Howdy Hive! Today I'm going to write about the five best teams to miss the NFL playoffs. The NFL expanded the playoff system from a 12-team to a 14-team tournament in 2020 by adding a third Wild Card team from each conference. Since the Wild Card format was first introduced in 1978 there have been Super Bowl capable teams that have missed out on the playoffs altogether. Let's take a look at those teams.
5. 2005 Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
Denver Broncos finished with a 13-3 record in the AFC West with the Chiefs finishing 10-6. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) and Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) secured the final two AFC wildcard spots meaning the Chiefs became only the sixth team with a 10-6 record to miss out on the playoffs since the NFL Wild Card format was first introduced in 1970.
Kansas finished with the best ever DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) for a team missing the playoffs. Despite the disappointment it was a memorable year for Chiefs third-year running back Larry Johnson who had a breakout season, running for 2000+ yards from scrimmage and scoring 21 touchdowns.
4. 2007 Cleveland Browns (10-6)
The 2007 Browns had six players named to the Pro Bowl including rookie left tackle Joe Thomas and quarterback Derek Anderson. Cleveland had both the eighth most points and total offensive yards but still somehow missed out on the playoffs.
The Steelers (10-6) won the AFC North over the Browns on a head-to-head tiebreaker and the Tennessee Titans (10-6) secured the final Wild Card spot having the best won-lost-tied percentage in common games with the Browns. Cleveland fans would have to wait until 2020 for the next winning season for the franchise.
3. 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)
Entering the 2010 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were looking to improve on their 3-13 record from the season prior. Despite the biggest season turnaround in the history of the franchise, the Buccs still missed out on the playoffs just like the year before.
The Green Bay Packers snuck into the playoffs on the final day of the season following a victory over the Chicago Bears. The Packers clinched the final NFC Wild Card spot over the Buccaneers on the strength of victory tie-breaker rule and ahead of the New York Giants by having a better combined win-loss-tie percentage against opponents in common.
In a bitter pill to swallow for the Buccaneers, the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks - the worst team ever to make the NFL playoffs - snuck into the playoffs despite a losing record as the NFC West champions.
2. 2010 New York Giants (10-6)
In 2007 the 10-6 Giants became only the fifth Wild Card team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl. Three years later the Giants again finished 10-6 but missed out on a Wild Card spot this time around. It was the same year the 10-6 Buccaneers failed to make the playoffs with the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks making the cut.
The Giants had a perfect opportunity to solidify their playoff chances in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles. They allowed four unanswered touchdowns in the final eight minutes of play as well as allowing a punt return for a touchdown in a 38-31 loss known as the ‘Miracle at the New Meadowlands’.
**Tomorrow I'll be posting the number one best team in NFL history to have missed out on the NFL playoffs so stay tuned. Any idea who it may be? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. **
All the way from the Land Down Under, I created Wolfgang Sport as I enjoy writing and watching British and American sports. Started in 2017, I started the blog as a way to connect my passion for sports in the US & UK.