Oldskool Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8391162/Three-teams-could-make-run-at-0-16 Three teams could make run at 0-16 by Peter Schrager Updated: July 31, 2008, 3:18 PM EST Say what you want about David Tyree's heroic fourth-quarter Super Bowl helmet grab, Antonio Cromartie's 108-yard interception return for a touchdown, or any of Adrian Peterson's spell-binding touchdown runs, but no single play from the 2007 season was more exciting than Cleo Lemon's 64-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to Greg Camarillo. That overtime pass-and-catch in Week 15 ensured that the 2007 Dolphins -- as woeful a team as the NFL has seen in over a decade -- would not join the 1976 Buccaneers as the only winless/tieless team in modern NFL history. From the get-go, the Dolphins season was doomed. It started with head coach Cam Cameron getting unceremoniously booed at the team-hosted/fan-attended draft party, then saw their starting quarterback knocked out for the year with concussions, their starting running back sidelined with a season-ending knee injury, and their top wideout traded away mid-season for next to nothing. Along the way, their big off-season acquisition on defense was spotted "jumping" another player on a Vegas casino surveillance camera, three players were arrested, and various reserves were flat-out released. Adding insult to injury, Wes Welker, a do-everything glue guy and fan favorite traded in the offseason for a pair of non-first-round picks, went on to tie for the league lead in receptions for the AFC East-rival Patriots. The Dolphins were a miraculous 64-yard touchdown pass from a non-drafted quarterback to a non-drafted receiver away from becoming an eyesore in NFL history. They barely escaped eternal infamy. So, are there any teams that may go winless this season? Well, it's not likely. But if I had to put my money on three possibilities, here are the leading contenders: Rebuilding: Kansas City Chiefs Though Carl Peterson's Chiefs have won seven or more games in four of the last five seasons and have been to the playoffs twice since 2003, the truth was inevitable after last year's disastrous 4-12 campaign: It was time to rebuild. Fortunately for Chiefs fans, K.C. started the process off with a bang in April, downright cleaning up at the draft, earning rare unanimous rave reviews from the pundits for their haul of 12 legitimate NFL prospects. With top pick Glenn Dorsey agreeing to a deal on Saturday, every one of the Chiefs' 2008 selections has signed a contract. Both Dorsey and 15th overall selection Branden Albert could be starting right away, and second-round pick Brandon Flowers and fourth-round selection Will Franklin might as well. Long term, a widely praised draft class in which multiple picks will start right away is obviously fantastic news. Short term, having to rely on various rookies at key spots on the field is seldom a good thing even if the 2007 Giants did exactly that en route to a Super Bowl victory. Rest assured, though, the 2008 Chiefs are not the 2007 Giants. There's no Strahan or Pierce on this squad. Kansas City's roster reeks of youth and inexperience; you can practically smell the diapers. Though veterans Tony Gonzalez and Donnie Edwards will still demand locker room poise and professionalism, and Larry Johnson is a former Pro Bowl running back -- the offensive and defensive lines are simply too untested to give Kansas City much of a shot at anything this season. And then there's that defensive backfield. Oh boy. Coach Herm Edwards, a former defensive back, himself, may not sleep with the cornerback foursome of Flowers-Surtain-Breckenridge-Patterson trying to shut down AFC passing games. The Chiefs have a long history of winning football. Last year was undoubtedly a low point. Though I may be wrong, I think Chiefs fans are in for an ever lower one in '08. Schrager Projection: 4-12. The Clean Slate: Atlanta Falcons Few have ever suffered a worse 18 months than what the Falcons fans endured recently. After what was a well-regarded draft and the signing of a top-notch, "offensive mastermind" coach from the college ranks, several pundits tabbed the Falcons as the AFC South favorites in the spring of '07. Then came the downward spiral. Michael Vick and the dog fighting, the unpopular waiving of Grady Jackson, the DeAngelo Hall meltdown in the Carolina game, the Leftwich signing, the quarterback musical chairs, and finally -- the cherry on the manure sundae -- the infamous late night Bobby Petrino introductory press conference in Fayetteville, Ark. Sure enough, the 2008 Falcons are green from top to bottom. There's a first-year general manager, a first-year head coach, and, in Matt Ryan, an eventual first-year starting quarterback. Most of the key veterans that anchored the 2006 and 2007 Falcon squads are no longer with the team. Warrick Dunn? Gone. Former Pro-Bowler Alge Crumpler? Gone. Former Pro Bowler Rod Coleman? Gone. Wayne Gandy? Him, too. Leftwich? Yep. Marcus Wilkins, Lewis Sanders, and Jamin Elliot were all given their walking papers, too. Hall, the flamboyant corner, was shown the door as well, sent to Oakland in an off-season deal. What's left? Well, longtime Falcon Keith Brooking, up-and-coming receiver Roddy White, free-agent pickup Michael Turner, and a whole bunch of young faces. Ryan should be starting by mid-season, and fellow first-year guys Sam Baker and Curtis Lofton may very well be starting even sooner. Gone is the stigma of a team in ruins. That funeral parlor odor that the Falcons had toward the end of last season is a thing of the past. Insert the scent of a baby's nursery, instead. Yes, there's hope, excitement, and pride in Flowery Branch this summer. No one's doubting that. Atlanta may just need to survive its very worst season yet to enjoy the good times on the horizon. Schrager Projection: 2-14. Here We Go Again: Miami Dolphins Breathe easy, Dolphins fans. History's kinda/sorta on your side. The last three teams to finish with 1-15 records all bounced back by winning at least five games the following year. In the case of the '97 Jets, New York rebounded from a 1-15 campaign to win nine games and finish in second place in the AFC East. The '02 Carolina Panthers won seven games after a disastrous season and were playing in the Super Bowl by '03. San Diego followed its forgettable 2000 season (The Moses Moreno Era, folks) with five wins in '01 and the Chargers were a .500 ball club in '02. That said, the 2008 Miami Dolphins are in no way a shoo-in for five wins; they'll be fortunate to pull off such a feat. Aside from a bare-bones roster that's got more questions than an SAT, there's a new front office, new coaching staff and new offensive and defensive systems to install and master. For the first time in 11 years, neither Jason Taylor nor Zach Thomas will be a part of the Dolphins squad. The AP noted this week that more than 30 new players are in Dolphins camp this summer. How faceless is this squad? Billboards around South Florida boast the slogan "A New Beginning" and feature the faces of the team's coach, GM and VP of football operations. Yep, three middle-aged white men. Your 2008 Dolphins, folks! The team's most recognizable player -- running back Ronnie Brown -- is coming off a season-ending knee injury. Who knows what he'll be behind a relatively unproven offensive line and a mixed bag of quarterbacks? Other notable players -- Jake Long and Ted Ginn Jr. -- are likely still too young to be elite players this season. It should be another long year for Dolphins fans. Once they get to know all the new faces, they'll have to deal with the losses. Again. Of course, there is a bright side. Greg Camarillo's still on the roster. Schrager Projection: 2-14. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 They should have asked Mass_SkinsFan...he would have told them the Redskins won't win more than 4 games in the preseason and regular season combined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 the Dallas Cowboys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedskinDaddy Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 They should have asked Mass_SkinsFan...he would have told them the Redskins won't win more than 4 games in the preseason and regular season combined. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Yeah, but he would've used a bunch'a multi-quotes and many many more words to do it - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thinking Skins Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Da Bears? Jets? 49ers? I'd think those teams are all possible to be bottom dwellers too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskool Posted August 1, 2008 Author Share Posted August 1, 2008 Da Bears? Jets? 49ers? I'd think those teams are all possible to be bottom dwellers too. Bears still have a good defense. Jets just spent a bunch of salary cap to upgrade their O-line, so that's not realistic. 49ers play in the NFCW and should at least put up points under Martz as OC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLEED-B&G Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 They should have asked Mass_SkinsFan...he would have told them the Redskins won't win more than 4 games in the preseason and regular season combined. YOU JUST MADE THE LIST MY FRIEND!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrdoctor Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 they missed one. dallas cows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thinking Skins Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Bears still have a good defense.Jets just spent a bunch of salary cap to upgrade their O-line, so that's not realistic. 49ers play in the NFCW and should at least put up points under Martz as OC. I think the only thing that these teams have going for them is that they're all in weak divisions. For example, the Jets play the Dolphins, so one of them is going to get a win (unless they tie both times). The bears have a defense, but its gradually getting worse and worse. And can they expect to shut out everybody? Remember, the Dolphins had a defense before last year (remember the DPOY), then they lost their QB and all of a sudden they're looking 0-16 right in the mirror. But they couldn't even do that right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins2victory Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 the Dallas Cowboys Wow, Love to see that, could be the funniest thing of all time if it happened. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bware_Dware Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Da Bears? Jets? 49ers? I'd think those teams are all possible to be bottom dwellers too. Dont be shocked if the 49ers win their division.... Martz is going to bring this team up a notch and bring a weapon to their offensive playbook they have been lacking. Though he has to realize he has Gore and to utilize him.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Brown #43 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 They should have asked Mass_SkinsFan...he would have told them the Redskins won't win more than 4 games in the preseason and regular season combined. Good point. Somewhere Mass_SkinsFan is reading this article and saying to himself, "how did they overlook us?" :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurntToast Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 How are the Bears not on that list? I think it will be week 4 or 5 before they will score an offense TD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sableholic Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Dont be shocked if the 49ers win their division.... Martz is going to bring this team up a notch and bring a weapon to their offensive playbook they have been lacking. Though he has to realize he has Gore and to utilize him.. doubt it. There are reports from 49ers training camp that they are having a awful training camp so far. People are not grasping the playbook, the offense looks terrible. lots of confusion, incorrect routes, bad throws, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfitzo53 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Dont be shocked if the 49ers win their division.... Martz is going to bring this team up a notch and bring a weapon to their offensive playbook they have been lacking. Though he has to realize he has Gore and to utilize him.. Martz made good use of Faulk, I'm sure he'll get Gore plenty of touches one way or another. I don't know about winning the division, but if any division is up for grabs, it's the NFC West. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjfootballer Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 No one. I think it will be a rarity (if it already isn't) for a team to even go 1-15. I've seen alot of 2-14, 3-13 and 4-12 over the years, but I think the Saints, Jets, Dallass and then Miami are the only one's I can recall ever winning only 1 game. Anyone know of any others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjfootballer Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Found the list. Very rare. 1) 1980 New Orleans Saints 2) 1989 Dallas Cowboys 3) 1990 New England Patriots 4) 1991 Indianapolis Colts 5) 1996 New York Jets 6) 2000 San Diego Chargers 7) 2001 Carolina Panthers I had 4 of the 7. I should have known the Panthers and Patriots, but I didn't know the Chargers went 1-15 in 2000. So only 7 times since 1978 when they went to the 16 game schedule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzinator53 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 How'z bout dem Ravens, hon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Brown #43 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 How'z bout dem Ravens, hon? That would be fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzinator53 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 That would be fun! Hell yeah it would... It would give us the win., but ti would also give the Vagiants, ****birds, and Pukes a win too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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