Last Undefeated Team / Winless Team in the NFL

Last year the Kansas City Chiefs were the NFL’s last undefeated team.  There undefeated season ended at 3-0 after a 19-9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.  It was the first time since 1970 that the NFL didn’t have at least one team start the season 4-0.  Below is a chronological listing of the last undefeated team(s) in each NFL season since 1970.  Further in the post there is a similar listing for the last winless team(s).

 

Last Undefeated Team(s) in Each Season Since 1970

Team Abbreviations

Year	Team	Start	Reg W-L	Div	Playoffs		1st Loss	Opp / (W-L)	Score
1970	Broncos	3-0	5-8-1	Last	-		Wk 4	at OAK (1-1-1)	23-35
	Lions	3-0	10-4	2nd	L Div		Wk 4	at WAS (1-2)	10-31
	Rams	3-0	9-4-1	2nd	-		Wk 4	SF (2-1)	6-20
1971	Redskins	5-0	9-4-1	2nd	L Div		Wk 6	at KC (4-1)	20-27
1972	Dolphins	17-0	14-0	1st	W SB		-	-	-
1973	Vikings	9-0	12-2	1st	L SB		Wk 10	at ATL (6-3)	14-20
1974	Cardinals	7-0	10-4	1st	L Div		Wk 8	at DAL (3-4)	14-17
1975	Vikings	10-0	12-2	1st	L Div		Wk 11	at WAS (6-4)	30-31
1976	Vikings	6-0-1	11-2-1	1st	L SB		Wk 8	at CHI (3-4)	13-14
1977	Cowboys	8-0	12-2	1st	W SB		Wk 9	STLC (5-3)	17-24
1978	Rams	7-0	12-4	1st	L Conf		Wk 8	NO (3-4)	3-10
	Steelers	7-0	14-2	1st	W SB		Wk 8	HOUO (4-3)	17-24
1979	Bucs	5-0	10-6	1st	L Conf		Wk 6	at NYG (0-5)	14-17
Year	Team	Start	Reg W-L	Div	Playoffs		1st Loss	Opp / (W-L)	Score
1980	Bills	5-0	11-5	1st	L Div		Wk 6	BALC (3-2)	12-17
1981	Eagles	6-0	10-6	2nd	L WC		Wk 7	at MIN (4-2)	23-35
1982	Redskins	4-0	8-1	1st	W SB		Wk 5	DAL (3-1)	10-24
1983	Cowboys	7-0	12-4	2nd	L WC		Wk 8	LARD (5-2)	38-40
1984	Dolphins	11-0	14-2	1st	L SB		Wk 12	at SD (5-6)	28-34
1985	Bears	12-0	15-1	1st	W SB		Wk 13	at MIA (8-4)	24-38
1986	Bears	6-0	14-2	1st	L Div		Wk 7	at MIN (4-2)	7-23
	Broncos	6-0	11-5	1st	L SB		Wk 7	at NYJ (5-1)	10-22
1987	Bears	4-0	11-4	1st	L Div		Wk 5	NO (2-2)	17-19
1988	Bengals	6-0	12-4	1st	L SB		Wk 7	at NE (2-4)	21-27
1989	Rams	5-0	11-5	2nd	L Conf		Wk 6	at BUF (3-2)	20-23
Year	Team	Start	Reg W-L	Div	Playoffs		1st Loss	Opp / (W-L)	Score
1990	49ers	10-0	14-2	1st	L Conf		Wk 12	LARM (3-7)	17-28
	Giants	10-0	14-2	1st	W SB		Wk 12	at PHI (6-4)	13-31
1991	Redskins	11-0	14-2	1st	W SB		Wk 13	DAL (6-5)	21-24
1992	Dolphins	6-0	11-5	1st	L Conf		Wk 8	IND (3-3)	20-31
1993	Saints	5-0	8-8	2nd	-		Wk 7	at PIT (3-2)	14-37
1994	Chargers	6-0	11-5	1st	L SB		Wk 8	DEN (1-5)	15-20
1995	Dolphins	4-0	9-7	3rd	L WC		Wk 6	IND (2-2)	24-27
1996	Colts	4-0	9-7	3rd	L WC		Wk 6	at BUF (3-1)	13-16
1997	Broncos	6-0	12-4	2nd	W SB		Wk 8	at OAK (2-4)	25-28
1998	Broncos	13-0	14-2	1st	W SB		Wk 15	at NYG (5-8)	16-20
1999	Rams	6-0	13-3	1st	W SB		Wk 8	at TEN (5-1)	21-24
Year	Team	Start	Reg W-L	Div	Playoffs		1st Loss	Opp / (W-L)	Score
2000	Vikings	7-0	12-4	1st	L Conf		Wk 9	at TB (3-4)	13-41
2001	Rams	6-0	14-2	1st	L SB		Wk 7	NO (3-2)	31-34
2002	Raiders	4-0	11-5	1st	L SB		Wk 6	at STL (0-5)	13-28
2003	Chiefs	9-0	13-3	1st	L Div		Wk 11	at CIN (4-5)	19-24
2004	Eagles	7-0	13-3	1st	L SB		Wk 9	at PIT (6-1)	3-27
2005	Colts	13-0	14-2	1st	L Div		Wk 15	SD (8-5)	17-26
2006	Colts	9-0	12-4	1st	W SB		Wk 11	at DAL (5-4)	14-21
2007	Patriots	18-0	16-0	1st	L SB		SB	NYG (13-6)	14-17
2008	Titans	10-0	13-3	1st	L Div		Wk 12	NYJ (7-3)	13-34
2009	Colts	14-0	14-2	1st	L SB		Wk 16	NYJ (7-7)	15-29
2010	Chiefs	3-0	10-6	1st	L WC		Wk 5	at IND (2-2)	9-19
2011	?

The Rams have been the NFL’s last undefeated team(s) on five occasions since 1970; the most by any team in that period.

Since 1970, the following franchises have never been the NFL’s last undefeated team(s): Browns, Falcons, Jaguars, Jets, Packers, Panthers, Ravens, Seahawks, and Texans.

The 1970 Broncos (3-0 to 5-8-1), 1970 Rams (3-0 to 9-4-1), and the 1993 Saints (5-0 to 8-8) missed the playoff despite being that season’s last undefeated team(s).

A little over 1/4th of all Super Bowl participants since 1970 were their season’s last undefeated team(s).

Last Undefeated Teams First Loss

The Colts and Cowboys delivered the NFL’s last undefeated team(s) their first loss of the season on four occasions since 1970.

Since 1970, the following franchises have never delivered the NFL’s last undefeated team(s) their first loss: Browns, Jaguars, Lions, Packers, Panthers, Ravens, Seahawks, and Texans.

Since 1970, Week 8 is the most common week for the season’s last undefeated team(s) to lose their first game of the season (nine times).

Since 1970, the season’s last undefeated team(s) has never been shutout in their first loss of the season.

In 2000, the Buccaneers defeated the NFL’s last undefeated team of the season the Vikings 41-13.  It’s the greatest margin of defeat since 1970 suffered by a last undefeated team in their first loss of the season.

Last Winless Team(s) in Each Season Since 1970

Team Abbreviations

Year	Team	Start	Reg W-L	Div		1st Win	Opp / (W-L)	Score
1970	Eagles	0-7	3-10-1	Last		Wk 8	MIA (4-3)	24-17
1971	Bills	0-10	1-13	Last		Wk 11	NE (4-6)	27-20
1972	Saints	0-5-1	2-11-1	Last		Wk 7	at PHI (1-5)	21-3
1973	Oilers	0-7	1-13	Last		Wk 8	at BALC (2-5)	31-27
1974	Colts	0-5	2-12	Last		Wk 6	at NYJ (1-4)	35-20
1975	Chargers	0-11	2-12	Last		Wk 12	at KC (5-6)	28-20
1976	Bucs	0-14	0-14	Last			-	-
1977	Bucs	0-12	2-12	Last		Wk 13	at NO (3-9)	33-14
1978	Bengals	0-8	4-12	Last		Wk 9	HOUO (5-3)	28-13
	Cardinals	0-8	6-10	4th		Wk 9	at PHI (4-4)	16-10
1979	49ers	0-7	2-14	Last		Wk 8	ATL (3-4)	20-15
Year	Team	Start	Reg W-L	Div		1st Win	Opp / (W-L)	Score
1980	Saints	0-14	1-15	Last		Wk 15	at NYJ (3-11)	21-20
1981	Redskins	0-5	8-8	4th		Wk 6	at CHI (1-4)	24-7
1982	Colts	0-8-1	0-8-1	Last			-	-
1983	Oilers	0-10	2-14	Last		Wk 11	DET (5-5)	27-17
1984	Bills	0-11	2-14	Last		Wk 12	DAL (7-4)	14-3
1985	Bucs	0-9	2-14	Last		Wk 10	STLC (4-5)	16-0
1986	Colts	0-13	3-13	Last		Wk 14	at ATL (6-6-1)	28-23
1987	Giants	0-5	6-9	Last		Wk 6	STLC (2-3)	30-7
1988	Packers	0-5	4-12	Last		Wk 6	NE (2-3)	45-3
1989	Cowboys	0-8	1-15	Last		Wk 9	at WAS (4-4)	13-3
Year	Team	Start	Reg W-L	Div		1st Win	Opp / (W-L)	Score
1990	Colts	0-3	7-9	3rd		Wk 4	at PHI (1-2)	24-23
	Seahawks	0-3	9-7	3rd		Wk 4	CIN (3-0)	31-16
1991	Colts	0-9	1-15	Last		Wk 11	at NYJ (5-4)	28-27
1992	Patriots	0-9	2-14	Last		Wk 11	at IND (4-5)	37-34
1993	Bengals	0-10	3-13	Last		Wk 13	LARD (6-4)	16-10
1994	Bengals	0-8	3-13	3rd		Wk 10	at SEA (3-5)	20-17
1995	Panthers	0-5	7-9	4th		Wk 7	NYJ (1-5)	26-15
	Saints	0-5	7-9	Last		Wk 7	MIA (4-1)	33-30
1996	Falcons	0-8	3-13	4th		Wk 10	CAR (5-3)	20-17
1997	Colts	0-10	3-13	Last		Wk 12	GB (8-2)	41-38
1998	Panthers	0-7	4-12	4th		Wk 9	NO (4-3)	31-17
	Redskins	0-7	6-10	4th		Wk 9	NYG (3-4)	21-14
1999	Browns	0-7	2-14	Last		Wk 8	at NO (1-5)	21-16
Year	Team	Start	Reg W-L	Div		1st Win	Opp / (W-L)	Score
2000	Chargers	0-11	1-15	Last		Wk 13	KC (5-6)	17-16
2001	Lions	0-12	2-14	Last		Wk 14	MIN (5-7)	27-24
2002	Bengals	0-7	2-14	Last		Wk 9	at HOU (2-5)	38-3
2003	Chargers	0-5	4-12	Last		Wk 7	at CLE (3-3)	26-20
2004	Dolphins	0-6	4-12	Last		Wk 7	STL (4-2)	31-14
2005	Texans	0-6	2-14	Last		Wk 8	CLE (2-4)	19-16
2006	Raiders	0-5	2-14	Last		Wk 7	ARZ (1-5)	22-9
2007	Dolphins	0-13	1-15	Last		Wk 15	BAL (4-9)	22-16
2008	Lions	0-16	0-16	Last			-	-
2009	Bucs	0-7	3-13	Last		Wk 9	GB (4-3)	38-28
2010	Bills	0-8	4-12	Last		Wk 10	DET (2-6)	14-12
2011	?

The Colts have been the NFL’s last winless team(s) on six occasions since 1970; the most by any team in that period.

Since 1970, the following franchises have never been the NFL’s last winless team(s): Bears, Broncos, Chiefs, Jets, Jaguars, Rams, Ravens, and Vikings.

Since 1970, none of the NFL’s last winless team(s) have made the playoffs.  The only last winless team(s) since 1970 to finish the season without a losing record, were the 1981 Redskins (0-5 to 8-8) and the 1990 Seahawks (0-3 to 9-7).

 

Last Winless Teams First Win

The New York Jets  have given the NFL’s last winless team(s) their first win of the season on four occasions since 1970.

Since 1970, the following franchises have never given the NFL’s last winless team(s) their first win of the season: 49ers, Bills, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Jaguars, Steelers, and Texans.

Since 1970, Week 9 is the most common week for the season’s last winless team(s) to win their first game of the season (seven times).

In 1985, the Buccaneers the last winless team of the season, shutout the Cardinals 16-0 for their first victory of the season.  It’s the only shutout since 1970 delivered by a last winless team in their first victory of the season.

In 1988, the Patriots lost to the NFL’s last winless team of the season the Packers 45-3.  It’s the greatest margin of victory since 1970 by a last winless team in their first win of the season.

 

Additional Facts

In 1988, the Patriots lost to the NFL’s last winless team the Packers (0-5) 45-3.  The following week the Patriots defeated the NFL’s last undefeated team the Bengals (6-0) 27-21.

In 1987, the Giants started the season 0-5 and became the NFL’s last winless team that season.  It’s the only time a defending Super Bowl champion was the NFL’s last winless team.

In 1981, the Redskins were the NFL’s last winless team.  In 1982, they bounced back and became the NFL’s last undefeated team.  In 1996, the Colts were the NFL’s last undefeated team.  But in 1997, they were the NFL’s last winless team.

In 1961, no team made it through Week 3 undefeated.

 

Matchups of Last Undefeated Teams

In 1973, in a battle between the last lone remaining undefeated teams of the season.  The 6-0 Vikings  faced off against the 6-0 Rams in Week 7.  The Vikings won the game 10-9.

In 2007, in a battle between the last lone remaining undefeated teams of the season.  The 8-0 Patriots traveled to Indianapolis to face the 7-0 Colts in Week 9.  The Patriots won the game 24-20, after a 14-point 4th quarter comeback.  The victory propelled the Patriots to a perfect regular season.

In 1971, the 2-0 Redskins traveled to Dallas to face the 2-0 Cowboys in Week 3.  The matchup ultimately decided the last remaining undefeated team of the season, after the league’s other undefeated teams lost games that same week.  The Redskins defeated the Cowboys 20-16.

In 1980, the 4-0 Bills traveled to San Diego to face the 4-0 Chargers in Week 5.  The matchup ultimately decided the last remaining undefeated team of the season, after the Lions lost to the Falcons 43-28.  The Bills defeated the Chargers 26-24, after a 14-point rally in the 4th quarter.

 

Matchups of Last Winless Teams

In 2004, in a battle between the last lone remaining winless teams of the season.  The 0-5 Dolphins traveled to Buffalo to face the 0-4 Bills in Week 6.  The Bills won the game 20-13.

In 1992, the 0-3 Patriots traveled to New York to face the 0-4 Jets in Week 5.  The matchup ultimately decided the last remaining winless team of the season, after the league’s other winless team lost games that same week.  The Jets defeated the Patriots 30-21.

In 1999, the 0-4 Bengals traveled to Cleveland to face the 0-4 Browns in Week 5.  The matchup ultimately decided the last remaining winless team of the season, after the league’s other winless teams lost games that same week.  The Bengals defeated the Browns 18-17.

 

The following is a listing of every meeting since 1970 between the then last undefeated team of the season, and the then last winless team of the season.

Last Undefeated Team vs. Last Winless Team

Year	Week	Last Undefeated		Last Winless	Won	Score
1975	Wk 10	Vikings (9-0)	vs	Chargers (0-9)	Vikings	28-13
1992	Wk 7	Dolphins (5-0)	vs	Patriots (0-5)	Dolphins	38-17
1999	Wk 7	Rams (5-0)	vs	Browns (0-6)	Browns	34-3
2005	Wk 7	Colts (6-0)	at	Texans (0-6)	Colts	38-20

The 1975 Vikings, 1992 Dolphins, and 1999 Rams lost their first game of the season after their meeting with the last winless team of the season.

The 1999 Browns and 2005 Texans won their first game of the season after their meeting with the last undefeated team of the season.

 

Reference: Pro-Football-Reference, ShrpSports – NFL Standings