List of NFL franchise post-season droughts
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
This is a list of current National Football League (NFL) franchise post-season and Super Bowl droughts (multiple consecutive seasons of not winning). Listed here are both appearance droughts and winning droughts in almost every level of the NFL playoff system.
As of the 2011 NFL season, every active NFL team has qualified for, and won a game in, the playoffs at least once. Teams that have never made it beyond each successive milestone are listed under the year in which they began NFL play.
Of the 13 teams that have never won the Super Bowl, four (4) are expansion franchises younger than the Super Bowl itself (Bengals, Panthers, Jaguars, and Texans). The Falcons' first season was also the start of the Super Bowl era. The eight (8) other clubs (Cardinals, Lions, Eagles, Oilers/Titans, Chargers, Browns, Bills, and Vikings) all won an NFL or AFL championship prior to the AFL–NFL merger. The longest drought since a championship of any kind is that of the Cardinals, at 67 seasons.
Note that for continuity purposes, the Cleveland Browns are officially considered to have suspended operations for the 1996, 1997 and 1998 seasons, and that the Baltimore Ravens are a separate team that began play in 1996. The Ravens, as a result of the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy, absorbed the Browns' personnel upon their suspension, but not their history.
Contents
- 1 Active post-season droughts
- 2 Active playoff game victory droughts
- 3 Active AFC/NFC Championship game appearance droughts
- 4 Active Super Bowl or NFL Championship appearance droughts
- 5 Active Super Bowl win droughts
- 6 Active Super Bowl crown droughts by division
- 7 Cities/regions awaiting first Super Bowl crown
- 8 Active division title droughts
- 9 Historical Team Droughts
- 10 See also
- 11 References
Active post-season droughts
Updated through the 2015 season.
| ^ | Longest drought in team history |
| † | Tied for Longest drought in team history |
At 16 seasons, the Bills' playoff drought is also the longest in major North American professional sports.[3]
Active playoff game victory droughts
Updated through January 10, 2016.
Sortable table, click on header arrows.
| ^ | Longest drought in team history |
| † | Tied for longest drought in team history |
| ♦ | Most consecutive losses in team history |
| ¤ | Tied for most consecutive losses in team history |
| ♣ ♣ | Most consecutive losses in NFL history |
| Team | Last playoff game win | Seasons Since Win |
Streak | Playoff Losses - Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals ^ | 1990 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 25 | ♣ ♣ 8 | 1990 Divisional - Oakland 2005 Wild Card - Pittsburgh 2009 Wild Card - New York Jets 2011 Wild Card - Houston 2012 Wild Card - Houston 2013 Wild Card - San Diego 2014 Wild Card - Indianapolis 2015 Wild Card - Pittsburgh |
| Detroit Lions | 1991 NFC Divisional Playoffs* | 24 | ♣ ♣ 8 | 1991 NFC Championship - Washington 1993 Wild Card - Green Bay 1994 Wild Card - Green Bay 1995 Wild Card - Philadelphia 1997 Wild Card - Tampa Bay 1999 Wild Card - Washington 2011 Wild Card - New Orleans 2014 Wild Card - Dallas |
| Buffalo Bills ^ | 1995 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 20 | ♦ 4 | 1995 Divisional - Pittsburgh 1996 Wild Card - Jacksonville 1998 Wild Card - Miami 1999 Wild Card - Tennessee |
| Cleveland Browns ^ | 1994 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 18** | 2 | 1994 Divisional - Pittsburgh 2002 Wild Card - Pittsburgh |
| Miami Dolphins ^ | 2000 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 15 | 3 | 2000 Divisional - Oakland 2001 Wild Card - Baltimore 2008 Wild Card - Baltimore |
| Oakland Raiders ^ | 2002 AFC Championship* | 13 | 1 | 2002 Super Bowl - Tampa Bay |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Super Bowl XXXVII* | 13 | 2 | 2005 Wild Card - Washington 2007 Wild Card - New York Giants |
| Tennessee Titans | 2003 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 12 | 3 ¤ | 2003 Divisional - New England 2007 Wild Card - San Diego 2008 Divisional - Baltimore |
| Los Angeles Rams | 2004 NFC Wild Card Playoffs | 11 | 1 | 2004 Divisional - Atlanta |
| Washington Redskins | 2005 NFC Wild Card Playoffs | 10 | 4 ¤ | 2005 Divisional - Seattle 2007 Wild Card - Seattle 2012 Wild Card - Seattle 2015 Wild Card - Green Bay |
| Jacksonville Jaguars ^ | 2007 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 8 | 1 | 2007 Divisional - New England |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2008 NFC Divisional Playoffs | 7 | 4 | 2008 NFC Championship - Arizona 2009 Wild Card - Dallas 2010 Wild Card - Green Bay 2013 Wild Card - New Orleans |
| Arizona Cardinals | 2009 NFC Wild Card Playoffs | 6 | 2 | 2009 Divisional - New Orleans 2014 Wild Card - Carolina |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2009 NFC Divisional Playoffs* | 6 | 3 | 2009 NFC Championship - New Orleans 2012 Wild Card - Green Bay 2015 Wild Card - Seattle |
| New York Jets | 2010 AFC Divisional Playoffs | 5 | 1 | 2010 AFC Championship - Pittsburgh |
| Chicago Bears | 2010 NFC Divisional Playoffs* | 5 | 1 | 2010 NFC Championship - Green Bay |
| New York Giants | Super Bowl XLVI | 4 | 0 | 4 game win streak |
| Houston Texans | 2012 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 3 | ♦ 2 | 2012 Divisional - New England 2015 Wild Card - Kansas City |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2012 NFC Divisional Playoffs* | 3 | 1 | 2012 NFC Championship - San Francisco |
| San Diego Chargers | 2013 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 2 | 1 | 2013 Divisional - Denver |
| New Orleans Saints | 2013 NFC Wild Card Playoffs | 2 | 1 | 2013 Divisional - Seattle |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2013 NFC Divisional Playoffs | 2 | 1 | 2013 NFC Championship - Seattle |
| Denver Broncos | 2013 AFC Championship Game* | 2 | 2 | 2013 Super Bowl - Seattle 2014 Divisional - Indianapolis |
| 2014 Playoff | Winners | |||
| Baltimore Ravens | 2014 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | 1 | 1 | 2014 Divisional - New England |
| Carolina Panthers | 2014 NFC Wild Card Playoffs | — | 1 | 2014 Divisional - Seattle |
| Dallas Cowboys | 2014 NFC Wild Card Playoffs | 1 | 1 | 2014 Divisional - Green Bay |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2014 AFC Divisional Playoffs | 1 | 1 | 2014 AFC Championship - New England |
| New England Patriots | Super Bowl XLIX* | — | 0 | 3 game win streak |
| 2015 Playoff | Winners | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2015 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | — | 0 | 1 game win streak |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2015 AFC Wild Card Playoffs | — | 0 | 1 game win streak |
| Seattle Seahawks | 2015 NFC Wild Card Playoffs | — | 0 | 1 game win streak |
| Green Bay Packers | 2015 NFC Wild Card Playoffs | — | 0 | 1 game win streak |
| Team | Last playoff game win | Seasons Since Win |
Streak | Playoff Losses - Teams |
(*): Franchise earned a bye in the Wild Card round.
(**): Franchise dormant 1996-1999.
Active AFC/NFC Championship game appearance droughts
This is also a list of the last time a particular club won a Divisional playoff game.
Seasons since last appearance includes the 2015 season.
| ^ | Longest drought in team history |
| † | Tied for longest drought in team history |
| Seasons | Team | Last appearance in Conference Championship Game |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Cincinnati Bengals ^ | 1988 AFC | Won vs. Buffalo |
| 24 | Washington Redskins ^ | 1991 NFC | Won vs. Detroit |
| 24 | Detroit Lions ^ | 1991 NFC | Lost vs. Washington |
| 23 | Miami Dolphins ^ | 1992 AFC | Lost vs. Buffalo |
| 23** | Cleveland Browns ^ | 1989 AFC | Lost vs. Denver |
| 22 | Buffalo Bills ^ | 1993 AFC | Won vs. Kansas City |
| 22 | Kansas City Chiefs | 1993 AFC | Lost vs. Buffalo |
| 20 | Dallas Cowboys ^ | 1995 NFC | Won vs. Green Bay |
| 16 | Jacksonville Jaguars ^ | 1999 AFC | Lost vs. Tennessee |
| 14 | Houston Texans ^ | Never* | — |
| 14 | Los Angeles Rams ^ | 2001 NFC | Won vs. Philadelphia |
| 13 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2002 NFC | Won vs. Philadelphia |
| 13 | Oakland Raiders ^ | 2002 AFC | Won vs. Tennessee |
| 13 | Tennessee Titans | 2002 AFC | Lost vs. Oakland |
| 10 | Carolina Panthers ^ | 2005 NFC | Lost vs. Seattle |
| 8 | San Diego Chargers | 2007 AFC | Lost vs. New England |
| 7 | Arizona Cardinals | 2008 NFC | Won vs. Philadelphia |
| 7 | Philadelphia Eagles | 2008 NFC | Lost vs. Arizona |
| 6 | New Orleans Saints | 2009 NFC | Won vs. Minnesota |
| 6 | Minnesota Vikings | 2009 NFC | Lost vs. New Orleans |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2010 AFC | Won vs. New York Jets |
| 5 | New York Jets | 2010 AFC | Lost vs. Pittsburgh |
| 5 | Chicago Bears | 2010 NFC | Lost vs. Green Bay |
| 4 | New York Giants | 2011 NFC | Won vs. San Francisco |
| 3 | Baltimore Ravens | 2012 AFC | Won vs. New England |
| 3 | Atlanta Falcons | 2012 NFC | Lost vs. San Francisco |
| 2 | Denver Broncos | 2013 AFC | Won vs. New England |
| 2 | San Francisco 49ers | 2013 NFC | Lost vs. Seattle |
| 2014 Conference Finalists | |||
| 1 | Indianapolis Colts | 2014 AFC | Lost vs. New England |
| — | New England Patriots | 2014 AFC | Won vs. Indianapolis |
| — | Seattle Seahawks | 2014 NFC | Won vs. Green Bay |
| — | Green Bay Packers | 2014 NFC | Lost vs. Seattle |
(*): Franchise first played in 2002 season
(**): Franchise dormant 1996-1999.
Active Super Bowl or NFL Championship appearance droughts
Seasons since last appearance includes the 2015 season.
(*): Cleveland's drought does not include three seasons (1996–98) where the franchise was dormant
Active Super Bowl win droughts
This list also counts all seasons since a team last won the league championship.
Seasons since last win includes the 2015 season.
Team currently in 2015 NFL Playoffs
- a Team won as the Chicago Cardinals in 1947.
- b Team won as the Houston Oilers in 1961.
- c AFL and NFL league champions met in Super Bowls I thru IV before the 1970 merger (1966–1969). They are not generally counted in the overall league championship list.
- d Cleveland's drought does not include three seasons (1996–98) when the franchise was dormant.
- e Super Bowl winner was not the NFL league champion till after 1970 merger (Super Bowl V).
- f Team was based in Los Angeles when it won Super Bowl XVIII.
- g Team was based in St. Louis when it won Super Bowl XXXIV.
Active Super Bowl crown droughts by division
Seasons since last win includes the 2015 season.
| Division | Last Super Bowl crown | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| AFC West | XXXIII — Broncos | 17 |
| AFC South | XLI — Colts | 9 |
| NFC South | XLIV — Saints | 6 |
| NFC North | XLV — Packers | 5 |
| NFC East | XLVI — Giants | 4 |
| AFC North | XLVII — Ravens | 3 |
| NFC West | XLVIII — Seahawks | 2 |
| AFC East | XLIX — Patriots | — |
Cities/regions awaiting first Super Bowl crown
Listed according to seasons waited,including the 2015 season. Current NFL cities/regions only
Active division title droughts
Listed according to seasons waited. Updated through the 2015 season.
| ^ | Longest drought in team history |
| † | Tied for Longest drought in team history |
**Does not include the three seasons (1996–1998) during which the franchise suspended operations.
Historical Team Droughts
Most consecutive post-season losses in team history
This is a sortable table of all 32 current NFL teams. Several teams have changed their names and locations through the years. Only the current team names are used. If the streak occurred while the team had a different name, it is noted.
Updated through the 2015 season.
| ^ | Denotes active drought |
| Team | Streak lasted | Last win | Games Lost | Playoff Games | Score | Opponent | Next win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 51 years | 1947 Championship |
4 | 1948 NFL Championship 1974 Divisional 1975 Divisional 1982 First Round |
0-7 14-30 23-35 16-41 |
Eagles Vikings Rams Packers |
1998 Wild Card |
| Atlanta Falcons | 8 years | 2004 Divisional | 4 | 2004 NFC Championship 2008 Wild Card 2010 Divisional 2011 Wild Card |
10-27 24-30 21-48 2-24 |
Eagles Cardinals Packers Giants |
2012 Divisional |
| Baltimore Ravens | 7 years | 2001 Wild Card |
3 | 2001 Divisional 2003 Wild Card 2006 Divisional |
10-27 17-20 6-15 |
Steelers Titans Colts |
2008 Wild Card |
| Buffalo Bills^ | 20 years | 1995 Wild Card |
4 | 1995 Divisional 1996 Wild Card 1998 Wild Card 1999 Wild Card |
21-40 27-30 17-24 16-22 |
Steelers Jaguars Dolphins Titans |
TBD |
| Carolina Panthers | 8 years | 2005 Divisional |
3 | 2005 NFC Championship 2008 Divisional 2013 Divisional |
14-34 13-33 10-23 |
Seahawks Cardinals 49ers |
2014 Wild Card |
| Chicago Bears | 12 years | 1994 Wild Card |
3 | 1994 Divisional 2001 Divisional 2005 Divisional |
15-44 19-33 21-29 |
49ers Eagles Panthers |
2006 Divisional |
| Cincinnati Bengals^ | 25 years | 1990 Wild Card |
8 | 1990 Divisional 2005 Wild Card 2009 Wild Card 2011 Wild Card 2012 Wild Card 2013 Wild Card 2014 Wild Card 2015 Wild Card |
10-20 17-31 14-24 10-31 13-19 10-27 10-26 16-18 |
Raiders Steelers Jets Texans Texans Chargers Colts Steelers |
TBD |
| Cleveland Browns | 17 years | 1969 Divisional | 6 | 1969 NFL Championship 1971 Divisional 1972 Divisional 1980 Divisional 1982 First Round 1985 Divisional |
7-27 3-20 14-20 12-14 10-27 21-24 |
Vikings Colts Dolphins Raiders Raiders Dolphins |
1986 Divisional |
| Dallas Cowboys | 13 years | 1996 Wild Card |
6 | 1996 Divisional 1998 Wild Card 1999 Wild Card 2003 Wild Card 2006 Wild Card 2007 Divisional |
17-26 7-20 10-27 10-29 20-21 17-21 |
Panthers Cardinals Vikings Panthers Seahawks Giants |
2009 Wild Card |
| Denver Broncos | 9 years | 1977 Conference Championship |
5 | Super Bowl XII 1978 Divisional 1979 Wild Card 1983 Wild Card 1984 Divisional |
10-27 10-33 7-13 7-31 17-24 |
Cowboys Steelers Oilers Seahawks Steelers |
1986 Divisional |
| Detroit Lions^ | 24 years | 1991 Divisional |
8 | 1991 NFC Championship 1993 Wild Card 1994 Wild Card 1995 Wild Card 1997 Wild Card 1999 Wild Card 2011 Wild Card 2014 Wild Card |
10-41 24-28 12-16 37-58 10-20 13-27 28-45 20-24 |
Redskins Packers Packers Eagles Buccaneers Redskins Saints Cowboys |
TBD |
| Green Bay Packers 5 streaks |
4 years | 1997 Conference Championship |
2 | Super Bowl XXXII 1998 Wild Card |
24-31 27-30 |
Broncos 49ers |
2001 Wild Card |
| 2 years | 2001 Wild Card |
2 | 2001 Divisional 2002 Wild Card |
17-45 7-27 |
Rams Falcons |
2003 Wild Card | |
| 4 years | 2003 Wild Card |
2 | 2003 Divisional 2004 Wild Card |
17-20 (OT) 17-31 |
Eagles Vikings |
2007 Divisional | |
| 3 years | 2007 Divisional |
2 | 2007 NFC Championship 2009 Wild Card |
20-23 (OT) 45-51 (OT) |
Giants Cardinals |
2010 Wild Card | |
| 2 years | 2012 Wild Card |
2 | 2012 Divisional 2013 Wild Card |
31-45 20-23 |
49ers 49ers |
2014 Divisional | |
| Houston Texans^ | 3 years | 2012 Wild Card | 2 | 2012 Divisional 2015 Wild Card |
28-41 0-30 |
Patriots Chiefs |
TBD |
| Indianapolis Colts 2 streaks |
24 years | 1971 Divisional |
5 | 1971 AFC Championship 1975 Divisional 1976 Divisional 1977 Divisional 1987 Divisional |
0-21 10-28 14-40 31-37 (2OT) 21-38 |
Dolphins Steelers Steelers Raiders Browns |
1995 Wild Card |
| 8 years | 1995 Divisional |
5 | 1995 AFC Championship 1996 Wild Card 1999 Divisional 2000 Wild Card 2002 Wild Card |
16-20 14-42 16-19 17-23 (OT) 0-41 |
Steelers Steelers Titans Dolphins Jets |
2003 Wild Card | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars 2 streaks |
2 years | 1996 Divisional |
2 | 1996 AFC Championship 1997 Wild Card |
6-20 17-42 |
Patriots Broncos |
1998 Wild Card |
| 8 years | 1999 Divisional |
2 | 1999 AFC Championship 2005 Wild Card |
14-33 3-28 |
Titans Patriots |
2007 Wild Card | |
| Kansas City Chiefs^ | 21 years | 1993 Divisional |
8 | 1993 AFC Championship 1994 Wild Card 1995 Divisional 1997 Divisional 2003 Divisional 2006 Wild Card 2010 Wild Card 2013 Wild Card |
13-30 17-27 7-10 10-14 31-38 8-23 7-30 44-45 |
Bills Dolphins Colts Broncos Colts Colts Ravens Colts |
2015 Wild Card |
| Los Angeles Rams | 23 years | 1951 Championship |
5 | 1952 National Conference 1955 NFL Championship 1967 NFL Western Conference 1969 NFL Western Conference 1973 Divisional |
21-31 14-38 7-28 20-23 16-27 |
Lions Browns Packers Vikings Cowboys |
1974 Divisional |
| Miami Dolphins | 9 years | 1973 Super Bowl |
4 | 1974 Divisional 1978 Wild Card 1979 Divisional 1981 Divisional |
26-28 9-17 14-34 38-41 (OT) |
Raiders Oilers Steelers Chargers |
1982 First Round |
| Minnesota Vikings | 9 years | 1988 Wild Card |
6 | 1988 Divisional 1989 Divisional 1992 Wild Card 1993 Wild Card 1994 Wild Card 1996 Wild Card |
9-34 13-41 7-24 10-17 18-35 15-45 |
49ers 49ers Redskins Giants Bears Cowboys |
1997 Wild Card |
| New England Patriots | 22 years | 1963 Divisional |
4 | 1963 AFL Championship 1976 Divisional 1978 Divisional 1982 First Round |
10-51 21-24 14-31 13-28 |
Chargers Raiders Oilers Dolphins |
1985 Wild Card |
| New Orleans Saints | 32 years | 1967 Enfranchised No Playoff Wins till 2000 |
4 | 1987 Wild Card 1990 Wild Card 1991 Wild Card 1992 Wild Card |
10-44 6-16 20-27 20-36 |
Vikings Bears Falcons Eagles |
2000 Wild Card |
| New York Giants | 18 years | 1938 Championship |
6 | 1939 NFL Championship 1941 NFL Championship 1943 Eastern Divisional 1944 NFL Championship 1946 NFL Championship 1950 American Conference |
0-27 9-37 0-28 7-14 14-24 3-8 |
Packers Bears Redskins Packers Bears Browns |
1956 Championship |
| New York Jets 5 streaks |
14 years | 1968 Super Bowl III |
2 | 1969 AFL Divisional 1981 Wild Card |
6-13 27-31 |
Chiefs Bills |
1982 First Round |
| 4 years | 1982 Second Round | 2 | 1982 AFC Championship 1985 Wild Card |
0-14 14-26 |
Dolphins Patriots |
1986 Wild Card | |
| 12 years | 1986 Wild Card | 2 | 1986 Divisional 1991 Wild Card |
20-23 (2OT) 10-17 |
Browns Oilers |
1998 Divisional | |
| 4 years | 1998 Divisional | 2 | 1998 AFC Championship 2001 Wild Card |
10-23 24-38 |
Broncos Raiders |
2002 Wild Card | |
| 5 years | 2004 Wild Card |
2 | 2004 Divisional 2006 Wild Card |
17-20 (OT) 16-37 |
Steelers Patriots |
2009 Wild Card | |
| Oakland Raiders 3 streaks |
3 years | 1970 Divisional |
2 | 1970 AFC Championship 1972 Divisional |
17-27 7-13 |
Colts Steelers |
1973 Divisional |
| 7 years | 1983 Super Bowl XVIII |
2 | 1984 Wild Card 1985 Divisional |
7-13 20-27 |
Seahawks Patriots |
1990 Divisional | |
| 3 years | 1990 Divisional | 2 | 1990 AFC Championship 1991 Wild Card |
3-51 6-10 |
Bills Chiefs |
1993 Wild Card | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 12 years | 1980 Conference Championship |
5 | Super Bowl XV 1981 Wild Card 1988 Divisional 1989 Wild Card 1990 Wild Card |
10-27 21-27 20-12 7-21 6-20 |
Raiders Giants Bears Rams Redskins |
1992 Wild Card |
| Pittsburgh Steelers^ 2 streaks |
5 years | 1989 Wild Card |
3 | 1989 Divisional 1992 Divisional 1993 Wild Card |
23-24 3-24 24-27 |
Broncos Bills Chiefs |
1994 Divisional |
| 4 years | 2010 AFC Championship | 3 | Super Bowl XLV 2011 Wild Card 2014 Wild Card |
25-31 23-29 17-30 |
Packers Broncos Ravens |
2015 Wild Card | |
| San Diego Chargers | 13 years | 1994 AFC Championship |
4 | Super Bowl XXIX 1995 Wild Card 2004 Wild Card 2006 Divisional |
26-49 20-35 17-20 (OT) 21-24 |
49ers Colts Jets Patriots |
2007 Wild Card |
| San Francisco 49ers | 4 years | 1984 Super Bowl XIX |
3 | 1985 Wild Card 1986 Divisional 1987 Divisional |
3-17 3-49 24-36 |
Giants Giants Vikings |
1988 Divisional |
| Seattle Seahawks | 21 years | 1984 Wild Card |
6 | 1984 Divisional 1987 Wild Card 1988 Divisional 1999 Wild Card 2003 Wild Card 2004 Wild Card |
10-31 20-23 (OT) 13-21 17-20 27-33 (OT) 20-27 |
Dolphins Oilers Bengals Dolphins Packers Rams |
2005 Divisional |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 streaks |
18 years | 1979 Divisional |
3 | 1979 NFC Championship 1981 Divisional 1982 First Round |
0-9 0-38 17-30 |
Rams Cowboys Cowboys |
1997 Wild Card |
| 3 years | 1999 Divisional |
3 | 1999 NFC Championship 2000 Wild Card 2001 Wild Card |
6-11 3-21 9-31 |
Rams Eagles Eagles |
2002 Divisional | |
| Tennessee Titans^ 4 streaks |
17 years | 1961 AFL Championship |
3[Hou] | 1962 AFL Championship 1967 AFL Championship 1969 AFL Divisional |
17-20 (2 OT) 7-40 7-56 |
Dallas Texans Raiders Raiders |
1978 Wild Card |
| 3 years | 1988 Wild Card |
3[Hou] | 1988 Divisional 1989 Wild Card 1990 Wild Card |
10-17 23-26 (OT) 14-41 |
Bills Steelers Bengals |
1991 Wild Card |
|
| 8 years | 1991 Wild Card |
3[Hou] | 1991 Divisional 1992 Wild Card 1993 Divisional |
24-26 38-41 (OT) 20-28 |
Broncos Bills Chiefs |
1999 Wild Card |
|
| 12 years | 2003 Wild Card |
3 | 2003 Divisional 2007 Wild Card 2008 Divisional |
14-17 6-17 10-13 |
Patriots Chargers Ravens |
TBD | |
| Washington Redskins 2 streaks |
10 years | 1972 NFC Championship |
4 | Super Bowl VII 1973 Divisional 1974 Divisional 1976 Divisional |
7-14 20-27 10-19 20-35 |
Dolphins Vikings Rams Vikings |
1982 First Round |
| 10 years | 2005 Wild Card |
4 | 2005 Divisional 2007 Wild Card 2012 Wild Card 2015 Wild Card |
10-20 14-35 14-24 18-35 |
Seahawks Seahawks Seahawks Packers |
TBD | |
| Team | Streak lasted | Last win | Games Lost | Playoff Games | Score | Opponent | Next win |
- Hou These three streaks occurred when the team was the Houston Oilers.
Longest post-season droughts in team history
Updated through the 2015 season.
Note that the NFL did not institute a permanent playoff tournament until 1967 and that the NFL Championship Game and any impromptu one-game playoffs (played only in the event of a tie atop the division standings) were the only postseason matchups in this era (the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl is considered an exhibition game for the purpose of this list).
| ^ | Denotes active streak |
| Team | Longest streak with no post-season appearances |
Seasons | Longest streak with no post-season victories |
Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 1949–1973 | 25 | 1948–1997 | 50 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1948–1971 | 24 | 1933–1971 | 39 |
| New Orleans Saints | 1967–1986 | 20 | 1967–1999 | 33 |
| Detroit Lions | 1936–1951 | 16 | 1958–1990 | 33 |
| Washington Redskins | 1946–1970 | 25 | 1944–1971 | 28 |
| Cincinnati Bengals^ | 1991–2004 | 14 | 1991–2015^ | 25 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 1978–1986 | 9 | 1972–1994 | 23 |
| New York Giants | 1964–1980 | 17 | 1959–1980 | 22 |
| Los Angeles Rams^ | 1956–1966
2005–2015^
|
11 | 1952–1973 | 22 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1972–1985 | 14 | 1970–1990 1994–2014 |
21 |
| New England Patriots | 1964–1975 | 12 | 1964–1984 | 21 |
| Buffalo Bills^ | 2000–2015^ | 16 | 1996–2015^ | 20 |
| Chicago Bears | 1964–1976 | 13 | 1964–1983 | 20 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1958–1969 | 12 | 1950–1969 | 20 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 1989–1998 | 10 | 1985–2004 | 20 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1961–1977 | 17 | 1961–1978 | 18 |
| Cleveland Browns^ | 2003–2015^ | 13 | 1995, 1999–2015^ | 18 |
| Denver Broncos | 1960–1976 | 17 | 1960–1976 | 17 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1983–1996 | 14 | 1980–1996 | 17 |
| Green Bay Packers | 1945–1959 | 15 | 1945–1960 | 16 |
| San Diego Chargers | 1966–1978 | 13 | 1964–1979 | 16 |
| Tennessee Titans | 1970–1977 | 8 | 1962–1977 | 16 |
| Miami Dolphins^ | 2009–2015^ | 7 | 2001–2015^ | 15 |
| Oakland Raiders^ | 2003–2015^ | 13 | 2003–2015^ | 13 |
| New York Jets | 1970–1980 | 11 | 1969–1981 | 13 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 1966–1977 | 12 | 1966–1977; 1979–1990 |
12 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 1960–1965 | 6 | 1997–2008 | 12 |
| Houston Texans | 2002–2010 | 9 | 2002–2010 | 9 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars^ | 2008–2015^ | 8 | 2008–2015^ | 8 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1961–1967 | 7 | 1961–1968; 1989–1996 |
8 |
| Carolina Panthers | 1997–2002 | 6 | 2006–2013 | 8 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 1996–1999 | 4 | 2002–2007 | 6 |
| Team | Longest streak with no post-season appearances |
Seasons | Longest streak with no post-season victories |
Seasons |
See also
- List of NFL franchise post-season streaks
- List of current National Football League consecutive playoff appearances
- List of NFL champions (1920–69)
- List of Super Bowl Champions
- List of Major League Baseball franchise postseason droughts
- List of MLS club post-season droughts
- List of NBA franchise post-season droughts
- List of NHL franchise post-season droughts
