[Editor’s note: We published this in 2021 but updated it.]
The NFL playoffs begin this weekend, which means we’ll see who’s crowned a champion soon enough.
It also means some teams and fanbases have hopes that this could be the first year they win it all.
The Los Angeles Rams are the defending champs, of course, but they didn’t even make the postseason this year, which is wild.
That is even more crazy when you think about how 12 NFL teams have never won even one Super Bowl.
Let’s take a look at those 12 teams and see how close they’ve come to getting off this list.
Buffalo Bills (4 Super Bowl appearances)
The Bills, of course, went to four straight Super Bowls in the early 90s and … lost all four times. They made it to the AFC Championship Game in 2021.
Minnesota Vikings (4 Super Bowl appearances)
The Vikings haven’t been to the Super Bowl since 1976 (they went 3 times in 4 years in the 1970s).
Atlanta Falcons (2 Super Bowl appearances)
The Falcons got blown out in one Super Bowl against John Elway and the Broncos and then, well, coughed up a 28-3 lead in another one.
Carolina Panthers (2 Super Bowl appearances)
The Panthers lost a close one to a very young Tom Brady in what was a great shootout at Super Bowl 38 and then lost to an old Peyton Manning in Super Bowl 50.
Cincinnati Bengals (2 Super Bowl appearances)
The Bengals came so close to winning a Super Bowl in the 1987 season but then Joe Montana found John Taylor in the back of the end zone in the final minute and that was that. They made the Super Bowl last season and could do it again this year.
Arizona Cardinals (1 Super Bowl appearance)
The Cardinals are one incredible TD catch by Santonio Holmes from not being on this list.
Los Angeles Chargers (1 Super Bowl appearance)
The Chargers, back when they rightfully called San Diego home, got blown out by Steve Young and the 49ers in Super Bowl 29. It was an ugly one.
Tennessee Titans (1 Super Bowl appearance)
The Titans came just a few yards short of winning Super Bowl 34.
Cleveland Browns (Zero Super Bowl appearances)
The Browns lost a few heart-breaking AFC title games to John Elway and the Broncos in the 1980s but hey, they did get their first playoff win since 1994 in 2021.
Detroit Lions (Zero Super Bowl appearances)
The Lions haven’t won a playoff game since 1991. Ooof.
Houston Texans (Zero Super Bowl appearances)
Yeah, they’re definitely going to remain on this list for a while.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Zero Super Bowl appearances)
