Having finished its third week, the NFL season appears over, or so it seems, for at least seven of the 32 teams: The Cleveland Browns, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Miami Dolphins, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Carolina Panthers, the Tennessee Titans, and the St Louis Rams; all of whom are 0-3.
The chances of an NFL team rebounding from such a dreadful start are grim.
Since 1990, when the league adopted its 12-team playoff format, only three teams with 0-3 records have qualified for the playoffs.
1.) The 1992 San Diego Chargers, were 0-4; and all seemed lost; before rookie head coach Bobby Ross rallied his troops to a miraculous comeback season as the Chargers won 11 out of their last 12 regular season games, ended up winning the AFC Western Division with an 11-5 record, knocked off the Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs, but then were crushed by the Miami Dolphins in the divisional playoffs, 31-0. Still, it was a spectacular year for a team who hadn’t qualified for the playoffs in 10 years to become the first franchise in NFL history to lose the first four games of the season and still make it to the playoffs.
2.) The 1995 Detroit Lions under head coach Wayne Fontes started the season 0-3; but turned things around on Monday Night Football no less, beating the San Francisco 49er’s on September 25th; and for that time forward, they were off to the races, winning eight of their last nine games to finish the season with a 10-6 record, one game behind the division leading Green Bay Packers in the NFC Central, good enough to qualify as a Wild Card.
The Lions ferocious comeback ended poorly, however, when they were dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles 58-37 in the playoffs as work horse Barry Sanders, who rushed for 1500 yards and 11 touchdowns for Detroit during the regular season, was held to just 40 rushing yards.
3.) The 1998 Buffalo Bills under recently hired head coach Wade Phillips became the last NFL team to begin the season losing the first three games, only to regain their footing and advance to the playoffs. At 0-3, the Bills regrouped after the bye-week, winning seven of their next eight games, to finish the year with a 10-6 record and qualify as a Wild Card team.
Four Buffalo fumbles and a fuming Andre Reed, who bumped an official after the Bills’ wide-receiver was ruled just short of the goal line (resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty); proved too costly as the Dolphins held on to a 24-17 win over the Bills in the playoffs.
So now the question becomes does any of the seven 0-3 teams this year have what it takes to snap out of their early season slumber and right the sinking ship for it’s too late?
In particular, you have to feel for Cleveland sports fans. After enduring an appalling season with the Cleveland Indians, including a fire sale (trading Victor Martinez and Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, among others) which culminated in the jettisoning of Tribe skipper Eric Wedge on Wednesday; Northeast Ohio fans were hoping the Browns might take them out of their misery before Lebron, Shaq, and the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled into town.
Not to be. Not only are the Browns, 0-3, they’re engulfed in a quarterback controversy, probably the worst disruption that could befall an NFL franchise. As that wise sage John Madden once said: ``When you have two quarterbacks [being bounced back and forth] you really have none.’’
For Cleveland sports fans, an NFL Super Bowl trophy and World Series ring must seem as elusive as ever. The Tribe hasn’t won a World Series since 1948; and the last time the Browns suited up for a playoff game came in 2002.
In addition to fans, it must be frustrating for beat writers and editors in Cleveland to suffer one year after the next of teams never measuring up to towering expectations. Plain Dealer Sports editor Roy Hewitt feels the pain. `` Fortunately for me’’, Hewitt wrote through an email, ``I have worked in other cities that have produced world titles.’’
What about sports writers from other NFL cities, who find their teams in a woeful 0-3 predicament, much like the Browns? Can they recover?
Here are some responses that came back by email.
On the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)
``I don't see the Bucs rebounding to the make the playoffs. In fact, I would be surprised if they win more than two games. I wouldn't even been shocked if they won only one game and I honestly don't think 0-16 is out of the realm of possibility.’’
``- Tom Jones, writer/editor for Page Two of the St. Petersburg Times
``It isn't just the 0-3 record; it's that there is no signs that you should be optimistic. The defense has been awful and the offense is regressing. None of the losses have been flukes. They've gotten their butts beat.’’
-John Romano, Sports Columnist, the St Petersburg Times
``If they get in from here, it would be the best comeback since Lazarus.’’ [restored to life in the New Testament]
-Gary Shelton, Sports Columnist, St Petersburg Times
On The Tennessee Titans (0-3)
``I figure they have to get to 2-4 entering the bye week, after which the schedule levels out quite a bit. That means they've got to beat Jacksonville on Sunday and then beat either Indy in Nashville or win at New England. It looks like an 8-8 season at best right now.’’
-David Climer, columnist for The Tennessean
``I still think they're good enough to turn it around and make it. They'd better get going though’’
-Jim Wyatt, Sports reporter for The Tennessean
On the St Louis Rams (0-3)
``I think [Steve] Spagnuolo's a good coach. And I like the attitude and effort of this team. But there's simply not enough talent for this group to make a playoff run.’’
-Jim Thomas, sports reporter for the St Louis Post-Dispatch
On the Kansas City Chiefs (0-3)
``It's hard to picture that. Nothing is working well for them right now. They've got a long way to go.’’
-Adam Teicher, sports reporter for the Kansas City Star
****
For those teams who are down on their luck, there is some encouraging news to report, at least according to Michael Signora, Director of Media Relations & International Communications with the National Football League, who informs me `` since 1990, 51 teams with losing records after 3 games qualified for the playoffs.’’
-Bill Lucey
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