made it to a Title Game/Super Bowl. Thirdly, the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders did not make the top 20 list, two of the more successful teams during the period. Lastly, in a fourteen game schedule, every team except one, Atlanta Falcons, had double digit victories.