Jamaal Charles is back for Kansas City, who, like St. Louis, are looking to climb back up their respective divisions. Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
It has been a feature of the NFL season for nine years running.
There has been at least one team each season over that span to go from last in their division the previous season, to first.
- 2003 Carolina Panthers, 11-5 (7-9); Kansas City Chiefs, 13-3 (8-8)
- 2004 Atlanta Falcons 11-5 (5-11); San Diego Chargers, 12-4 (4-12)
- 2005 Chicago Bears, 11-5 (5-11); New York Giants, 11-5 (6-10)
- 2006 Philadelphia Eagles, 10-6 (6-10); New Orleans Saints, 10-6 (3-13), Baltimore Ravens, 13-3 (6-10)
- 2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-7 (4-12)
- 2008 Miami Dolphins, 11-5 (1-15)
- 2009 New Orleans Saints, 13-3 (8-8)
- 2010 Kansas City Chiefs, 10-6 (4-12)
- 2011 Houston Texans, 10-6 (6-10)
The Dolphins of 2008 engineered the biggest change, a 10-game improvement.
New Orleans the following season improved by five games, but most importantly, went on to capture the Super Bowl.
With that premise in mind:
