The Most Unbelievable Single Season Turnarounds in NFL History

We've reached the point in the 2011 NFL season where supporters of teams such as the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers are already making playoff party plans while fans of many other teams have already resigned themselves to writing this year off and looking forward to next season.

However, have no fear Philadelphia Eagles fan, chin up oh lover of the St. Louis Rams and hope reigns supreme oh faithful Cleveland Browns backer. (OK, you can stay depressed...as I know all too well the pain of being a Browns fan is as constant as it is sharp.) Because as the following teams have shown over the past decade it's very possible for today's also-ran to become tomorrow's playoff contender or even Super Bowl champion.

1. 2008 Miami Dolphins

Coming off a 1-15 nightmare of a season in 2007, not much was expected of the Miami Dolphins in 2008, even with the arrival of new executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells, head coach Tony Sparano and first overall draft pick Jake Long.

However, the Dolphins shocked the National Football League by winning 11 games and capturing the AFC East behind the efficient play of quarterback Chad Pennington and the NFL's first "wildcat" offense. While the Dolphins were blasted by the Baltimore Ravens 27-9 in the playoffs, this remains the biggest single-season turnaround in NFL history.

2. 2002 Tennessee Titans

After reaching Super Bowl XXXIV only two years prior, the 2001 Tennessee Titans finished a disappointing 7-9, and after dropping four of their first five games, it appeared that quarterback Steve McNair and the 2002 Titans were headed nowhere fast as well.

The Titans turned their season around from that point, losing only one more game the rest of the way, thanks in large part to running back Eddie George's 14 total touchdowns. They went on to capture the AFC South before finally falling to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game.

3. 2006 New Orleans Saints

The 2005 season was an abysmal one for the New Orleans Saints, as the team was forced to play many "home" games in alternate locales after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, and the Saints lurched to a 3-13 record.

2006 was a much different story, however, as new head coach Sean Payton, newly acquired quarterback Drew Brees, first-round pick Reggie Bush and the Saints captured the hearts of the area and the nation by winning the NFC South with a 10-6 record—the most successful season in franchise history to that point.

New Orleans lost to the Chicago Bears in the NFC title game at Soldier Field that year, but the table was also set for the Saints run to a Super Bowl championship three years later.

4. 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers

After stumbling to a 6-10 mark and failing to win consecutive games all season long in 2003, the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2004 campaign looked like it was going to be a long year as well. Their starting quarterback, Tommy Maddox, went down in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.

The team then turned the reins on offense over to then-rookie signal caller Ben Roethlisberger, who proceeded to set an NFL record by winning his first 13 starts as a professional. He led the Steelers to a franchise record 15 wins and berth to the AFC Championship game, where the Steelers fell at home to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

5. 2001 New England Patriots

Speaking of Tom Brady—the 2000 New England Patriots finished 5-11 under first-year head coach Bill Belichick, and after starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured in Week 2 and the Pats dropped their second game in a row to begin the year, it looked very much like 2001 wasn't going to be much different.

Enter sixth-round draft pick Tom Brady.

Brady led the Patriots to six straight victories to end the regular season, winning the AFC East and beginning a playoff run that would culminate in an improbable victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI—the first of three championships in the past decade for the Patriots.