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Chiefs are the 30th team in Super Bowl era to start 8-0. Here’s how the others fared

pete grathoff
·4 min read
Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton (34) carries the ball during Super Bowl XX as New England Patriots linebacker Johnny Rembert (55) chases at the Superdome. The Bears defeated the Patriots 46-10.

The Chiefs are part of a small group of teams that have opened a season with eight straight victories, and they can join an even more elite circle with a win Sunday.

With their win Monday over Tampa Bay, the Chiefs became just the 30th team in the Super Bowl era to begin a season with an 8-0 record, per CBS Sports.

If the Chiefs beat the Broncos on Sunday, they’ll be just the fifth defending Super Bowl champion to open a season with nine straight victories.

That would match the Chiefs’ franchise record starting with nine straight wins.

Here’s a look back at all the NFL teams that have opened a season with an 8-0 record. Three things to note:

  1. The 1998 Broncos were the only defending champion who repeated after winning eight straight to start a season

  2. Eight teams have won the Super Bowl after starting 8-0: 1972 Dolphins, 1977 Cowboys, 1985 Bears, 1990 Giants, 1991 Washington, 1998 Broncos, 2006 Colts and 2009 Saints

  3. Every team that was 8-0 won their division save one: The 2013 Chiefs were second in AFC West

Here are how the other 29 teams that were 8-0 ended up faring.

1969 Rams: Started 11-0 before 20-13 loss to the Vikings. Final record: 11-3 (lost to Vikings in Divisional round)

1972 Dolphins: Had 14-0 regular-season record and won Super Bowl VII

1973 Vikings: Started 9-0 before 20-14 loss at Falcons. Final record: 12-2 (lost to Dolphins in Super Bowl VIII)

1975 Vikings: Started 10-0 before 31-30 loss at Washington. Final record: 12-2 (lost to Cowboys in Divisional round)

1977 Cowboys: Started 8-0 before 24-17 loss to St. Louis Cardinals. Final record: 12-2 (won Super Bowl XXII)

1984 Dolphins: Started 11-0 before 34-28 OT loss at Chargers. Final record: 14-2 (lost to 49ers in Super Bowl XIX)

1985 Bears: Started 12-0 before 38-24 loss at Dolphins. Final record: 15-1 (won Super Bowl XX)

1990 Giants: Started 10-0 before 31-13 loss at Eagles. Final record: 13-3 (won Super Bowl XV)

1990 49ers: Started 10-0 before 28-17 loss to Rams. Final record: 14-2 (lost to Giants in NFC Championship Game)

1991 Washington: Started 12-0 before 24-21 loss to Cowboys. Final record: 14-2 (won Super Bowl XVI)

1998 Broncos: Started 13-0 before 20-16 loss at Giants. Final record: 14-2 (won Super Bowl XXXIII)

2003 Chiefs: Started 9-0 before 24-19 loss at Bengals. Final record: 13-3 (lost to Colts in Divisional round)

2005 Colts: Started 13-0 before 26-17 loss to Chargers. Final record: 14-2 (lost to Steelers in Divisional round)

2006 Colts: Started 9-0 before 24-17 loss at Cowboys. Final record: 12-4 (won Super Bowl XLI)

2007 Patriots: 16-0 in regular season (lost to Giants in Super Bowl XLII)

2008 Titans: Started 10-0 before 34-13 loss to Jets. Final record: 13-3 (lost to Ravens in Divisional round)

2009 Saints: Started 13-0 before 24-17 loss to Cowboys. Final record: 13-3 (won Super Bowl XLIV)

2009 Colts: Started 14-0 before 29-15 loss to Jets. Final record: 14-2 (lost to Saints in Super Bowl XLIV)

2011 Packers: Started 13-0 before 19-14 loss at Chiefs. Final record: 15-1 (lost to Giants in Divisional round)

2012 Falcons: Started 8-0 before 31-27 loss at Saints. Final record: 13-3 (lost to 49ers in NFC Championship Game)

2013 Chiefs: Started 9-0 before 27-17 loss at Broncos. Final record: 11-5 (lost to Colts in Wild Card round)

2015 Bengals: Started 8-0 before 10-6 loss to Texans. Final record: 12-4 (lost to Steelers in Wild Card round)

2015 Patriots: Started 10-0 before 30-24 OT loss at Broncos. Final record: 12-4 (lost to Broncos in AFC title game)

2015 Panthers: Started 14-0 before 20-13 loss at Falcons. Final record: 15-1 (lost to Broncos in Super Bowl 50)

2018 Rams: Started 8-0 before 45-35 loss to Saints. Final record: 13-3 (lost to Patriots in Super Bowl LIII)

2019 49ers: Started 8-0 before 27-24 overtime loss to Seahawks. Final record: 13-3 (lost to Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV)

2019 Patriots: Started 8-0 before 37-20 loss at Baltimore. Final record: 12-4 (lost to Titans in Wild Card round)

2020 Steelers: Started 11-0 before 23-17 loss to Washington Football Team. Final record: 12-4 (lost to Browns in Wild Card round)

2022 Eagles: Started 8-0 before 32-21 loss to Commanders. Final record: 14-3 (lost to Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII)