An NFL team has to be good to get to 12-1. Bad teams don't win 12 out of 13 games. But not all 12-1 teams are created equal.
A team like the 1985 Chicago Bears might dominate its opponents week after week, winning by scores such as 44-0, 36-0 and 45-10. But another 12-1 team such as the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs might win close game after close game, constantly doing just enough to take home the W. This season's Chiefs squad has 10 wins by one score, making them one of only four teams in NFL history with 10 or more one-score wins in a season (joining the 2022 Vikings, 2019 Seahawks and 1978 Oilers).
So are the 2024 Chiefs the "worst" 12-1 team in NFL history? I used my DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) ratings, which are explained here, and point differential to answer that question and look at everything that has made Kansas City successful this season. Here's a look at the five worst 12-1 teams of all time, starting with a different Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs team.
Jump to where the 2024 Chiefs rank
