ESPN ranks teams that nearly reached the Super Bowl
2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 18, 2026, 11:53 AM
Last updated Aug 18, 2026
ESPN has begun its countdown to Super Bowl LXI by ranking 16 notable NFL teams that fell short of appearing in the championship game. Among those mentioned is the 2023 Ravens, which highlights their strong season despite not making it to the Super Bowl. This ranking is part of a series that reflects on historically significant squads that came close but ultimately missed the opportunity to compete for the title. The series kicks off today, August 18, 2026.
- •ESPN ranks 16 historic NFL teams that missed the Super Bowl
- •2023 Ravens included in the rankings
- •Ranking part of Super Bowl LXI countdown series
- •Focus on teams' strong seasons despite failures
- •Ranking published on August 18, 2026
- 12:23 PMESPN — We ranked the best NFL teams ever to fall short of the Super Bowl: Stacking 16 historic near misses
"ESPN is kicking off it's countdown to Super Bowl LXI series by ranking the best teams that didn't quite make the big game, including the 2023 Ravens.
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