Tuesday, March 8, 2011

NFL: Fate of the last team to lose

Back early in the 2010 season (shortly after the Chiefs became the last undefeated team), someone on another blog posted a comment wondering if the last undefeated team had ever missed the playoffs.

That inspired a look through my data, and ultimitely this post. The following table contains the fate of every last-to-lose team since the 1970 season (most season before that just had a single league championship playoff game).

YearWeek of
Loss
Last to
Lose
Regular
W-L
Playoffs
19704Broncos
Rams
Lions
5-8-1
9-4-1
10-4
Out of playoffs
Out of playoffs
1-and-done
19716Redskins9-4-11-and-done
1972n/aDolphins14-0Won Super Bowl VII
197310Vikings12-2Lost Super Bowl VIII
19748Cardinals10-41-and-done
197511Vikings12-21-and-done
19768Vikings11-2-1Lost Super Bowl XI
19779Cowboys12-2Won Super Bowl XII
19788Steelers
Rams
14-2
12-4
Won Super Bowl XIII
Lost NFC CG
19796Buccaneers10-6Lost NFC CG
19806Bills11-51-and-done
19817Eagles10-61-and-done
19825Redskins8-1Won Super Bowl XVII
19838Cowboys12-41-and-done
198412Dolphins14-2Lost Super Bowl XIX
198513Bears15-1Won Super Bowl XX
19867Bears
Broncos
14-2
11-5
1-and-done
Lost Super Bowl XXI
19875Bears11-41-and-done
19887Bengals12-4Lost Super Bowl XXIII
19896Rams11-5Lost NFC CG
199012Giants
49ers
13-3
14-2
Won Super Bowl XXV
Lost NFC CG
199113Redskins14-2Won Super Bowl XXVI
19928Dolphins11-5Lost AFC CG
19937Saints8-8Out of playoffs
19948Chargers11-5Lost Super Bowl XXIX
19956Dolphins9-71-and-done
19966Colts9-71-and-done
19978Broncos12-4Won Super Bowl XXXII
199815Broncos14-2Won Super Bowl XXXIII
19998Rams13-3Won Super Bowl XXXIV
20009Vikings11-5Lost NFC CG
20017Rams14-2Lost Super Bowl XXXVI
20026Raiders11-5Lost Super Bowl XXXVII
200311Chiefs13-31-and-done
20049Eagles13-3Lost Super Bowl XXXIX
200515Colts14-21-and-done
200611Colts12-4Won Super Bowl XLI
2007n/aPatriots16-0Lost Super Bowl XLII
200812Titans13-31-and-done
200916Colts14-2Lost Super Bowl XLIV
20105Chiefs10-61-and-done
201115Packers15-11-and-done
201210Falconstbdtbd
  • From 1970-1977, the NFL had an 8-team playoff format (4 teams from each league). From 1978-1989 (except 1982), the NFL had a 10-team playoff format. They expanded to a 12-game format in 1990 (which was modified for realignment in 2002).

  • 1982 was a strike-shortened year, and teams only played 9 games in the regular season, which was followed by a one-off 16-team playoff tournament. 1987 was another strike year, and 3 weeks worth of games were played with "replacement" players (this was followed by the usual 10-team playoff round).

  • What this all means is (particularly before the 16-team playoff format), there isn't a lot of room between 1-and-done and making the Super Bowl—in the 8-team playoff format, half the playoff teams were 1-and-done every year.

  • If you've been following along the posts on significance of the first two games, it's no surprise that the last undefeated team generally does very well. Of the 46 teams listed, 43 (93.4%) made the playoffs, and 22 (47.8%) made it to the Super Bowl.

Friday, March 4, 2011

2011 Navigation and Index

This post is an index of posts I plan to make during the 2011 season, including the various weekly picks, pick results, and power rankings. It's primarily for my own benefit (so I can easily find stuff when I want to refer/link to it). But you're welcome to use it as and when you see fit.

As usual, new entries will be added and existing entries will be linkified as new posts are made.

Offseason/Preseason

NFL 2011 Season

Yeah, I've decided to be optimistic that we're going to have a full slate of games in 2011. (And I was right. Yay!)

Week 1 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results
Week 2 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results
Week 3 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results
Week 4 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 5 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 6 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 7 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 8 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 9 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 10 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 11 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 12 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 13 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 14 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 15 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 16 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Week 17 Picks Power Rankings Pick Results APR/ESPN
Wildcard Picks Power Rankings Pick Results
Divisional Picks Power Rankings Pick Results
Championship Picks Power Rankings Pick Results
Super Bowl Pick Power Rankings Pick Result

Wrapup