If some posts in the PT 2 thread haven't made it clear, 37.5 points per game let up by the Berlin Fire Salamanders is really bad, and extremely disappointing to a team with ambitions not to be bottom of the cellar for a second straight year (and they even had a decent shot at that too). Especially on Defense, where if any team was expected to set records for impotency, it was the team some put below them in the Philidelphia Liberty, with over 1500 TPE less than the Salamanders. I decided to look back through the years and see just how letting up over 5 touchdowns per game stacked up with the worst Defenses of all time.
LAS VEGAS LEGION, SEASON 3
The Legion are a defunct team, which has been moved and had its name changed. Reason being? They sucked. Most notably on defense for this discussion. That being said, one of the worst defenses of all time, which gave up 31.7 points per game across the 12 game season, actually got off to...not a good start, but not a terrible one. They only gave up more than 30 points once in the first 4 games, and actually held a team to 14 points in their first game of the season. Their worst games would come later on, including giving up 95 points in their last 2 games, while also only scoring 13.
Points given up total: 444
Points per game given up: 31.7
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 24.75
I'll skip the next season for the Legion, since that defense was better both in points and in its start.
On the other hand...
LAS VEGAS LEGION, SEASON 5
This season's getting the full treatment. What the hell was this team? How did it manage to beat an 8-6 Sabercats squad? Don't worry, Berlin, your points given up through the first 4 games isn't a record. While their final point per game mark is below the current Salamanders mark, only in one of their 4 games did the Legion give up less points than that current Salamanders mark, and they gave up over 40 twice.
Points given up total: 453
Points per game given up: 32.4
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 42.25
COLORADO YETI, SEASON 6
So, in today's ISFL, the Yeti are a powerhouse, granted one probably on its way out. But they've been a top tier team for the past 5 seasons and have been in the ultimus for 3 of them. Maybe even a 4th if they make it to this one. In yesteryear, however, this team probably has a claim for the worst in history. Or at least one of the worst, I haven't gone through all of these yet. And yet...they're not actually worse than this current Salamanders team through 4 games even if they blow past that total later. Their two games where they gave up over 60 points were later.
Points given up total: 541
Points per game given up: 38.6
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 31.25
COLORADO YETI, SEASON 7
More Yeti seasons! This team looks even worse than the last one, with them scoring under 10 points per game, sheesh. But as far as defense is concerned, they're not as bad as the previous year. However, their worst games came earlier in the season this time, with a 59 point loss topping the chart, and another loss with over 40 given up as well.
Points given up total: 501
Points per game given up: 35.8
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 41
SAN JOSE SABERCATS, SEASON 8
We're leaving the Yeti and going over to the Sabercats and their period of terribleness. So far, this is the worst defense of all time, with over 550 points given up. Their worst games came later in the season though, including a last half of the season where they exceeded 50 points given up more times than they gave up less than 40. And yet they still were worse than this current Salamanders team through 4 games. While not setting any records, with no major standout terrible game, they manage to get there.
Points given up total: 553
Points per game given up: 39.5
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 39.25
PHILIDELPHIA LIBERTY, SEASON 10
This Liberty team went winless, but I wouldn't call them one of the worst of all time. They gave up less than 500 points and scored, while not a good amount, more than some of the teams listed here for defensive ineptitude. That being said, they almost surpassed the Fire Salamanders due to a trio of terrible games for their defense. They gave up over 40 points 3 times. They'd be worse than the season 6 Colorado Yeti, if not for them only giving up 14 points in week 2.
Points given up total: 475
Points per game given up: 33.9
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 36.75
COLORADO YETI, SEASON 12
Hey! Yeti! You're back! This time with a 6-8 season. You were only a game out of second in your division! This team is nowhere NEAR one of the worst of all time, but their defense is not so sneakily bad. And their first 4 games miiiiight just be a record with the LOWEST point total given up being 41. A reminder that the previous second worst season through 4 games had 41 as the AVERAGE. This is a new record by 3 full points PER GAME.
Points given up total: 495
Points per game given up: 35.4
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 45.25
COLORADO YETI, SEASON 15
The Yeti are back in the cellar, with a terrible defense. They weren't that much worse than the second worst defense (the Second Line), but they're much more interesting to talk about through the first 4 games. The Yeti in their first 2 games gave up over 40 points. The second 2 they gave up 20 or less, they even won one of those. They almost manage to beat the Salamanders, though, because their first game was a loss in which they gave up 63. Giving up only 17 in the 4th game was enough to cancel it out in the end.
Points given up total: 474
Points per game given up: 33.9
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 35.25
SAN JOSE SABERCATS, SEASON 19
We're almost done, but incredibly, despite all conceivable odds, this middling Sabercats team (middling among last place teams at least) almost managed to beat the current Fire Salamanders just 7 seasons ago. This team barely gave up more than 400 points! Albeit, it was in a 13 game season, but still. The 62 point opener really does the heavy lifting here, just like the last Yeti team we talked about. However, giving up only 17 points in their last game kept them from surpassing the current Salamanders.
Points given up total: 406
Points per game given up: 31.2
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 37
Suffice to say, this is a terrible Fire Salamanders defense, at least to start. It's even worse than last year's bottom of the barrel defense, which was one of the worst defenses in recent memory. Granted, there are some teams in here who weren't awful. One Yeti team had a worse defense but still managed to win 6 games in a 14 game season. Still, none of the company this team is in is GOOD. None were a playoff team, even if one was a game out in an awful conference. The full tally? 4 teams ever have had a worse start on defense than the Season 26 Berlin Fire Salamanders 37.5, with the most recent being the Season 12 Yeti, one of the more footnote seasons in the Yeti's long history of Browns tier incompetence before this recent stretch. Even though they were only a game out of the playoffs that season, that year had by far the worst start for a team's defense. Only 2 teams have a worse average over the course of an entire season, just the Season 6 Yeti and the Season 8 Sabercats. Those seasons are at least 2 years ago in real time, and they involved some terrible management, terrible players, and probably a decent amount of terrible luck to get there. That was 3 sets of expansion ago, with 2 less games per year, and a much more watered down league in terms of talent. While I wouldn't call the Fire Salamanders' roster good, or title contenders, I would say that they definitely deserve better than this current performance. If the sim luck keeps going like this, it will be legendary.
Note, there might have been some random teams I missed, I checked every team that gave up more than 400 points although I did not write about all of them. If it was obviously less, or just less than other teams nearby them, I probably didn't write about them for that reason.
(1525 words)
LAS VEGAS LEGION, SEASON 3
The Legion are a defunct team, which has been moved and had its name changed. Reason being? They sucked. Most notably on defense for this discussion. That being said, one of the worst defenses of all time, which gave up 31.7 points per game across the 12 game season, actually got off to...not a good start, but not a terrible one. They only gave up more than 30 points once in the first 4 games, and actually held a team to 14 points in their first game of the season. Their worst games would come later on, including giving up 95 points in their last 2 games, while also only scoring 13.
Points given up total: 444
Points per game given up: 31.7
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 24.75
I'll skip the next season for the Legion, since that defense was better both in points and in its start.
On the other hand...
LAS VEGAS LEGION, SEASON 5
This season's getting the full treatment. What the hell was this team? How did it manage to beat an 8-6 Sabercats squad? Don't worry, Berlin, your points given up through the first 4 games isn't a record. While their final point per game mark is below the current Salamanders mark, only in one of their 4 games did the Legion give up less points than that current Salamanders mark, and they gave up over 40 twice.
Points given up total: 453
Points per game given up: 32.4
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 42.25
COLORADO YETI, SEASON 6
So, in today's ISFL, the Yeti are a powerhouse, granted one probably on its way out. But they've been a top tier team for the past 5 seasons and have been in the ultimus for 3 of them. Maybe even a 4th if they make it to this one. In yesteryear, however, this team probably has a claim for the worst in history. Or at least one of the worst, I haven't gone through all of these yet. And yet...they're not actually worse than this current Salamanders team through 4 games even if they blow past that total later. Their two games where they gave up over 60 points were later.
Points given up total: 541
Points per game given up: 38.6
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 31.25
COLORADO YETI, SEASON 7
More Yeti seasons! This team looks even worse than the last one, with them scoring under 10 points per game, sheesh. But as far as defense is concerned, they're not as bad as the previous year. However, their worst games came earlier in the season this time, with a 59 point loss topping the chart, and another loss with over 40 given up as well.
Points given up total: 501
Points per game given up: 35.8
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 41
SAN JOSE SABERCATS, SEASON 8
We're leaving the Yeti and going over to the Sabercats and their period of terribleness. So far, this is the worst defense of all time, with over 550 points given up. Their worst games came later in the season though, including a last half of the season where they exceeded 50 points given up more times than they gave up less than 40. And yet they still were worse than this current Salamanders team through 4 games. While not setting any records, with no major standout terrible game, they manage to get there.
Points given up total: 553
Points per game given up: 39.5
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 39.25
PHILIDELPHIA LIBERTY, SEASON 10
This Liberty team went winless, but I wouldn't call them one of the worst of all time. They gave up less than 500 points and scored, while not a good amount, more than some of the teams listed here for defensive ineptitude. That being said, they almost surpassed the Fire Salamanders due to a trio of terrible games for their defense. They gave up over 40 points 3 times. They'd be worse than the season 6 Colorado Yeti, if not for them only giving up 14 points in week 2.
Points given up total: 475
Points per game given up: 33.9
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 36.75
COLORADO YETI, SEASON 12
Hey! Yeti! You're back! This time with a 6-8 season. You were only a game out of second in your division! This team is nowhere NEAR one of the worst of all time, but their defense is not so sneakily bad. And their first 4 games miiiiight just be a record with the LOWEST point total given up being 41. A reminder that the previous second worst season through 4 games had 41 as the AVERAGE. This is a new record by 3 full points PER GAME.
Points given up total: 495
Points per game given up: 35.4
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 45.25
COLORADO YETI, SEASON 15
The Yeti are back in the cellar, with a terrible defense. They weren't that much worse than the second worst defense (the Second Line), but they're much more interesting to talk about through the first 4 games. The Yeti in their first 2 games gave up over 40 points. The second 2 they gave up 20 or less, they even won one of those. They almost manage to beat the Salamanders, though, because their first game was a loss in which they gave up 63. Giving up only 17 in the 4th game was enough to cancel it out in the end.
Points given up total: 474
Points per game given up: 33.9
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 35.25
SAN JOSE SABERCATS, SEASON 19
We're almost done, but incredibly, despite all conceivable odds, this middling Sabercats team (middling among last place teams at least) almost managed to beat the current Fire Salamanders just 7 seasons ago. This team barely gave up more than 400 points! Albeit, it was in a 13 game season, but still. The 62 point opener really does the heavy lifting here, just like the last Yeti team we talked about. However, giving up only 17 points in their last game kept them from surpassing the current Salamanders.
Points given up total: 406
Points per game given up: 31.2
Points per game given up through first 4 games: 37
Suffice to say, this is a terrible Fire Salamanders defense, at least to start. It's even worse than last year's bottom of the barrel defense, which was one of the worst defenses in recent memory. Granted, there are some teams in here who weren't awful. One Yeti team had a worse defense but still managed to win 6 games in a 14 game season. Still, none of the company this team is in is GOOD. None were a playoff team, even if one was a game out in an awful conference. The full tally? 4 teams ever have had a worse start on defense than the Season 26 Berlin Fire Salamanders 37.5, with the most recent being the Season 12 Yeti, one of the more footnote seasons in the Yeti's long history of Browns tier incompetence before this recent stretch. Even though they were only a game out of the playoffs that season, that year had by far the worst start for a team's defense. Only 2 teams have a worse average over the course of an entire season, just the Season 6 Yeti and the Season 8 Sabercats. Those seasons are at least 2 years ago in real time, and they involved some terrible management, terrible players, and probably a decent amount of terrible luck to get there. That was 3 sets of expansion ago, with 2 less games per year, and a much more watered down league in terms of talent. While I wouldn't call the Fire Salamanders' roster good, or title contenders, I would say that they definitely deserve better than this current performance. If the sim luck keeps going like this, it will be legendary.
Note, there might have been some random teams I missed, I checked every team that gave up more than 400 points although I did not write about all of them. If it was obviously less, or just less than other teams nearby them, I probably didn't write about them for that reason.
(1525 words)