Worst. NFL Playoff team. Ever.

[jms416]

Seeing as it's football season, what is the WORST record a team can have and still make the playoffs?

Assume regular NFL scheduling rules. Available here: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_are_NFL_schedules_determined

[Chuck]

I'd say 3 and 13 since each team plays the other three teams in its division twice each making it necessary for the division to have at least 12 wins. Of course, they could all tie but I wouldn't call that worse.

[Zag]

Interesting question.

I assume it would be possible for all four teams in a division to split all their divisional games, so they would all be 3-3 for those, and then all four teams lose every game outside their division, so the first place team would be decided by a tie-breaker amongst the four 3-13 teams.

[Suspence]

I'd say you can get in with 0 wins.

Four divisional teams could go 0-10-6, tying all of their divisional games. I'd say 0-10-6 is worse than 3-13-0, especially since most "standings" are ordered by "winning percentage" (.000 vs .188). See http://www.nfl.com/standings

Here are the divisional tiebreakers:

Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

Three or More Clubs
(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

The first factor that could be different is strength of schedule, so it would likely come down to that, or the next factor which is ranking in points scored/points against.

By the way, this 0-10-6 scenario is still feasbile for the NFC South after Week 1. All four teams lost non-divisional in-conference games this week, and are tied at 0-1. The Saints are listed as being in first, I'm assuming due to strength of schedule, as they played the defending champion Packers.
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[jms416*]

Here's a corollary:

Whats the worst record in order to win a wildcard?

[Chuck]

5 and 11?

[Chuck]

Or less. I didn't realize that teams played so any interconference games. Every team in a conference could lose all of those, so I'm now thinking 1 and 15.

[Thok*]

[referee]

All this thread remember me: If W>T>L, why aren't we placing them in that order?

And of course, Thok means 4-11-1 throughout. Or, as it should rather be, 4-1-11.
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[Thok*]

[Suspence]

[dethwing]

Just because the NFL does it that way, doesn't make it right.

[bonanova]

The title suggested to me a fav question about greatest futility in winning NFL championship games. Being a Vikings fan of long standing although I did move to New York the same year Fran Tarkenton did via trade. Simply, it asked how many NFL championships had been won among the Vikings, Bills and Broncos.

Denver spoiled things a few years back by winning a couple. So it's a weaker question now:

How many NFL championships have been won between the Vikings and the Bills?
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[Quailman]

The chiefs have lost seven straight playoff games, but I'll go with the Vikings.

[bonanova]

The 1969 Vikings were NFL Champions. Neither they nor the Bills ever won a Super Bowl.
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