Sports|Football Teams

The 25 Worst Teams To Make NFL Playoffs

David De La Riva
Updated January 16, 2025 135.9K views 25 items

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The worst teams to ever make the NFL Playoffs are not just okay teams - they are simply bad teams that somehow managed to qualify for the National Football League postseason following a really crappy season. We're not talking about the borderline 9-7 teams that somehow squeak into the playoffs - we're talking a handful of teams that had losing seasons and still managed to win their division and earn that automatic playoff spot.

The process for selecting teams for the NFL Playoffs is pretty simple. The winners in each of the six divisions automatically qualify along with two wild card teams from each of the two conferences based on their regular season win-loss record. Usually this means the best teams in the league compete for the chance to play in the Super Bowl but as these teams prove, that logic is not always flawless.

With the exception of the shortened 1982 NFL season in which both the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns entered the playoffs with 4-5 records, never has a team with a losing record in a 16-game season qualified for the playoffs until the 2010 season. The Seattle Seahawks managed to win the beyond weak NFC West with a losing 7-9 record and earn the automatic bid into the postseason. Meanwhile, a 10-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the competitive NFC South sat home and watched with their 10-6 record getting them nowhere. Seattle was pretty bad during the year, allowing 407 points compared to scoring 310, but managed to shock everyone in the first round of the 2010 NFL Playoffs by upsetting the defending-champion New Orleans Saints.

Only slightly better than teams with a losing record that qualified for the NFL Playoffs are teams that went an even .500 on the year and still reached the postseason. Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 through 2010, 10 teams have qualified for the playoffs with an even 8-8 record. Many argued that allowing these sub-par teams into the playoffs was a travesty, especially in cases where other teams with much better records sat home, such as the case of the Tom Brady-less New England Patriots who went 11-5 in 2008 and spent their winter on vacation, not competing to play in the Super Bowl. Hmm, sounds like they may have a point.

What are the worst teams to make the playoffs? There are some really bad teams on this list, some might have even had the worst record in NFL history, and there are plenty options to vote for so choose wisely.

Most divisive: 2011 Cincinnati Bengals
Over 5.0K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Worst Teams in the Playoffs
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  • 2010 Seattle Seahawks
    1

    2010 Seattle Seahawks

    Record: 7–9
    Division Standing: 1st NFC West
    Playoff Result: Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Saints) 41–36, Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Bears) 24–35
    Pro Bowlers: None

    The 2010 Seahawks season was one for the books. Even with a record under .500, they somehow pulled off a miracle by making it to the playoffs, breaking all sorts of norms. Thanks to their head coach Pete Carroll and players like Matt Hasselbeck, they proved that records mean zip when it comes to determination. Their victory over the Saints was epic, but their playoff journey ended against the Bears.

    2,506 votes
    Worst team to make playoffs?
  • 2014 Carolina Panthers
    2

    2014 Carolina Panthers

    Record: 7–8–1
    Division Standing: 1st NFC South
    Playoff Result: Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Cardinals) 27–16, Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Seahawks) 17–31
    Pro Bowlers: TE Greg Olsen, LB Luke Kuechly

    2014 was a yo-yo of a year for the Carolina Panthers. Despite a subpar 7–8–1 record, they achieved back-to-back division titles, making NFC South history. The dynamics of the roster, featuring powerhouses like Greg Olsen and Luke Kuechly, propelled them into the playoffs. They managed an impressive win against the Cardinals in the Wild Card round but stumbled in the Divisional playoffs against the Seahawks.

    666 votes
    Worst team to make playoffs?
  • 1982 Detroit Lions
    3

    1982 Detroit Lions

    Record: 4-5
    Division Standing: 8th NFC (~4th in the NFC Central)
    Playoff Result: Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Redskins) 7–31
    Pro Bowlers: T Keith Dorney, RB Billy Sims, DT Doug English

    The 1982 Lions powered through a tough but exhilarating season, posting a 4-5 record going head to head with some NFL behemoths. Their roster, boasting three pro bowlers, was a tough ensemble that had a knack for pulling off the unpredictable. Despite a sub-500 season record, they not only managed to secure a playoff spot, but it was also their first postseason appearance since 1970 - a classic underdog story deserving of a Disney movie! Even though their luck ran out with a loss to the Redskins, the 1982 Lions proved they were more than just a losing record. They defied the odds and proved that sometimes, it's not about how you start, but how you finish.

    1,160 votes
    Worst team to make playoffs?
  • 1969 Houston Oilers
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    4

    1969 Houston Oilers

    Record: 6-6-2
    Division Standing: 2nd AFL Eastern
    Playoff Result: Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Raiders) 7-56

    The 1969 Houston Oilers season was an experience of straddling edges, demonstrating that a mediocre record does not necessitate a missed playoff opportunity. The team, led by head coach Wally Lemm and a roster that included star players such as Pete Beathard and Hoyle Granger, weathered the ups and downs to end the regular season with six wins, six losse, and two ties. They managed to secure a slot in the divisional playoffs, an achievement tattered by a disappointing 7-56 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

    1,036 votes
    Worst team to make playoffs?
  • 1982 Cleveland Browns
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    5

    1982 Cleveland Browns

    Record: 4-5
    Division Standing: 8th AFC
    Playoff Result: Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Raiders) 10–27
    Pro Bowlers: LB Chip Banks

    In the truncated 1982 season, the Cleveland Browns managed to claw their way into the playoffs despite a lackluster 4-5 record. Their playoff berth was a testament to their dogged persistence and the talent of Pro Bowler Chip Banks, who brought in 6.5 sacks in just nine games. Unfortunately, their journey ended abruptly with a loss to the Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card Playoffs. This season held an intriguing dichotomy: a below-par performance played alongside an unexpected playoff adventure.

    1,300 votes
    Worst team to make playoffs?
  • 1999 Detroit Lions
    6

    1999 Detroit Lions

    Record: 8–8
    Division Standing: 3rd NFC Central
    Playoff Result: Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Redskins) 13–27
    Pro Bowlers: TE David Sloan, DT Luther Elliss, DE Robert Porcher, LB Stephen Boyd, K Jason Hanson

    In the 1999 season, the Detroit Lions found themselves in a twisting narrative of triumph and despair, ending the regular season with an even 8-8 record, yet securing a third place in the NFC Central. This team, shaken by the unexpected retirement of Barry Sanders and pivoting to young quarterbacks like Charlie Batch and Gus Frerotte, had a season of roller-coaster endings: from a six-game winning spree to losing their last four games. Despite these odds, the Lions roared into the playoffs, only to fall to the Redskins in the Wild Card round. It was a season marked by unpredictability and resilience, a testament to their fight in the face of football's fluctuating fortunes.

    974 votes
    Worst team to make playoffs?