Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Those NFL squads throughout history who had campaigns notable for bizarre statistical anomalies, or whose win percentage was in stark contrast to the rest of their statistical profile. Or whose season's campaign was just notable for oddities.

I'll offer up the 1962 Houston Oilers as the first entry in the gallery of weird teams. During the regular season, the Oilers had five games in which the team served up five interceptions and still managed to win the game. In the 50+ years since, only sixteen times has an NFL team thrown five or more interceptions and still won the game.

The 2000 Baltimore Ravens had a 12-game stretch in their season in which they gave up more than 14 points in a game only one time (weeks 4 thru 15); in week 11 they beat the Titans 24-23. In a five-game stretch, weeks 5 thru 9, Matt Stover provided all the Ravens points thru field goals. He also kicked two field goals in a 19-6 loss at Miami in week 3, meaning he provided all the points for the Ravens in six of their sixteen games. I've never heard of another kicker accomplishing such a feat before. In those six games, the Ravens went 2-4. They won all the rest of their games during the 2000 season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... v/2000.htm

The 1999 Rams were 4th in the NFL in fewest points allowed, in 2000 they slipped to 31st (last in the league), but in 2001 were back up to 7th in fewest points allowed.

With tiebreakers applied, the 1987 Bengals finished last in the AFC Central, in 1988 they won the AFC Central, in 1989 they finished last in the AFC Central again, in 1990 won the AFC Central again, and in 1991 finished last in the AFC Central again.

The 1978 Falcons are a weird team, because they gave up more than twice as many points as they did the previous season, and had a better record than the previous season, and made the playoffs, which they did not do the previous season. In 1977, the Falcons finished 7-7, giving up 129 points, and didn't make the postseason, but in 1978, the Falcons finished 9-7 and gave up 290 points and got a Wild Card.

I always think of the following:
- 1976 Steelers, sort of an obvious one
- 1952 Texans, a vagabond team that actually had a handful of extrodinary talents in Marchetti, Donovan, Buddy Young, etc
- 1949 Bears with their stable of QB's, Layne, Luckman and Lujack

Not really a weirdest team thing but a couple interesting bits of trivia about teams and Super Bowls and the current 32-team alignment:

With their win in Super Bowl LII, the Eagles made the NFC East the first of the NFL's current four-team divisions in which each team has won a Super Bowl.

When the Atlanta Falcons played in Super Bowl LI, the AFC South became the first of the NFL's first four team divisions since the 2002 realignment in which each team has appeared in a Super Bowl since the 2002 realignment.

The 1984 Cincinnati Bengals are the only team in AFL-NFL-AAFC history (since 1933, didn't check back further) to score as many points as they allowed and also finish .500 in the same season. The scored 339 points, allowed 339 points, and finished 8-8.

The 1950 Philadelphia Eagles scored 254 points and allowed 141, but finished 6-6. Their +9.42 average point differential per game is the highest of any .500 team since 1933.

The 1963 KC Chiefs scored 347 points, and allowed 263, but finished 5-7-2. Their +6.00 average point differential per game is the highest of any sub-.500 team since 1933.

The 1992 Indianapolis Colts scored 216 points and allowed 302, but finished 9-7. Their -5.375 average point differential per game is the lowest of any over-.500 team since 1933.

The 1936 Pittsburgh Pirates scored 98 points and allowed 187 points, but finished 6-6. Their -7.43 average point differential per game is the lowest of any .500 team since 1933.

Rupert Patrick wrote:The 1950 KC Chiefs

Very weird, indeed!

Two of the weirdest teams met in the playoffs...1986 Jets vs. 1986 Chiefs.

The phrase "weird team" immediately brings to mind the Oorang Indians.
Composed entirely of Native Americans, they played virtually all their games on the road,
featured halftime exhibitions of Native American skills, and were sponsored by a
dog kennel owner. The Coffin Corner, volume 3, number 1 (1981) has an excellent
article about them written by Bob Braunwart, Bob Carroll and Joe Horrigan.

'85 Seahawks - win two (2-0), lose two (2-2); win two (4-2), lose two (4-4); win two (6-4), lose two (6-6); win two (8-8), lose two (8-8).

Bryan wrote:

Rupert Patrick wrote:The 1950 KC Chiefs

Very weird, indeed!

Two of the weirdest teams met in the playoffs...1986 Jets vs. 1986 Chiefs.

I fixed that post, I meant the 1963 Chiefs.

The 1986 Chiefs were weird mainly for the week 16 win over Pittsburgh, and also for getting rid of their coach after their first playoff appearance in 15 years. They replaced John Mackovic with Special Teams Coach Frank Gansz, the team fell apart and Gansz was gone after two seasons.

What can I say about the 1986 Jets? I've never seen a team who I thought looked so good fall apart so quickly, but Paul Maguire had it all figured out.

1983 Packers.

Set a franchise record scoring 429 points per game.

Also set a franchise record by giving up 439 points per game (still a franchise record).

Finished 8-8, missing the playoffs.