There has been a dominant team in every decade since pro football went from a niche sport in the first half of the 20th century to a mainstream phenomenon in the 1960s, on its way to its current status as the nation’s No. 1 sport in terms of overall popularity.

Choose a football dynasty below: Packers Steelers 49ers Cowboys Patriots Others

The 1960s featured the Green Bay Packers; the Pittsburgh Steelers owned the 1970s; the 1980s belonged to the San Francisco 49ers; the Dallas Cowboys ruled the 1990s. Do the New England Patriots have the right stuff to be considered the Team of the 2000s – or at least the first decade of the new millennium?

Maybe. They’ve won three Super Bowl titles in four seasons and are among the best teams in the league in 2005. If they add at least one more league championship before 2010, MSNBC will crown them team of this decade.

In the meantime, let the comparisons begin.

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