Image: Wiki Commons by Keith Allison
About This Quiz
While other sports like basketball and soccer rely on superstar players to garner attention for their leagues, the NFL has always been about the team brand over the individual brand. This method has worked on the gridiron, as teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have become national powerhouses with fans all over the country. How familiar are you with these NFL teams, their history and traditions?Â
After the NFL and AFL merger was completed in 1970, the NFL became the preeminent football league in the United States. No other league since then has been able to compete on a national level. Since securing that spot, the NFL has only grown in popularity, and that popularity has all been based on team production, as communities buy into their local markets.Â
Do you know everything there is to know about not only the team in your hometown, but teams across the entire country? From the top players and units to suit up for a franchise to their accomplishments in the playoffs, this quiz will test you on the most important team moments.Â
If you're up for the challenge, jump into this quiz and see if you can will yourself to a victory.Â
The New England Patriots dominated the past two decades under the leadership of which NFL coach?
Sean Payton
John Harbaugh
Pete Carroll
Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick is one of the most demanding coaches in the NFL, which has obviously been a major reason he won six championships as the Patriots' head coach. However, what he demands is very simple: Just do your job.
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With a fanbase spread across the entire country, the Dallas Cowboys received what nickname because of their popularity?
The Evil Empire
America's Team
Love them or hate them, there's little doubt that the Dallas Cowboys have been one of the most celebrated and successful franchises in the NFL. The team has been devoid of a championship since 1995, but with some success the past few seasons, fans are optimistic about the future.
Cowboy Land
The Brightest Stars
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During WWII, the Philadelphia Eagles merged with which team for one year because they lost so many players to military service?
Steelers
Playing in the Eastern Division, the Steagles posted a 5-4-1 record and missed the playoffs. However, for the Eagles, 1943 was the first winning season in the history of the franchise, which began 10 years earlier.
Giants
Browns
Jets
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Who famously introduced a vertical passing game to the Oakland Raiders when he became the head coach in 1962?
Jon Gruden
John Madden
Al Davis
Al Davis had much bigger plans than simply being the head coach of the Raiders. After a stint as the AFL commissioner, Davis worked his way back into the Raiders' organization, purchasing his first stake in the team in 1969 before eventually becoming the majority owner.
Tom Flores
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Do you remember which team won the very first Super Bowl in 1967 against the Kansas City Chiefs?
Giants
Packers
Before Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy or Brett Favre and Mike Holmgren, there was Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi in Green Bay. Of all three pairs, Starr and Lombardi are the only ones to win more than a single Super Bowl together with the Packers.
Colts
Redskins
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After hiring Pete Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks made several deep playoff runs, including a championship in 2013, behind which defensive secondary?
The Ball Hawks
The Sharks
The Death Squad
The Legion of Boom
Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Cam Chancellor were the centerpieces of the Legion of Boom. Known for their physicality and aggression, injuries eventually forced the Seahawks to break up this talented group of defensive backs.
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The New York Giants' franchise record for consecutive games started is held by who?
Eli Manning
Even during his down years, Eli Manning was known as an iron man across the NFL, and even injuries couldn't take away his Giants' record. Instead, it was head coach Ben McAdoo who sat Manning, but after a backlash from fans, McAdoo received the boot.
Lawrence Taylor
Michael Strahan
Odell Beckham Jr.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowls at six each. When did the Steelers win their first championship?
1969
1971
1974
The 1974 season set up a matchup between two 10-win teams as the Pittsburgh Steelers faced off against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX. The first half of the game remained close, but the Steelers pulled away in the third quarter, winning the game 16-6.
1995
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The Cleveland Browns did not play football from 1996 through 1998 because the original franchise moved to which city?
Baltimore
When the Browns decided to move from Cleveland to Baltimore, the city sued the NFL since the Browns were required to play home games in Cleveland Stadium. The settlement allowed Cleveland to maintain the Browns' name and promised that a new team would soon be added to the city.
Tampa Bay
Jacksonville
Nashville
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Prior to the 2014 season, where did the San Fransisco 49ers play football games?
Oracle Park
Candlestick Park
The San Francisco 49ers shared Candlestick Park with the San Francisco Giants for almost 30 years. The Giants were the first ones to move out of the stadium when Oracle Park opened in 2000.
Levi's Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
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The Chicago Bears won the 1986 Super Bowl behind a tough defense and which legendary running back?
Tony Dorsett
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith
Walter Payton
Despite leading the team in rushing yards, Walter Payton failed to score a touchdown in Super Bowl XX. Payton was upset and largely blamed head coach Mike Ditka for handing the ball to William Perry instead of to him for the final touchdown of the game.
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Can you name the mascot currently used by the Kansas City Chiefs to entertain fans during pregame festivities?
T.D.
Toro
Warpaint
The original Warpaint mascot was retired in 1989 after calls were made alleging that the mascot made fun of Native Americans, as the rider dressed in traditional Indian clothing. The mascot was reintroduced in 2009 with a female cheerleader as the rider and has been a staple at Broncos' games ever since.
Blitz
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Alan Page and Carl Eller led a nasty defensive line for the Minnesota Vikings known by what name?
Doomsday Defense
Fearsome Foursome
Purple People Eaters
The Purple People Eaters had an agreement among the members that they would meet each other at the quarterback. They rarely let each other down, racking up 121 sacks between 1975 and 1977.
Homeland Defense
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The Denver Broncos hired which former Super Bowl MVP as their general manager in 2011?
John Elway
Few players had the same career highs and lows as John Elway. During his 16 years in Denver, Elway went to five Super Bowls, losing the first three early in his career before winning back to back titles during his final two seasons in the league.
Peyton Manning
Terrell Davis
Von Miller
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What is the only team in NFL history to go undefeated throughout an entire season, including the playoffs?
Ravens
Colts
Jets
Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins only had to win 14 regular season games instead of the 16 games required today to go undefeated in 1972, but that doesn't take away from their accomplishment. Ask the New England Patriots, because they were 18-0 when they got beaten in Super Bowl XLII.
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After 20 seasons of mediocrity, when did the New Orleans Saints finally have a winning season?
1976
1987
The New Orleans Saints might've had their first winning season in 1987, but the team wouldn't find any real success until acquiring Drew Brees in 2006. Brees has been a consistent Pro Bowler and even led the Saints to a championship during the 2009 season.
1990
1999
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How many Super Bowls did the Buffalo Bills lose in a row, leaving the city without a title to this date?
3
4
The closest the Buffalo Bills came to winning a championship was when they faced the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV. In the closing seconds of the game, Bills' kicker Scott Norwood missed a 29-yard field goal that would have given Buffalo the lead with almost no time remaining.
5
6
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Doug Williams was the first African American quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Which team did he win it on?
Buccaneers
Rams
Redskins
Doug Williams not only won a championship with the Washington Redskins, but he was also named the MVP of the game. In the matchup, Williams gave it to the Denver Broncos, throwing for 340 yards and four touchdowns.
Cardinals
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After promising New York a championship, who was named the MVP of Super Bowl III for the Jets?
George Sauer Jr.
Emerson Boozer
Matt Snell
Joe Namath
Joe Namath earned the nickname "Broadway Joe" for his flashy lifestyle off the field. However, the name was fitting for the Hall of Fame quarterback after he led the Jets as underdogs to a victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
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In the late '90s, the Rams put together one of the most explosive offenses the NFL has ever seen. What did they call themselves?
The Greatest Show on Turf
Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk were two of the cornerstone pieces for "The Greatest Show on Turf." While putting up ridiculous numbers together, the pair earned three NFL MVPs between the two of them over three consecutive years.
The Blue Wave
The Dream Team
The Kardiac Kids
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The Arizona Cardinals got a taste of the Super Bowl for the first time in 2008. Do you remember their regular season record?
9-7
After an up and down season, the 2008 Arizona Cardinals surprised many by making it to the Super Bowl. The Cardinals had to survive a tough matchup in the Wild Card round before facing the second seated Carolina Panthers in the Divisional round and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Conference Championship.
11-5
12-4
14-2
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Which division have the Baltimore Ravens been playing in since 2002?
NFC South
AFC East
NFC West
AFC North
The Baltimore Ravens moved to the AFC North in 2002 with one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. Led by Ray Lewis, the Ravens' defense carried them to the playoffs six out of the next ten years.
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Having not made the playoffs since 1983, the Detroit Lions drafted Barry Sanders in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft with which pick?
1st
2nd
3rd
Barry Sanders made an immediate impact for the Detroit Lions, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after rushing for 1,470 yards and 14 touchdowns. Throughout his entire career with the Lions, Sanders never had less than 1,000 yards in a season, but he also never played in a Super Bowl.
4th
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Can you recall the year that the Indianapolis Colts went 2-14 because Peyton Manning missed the season due to a neck injury?
2006
2010
2011
2011 was one of the worst seasons in Colts' history, but it did set them up with the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. With the pick, the Colts decided to move on from Peyton Manning by taking Andrew Luck out of Stanford.
2014
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The Carolina Panthers' uniforms do not include which of the following colors?
Black
Green
Though the Panthers don't use green as one of their uniform colors, green is popular among other NFL teams. In total, six teams use some shade of green on their uniforms, which includes the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets.
Blue
Silver
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What's the name of the new stadium that the Atlanta Falcons moved into in 2017?
AT&T Stadium
Soldier Field
Bank of America Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium took the Atlanta Falcons out of the Georgia Dome, where they had played since 1992. The new stadium incorporates many modern amenities like one of the largest video screens in the world and a retractable roof.
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Do you know how many Super Bowl appearances the Houston Texans have made since joining the league in 2002?
0
Built around a stout defense and quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Houston Texans have put themselves in position in recent years to make a run at a championship. Whether it pays off is to be determined, but they certainly aren't short on talent.
1
3
6
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The Chargers used a pass heavy offense in the late 1970s that revolutionized football in many ways. What was it called?
Run and gun
Triple option
Air Coryell
For six consecutive seasons beginning in 1978, the San Diego Chargers led the NFL in passing yards behind the mind of head coach Don Coryell. The offense he incorporated changed football by using more receivers and a pass catching tight end, which forced defenses to adjust their schemes as well.
West coast
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After building a championship contending team, who did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquire to coach them to a title in 2002?
Mike McCarthy
Marvin Lewis
Andy Reid
Jon Gruden
In only his first season in Tampa Bay, Jon Gruden led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title. In the championship game, Gruden faced the team that traded him to Tampa Bay, the Raiders, allowing him to get his revenge on his former employer.
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At the end of which season did the Cincinnati Bengals make their first Super Bowl appearance?
1972
1981
The Cincinnati Bengals finished the 1981 regular season tied for the second best record in the NFL. In Super Bowl XVI, they faced the only team to finish with a better record, the San Francisco 49ers, who were led by a young Joe Montana in his first title appearance.
1990
1999
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What Super Bowl MVP quarterback did the Jacksonville Jaguars sign in the 2019 offseason?
Nick Foles
At the end of the 2017 season, the Eagles' starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, tore his ACL after securing a playoff birth for Philadelphia. Nick Foles was forced to step in, and he didn't disappoint, carrying the team to a victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII while also winning the Super Bowl MVP.
Drew Brees
Carson Wentz
Aaron Rodgers
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The Tennessee Titans came up how many yards short of having a chance to tie Super Bowl XXXIV with an extra point?
1 yard
The Tennessee Titans had some miraculous moments in the 1999 NFL Playoffs, which started with a miracle victory in the Wild Card round. Known fittingly as the Music City Miracle, the Titans defeated the Buffalo Bills in the final seconds of the Wild Card game after returning a kickoff for a touchdown.
5 yards
8 yards
15 yards
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Behind which defense did the New York Giants become perennial title contenders in the '80s?
The Blue Wave
The Big Blue Wrecking Crew
No player was more important on the Big Blue Wrecking Crew than Lawrence Taylor. During his 13 years in the league, Taylor changed the way linebackers played by sacking quarterbacks left, right and every way in between.
Blitz City
The Doomsday Defense
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Super Bowl LIII was the lowest scoring Super Bowl ever as the Patriots took home the trophy. What was the final score?
6-3
7-6
10-3
13-3
The New England Patriots put together a defensive scheme in Super Bowl LIII that held the Los Angeles Rams, who had the second ranked offense during the regular season, to three points. It's considered one of the greatest defensive performances in NFL history.
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In 1983, the Miami Dolphins drafted which quarterback who became known as the best passer to never win a Super Bowl?
Dan Marino
Dan Marino might not have a Super Bowl ring, but his other accomplishments tell the story of just how great he was. Not only did he lead the league in passing five different times, but he was also the first quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season, setting the stage for future NFL gunslingers.
Joe Montana
Brett Favre
Steve Young
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You Got:
/35
Wiki Commons by Keith Allison