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Six longest active playoff droughts in the NFL
By Ian McCue
http://247sports.com/Article/Buffalo-Bills-top-list-Raiders-and-Browns-tie-for-second-38207025
This is a painful list for fans of the NFL’s less fortunate franchises. They are well aware of the playoff droughts their teams have endured over the years because they've witnessed it all.
But not everyone knows how it feels to see collapse after collapse (we’re looking at you, Patriots fans). This should bring some perspective to those spoiled fans who have seen their club make the playoffs in the last five years.
247Sports broke down the longest active playoff droughts in the league. The team-by-team breakdown includes a look ahead at why these franchises may snap these unwanted streaks sooner than you think.
5. (Tie) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (last playoff appearance: 2007)
Eight years ago, a past-his-prime Jeff Garcia led the Buccaneers to a 9-7 record, good enough to earn a wild-card spot in the 2007 playoffs. Tampa Bay has closed with a winning mark twice since then — 9-7 in 2008 and 10-6 in 2010 — but has not made the playoffs since. There was a resurgence with Josh Freeman under center a few years ago, yet it was not enough to bring the Bucs back to the postseason.
The franchise bottomed out at 2-14 last year, its worst record since 1986. That gave them the right to the top overall pick in the draft, which they used on Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. The first-round pick from 2014, wide receiver Mike Evans, had a stellar rookie campaign. He should develop a quick connection with Winston. Gerald McCoy, 27, is one of the best defensive tackles in the game. It’s not hard to envision this club back in the playoffs two or three years down the road.
5. (Tie) Jacksonville Jaguars (2007)
Like their neighbors to the south, seven long seasons have gone by since Jacksonville’s last trip to the postseason. Quarterback David Garrard and running back Maurice Jones-Drew, both now retired, were the engine of a Jaguars team that advanced to the divisional round in January 2008. They lost to the unbeaten Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Jaguars have not finished above .500 after that 11-5 season in 2007.
Over the last three years, the club has won only nine games. The Gus Bradley era is not off to the best start. Year two will be critical for QB Blake Bortles, the third overall selection in last year’s draft. While he turned the ball over far too much as a rookie, that was to be expected. The addition of ex-Broncos tight end Julius Thomas alongside promising second-year wideouts Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson will lend Bortles a helping hand. Linebacker Paul Posluszny and defensive ends Jared Odrick and Chris Clemons will anchor the D.
4. St. Louis Rams (2004)
Only a few years after “The Greatest Show on Turf” ended in St. Louis, the Rams took a nosedive. They won the Super Bowl following the 1999 season — Kurt Warner was the MVP — and fell to the up-and-coming Patriots in the big game two years later. Marc Bulger and Torry Holt pulled some final magic out of the Rams in 2003 and 2004. The 8-8 Rams fell in the divisional round in Mike Martz’s final full season as head coach. That was 11 years ago.
This is likely coach Jeff Fisher’s last chance with the Rams. They have not had a winning record in his three years as coach and went a disappointing 6-10 last year. Sam Bradford is gone, replaced by Nick Foles, and the club believes 10th overall pick Todd Gurley is a transcendent talent. The defense, led by sackmaster Robert Quinn, is respectable and will benefit from the addition of linebacker Akeem Ayers. If everything goes according to plan, the Rams could contend for a wild-card spot in 2015.
(Photo: Ron Schwane, USA TODAY Sports)
2. (Tie) Cleveland Browns (2002)
The Browns’ last championship came in 1964, which pre-dates the Super Bowl era. This team has made the postseason only twice since 1990, most recently a wild-card appearance in 2002. Fans have endured nine four and five-win seasons in the 12 seasons since. The only blip on the radar was a 10-6 record in 2007, yet it was not good enough to make the cut in the AFC that year.
The good news is Cleveland is trending in the right direction. Despite the Johnny Manziel disaster, Mike Pettine led the squad to a 7-9 finish in 2014, it’s best since ’07. Josh McCown projects as the starting quarterback this fall, with new receivers Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline out wide. The Browns also boast a strong offensive line. Defensively, their secondary is among the best in the NFL with Joe Haden, Donte Whitner and Tashaun Gipson. If the club can get halfway decent quarterback play, the end is near.
2. (Tie) Oakland Raiders (2002)
How the mighty have fallen. The last time the Raiders were in the playoffs, in 2002, they lost Super Bowl XXXVII to the Buccaneers and Rich Gannon won the league's MVP award. Oakland has not finished above .500 since — their best results were back-to-back 8-8 records in 2010 and 2011. The Raiders are on their eighth coach in 10 years, turmoil indicative of where this team stands.
Though they finished 3-13 last year, there’s plenty of promise on this roster. David Carr put together a solid rookie season with 21 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, while outside linebacker Khalil Mack was everything the Raiders expected from the fifth overall pick and then some. Oakland used its top pick this year on receiver Amari Cooper, a lethal, sure-handed weapon for Carr. This franchise needs time to cultivate that talent, especially with new coach Jack Del Rio in tow. But in two years or so they could snap this streak.
1. Buffalo Bills (1999)
This is the lone NFL team that has not qualified for the postseason this century. The venerable Doug Flutie led the Bills to the playoffs in 1998 and 1999, and they have not returned over the last 16 years. Buffalo has failed to even hit double-digit wins since ’99, when they lost in the wild-card round for the second straight year. For the most part, they have not been terrible, but mired in mediocrity.
However, the future looks as bright as any team on this list. Boisterous coach Rex Ryan has injected new life into the fanbase. The club traded for All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy in March, then added wide receiver Percy Harvin, tight end Charles Clay and quarterback Matt Cassel. The only hole in this offense comes at QB, which is obviously a pretty big problem. Defensively, the Bills are loaded with what is probably the best defensive line in all of football. Their secondary is steadily improving, as well. It’s far from a stretch to think this could be the year Buffalo finally breaks through.
By Ian McCue
http://247sports.com/Article/Buffalo-Bills-top-list-Raiders-and-Browns-tie-for-second-38207025
This is a painful list for fans of the NFL’s less fortunate franchises. They are well aware of the playoff droughts their teams have endured over the years because they've witnessed it all.
But not everyone knows how it feels to see collapse after collapse (we’re looking at you, Patriots fans). This should bring some perspective to those spoiled fans who have seen their club make the playoffs in the last five years.
247Sports broke down the longest active playoff droughts in the league. The team-by-team breakdown includes a look ahead at why these franchises may snap these unwanted streaks sooner than you think.
5. (Tie) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (last playoff appearance: 2007)
Eight years ago, a past-his-prime Jeff Garcia led the Buccaneers to a 9-7 record, good enough to earn a wild-card spot in the 2007 playoffs. Tampa Bay has closed with a winning mark twice since then — 9-7 in 2008 and 10-6 in 2010 — but has not made the playoffs since. There was a resurgence with Josh Freeman under center a few years ago, yet it was not enough to bring the Bucs back to the postseason.
The franchise bottomed out at 2-14 last year, its worst record since 1986. That gave them the right to the top overall pick in the draft, which they used on Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. The first-round pick from 2014, wide receiver Mike Evans, had a stellar rookie campaign. He should develop a quick connection with Winston. Gerald McCoy, 27, is one of the best defensive tackles in the game. It’s not hard to envision this club back in the playoffs two or three years down the road.
5. (Tie) Jacksonville Jaguars (2007)
Like their neighbors to the south, seven long seasons have gone by since Jacksonville’s last trip to the postseason. Quarterback David Garrard and running back Maurice Jones-Drew, both now retired, were the engine of a Jaguars team that advanced to the divisional round in January 2008. They lost to the unbeaten Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Jaguars have not finished above .500 after that 11-5 season in 2007.
Over the last three years, the club has won only nine games. The Gus Bradley era is not off to the best start. Year two will be critical for QB Blake Bortles, the third overall selection in last year’s draft. While he turned the ball over far too much as a rookie, that was to be expected. The addition of ex-Broncos tight end Julius Thomas alongside promising second-year wideouts Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson will lend Bortles a helping hand. Linebacker Paul Posluszny and defensive ends Jared Odrick and Chris Clemons will anchor the D.
4. St. Louis Rams (2004)
Only a few years after “The Greatest Show on Turf” ended in St. Louis, the Rams took a nosedive. They won the Super Bowl following the 1999 season — Kurt Warner was the MVP — and fell to the up-and-coming Patriots in the big game two years later. Marc Bulger and Torry Holt pulled some final magic out of the Rams in 2003 and 2004. The 8-8 Rams fell in the divisional round in Mike Martz’s final full season as head coach. That was 11 years ago.
This is likely coach Jeff Fisher’s last chance with the Rams. They have not had a winning record in his three years as coach and went a disappointing 6-10 last year. Sam Bradford is gone, replaced by Nick Foles, and the club believes 10th overall pick Todd Gurley is a transcendent talent. The defense, led by sackmaster Robert Quinn, is respectable and will benefit from the addition of linebacker Akeem Ayers. If everything goes according to plan, the Rams could contend for a wild-card spot in 2015.
(Photo: Ron Schwane, USA TODAY Sports)
2. (Tie) Cleveland Browns (2002)
The Browns’ last championship came in 1964, which pre-dates the Super Bowl era. This team has made the postseason only twice since 1990, most recently a wild-card appearance in 2002. Fans have endured nine four and five-win seasons in the 12 seasons since. The only blip on the radar was a 10-6 record in 2007, yet it was not good enough to make the cut in the AFC that year.
The good news is Cleveland is trending in the right direction. Despite the Johnny Manziel disaster, Mike Pettine led the squad to a 7-9 finish in 2014, it’s best since ’07. Josh McCown projects as the starting quarterback this fall, with new receivers Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline out wide. The Browns also boast a strong offensive line. Defensively, their secondary is among the best in the NFL with Joe Haden, Donte Whitner and Tashaun Gipson. If the club can get halfway decent quarterback play, the end is near.
2. (Tie) Oakland Raiders (2002)
How the mighty have fallen. The last time the Raiders were in the playoffs, in 2002, they lost Super Bowl XXXVII to the Buccaneers and Rich Gannon won the league's MVP award. Oakland has not finished above .500 since — their best results were back-to-back 8-8 records in 2010 and 2011. The Raiders are on their eighth coach in 10 years, turmoil indicative of where this team stands.
Though they finished 3-13 last year, there’s plenty of promise on this roster. David Carr put together a solid rookie season with 21 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, while outside linebacker Khalil Mack was everything the Raiders expected from the fifth overall pick and then some. Oakland used its top pick this year on receiver Amari Cooper, a lethal, sure-handed weapon for Carr. This franchise needs time to cultivate that talent, especially with new coach Jack Del Rio in tow. But in two years or so they could snap this streak.
1. Buffalo Bills (1999)
This is the lone NFL team that has not qualified for the postseason this century. The venerable Doug Flutie led the Bills to the playoffs in 1998 and 1999, and they have not returned over the last 16 years. Buffalo has failed to even hit double-digit wins since ’99, when they lost in the wild-card round for the second straight year. For the most part, they have not been terrible, but mired in mediocrity.
However, the future looks as bright as any team on this list. Boisterous coach Rex Ryan has injected new life into the fanbase. The club traded for All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy in March, then added wide receiver Percy Harvin, tight end Charles Clay and quarterback Matt Cassel. The only hole in this offense comes at QB, which is obviously a pretty big problem. Defensively, the Bills are loaded with what is probably the best defensive line in all of football. Their secondary is steadily improving, as well. It’s far from a stretch to think this could be the year Buffalo finally breaks through.
