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Longest playoff win droughts in NFL: Dolphins, Raiders haven't won in postseason in decades

jordan mendoza, usa today
·5 min read
20

It’s already hard enough to make the NFL playoffs, but it’s even tougher to get a win in the postseason, and for some teams, it’s been awhile since they’ve tasted a playoff victory.

With the NFL playoffs here, the teams in this postseason aren't merely happy making the postseason, but they're also hoping create some magic on the way to Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas. Not every playoff team will play for the Lombardi Trophy, but some will notch exciting wins before falling short of the goal.

Even though it doesn't necessarily translate into success, most fans can remember the most recent time their team won a playoff game, as 26 NFL teams have won a playoff game in the past decade. However, there are six teams that haven't won a playoff game in what feels like an eternity. Two teams — the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins — entered the playoffs for the 2023 season with a chance to break one of the league's longest spells. One was able to ended a 31-season drought, the Lions, who had lost nine consecutive playoff games before defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round.

Here are the longest playoff win droughts in the NFL:

1. Miami Dolphins − 23 seasons

Miami has the second longest playoff win drought, as they last won a playoff game in the 2000 AFC wild card against the Indianapolis Colts. Since then, the Dolphins have been in the playoffs five times, which included a seven-year and eight-year playoff drought. The Dolphins' skid was extended after its 26-7 loss to the Chiefs.

Here are all the Miami Dolphins playoff losses since their last win:

  • 2000 AFC divisional: at Oakland Raiders, 27-0

  • 2001 AFC wild card: Baltimore Ravens, 20-3

  • 2008 AFC wild card: Baltimore Ravens, 27-9

  • 2016 AFC wild card: at Pittsburgh Steelers, 30-12

  • 2022 AFC wild card: at Buffalo Bills, 34-31

  • 2023 AFC wild card: at Kansas City Chiefs, 26-7

Miami Dolphins' running back Lamar Smith scores (L) the winning touchdown in overtime against the Indianapolis Colts 30 December 2000 in their Wild Card Playoff game at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, FL. The Dolphins won the game 23-17.
Miami Dolphins' running back Lamar Smith scores (L) the winning touchdown in overtime against the Indianapolis Colts 30 December 2000 in their Wild Card Playoff game at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, FL. The Dolphins won the game 23-17.

2. Las Vegas Raiders − 21 seasons

The playoff win drought for the Raiders extends across decades, as they haven't won a playoff game since the 2002 AFC championship game that sent them to Super Bowl 37. The Raiders haven't won a playoff game since they were in Oakland, and their playoff win drought is the longest in franchise history. The streak will continue with Las Vegas not making the playoffs in 2023.

The Raiders haven't made the playoffs much since their last win, with only two more appearances since then. Here are all of the Raiders' playoff losses since their last win:

  • Super Bowl 37: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 48-21

  • 2016 AFC wild card: at Houston Texans, 27-14

  • 2022 AFC wild card: at Cincinnati Bengals, 26-19

3. Washington Commanders − 18 seasons

Washington is in the midst of its worst playoff win drought, as it is on a franchise-worst five-game playoff losing streak. The last postseason win for Washington came in the 2005 playoffs, when it defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round. The streak was extended earlier this season when they were eliminated from playoff contention.

Since then, the Commanders have been in the playoffs five times. Here are all the Commanders playoff losses since their last win:

  • 2005 NFC divisional: at Seattle Seahawks, 20-10

  • 2007 NFC wild card: at Seattle Seahawks, 35-14

  • 2012 NFC wild card: Seattle Seahawks, 24-14

  • 2015 NFC wild card: Green Bay Packers, 35-18

  • 2020 NFC wild card: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-23

4. New York Jets − 13 seasons

Not only do the Jets own the longest playoff drought in the NFL, but they also have the longest time period without a postseason win. Their last playoff win came in the 2010 AFC divisional round, when they defeated the New England Patriots.

After the win, New York lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC title game, and the Jets haven't been back to the playoffs since then. The streak was extended earlier this season when they were eliminated from playoff contention.

New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17), wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (89) celebrate during the last seconds of play against the New England Patriots in the 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium.
New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17), wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (89) celebrate during the last seconds of play against the New England Patriots in the 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium.

5. Chicago Bears − 13 seasons

Chicago last won a playoff game in the 2010 season, when it defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round. The Bears have made the playoffs only twice since then, and will miss the playoffs this season.

Here are all the Bears playoff losses since their last win:

  • 2010 NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers, 21-14

  • 2018 NFC wild card: Philadelphia Eagles, 16-15

  • 2020 NFC wild card: at New Orleans Saints, 21-9

Last playoff win for NFL teams

As of the 2023 NFL playoff divisional round, here is the last time every other NFL team won a playoff game and how long its been since that victory:

  • Arizona Cardinals: 2015 NFC divisional round, eight seasons (including this season)

  • Carolina Panthers: 2015 NFC Championship, eight seasons (including this season)

  • Denver Broncos: Super Bowl 50, eight seasons (including this season)

  • Pittsburgh Steelers: 2016 AFC divisional round, six seasons

  • Atlanta Falcons: 2017 NFC wild card, six seasons (including this season)

  • New England Patriots: Super Bowl 53, five seasons (including this season)

  • Indianapolis Colts: 2018 AFC wild card, five seasons (including this season)

  • Los Angeles Chargers: 2018 AFC wild card, five seasons (including this season)

  • Tennessee Titans: 2019 AFC divisional round, four seasons (including this season)

  • Minnesota Vikings: 2019 NFC wild card, four seasons (including this season)

  • Seattle Seahawks: 2019 NFC wild card, four seasons (including this season)

  • Cleveland Browns: 2020 AFC wild card, three seasons (including this season)

  • New Orleans Saints: 2020 NFC wild card, three seasons (including this season)

  • Los Angeles Rams: Super Bowl 56, two seasons (including this season)

  • Jacksonville Jaguars: 2022 AFC wild card, one season (including this season)

  • New York Giants: 2022 NFC wild card, one season (including this season)

  • Dallas Cowboys: 2022 NFC wild card, one season (including this season)

  • Cincinnati Bengals: 2022 AFC divisional round, one season (including this season)

  • Philadelphia Eagles: 2022 NFC championship game, one season (including this season)

Meanwhile, the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers have won a playoff game this season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Longest playoff win droughts in NFL: Teams most in need of victories