Worst Single-Season NFL Team 1978-1989

[CSKreager]

The era of the 16 game, zero-bye, 5 playoff teams per conference, 1 WC Game NFL.

I did a similar thread for 1970-1977 era NFL, so I might as well expand.

1978:
AFC- 4-12 Kansas City (Bengals also 4-12, but they beat 3 playoff teams)
NFC- 2-14 San Francisco

1979:
AFC- 4-12 Cincinnati
NFC- 2-14 Detroit/San Francisco

1980:
AFC- 4-12 NY Jets/Seattle
NFC- 1-15 New Orleans

1981
AFC- 1-15 Baltimore (New England was 2-14, but their point differential was not that of a 2-14 team)
NFC- 4-12 New Orleans

1982- Not gonna count with the shortened schedule


1983
AFC- 2-14 Houston
NFC- 2-14 Tampa Bay


1984
AFC- 2-14 Buffalo
NFC- 3-13 Minnesota


1985
AFC- 2-14 Buffalo
NFC- 2-14 Tampa Bay

1986
AFC- 3-13 Indianapolis
NFC- 2-14 Tampa Bay

1987
AFC- 4-11 Cincinnati/Kansas City
NFC- 3-12 Atlanta

1988
AFC- 4-11-1 Kansas City
NFC- 3-13 Dallas

1989
AFC- 4-12 NY Jets
NFC- 1-15 Dallas

[BD Sullivan]

For 1982 worst team, gotta pick the 0-8-1 Colts.

[Rupert Patrick]

Which team was the worst of the worst from that era? I would nominate the 1978 49ers. Their two wins were over 4-12 Cincinnati and 5-11 Tampa Bay. The 1984 Bills were a distant second.

[ChrisBabcock]

I'll go with the 1981 Colts. Could only beat the also 2-14 Patriots in the first and last games of the year by a combined 3 points with a 14 game losing streak wedged in between. 3rd from last in points scored. Scored 14 or less 9 times. Dead last in points given up. 37 TD passes allowed.

[BD Sullivan]

I'll go with the 1981 Colts. Could only beat the also 2-14 Patriots in the first and last games of the year by a combined 3 points with a 14 game losing streak wedged in between. 3rd from last in points scored. Scored 14 or less 9 times. Dead last in points given up. 37 TD passes allowed.

I'd have to go with them. They gave up 274 more points than they scored and in their 14 losses, they lost by an AVERAGE of 19.8 points. They allowed 533 points; the next closest was the Cards, who gave up 408.

[Todd Pence]

For 1982 worst team, gotta pick the 0-8-1 Colts.

You could make a case for the Oilers that year.

[Bryan]

For 1982 worst team, gotta pick the 0-8-1 Colts.

You could make a case for the Oilers that year.

As a Packers fan, I remember Green Bay making a late run at the postseason and getting to play the Colts. The Packers managed to tie the Colts, who through a series of moves ended up with rookie Mike Pagel as their starting QB. The Colts had a pretty difficult schedule...the only team they faced who didn't have a winning record was Buffalo, and they were 4-5. The Oilers had a much easier schedule than the Colts, FWIW.

[74_75_78_79_]

I know this is "single season" but Houston needs mention here. After the '82 strike ends they lose their next 17 games only to also start the '84 campaign at 0-10. Then after upsetting Miami in '85 opener they lose next five games and then in '86, Glanville's first full season onboard, win opener again (at GB) only to lose next eight! Pretty lengthy period of futility to me, lasting quite longer than Peterson's time a decade earlier.