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The Greatest In-Season NFL Turnaround For All 32 Teams

By Erik Lambert

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans congratulates J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans after a tackle in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans congratulates J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans after a tackle in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JANUARY 4: Wide receiver Wayne Chrebet #80 of the New York Jets carries the ball during the AFC Wildcard Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Giant Stadium on January 4, 2003 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets won 41-0. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JANUARY 4: Wide receiver Wayne Chrebet #80 of the New York Jets carries the ball during the AFC Wildcard Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Giant Stadium on January 4, 2003 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets won 41-0. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

New York Jets: 2002

After a strong 10-6 season in 2001, fans were right to have optimism going into 2002. The New York Jets appeared to have a good football with talent on both sides of the ball. Chad Pennington at QB. Curtis Martin running the ball. Laveranues Coles catching passes. John Abraham rushing the passer. It felt like a roster that could do some damage if it came together properly.

By the time the bye week rolled around, anything but that had happened. The Jets were 1-4 and had lost four straight including a three-game stretch where they scored 17 points total on offense. Out of the bye they split the next two games to sit at 2-5. Their season boiled down to a road game in San Diego. They crushed the Chargers 44-13.

That was the turning point. The Jets won four straight and five of their next six. Their regular season was capped by blowouts of the defending champion New England Patriots and Brett Favre-led Green Bay Packers to finish 9-7 and make the playoffs. Then they put a cap on it by humiliating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 41-0 in the wild card round.

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