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).
Year | Week of Loss | Last to Lose | Regular W-L | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | 4 | Broncos Rams Lions | 5-8-1 9-4-1 10-4 | Out of playoffs Out of playoffs 1-and-done |
1971 | 6 | Redskins | 9-4-1 | 1-and-done |
1972 | n/a | Dolphins | 14-0 | Won Super Bowl VII |
1973 | 10 | Vikings | 12-2 | Lost Super Bowl VIII |
1974 | 8 | Cardinals | 10-4 | 1-and-done |
1975 | 11 | Vikings | 12-2 | 1-and-done |
1976 | 8 | Vikings | 11-2-1 | Lost Super Bowl XI |
1977 | 9 | Cowboys | 12-2 | Won Super Bowl XII |
1978 | 8 | Steelers Rams | 14-2 12-4 | Won Super Bowl XIII Lost NFC CG |
1979 | 6 | Buccaneers | 10-6 | Lost NFC CG |
1980 | 6 | Bills | 11-5 | 1-and-done |
1981 | 7 | Eagles | 10-6 | 1-and-done |
1982 | 5 | Redskins | 8-1 | Won Super Bowl XVII |
1983 | 8 | Cowboys | 12-4 | 1-and-done |
1984 | 12 | Dolphins | 14-2 | Lost Super Bowl XIX |
1985 | 13 | Bears | 15-1 | Won Super Bowl XX |
1986 | 7 | Bears Broncos | 14-2 11-5 | 1-and-done Lost Super Bowl XXI |
1987 | 5 | Bears | 11-4 | 1-and-done |
1988 | 7 | Bengals | 12-4 | Lost Super Bowl XXIII |
1989 | 6 | Rams | 11-5 | Lost NFC CG |
1990 | 12 | Giants 49ers | 13-3 14-2 | Won Super Bowl XXV Lost NFC CG |
1991 | 13 | Redskins | 14-2 | Won Super Bowl XXVI |
1992 | 8 | Dolphins | 11-5 | Lost AFC CG |
1993 | 7 | Saints | 8-8 | Out of playoffs |
1994 | 8 | Chargers | 11-5 | Lost Super Bowl XXIX |
1995 | 6 | Dolphins | 9-7 | 1-and-done |
1996 | 6 | Colts | 9-7 | 1-and-done |
1997 | 8 | Broncos | 12-4 | Won Super Bowl XXXII |
1998 | 15 | Broncos | 14-2 | Won Super Bowl XXXIII |
1999 | 8 | Rams | 13-3 | Won Super Bowl XXXIV |
2000 | 9 | Vikings | 11-5 | Lost NFC CG |
2001 | 7 | Rams | 14-2 | Lost Super Bowl XXXVI |
2002 | 6 | Raiders | 11-5 | Lost Super Bowl XXXVII |
2003 | 11 | Chiefs | 13-3 | 1-and-done |
2004 | 9 | Eagles | 13-3 | Lost Super Bowl XXXIX |
2005 | 15 | Colts | 14-2 | 1-and-done |
2006 | 11 | Colts | 12-4 | Won Super Bowl XLI |
2007 | n/a | Patriots | 16-0 | Lost Super Bowl XLII |
2008 | 12 | Titans | 13-3 | 1-and-done |
2009 | 16 | Colts | 14-2 | Lost Super Bowl XLIV |
2010 | 5 | Chiefs | 10-6 | 1-and-done |
2011 | 15 | Packers | 15-1 | 1-and-done |
2012 | 10 | Falcons | tbd | tbd |
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.