Teams that had a bad start to a season that turned out great

[SabresRule]

Sometimes, teams that can have a great season that could end in glory get off to not-so-great starts.

Can you guys recall teams getting off to bad starts in seasons that ended on a high note?

Two examples:

The 1992-93 Canadiens embarassingly lost their season opener rto the expansion Ottawa Senators in their first game in history- nonetheless, they still would claim the Stanley Cup by season's end.

2003 Patriots- Who would have predicted the team that got embarassed by the Bills 38-0 on Opening Day would go on to win the Super Bowl?

Feel free to provide other examples or react to my two choices.

 

[IcEWoLF]

Does that mean the Dolphins will win the Suberbowl?

 

[HD MM]

2007 Browns.

I realize they didn't reach the heights of success that many other teams strive for, but considering where they came from, last season the Browns made great strides in stepping in that right direction for the first time in a very long time. This of course, despite their UGLY loss on opening day...

Going into '07, the Browns didn't have a clear choice at the QB position. Charlie Fry ended up winning the starting nod for Game 1 by default. The Browns made some key acquisitions in adding Eric Steinbach, drafting Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn. Needless to say, the 2007 season was full of promise for the first time in a great while. Then came week 1.....

Frye was sacked 5 times in the 1st quarter and only managed 34 yards on 4-of-10 passing. Frye was removed in the 2nd quarter and Derek Anderson was inserted. Either way, the game ended ugly. Final score: Steelers: 34, Browns: 7.

Frye was traded 2 days later and Anderson was the new starting QB. All of the preseason hope and promise seemed to be erased. At the time, it appeared that this was going to be yet another disappointing season of Browns football.....

Needless to say, the offense found it's stride in week 2 (Browns: 51, Begals: 45). We began to see signs of greatness from our revamped offensive line and our play-makers on offense improved greatly with the help of new offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.

The Browns didn't lose another game at home that year. The offense set multiple records on offense in '07. The Browns also sent 6 players to the pro-bowl: Derek Anderson, Kellen Winslow, Braylon Edwards, Josh Cribbs, Joe Thomas and Ryan Pontbriand.

Although they failed to make the playoffs on a tie-breaker, the Browns made great strides in improving from a 4-12 season in '06 and misserable opening game to start '07.

 

[lancemccaffrey]

Throw in the '93 Cowboys and the '07 New York Football Giants. Both started 0-2 and rebounded to win the Super Bowl.

 

[mccoyrj]

The 2007 Colorado Rockies reached the World Series after a terrible start (although their greatness ended there).

 

[satjay]

In the 90's The 3-6 lions win seven in a row to go to 10-6 then get to the playoffs with a high output offense, Lomas Brown says we will win at Phili and then oops....I forgot the thread was good endings...They lost like 52-38 and it was not even that close

 

[Peter Parker]

Sometimes, teams that can have a great season that could end in glory get off to not-so-great starts.


2003 Patriots- Who would have predicted the team that got embarassed by the Bills 38-0 on Opening Day would go on to win the Super Bowl?

.

You exaggerate they only lost by 31-0! ironically they beat the Bills by the same score in the final game of the season. And the horrible loss was right after the Lawyer Malloy incident.

But it was a bad start. in wek 4 they lost to the redskins and everyone was talking about how the Pats were dead and how Steve Spurrier finally had those redskins running on all cylinders.

 

[BillD1984]

Twice the Patriots started 0-2 and made it to the Super Bowl: 1996 (lost to the Packers), and 2001 (beat the Rams).