The New York Jets: On the verge of football history this weekend? (1 Viewer)

[MarshallRob]

20 NFL teams in the modern era (1960-present) have finished a season with a single victory. Here’s the list of those squads that fell short of awful perfection and, more importantly for the purpose of this post, in parenthesis are the teams that managed to fall to the Terrible Twenty:

1960: Washington Redskins (Dallas Cowboys)

1961: Washington Redskins (Dallas Cowboys)

1962: Oakland Raiders (Boston Patriots)

1962: Los Angeles Rams (San Francisco 49’ers)

1966: New York Giants (Washington Redskins)

1967: Atlanta Falcons (Minnesota Vikings)

1968: Buffalo Bills (New York Jets)

1969: Chicago Bears (Pittsburgh Steelers)

1969: Pittsburgh Steelers (Detroit Lions)

1971: Buffalo Bills (New England Patriots)

1972: Houston Oilers (New York Jets)

1973: Houston Oilers (Baltimore Colts)

1980: New Orleans Saints (New York Jets)

1982: Houston Oilers (Seattle Seahawks)

1989: Dallas Cowboys (Washington Redskins)

1990: New England Patriots (Indianapolis Colts)

1991: Indianapolis Colts (New York Jets)

1996: New York Jets (Arizona Cardinals)

2000: San Diego Chargers (Kansas City Chiefs)

2001: Carolina Panthers (Minnesota Vikings)

Five franchises, the Cowboys, Patriots, Redskins, Vikings, and Colts have fallen twice to one-win teams. But the New York Jets easily stand alone when it comes to Losing to Losers. Four separate times have the Jets been the sole victim of a one-win team. But it gets better. Note the years the Jets have been vanquished by the lowest of the low: 1968, 1972, 1980, and 1991. Yes, that’s right, realize with awe that the Jets not only uniquely managed to pull off this feat four separate times, but each ignominious defeat took place in a different decade. The Jets embarrassed themselves in the 1960’s, 1970’s, the 1980’s AND the 1990’s. But it’s been 16 years since the Jets’ last ultimate loss and with this current decade nearing its end the Jets’ “streak” had appeared to be in serious jeopardy. But suddenly opportunity in the form of the 0-11 Miami Dolphins has dropped into the New York Jets’ lap. Should the Jets find a way to lose to the Dolphins this weekend and the Dolphins then go on to lose their remaining games, the Jets will have lost to a one-win team for an unprecedented fifth consecutive decade!

If the Jets pull this off, their record will remain safe for at least half a century. Can they rise to the challenge? It all starts this weekend.

Trivia Notes:

1) In addition to the 20 one-win teams, the modern era has seen three winless teams. The 1976 Bucs of course, the 0-11-1 Dallas Cowboys of 1960 who tied the New York Giants, and the 0-8-1 Baltimore Colts of 1982 who tied the Green Bay Packers.

2) The Jets and Bills were actually AFL teams in 1968.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

And they beat the Steelers.

 

[Koya]

Jets WILL lose this weekend. No doubt about it. Clemens is not good. They have no WRs. Their RB can't get a TD when they do move the ball, which is never.

Miami is actually the better team this time out. Even with their RB and QB situation. That's how bad the Jets are. Miami has some players on D at least.

 

[phthalatemagic]

the Jets not only uniquely managed to pull off this feat four separate times, but each ignominious defeat took place in a different decade.

That's not true. 1972 and 1980 are in the same decade.

 

[Bri]

the Jets not only uniquely managed to pull off this feat four separate times, but each ignominious defeat took place in a different decade.

That's not true. 1972 and 1980 are in the same decade.

huh?

 

[nibbomydaets]

the Jets not only uniquely managed to pull off this feat four separate times, but each ignominious defeat took place in a different decade.

That's not true. 1972 and 1980 are in the same decade.

huh?

 

[HULLOBUDMAN]

the Jets not only uniquely managed to pull off this feat four separate times, but each ignominious defeat took place in a different decade.

That's not true. 1972 and 1980 are in the same decade.

You are right and wrong.Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This dec·ade /ˈdɛkeɪd; Brit. also dəˈkeɪd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dek-eyd; Brit. also duh-keyd] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1. a period of ten years: the three decades from 1776 to 1806. 2. a period of ten years beginning with a year whose last digit is zero: the decade of the 1980s. 3. a group, set, or series of ten. So even though it can mean any group of ten years I believe the connotation of decade is most commonly a period of ten years beginning with a year whose last digit is zero: the decade of the 1980s.

 

[MarshallRob]

The Jets fail to take advantage of their golden opportunity. With only two more NFL seasons left in the decade, the Jets' streak of losing to one-loss teams is now in serious jeopardy! Nice going New York.