The longest winning streak in NFL history: A deep dive

What NFL Team Has the Most Wins?

It Isn’t Easy Putting Together Wins in the NFL

Winning isn’t everything in the NFL. It’s the only thing. On any given Sunday or Monday, one team can upset another. That’s why the longest win streak in NFL history is something to be celebrated. One might I think it belongs to Tom Brady’s New England Patriots, Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, or Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs.

All those guesses would be incorrect. 

The team with the longest regular season winning streak in the NFL is the Indianapolis Colts. Under Peyton Manning, Indy ran off a streak of 23 straight victories from 2008-09. This stretch didn’t start like one would expect when a team wins that many straight games. In 2008, the Colts were 3-4 after almost half the season.

No one – repeat no one – expected this team to wind up 12=4 but that is exactly what it did. The first five wins in the stretch were all tight games, the biggest winning margin was six points. Ironically or coincidentally, the first victory came against a team and player that proved to be a nemesis to Manning and the Colts.

On Nov. 2, 2008, Tony Dungy and the Colts edged the Patriots, 18-15. And off they went. The smallest win margin in the last four games was seven points. However, it all went for nothing as the Colts were upended in the playoffs by the San Diego Chargers.

Remember, this is about the longest regular season winning streak. In 2009, the Colts started off 14-0 before losing to the New York Jets. Gang Green scored the final 19 points in a game that saw them win 29-15. The Colts lost their final game of the regular season before winning two playoff games. They were then rocked by the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl.

What Are Some Other Memorable Winning Streaks?

The Patriots have the second-longest win streak in NFL history. They had a 21-game run from 2006-08. New England had an 18-game winning streak from 2003-04. It is tied for the third-longest winning stretch with an unlikely team. The Carolina Panthers won 18 in a row from 2014-15.

When looking at 17-game win streaks, the Denver Broncos had one from 2012-13 and way way back in 1933-34 the Chicago Bears won that many games consecutively.

What Is the Longest Overall Win Streak in NFL history?

Now, the Colts have the longest regular season win streak in NFL history at 23 games. However, the longest streak without a loss including the playoffs – remember the Colts lost to the Chargers in the 2008 playoffs – is 21 games.

That team would be the New England Patriots. They won 21 games in a row from Oct. 5. 2003 until losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Halloween 2004. 

The Green Bay Packers won 19 games in a row from 2010-11. That included a six-game winning streak, including a 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. 

If you are wondering about the perfect Miami Dolphins, their streak was 18 games. It started in the perfect season of 1972. The next loss for the Fish happened on Sept. 23, 1973, against the Oakland Raiders.

What NFL Team Has the Most Wins?

Teams in the NFC North – now – have the most wins in NFL history all-time. The Green Bay Packers are atop the heap with 810 victories. They have surpassed the Chicago Bears, who have won 798 games. It is a long way back to the third place team, the New York Giants. They have won 724 games. Interestingly, the Bears and Giants have not won many games lately.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have 681 victories, many coming since they won their first Super Bowl as the franchise improved greatly after many years of futility. After that, it is the Washington Commanders with 641 and current Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with 638.
Of the teams that were late-comers to the NFL, meaning they didn’t become a franchise until 1960 or so, the Dallas Cowboys have 569 victories. They haven’t had a ton of postseason success lately, but winning that many games in 64 seasons after starting as an expansion team, fans can boast about. Right? To get in on the action and place your bets on these historic teams and their future matchups, consider betting at BetUS.