Which NFL team's late-season collapse was the worst?

Question

The Colts start 9-0, setting an NFL record for consecutive undefeated streaks, then stop defending the run (thanks to losing FOUR safeties and 2 DT's to injuries) to finish 2-4, including a first-ever loss to HOU.

JAX starts 8-5, and has a lock on a wildcard spot, then finish 0-3, including the last game against KC with a wildcard on the line for the winner.

Denver starts 7-2, seemingly with a world class defense, then finishes 2-5, including an overtime loss to the 49ers with a playoff spot on the line.

Seattle starts 4-1 but finishes 5-7, winning only once all season against a playoff team (NYG in week 3).

Atlanta starts 5-2 with Vick looking like Peyton Manning on two occasions, then finishes 2-7 and out of the playoffs.

Carolina starts 6-4, but loses four straight to miss the playoffs.

Dallas starts 8-4, but loses 3 of their last four.

The Giants start 6-2, and finish 2-6, barely backing into the wildcard spot.

Answer 1

Those are all good fade outs but you missed the biggest chokers of all this season------ the Cincy Bungals. Once again they fail to rise to mediocrity & this year they can't even blame it on the refs. like last year. The Bungals are never at a loss for excuses.

Answer 2

The Seahawks collapse is disappointing, but they haven't played well all season. They only played 5 games against teams with a winning record in 2006, and they ended up 2-3 against those teams. Also, the NFC West is one of the weakest divisions in all of football, and the Seahawks ended up 3-3 in their division.
If the Seahawks lost that game in St.Louis, they wouldn't be in the playoffs this year.

The injuries haven't helped the Seahawks. There are just too many SeaHawk players that were injured in 06'. Matt Hasslebeck lost a lot of mobility due to his injury, and that diminished his ability to make plays. What got me is the Seahawks didn't try to make too many plays with it's running game, Strong and Alexander are probably their best playmakers this year. Instead, an immobile Hasslebeck and the mediocre Wallce were expected to do the job. Also, the offensive line has been less than stellar this year, and the defense was continually beaten by teams with a half-way decent running game.

I predicted the Seahawks to go 9-7 this year, and I've won a few bets with my pals. However, I did not expect it in such a disappointing fassion. There were 3 games the Seahawks should have won. Some may say it's the Super Bowl curse, but I see that curse as some sort of stunted point of view the players have. There was just too much pressure on the team and I think they came into the season mentally burned-out, b/c they tried too hard to live up to the 2005 Seahawk image. Finally I'd like to add, I think the injuries the Sehawks had this year are related to their mental burn-out.

The Seahawks are playing a bit better in these last 2 games... I predict the Seahawks will beat the Cowboys in a close game, b/c the Cowboys are really weak against the Passing game, and the Seahawks Passing game is good when it's at full-power. Also, Holmgren prefers the passing game. The Cowboys will score some points on the Seahawks with their running game to make it a see-saw game; that will end 27-24 Seahawks in overtime, with Brown kicking a fieild goal for the Seahawks.

The Eagles should beat the Giants; so the Seahawks will face The Chicago Bears at Soilder Feild. This game will hinge on Grossman's inconsistant play... Whoever wins that game will face the Eagles in the NFC Championship game.

In the end, I predict the Eagles will easily represent the NFC in the Superbowl. They will play God-knows-who from the AFC.

Next year, I predict the Seahawks to finish the 2007 Season at 12-4. They will have the 2nd seed in the playoffs behind the Eagles... should McNabb stay healthy next year and his current injury heals properly.
Also, the Rams can make a good run next year if they overhaul their defence...The 2006 Rams poor Defence has cost them 4 games they could have won. The Rams will end next season at 11-5, if they take action during the offseason.
In reality, the NFC West will be a tossup next year, but if the Seahawks find their old form, the Rams clean up their defence, and the Niners find a Quaterback it will become the most powerful division in 2007.

If the Colts win and Manning is the MVP in the SuperBowl we will see endless Nike, GatorAide, and Creditcard ads featuring Manning.

Answer 3

im gonna go with the giants, they have looked aweful as of late, and they do not deserve the wildcard spot, they should be 7-9 and lost that first game to philly when they unfortunently fell apart. a close runner up would be denver. what happened there? losing to the 49ers, when a playoff spot is on the line? come on, thats rediculous.

Answer 4

Without a doubt Mike Shanahan's bone head move to start Cutler over Plummer in the crucial part of their schedule. Culter was 3-2 in the Broncos last 5 games. I think had Plummer been at the helm they would have won the Seattle and San Francisco games and been in the playoffs.

Answer 5

we have never been to a superbowl the closest we've gotten was the nfc champions led by sean peyton and drew brees. besides that we've only even made it into the playoffs a handful of times we have great players who more often than note play even better once they leave the saints we get idiots like ditka and hasslett but none bigger than head joke in charge tom benson thank you for the thumbs down in advance i was just giving you a female point-of-view i still hope the saints win but it is hard to root for a team that constantly leads to disappointment.

Answer 6

All the teams that you mentioned are great examples of collapses. How about the Steelers...extend the collapse to last years playoff/Super Bowl run to this years 8-8 season (and they are lucky to have finished with that record). I think that could be considered a collapse as well.

Answer 7

i would have to say the giants...bc they dont even deserve tp be in the playoffs, and the fact that they made it is a complete joke that shows u how weak the NFC really is...i mean, sure we had some injuries, but at least all the other teams finished above .500

Answer 8

Giants

Answer 9

Denver man missing the playoffs by a Field goal that's gotta suck but go chiefs

Answer 10

What about the Bengals well you are at it. Although I think Jax had one of the worst. I think you are pushing it with Atlanta, Seattle, and the Giants. I think if you are starting like halfway through the season it wasn't late season.