STEELE: Peyton’s record-breaking season | Must-see images | Super Bowl info
2013 Denver Broncos Points: 606 How they did it: Peyton Manning threw for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns, both NFL records. How they finished: To be determined: they will play in Super Bowl XLVIII.
2007 New England Patriots Points: 589 How they did it: Tom Brady’s 50 touchdown passes and Randy Moss’s 23 touchdown catches were both new records as the team went 16-0 in the regular season. How they finished: lost Super Bowl XLII to Giants, 17-14, as Eli Manning outdueled Brady at the end.
2011 Green Bay Packers Points: 560 How they did it: Aaron Rodgers threw 45 touchdown passes, then Matt Flynn chucked six more (and became set for life) in the finale. How they finished: lost NFC divisional playoffs to Giants, 37-20, ending the defending champions’ 15-1 season.
2012 New England Patriots Points: 557 How they did it: They had all the weapons they were missing in 2013: Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Lloyd. How they finished: lost AFC championship game to Ravens, 28-13, and were shut out in the second half.
1998 Minnesota Vikings Points: 556 How they did it: With two future Hall of Famers (Cris Carter and rookie Randy Moss) for Randall Cunningham to throw to. How they finished: lost NFC championship game to Falcons, 30-27 in OT, when Gary Anderson missed his vital kick and Morten Andersen did not.
2011 New Orleans Saints Points: 547 How they did it: Drew Brees collected two records—most yards in a season and most consecutive games with a touchdown pass. How they finished: lost NFC divisional playoffs to 49ers, 36-32, giving up the game-winning score with 14 seconds left.
1983 Washington Redskins Points: 541 How they did it: Lots of Smurfs (receivers), lots of Hogs (linemen) and John Riggins’ 24 rushing touchdowns in a run-first era. How they finished: lost Super Bowl to L.A. Raiders, 38-9, thanks to a Jack Squirek pick-six and a legendary Marcus Allen touchdown run.
2000 St. Louis Rams Points: 540 How they did it: Marshall Faulk was named Most Valuable Player after setting a new single-season touchdown record with 26. How they finished: lost NFC wild-card game to Saints, 31-28; they dug out of a 31-7 hole before muffing a punt in the final minutes.
1999 St. Louis Rams Points: 526 How they did it: The Greatest Show on Turf was born, run by injury fill-in, ex-grocery bagger and eventual MVP Kurt Warner. How they finished: won Super Bowl XXXIV over Titans, 23-16—on a game-saving defensive stop.
2004 Indianapolis Colts Points: 522 How they did it: Peyton Manning’s 49 touchdowns broke the record Dan Marino had held for 20 years. How they fared: Lost AFC divisional playoffs to Patriots 20-3 in Foxboro, their second straight postseason elimination by Brady and New England.
