Yesterday, I looked at the largest increases in team scoring from one year to the next. Today, the opposite: which teams have seen the largest decreases in scoring?
In the post-merger era, that “honor” would belong to the 1974 Falcons. In 1973, the Falcons averaged 22.7 points per game, 7th-best in the NFL. The team was led by fullback Dave Hampton and quarterback Bob Lee, and while both returned the next season, the results were disastrous. Atlanta averaged just 7.9 points per game, the lowest in the NFL. Along with the 1977 (not ’76) Bucs, the ’74 Falcons are one of just two teams since 1950 to average fewer than 8 points per game.
In more modern times, the 2015 Cowboys (after losing Tony Romo), 2011 Colts (after losing Peyton Manning), and 2010 Vikings (in year two under Brett Favre) are the biggest decliners. The top 100 biggest declines below:
| Rk | Team | Year | Prev Yr PPG | Curr Yr PPG | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland Bulldogs | 1925 | 25.4 | 5.4 | -20.1 |
| 2 | San Francisco 49ers | 1950 | 34.7 | 17.8 | -16.9 |
| 3 | Evansville Crimson Giants | 1922 | 17.8 | 2.0 | -15.8 |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns | 1956 | 29.1 | 13.9 | -15.2 |
| 5 | Atlanta Falcons | 1974 | 22.7 | 7.9 | -14.8 |
| 6 | New York Giants | 1964 | 32.0 | 17.2 | -14.8 |
| 7 | Rochester Jeffersons | 1922 | 17.0 | 2.6 | -14.4 |
| 8 | Frankford Yellow Jackets | 1925 | 23.3 | 9.5 | -13.8 |
| 9 | Chicago Bears | 1957 | 30.3 | 16.9 | -13.3 |
| 10 | Buffalo Bills | 1976 | 30.0 | 17.5 | -12.5 |
| 10 | Chicago Bears | 1966 | 29.2 | 16.7 | -12.5 |
| 12 | Green Bay Packers | 1946 | 25.8 | 13.5 | -12.3 |
| 13 | Dallas Cowboys | 2015 | 29.2 | 17.2 | -12.0 |
| 13 | Indianapolis Colts | 2011 | 27.2 | 15.2 | -12.0 |
| 15 | Minnesota Vikings | 2010 | 29.4 | 17.6 | -11.8 |
| 16 | St. Louis Rams | 2002 | 31.4 | 19.8 | -11.7 |
| 16 | Denver Broncos | 1999 | 31.3 | 19.6 | -11.7 |
| 18 | Washington Redskins | 1992 | 30.3 | 18.8 | -11.6 |
| 19 | San Francisco 49ers | 1999 | 29.9 | 18.4 | -11.5 |
| 19 | Rock Island Independents | 1923 | 22.0 | 10.5 | -11.5 |
| 21 | Pottsville Maroons | 1926 | 22.5 | 11.1 | -11.4 |
| 22 | Oakland Raiders | 2003 | 28.1 | 16.9 | -11.3 |
| 23 | New England Patriots | 2008 | 36.8 | 25.6 | -11.2 |
| 24 | Akron Pros | 1923 | 14.6 | 3.6 | -11.0 |
| 25 | Cincinnati Bengals | 2008 | 23.8 | 12.8 | -11.0 |
| 26 | Rock Island Independents | 1921 | 20.1 | 9.3 | -10.8 |
| 27 | Dallas Cowboys | 1984 | 29.9 | 19.3 | -10.7 |
| 28 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1968 | 25.1 | 14.4 | -10.6 |
| 29 | Cleveland Browns | 2008 | 25.1 | 14.5 | -10.6 |
| 30 | Chicago Cardinals | 1950 | 30.0 | 19.4 | -10.6 |
| 31 | New York Yanks | 1951 | 30.5 | 20.1 | -10.4 |
| 32 | Chicago Cardinals | 1926 | 16.4 | 6.2 | -10.3 |
| 33 | Washington Redskins | 2000 | 27.7 | 17.6 | -10.1 |
| 34 | Green Bay Packers | 1948 | 22.8 | 12.8 | -10.0 |
| 35 | New Orleans Saints | 1970 | 22.2 | 12.3 | -9.9 |
| 36 | Green Bay Packers | 1932 | 20.8 | 10.9 | -9.9 |
| 37 | Atlanta Falcons | 1999 | 27.6 | 17.8 | -9.8 |
| 37 | Minnesota Vikings | 1999 | 34.8 | 24.9 | -9.8 |
| 39 | Milwaukee Badgers | 1925 | 10.9 | 1.2 | -9.8 |
| 40 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1998 | 19.8 | 10.1 | -9.8 |
| 41 | Kansas City Chiefs | 2011 | 22.9 | 13.3 | -9.6 |
| 41 | San Diego Chargers | 1983 | 32.0 | 22.4 | -9.6 |
| 43 | Baltimore Colts | 1949 | 23.8 | 14.3 | -9.5 |
| 44 | Dallas Cowboys | 1996 | 27.2 | 17.9 | -9.3 |
| 45 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1950 | 30.3 | 21.2 | -9.2 |
| 46 | New York Giants | 1928 | 15.2 | 6.1 | -9.1 |
| 47 | New York Jets | 1973 | 26.2 | 17.1 | -9.1 |
| 48 | St. Louis Cardinals | 1985 | 26.4 | 17.4 | -9.1 |
| 48 | Denver Broncos | 2001 | 30.3 | 21.3 | -9.1 |
| 50 | Houston Oilers | 1962 | 36.6 | 27.6 | -9.0 |
| 51 | Los Angeles Rams | 1974 | 27.7 | 18.8 | -8.9 |
| 52 | Detroit Lions | 1955 | 28.1 | 19.2 | -8.9 |
| 53 | Buffalo All-Americans | 1922 | 17.6 | 8.7 | -8.9 |
| 54 | Houston Oilers | 1994 | 23.0 | 14.1 | -8.9 |
| 55 | Baltimore Colts | 1969 | 28.7 | 19.9 | -8.8 |
| 56 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1956 | 20.7 | 11.9 | -8.8 |
| 57 | Houston Texans | 2013 | 26.0 | 17.3 | -8.8 |
| 58 | Baltimore Colts | 1977 | 29.8 | 21.1 | -8.7 |
| 59 | Buffalo Bills | 1967 | 25.6 | 16.9 | -8.6 |
| 59 | Boston Patriots | 1965 | 26.1 | 17.4 | -8.6 |
| 61 | New Orleans Saints | 1988 | 28.1 | 19.5 | -8.6 |
| 62 | Indianapolis Colts | 1991 | 17.6 | 8.9 | -8.6 |
| 63 | Buffalo Bills | 2003 | 23.7 | 15.2 | -8.5 |
| 63 | Seattle Seahawks | 1992 | 17.3 | 8.8 | -8.5 |
| 63 | Los Angeles Rams | 1959 | 28.7 | 20.2 | -8.5 |
| 66 | New York Giants | 2013 | 26.8 | 18.4 | -8.4 |
| 67 | Detroit Lions | 1996 | 27.3 | 18.9 | -8.4 |
| 68 | Boston Patriots | 1970 | 19.0 | 10.6 | -8.4 |
| 69 | Columbus Tigers | 1925 | 11.4 | 3.1 | -8.3 |
| 70 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 1931 | 12.8 | 4.6 | -8.3 |
| 71 | San Diego Chargers | 1986 | 29.2 | 20.9 | -8.3 |
| 72 | Carolina Panthers | 2016 | 31.3 | 23.1 | -8.2 |
| 73 | San Francisco 49ers | 1955 | 26.1 | 18.0 | -8.1 |
| 74 | New York Yankees | 1948 | 27.0 | 18.9 | -8.1 |
| 75 | Washington Redskins | 1985 | 26.6 | 18.6 | -8.1 |
| 76 | St. Louis Rams | 2004 | 27.9 | 19.9 | -8.0 |
| 76 | Dayton Triangles | 1923 | 10.0 | 2.0 | -8.0 |
| 78 | Denver Broncos | 2015 | 30.1 | 22.2 | -7.9 |
| 78 | Green Bay Packers | 2012 | 35.0 | 27.1 | -7.9 |
| 80 | Green Bay Packers | 1953 | 24.6 | 16.7 | -7.9 |
| 81 | Chicago Bears | 2014 | 27.8 | 19.9 | -7.9 |
| 81 | Green Bay Packers | 2005 | 26.5 | 18.6 | -7.9 |
| 81 | New Orleans Saints | 2010 | 31.9 | 24.0 | -7.9 |
| 84 | San Francisco 49ers | 2004 | 24.0 | 16.2 | -7.8 |
| 84 | Indianapolis Colts | 2015 | 28.6 | 20.8 | -7.8 |
| 86 | Buffalo Bills | 2005 | 24.7 | 16.9 | -7.8 |
| 86 | Denver Broncos | 2014 | 37.9 | 30.1 | -7.8 |
| 88 | New York Jets | 1983 | 27.2 | 19.6 | -7.7 |
| 89 | Denver Broncos | 1966 | 21.6 | 14.0 | -7.6 |
| 90 | Oakland Raiders | 2006 | 18.1 | 10.5 | -7.6 |
| 91 | Carolina Panthers | 2006 | 24.4 | 16.9 | -7.6 |
| 91 | Los Angeles Rams | 1981 | 26.5 | 18.9 | -7.6 |
| 93 | Detroit Lions | 1942 | 11.0 | 3.5 | -7.5 |
| 93 | New York Giants | 1942 | 21.6 | 14.1 | -7.5 |
| 95 | San Francisco 49ers | 1988 | 30.6 | 23.1 | -7.5 |
| 96 | New York Giants | 1973 | 23.6 | 16.1 | -7.5 |
| 97 | New York Jets | 1989 | 23.3 | 15.8 | -7.4 |
| 97 | New England Patriots | 1981 | 27.6 | 20.1 | -7.4 |
| 97 | Carolina Panthers | 2010 | 19.7 | 12.3 | -7.4 |
| 100 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1953 | 25.0 | 17.6 | -7.4 |
The 2009 Vikings under Favre ranked 2nd in the NFL in scoring. The 2010 team? They fell to 29th in scoring, the largest decrease in NFL history.
| Team | Year | Prev Yr PPG | Prev Yr Rk | Current Yr PPG | Current Yr Rk | PPG Increase | Rk Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 2010 | 29.4 | 2 | 17.6 | 29 | -11.8 | -27 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 2015 | 29.2 | 5 | 17.2 | 31 | -12.0 | -26 |
| Houston Oilers | 1994 | 23.0 | 4 | 14.1 | 28 | -8.9 | -24 |
| Oakland Raiders | 2003 | 28.1 | 2 | 16.9 | 26 | -11.3 | -24 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2011 | 27.2 | 4 | 15.2 | 28 | -12.0 | -24 |
| Houston Texans | 2013 | 26.0 | 8 | 17.3 | 31 | -8.8 | -23 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1985 | 26.4 | 4 | 17.4 | 27 | -9.1 | -23 |
| New York Giants | 2013 | 26.8 | 6 | 18.4 | 28 | -8.4 | -22 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1996 | 27.2 | 3 | 17.9 | 25 | -9.3 | -22 |
| Washington Redskins | 2000 | 27.7 | 2 | 17.6 | 24 | -10.1 | -22 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2008 | 25.1 | 8 | 14.5 | 30 | -10.6 | -22 |
| St. Louis Rams | 2002 | 31.4 | 1 | 19.8 | 23 | -11.7 | -22 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1978 | 21.1 | 6 | 14.9 | 27 | -6.1 | -21 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1998 | 23.3 | 7 | 16.4 | 28 | -6.8 | -21 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2012 | 24.8 | 8 | 17.5 | 29 | -7.3 | -21 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2004 | 24.0 | 9 | 16.2 | 30 | -7.8 | -21 |
| Chicago Bears | 2014 | 27.8 | 2 | 19.9 | 23 | -7.9 | -21 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2008 | 23.8 | 11 | 12.8 | 32 | -11.0 | -21 |
| Carolina Panthers | 1997 | 22.9 | 7 | 16.6 | 27 | -6.4 | -20 |
| New York Giants | 2016 | 26.3 | 6 | 19.4 | 26 | -6.9 | -20 |
| New York Jets | 1989 | 23.3 | 6 | 15.8 | 26 | -7.4 | -20 |
| Washington Redskins | 2013 | 27.3 | 4 | 20.9 | 23 | -6.4 | -19 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2001 | 24.8 | 5 | 18.1 | 24 | -6.7 | -19 |
| New York Jets | 2016 | 24.2 | 11 | 17.2 | 30 | -7.0 | -19 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1996 | 25.8 | 4 | 18.6 | 23 | -7.1 | -19 |
| Carolina Panthers | 2006 | 24.4 | 8 | 16.9 | 27 | -7.6 | -19 |
| Detroit Lions | 1996 | 27.3 | 2 | 18.9 | 21 | -8.4 | -19 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2003 | 23.7 | 11 | 15.2 | 30 | -8.5 | -19 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1999 | 27.6 | 4 | 17.8 | 23 | -9.8 | -19 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1970 | 22.2 | 6 | 12.3 | 25 | -9.9 | -19 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1999 | 29.9 | 3 | 18.4 | 22 | -11.5 | -19 |
| Buffalo Bills | 1976 | 30.0 | 1 | 17.5 | 20 | -12.5 | -19 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1974 | 22.7 | 7 | 7.9 | 26 | -14.8 | -19 |
| Oakland Raiders | 1981 | 22.8 | 7 | 17.1 | 25 | -5.7 | -18 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1994 | 20.4 | 9 | 14.7 | 27 | -5.7 | -18 |
| St. Louis Rams | 2007 | 22.9 | 10 | 16.4 | 28 | -6.5 | -18 |
| Chicago Bears | 1996 | 24.5 | 8 | 17.7 | 26 | -6.8 | -18 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2008 | 25.7 | 6 | 18.9 | 24 | -6.8 | -18 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1981 | 26.5 | 3 | 18.9 | 21 | -7.6 | -18 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2015 | 28.6 | 6 | 20.8 | 24 | -7.8 | -18 |
| Boston Patriots | 1970 | 19.0 | 8 | 10.6 | 26 | -8.4 | -18 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 2015 | 25.6 | 8 | 20.5 | 25 | -5.1 | -17 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1980 | 23.6 | 4 | 18.2 | 21 | -5.4 | -17 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1998 | 22.2 | 10 | 16.8 | 27 | -5.4 | -17 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2016 | 26.2 | 7 | 20.3 | 24 | -5.9 | -17 |
| Baltimore Colts | 1981 | 22.2 | 9 | 16.2 | 26 | -6.0 | -17 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2013 | 24.3 | 13 | 18.0 | 30 | -6.3 | -17 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1987 | 25.6 | 3 | 19.0 | 20 | -6.6 | -17 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1983 | 21.2 | 11 | 14.6 | 28 | -6.7 | -17 |
| Carolina Panthers | 2000 | 26.3 | 4 | 19.4 | 21 | -6.9 | -17 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1988 | 26.0 | 3 | 19.0 | 20 | -7.0 | -17 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1990 | 24.1 | 5 | 17.1 | 22 | -7.0 | -17 |
| New Orleans Saints | 2005 | 21.8 | 14 | 14.7 | 31 | -7.1 | -17 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2005 | 24.7 | 7 | 16.9 | 24 | -7.8 | -17 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2005 | 26.5 | 5 | 18.6 | 22 | -7.9 | -17 |
| Denver Broncos | 2015 | 30.1 | 2 | 22.2 | 19 | -7.9 | -17 |
| St. Louis Rams | 2004 | 27.9 | 2 | 19.9 | 19 | -8.0 | -17 |
| Washington Redskins | 1985 | 26.6 | 3 | 18.6 | 20 | -8.1 | -17 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2011 | 22.9 | 14 | 13.3 | 31 | -9.6 | -17 |
| Chicago Bears | 2002 | 21.1 | 11 | 17.6 | 27 | -3.6 | -16 |
| Detroit Lions | 1998 | 23.7 | 4 | 19.1 | 20 | -4.6 | -16 |
| Miami Dolphins | 2015 | 24.3 | 11 | 19.4 | 27 | -4.9 | -16 |
| Cleveland Browns | 1981 | 22.3 | 8 | 17.3 | 24 | -5.1 | -16 |
| Chicago Bears | 2007 | 26.7 | 2 | 20.9 | 18 | -5.8 | -16 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 2008 | 28.4 | 2 | 22.6 | 18 | -5.8 | -16 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1991 | 22.5 | 7 | 16.4 | 23 | -6.1 | -16 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1993 | 23.4 | 4 | 17.3 | 20 | -6.1 | -16 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2008 | 24.6 | 9 | 18.4 | 25 | -6.2 | -16 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2007 | 20.7 | 15 | 14.1 | 31 | -6.6 | -16 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 1971 | 23.2 | 4 | 16.5 | 20 | -6.7 | -16 |
| New York Jets | 1983 | 27.2 | 3 | 19.6 | 19 | -7.7 | -16 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1988 | 28.1 | 2 | 19.5 | 18 | -8.6 | -16 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1984 | 29.9 | 2 | 19.3 | 18 | -10.7 | -16 |
| Denver Broncos | 1999 | 31.3 | 2 | 19.6 | 18 | -11.7 | -16 |
| Evansville Crimson Giants | 1922 | 17.8 | 1 | 2.0 | 17 | -15.8 | -16 |
The 2014-2015-2016 Cowboys are fascinating. In 2014, Dallas ranked 5th in scoring, but in 2015, the Cowboys fell to 31st; that 26 slot drop in rank stands out as the 2nd biggest ever. But in 2016, Dallas jumped back up to 5th, for a 26-slot increase that that was the 2nd biggest ever, too. Going from 5th to 31st to 5th in scoring? I wonder what the reason for all that was.