Every year, the 1972 Dolphins, owners of the only perfect season in NFL history, get together and celebrate when the final undefeated team in the NFL suffers its first defeat. The event is basically a bunch of retired football players drinking champagne, and Mercury Morris talking smack on the Patriots.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the last team to finish an entire NFL season without a win, and they've taken some interest -- as we all have -- in the 2008 Detroit Lions who have already matched the '76 Bucs (and 1980 Saints) as the only teams to go 0-14.
Worst Teams in NFL History
Team: 2008 Detroit Lions | Record: Currently 0-14
The Lions are rapidly closing in on immortality and an 0-16 record. Dating back to last year, Detroit is 1-21 in its last 22 games. Click through to see how these Lions stack up to the worst teams in NFL history.
Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Team: 1980 New Orleans Saints | Record: 1-15
This team gained a cult following of fans known as "The Aints" - who came to every home game wearing paper bags over their heads. The Saints beat the Jets, 21-20, in their 15th game.
Manny Rubio, NFL Photos/Getty Images
Team: 1989 Dallas Cowboys | Record: 1-15
Things would improve for Troy Aikman eventually, but in '89, America's Team only won once - at Washington in Dallas' ninth game. The 'Boys were shut out three times.
Allen Dean Steele, Getty Images
Team: 1991 Indianapolis Colts | Record: 1-15
Like the 1980 Saints, only a one-point win over the Jets kept Indianapolis from a winless season. The Colts set a record for least touchdowns (14) in a 16-game season and scored seven points or less in 11 games.
Don Larson, NFL/Getty Images
Team: 1981 Baltimore Colts | Record: 2-14
Baltimore managed to beat 2-14 New England twice - in the season opener and season finale, by a combined three points. The Colts allowed an average of 33.3 points per game.
Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images
Team: 1996 New York Jets | Record: 1-15
The J-E-T-S were A-W-F-U-L in 1996, with their lone win coming at Arizona in Week 9. New York had three turnovers or more in eight of 16 games.
Andy Lyons, Getty Images
Team: 2000 San Diego Chargers | Record: 1-15
Highly-touted Ryan Leaf was the poster child for this miserable bunch of losers. The Chargers managed only a one-point win over Kansas City in Week 13, and Leaf finished the season with an abysmal 56.2 QB rating.
Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
Team: 2001 Carolina Panthers | Record: 1-15
Things started so well. The Panthers opened the year with an 11-point win at Minnesota - and then lost 15 straight, scoring in single figures five times.
Eliot Schechter, Getty Images
Team: 2007 Miami Dolphins | Record: 1-15
This bunch was close to 0-16 - real close. Miami started 0-13 before sneaking past Baltimore in overtime, but only after the Ravens kicked a game-tying field goal from the Miami 1-yard line late in the fourth.
Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images
Team: 1976 Tampa Bay Bucs | Record: 0-14
Was this the worst team in NFL history? The Bucs certainly have a great case. Under QB Steve Spurrier, they lost all 14 games by an average of 20 points and suffered through five shutouts.
NFL Photos/Getty Images
With two games to play this season, the Lions are hoping to avoid the first 0-16 season in NFL history, and members of that infamous Tampa Bay team are rooting for them to win a game. Any game. Just one. For the love of all that is holy, just win one game!
From John Niyo of the Detroit News:
Richard Wood, a former NFL linebacker, was on the phone explaining exactly why Monday. He played for the 1976 Tampa Bay Bucs, whose 0-14 season is the standard for futility by which all others are measured in pro football. And with the Lions sitting glumly at 0-14, trying to avoid becoming the first 0-16 team in history, there is empathy, yes. "I saw the highlights yesterday and I thought, 'Oh, my God. Again? I mean, just give 'em one win, can't you?' " said Wood, 55, now semi-retired and living in Tampa. "It's tough, it really is. I don't wish it on anybody."A couple of weeks ago, I asked in one of our game chats if the '76 Buccaneers sat around and cheered when the final winless team claimed victory, and if they had anybody as insufferable as Mercury Morris. This, apparently, answers my question. No, no they do not. And, to be honest, it's impossible to find anybody else as insufferable as Mercury Morris.
I'm still a little stunned the Lions are this historically awful. I mean, yeah, they were a mediocre a team a year ago, but they still won seven games after starting 6-2. I guess that's the power of Matt Millen.
Still, regardless of what the Lions do over their final two games, there's two things they have going for them that the '76 Buccaneers didn't have.
1. The Lions, as bad as they may be, probably won't be starting next season 0-12 as the Buccaneers did following their winless campaign.
2. They could probably beat the 1972 Dolphins.
The Lions host New Orleans this Sunday, and as mentioned above, the 1980 Saints also started 0-14, before beating the New York Jets in their week 15 game.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
12-18-2008 @ 10:48PM
dude said...
The KC Chiefs are 2-12 and it don't feel much better. I hope the Lions win at least one.
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12-18-2008 @ 11:11PM
john said...
wait a minute.you people talk about the lions like they are worse then the cardinals.yea,the cardinals are doing alot better this year,but give me a break.the cardinals have sucked for more than a few years.they were junk before they went to az.and it took them how long to do anything,like 30 plus years.you have to feel bad for the lions.do you think you could coach or play better then them?if so why arent you on the team leading them to the superbowl armchair quarterback?
12-19-2008 @ 12:13AM
Dave said...
It's an ill wind that blows no good Dude.......Peterson is gone and not far behind him the joke of a coach Edwards. Clark....Cowhler likes Kansas City....give him a blank check and total control. You remember the '90s....nobody wanted to come to the Arrowhead.....
12-18-2008 @ 10:49PM
warren said...
It's a pity that GM doesn't own the Lions. This way when GM goes bankrupt in a few weeks, the Lions would suddenly cease to exist!
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12-18-2008 @ 10:55PM
LANEM said...
THEY WON'T BEAT THE SAINTS...SORRY!
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12-18-2008 @ 11:04PM
MICK said...
SAINTS SUCK
12-18-2008 @ 10:57PM
bob said...
damn warren, that's really cold! the Lions close at my team's house and after my team started with promise, they're sliding down, too. i want my team to win every week, but the fans in Detroit are most definitely suffering. i hope the Lions do a better job next year or they might really cease to exist.
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12-18-2008 @ 10:58PM
wilfred cosgrove said...
The Lions have always played like kitty cats. Terrible players. Over paid primadona's. And the owner Mr.Ford sees no problem giving sizeable amounts of his corporations' funds to questionable organizations that are anti-social. I will never buy a Ford as long as I live. I wouldn't take one if someone gave it to me. I use my Lions Logo sweatshirt when I change the oil in my car. They are sickening. A disgrace. I hope they lose the next two games and every game next season.
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12-18-2008 @ 11:37PM
SingleStateRecession said...
Jeez...sounds like Detroit had sex with your wife...
12-19-2008 @ 9:53AM
ARIC said...
WHY YOU GOT TO BE A HATER YOU PROBABLY DRIVE A JAP CAR AND DON'T EVEN SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIPS.
12-19-2008 @ 9:54AM
Lori said...
Wow....you sound really bitter! Yeah...they have had a bad season. But if your a REAL Lions fan...you support your team no matter what! Use your Lion's shirt to change your oil? I'd use your favorite shirt to wipe my dogs butt!
12-18-2008 @ 11:03PM
MIKE said...
DETROIT LIONS BE TUFF GUYS IT'S TIME TO GET SOME NEW PLAYERS
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12-18-2008 @ 11:04PM
jay said...
yess no one can talk bout them dolphins last year.....(oo they got the saints next hope they really want 2 win)
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1-10-2009 @ 5:45PM
waltspuffer said...
The pussy cats have been horrible for 50 years. No reason to change now. What ever they earn, they should give it back.. Michigan could beat them. Ever notice that their old coaches hardly ever coach again! When they finally do something right they strut around like heros. Hell, they cant even tackle. Good at throwing missing body blocks. and nothing else except drawing penalities. They have only advanced into the playoffs twice in decades as a Wild card and lost them both. There just sad.
Well what do you expect when the owner produced the Edsel.
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12-18-2008 @ 11:20PM
BigNasty said...
Hey stupid the Lions claim to fame is that they have won only ONE playoff game in 50+ years.....get your facts straight or don't post.
12-18-2008 @ 11:08PM
patrick said...
the lions of today wouldn't stand a chance against the '72 dolphins
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12-29-2008 @ 8:21PM
dabear666 said...
Of course today's Lions could beat the 1972 Dolphins---even the youngest guys on that team are all at least 58 years old by now, and some of those guys are over 70!!!
12-18-2008 @ 11:20PM
Wadi said...
Just think, the Lions can have the perfect season...(in reverse of course)
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12-23-2008 @ 4:14PM
NIUwop said...
As a Bears fan it makes me happy to see the lions play horrible....but as miserable as they are this year doesnt really make me all that happy. I really hope they pull out a win. Furthermore, i agree with the writer when he said that they would probably beat the undefeated '72 dolphins. The lions of now have way more athletic talent than the '72 dolphins. Its a known fact that the athletic talent we see in the NFL now was unheard of in '72. The 08 lions would not only beat the '72 dolphins...they would kick the shit out of them!!! However, this is '08 and the athletic talent is matched by every team and the lions are 0-14....please get 1 win. Even though many of us aren't oblivious to the fact that you could in fact stomp the 72 dolphins.
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12-19-2008 @ 2:12PM
the truth said...
@ john...the cardinals are good this year because their division is bad. they are not good on their own they won the division by default. They won their division and was "good" this year simply because the seahawks, 49ners and rams all are at the bottom. its kinda hard to be bad when others are taking your place.
So in a nut shell they cardinals are still bad..but they just happen to be the best because everyone else is the bottom of the worse.
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