Bears, Patriots latest to go from cellar to penthouse
Posted: Tuesday January 08, 2002 2:17 AM
Out of Nowhere
The Bears' record and NFC Central finish the past five seasons.
Year
Rec.
Finish
2001
13-3
1st
2000
5-11
5th
1999
6-10
5th
1998
4-12
5th
1997
4-12
5th
By Jacob Luft, CNNSI.com
There have been plenty of surprising turnarounds in the NFL these past few parity-filled seasons.
The Rams went from 4-12 in 1998 to Super Bowl champions in 1999. The Saints of 1999 were 3-13 only to go 10-6 and win the NFC West the following season.
But what the Chicago Bears have done this season deserves some special commendation. Not only were the Bears cellar dwellers last season, but also the season before that, and the season before that ... etc. For four consecutive seasons, Chicago lived at the bottom of the NFC Central before posting a shocking 13-3 record and winning a division crown this year. In those four seasons, the Bears' cumulative record was 19-45.
The Patriots pulled a worst-to-first turnaround this season as well, having finished in last place each of the past two seasons before winning the AFC East.
Overall, there have been 15 worst-to-first seasons in the NFL since the 1970 merger, with six coming in the past five years. This is only the second time that two teams have done it in the same season. The other was 1999, when the Rams and Colts won their divisions.
Only three of the 15 Cinderella stories ended their seasons in the Super Bowl, with the Rams being the only champions.
Also, there have been 15 clubs to go from the cellar to earning a wild-card berth, but only one has gone as far as the conference title game -- the 1996 Jaguars.
Worst to First
Last-place teams that won the division the following season (since 1970).
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