History is littered with the almost-greats: teams that dominated the NFL throughout the regular season, but just couldn't close it out in the playoffs. So today, we salute what might have been, and present the Top 10 non-champions of the Super Bowl Era. Click the teams at the left for more.

Record: 13-3
Offense: 26.7 points per game(1st)
Defense: 16.4 ppg (6th)
Three best players: QB Jim Kelly, WR Andre Reed, RB Thurman Thomas
Sob story: Maybe the most memorable loser in NFL history thanks to Scott Norwood's slightly errant foot, which ensured a 20-19 loss to the Giants.

Record: 12-2
Offense: 27.7 ppg (1st)
Defense: 12.7 ppg (4th)
Three best players: DL Merlin Olsen, RB Lawrence McCutcheon (5.2 YPC), WR Harold Jackson (13 TDs
Sob story: Led by first-year coach Chuck Knox, the Rams came within two field goals of a perfect season, but lost their playoff opener, 27-16, to Dallas. Oops.

Record: 14-2
Offense: 33.8 ppg (1st)
Defense: 20.7 ppg (11th)
Three best players: QB Joe Theismann, RB John Riggins (24 TDs), OL Russ Grimm
Sob story: The Redskins and their prolific offense entered the Super Bowl on an 11-game win streak, but were throttled by the Raiders, 38-9.

Record: 13-1
Offense: 33.4 ppg (1st in AFL)
Defense: 16.6 ppg (2nd in AFL)
Three best players: WR Fred Biletnikoff (21.9 YPC), OL Jim Otto, QB Daryle Lamonica (30 TDs)
Sob story: This might have been the AFL's greatest team, but they lost 33-14 to the Packers in a game that seemed to prove the almighty dominance of the NFL.

Record: 14-2
Offense: 26.9 ppg (1st)
Defense: 14.7 ppg (3rd)
Three best players: WR Jerry Rice (1,201 yards, 10 TDs), QB Steve Young (107.0 rating), RB Ricky Watters (11 TDs, 1,418 yards from scrimmage)
Sob story: The 49ers didn't lose a Super Bowl in five tries, but suffered playoff disappointment, including a 30-20 loss to the upstart Cowboys for the NFC title.

Record: 14-2
Offense: 31.4 ppg (1st)
Defense: 17.1 ppg (7th)
Three best players: OL Orlando Pace, RB Marshall Faulk (2,147 total yards, 21 TDs), Kurt Warner (MVP)
Sob story: The Rams were favored by 14 against a young Tom Brady and the Pats, but New England shut down the "Greatest Show on Turf" for a 20-17 win.

Record: 12-2
Offense: 27.1 ppg (1st in NFL)
Defense: 9.5 ppg (1st in NFL)
Three best players: DL Alan Page, DL Carl Eller, DB Paul Krause
Sob story: The Vikings reached the Super Bowl primed to put an end to the upstart AFL. Instead, the AFC officially arrived as the Chiefs won, 23-7.

Record: 14-2
Offense: 32.1 ppg (1st)
Defense: 18.6 ppg (7th)
Three best players: QB Dan Marino (48 TDs), WR Mark Clayton (18 TDs), WR Mark Duper (1,306 yards)
Sob story: Dan Marino's only trip to the Super Bowl pit him against an explosive 49ers. It was supposed to be the greatest Super Bowl of all time, and it was ... for San Francisco, which won 38-16.

Record: 15-1
Offense: 34.7 ppg (1st)
Defense: 18.5 ppg (6th)
Three best players: WR Randy Moss (17 TDs), WR Cris Carter (78 catches), QB Randall Cunningham (34 TDs, 10 INTs)
Sob story: Led by the receiving duo of Cris Carter and rookie Randy Moss, the Vikings scored 556 points. But a missed Gary Anderson field goal in the NFC Championship helped the Falcons to an OT win.

Record: 16-0
Offense: 36.8 ppg (1st in NFL)
Defense: 17.1 3 ppg (4th in NFL)
Three best players: QB Tom Brady (50 TDs, 4,806 yards) , WR Randy Moss (23 TDs), WR Wes Welker (112 receptions, 1,175 yards)
Sob story: The undefeated Pats met their match in the Super Bowl, where New England was stunned by a heave from Eli Manning to David Tyree on the Giants' winning drive.

Record: 13-1
Offense: 28.7 ppg (2nd in NFL)
Defense: 10.3 ppg (1st in NFL)
Three best players: TE John Mackey (644 yards), QB Earl Morrall (26 TDs), LB Mike Curtis
Sob story: The 1968 Colts were the most dominant team in modern NFL history, but they couldn't beat the Jets in Super Bowl III, allowing QB Joe Namath to play his way to a Hall of Fame ticket.