What is the Worst Team in NFL History?

In search of the worst team in NFL history. The ’72 Dolphins have a strong case, but they’re not the only ones in contention.

The Worst Team in NFL History

The worst team in NFL history is the 2008 Detroit Lions. They finished the season 0-16 and became the first team in NFL history to do so. They also set the record for the most losses in a season. The Lions have not made the playoffs since 1999 and have not won a playoff game since 1991.

The 2008 Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have had their share of bad teams throughout their history, but none have been as bad as the 2008 team. That year, the Lions finished the season with a record of 0-16, becoming the first team in NFL history to go winless in a 16-game season.

Prior to 2008, the worst team in NFL history was thought to be the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who finished their inaugural season with a record of 0-14. But the Lions managed to surpass that mark by going one step lower and finishing without a single win.

The 2008 Lions were plagued by injuries, inconsistency, and poor play all season long. Their leading rusher was Kevin Smith, who only managed 383 yards on the ground. In the passing game, they were led by journeyman QB Dan Orlovsky, who completed just 54% of his passes for 2,682 yards with 13 TDs and 14 INTs.

Defensively, they were just as bad as offensively. They allowed 617 points (an average of 38.6 per game), which is still the most points ever allowed by an NFL team in a 16-game season. They also gave up 7 Rush TDs and an astonishing 34 passing TDs while picking off just 10 passes all season.

It’s no wonder they went 0-16. The 2008 Lions were truly one of the worst teams in NFL history.

The 2009 St. Louis Rams

The 2009 St. Louis Rams season was the team’s 72nd season in the National Football League, their 62nd overall and their final season in St. Louis, Missouri. The team failed to improve upon their 2–14 record from 2008, instead finishing with a record of 1–15, the worst record in NFL history at the time. Along the way, they set or matched multiple undesirable NFL records, most notably becoming the first team ever to be shut out at home for two consecutive games. They also became the second team in NFL history (and to date, the last) to lose all 16 of their regular season games.

The 2010 Buffalo Bills

The 2010 Buffalo Bills season was the franchise’s 41st season in the National Football League, and the first under head coach Chan Gailey. The Bills looked to improve on their 4–12 record from 2009 and return to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but they instead became the first team ever to finish a season with a record of 0–16. They also became the fourth team in NFL history to lose all 16 games in a season, joining the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1982 Detroit Lions, and 2008 Detroit Lions (who were coached by Rod Marinelli, who was also the head coach of the 1976 Buccaneers). The Bills’ 0–16 record stands as the worst record by any NFL team over a 16-game schedule.

Why These Teams Were the Worst

Many teams have come and gone in the NFL, but some have been worse than others. These teams don’t just have bad seasons; they have historically bad seasons. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the worst teams in NFL history and find out what made them so bad.

The 2008 Detroit Lions

Few teams have been as bad as the 2008 Detroit Lions. That year, they became the first team in NFL history to go 0-16. They weren’t just bad, they were laughably bad. They were outscored by a total of 439 points, which is the second-worst margin in NFL history.

Their offense was a laughingstock, scoring just 10 touchdowns all season. Their defense was almost as bad, giving up 45 points or more seven times. In every game they played that season, they were behind by double digits at some point.

The 2008 Lions were so bad that they managed to lose to a team that was 0-15 at the time (the Bengals). They were also the first team in NFL history to lose to a team that was winless at the time (the Browns). In short, they were a historical nightmare.

The 2009 St. Louis Rams

The 2009 St. Louis Rams were one of the worst teams in NFL history. They finished the season with a record of 1-15, and their only win came against the Detroit Lions. They scored just 10 points or fewer in 11 of their 16 games, and they were shut out twice. The Rams also allowed a league-worst 452 points (28.3 per game).

The 2010 Buffalo Bills

The 2010 Buffalo Bills finished the season with a record of 4-12, which was good for last place in the AFC East.

Offensively, the Bills were led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw for 3,832 yards and 24 touchdowns. Running back C.J. Spiller also had a solid season, rushing for 927 yards and six touchdowns.

Defensively, the Bills were led by linebacker Paul Posluszny, who had 114 tackles and two interceptions. defensive end Marcell Dareus also had a solid season, recording 5.5 sacks.

Overall, the 2010 Buffalo Bills were a disappointing team that failed to live up to expectations.

What These Teams Did to Become the Worst

Losing seasons, poor draft picks, and bad coaching can all contribute to a team being bad. But what does it take to be the worst team in NFL history? In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the teams that have been considered the worst in NFL history and find out what they did to deserve that title.

The 2008 Detroit Lions

The 2008 Detroit Lions are the only team in NFL history to finish a season 0-16.

They were coached by Rod Marinelli, who was in his third year with the team, and featured former number one overall pick Matt Millen as their GM.

The Lions had high hopes coming into the season after signing free agent QB Daunte Culpepper, but Culpepper was injured in the first game and never played another down for the team.

That left journeyman Dan Orlovsky as their starting QB for most of the season, and he wasn’t able to lead them to a single win.

The Lions were outscored by a total of 484 points during the season, which is still an NFL record.

The 2009 St. Louis Rams

The 2009 St. Louis Rams were, quite simply, the worst team in NFL history.

They finished the season with a record of 1-15, becoming just the second team in NFL history to lose 15 games in a season (the other being the 2008 Detroit Lions). They were outscored by a staggering margin of 2 to 1 (shutting out only once all season), and their lone win came against a team (the Seattle Seahawks) that would finish the year with just five wins.

In short, they were an absolute disaster, and it’s no surprise that they find themselves atop this list.

The 2010 Buffalo Bills

Few teams have elicit the same level of disgust and derision as the 2010 Buffalo Bills. That year, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to lose every single game they played, finishing the season with a record of 0-16. It was a humiliating experience for everyone involved, and a low point for one of the most storied franchises in NFL history.

So how did they become so bad? In short, it was a perfect storm of poor coaching, bad luck, and a severe lack of talent. The head coach that year was Chan Gailey, who was in over his head and didn’t have the respect of his players. The team was also decimated by injuries, particularly to their star quarterback Trent Edwards. And perhaps most importantly, they simply didn’t have much talent on their roster. They were outmatched in almost every game they played that year, and it showed in their results.

It’s hard to overstate how bad the 2010 Bills were. They were an embarrassment to themselves, their city, and the NFL as a whole. It’s a black mark on their history that will never be forgotten.

How These Teams Can Improve

Many people argue that the Cleveland Browns are the worst team in NFL history. They have only had two winning seasons since 1999 and have never made it to the Super Bowl. The Browns have also been through a lot of coaching changes, which can be disruptive to a team. How can the Browns turn things around?

The 2008 Detroit Lions

Few teams in the history of the NFL have been as bad as the 2008 Detroit Lions. That season, the Lions became the first team to go 0-16, finishing with a -252 point differential. It was a truly awful team, and it’s hard to imagine how they could have been any worse.

There are a few things that stand out about that team that make them especially bad. First, their offensive line was terrible. They allowed an astonishing 68 sacks, which is more than double the next worst team in that category. Secondly, their defense was atrocious. They gave up an average of almost 34 points per game, which is just unacceptable. Finally, they had zero playmakers on either side of the ball. Calvin Johnson was a rookie that year, and he was the only bright spot on an otherwise abysmal team.

So how can a team be so bad? Well, it takes quite a bit of effort, actually. The Lions were just an incredibly poorly-constructed team from top to bottom. They didn’t have a quarterback that could stay healthy (Matt Stafford missed 13 games that year), their offensive line was terrible, and their defense was one of the worst in NFL history. Simply put, they were just a really bad football team.

The 2009 St. Louis Rams

The 2009 St. Louis Rams were, at the time, the worst team in NFL history.

The team finished the season with a record of 1-15, tying the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the worst record in a 16-game season. The Rams’ only win came in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions, who were also 1-15.
It was an ignominious end to a season that began with so much promise. The Rams had gone 8-8 in 2008 and made strides on both offense and defense. They seemed poised to make a run at a playoff berth in 2009.

But it all fell apart. The Rams lost their first nine games by an average of 21 points per game.They were outscored by a total of 45 points in their final three games, all blowout losses. In the end, they were the laughingstock of the NFL.

So how did they get so bad? And what can other teams learn from their mistakes?

Injuries played a big role. The Rams lost quarterback Marc Bulger, their best offensive player, to a broken collarbone in Week 10. Running back Steven Jackson, who had rushed for 1,241 yards in 2008, missed eight games with a back injury. Without Bulger and Jackson, the offense was anemic; the Rams averaged just 12 points per game during their 1-15 season.

But injuries can’t be used as an excuse for everything. The truth is that the 2009 Rams were just not very good. They had one of the worst quarterbacks in the league ( Kyle Boller), one of the worst defenses (allowing 27 points per game) and one of the worst head coaches (Scott Linehan).

What can other teams learn from them? First and foremost, don’t be afraid to make changes when things are going wrong. The Rams waited too long to fire Scott Linehan; by then, it was too late to salvage anything from the season . Second , don’t underestimate the importance of having a good quarterback . Boller was awful in 2009 , and Bulger’s injury highlighted just how important he was to the offense . Third , pay attention to your draft picks . The Rams had some success in recent years (such as with Jackson ) , but they also whiffed on some first – round picks ( Jason Smith , Chris Long ) . If you want to build a winning team , you need to draft well .
Fourth , don’t be afraid to make changes to your coaching staff . After firing Linehan , the Rams hired Steve Spagnuolo ; he helped turn around the defense , and the team finished 7-9 in 2010 . Finally , be patient . It takes time to build a winning team ; even after making all of these changes , it took the Rams until 2017 to make it back to the playoffs .

The 2010 Buffalo Bills

The 2010 Buffalo Bills were one of the worst teams in NFL history, finishing with a record of 4-12. They had a number of problems, including a lack of talent on both sides of the ball and a lack of discipline, as evidenced by their league-leading 119 penalties. They also had trouble scoring points, ranking 30th in the league in points per game.