Unluckiest single-season teams

[philadelphia97]

2001 Carolina Panthers went 1-15, but they could have been much better if not for these:

-Week 5 vs Saints: overcame 17-0 deficit to take 25-20 lead, Ricky Williams scores on the last play of the game, Saints win 27-25

-Week 6 @ Redskins: led 14-0 in fourth quarter, gave up two late touchdowns, lost 17-14 in overtime

-Week 7 vs Jets: led 12-7 in the second half, ended up losing 13-12

-Week 10 vs 49ers: led 22-14, Jeff Garcia threw TD pass to Terrell Owens with one second left, SF converts two-point conversion to send it to overtime, 49ers win in OT 25-22

-Week 11 vs Falcons: trailed 10-7 with under a minute to play, Chris Weinke throws INT on their final drive

-Week 12 @ Saints: led 23-20, Aaron Brooks throws TD pass to Joe Horn, Saints win 27-23

-Week 13 @ Bills: blow 24-6 first-half lead and lose 25-24 to 1-10 Buffalo

Had they won each of these games, they would have been 8-8. Instead, they went 1-15.

[7DnBrnc53]

2001 Carolina Panthers went 1-15, but they could have been much better if not for these:

-Week 5 vs Saints: overcame 17-0 deficit to take 25-20 lead, Ricky Williams scores on the last play of the game, Saints win 27-25

-Week 6 @ Redskins: led 14-0 in fourth quarter, gave up two late touchdowns, lost 17-14 in overtime

-Week 7 vs Jets: led 12-7 in the second half, ended up losing 13-12

-Week 10 vs 49ers: led 22-14, Jeff Garcia threw TD pass to Terrell Owens with one second left, SF converts two-point conversion to send it to overtime, 49ers win in OT 25-22

-Week 11 vs Falcons: trailed 10-7 with under a minute to play, Chris Weinke throws INT on their final drive

-Week 12 @ Saints: led 23-20, Aaron Brooks throws TD pass to Joe Horn, Saints win 27-23

-Week 13 @ Bills: blow 24-6 first-half lead and lose 25-24 to 1-10 Buffalo

Had they won each of these games, they would have been 8-8. Instead, they went 1-15.

Some of those wins could have had a profound affect on NFL History. If they beat the Jets, they aren't in with a win. Maybe they don't play quite as well with the scoreboard watching, and they lose at the Raiders. That means that the Pats play at the Raiders in two weeks (after NE beats Seattle at home), and the Tuck Rule probably doesn't happen. I see the Raiders winning there and against the Steelers before coming up short against the Rams (that gives Warner and Co. two SB rings).

If they beat the Bills, Buffalo gets the #2 pick in the draft. Maybe they decide to take Joey Harrington instead of trading for Bledsoe (which may lead them to getting A-Rod three years later). Also, if the Pats don't make the SB, there may have been a chance that Bledsoe sticks around to compete for his job (although he's probably still gone since Brady led them to the playoffs, and he had a big contract. Maybe the Bears are the ones who trade for him instead. They went 13-3 in spite of their QB's).

[7DnBrnc53]

To me, the idea of a team that had no luck in a season and was a Murphy's Law team (What Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong)- this just screams 1981 Patriots.

Probably the best 2-14 team ever (only outscored by 48 points- most 2-14 teams are outscored by 100+), basically found ways to not find a way, lost every concievable close game (most famously a BUF Hail Mary that ended up being the difference in the playoff picture. Otherwise, the Broncos are making the trip to Shea Stadium).

What teams for you fall under the "Imagine if they had ANY luck at all" microscope?

What about the 1980 Pats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlI-5TL-UZ8

[7DnBrnc53]

1978, 1979 and 1983 Saints: all of them could have winning seasons and made the playoffs, but they had heartbreaking losses in the decisive games (1978 losing both games vs. the Falcons in the last seconds [including the famous Big Ben pay], 1979 MNF against the Raiders blewing a comfortable lead and 1983 losing at home against the Rams due to two picks returned for TDs and also a punt return for TD, and Mike Lansford kicking a alast second FG to propel the Rams into the playoffs and the Saints to another non-winning season.

According to this documentary, that 1983 Week 16 Ram loss broke Bum Phillips' heart, and he basically went through the motions after that until his 1985 retirement (around the 47:56 mark): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GfqoOse_Bc

[Brian wolf]

The 1968 Colts. Everything went their way, until Lou Michaels lost his cool in a restaraunt trash talking with Joe Namath. He and his team choked in the muggy humidity of Miami on an overcast, January 12th day ... the team still wanted the players to show up at a victory party afterwards ... Weeb Ewbank was invited before the game, but decided to go to his own teams' victory party.

2007 Patriots ... beat the Giants 38-35 in the last regular season game to go 16-0 before allowing Tuck and company, to disrupt Brady's timing to end their perfect season in the SB.

[CSKreager]

1991 Chargers

8 losses by a touchdown or less

Lost only twice by more than 10 points: 49ers/Jets, and they led the SF game at halftime so really they only got their doors blown off once for a 4-12 team

[JameisBrownston]

If they haven't been mentioned yet, the 2010 Chargers are a legendary case.

https://youtu.be/UAL5X3TRA2A?si=pfGsgwgAdeJUbQyp

[rhickok1109]

Losing a close game is occasionally a matter of luck. But, generally speaking, losing a whole bunch of close games is the sign of a team that's not very good.

[CSKreager]

Losing a close game is occasionally a matter of luck. But, generally speaking, losing a whole bunch of close games is the sign of a team that's not very good.

So is winning a bunch of close games a sign of being good or lucky?

[rhickok1109]

Losing a close game is occasionally a matter of luck. But, generally speaking, losing a whole bunch of close games is the sign of a team that's not very good.

So is winning a bunch of close games a sign of being good or lucky?

I've heard quite a few coaches and other experts say that good teams find a way to win close games and I'm inclined to agree.