Lions Finish 16-Game Regular Season Era with Worst Winning Percentage
Surprise, surprise, the Detroit Lions closed out the 16-game regular season era with the worst winning percentage among the NFL's 32 franchises.
The league first went to 16 games in 1978, up from 14 games, to accommodate the addition of franchises in Tampa Bay and Seattle.
The Buccaneers and Seahawks both joined the league in 1976.
Since, each of the organizations has made at least two Super Bowls, including the Buccaneers, with Tom Brady leading the way, this past season.
Meanwhile, in the same timespan, the Lions have won just one playoff game, and have advanced no further than the NFC Championship Game -- their lone conference title game appearance came in the 1991 season.
Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports
Additionally, Detroit is one of four NFL franchises that has yet to make a Super Bowl, along with the Cleveland Browns, the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
And, on top of all that, it is true that no team posted a worse winning percentage during the 43-season span of the 16-game regular season than the Lions.
They amassed a 268-410-2 record in that time, finishing below the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Jaguars, the Arizona Cardinals, the Buccaneers and even the Browns.
The 17-game regular season goes into effect at the start of the upcoming 2021 campaign.
More from SI All Lions:
4 Late-Round Running Back Prospects for the Lions
Should Detroit Lions Trade Up for Penei Sewell?
Lamorandier: Detroit Lions Mock Draft 2.0
Can Running Back James Conner Aid Lions' Offense?
Roundtable: Which Team Is Most Likely to Call the Lions to Trade Up for No. 7 Pick?
