Bengals, Lions, Chiefs (more than the Browns!) suffering NFL’s longest playoff win droughts

There are certain NFL franchises which, year in and year out, face the same old trite jokes about losing … year in and year out.

But do you know which team has had the longest drought without a playoff victory? The list might surprise you a bit.

Seventeen of the 32 teams have won at least one playoff game in the past five seasons. But 11 teams — more than a third of the NFL! — have gone 10 seasons or more without a postseason victory. That’s pain.

We’ve compiled the list of playoff win droughts, from shortest to longest, and it might give you a new perspective for which teams have suffered the longest for playoff success:

32. New England Patriots
Last playoff victory: February 1, 2015 (Super Bowl XLIX)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 164 days

You remember this play? Yeah, you might have seen it once or twice this offseason.

31. Seattle Seahawks
Last playoff victory: January 18, 2015 (2014 conference championship game over Green Bay Packers)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 178 days

In one of the most remarkable playoff comebacks in league history, the Seahawks erased a 16-0 first-half Packers lead and a 19-7 edge with a little more than two minutes left to win in overtime. But hardly anyone talks about that now the way the subsequent Super Bowl ended.

t-30. Green Bay Packers
Last playoff victory: January 11, 2015 (2014 division round against Dallas Cowboys)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 185 days

Another classic and controversial victory — sealed when Dez Bryant’s catch/non-catch was ruled incomplete — that has been somewhat lost in the narrative after the Packers couldn’t finish the deal the following week.

t-30. Indianapolis Colts
Last playoff victory: January 11, 2015 (2014 division round against Denver Broncos)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 185 days

Andrew Luck was able to beat the man he replaced in Indy, Peyton Manning, who looked old and tired in the Broncos’ home loss that started the clock on the Manning Retirement Watch. (An aside: How great were these past playoffs? We’ve just named four pretty incredible games, some of the best in recent postseason history, right out of the chute here.)

28. Dallas Cowboys
Last playoff victory: January 4, 2015 (2014 wildcard round against Detroit Lions)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 192 days

This Cowboys victory came via a few friendly officiating decisions that went Dallas’ way, and it ended a five-year playoff win void (and was only the franchise’s second postseason win since Christmas week 1996) after a slew of 8-8 seasons. But by all means, keep saying Tony Romo isn’t clutch; he was tremendous in this game despite being sacked six times.

t-27. Baltimore Ravens
Last playoff victory: January 3, 2015 (2014 wildcard round against Pittsburgh Steelers)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 193 days

The day prior to the Cowboys’ playoff victory, the Ravens beat the rival Steelers — after the teams split a pair of 20-point games in the regular season — as Joe Flacco shined and the Ravens defense sacked Ben Roethlisberger five times and picked him off twice. Few teams have the recent playoff success of the Ravens, who have won 10 of their past 14 postseason games, even with blowing two 14-point leads against the Patriots the following week after this game.

t-27. Carolina Panthers
Last playoff victory: January 3, 2015 (2014 wildcard round against Arizona Cardinals)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 193 days

Despite entering the postseason with a 7-9 regular-season mark and being chided as the best of a bad NFC South, the Panthers took care of business at home against the quarterback-challenged Arizona Cardinals. That win ended the franchise’s playoff win drought since the 2005 season, and it moved the Panthers’ all-time playoff record to a very respectable 7-6 (including the loss the following week at Seattle).

25. Denver Broncos
Last playoff victory: January 19, 2014 (2013 AFC championship game against Patriots)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 542 days

A brilliant Manning outdueled Tom Brady and the Patriots to reach the Broncos franchise’s first Super Bowl since John Elway’s final NFL game back on Jan. 31, 1999. Elway, now the team’s general manager and executive vice president and the man who handpicked Manning, had to think he had a great chance to win his first Super Bowl as an executive. Then the game against the Seahawks started.

24. San Francisco 49ers
Last playoff victory: January 12, 2014 (2013 divisional round against Panthers)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 549 days

The JIm Harbaugh-led 49ers rolled into Charlotte a confident bunch and overcame an early Steve Smith touchdown to control the second half and wipe out the Panthers’ run game, with Colin Kaepernick accounting for both 49ers touchdowns. The following week they’d take the Seahawks to the brink in Seattle in the NFC title game before Richard Sherman’s game-saving end-zone deflection ended the Niners’ hopes and established a new power in the NFC West.

23. San Diego Chargers
Last playoff victory: January 5, 2014 (2013 wildcard round against Cincinnati Bengals)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 556 days

The Chargers were lucky enough just to get into the playoffs that year, needing some late-season (and tiebreaking) magic. But they absolutely rolled the Bengals in the second half and sent Andy Dalton packing by sacking him three times, picking him off twice and forcing him to fumble once. The Bengals also had no answers for the Chargers’ rushing attack: 40 for 196 yards, including a 58-yard Ronnie Brown TD.

22. New Orleans Saints
Last playoff victory: January 4, 2014 (2013 wildcard round against Philadelphia Eagles)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 557 days

Everyone and their brother picked against the road-weary Saints (3-5 away from the Superdome and losers of three straight on the road heading into this game) against Chip Kelly and the upstart Eagles in Philadelphia. But the Saints outgained the Eagles by 174 yards and ran the ball down the Eagles’ throats in the 26-24 last-second victory.

21. Atlanta Falcons
Last playoff victory: January 13, 2013 (2012 division round against Seahawks)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 913 days

In a highly entertaining game, the Falcons ended a franchise four-game playoff losing streak by beating the upstart Seahawks despite nearly blowing a 20-point second-half lead. Matt Ryan threw two picks but did enough to earn his first postseason victory in his fifth attempt. This was the game where Russell Wilson, in a losing effort, really introduced himself to the NFL.

20. Houston Texans
Last playoff victory: January 5, 2013 (2012 AFC championship game against Patriots)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 921 days

Matt Schaub answered a few critics by winning his first playoff game, and only the second in Texans franchise history, by beating (yep) the Bengals in another poor Dalton playoff outing. Yes, Schaub was solid (although Arian Foster did most of the heavy lifting) but couldn’t lead his team further, as they lost in New England — for the second time that season — the following week.

19. New York Giants
Last playoff victory: February 5, 2012 (Super Bowl XLVI against Patriots)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 1,256 days

Giants fans remember it well: Eli Manning hits Mario Manningham on an improbable fade pass down the left sideline, and eight plays later they scored — because New England let them — in what would be a 21-17 victory and Eli’s second championship. Patriots fans remember the missed opportunities (two Giants fumbles they didn’t recover, several key dropped passes) and Brady’s late-second Hail Mary pass hitting the turf in between star tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last playoff victory: January 23, 2011 (2010 AFC championship game against New York Jets)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 1,634 days

Yes, we’re coming up on almost five years in between Steelers playoff victories, can you believe it? That last victory was a weird one: The Steelers built a 24-0 first half lead and then watched Rex Ryan’s fearless Jets team chip away before falling just short. How long ago was it? Antonio Brown had two passes thrown his way that game (the same number as Hines Ward) and Rashard Mendenhall — now a writer for HBO’s “Ballers” — accounted for 153 of the Steelers’ 287 yards.

t-17. Chicago Bears
Last playoff victory: January 16, 2011 (2010 divisional round against Seahawks)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 1,641 days

In a strange foreshadowing of the Jets-Steelers game above, the host Bears ripped off a 28-0 lead before the Seahawks made it mildly interesting in the final moments in a 35-24 final. Jay Cutler — true story — was pretty darned good that game, with 274 passing yards and two touchdowns, and you could argue this was the final game that Bears fans truly were in his corner. The next week, a hangdog Cutler spent much of the NFC championship loss to the Packers on the sideline with a knee injury, watching the long-forgotten Caleb Hanie keep the Bears competitive but lose.

t-17. New York Jets
Last playoff victory: January 16, 2011 (2010 divisional round against Seahawks)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 1,641 days

Ryan boldly marched his vagabond Jets into Foxboro, Mass. — a place where they had lost 45-3 a mere 48 days earlier — and came away with a stunning 24-14 victory in which Brady looked confused and frustrated in being sacked five times. Mark Sanchez threw for three TD passes to sting the Patriots, who had only lost once since Week 2 in what was one of Bill Belichick’s most shocking defeats.

15. Minnesota Vikings
Last playoff victory: January 17, 2010 (2009 divisional round against Cowboys)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 2,005 days

When we were young. Brett Favre and Sidney Rice — what a passing combo they were that season — struck three times for touchdowns in a 34-3 blowout that sent the Vikings to the NFC title game against the Saints, where they’d lose in an all-time thriller. Only four starters from that Cowboys victory remain on the Vikings: John Sullivan, Phil Loadholt, Chad Greenway and Adrian Peterson. Brad Childress was still considered a good head coach at this point in the world.

14. Arizona Cardinals
Last playoff victory: January 10, 2010 (2009 wildcard round against Packers)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 2,011 days

In Kurt Warner’s penultimate game, he was nothing short of breathtaking (29-of-33 passing, 379 yards, five TDs) in outdueling an up-and-coming quarterback making his first playoff start. Aaron Rodgers was also tremendous, throwing for 423 yards and four touchdowns and running for another. But he was strip-sacked on the third play of overtime, run back by Karlos Dansby for the walk-off winner. Warner’s career would come to an end the following week when the Saints — and, yes, their bounty — would knock him out of the game with a brutal shot.

13. Philadelphia Eagles
Last playoff victory: January 11, 2009 (2008 divisional round against Giants)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 2,376 days

In one of the stranger playoff games in the past decade, Donovan McNabb was not very good (18 incompletions, two picks, taking a safety), but the Giants and Eli Manning were worse. Defense is for purists, and the NFC East was tough and all that back then, but this one was a tremendous stinker to watch. And it’s all the Eagles have had to hang their hats on in the playoffs of late.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last playoff victory: January 5, 2008 (2007 wildcard round against Steelers)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 2,748 days

The Florida boys beat the Steelers twice in Pittsburgh in a 20-day span, both games in cold, wet weather. They managed to do so with David Garrard completing a combined 26 passes in the two games, but with Ben Roethlisberger being sacked 11 times combined. The next week the Jags lost as Brady missed on only two of his 28 pass attempts, and the cats of prey haven’t sniffed the postseason since.

11. Washington Redskins
Last playoff victory: January 7, 2006 (2005 wildcard round against Buccaneers)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 3,476 days

This part of the list, anywhere below this line, is where it starts getting really painful. Talk about weird games: This one might have been the only lefty-lefty playoff game in league history (Mark Brunell vs. Chris Simms), and it’s one where the winning team threw for a net 25 passing yards. If we ever make a list of worst playoff games, we’re starting with this one and the McNabb game above and kicking off a fantastic debate. Put it this way: There were 102 more punt yards in this game than yards from scrimmage. And let it be known that the last three playoff QBs the Redskins have beaten are Simms, Gus Frerotte and Sean Salisbury. That’s your franchise postseason crowning achievement dating back to Super Bowl XXVI.

10. St. Louis Rams
Last playoff victory: January 8, 2005 (2004 wildcard round against Seahawks)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 3,840 days

The box score tells me that Marc Bulger hit Cam Cleeland for a game-winning score with 2:11 remaining in Seattle, and I am sure that indeed happened (and that I watched this game), but I remember it more for being Jerry Rice’s final NFL contest. Rice started but saw zero of Matt Hasselbeck’s 43 passes thrown his way. Meanwhile, in what had to be the greatest game of Itula Mili’s NFL life, he caught six balls for 98 yards. Mili is bragging to his kids right now: Seriously, I caught six more passes in a game than Jerry Freakin’ Rice.

9. Tennessee Titans
Last playoff victory: January 3, 2004 (2003 wildcard round against Ravens)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 4,211 days

Not one starter for the Titans this day remains in the NFL — and one, Steve McNair, died more than six years ago now. Only one Ravens starter that day remains in the league: Terrell Suggs. McNair had a rough game (three picks) but led two key fourth-quarter drives in the final five minutes to pull the road upset. McNair would go on to quarterback the Ravens a few years later, and the Titans have not been right at the position since. They hope this — rifles through media guide — Marcus Mariota kid can change their fortunes. He was 10 years old the last time the Titans won in the playoffs.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last playoff victory: January 26, 2003 (Super Bowl XXXVII against Raiders)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 4,553 days

Yes, the first and only Super Bowl title for this franchise was the last time they’ve tasted postseason glory. They’ve only been back twice since Jon Gruden’s Miced-Up Super-Awesome Highlight Sunday, and their quarterbacks in those games were Simms (see above: Redskins) and Jeff Garcia. And in those two games combined, the Bucs’ offense barely totaled 500 yards and offered up a quite giving six turnovers. What we said about Mariota above? It applies to Jameis Winston: savior needed.

7. Oakland Raiders
Last playoff victory: January 19, 2003 (2002 AFC championship game against Titans)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 4,560 days

Little did we know that the Bucs and Raiders would go 12 seasons and counting between playoff games when they looked as good as they did that 2002 season. After falling behind 14-10 to the Titans that day, Rich Gannon and the Raiders lambasted them and it was the last day the Oakland fans could really claim any kind of superiority in NFL terms. Since then: zero playoff appearances, zero winning seasons, nine different head coaches, 18 different starting quarterbacks, two owners (both named Davis) and countless grey hairs and heartaches. Hey, but at least they have a sweet stadiu—grrrr.

6. Miami Dolphins
Last playoff victory: December 30, 2000 (2000 wildcard game against Colts)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 5,310 days

Long live Jay Fiedler! Dan Marino retired the year prior? No problem: Fielder outdueled Peyton Manning (LOL — Fielder threw three picks that day and was bailed out by a heroic Lamar Smith effort) and the Dolphins survived an overtime thriller at Pro Player Stadium. In their three subsequent playoff games, the Dolphins scored 12 points total. The last time they made the playoffs, Tony Sparano was their beloved head coach and Chad Pennington their fearless QB. Memories! For perspective, this was pre-9/11. Think about that.

5. Buffalo Bills
Last playoff victory: December 30, 1995 (1995 wildcard game against Dolphins)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 7,137 days

One more giant step deeper into the abyss. Speaking of the Bills, O.J. Simpson was found not guilty a little less than three months prior. President Bill Clinton was seeking reelection to a second term the following fall. Mariah Carey and Alanis Morissette topped the pop charts. Toy Story was new. And this game featured seven eventual Hall of Famers: Marino, Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Andre Reed and both head coaches, Don Shula and Marv Levy (not counting Bills owner Ralph Wilson). Now you can see why Rex Ryan is trying to bring these guys back around the team so much.

4. Cleveland Browns
Last playoff victory: January 1, 1995 (1994 wildcard game against Patriots)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 7,500 days

Belichick defeated former boss Bill Parcells this game, the first of five head-to-head meetings they’d have as head coaches over the years, and no shocker: it was a 20-13 defensive grinder. This was still the Cleveland Browns 1.0, of course, and it would be another several months before word got out that owner Art Modell intended to move the team out of town. Heck, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hadn’t even opened in town yet. The 2.0 Browns returned in 1999 as … the Browns. But it hasn’t been the same — one playoff appearance (a loss to the hated Steelers in 2002) and 12 seasons with six or fewer wins. Johnny Manziel was 2 when they won the last playoff game. Josh McCown, for those who wonder, was in high school. It’s been a long time, no matter how you spin it. Seventy. Five. Hundred. Days.

3. Kansas City Chiefs
Last playoff victory: January 16, 1994 (1993 divisional round against Houston Oilers)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 7,850 days

Yes, three teams have it worse than the Browns. You know it has been a long time between franchise playoff victories when the last one came against a now-defunct team. True enough, the Oilers became the Titans after moving to Tennessee, but that Chiefs win came in the Astrodome (which now looks like this, for those who wonder) in a shootout between future Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Warren Moon, featuring a 31-point fourth quarter explosion. The Chiefs would lose in the AFC title game the following week, and you could argue they’ve had it as bad as any NFL team since: eight straight playoff losses, with four of them at Arrowhead Stadium.

2. Detroit Lions
Last playoff victory: January 5, 1992 (1993 divisional round against Cowboys)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 8,592 days

The Lions blew the roof off the old Silverdome that day. Talk about playoff droughts! It had been since 1957 since the franchise’s last postseason win — that was a 12,425-day gap for those who keep track. The Lions jumped on the Cowboys early and never let up in a 38-6 drubbing of the pre-dynasty America’s Team. Like the Chiefs, the Lions losers of eight straight playoff games (seven on the road) and haven’t even hosted a postseason game since January 8, 1994. Bro … so bad. Matthew Stafford, you know what you must do.

1. Cincinnati Bengals
Last playoff victory: January 6, 1991 (1992 wildcard round against Oilers)
Days since last playoff victory (as of July 15): 8,956 days

Now we know why the Oilers skipped town — they kept losing in the playoffs to teams that would go years without another postseason win. But seriously, this is just painful. The Bengals, under Sam Wyche and Boomer Esiason, used to be good. Dalton and this generation’s Bengals make the playoffs, too, but … ick. Which is worse: making the playoffs and losing right away (as they have four straight years, and five of the past six) or not making it at all? The Bengals have done both, with equal aplomb. Two very different kinds of bad, but whatever they are, the Bengals have mastered it. How long ago was this? Let us count the ways: the first George Bush was in office, Michael Jordan had yet to win a championship with the Chicago Bulls and it was five months before “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was recorded. Lo, we were shackled with this, the No. 1 song on that fateful day in ’91: