NFL: The Top 30 teams of the modern era

1. 1960 Philadelphia Eagles.

While this team is not often recognized as one of the great teams in NFL history, the 1960 Eagles did something that no other team was able to accomplish. The Eagles beat Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers in the NFL Championship game, and that’s the only time that Lombardi’s team ever tasted defeat in the postseason.

Head coach Buck Shaw had a largely veteran team that was led by the irascible Norm Van Brocklin at quarterback. While the Dutchman was in his final season as a player – he would go on to coach the expansion Minnesota Vikings in 1961 – he made big plays in clutch situations and threw 24 TD passes. The defense was led by hard-hitting linebacker Chuck Bednarik.

On the final play of the championship game, Packer fullback Jim Taylor caught a pass and was headed towards the goalline before Bednarik tackled him. Bednarik refused to get off Taylor, and the clock ran out and gave the Eagles the 1960 NFL championship.

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