Ranked: The Worst Team in NFL History (Part 2)
G'day tribe. Yesterday I posted the first part of ranking the worst teams in NFL history which you can check out in my posts here. We featured the 1-15 Miami Dolphins of 2007 who won late in their season to avoid becoming the first team to go 0-16.
In fourth place we had the 2016 1-15 Cleveland Browns who rotated through five different quarterbacks during the season. Number three we had the second team to go 0-16 in history, the 2017 Cleveland Browns. They actually had a chance in the closing moments of the season to avoid a loss but their wide receiver dropped a routine catch to turn over the ball.
Well it gets worse. Let's take a look at the final two worst teams in NFL history.
2. 2009 St. Louis Rams (1-15)
St Louis had a bad run heading into the 2009 season. They went 3-13 in 2007 and 2-14 in 2008. The 2009 Rams are the second worst team in NFL history after finishing with a 1-15 record.
The Rams hadn't had a winning season since 2003, the season after winning Super Bowl XXXVI in one of the biggest NFL playoff upsets in history. They wouldn't ever have a winning season again in St. Louis, the franchise relocating to Los Angeles for the start of the 2016 season.
St. Louis scored a lowly 175 points during the entire season. LaDanian Tomlinson scored 186 points in 2006 for the Chargers. Quarterbacks Marc Bulger, Kyle Boller, and Keith Null combined for 11 touchdown passes for the season. Null was the worst out of the trio, throwing three touchdowns and nine picks.
Remarkably, running back Steven Jackson made the Pro Bowl with 1,416 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, and 322 receiving yards from 51 receptions.
The second pick of the 2009 draft, offensive tackle Jason Smith, was a bust. They could've done with Pro Bowl defensive tackle B. J. Raji, or four-time Pro Bowler Brian Orakpo, who were the 9th and 13th picks respectively. St Louis ultimately gave up 436 points on their way to becoming the second worst team in NFL history.
My dad watched every game of the 2009 St. Louis Rams 1 - 15 season. He used to mow the grass at half time to calm down. He would change clothes multiple times during the game. No one in LA will ever suffer like that. I officially issue a Branson Blood Curse against the LA Rams.
— Pitbull in HEat (@necrobranson) January 31, 2022
1. 2008 Detroit Lions (0-16)
Before a Week 12 loss 2008 Detroit Lion’s Head Coach Rod Marinelli said to a reporter “I’m not 0-10! You’re 0-10”. That sums up the worst team in NFL history. The Detroit Lions finished the previous season 7-9. They also went undefeated during preseason so there weren't any obvious signs the 2008 Detroit Lions were about to become the worst NFL team of all time.
By season's end it became clear why they are the worst team in NFL history. The 2008 Lions finished the season last in defense. They conceded 517 points in total, 32.3 on average, and the second most in NFL history just behind the 1981 Baltimore Colts. The Lions defense forced only four interceptions for the entire season. Superstar Calvin "Megatron" Johnson was the only receiver with multiple touchdowns.
Five quarterbacks were used during the season and none of them finished with a positive TD/INT ratio or a passer rating above 73.0. The Lions were so bad they threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Dan Orlovsky's Week 6 play perfectly sums up the Lions' season. Orlovsky scrambled out of the end zone, unaware that he had ran out for a safety. It was a safety that ended up being the difference in the game.
Only a third of the team would remain playing in the NFL beyond 2009. Fortunately the Lions were "rewarded" with the first pick of the 2009 NFL Draft and they picked Matthew Stafford. He became the fastest quarterback in history to reach 40,000 passing yards, and holds virtually every Lions' passing record.
To top it off for the worst team in NFL history, Stafford went on to win Super Bowl LVI with the LA Rams after a trade in 2021. The Detroit Lions still remain one of four teams that have never reached a Super Bowl alongside the Browns, Jaguars and Texans.
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.
Shocked, and pleased, that my Saints didn't feature in the top five with a 1-15 record of their own in 1980, the sole win being against the Jets by a single point, and were, from what i've read the first ever team to go 1-15.
They would've definitely come in sixth I reckon 😊 how are you feeling without Drew Brees? Considering he was there for so long
For sure, Brees retiring hurt us offensively, and we aren't helped with his perceived replacement being on injured reserve at the moment. Our 4th round draft pick showed some promise in the pre-season loss to the Texans, but it's far too early to know how any of the qb's are going to fare (or even compare to Brees - a superstar for us in his 15 years, and no doubt a future hall of famer). I see several years of rebuilding a new dynasty to get back to competing at the top of the tree again. This season will be more about the defence keeping us in games/protecting leads i feel, and making the playoffs will be a considered a successful campaign.
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That Lions team was rough. Hopeless. Crazy how bad a franchise can be for so long. Stafford and Megatron gave them hope for some time, but dang it's been mostly a dumpsterfire for so long over there. Must be tough being a fan of them. I wonder if Goff and company can be competitive this season? Hutchinson looked great in his first preseason game!
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I wondered how it would feel for Lions fans seeing Stafford win an SB. I think Goff can produce and Hutchinson was an animal last game. There's definitely hope.
I was happy to see Mariota back during the opening drive. Weird in a Falcons helmet though
I'm happy to see Mariota play too. It's odd to watch a former Titan QB still perform in his prime. I totally support him and hope he gets some good wins this season! I will be a low-key Falcons supporter, especially in the scenario the Falcons are alive and the Titans somehow aren't. There are several 'backup' teams I have. Commanders and Steelers are two other teams that I don't mind seeing do well if the Titans are out of the playoffs.
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