NFL Playoff/Super Bowl DroughtsInspired by a
post on baseball by Mr Right, here is a look at the NFL teams that have waited the longest for various postseason achievements (active streaks only):
Longest Wait for a Playoff Berth:
Never made the playoffs: Texans
1990 Bengals
1998 Cardinals
1999 Bills, Jaguars, Lions, Redskins
2000 Saints
2001 Dolphins, Bears (corrected per John Ruberry)
2002 49ers, Browns, Bucs, Giants, Raiders, Chiefs
2003 Cowboys, Panthers, Ravens, Titans, Broncos,
2004 Chargers, Colts, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Packers, Patriots, Rams, Seahawks, Steelers, Vikings
Longest Wait for a Playoff Win:
Never Won a Playoff Game: Texans
1984 Seahawks (You could probably win a bar bet with this one, at least outside the Pacific Northwest)
1990 Bengals
1991 Lions
1993 Chiefs
1994 Bears, Browns, Chargers
1995 Bills
1996 Cowboys
1998 Cardinals, Broncos
1999 Jaguars, Redskins
2000 Saints, Dolphins, Giants
2001 Ravens
2002 49ers, Bucs, Raiders
2003 Panthers, Titans, Packers
2004 Colts, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Patriots, Rams, Steelers, Vikings
Longest Wait for a Super Bowl Appearance:
Teams That Have Never Appeared in the Super Bowl (Years Missed in Parentheses): Cardinals (39), Lions (39), Saints (38), Browns(36), Seahawks (29), Jaguars (10) and Texans (3)
1968 Jets
1969 Chiefs
1970 Colts
1976 Vikings
1984 Dolphins
1985 Bears
1988 Bengals
1991 Redskins
1993 Bills
1994 Chargers, 49ers
1995 Cowboys, Steelers
1997 Packers
1998 Broncos, Falcons
1999 Titans
2000 Giants, Ravens
2001 Rams
2002 Bucs, Raiders
2003 Panthers
2004 Eagles, Patriots
Longest Wait for a Super Bowl Win:
Teams That Have Never Won the Super Bowl (Years Missed in Parentheses):
Cardinals (39), Vikings (39) Lions (39), Chargers (39), Falcons (39), Titans/Oilers (39), Eagles (39), Bills (39) Saints (38), Bengals (37) Browns (36), Seahawks (29), Panthers (10), Jaguars (10) and Texans (3)
1968 Jets
1969 Chiefs
1970 Colts
1973 Dolphins
1979 Steelers
1983 Raiders
1985 Bears
1990 Giants
1991 Redskins
1994 49ers
1995 Cowboys
1996 Packers
1998 Broncos
1999 Rams
2000 Ravens
2002 Bucs
2004 Patriots
Comments: The above list is also the list of the only teams that have won the Super Bowl. The only teams that started play after 1960 to win the Super Bowl are the Ravens (who are considered an expansion team from 1996 despite obvious problems with that interpretation), the Buccaneers (genuine 1976 expansion) and the Miami Dolphins (1966 arrival).
Of the teams that have not won a Super Bowl, the Cardinals, Browns, Eagles, Bills, Chargers, Lions and Oilers can claim one or more pre-Super Bowl championships in either the NFL or AFL.
Note: Years given are the year as of the beginning of the NFL season. Per numerous league rulings the current Cleveland Browns are the same team that played in Cleveland until 1995, and they are considered to have gone dormant as a franchise for three seasons.