The worst NFL playoff teams all have one thing in common, luck on their side. Just how bad were they?
Worst NFL Playoff Teams
Despite underwhelming seasons these teams were fortunate enough to make it to the postseason. Let’s find out the 10 worst teams to make the NFL playoffs.
10. Minnesota Vikings 2004 (8-8)
The 2004 Minnesota Vikings started the season 5-1. Daunte Culpepper finished with 39 touchdowns on the season and could have been MVP had it not been for Peyton Manning throwing the fourth most touchdowns in a season.
Minnesota stumbled with the lack of support for Culpepper. They closed out the season with a 3-7 record but still made the postseason. After stunning the Packers at Lambeau Field in the Wild Card Playoffs they lost to the Eagles in the Divisional Round.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022 (8-9)
The 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the worst NFL playoff teams ever. Tom Brady unretired to play the season after winning Super Bowl LV but it was a far cry from their 13-4 record the season prior. Major injuries stripped the team of stars Ryan Jensen and Shaq Barrett.
Tampa Bay finished with the worst ground offense with only five rushing touchdowns for the year. They became only the fourth team in history to make the playoffs with a losing record. Brady retired again at the end of the season following a Wild Card loss to the Cowboys.
8. St. Louis Rams 2004 (8-8)
One of the worst NFL playoff teams ever was the 2004 St. Louis Rams. The Rams scored 319 points during the season but conceded 392.
They still managed to win the NFC West and clinched a spot in the postseason following victories in the final two games, including an OT win over the Jets in the final game of the regular season.
The Rams surprised everyone as they defeated the Seahawks in the Wild Card round but were blown out by the Falcons in the Divisional round.
7. San Diego Chargers 2008 (8-8)
A weak AFC West in 2008 produced one of the worst teams to make the NFL playoffs. Despite a 4-8 start to the season the San Diego Chargers became the first team since 1985 to go 8-8 and win their division.
Five teams that missed the playoffs had a better regular season record than San Diego. Led by Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates the Chargers even went on to stun the Colts (12-4) in the Wild Card Playoff before losing against the Steelers in the Divisional Round.
6. Washington Football Team 2020 (7-9)
The Washington Football Team somehow recovered from a 2-7 start to the season to win the NFC East, becoming the third team in history to win a division with a losing record.
Washington capitalised on a season ending Dak Prescott injury for the Cowboys, and the major regression of Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz. Washington’s Alex Smith was named Comeback Player of the Year and the team went to the Wild Card Playoffs, losing to eventual Super Bowl winners the Buccaneers.
5. Chicago Bears 2020 (8-8)
The 2020 Bears started off the season 5-1 before going on a run of six straight losses. They eventually steadied themselves and finished 8-8. It was only the third time in history a team with a six game losing streak made the playoffs.
Linebackers Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith starred for a defensive line that carried the Bears through the season. Quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles made the 2020 Bears one of the worst teams to make the NFL postseason and they lost in the Wild Card Playoff to the Saints.
The Bears offense in one play pic.twitter.com/qSvEgedFW3
— Ryan Jones🏈 (@RyanJones_FF) November 8, 2020
4. Buffalo Bills 2017 (9-7)
The 2017 Buffalo Bills ended a 17-year playoff absence which was the longest active playoff drought in major league sports. The Bills’ offense struggled, with the injury impacted Tyrod Taylor benched in favor of rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman during the season.
Buffalo limped into the playoffs with a 9-7 record and a -57 points differential. Taylor led the 29th ranked team for total yards to the Wild Card Playoff match against Jacksonville. He was limited to 134 years and hit only 17-of-37 passes as the Bills lost 10-3 to the Jaguars.
3. Denver Broncos 2011 (8-8)
The 2011 Denver Broncos were crowned AFC West champions over the San Diego Chargers, with a tiebreak situation being decided by a better win percentage in common games.
Denver headed into the postseason as one of the worst teams to make the NFL playoffs with a points differential of -81, ranked 25th for points scored during the season, and on a three game losing streak.
Despite this.the Broncos forced OT against the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) in the Wildcard Playoff. Tim Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard walk-off touchdown on the first play to earn a Divisional Playoff game. They faced the Patriots and lost in a 45-10 blowout.
2. Carolina Panthers 2014 (7-8-1)
Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers in 2014 lost six straight games to drop to a 3-8-1 record. They still ended up as NFC South champions.
Seven teams in the NFL had a better record than the Panthers and missed out on the playoffs. This was a team with an offensive line that allowed Newton to get sacked nine times in a Week 10 loss to the Eagles.
Despite this they headed into a Wild Card Playoff against the Cardinals full of hope as Arizona had to start third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley. They won that game, but lost to the Seahawks in the Divisional Playoffs.
1. Seattle Seahawks 2010 (7-9)
The Worst NFL record to make the playoffs is the Seattle Seahawks 7-9 season in 2010. They became the first team to win a division with a losing record and only beat the Rams in the NFC West by division win percentage.
Seattle’s defense was ranked 27th and offense ranked 28th for total yardage during the season. The San Diego Chargers (9-7) were ranked 1st in both categories but missed the playoffs.
A home field advantage game against defending Super Bowl Champions the New Orleans Saints (11-5) seemed impossible to win. Despite a record -97 point differential for a playoff team they beat the Saints on the back of Marshawn Lynch’s “Beast Quake” game clinching touchdown run.
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