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There are still 12 NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl as the 60th edition of the Big Game nears. Of those 12, eight have been to the postseason at least 10 times in the Super Bowl era.
Despite frequent trips, these organizations have failed to capitalize. Many are among the most recognizable names in the sport.
For one reason or another, an NFL title has proven elusive. We’ll take a look at the bunch below.
Which NFL teams have made the playoff most without winning a Super Bowl?
We’ll go in ascending order to end with the franchise that has the most failed trips. This list only includes Super Bowl era postseason results.
Anything prior to the AFL-NFL merger is off limits. Without further ado…
Atlanta Falcons (14)
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The Falcons have made the NFL Playoffs on 14 occasions. They have failed to secure a Super Bowl ring. The franchise has been able to play for a title twice but has gone 0-for-2 in those tries.
The most recent was the 28-3 collapse in Super Bowl LI against Tom Brady and the Patriots. The other came in Super Bowl XXXIII in 1998, which it lost to Denver.
Atlanta is 10-14 in the postseason dating back to its first trip in 1978.
Detroit Lions (14)
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The Lions, like the Falcons mentioned before them, boast 14 playoff trips in the Super Bowl era. They are just 3-14 in postseason contests.
The franchise had a winless drought that extended nine games between 1991 and 2023. That year, it did break through with a trip to just its second NFC Championship game but lost to the 49ers.
The organization has yet to win or play in a Super Bowl, but it can rest its head on four NFL titles that preceded the current era.
Cleveland Browns (16)
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The Browns made a pair of NFL Championship trips just prior to the Super Bowl era, winning a title in the 1964 season. They’ve been unable to attain championship success since.
Cleveland has made 16 postseason trips, with 13 coming prior to the turn of the 21st Century. They’ve gone 7-16 in the playoffs while having never made the Big Game.
The franchise has made the AFC title contest on five occasions, only to lose a game shy of a Super Bowl chance.
Cincinnati Bengals (16)
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The Bengals have gone to the postseason 16 times in the Super Bowl era. They’ve yet to take home the Lombardi trophy, though they have had the opportunity.
Cincinnati has been to three Super Bowls with the most recent in 2021. That resulted in a loss to Rams. The franchise also played for titles in ’81 and ’88, losing both to the 49ers.
The Bengals are 10-16 in the playoffs, with five of those wins coming in the last two trips. Maybe they can break through next time around.
Los Angeles Chargers (17)
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The Chargers appeared in the AFL Championship five of the last six years before the league merged with the NFL. The success didn’t carry over into the Super Bowl era.
It would be more than a decade before the franchise made a playoff trip, the first of 17 Super Bowl-less postseason tries. Los Angeles has played for one title, which it lost to the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX.
The team sports an 11-17 mark in the NFL Playoffs after going winless in its last three attempts.
Tennessee Titans (22)
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The Titans are the first team with more than 20 trips on this list, having made the postseason a total of 22 times. They’ve gone 0-for-22 in those attempts.
Tennessee has posted an all-time record of 15-22 in the NFL Playoffs, making one Super Bowl in 1999. Unfortunately, the team came up a yard shy of potentially beating the Rams.
The franchise, then known as the Oilers, did win back-to-back AFL titles just before the merger. The success, for one reason or another, hasn’t translated to the Super Bowl era.
Buffalo Bills (22)
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The Bills won the last two AFL titles played before the Super Bowl era. Championship success has since proven elusive.
The team has been close to removing itself from this list, making four Super Bowl appearances only to fall four times.
Those title matchups came in consecutive seasons between 1990-93. In total, Buffalo has made 22 playoff trips without being the last team standing. The franchise boasts an all-time record of 20-22 in the postseason.
Minnesota Vikings (32)
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This Vikings take the crown in this category. They’ve been to the postseason 32 different times since Super Bowl I. They’ve failed to win a ring.
Minnesota is 21-32 in the NFL Playoffs, making four Super Bowls. Like the Bills mentioned before them, they’ve gone 0-for-4 in those title contests.
Each of their Super Bowl trips came between 1969-1976. They’ve not returned over the last four decades with the last two postseason appearances ending after just one game.