Thirty-one teams are seeking an NFL championship in 2009. A 32nd team is seeking history.

With three Lombardi Trophies in the 2000s, the New England Patriots have staked a claim as the NFL Football ’s team of the decade. A fourth Super Bowl and 12 more regular-season victories in 2009 would allow the Patriots to stake their claim as the team for all decades.

New England joined the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only teams in NFL history to play a perfect regular season, posting a 16-0 mark in 2007. The Patriots also matched the feat of the 1990s Cowboys by winning three Super Bowls in a span of four years (2001-04).

Another Super Bowl in 2009 would allow the Patriots to match the 1970s Steelers and 1980s 49ers with four Lombardi Trophies in a decade. A 12-victory regular season would give New England 114 wins in the decade, breaking the NFL mark of 113 set by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1990s.

New England won those 11 games in 2008 despite the season-long absence of NFL MVP Tom Brady, who suffered a knee injury on opening day. He’s back in 2009.

So is starting halfback Laurence Maroney, who missed the final 12 games with a broken shoulder, and veteran Pro Bowl pass rusher Adalius Thomas, who missed the final seven games with a broken forearm.

The Patriots have added veteran stars Fred Taylor, Joey Galloway and Shawn Springs for depth this season. In all, there are 14 Pro Bowlers on the New England roster, plus the 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, linebacker Jerod Mayo.

Only three teams finished in the NFL Football Draft ’s top 10 in offense and defense last season, and you can find them in the top three slots of these power rankings: the Patriots, Giants and Eagles.