Worst to first in the NFL: Who will it be this year?

September 8, 2019 at 12:15AM
WHO'S THIS YEAR'S WORST-TO-FIRST TEAM?

Week 1 in 2019 offers hope for even the worst teams from Week 17 of 2018. Here's why:

• At least one team in 15 of the past 16 seasons has gone from worst to first in its division. Last year, two teams — Houston and Chicago — did it.

• Since 2002, two teams — the 2017 Eagles and 2009 Saints — have gone from worst in their division to winning the Super Bowl.

• Every year since 1990 at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs a year after missing the playoffs. Last year, the number was seven (Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, the Chargers and Seattle).

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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