Losing

Perhaps the one thing that everyone can agree on in football is that losing sucks. As a Minnesota Vikings fan I've been pretty happy that they haven't had many losing seasons. When they have been down they haven't been down for very long. The longest stretch of consecutive losing seasons that the Vikings have had is only three. Something that they are trying to avoid matching this season. Since 1961, their first season, the Vikings three consecutive losing seasons is the shortest that the NFL has seen. Those three losing seasons were their first three seasons. Here are the longest stretches of losing of the teams since that 1961 season.

Longest Consecutive Losing Seasons
Vikings 3
Jets 4
Browns/Ravens 4
Cowboys 5
Packers 5
Redskins 5
Chiefs 6
Titans 6
Bears 7
Bills 7
Chargers 7
Eagles 7
Patriots 7
Raiders 7
49ers 8
Giants 8
Steelers 8
Cardinals 9
Colts 9
Rams 9
Broncos 10
Lions 10

In their 51 years the Vikings have had only 15 losing seasons. Tied with the Dallas Cowboys for fewest in that time.

Total Losing Seasons
Vikings 15
Cowboys 15
Steelers 16
Raiders 16
Browns/Ravens 17
Packers 17
Patriots 18
Broncos 18
Colts 19
Chargers 20
Titans 21
Redskins 21
Chiefs 21
49ers 21
Giants 22
Jets 23
Rams 25
Eagles 25
Bears 26
Bills 27
Lions 31
Cardinals 32

It's really no shock that the Lions and Cardinals are at or near the bottom of both lists. Fans of recent top teams like the Giants and 49ers might be surprised to find their teams with as many losing seasons as they have. Both lists is of course interesting to me as the Vikings top both. It really doesn't mean much as those winning seasons never ended with that one big win. It's actually pretty frustrating. Still, it's been fun that the Vikings contend nearly every year. That final big win will come. Hopefully soon!