Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, there have been three teams to rebound from a 1-5 record to make the playoffs.

Last season, the Colts started 1-5 before finishing 10-6 and going to the playoffs. The 2015 Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) and the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals (8-6), under the legendary Paul Brown, were the other teams to rebound and make the playoffs.

Neither of the teams advanced past the divisional round in the playoffs.

Falcons defensive end Allen Bailey was on the 2015 Chiefs. He played in 12 games and was part of their march to the playoffs.

“We kept it in-house,” Bailey said Thursday. “Correcting our mistakes and getting ourselves together. We were beating ourselves up with penalties and dumb plays, kind of the stuff we are doing with penalties. Shooting ourselves in the foot, you know.

“We just took it upon ourselves to correct that stuff. It started in practice. We practiced great. We practiced hard and kept transiting that to the games.

“We were making practice really as significant as it kind be.”

The Chiefs were led by quarterback Alex Smith and a defense that included Bailey, defensive end Justin Houston and free safety Eric Berry. (Bailey, Houston and Berry each played high school football in Georgia.)

“We kept the bond tight,” Bailey said. “Like the Brotherhood here, keep it tight. Don’t let outside people interfere with what we have here.”

The Chiefs won their first game, then loss five consecutive before ripping off 10 straight wins. The Chiefs beat Houston Texans in the wild-card round before losing to New England in the divisional round.

---

Subscribe to "The Bow Tie Chronicles" podcast with the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter on iTunes or on the new AJC sports podcasts page.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, here speaking to the media in January, has two 2025 first-round draft picks on his defense in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Featured

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Credit: AP