Sliding into oblivion

Sporting News, The, Nov 27, 2000

Although no one expected the Chargers to contend for the Super Bowl this season, even their most pessimistic followers probably didn't envision an 0-11 start. But 0-11 is a long way from 0-26, the league record for consecutive losses set by the Buccaneers in 1976-77, their first two seasons.

Since Tampa Bay's dreadful start, 19 teams (including the Chargers) have suffered through regular-season losing streaks of 10 or more games. Although no team has approached the Bucs' level of ineptitude, that is small consolation to those teams' long-suffering fans. (Remember those paper bags Saints fans were putting over their heads in 1980?) Eleven of those 19 streaks overlapped two seasons, and eight ran exclusively in one season.

Since the Bucs' 26-game streak, five different teams have lost at least 13 straight and the Colts have done it twice.

LOSSES   TEAM, SEASON(S)   POINT SCORED/ALLOWED    FINAL RECORD(*)

  17     Oilers 1982-83        273-498                 2-14
  14     Saints, 1980          243-429                 1-15
  14     Colts, 1981           207-484                 2-14
  14     Patriots, 1990        141-405                 1-15
  13     Bills, 1983-84        187-376                 2-14
  13     Colts, 1986           147-339                 3-13

(*) is streak covered two seasons, record is for second season.

SUNDAY'S GAMES

BEARS 13, BUCCANEERS 10

Tampa Bay   0   3   7   0   10
Chicago     3   7   0   3   13

First Quarter Chi.--FG, Edinger 34, 9:02.

Second Quarter T.B.--FG, Gramatica 33, :05. Chi.--Parrish 38 interception return (Edinger kick), 14:12.

Third Quarter T.B.--King 9 run (Gramatica kick), 5:37.

Fourth Quarter Chi.--FG, Edinger 48, 4:58

A--66,944

                         TB            Chi.

First Downs              14                15
Rushes-Yards           33-165             28-83
Passing                  60                160
Punt Returns             1-6               0-0
Kickoff Returns         4-93              3-80
Interception Returns     1-0              2-57
Comp-Att-Int           12-19-2           20-34-1
Sacked-Yards Lost       4-31               1-5
Punts                   5-33              5-33
Fumbles-Lost             1-1               0-0
Penalties-Yards          1-8              4-25
Time of Possession      29:52             30:08

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Tampa Bay, Dunn 17-75, King 11-72, Abdullah 2-18, Alstott 2-3, Green 1-(minus 3). Chicago, Allen 20-67, Matthews 4-5, Barnes 3-11, Enis 1-0. PASSING-Tampa Bay, King 12-19-2-91. Chicago, Matthews 20-34-1-165. RECEIVING--Tampa Bay, Green 3-30, Moore 2-25, K. Johnson 2-13, Dunn 2-1, Anthony 1-11, Hape 1-6, Alstott 1-5. Chicago, M. Robinson 5-53, Kennison 4-54, Allen 4-15, Brooks 3-16, Enis 2-11, Sinceno 1-9, Booker 1-7. MISSED FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS--Chicago, Edinger 38. INTERCEPTIONS--Tampa Bay, Robinson 1-0. Chicago, Parrish 1-38, Urlacher 1-19. KICKOFF RETURNS--Tampa Bay, Stecker 4-93. Chicago, Milburn 3-80 PUNT RETURNS--Tampa Bay, Williams 1-6 SACKS--Tampa Bay, Jones 1. Chicago, Parrish 1, B. Robinson 1 Daniels 1, F. Smith 1.

TITANS 24, BROWNS 10

Cleveland   0   0   10    0   10
Tennessee   0   0   14   10   24

Third Quarter Cle.--Ellsworth 33 interception return (P. Dawson kick), 1:36. Ten.--E. George 4 run (Del Greco kick), 4:09 Cle.--FG, P. Dawson 38, 9:43. Ten.--E. George 1 run (Del Greco kick), 14:47.

Fourth Quarter Ten.--FG, Del Greco 22, 4:11. Ten.--E. George 1 run (Del Greco kick), 12:35.

A--68,498

                         Cle.              Ten.

First Downs                5                23
Rushes-Yards             18-45            47-182
Passing                   80                210
Punt Returns              0-0              6-117
Kickoff Returns          5-106             3-47
Interception Returns     3-33              1-17
Comp-Att-Int            13-20-1           17-25-3
Sacked-Yards Lost        4-23              3-12
Punts                    8-46              1-52
Fumbles-Lost              0-0               4-4
Penalties-Yards          7-61              5-45
Time of Possession       21:41             38:19

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-- Cleveland, White 8-27, Prentice 7-14, Pederson 2-1, Wynn 1.3. Tennessee, E. George 36-134, McNair 8-51, Thomas 2-(minus 1), Neal 1-(minus 2). PASSING--Cleveland, Pederson 13-20-1-103. Tennessee, McNair 17-25-3-222. RECEIVING-Cleveland, White 3-30, Northcutt 3-30, Campbell 2-11, Johnson 2-9, Shea 1-9. Edwards 1-8, Prentice 1-6. Tennessee, Mason 6-89, Wycheck 4-73, Sanders 3-29, E. George 2-15, Kinney 1-10, Neal 1 6. MISSED FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS.--None. INTERCEPTIONS--Cleveland, Ellsworth 133, J. Miller 1-0, Chapman 1-0 Tennessee, Rolle 1-17 KICKOFF RETURNS--Cleveland, White 4-84, Patten 1-22 Tennessee, Leach 2-32, Mason 1-15. PUNT RETURNS--Tennessee, Mason 6-117. SACKS-Cleveland, K. McKenzie 1, Rogers 1, McCutcheon 1. Tennessee, Robinson 1, Kearse 1, Holmes 1, Killens 1.

RAVENS 27, COWBOYS 0

Dallas       0   0   0    0    0
Baltimore   10   7   0   10   27

First Quarter Bal.--Ismail 40 pass from Dilfer (Stover kick), 3:35. Bal.--FG, Stover 25, 9:58.