Root (or boot) all 32 NFL teams
Coming Thursday: Woody's Winners for Week 1! In the meantime, mental_floss has your football fix right here. Even if you're not an NFL fan, now that the new season is almost upon us, someone, somewhere will ask you your opinion about a team or two. We've done the work for you by scouring last year's pro football statistics, so whether you want to "talk up" an NFL team or rant about how horrible they are, one of these factoids should fit the bill. Enjoy!
ARIZONA CARDINALS
- A good sign from last season: The Cardinals completed 94.7% of their field goals in 2009, best in the NFL.
- A bad sign from last season: The Cardinals were worst in the NFL in 2009 with 18 lost fumbles.
ATLANTA FALCONS
- A good sign from last season: The Falcons committed only 78 penalties in 2009, fewest in the NFC.
- A bad sign from last season: The Falcons defense allowed opponents a 43.5% third-down completion rate in 2009, highest in the NFC.
Click "more" to view the positives and negatives of each of the NFL's other 30 teams.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
- A good sign from last season: The Ravens allowed only 3.4 yards per rush in 2009, best in the NFL.
- A bad sign from last season: The Ravens had trouble in close games in 2009; 5 of their 7 losses were by six or fewer points.
BUFFALO BILLS
- A good sign from last season: The Bills defense led the AFC in 2009 with 29 interceptions.
- A bad sign from last season: The Bills scored only 6 rushing TDs in 2009, worst in the AFC.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
- A good sign from last season: The Panthers boasted two 1000-yard rushers with 17 TD between them.
- A bad sign from last season: The Panthers allowed 24.8 yards per kickoff return in 2009, highest in the NFC.
CHICAGO BEARS
- A good sign from last season: The Bears were the only NFL team in 2009 not to allow any opponent a return/recovery TD.
- A bad sign from last season: The Bears rushed for 71 first downs in 2009, fewest in the NFL.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
- A good sign from last season: The Bengals averaged 11.9 yards per punt return in 2009, best in the AFC.
- A bad sign from last season: The Bengals lost 12 fumbles in 2009, twice as many as their defense recovered.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
- A good sign from last season: The Browns scored 3 touchdowns on kickoff returns in 2009, most in the AFC.
- A bad sign from last season: The Browns scored in single-digits in 7 of their first 11 games in 2009.
DALLAS COWBOYS
- A good sign from last season: The Cowboys scored at least 25 points in five of their first 7 games in 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: The Cowboys didn't return a kickoff for more than 41 yards last year, worst in the NFL.
DENVER BRONCOS
- A good sign from last season: The Broncos defense forced 30 fumbles in 2009, most in the AFC.
- A bad sign from last season: The Broncos won their first six games of 2009, but then had two four-game losing streaks.
DETROIT LIONS
- A good sign from last season: The Lions' 101-yard interception return for a TD was 2009's longest.
- A bad sign from last season: The Lions were the only team to lose to the Rams in 2009, and they did so at home.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
- A good sign from last season: The Packers scored three or more TDs in 15 of 16 games last season.
- A bad sign from last season: The Packers led the NFL with 118 penalties in 2009.
HOUSTON TEXANS
- A good sign from last season: The Texans led the NFL with 290.9 passing yards per game in 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: The Texans' longest rush of 2009 was 32 yards, worst in the NFL.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
- A good sign from last season: The Colts completed 49.2% of their third-down conversions in 2009 to lead the NFL.
- A bad sign from last season: The Colts allowed opponents to complete 45% of their third-down conversions in 2009, tied for worst in the NFL.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
- A good sign from last season: The Jaguars had the fewest penalties and fewest penalty yards in the NFL in 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: The Jaguars were sacked 44 times in 2009 while their defense only doled out 14.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
- A good sign from last season: The Chiefs kicked 41 punts inside the opponents' 20, most in the NFL in 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: The Chiefs had as many fumbles as touchdowns (31 of each) in 2009.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
- A good sign from last season: The Dolphins scored 22 rushing TDs in 2009, tying them for the league lead.
- A bad sign from last season: The Dolphins defense allowed 14.2 yards per catch, worst in the NFL in 2009.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- A good sign from last season: The Vikings scored 27 or more points in 13 games in 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: Three of the Vikings' four 2009 losses came to non-playoff teams.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
- A good sign from last season: The Patriots earned 397.3 yards per game, best in the AFC.
- A bad sign from last season: The Patriots' 39-yards-per-punt average was worst in the NFL.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
- A good sign from last season: The Saints scored 9 TDs on returns and recoveries in 2009, three more than any other team.
- A bad sign from last season: The Saints allowed 14.3 yards per punt return in 2009, worst in the NFL.
NEW YORK GIANTS
- A good sign from last season: The Giants only punted for touchback twice in 2009, tied for first in the NFL.
- A bad sign from last season: The Giants scored single digits in three of its final six games last season.
NEW YORK JETS
- A good sign from last season: The Jets' defense held opposing QBs to a 51.6 completion percentage in 2009, lowest in the NFL.
- A bad sign from last season: The Jets had trouble in close games, losing 5 times by five points or fewer in 2009.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
- A good sign from last season: The Raiders averaged 51.1 yards per punt in 2009, 3.5 yards more than any other team.
- A bad sign from last season: The Raiders only scored 22 points in the 3rd quarter all of last season.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- A good sign from last season: The Eagles averaged 13.1 yards per pass completion in 2009, tops in the NFL.
- A bad sign from last season: The Eagles lost to the Cowboys three times in 2009 (twice in the regular season, once in the playoffs).
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
- A good sign from last season: The Steelers sacked opposing QBs 47 times, most in the AFC in 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: The Steelers allowed 4 kickoff returns for TD in 2009, while no other NFL team allowed more than 2.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
- A good sign from last season: The Chargers' 13.3 yards per reception in 2009 was tops in the NFL.
- A bad sign from last season: The Chargers' 3.3 yards per carry in 2009 was worst in the NFL.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
- A good sign from last season: The Seahawks scored two shutout victories in their first five games last year.
- A bad sign from last season: The Seahawks led the NFL with 33 fumbles in 2009.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- A good sign from last season: The 49ers held their opponents to 10 or fewer points in seven games in 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: The 49ers led the NFC in punts in 2009 with 99.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
- A good sign from last season: The Rams were successful on 6 of 7 FG of 50+ yards in 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: The Rams allowed 4 interception returns for TD in 2009, tied for the NFL lead.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
- A good sign from last season: The Buccaneers defeated the Super Bowl Champion Saints during the 2009 regular season.
- A bad sign from last season: The Buccaneers only scored more than 24 points in one game in 2009.
TENNESSEE TITANS
- A good sign from last season: The Titans averaged 27 points per game over the last 10 games of 2009.
- A bad sign from last season: The Titans did not have a TE or WR with 50 or more catches in 2009.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
- A good sign from last season: The Redskins boasted two players with 11 sacks.
- A bad sign from last season: The Redskins took the ball away only 17 times in 2009, fewer than any NFL team.
NOTE: The use of current and former NFL logos is for identification and informational purposes only, and these logos remain the copyrights of the National Football League and/or the franchises depicted.