Unluckiest single-season teams

[Todd Pence]

The 1960 Dallas Texans. On paper, they were the best team in the AFL in 1960, but suffered several close losses.

The 1980 Detroit Lions. Almost pulled off a successful "worst to first" run in Billy Sims' rookie year, but like all the other teams here got snakebit with unlucky losses.

[74_75_78_79_]

The 1980 Detroit Lions. Almost pulled off a successful "worst to first" run in Billy Sims' rookie year, but like all the other teams here got snakebit with unlucky losses.

Hmm, I never realized they had the #7 offense and #3 defense in 1980! They did have a soft schedule though, got to avoid the AFC Central due to their 5th-place finish the year before. Beating the Rams in LA opening week and then beating Vikings at home three weeks later during that 4-0 start would be the only two winning teams they'd beat all season. They would end up falling to 7-7, getting swept by a bad Bears team and getting plastered at the Met in a rematch to Vikings, 34-0, along the way. Despite actually going 1-7 on the road the following year and finishing 8-8 overall, I think the '81 Lions were better.

[7DnBrnc53]

1994 Denver Broncos

Lost Week 1 to San Diego when the ball slipped out of Elway's hand at the end of the game, and lost in Week 2 to the Jets in OT. Then, after losing big against the Raiders in Week 3, Mike Pritchard, off to a hot start (19 catches), was lost for the season.

After losing at Buffalo and beating Seattle, they were victims of Montana's last miracle in Week 7 on a Monday Night. That knocked them down to 1-5. They won six of their next seven to get to 7-6, but Elway got hurt in Week 14, and their next two games were @ both the Raiders and the 49ers. They lost those games and to the Saints to close out the year, and Wade Phillips was fired, replaced by Mike Shanahan.

[BD Sullivan]

The 1980 Detroit Lions. Almost pulled off a successful "worst to first" run in Billy Sims' rookie year, but like all the other teams here got snakebit with unlucky losses.

Hmm, I never realized they had the #7 offense and #3 defense in 1980! They did have a soft schedule though, got to avoid the AFC Central due to their 5th-place finish the year before. Beating the Rams in LA opening week and then beating Vikings at home three weeks later during that 4-0 start would be the only two winning teams they'd beat all season. They would end up falling to 7-7, getting swept by a bad Bears team and getting plastered at the Met in a rematch to Vikings, 34-0, along the way. Despite actually going 1-7 on the road the following year and finishing 8-8 overall, I think the '81 Lions were better.

They were supposed to be a potential division winner in 1979, but when Danielson went down for the year right before the season started, they were screwed. Getting Danielson back and adding top overall pick Billy Sims helped them start off with a 5-1 record in 80, though Sims' fumbling became an issue around midseason.

Two November home losses were what killed them: they lost 10-9 to the Colts, with Eddie Murray missing a 44-yard FG attempt with less than a minute left. The Lions almost pulled off a miracle win when Dave Pureifory appeared to rip the ball away from the Colts' Marvin Sims and then head for a touchdown. However, the officials said that Sims' forward progress had been stopped.

On Thanksgiving, they lost to the Bears when Chicago scored on the final play of regulation to tie the game. The Lions then kicked off to start OT, with Dave Williams running the kick back for a score and the win.

[Todd Pence]

1971 Cincinnati Bengals went 4-10 despite posting very decent numbers on both sides of the ball. Average margin of loss 6.4 points, with 6 of those defeats by 4 or less.

[Todd Pence]

Two November home losses were what killed them: they lost 10-9 to the Colts, with Eddie Murray missing a 44-yard FG attempt with less than a minute left. The Lions almost pulled off a miracle win when Dave Pureifory appeared to rip the ball away from the Colts' Marvin Sims and then head for a touchdown. However, the officials said that Sims' forward progress had been stopped.

On Thanksgiving, they lost to the Bears when Chicago scored on the final play of regulation to tie the game. The Lions then kicked off to start OT, with Dave Williams running the kick back for a score and the win.

Don't forget a 1-point loss to St. Louis decided by a punt return.

[JuggernautJ]

1971 Cincinnati Bengals went 4-10 despite posting very decent numbers on both sides of the ball. Average margin of loss 6.4 points, with 6 of those defeats by 4 or less.

I was noticing something recently while looking at the '71 season...
The Bengals (4-10), who finished in fourth place, had the best point differential (+19) of any team in their division!
The Brownies (9-5) were +12, the Steelers (6-8) were -46 and the Oilers (4-9-1) were -79 (!).
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1971/

They've got to be one of the better last place finishers...
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... n/1971.htm

[Todd Pence]

They've got to be one of the better last place finishers...
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... n/1971.htm

Well, along with their 1989 counerparts who also led their division in point diff while posting a .500 record.

[ChrisBabcock]

They've got to be one of the better last place finishers...
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... n/1971.htm

Well, along with their 1989 counerparts who also led their division in point diff while posting a .500 record.

The 1989 Bengals had a chance to win the division heading into week 16 despite finishing the year in last place. I wonder if this happened any other time in league history? EDIT... One or both of the Chicago teams in 1935.

[Todd Pence]

The 1989 Bengals had a chance to win the division heading into week 16 despite finishing the year in last place. I wonder if this happened any other time in league history? EDIT... One or both of the Chicago teams in 1935.

They weren't a last-place team, but like the 1989 Bengals, the 1994 Bears were a fourth place team and they had a chance to win the division on the final week.