ESPN's countdown to Super Bowl LXI ranks the best NFL teams that fell short of reaching the big game, led by Aaron Schatz's proprietary DVOA ratings.

At the top are the 2023 Baltimore Ravens (44.4% DVOA), who went 13-4 but lost 17-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. The 2024 Ravens (40.9% DVOA) also rank highly after losing to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round despite outgaining them significantly.

Other notable near-misses include the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers (44.3% estimated DVOA), whose legendary "Steel Curtain" defense couldn't overcome injuries and a dominant Oakland Raiders team in the AFC Championship. The 2010 New England Patriots (42.4% DVOA) featured the most efficient offense in NFL history but fell to the Jets in the divisional round.

Rounding out the top five are the 1968 Dallas Cowboys (37.8% estimated DVOA) and the 1973 Los Angeles Rams (37.6% estimated DVOA), both losing in the divisional round. The 1987 San Francisco 49ers (36.5% DVOA) also appear despite their strike-shortened season complications.