Eras of NFL Playoff Frustration (My Top 15)

We always hear about the teams that win it all, and walk away with the ring. But what about those teams that don’t? Here is my list of the best teams that experienced frustrating playoff runs.

I don’t normally have an interest in top 10 or top 20 lists, because most of them are just based on opinion, without any factual backing. However, here is a top 15 list I worked on that I found very interesting, on a topic that is not often discussed. It is a list of teams that were very good, some were great, some should have won it all–but didn’t. But the one thing they all had in common is that they kept making it to the post season, only to lose.

As a fan, I know how frustrating it can be to see your favorite team make it to the post season year after year, only to lose when it counted most. Sure, everyone remembers the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills both lost four Superbowls and never won one, ( and yes, they’re both on this list). However, there are 13 other teams on this list, that at some point, have known the frustration of not being able to get over the hump. Some might surprise you.

Many of these teams have gone on to win Championships and Superbowls, and see some great seasons. However, this is to show that even the greatest teams went through periods of not being able to win the big one. When a team is good enough to keep making it to the post season year after year, you expect that at some point they are going win it all–but as this list will show, it doesn’t always work out that way.

You will not find any bad teams on this list. Bad teams don’t make it to the post season year after year. And I’m not talking about teams that had just one or two good seasons either. I’m talking about teams that were good year after year.

I did the research on this about four years ago, so keep in mind it’s not completely up to date.

We’ll start at #15 and work our way down to #1.

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#15 – The Dallas Cowboys (1979-1983)

To start off this five-year span, the Cowboys would lose to the Rams in the 1979 playoffs. The following year they would lose the NFC title game to the Eagles 20-7.

In the 1981 NFC title game, they were leading the San Francisco 49ers 27-21 with just minutes left in the game. They appeared to be on their way to a record sixth Superbowl appearance, yet with just under a minute left in the game, they gave up the winning touchdown, on a play that would forever be known as “the catch”.

The following season they lost the 1982 NFC title game to the Redskins. They would lose again to the Rams in the 1983 playoffs.

After some lean years, the Cowboys would bounce back in the 1990s, winning three Superbowls.

#14 – The Miami Dolphins (1978-1985)

During this eight-year stretch, the Dolphins missed the post season only once, in 1980. In 1978 they lost to the Houston Oilers and then to the Steelers the following year. In the 1981 playoffs, they lost a heart-breaker in double overtime to the San Diego Chargers, 41-38.

Trying to bounce back just a year later, the Dolphins reached the Superbowl in ’82 but lost to the Washington Redskins 27-17. In 1984 they had their best team since their last Superbowl victory in 1973. They coasted into the Superbowl with a 16-2 record but lost to a stronger 49ers team 38-14.

In 1985 they appeared to be on a crash course to meet the Chicago Bears in the Superbowl. The Dolphins were the only team to defeat the Bears that season, and football fans everywhere looked forward to a Dolphins vs Bears rematch in the Superbowl. However, the Dolphins were upset by the New England Patriots in the playoffs, and their Superbowl dreams were over.

The Dolphins did have their glory years, of course. In 1972 they won the Superbowl and remain the only undefeated team in NFL history. In 1973 they won the Superbowl again. Their combined record of the 1972 & 1973 team was a staggering 32 wins, with only 2 losses.

#13 – The Cleveland Browns (1985-1989)

The Browns reached the post season five years in a row, including three trips to the AFC title game. All three of those AFC title games were against the Denver Broncos.

They lost in the playoffs in 1985 but bounced back in 1986 with one of their best seasons in many, many years. They defeated the NY Jets in overtime in the playoff game, and in the AFC title game, they were leading the Broncos 20-13 with just minutes remaining. They appeared to be on their way to their first-ever Superbowl appearance. But the Broncos tied the game, marching 98 yards down-field on what would forever be known as “the drive”. The Browns lost in overtime 23-20.

They reached the AFC title game again the following year, but lost another heart-breaker to the Broncos, on a play that will forever be known as “the fumble”. In 1988 they lost in the playoffs, and in 1989 they once again played the Broncos in the AFC title game. This time it was not even close. The Browns lost 37-21.

The Browns are one of the few teams that have never reached the Superbowl, but they have had some great teams, especially in the 1940s and 1950s. They won the AAFC title four years in a row, 1946-1949, and have won the NFL title four times (1950,1954,1955 & 1964).

Tune in again next week as we continue the countdown to the most frustrating eras of great NFL teams.

#12 – The Baltimore Colts (1964-1968)

During this five-year stretch, the Colts had six future Hall of Famers on the team. On offense, they had Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry, Jim Parker, and John Mackey. On defense, they had Gino Marchetti, although he only played on the 1964 & 1966 teams.

In 1964 the Colts lost the NFL title game. They went 12-2 that season and were heavily favored to defeat the Cleveland Browns for the title. Instead, they were shut out by the Browns in a crushing 27-0 defeat. In 1965 they lost a heart-breaker in a playoff game to the GB Packers 13-10, on a last-second field goal.

In 1966 they finished with a disappointing 9-5 record, but they came back strong in 1967 with an 11-1-2 record. It was their best record in team history. But believe it or not, even though they were tied for the best record in the league, the Colts were not eligible for any post-season play–Here’s why: There were four divisions in the NFL at that time.

The Cowboys won the Capitol division with a 9-5 record. The Browns won the Century division with a 9-5 record, and the Packers won the Central Division with a 9-4-1 record, making all three eligible for the playoffs. The Colts were in the more competitive Coastal division, and they went into the final game of the season with an 11-0-2 record.

Their opponent was the second-place Los Angeles Rams, who sported a 10-1-2 record. The two best teams in the league just happened to be in the same division. Whoever lost this game would not be eligible for the post-season. Fair or not, that’s the way it was. The Rams won easily 34-10, and just like that–the Colts were out.

They bounced back strong in 1968 with what was thought to be perhaps the best team in NFL history. They finished the regular season at 13-1, their only loss coming at the hands of the Cleveland Browns. They avenged that loss by humiliating the Browns in the NFL title game 34-0. They went into the Superbowl with a 15-1 record and had outscored their opponents 460-158. This included four shutouts.

Their opponent in the Superbowl would be the NY Jets. The Jets had a 13-3 record and were a very good team, but no one gave them a chance against this powerful Colts team. In one of the biggest upsets in sports history, the Jets defeated the Colts 16-7.

The Colts won the NFL title in 1958,1959 & 1968. They won the Superbowl in 1970.

#11 – The Dallas Cowboys (1966-1970)

During this five-year span, the Cowboys lost to the Packers in the NFL title game two years in a row, 1966 & 1967. The next two years, they lost to the Cleveland Browns in the playoffs. They finally made it to the Superbowl the following year, only to lose to the Baltimore Colts on a last-second field goal.

Perhaps their most disappointing season during this 5-year span was 1968. They had breezed through the regular season with a 12-2 record, outscoring their opponents 431-186. They would face the 10-4 Cleveland Browns in the playoffs. The Browns were a good team, but the Cowboys had easily defeated them during the regular season 28-7.

They had also handed the Browns a humiliating 52-14 beating in the playoffs the year before. Football fans everywhere looked forward to seeing the 12-2 Cowboys face the 13-1 Baltimore Colts in the NFL title game. But instead, the Cowboys played their worst game of the season and were defeated by the Browns 31-20.

The Cowboys went on to great success in the 1970s. They defeated the Miami Dolphins in Superbowl VI and would play in three more Superbowls, winning again in Superbowl XII.

#10 – The Cleveland Browns (1965-1972)

During this span of eight years, the Browns made the post-season six times. This team featured Hall of Famers Leroy Kelly at RB, Paul Warfield at WR, and Gene Hickerson at guard. In 1965, Jim Brown’s final season, the Browns lost a hard-fought game to the Packers in the NFL title game. After missing the post-season in 1966, the Browns returned to post-season play in 1967 but suffered a humiliating 52-14 loss to the Cowboys in the playoff game.

The following year they defeated the Cowboys in the playoffs, but then suffered another humiliating loss to the Colts in the NFL title game, by a score of 34-0.

In 1969, they again reached the NFL title game, only to lose big–again. After missing the postseason in 1970, they made it back in ’71, but once again, they were on the wrong side of the game, losing to the Colts 20-3 in the playoff game.

Yet in 1972 they almost pulled off a major upset in the playoffs, leading the undefeated Miami Dolphins 14-13 late in the 4th quarter–but ended up on the short end once again, losing 20-14.

The Browns won four AAFC titles in a row (1946-1949) before joining the NFL. They won the NFL title in 1950, their first year in the league. They won it again in 1954, 1955 & 1964.

However, Browns fans haven’t had much to cheer about since, unless you want to count the success of the Baltimore Ravens, who were the original Cleveland Browns before moving to Baltimore.

#9 – The New York Giants (1939-1946)

During this 8 year stretch, the Giants reached the NFL title game four times–and lost every single one of them. This is not including a 1943 loss in the playoffs to the Redskins, which makes the actual tally five post-season losses in 8 years.

Two of those losses came at the hands of the Green Bay Packers, including a 27-0 defeat in 1939– a year when they posted a very impressive 9-1-1 record in the regular season. Another two losses came from the Bears, including a 37-9 defeat in 1941, and the final playoff loss came from the Redskins, when they were shut out 28-0.

In spite of having three future Hall of Famers on offense, (center Mel Hein, and running backs Ken Strong and Tuffy Leemans) the Giants managed to score only 30 points in the five games combined.

The Giants won the NFL title in 1934,1938 & 1956. They have also won four Superbowls.

#8 – The Denver Broncos (1983-1991)

After not reaching the playoffs for three years in a row, the Broncos made it back in 1983 but were quickly eliminated by the Seattle Seahawks 31-7. In 1984 they posted their best regular-season record in team history going 13-3, but again lost in the playoffs, this time to the Steelers. In 1985 they went 11-5 but failed to reach the playoffs.

In 1986 they made it to their second Superbowl but lost to a stronger NY Giants team 39-20. They made it back to the Superbowl the following year but were beaten badly by the Washington Redskins 42-10.

After a disappointing 8-8 record in 1988, they returned to the Superbowl in 1989 but suffered one of their most embarrassing defeats in team history–losing by a final score of 55-10. After a very poor season in 1990, they bounced back the following year and came very close to another shot at the Superbowl, but lost a very close game to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC title game.

Despite all their past failures in post-season play, the Broncos went on to win the Superbowl three times.

#7 – The New England Patriots (2005-2013)

For all the success this team has had in the last 20 years, even they went through a period of not being able to win the big game.

In 2005 they lost in the playoffs, and in 2006 they lost the AFC title game to the Colts, 38-34.

In 2007 they had a chance to make NFL history by becoming only the second team to ever have a perfect season–they marched into the Superbowl with a perfect 18-0 record, one game better than the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who went 17-0. Their opponent would be the 13-6 New York Giants. In the biggest upset since the Jets beat the Colts in Superbowl III, the Giants defeated the heavily favored Patriots 17-14, to ruin their perfect season.

In 2008 the Patriots went 11-5 but missed the playoffs, and in 2009 they lost in the playoffs. In 2010 they went 14-2 but lost in the playoffs to the underdog NY Jets 28-21.

However, in 2011 they were back in the Superbowl, and their opponent would once again be the NY Giants. The Patriots went into the game with a 15-3 record, while the Giants went in at just 12-7. Once again the heavily favored Patriots were beaten by the Giants 21-17.

In 2012 they lost the AFC title game to the Baltimore Ravens, and in 2013 they lost the AFC title game to the Denver Broncos.

In spite of how frustrating those nine years must have been, they more than made up for it with six Vince Lombardi trophies.

#6– The Philadelphia Eagles (2000-2010)

During this 11 year span, the Eagles made it to the post-season nine times, losing every time. In 2000 they lost to the Giants in the playoffs, and in 2001,2002 & 2003 they lost in the NFC title game.

In 2004 they had perhaps their best team ever. They reached the Superbowl with a 15-3 record but lost a heart-breaker to the New England Patriots 24-21.

In 2006 they lost in the playoffs. In 2008, they lost their fourth NFC Title game to the Cardinals. In 2009 & 2010 they lost in the playoffs yet again.

The Eagles have had a few glory years, winning the NFL title in 1948, 1949 & 1960. And on February 4, 2018, they finally won the Vince Lombardi trophy.

#5 – The New York Giants (1958-1963)

During this six-year span, the Giants posted a very impressive 53-13 regular-season record. They reached the NFL title game five times–yet lost each one. They lost two in a row to the Baltimore Colts and two in a row to the Green Bay Packers, including a 37-0 humiliation in 1961.

In 1963 they lost to the Chicago Bears. This is all in spite of having five future Hall of Famers on the team– Andy Robustelli at DE, Sam Huff at MLB, Frank Gifford at RB, Roosevelt Brown at OT, and Y.A. Title at QB.

This is not to say the Giants did not have their victories too. They won the NFL title in 1934,1938 and 1956. The Giants also went on to see great success in later years, winning four Superbowls.

#4 – The Buffalo Bills (1988-1999)

The Bills reached the post-season 10 times in this 12-year span, losing every time, including four Superbowl losses in a row. In 1988 they lost in the AFC title game to the Bengals 21-10, and in 1989 they lost to the Browns in the playoffs.

In 1990 they posted their best regular-season record in team history with a 13-3 record and went on to defeat the Raiders in the AFC title game 51-3–and advanced to the Superbowl for the first time in team history. They lost a hard-fought game to the NY Giants 20-19.

In 1991 they again went 13-3, and again lost in the Superbowl–this time to the Redskins, 37-24. In 1992 they made the greatest comeback in playoff history, defeating the Houston Oilers 41-38, after trailing 35-3. They made it to their 3rd Superbowl in a row but were humiliated by the Cowboys 52-17. The following year they lost their fourth Superbowl in a row, Dallas 30 Buffalo 13.

After a disappointing 7-9 record in 1994, they bounced back to reach the playoffs in 1995 & 1996 but lost both times. They dropped to a 6-10 record in 1997 but came back again in 1998 & 1999 to reach the playoffs, again losing both times.

After the playoff loss in 1999, the team did not reach the playoffs again until 2017. The Bills won the AFL title in 1964 & 1965.

# 3 – The Minnesota Vikings (1968-1978)

Few fans have suffered as much as Vikings fans. This is a team that had six future hall of fame players on it– On defense, they had Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Paul Krause– and on offense, they had Fran Tarkenton, Ron Yary, and Mick Tinglehoff. Yet during this 11-year span, the Vikings reached the post-season 10 times and lost every time.

In 1968 they lost their playoff game to the Colts, but they bounced back the following year with perhaps their best team ever. They finished the regular season with a 12-2 record, and they outscored their opponents 379-133 and scored over 50 points three times. After defeating the Rams in the playoff game and the Browns in the NFL title game, they rode into the Superbowl with a 14-2 record. They were heavy favorites to defeat the AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs, but they lost 23-7.

They went 12-2 again the following season but lost to the underdog San Francisco 49ers in the playoff game. The following season they lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs. After an off-year in 1972, they were back in the Superbowl in 1973 with a 14-2 record but lost to the Miami Dolphins, 24-7. In 1974, they were back in the Superbowl again, but lost again, this time to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-6.

In 1975 they had another outstanding season. Some thought they might go undefeated after a 10-0 start, but they lost 3 of their next 5 games, including a stunning 17-14 loss to the Cowboys in the playoff game.

In 1976 they again made it to the Superbowl with a 13-2-1 record but lost yet again. A 32-14 drubbing by the Oakland Raiders.

In 1977 they made it to the NFC title game but lost to the Cowboys 23-6. In 1978 they lost to the Rams in the playoff game, completing 11 years of frustration.

#2 – The Los Angeles Rams (1973-1980)

Eight years in a row of making it to the postseason, only to lose every time. To make it worse, it was to the same two teams 7 out of the 8 times–losing to the Vikings three times, and to the Cowboys four times.

In 1973, after posting a 12-2 regular-season record, they lost to the Cowboys in the playoffs. In 1974 they lost to the Vikings in the NFC title game, and in 1975 they once again made it to the NFC title game boasting a 13-2 record. They were heavily favored to win but instead were humiliated by the underdog Cowboys 37-7.

In 1976 they were again defeated by the Vikings, for their third NFC title loss in a row. In 1977 they lost to the Vikings in the playoffs, and in 1978 they were once again playing in the NFC title game, their fourth trip in five years. But once again they were humiliated by the Cowboys 28-0. The following year they finally made it to the Superbowl but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-19. In 1980, they were once again defeated by the Cowboys in the wild card playoff game.

The Rams did win the NFL title in 1945 as the Cleveland Rams. They won it again in 1951 as the Los Angeles Rams, and after many years of frustration, the Rams finally won the Vince Lombardi trophy in 1999, but as the St. Louis Rams.

#1 – The Oakland Raiders (1967-1975)

This team had nine future Hall of Fame players. In spite of this, and in spite of having the best combined regular-season record in the NFL during this 9 year period, their post-season record was just 7 wins and 8 losses.

In 1967 they went 13-1 in the regular season, and then beat the Houston Oilers 40-7 to win the AFL title. But they were no match for the NFL champion Green Bay Packers in the Superbowl, losing 33-14.

In 1968 they went 12-2 in the regular season, and then beat up on the Kansas City Chiefs 41-6 in the playoffs–only to lose to the Jets in the AFL title game. In 1969 they went 12-1-1 and then beat up on the Oilers in the playoffs, winning 56-7. But with the AFL title on the line, they lost again, this time to the Chiefs, 17-7.

In 1970 they once again reached the AFC title game, and lost again, this time to the Baltimore Colts. In 1971 they failed to reach the playoffs with an 8-4-2 record. In 1972 they went 10-3-1 but lost to the Steelers in the playoffs.

In 1973 they got revenge by beating the Steelers in the playoffs, but were no match for the Dolphins in the AFC title game, losing 27-10.

In 1974 they went 12-2 and then beat the defending Superbowl champion Miami Dolphins in the playoffs. With Miami out of the way, Raiders fans were sure they would finally get back to the Superbowl. But in the AFC title game, they lost once again–Steelers 24, Raiders 13.

In 1975 they made it back to the AFC title game again and again lost to the Steelers. It was their 3rd time losing to the Steelers in four years, and their 2nd time losing the AFC title game three years in a row. Raider fans began to lose hope.

But in 1976 the Raiders beat the Steelers in the AFC title game, and finally won their first Super Bowl. They would go on to win two more Super Bowls.

Mark Morthier is the host of Yesterday’s Sports, a podcast dedicated to reliving memorable sports moments from his childhood days and beyond. He grew up in New Jersey just across from New York City, so many of his episodes revolve around the great sport’s teams of the 70s for the New York area.

He is also an author of No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training (Second Edition): A Guide for People with Limited Time and Running Wild: (Growing Up in the 1970s)