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The Top 10 worst-to-first seasons in NFL history

By Erik Lambert

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Elliott #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with teammates after making a game winning 61 yard field goal against the New York Giants on September 24, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: Jake Elliott #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with teammates after making a game winning 61 yard field goal against the New York Giants on September 24, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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12 Dec 1999: Cornelius Bennett #97 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates on the field as he yells during a game against the New England Patriots at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the Patriots 20-15. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
12 Dec 1999: Cornelius Bennett #97 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates on the field as he yells during a game against the New England Patriots at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the Patriots 20-15. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport /

No. 7: 1999 Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning was viewed as the savior of the Colts when he was drafted #1 overall in 1998. However, he was taking over a bad team trying to climb out of a prolonged slump. His rookie year ended with a difficult 3-13 season. Expectations were for the team to be better in 1999, but they weren’t going to be a playoff team even if Manning took a big step forward. Especially after they traded star running back Marshall Faulk to St. Louis.

Turns out the team knew what it was doing. They may have lost Faulk but they ended up drafting Edgerrin James anyway. Manning went to his first Pro Bowl that year and the defense made a considerable jump in improvement. Combined with a weaker division and they completed a remarkable turnaround to a 13-3 record. While it didn’t do them any favors in the playoffs, to win 10 more games than the previous year is still pretty impressive.

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