The WORST episodes of Friday Night Lights

Every episode of Friday Night Lights ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Friday Night Lights!

In Dillon, Texas, high school football brings the community together as the drama of small town life threatens to tear it apart.

Last Updated: 9/11/2024Network: AudienceStatus: Ended
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Last Days of Summer
star
7.39
668 votes

#1 - Last Days of Summer

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/5/2007

Changes in the team force Dillon Panthers to work harder than ever before to achieve the same level of success they had last season. Losing Coach Taylor to TMU might prove to be their biggest setback. Tyra gets a shock visitor. Matt and Landry struggle with their everyday life, as it is not what they expected.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Jason Katims
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How Did I Get Here?
star
7.39
677 votes

#2 - How Did I Get Here?

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/2007

Key evidence comes in implicating Landry; when Tami's sister visits to help her with the baby, she stirs things up in the house; Riggins must prove to coach Taylor that he wants to be a part of the team.

Directors: Jonas Pate
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Homecoming
star
7.43
919 votes

#3 - Homecoming

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/14/2006

As the Panthers get ready to face the dominating Laribee Lions, the 2000 State Champ quarterback, Lucas Mize is set to join the team.Smash catches his chance to convince a college scout of his talents. A focused Tim quits drinking. Jason's suspicions of Lyla and Tim's affair grow. Tyra and Billy set up an after game homecoming party.

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I Can't
star
7.45
561 votes

#4 - I Can't

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/20/2010

Riggins puts Tami in a tough spot; Julie asks a friend to dinner; Vince’s mom has a health crisis; Luke’s parents look for ways to help him; and Eric is urged to change his coaching style.

Directors: Ami Canaan Mann
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Extended Families
star
7.47
716 votes

#5 - Extended Families

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/28/2007

Lyla makes a surprise visit to the quad rugby camp where Jason is playing at, but she doesn't find the comfort she came looking for.Buddy Garrity's affair with Tyra's mother comes out. Consequently, Buddy decides to move in with the Taylors.Smash becomes suspicious about Waverly when she goes for a midnight swim with him.

Writer: Kerry Ehrin
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Crossing the Line
star
7.48
816 votes

#6 - Crossing the Line

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/28/2006

Julie thinks about going on a date with Matt. A discouraged Smash turns to foul play to improve his on-pitch performance. Cheered by Lyla and Tim, Jason has his first quad rugby game. A dinner turns into a fight for Coach Taylor, Tami, Riggins and his brother.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
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How the Other Half Lives
star
7.48
673 votes

#7 - How the Other Half Lives

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/15/2008

Coach worries and fears for his job as Tami befriends Katie McCoy. The pressure is on Matt as everyone's hopes turn to the new quarterback. Matt's friendly with Julie. Billy drags Tim into a risky scheme to get them out of debt. Lyla cautions Tim.

Directors: Dean White
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Stay
star
7.52
688 votes

#8 - Stay

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/9/2009

Coach searches for a strategy to shut down their toughest opponent yet. Tim reconnects with Lyla. Vince discovers he has a gift for car theft. Julie and Matt attend a concert in Austin and reach a critical juncture in their relationship.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
star
7.52
694 votes

#9 - Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/29/2008

Matt grapples with his mother, his emotions and Coach Taylor as McCoy garners more attention. Tami tangles with Tyra about Julie and Tyra's interest in Cash. Tyra experiences Cash's darker side. Erin disappoints Jason.

Directors: Jason Katims
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Sort of Homecoming
star
7.54
710 votes

#10 - A Sort of Homecoming

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/18/2009

Homecoming at the newly-reopened school prompts Coach to investigate East Dillon's history. Tami feels the wrath of the boosters. Landry and Vince both like Jess. Julie accompanies Devin to a gay bar. Matt and Tim go hunting.

Directors: Chris Misiana
Writer: Etan Frankel
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
In the Bag
star
7.54
614 votes

#11 - In the Bag

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/16/2009

Despite some doubt, Coach makes Vince quarterback. Tami struggles to comfort Julie who's grieving over Matt's sudden departure. Tim has a confrontation with Becky's dad. Luke is badly injured. Landry makes a play for Jess.

Directors: Stephen Kay
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Wind Sprints
star
7.54
781 votes

#12 - Wind Sprints

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/2006

The situation in town begins to get ugly as Coach Taylor and his family is forced to endure heat from a difficult loss against the San Marco HS Rattlers.Tim and Tyra break up after he confronts her about Smash, and Lyla, after having an argument with Jason, vents her anger onto Tim.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pantherama!
star
7.55
556 votes

#13 - Pantherama!

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/16/2007

As college football scouts approach Smash, he must make a life-changing decision. Coach Taylor has set his sights on a potential addition to the team. Tami appoints Lyla and Tyra to be in charge of this year's Pantherama. Matt is living his dream, with his new cheerleader girlfriend by his side, but yet he is drawn to the live-in nurse. Julie turns her jealousy into a twisted relationship.

Directors: David Boyd
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Who's Your Daddy
star
7.55
853 votes

#14 - Who's Your Daddy

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/24/2006

As the Panthers prepare for a match against the Tigers, who are their biggest rival, Jason's new roommate tries to help him understand the potential he has for recovery.Lyla tells Tim of her regrets about what happened between them, and Matt hits an all-time low.

Writer: Kerry Ehrin
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The Giving Tree
star
7.56
585 votes

#15 - The Giving Tree

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/2008

It becomes clear JD has no interest in his father's advice regarding Madison. Lyla turns to Riggins when Buddy reveals a secret. Coach is emotionally challenged both on and off the field. Tyra has a plan to repair her relationship with Landry.

Directors: David Boyd
Writer: Liz Heldens
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall
star
7.56
681 votes

#16 - A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/2008

Tyra is desperate and once again turns to Landry. Coach and Tami learn of a change that could dismantle the Panthers team. Tim sees another side of Lyla. Matt flips out when Grandma suffers an accident. Tensions escalate between JD and Joe.

Directors: Michael Waxman
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El Accidente
star
7.57
855 votes

#17 - El Accidente

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/7/2006

Ray Tatum faces the blame of his team mates after Panthers' win in the game last week might be overturned. Defensive tackle Bobby Reyes is arrested by the police during a practice for beating a student. Coach Taylor and Buddy Garrity are questioned by the Texas High School athletic administration.Lyla and Tim surprise Jason by taking him to the lake.

Directors: Dan Lerner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Game of the Week
star
7.57
651 votes

#18 - Game of the Week

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/3/2008

Tim returns to find both good and bad surprises. Coach has to change his plans and reluctantly supports Tami when she feels obligated to help Tyra out of a jam. Saracen has second thoughts and clashes with Shelby. Lyla and Mindy team up.

Directors: Michael Waxman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nevermind
star
7.58
825 votes

#19 - Nevermind

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/3/2007

The Panthers are preparing for another game they can't lose. Matt's father comes back from Iraq but his mother's condition is difficult to take in.Tami Taylor sees Tim Riggins regarding his grades. She believes he's not doing his homework by himself and asks Landry to tutor him for his next oral exam. If he doesn't pass, he won't play in the football team.

Directors: Jonas Pate
Writer: Liz Heldens
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What to Do While You're Waiting
star
7.59
709 votes

#20 - What to Do While You're Waiting

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/2007

The Panther's fate is hung up on the result of a game between two other teams and there is nothing they can do about it.Meanwhile, there is tension at the Street's house because of the lawsuit they introduced against Coach Taylor.Matt's father has a hard time adjusting back to real life.

Directors: David Boyd
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Lights in Carroll Park
star
7.60
504 votes

#21 - The Lights in Carroll Park

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/13/2010

Coach talks tough to shady characters when trying to clean up a park ridden with drugs and gang violence. Becky discovers she's pregnant. Jess's relationship with Landry is heating up. Julie makes a new friend.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Eyes Wide Open
star
7.60
1052 votes

#22 - Eyes Wide Open

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/2006

As the team pulls together and tries to help Matt get used to his new role as quarterback after Jason's injury, Lyla offers her support to Tim. Jason learns about the extent of his injury, and Tami gets a job as the school guidance counselor.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Jason Katims
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Upping the Ante
star
7.62
758 votes

#23 - Upping the Ante

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/31/2007

The Panthers prepare for their first playoff game.Coach Taylor gets distracted as he has to come up with a solution to Smash's use of drugs. Tyra and Julie befriend while Riggins bonds with his alienated father.Buddy learns about Jason and Lyla's engagement.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
In the Skin of a Lion
star
7.62
659 votes

#24 - In the Skin of a Lion

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/11/2009

Coach betrays Tami's trust over a financial decision. tensions between Vince and Luke threaten the team's chances on the field. Tim helps Coach condition his players. Julie doesn't want to go to church.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Who Do You Think You Are?
star
7.63
657 votes

#25 - Who Do You Think You Are?

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/18/2008

Tami and Coach Taylor look into day care for Gracie, but find themselves having a tough time letting go. Meanwhile, Lyla starts working as a deejay on a Christian radio station and, despite being ridiculed by Tim Riggins, she is able to strike a chord with him. Elsewhere, Matt Saracen discovers that he is actually in love with his grandma's at-home nurse, while Brian "Smash" Williams learns that those close to him may not be ready for interracial dating.

Directors: Michael Waxman
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV