Under-appreciated long stretches by franchises

[JohnH19]

The Vikings' stretch from 1968 to basically the present is impressive in a perverse way. During that time, they have made the playoffs 30 times -- third-most behind Pittsburgh and Dallas -- but have never won a Super Bowl. The 10 other teams that have made the playoffs more than 20 times during that span have won a combined 32 Super Bowls.

This is what makes being a Vikings fan so frustrating and painful. So close so many times.

[74_75_78_79_]

Ever since 1988, the Philadelphia Eagles have never gone more than three-straight years without a playoff berth. And three straight years only happened twice…1997-thru-’99, and 2014-thru-’16.

And every single HC the franchise has had from Buddy Ryan to the present (a total of seven-straight) can say he led the Birds to the playoffs at least once! And if Sirianni can just muster himself another winning season in the City of Brotherly Love, then it’ll also be a case of every Eagles HC since Buddy leading the franchise to at least two winning seasons (yes, that goes for Kotite & Kelly)!

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

The Colts in the 60s after winning back-to-back championships in the 50s and before winning Super Bowl 5.

[7DnBrnc53]

The Denver Broncos stretch from 1973-2016 should be mentioned: 8 Super Bowls (3 won), 21 playoff appearances, another 7 winning seasons with no playoff berths and 7 .500 seasons

Actually, I would only include 1973-05. In that stretch, the Broncos were the third-winningest team in the NFL (only behind the Dolphins and Steelers) in that span: https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/winnin ... 73-to-2005

That loss to the Steelers in the 2005 AFC Title game turned out to be the beginning of the end, and missing the playoffs (and the firing of Shanny) in 2008, was the complete death knell.

Since then, they had two seasons of McDaniels and eight straight losing seasons since Elway got full control (2017-now) sandwiching four outlier seasons with Peyton (Tebow led them to the playoffs in 2011, but they were 8-8, and that season wasn't legit).

From 2006-11, Denver was the 19th winningest team in the NFL: https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/winnin ... 06-to-2011

From 2016-now, they are the 25th: https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/winnin ... 6-to-today

Oh, how the Mile High Mighty have fallen, and it won't improve until ownership gets rid of Elway and the incompetent FO.

[Some Guy From Mars]

How about the Los Angeles Rams between 1966 and 1989? Started with the hiring of George Allen and ended with back to back losing seasons under John Robinson in 1990 and 1991. In between, the Rams has a very solid track record of consistency with just four losing seasons but also 16 playoff appearances. Yes, just one Super Bowl appearance (a losing effort to the Steelers in 1979), which in no way negates 10 division titles and five NFC championship games.

Most impressive run was under Chuck Knox when the Rams won 5 consecutive division titles but could not get by Dallas or Minnesota to make it to the Super Bowl. Also, in my opinion the John Robinson era is underrated when factoring six winning seasons out of seven between 1983 and 1989 in addition to two appearances in the NFC Championship game. To be completely fair, Robinson cannot be entirely faulted for losing said conference championship games to what many consider two of the greatest single season teams in league history, the 1985 Chicago Bears and 1989 San Francisco 49ers.

[vikingsfan1963]

The Vikings' stretch from 1968 to basically the present is impressive in a perverse way. During that time, they have made the playoffs 30 times -- third-most behind Pittsburgh and Dallas -- but have never won a Super Bowl. The 10 other teams that have made the playoffs more than 20 times during that span have won a combined 32 Super Bowls.

This is what makes being a Vikings fan so frustrating and painful. So close so many times.

I still feel the team that got Hail Mary'd by Staubach would've won it all. At the time I thought the '98 team would've won it all, and if Favre just tucks and runs it that team wins it too. However, in reflection the '98 team was so banged up I'm not so sure they could've beat that Denver team.

[Brian wolf]

The 1998 Viking defense was bad but I believe they would have beaten the Broncos in a SB shootout. Could the defensive line led by Randle get to Elway ?

[74_75_78_79_]

The Vikings' stretch from 1968 to basically the present is impressive in a perverse way. During that time, they have made the playoffs 30 times -- third-most behind Pittsburgh and Dallas -- but have never won a Super Bowl. The 10 other teams that have made the playoffs more than 20 times during that span have won a combined 32 Super Bowls.

This is what makes being a Vikings fan so frustrating and painful. So close so many times.

I still feel the team that got Hail Mary'd by Staubach would've won it all. At the time I thought the '98 team would've won it all, and if Favre just tucks and runs it that team wins it too. However, in reflection the '98 team was so banged up I'm not so sure they could've beat that Denver team.

Colts/Vikings would have been an even better, even closer Super Bowl. Contrast-in-styles! Two top-tier HOF QBs, but each prone at times to a costly INT in a big game. With Peterson and that D, you’d have to like Minny’s chances there.

Don’t forget ’87! They do just a little more at RFK in the NFCC, I feel strongly Burnsie, Peters, Doleman, Millard, Browner, Anthony Carter, etc, help themselves to a Lombardi over Denver. IMO an easier victory than if (if) they’d beat Denver in ’98.

[Mark]

Back in 1998 I was convinced half of the way through the season that Denver would win the Super Bowl no matter who they played. No way to know if I was correct of course. Their two losses came late when they seemed to have things mostly wrapped up. The Dolphin team they lost to in the regular season they then whipped in the playoffs when it really mattered.

[Ronfitch]

The Packers from 1921 through 1944 won 6 championships. They had only 2 losing seasons in that 24-year span.

Still strange to say - as someone who became a Packer fan early in the lull (1970 - missed it by *that* much) - but the Packers from '92 onward: 2 championships, 15 division titles, 22 playoff appearances across 30 seasons, with only four losing seasons and two .500 seasons.