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The Curse Of Winning 15 Games: Part 4: Panthers

15 wins in an NFL regular season. That's pretty hard. Before the schedule expanded to 17 games, you would have to win 93.75% of your games. That' the equivalent of an MLB team winning 152 games. Yet, 9 teams have done it. First, it had to be possible. The league expanded to 16 games in 1978. Today, we visit the 2015 Carolina Panthers. 7-8-1. That was the record of the 2014 Carolina Panthers that still made the playoffs. The record of the 2014 Carolina Panthers that somehow upset the Cardinals in the wild card. And the record of the 20th season in Carolina Panthers history. However, the 21st would be much more famous. Superman... To the rescue. They started the season 14-0. The best in NFC history. They joined the 1972 Dolphins, 2007 Patriots and 2009 Colts as the only teams to start 14-0. Their BYE week was in Week 5. They might as well have been doomed to never get 15 wins. Cam Newton was playing good, but that's a long time to not get a week off. They defied the odds. All of them. Fanduel. Draftkings. The Panthers defied all of the odds and all of the people's beliefs. Week 8. Colts. They won 29-26 in overtime. Somehow. They had a pretty dominant season. There's not much to say, really. In Week 14, they beat the Falcons 38-0. But that same Atlanta Falcons team would deny their undefeated hopes 2 weeks later by beating them 20-13. In between those weeks, the Panthers almost lost to the Giants 38-35. They beat the Bucs 38-10 in Week 17 to end the dominant year 15-1. They would see the 6 seed Seahawks in their first game. And they almost lost. They almost had the same fate as the 2011 Packers. But they survived 31-24 against the defending NFC Champions. They then brutally murdered the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC Championship game. The Carolina Panthers made the super bowl against the Denver Broncos. They had a chance. But as we all know... Cam Newton never fell on the ball.

Panthers

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Seattles Unforgettable Run!!

After so much disappointment for the Hawks in the 2020s with Russ being traded and the weird but never forgotten Geno Smith era. The Hawks were Hoping praying even that they could just mark the playoffs in the 2025-2026 season coming with a new QB in Sam Darnold who led the vikings to a 14-3 season the last season, they hoped to get even a little sniff of that Sam Darnold. And they did in fact they got the same Darnold as the season before. At 14-3 and winning the NFC West, they headed into the playoffs with a bye and the 1st seed. Now you may ask yourself was it Sam Darnold or someone else who lifted this season up. No it was the defence. Only allowing an average of 16.8 ppg 285.9 ypg (first in the NFL) with 47 total sacks as well. In the playoffs they have classic BTA to the niners 😂 and barely escaped the Rams. But in the Super Bowl the hawks offence and Defence combined to Kill the Frauds which is the New England Patriots. With Ken Walker the 3rd winning MVP Overall WE all saw this coming Thanks Bad Bunny

@emily

The Curse Of Winning 15 Games: Part 3: Packers

15 wins in an NFL regular season. That's pretty hard. Before the schedule expanded to 17 games, you would have to win 93.75% of your games. That' the equivalent of an MLB team winning 152 games. Yet, 9 teams have done it. First, it had to be possible. The league expanded to 16 games in 1978. Today, we join the 2011 Packers. (Yes, I skipped the Patriots. Because 1. I hate them and 2. They won 16 games. The title is The Curse of winning 15 games, not "The Curse of Winning 15 Or More Games". Proceeded with your reading material.) The 2010 Packers just won the Super Bowl after going 10-6. Well they were about to do a lot better. Or worse, depending how you view it. The Packers would go 15-1. I've said 15-1 so many times. 15-1 is the best record for a defending champion. 19-0 is the second longest winning streak in NFL history behind the 2003-04 Patriots. 13-0 is the best start to a season by an NFC team (for now...) They went undefeated inside the division for the first time since the 1987 Chicago Bears. They scored 70 touchdowns. Tied most from a 15 win team by a certain OTHER team... They also had 51 passing touchdowns, tied second most for ANY team in NFL history with the 2004 Colts. Oh of course. Well they also surrendered 4,796 passing yards on defense. For contrast of how big that is, it's an NFL record of bad. Their BYE was in Week 8. And for a 15-1 team, it's basically perfectly placed. They beat the Saints 42-34 in Week 1. In Week 4, they beat the Broncos 49-23. In Week 6, they beat the Rams 24-3. They were 7-0 at the BYE week Week 9. They beat the Chargers 45-38. Week 10. They beat the Vikings 45-7. Week 11. Packers beat Bucs 35-26. Week 12. Packers beat Lions 27-15 on Thanksgiving Day 2011. Week 13. Packers beat Giants 38-35. Big scare. Week 14. Packers beat Raiders 46-16. Week 15. The Packers are 13-0. The Cheifs are not. But the Chiefs pull of the upset. 19-14. The only time the Packers scored less that 24 points ALL SEASON. Week 16. Packers beat the Bears on Christmas Day 35-21. Week 17. Can they fill the prophecy? Yes. New Years Day. Beating the Lions 45-41. Obviously, with a first round BYE. But here come the New York ****ing Giants. 37-20. Not even the lowest they were held to all year. But the defense couldn't keep up. And the story continues.

@emily

The Curse Of Winning 15 Games: Part 2: Steelers

15 wins in an NFL regular season. That's pretty hard. Before the schedule expanded to 17 games, you would have to win 93.75% of your games. That's the equivalent of an MLB team winning 152 games. Yet, 9 teams have done it. First, it had to be possible. The league expanded to 16 games in 1978. Today, we join the 2004 Steelers. However, this story truly starts with the 2003 team. The Steelers went 6-10, which is their last losing season to date. They never won consecutive games, and their final loss was to the Ravens on the final week 13-10 in OT. 2004 NFL Draft. The Theater At Madison Square Garden. The Steelers sit at the 11th pick. The 2004 draft is credited as one of the greatest drafts ever. 1. Eli Manning-Chargers (yes, that's correct.) 2. Robert Gallery-Raiders 3. Larry Fitzgerald-Cardinals 4. Phillip Rivers-Giants 5. Sean Taylor-Redskins (you see my point now?) 6. Kellen Winslow II-Browns 7. Roy Williams-Lions 8. DeAngelo Hall-Falcons 9. Reggie Williams (no not that one)-Jaguars 10. Dunta Robinson-Texans And finally, at the number 11 spot... 11. Ben Roethlisberger-Steelers Now this 15 win season was special for one particular reason. They won Week 1 against the OAKLAND Raiders. They then lost 30-13 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Same old Steelers, probably going 8-8, with a rookie QB. They then won 14 straight games and proceeded to end the season 15-1. In Week 8, they ended the Patriots 21 games winning streak. In Week 9, they beat the Eagles in the Battle for Pennsylvania. They ended the undefeated seasons of two teams in back to back weeks. At home. Simulating until the playoffs. Divisional. The Steelers are hosting the Jets. The game was tied at 17. Doug Brein kick. 47 yards out. This will put them up 3 and most likely give them the win. Crossbar. No good. But then Roethlisberger threw an interception. Doug Brien. Another kick. This one WILL win it. 43 yards away. Wide left. Overtime. The Jets didn't score, punt, Steelers put up a drive, Jeff Reed hits a 33 yard field goal to win the game. AFC Championship. Patriots At Steelers. Murder. That's it. Murder. Never close. 41-27. It was 24-3 after the first half. The Steelers would only outscore them in the third quarter 14-7. The Steelers outscored the Patriots 24-17 in the second half. But um, that's not enough. The 2005 Steelers would go 11-5 and climb through the AFC gauntlet to win Super Bowl XL against the Seahawks. They would get their happy ending after all. EXIT STAGE LEFT: Steelers, Seahwaks Enter: Patriots