The Biggest Single Season Collapses in NFL History

Whether it's because of luck running out, injuries, or coming back down to earth, events like what you're about to see are more common than you think.
Also, thanks a ton for 50K on the Belichick video, the support is wild and all of you who tuned in are ELITE. Here's to more bangers in the future.
Twitter: / johna_vt25
IG: / john.a.vt.2025
Music:
Deep Ocean Meditation - Melancholic Bird
Desert Heat - cinematicalex
Endurance - Curtis Schwartz
Ghost Town - Decibel
Powerful Drums - Ostin

[@ATCguy1973]

As a Cardinals fan my heartbreak was 2012 when we started 4-0 and ended up finishing 5-11. Total embarrassment. The 58-0 loss to the Seahawks was the lowest of the low as a fan.

[@ramuelcruzada3207]

Well 4:57 could make you feel better

[@waltercast0]

I didnt expect a lot after Kolb was hurt. Lindley and Skelton were horrible QB. For me was more heartbreaking the 2020 collapse and 2014, that team was the best before Palmer destroyed his ACL and the SB was in Arizona. We could make the playoffs with Stanton but Lindley was horrible again and that dream ended.

[@brsportsandgaming2552]

The 2021 Ravens could be on here, they started 8-3 and had the best record in the AFC despite their key starters being injured. They didn't look the best at 8-3 as it took a NFL record FG to beat the Lions, they looked horrible against the 2-7 Dolphins and Bengals, barely beat the Bears, and Lamar threw 4 picks against the Browns in a win. It all started week 13 against the Steeelers as Lamar threw a bad pick in the first quarter, but they scored a TD with about 10 seconds then missed the two. They lost their next 5 games and Lamar got hurt. 5 of their last 6 losses were by 1 score and they missed the playoffs at 8-9.

[@aqua6855]

There's no such thing as in barely loser talk... Kiss azz!!😂😂

[@JasonPlunske-w4w]

Well that helped the 9-7-1 Pittsburgh Steelers!

[@thekingbarrelmaker7642]

I don’t know if they should’ve qualified. Like you said, Baltimore was not as good as their 8-3 record indicated, but they were fielding a practice squad by that point in the season. Not shocked that they lost six straight to end the year. To me, the bigger choke job that season was the Colts. They had a 98% chance of making the playoffs with two games left, but missed out by losing to a highly suspect Raiders team (no pun intended) and fucking 2-14 Jacksonville.

[@JohnA_VT25]

There's a lot of newer ones that could have been on the list like the '21 Ravens, but they're too recent. I didn't want to go into the 2010s since I figured most of my viewers would know about them. ('18 PIT, '18 CAR, '21 BAL and '22 TEN for example)

[@lambert581]

@@JohnA_VT25 Could a collapse be a single game collapse like the 2007 Patriots

[@GmanUFL]

Big argument for the 2022 Tennessee Titans. Call it recency bias, but they started 7-3, with the AFC south in their grasp, but collapsed in a 7-game losing streak including a win or go home in week 18 against the Jaguars to determine their division, which they lost to finish 7-10. Also losing to the bottom-feeder Texans (1-12-1 at the time)? Yikes...

[@shauncameron8390]

And at home too. All 3 of the Texans' 2022 wins were on the road and against division rivals.

[@sooners2037]

Jacksonville just pulled something like that this past season

[@motnurky7055]

The 2018 Steelers deserves a spot, starting 7-2-1 and being a genuinely great team that even beat the Pats that year, but due to playing down to competition against horrible teams and lockeroom drama rivaling that of a soap opera they ended up 9-6-1

[@JohnA_VT25]

They definitely do, just a bit too recent for this video.

[@leifopstad2972]

This week, on Days of Our Steelers...

[@andrewgrove1691]

Screwed by the saints chargers

[@thekingbarrelmaker7642]

100% agree. In my brief lifetime, Pittsburgh had one of the most epic collapses I had ever seen. They should’ve easily beaten the Broncos, Chargers, and 2-10 Oakland. Had just one of those games gone the other way, they would’ve been in the playoffs. But instead, the Steelers helped craft a masterpiece for our lord and savior Urinatingtree.

[@shauncameron8390]

And having to depend on their division rival fresh off 0-16 to win and help them get in the payoffs.

[@JSwitz]

The only one who won anything on the 1993 Dolphins team was Scott Mitchell when the Lions handed him 21 million over 4 years to go to Detroit

[@jennyanydots2389]

Bret Favre is a really big college volleyball fan I hear.

[@aqua6855]

😂😂😂😂

[@lampini]

Mississippi college volleyball fan Brett Favre

[@jennyanydots2389]

@@lampini I bet that with all the money he's banked over the years he's a big-time contributor... probably donates so much they named a whole building after him... or at least a volleyball court. It's the least they could do for such a generous man.

[@joeytheslimeboi8900]

You could argue the 2021 Cardinals belong on here too

[@btone310]

More like the 2020 Cardinals. They collapsed and didn't make the playoffs. They made it on 2021.

[@littleblackduck3134]

That Raiders vs Eagles game was the beginning of the End for the relationship between Marcus Allen and Al Davis....(that and he was allegedly banging O.J.'s wife)

[@jasonsobon5890]

The 2022 Jets started 6-3 and ended 7-10

[@someperson8151]

The 1986 NY Jets started 10-1. Lost 5 straight and barely made the wild card. Patriots won the division with an 11-5 record. They were 2 wins away from the number one seed. Cleveland finished at 12-4.

[@andrewgrove1691]

2008 jets started 8-3 missed the playoffs

[@Venom3254]

As painful as that was, 2008 still topped it. They could have won the AFC East and had a bye week with either the 1st or 2nd seed (I don't know if they or the Steelers had the tie breaker for the 1st seed).

[@VinceLyle2161]

"A glorified Seneca Wallace." That level of utter savagery earns you a sub. Keep it up.

[@dinaari-vgm]

2023 eagles were cruising straight to a first round bye and then had an absolute anal prolapse for a month and a half straight. absolutely nobody believed we’d even have a chance against the bucs in the wildcard round despite being returning nfc champions and undefeated in 2023 just two months prior. it was like having a superbowl window slam shut on your fingers, and then trying to cook christmas dinner with two hand casts on

[@jessefehr7249]

2002 Dolphins' collapse extends two decades. After starting 5-1, they were still 9-5 with a chance for the 1 seed. They lost their last two games despite having leads in both games, missed the playoffs and haven't won a playoff game since

[@Venom3254]

2008 Jets are the reason why I'm still skeptical about this year's Jets team and how they could end up

[@goldosprey]

Well you were a prophet

[@Venom3254]

@@goldosprey It's obvious with this team

[@MIKELIN8]

Another reason for the collapse of the '94 Eagles was the loss of middle linebacker, and defensive captain Byron Evans. Kotite was arrogant and tried to strong-arm a new owner into an extension, but the loss of Evans took the heart out of their defense.

[@jpmnky]

Rich Kotite may be the worst coach of my lifetime. Coaches that were around longer than one year, eliminating Petrino and Meyer.

[@treyblaze22]

Not to mention the untimely passing of Jerome Brown

[@WolfDB]

As someone who has been a fan of the Redskins/Football Team/Commanders, it is not uncommon for us to have 6-2/6-3 starts only for us to utterly crap the bed and miss out on the playoffs. Thank god we don't have Dan Snyder anymore

[@OakTownBizz-zm8rx]

Oakland n 95;8-2. Den loses out

[@craterrrrrr]

The 2022 titans deserve a spot, they were 7-2 and picking up steam, then after the chiefs loss, they completely imploded, heck, they were starting Joshua Dobbs and Malik Willis, it was bad

[@terrylouis9183]

They lost week 1 to the Giants which shocked pretty much everyone

[@craterrrrrr]

@@terrylouis9183 yeah they did start bad, but picked up steam then imploded like the submarine

[@Anno023]

2018 Panthers for me. Started like 6-2 then lost 7 straight in heartbreaking fashion for every game. End of that Panthers team too

[@20thCY]

Steelers player and ref arguing lmao

[@SouthernGreyShark]

The Dallas Cowboys were the defending SuperBowl Champions in 1994. Details matter.

[@ihonestlydontevenknow4359]

2018 panthers should be here. 6-2 start, cam gets hurt as we’re getting assfucked by the steelers on thursday night, we lose 7 straight games until we win a meaningless game against a saints team playing all backups because they locked the #1 seed up. after that, we’ve been a fucking joke.

[@seandillon1359]

Very well made video. Subbed. Keep it up!

[@JohnA_VT25]

Appreciate it bro

[@joshito92]

Heads is the call 😂😂 legendary fail 😂😂 Edit: Yes, the 93s Dolphins ist the worst Single Season Collapses in NFL History. 9-2 and only one Win for reach the Playoffs but its diddn't happend and lost all 5 Games🤣🤦🏻

[@youlesie23]

I know they're both incredibly recent, but the 2018 and 2020 Steelers have to be ones to be revisited in the future. 2018, 7-2-1 (despite tying to the Browns) with a 98% chance of making the playoffs, proceed to lose 3 straight in embarrassing fashion to the Broncos, Chargers and Raiders, beat the Patriots in an ugly game only to lose a heartbreaker in New Orleans to all but end the season. And of course all the drama. Tree literally had content nearly every week to the point the Days of our Steelers segment was over an hour and a half long. 2020 they may have made the playoffs, but they went from 11-0, to blowing a 14 point lead at home to an awful Washington team, getting beat easily in Buffalo, then losing in embarrassing fashion to a Bengals team starting Ryan Finley. Beat the Colts thanks to some questionable calls, then lost to the Browns to let them into the playoffs. And then that Browns team demolished them in the wild card without their head coach, All-Pro guard and most of their secondary. 28 points in the first quarter. And that's not getting into JuJu and Claypool's antics. 11-0, to 12-4, to embarrassed at home by the Browns in the playoffs. Another choke for the ages.

[@DizzyDez613]

I’m not a Vikings fan, but that choke job in Arizona was one of the saddest things to happen in sports.

[@daleburrer1546]

Never forget the 1987 San Diego Chargers big collapse, starting 8-1, then finishing 8-7 out of playoffs.

[@20thCY]

I feel bad for that Vikings Radio announcer at the end of that Vikings-Cardinals game

[@jackatkinson3682]

As a Raiders fan, I'm surprised at how INFREQUENTLY they appear on this list. I mean...YIKES!

[@DeadEye622]

This one wasn't worthy of being in this video but I'd like to give a mention to the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers. Started 11-0 and had a home game against the 4-7 WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM. They'd lose that game and then lose 3 of their next 4, ending 12-4 and didn't win the AFC. They then went into the wild card and lost to the Browns. The BROWNS. Disappointing ending to a great early season.

[@icecoldpolitics8890]

The 2022 Viking are both the worst of football and best of it. Incredibly competitive and refusing to give up in games winning some absolute nail biters while also being totally incompetent and unable to hold a solid lead behind one of the worst defenses of the league. BTW the 2022 Vikings hold the record for largest comeback in NFL history and most number of won one score games in a season. They loved life on the edge!

[@Aziel562]

2009 broncos started 6-0 and finished 8-8 and missed playoffs, Josh Mcdaniels was the HC and we sure as hell hated him

[@dclayton734]

The 2016 Detroit Lions should be on this list. They were 9-4 with three games to play and they only needed to win one game to win the division. Lions would lose all three games in Lions fashion.

[@BlueOpinion]

During "the streak" the Bills had a 6 - 2 start in '08 and a 6 - 3 start in '11... finished both 7 - 9.

[@dereklee8103]

Bless you (and the 09 Broncos) for sparing my 2009 Giants. 5-0 to missed playoffs

[@kevincrittenden7567]

I know everyone always talks about Leon lett and that showboating, but can someone give don bebe credit for running him down and making the play? He easily could have Gave up but he did his job even in a losing effort

[@jerome_dangelo]

I grit my teeth at the start of this video. Because there's a jetsfan I knew the Farve-tastrofy would be on this list.

[@PaulJackson729]

The 2014 Cleveland Browns who started the season 7-4 and lost five straight to end finish at 7-9

[@ACrazedGaming]

The 2023 Philadelphia Eagles had another historic collapse

[@doom2547]

Josh McDaniels has the most punch able face in all of recorded history

[@davidfiddleman2312]

It is my strong belief that the Raider mystique died on that Allen fumble

[@goldosprey]

0:58...there's something about the Eagles and game ending Fumble returns

[@NickSweetChuck]

Good video! Thanks for the content. It was interesting!

[@BearIslandComics]

+1000 xp for using “prolapsed” and “fossilized” in a single video

[@wcm5636]

Someone remind me why I’ve been a dolphins fan for the last 39 years?

[@antoniopatterson3208]

Where are the 2002 saints 9-3 missed playoffs

[@greenwalltree]

2021 cardinals started 7-0 well yeah we all know what happens next

[@kendickinson8307]

As a fan, Saints 1993 - started 5-0 but finished 8-8

[@joshwatts7779]

The 2021 Saints started 5-2 finished 9-8 the 2002 Saints started 7-2 finished 9-7

[@bioLarzen]

Good video. One note: you may want to reduce the sound of the music. Sounds a tiny bit too loud.

[@VanillaLimeCoke]

2:30 I’m also a Vikings fan….so that would be interesting to see.

[@waltercast0]

I think 1994 Eagles is the worst collapse.

[@sshza2143]

16:37, what the heck is goin' on here😬😳get a room🤣😁✌😎

[@maksports95]

How are the 2018 Steelers not on here?

[@goldosprey]

I didn't think the push out rule lasted till 2003

[@GAdawg2k8]

The only thing I took from this is that Dick Enberg was the play-by-play announcer for both Leon Lett gaffes. The Broncos collapse is a huge reason why I despise McDaniels and hopes he runs Vegas into the ground.

[@nathanl7018]

That and his ridiculous fist pumping down the sidelines like he just won the Super Bowl.

[@centrist1008]

Rich Kotite was the worst coach in NFL history

[@okolekahuna3862]

Does anyone know if that referee that called Bettis's TAILS as HEADS reprimanded??? That was so bogus...

[@astrostar49]

Jeff Triplett

[@rtyable]

It wasn't just getting his feet in at the end. The NFL had the ridiculous force out rule at the time where if a player got pushed out while he was in the air making the catch he was counted as in bounds(Arz beating Min in the 4th and long was that rule). Thats why Miami was pissed. Granted they shouldn't have been in that position if you were 9-2

[@peterguirguess853]

I like the rule. Now, they push u out of bounds

[@VanillaLimeCoke]

Some other notable ones you should’ve included are 1986 Atlanta Falcons (started 5-1-1 and ended 7-8-1) 1989 Chicago Bears (started 4-0 and ended 6-10) 1995 St. Louis Rams (started 5-1 and ended 7-9) 1995 Oakland Raiders (started 8-2 and ended 8-8) 1995 St. Louis Rams and 1995 Oakland Raiders seemed to do well parting Los Angeles. Taking their cumulative start mentioned yielded 13-3 and cumulative end mentioned above yields 2-14. Just going by midpoints we get 5-3 and 6-2 = 11-5 start and then 2-6 and 2-6 = 4-12 end. 1996 Washington Redskins (started 7-1 and ended 9-7)

[@lakerskid2013]

I remember that 2009 season as a whole that was quite good in its own right but that play from Week 1 that play felt like yesterday. I remember watching that play live cheering for the Broncos to win (I’m a Patriots fan but I was picking Denver to win against Cincinnati) and going crazy seeing that Brandon Stokley play.

[@joshito92]

3:35 : Of course I know Joe Theisman. A good QB who ran the offense in the 70's and 80's. Won a Super Bowl and lost one 38-9 to the Raiders. But a Ryan Leaf and a JaMarcus Russell are legends 😂😂.

[@btone310]

Niners weren't defending champs in 1994. That was the Cowboys until SF dethroned them in the playoffs. Niners won the SB that season.

[@joshwatts7779]

The 2022 Tennessee Titans

[@jandrewhearne]

In I think ‘02 or ‘03, the Saints had to win one game to clinch a playoff spot, and lost their last three to awful teams. They lost to the Bengals, and I remember they gave a no name running back like 40 carries to keep the Saints O off the field.

[@tjanderson5892]

Kotites Eagles were so bizarre. From 7-2 to 7-9, but the scores make no sense lol. The offense would drop 30 pts and the defense would somehow dive up 33. But the next week the offense would go and drop 6pts and the defense would ball out and only give up 12 🤷🏾‍♂️. Lol looking at the scores you could get no clue on what the team was good at enough to get em to 7-2 in the first place. Must’ve been a dominate special teams lol

[@raidernationjasinx23]

Josh McWinnin was destined to help the Raiders he helped Denver suck.

[@joeyruth5224]

2019 colts. Started out 5-2, beat the chiefs and Texans, #1 in the AFC south and #2 in the conference already beating the best team which was the chiefs. Then after that, we lost 7 of our next 9 games and finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs.

[@kirkroussejr1285]

2008 Cowboys 😂

[@WilliamBrown-jx2xo]

As a Washington fan, 2008 hurt bad. Started the season 6-2 and then fizzled out at 8-8 in Jim Zorn's 1st year. Like we had the division title in our sights Then flash forward to 10 years later and we're 6-3 and in control of winning the division before Alex Smith broke his leg 😭😭

[@stephenb.7414]

2002 New Orleans Saints, started 7-2 finished 9-7 missed the playoffs.

[@johnprager662]

I was at that Broncos game against the Jamarcus Russell Raiders. The Denver crowd cheered when we saw him walk out because we assumed the game was clinched. How wrong we were....

[@DizzyDez613]

The manic highs and devastating lows of being a sports fan. God I love sports.

[@advancedguard8868]

23' Titans

[@havokan45]

As a Philly living in the area going on the different Philly Sports shows that used to be on a couple Ex players when say they didn't Like the way Kotite Coached the players . They also hinted that they quit on him to but that is here say but 5 ex Eagles so called said that so who knows

[@carlosmencia08]

Great video! Earned yourself a sub. Cant wait to check out your other videos

[@astrostar49]

Another great video, with really impressive scriptwriting. Thanks for spotlighting this topic. Another collapse that comes to mind is the 2002 Saints.

[@robolson1843]

@12:40 …and best the ever loving shit out of…. That might be the funniest thing I have heard from a sports show! Subscribed!

[@orbyfan]

How about the 1969 Steelers, who opened with a win in Chuck Noll's debut as head coach and then collapsed and lost their last 13 games?

[@TheChestnut21]

You can't control destiny. Look up the definition

[@kylorobb]

Excuse me, The Jets '86 went from 10-1 to missed the playoffs.

[@JohnA_VT25]

They did go to the playoffs, they even won a playoff game and had Cleveland beat in the divisional before they blew a 10 point lead with under five minutes

[@mrmercedes8528]

Due diligence 🙄🙄

[@xjdfghashzkj]

Rich Kotite was such a bum

[@stoozdee]

Nice work using the Paul Allen call.

[@isiahbanks147]

My 2012 bears went 7-1 to start the season and loss 5 of 8 to finish 10-6 and somehow missed the playoffs how typical 🙄

[@JohnA_VT25]

I didn't mention them because finishing 10-6 and not making the playoffs is some real shit luck lol

[@bricknmotor]

Don Beebee gave the Bills 1 of the best highlights in the 4 straight. Thanks alot to leon lett ofcourse. Ha

[@aweewa5659]

Leon Lett, Nooooo!!

[@tjanderson5892]

Bettis shouldn’t have waited to call the toss and shoulda said it w/ his chest lol. I know he said tails, but he said it like a castrato 😂. Im sure he had some bass in his voice every coin toss after that

[@leifopstad2972]

You could literally hear Bettis change his mind ("hea-tails").

[@The-Wild-West]

Least biased announcer.

[@KippinCollars]

This music is fantastic

[@zcam1969]

the 1981 philadelia eagle 9-0 and crumbled time big time

[@tromboneman4517]

9-2 then crumbled to 10-6. Strangely enough, they were statistically the best team in the league even with a four game losing streak where their offense played like utter shit.

[@thomastracey7677]

luv this topic

[@e93sports80]

Just subbed.

[@useruncut]

subbed

[@SoslanOss]

Great stuff

[@NeverlandSystemAngel]

Ironic the Jets had Favre at the end of his career, and now they have Rodgers at the end of his, too. lol

[@BlitZnGodzilla117]

If history truly repeats, Rodgers will be a Viking very soon

[@kevinmiller6380]

​@@BlitZnGodzilla117Hell no! I'm a diehard Chicago Bears fans, and I don't want to see another QB from the hated Packers back in the same division as the Bears.

[@mike9387]

2022 dolphins

[@mike9387]

@@ELIJAHNUBOYD aaaannd? Lol

[@coreyperdue37]

josh mcdaniels is by and large the greatest offensive coordinator of all time. head coach - meh. but you need to show some respect for him as an OC.

[@MikeyGProps]

You could say the 2020 Steelers could be a good candidate for this too

[@JohnA_VT25]

They get a pass since they made the playoffs though. Still a collapse nontheless lmao

[@tomatkinson4880]

​@@JohnA_VT25with how they lost and who they lost too it should count lol

[@bbacc929]

​@@tomatkinson4880as a Steelers fan i agree lol

[@andrewgrove1691]

That season they had no bye week thanks to 2 teams not following covid protocol. The NFL wanted the Browns in the playoffs

[@BillGraper]

16:37 Romo to Irvin: "We can stop hugging now. I think we actually lost!" 🤣

[@drew4564]

That's troy aikman

[@piranhasforscissors]

2012 Bears, started 7-1 and finished 3-5 to end the year 10-6 and miss the playoffs. This is what got Lovie Smith fired.

[@itsmellslikeshitdontit3752]

This was a great video!!!!