They last reached the NFL championship in 1957, defeating the Cleveland Browns 59-14. The Lions are one of four NFL teams that have never reached the Super Bowl. Longest Active Super Bowl Appearance Droughts T-1. Detroit Lions, 56 Years (Never) Washington has lost five consecutive playoff games after beating Tampa Bay 17-10 in the 2005 NFC wild-card round, including three straight losses to the Seattle Seahawks in 2005, 20. They lost to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card round, and they have not made the playoffs since.
But they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII and did not return to the postseason until the 2016 season. Las Vegas Raiders, 19 (2002)Īfter defeating the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game, the Raiders were once again on the brink of football immortality. Since then, Miami has lost four straight playoff games, tied for the longest streak in franchise history. A Dan Marino-led Dolphins team defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23-17 in overtime. It’s been two decades of mediocrity in South Florida. Barry Sanders led the Lions in rushing in 1991, as Detroit crushed the Dallas Cowboys 38-6. The Lions have lost nine consecutive playoff games, the longest streak in the NFL. Longest Active Playoff Win Droughts 1. Detroit Lions, 30 Seasons (Last Playoff Win: 1991)Īfter the Cincinnati Bengals ended their 31-season drought with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2021 wild-card round, the Detroit Lions rose to the top of this list. Failing to replace Eli Manning has also contributed to the Giants’ struggles. Since Ben McAdoo went 11-5 in his first season at the helm of the G-Men, New York has suffered five consecutive seasons under three different head coaches: McAdoo, Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge. Things have been messy in the Meadowlands for the Giants as well. The departure of Matthew Stafford has left Detroit looking for a franchise QB for the first time since 2009, an important step in a franchise rebuilding. But following the firing of Jim Caldwell and the disappointing tenure of Matt Patricia as Detroit’s head coach, the Lions have suffered four consecutive losing seasons from 2018-21.
T-3. Detroit Lions (2016)Īfter missing the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons, the Lions clinched a wild-card spot three times in six seasons. Despite winning 10 games in 2020 and nine games in 2021, they fell short of the postseason each year. Miami has made the playoffs just twice since 2002, winning the AFC East only once (2008).
The Dolphins last made the playoffs in 2016 as a wild card team on the back of Jay Ajayi, who totaled three separate 200-yard games on the ground. Since then, they have not figured out their quarterback situation, relegating them to NFL futility. The last time the Broncos made the playoffs, they won Super Bowl 50 and sent Peyton Manning riding off into the sunset…er, retirement.