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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21460927/
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List 3 of 3

.. Packers of 1960s

.. Patriots of 2000s

.. Redskins of 1991

.. Steelers of 1970s

.. 49ers of 1980s

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Packers of 1960s

Legendary coach Vince Lombardi took over a
1-10-1 team and won five NFL titles, including
the first two Super Bowls, in nine seasons.

With players like quarterback Bart Starr, running
back Paul Hornung, guard-tackle Forrest Gregg,
center Jim Ringo, fullback Jim Taylor and line-
backer Ray Nitschke already on board, Lombardi
turned them all from losers into Hall of Fame
players, stamping himself as the greatest coach
of all time.

Photo: Bart Starr throws a pass during
Super Bowl I against the Kansas City Chiefs.
http://tinyurl.com/24g5cs

Coach: Vince Lombardi

Record: 98-30-4 from 1959-67

Titles won: Five -- 1961-62, 1965-66-67

Key players: QB Bart Starr, RB Paul Hornung,
G-T Forrest Gregg, C Jim Ringo, FB Jim Taylor,
LB Ray Nitschke, DE Willie Davis, S Willie
Wood, CB Herb Adderley, DT Henry Jordan all
elected to Hall of Fame. G Jerry Kramer elected
to all-time team of first 50 years.

Area of excellence: Coaching. Lombardi turned
this juggernaut into a team of efficient rushing and
tough defense. The 1962 edition was the most
dominant, leading the league in points scored
and fewest points allowed, outscoring opponents
by 415-148. The plus-267 differential is the most
lopsided ever by a championship team.

Weakest aspect: The Packers were not a great field-
goal kicking team and made fewer than half their
attempts from beyond 40 yards during the Lombardi
years. Don Chandler's game-tying 22-yarder against
Baltimore to send the 1965 Western Conference
championship into overtime will forever be dis-
puted by Colts' fans and led the league to extend
the height of the goal posts.

Stat to know: The 1965-67 Packers are the only team
to three-peat since the advent of the playoff system in
1933. They matched the 1929-30-31 Packers, regular
season champs before the playoffs.

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Patriots of 2000s

Just when free agency seemed to even out the talent
and preclude the possibility of dynasties, the Patriots
emerged with a remarkable record of success. Coach
Bill Belichick uncovered sixth-round quarterback
Tom Brady and the result was three Super Bowl
titles in four seasons, matching the Cowboys of the
1990s.

The Patriots emphasized team play over individual
success and gathered willing and undervalued ath-
letes from other rosters who fit into Belichick's
offensive and defensive systems.

Photo: Patriots coach Bill Belichick and
quarterback Tom Brady have won three
Super Bowls.
http://tinyurl.com/2a968x

[Insert -- Of course, the Patriots' 2000s story is
still in progress, and with a 16-0 regular season
record in 2007, that photo description may have
to be altered from 'three' to 'four' -- end insert]

Coach: Bill Belichick

Record: 48-9 including playoffs in 2001, 2004-05.

Titles: Three-2001, 2004-05.

Key players: QB Tom Brady, LB Mike Vrabel,
DL Richard Seymour, LB Tedy Bruschi, WR Deion
Branch, WR Troy Brown, T Matt Light, RB Kevin
Faulk, DE Willie McGinest, CB Ty Law, S Rodney
Harrison, C Dan Koppen, DE Ty Warren, PK Adam
Vinatieri, TE Daniel Graham.

[Insert -- If the Patriots go all the way in 2007, that cast
of characters will have to be expanded to include Wes
Welker, Donte Stallworth, and Randy Moss -- end insert]

Area of excellence: coach-quarterback combination.
Belichick's unique defensive schemes served him well
as a defensive coordinator as well as a head coach,
but it wasn't until Brady's arrival that championships
followed.

Weakest aspect: Deion Branch was MVP of Super
Bowl XXXIX but Brady never had a sterling cast of
wide receivers during his Super Bowl years. Branch
and other top wideouts David Givens and David Patten
all had short careers in New England.

Stat to know: Brady's playoff winning percentage of
..857 (12-2) is second only to Bart Starr's .900 (9-1).

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Redskins of 1991

On their way to a dominant 14-2 season in which they
outscored opponents by more than 200 points, the Red-
skins were the only team to finish in the top 10 in rush-
ing and passing offense and defense as well as total
offense and defense.

The year stamped Joe Gibbs as one of the great coaches
of all time because it marked his third Super Bowl title
with three different quarterbacks-Joe Theismann in
1982, Doug Williams in 1987 and Mark Rypien in 1991
-an unprecedented feat. Rypien was a sixth-round pick
who flourished in Gibbs' system.

Photo: Joe Gibbs returned to the Redskins in 2004.
http://tinyurl.com/2ycj8p

Coach: Joe Gibbs

Record: 17-2 including playoffs.

Titles: One.

Key players: WR Art Monk, WR Gary Clark, G Russ
Grimm, T Joe Jacoby, LB Wilber Marshall, DE Charles
Mann, CB Darrell Green, RB Earnest Byner, LB Monte
Coleman, T Jim Lachey, K Chip Lohmiller, G Raleigh
McKenzie, C Jeff Bostic, G Mark Schlereth, KR Brian
Mitchell,, LB Andre Collins.

Area of excellence: Coaching. Like Lombardi before
him, Gibbs molded championship teams out of above
average talent.

Weakest aspect: Punting. The Redskins didn't have to
punt very often and it's a good thing. Kelly Goodburn
averaged only 39.8 yards a punt and had a league-high
three blocked.

Stat to know: The 1991 Redskins fell five points shy
of a perfect season, losing 24-21 to Dallas and 24-22
to Philadelphia.

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Steelers of 1970s

The Steelers became the first four-time Super Bowl
champions with four titles in six seasons under coach
Chuck Noll. After Noll drafted defensive tackle Joe
Greene in 1969 and quarterback Terry Bradshaw in
1970, the foundation was in place for the Super Bowl
run.

When four future Hall of Famers-receivers Lynn Swann
and John Stallworth, linebacker Jack Lambert, and center
Mike Webster all arrived in the 1974 draft, the dynasty
blossomed and dominated.

Photo: Terry Bradshaw throws a pass against the
L.A. Rams during Super Bowl XIV.
http://tinyurl.com/3985bv

Coach: Chuck Noll.

Record: 88-27-1 from 1972-79

Titles: Four -- 1974-75, 1978-79.

Key players: QB Terry Bradshaw, DT Joe Greene,
CB Mel Blount, LB Jack Ham, RB Franco Harris,
WR Lynn Swann, WR John Stallworth, LB Jack Lambert,
C Mike Webster all made Hall of Fame.

Area of excellence: Defense. The Steel Curtain stifled
opponents, holding them to a record 138 points in 1976,
one of the years they didn't win a Super Bowl. Harris'
running complemented the defense and when the defense
began to erode at the end of the reign, Bradshaw's pas-
sing to Swann and Stallworth flourished, but the key was
always defense.

Weakest aspect: In their 60 regular-season games during
their four title years, the Steelers lost 82 fumbles and
threw 81 interceptions, unusually high numbers for a
championship team (almost three a game), adding pres-
sure on the defense and luster to their accomplishment.

Stat to know: The "Immaculate Reception" by Franco
Harris to beat the Oakland Raiders 13-7 in 1972 was
the first playoff win in Steelers' history.

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49ers of 1980s

When Bill Walsh became coach in 1978 and drafted
quarterback Joe Montana in 1979, the stage was set
for four Super Bowl titles in the 1980s, as the 49ers
followed the Packers of the 60s and Steelers of the
70s as the team of the decade.

Walsh changed offensive theory by using short passes
as an extension of the running game. Walsh's offenses
dictated tempo and kept defenses on their heels with
short pass drops and quick releases. The 1984 edition
was the best, going 15-1 and outscoring opponents by
more than 200 points.

Photo: Joe Montana led San Francisco to
four Super Bowls.
http://tinyurl.com/34peps

Coach: Bill Walsh 1979-88, George Seifert 1989-96.

Record: Walsh 102-63-1, Seifert 108-35.

Titles: Four -- 1981, 1984, 1988-89.

Key players: QB Joe Montana, DB Ronnie Lott,
WR Jerry Rice, RB Roger Craig, WR Dwight Clark,
WR John Taylor, NT Michael Carter, T Keith Fahn-
horst, G Randy Cross, S Dwight Hicks, LB Keena
Turner, CB Eric Wright.

Area of excellence: coach-quarterback combination.
Walsh's schemes and Montana's execution took offense
to a new level, forcing defenses as well as other offenses
to adjust. Versions of the "West Coast offense" remain
pervasive.

Weakest aspect: Though underrated and misunderstood,
the 49ers' running game was never dangerous. In the
1981 championship season, it averaged only 3.5 yards
a carry. In 1989, it averaged only 4.0.

Stat to know: Montana led the league in completion per-
centage in 1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, and 1989.

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