For Eight Straight Years, an NFL Team Has Gone From Last Place to First Place. Who Does it in 2011?
Pretty amazing NFL stat: Over the last eight seasons, one team in the NFL has gone from last place (or tied for last place) to first place the following year. Here’s what has transpired:
(with previous year’s record in parens)
2003: Carolina Panthers (7-9)/Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
2004: Atlanta Falcons (5-11)/San Diego Chargers (4-12)
2005: Chicago Bears (5-11)/New York Giants (6-10)
2006: Philadelphia Eagles (6-10)/New Orleans Saints (3-13)/Baltimore Ravens (6-10)
2007: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12)
2008: Miami Dolphins (1-15)
2009: New Orleans Saints (8-8)
2010: Kansas City Chiefs (4-12)
A lot of people (cough) could have pegged the Chiefs last year. But this year’s task is much more difficult.
Here are your options (with 2010 record in parens)
Buffalo Bills (4-12)
Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)
Houston Texans/Tennessee Titans (6-10)
Denver Broncos (4-12)
Dallas Cowboys/Washington Redskins (6-10)
Detroit Lions/Minnesota Vikings (6-10)
Carolina Panthers (2-14)
Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
You can toss out the Bills, Bengals and Panthers, as their divisions are far too difficult and neither has a shot in hell of turning it around this quickly. I think the Broncos will be improved, and could finish as high as second in the West. But the Chargers have that division locked up. The Lions have the talent to make a run at the division … but over the Packers?
Your best bets are probably the Texans/Titans (since Peyton Manning’s health is still a question), followed by the Cowboys and then the Cardinals (though that would never be my pick, the division is still a joke).
If I had to rank them: Texans, Titans, Cowboys.
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68 Responses to “For Eight Straight Years, an NFL Team Has Gone From Last Place to First Place. Who Does it in 2011?”
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September 8th, 2011 at 11:43 AM
Skins, Cowboys or Texans are the only ones I’m choosing from. It has to be Texans for the reasons you stated. I’m not on the Cardinals. I like the Rams defense more than I like the Cardinals offense led by a guy with less than 10 NFL starts.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Have the Cowboys addressed their secondary issues to the extent that the Texans have? If not, the Texans are far more likely to be the improved team.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Joe Theismann is really talking up the Skins. Sounds like free money to me; he’s never wrong.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Texans or Cowboys for me. Denver isn’t ready.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Link? Because last I checked they manage to lose that dreadful division every other year. Sproles is gone, Gates is never healthy, and PRiv manages to lose a lot of games he shouldnt.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Joe Theismann has to say outlandish things or nobody pays attention to him. He learned that at ESPN.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Joe Theismann has to say outlandish things or nobody pays attention to him. He learned that at ESPN.
His tendency to talk in this way long predates his time at ESPN.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Joe Theismann has to say outlandish things or nobody pays attention to him.
Where have I seen that tactic used before in internet-land? Hmmmm.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Over the last eight seasons, one team in the NFL has gone from last place (or tied for last place) to first place the following year.
just to be nit-picky…. all ties are actually broken, necessarily, for scheduling purposes. Only one team finishes in last place in each division.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Have the Cowboys addressed their secondary issues to the extent that the Texans have?
more quarterback pressure. Lots more.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Cardinals.
I would say Texans, but they’ll find some way to blow it.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Wrong: They won the division in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
September 8th, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Texans easily.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:54 AM
I forgot about their thrilling 8-8 “winning” year.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:54 AM
Joe Theismann has to say outlandish things
orand nobody pays attention to him. He learned that at ESPN.fixed
September 8th, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Wrong: They won the division in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009
Yeah… I was wondering where coop was coming from there. I don’t recall a lot of Raiders, Broncos, or Chiefs playoff appearances aside from KC’s turd last year. I do recall the Chargers losing games they were favored to win at home in the playoffs, however.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Well when you say that they lose the division every year you obviously forgot more than just that year …. oh, and they won it in 04 too, so that’s 5 of the last 7 years.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Wouldn’t the joke of a division make it easier for them to go worst to first?
September 8th, 2011 at 11:57 AM
THIS.. I had to listen to him doing a Bucs Preseason game for a bit and man,it was awful. It’s sad the list the announcers I mute is becoming greater then the list of the ones I listen too.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:57 AM
True parity: why the NFL reigns supreme.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:59 AM
I would lean towards Houston, although they do seem to have trouble closing the door on games. But if there ever was a right time, this year is it with Peyton’s troubles.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Joe Theismann has to say outlandish things or nobody pays attention to him. He learned that at ESPN.
um, you don’t know joe very well if that’s your opinion.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:00 PM
About to be 4 brand new division champs in MLB this year, champ.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:01 PM
would lean towards Houston, although they do seem to have trouble closing the door on games
people used to say the same thing about a certain NFC North QB.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:02 PM
79% of the Super Bowl winners have a worse record the following season, so fuck yes it’s going to be the Lions.
//Digs Honolulu Blue ascot and pipe out of closet.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:02 PM
I would say Texans, but they’ll find some way to blow it.
This is my feeling as well.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Link? Because last I checked they manage to lose that dreadful division every other year. Sproles is gone, Gates is never healthy, and PRiv manages to lose a lot of games he shouldnt.
Link? The Chargers won the AFC West every year from 2006-2009, which I believe is the longest stretch that one team won the division since the Raiders in the 70′s.
Nobody is a lock. But to suggest that the Chargers have a recent history of failing to win the division or Rivers of not winning games is not true. Last year, when a single win over Oakland or Kansas City would have done it again, but special teams breakdowns cost them those games, was the only time in the last 5.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:03 PM
He learned that at ESPN.
he learned from the masters
September 8th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Seems like an odd year for this, as a lot of 6-10 teams were “last”. I could easily see the Texans, Cowboys, Lions, Vikings and Cardinals all being very capable of pulling it off. Which of course probably means that it won’t happen.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Joe Theismann has to say outlandish things or have his leg snapped in half and STILL nobody pays attention to him. He never learned.
/fixed
September 8th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
I nearly went with Owen Daniels as my backup TE this year, but I figured if I picked him, he would blow out his knee just walking onto the field Sunday.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
cardinals and texans are the only teams, IMO, that have a realistic chance.
you can add cowgirls and redskins to the list if vick plays less than 12 games.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
The Titans are dog shit.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Coop just has an irrational hatred of Rivers.
He said the same type of things about Brees … before he won that Super Bowl.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:05 PM
I nearly went with Owen Daniels as my backup TE this year
The Weatherman!
September 8th, 2011 at 12:05 PM
just to be nit-picky…. all ties are actually broken, necessarily, for scheduling purposes. Only one team finishes in last place in each division.
Houston technically didn’t finish last, nor did Detroit or Dallas. They all play 3rd place schedules.
If I’m just going by the teams with a 4th place schedule, it’s Arizona based on opportunity.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Go Vikings!
September 8th, 2011 at 12:06 PM
The Titans are dog shit.
Not that it matters and nobody cares, but I agree. I read something about their new coach “changing the mentality” by forcing players to wear sports jackets on away trips, no hats in meetings, etc, and I just knew they were going to be a dumpster fire this year. “Sports jackets make teams better men!”
/Also, franchise QB’s. But still!
September 8th, 2011 at 12:10 PM
It’s not just that it’s a last place team. It’s that it’s a team that comes completely out of left field. Like the Saints after Katrina or the Dolphins after 1-15.
That being said, the most “illogical” pick to me that actually has a chance is…gasp…the Redskins.
/can’t go with Carolina or Cincinnati
//Arizona is too easy
///Denver is my #2 choice
September 8th, 2011 at 12:11 PM
Not that it matters and nobody cares, but I agree. I read something about their new coach “changing the mentality” by forcing players to wear sports jackets on away trips, no hats in meetings, etc, and I just knew they were going to be a dumpster fire this year. “Sports jackets make teams better men!”
meh, you got to make your presence known. i’m all for changing whatever existed in the previous regime when a new coach takes over.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:11 PM
some theisman radio commercial taught me that he had to overcome playing in the CFL before becoming a huge huge huge huge star in the nfl.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:13 PM
i’m all for changing whatever existed in the previous regime when a new coach takes over.
sure, but football things, not fashion things
September 8th, 2011 at 12:13 PM
sure, but football things, not fashion things
/nods
September 8th, 2011 at 12:14 PM
no post about the developments in the big 12? i suppose michigan chose new field fertilizer, and that will get a post instead.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:14 PM
that was awesome. knocked the Donkeys, leatherface and Cutlerfucker out of the playoffs.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:14 PM
“Meh” really needs to become a banned word.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:15 PM
no post about the developments in the big 12? i suppose michigan chose new field fertilizer, and that will get a post instead.
They don’t need to fertilize the field. The horseshit team that plays on it every Saturday does the job just fine, thank you very much.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:15 PM
sure, but football things, not fashion things
they’re the same thing. it’s a philosophy.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Denver’s defense looked pretty good in the one game I saw, Dummerville is back and Von Miller was flying around….
September 8th, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Now I’m singing Hakuna Matata.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:17 PM
“Meh” really needs to become a banned word.
eh, not all of us choose to present ourselves as sophisticated as duffy.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:19 PM
no point in even covering it as they are so out of their minds right now nothing logical would come of it. they offered Arkansas a spot in the conference, thinking they would leave the SEC. that about sums it up.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:20 PM
so’s your face!
/all I got
September 8th, 2011 at 12:20 PM
that is correct. the AFC south is gonna be a total pile of shit if Peyton is out for an extended period of time.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:21 PM
they offered Arkansas a spot in the conference, thinking they would leave the SEC.
only chance the hogs would have of playing in a BCS game. they should jump.
/onyl half kidding
September 8th, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Or looking at it in a less page-clicky way…
From 2003-2006 (4 years) an average of 2.25 last place finishers climbed into first place the following year. In the four years since, only 1 team per year, including a very flukey year which involved Brett Favre in NY and Tom Brady out for the season. Seems like we are trending down, and maybe no one does it this year.
/Houston and Dallas both have legit shots at it
September 8th, 2011 at 12:23 PM
they’re the same thing.
n…..o
September 8th, 2011 at 12:24 PM
that is correct. the AFC south is gonna be a total pile of shit if Peyton is out for an extended period of time.
So long as Johnson, Schaub and Foster are healthy and the defense is slightly better than last year, the Texans will be good.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:24 PM
“Meh” really needs to become a banned word.
not really.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:25 PM
With all the Titans are dogshit comments it makes me want to drill a few more holes into Chris Johnson. But I’ll give him a break today. It’s a holiday.
Back to choppin’ more wood tomorrow though.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:25 PM
If Peyton misses significant time this year the safest best would be the Texans.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:26 PM
I wonder if the best-value preseason bet in that division will end up being the Colts.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:26 PM
No, but it is true to suggest that their 14 fans were all rooting for the Raiders in 2001.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Kerry Collins has already won that division once, and I don’t think I’d be shocked if the Colts managed to beat Gary Kubiak, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert.
September 8th, 2011 at 12:27 PM
I feel so special. Just got an e-mail from Roger Goodell. My support of the owners has paid off.
/puts owners pin on lapel
September 8th, 2011 at 12:36 PM
this is sad and true.
September 8th, 2011 at 1:10 PM
Texans are the odds-on favorites here. That would be part the team and part the division. The Cowboys will have a boatload more competition in their division.
I wouldn’t count out Arizona either as long as Kolb isn’t a complete disaster.
And, the Loins have possibilities with the Vikings on the downward trend, the Bears being the Bears, and Green Bay sporting the Super Bowl hangover. Nah, it’s the Loins. Never mind.
September 8th, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Win a big game, he’s had the talent around him.
And do I need to bring up Cutler…