One-hit wonder teams

[conace21]

The 1998 Atlanta Falcons. They had squeaked into the playoffs in 1995, but that was with a different coach and quarterback.

Possibly the 1998 Jets as well, although they did make the playoffs three years later.

[JWL]

The 1998 Atlanta Falcons. They had squeaked into the playoffs in 1995, but that was with a different coach and quarterback.

Possibly the 1998 Jets as well, although they did make the playoffs three years later.

If you want to be a hard marker I guess you can include the '98 Jets here on account of them not making the playoffs the year before and the year after. The Jets did go 17-15 in those seasons.

[JWL]

The 2016 Raiders (12-4). Jack Del Rio's second year. Raiders hadn't had a winning year since 2002. They went to the wild card round, losing at Houston, 27-14. Oakland regressed to 6-10 in 2017 and 4-12 last season, 2018.

The highlight of the 2017 Raiders season was calling a timeout to set up a field goal in the waning moments of a blowout in Week 2. It was all downhill from there.

[BD Sullivan]

The 1998 Atlanta Falcons. They had squeaked into the playoffs in 1995, but that was with a different coach and quarterback.

As noted before, there are plenty of Atlanta teams that would fit this category, since they could never put together back-to-back solid seasons.

[7DnBrnc53]

2007 Browns

Don't forget the 2002 Browns as well. That may have been one of the worst playoff teams ever.

[BD Sullivan]

2007 Browns

Don't forget the 2002 Browns as well. That may have been one of the worst playoff teams ever.

Those 2007 Browns won 10 games (narrowly missing the playoffs) after going 19-45 the previous four years. Beginning the next year, they compiled a sparkling 38-122 record over the next decade.

[JohnH19]

The 1970 Lions would make the playoffs at 10-4 (losing to Dallas 5-0 in the divisional round). Their next playoff berth during a non-strike year: 1991.

Why did that team fail to make the playoffs the next few years? They did have a fairly talented squad. Was it coaching (they did seem to have some turnover there)?

In 71, they were 4-1 prior to the game in which Chuck Hughes died, but they were still tied for the WC at 7-3-1 after beating KC on Thanksgiving. However, they lost at home to the 3-7-1 Eagles, then dropped their last two games at Minnesota and SF.

in 72, they were tied for the division lead at 7-4 after beating the Jets on Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, they got drilled by the Packers the following weeks and then inexplicably ended up in a tie on the road against the 3-9-1 Bills, which ended their playoff hopes.

Joe Schmidt quit after the 72 season and never returned to coaching.

The 1969 Lions finished 9-4-1 so they had winning records for four straight seasons. The '71 team was picked to go to the Super Bowl by some prognosticators. I have one magazine that had them playing the Jets in SB 6.

[SixtiesFan]

The 1970 Lions would make the playoffs at 10-4 (losing to Dallas 5-0 in the divisional round). Their next playoff berth during a non-strike year: 1991.

Why did that team fail to make the playoffs the next few years? They did have a fairly talented squad. Was it coaching (they did seem to have some turnover there)?

In 71, they were 4-1 prior to the game in which Chuck Hughes died, but they were still tied for the WC at 7-3-1 after beating KC on Thanksgiving. However, they lost at home to the 3-7-1 Eagles, then dropped their last two games at Minnesota and SF.

in 72, they were tied for the division lead at 7-4 after beating the Jets on Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, they got drilled by the Packers the following weeks and then inexplicably ended up in a tie on the road against the 3-9-1 Bills, which ended their playoff hopes.

Joe Schmidt quit after the 72 season and never returned to coaching.

The 1969 Lions finished 9-4-1 so they had winning records for four straight seasons. The '71 team was picked to go to the Super Bowl by some prognosticators. I have one magazine that had them playing the Jets in SB 6.

I recall a Sport Special during the 1970 season on the Detroit Lions titled "The Coming Together of a Pro Football Team." The Lions were ready to go to the Super Bowl, according to Sport Magazine, due to drafting well and most starters at their peak. In 1970, the Lions started fast, slumped to 5-4, then won their last 5 to finish 10-4 with the Wildcard spot. They lost to the Cowboys 5-0.