Best Teams to Miss the Playoffs

[RichardBak]

IMO the top two would be '67 Colts and '62 Lions. That's pre-merger. Post-merger...man, there's too many to sort out.

I've never given much thought to '63 Packers. But 11-2-1 w/o Hornung...Pack's only 2 losses were to Bears...reverse one of those losses and it's 12-1-1 GB vs. NYG in title game for third year in a row.

I recall seeing the November 17 Bears-Packers game on TV. It was made the "national" game that week. Both teams were 8-1 going in. This was the "big game" of the year and was anticipated by press and fans for weeks. The Bears won 26-7. I've never thought the Packers missed Hornung that much.

JFK was assassinated five days later.

Who they really missed was Bart Starr. He missed that showdown at Wrigley Field and John Roach and Zeke Bratkowski wound up throwing 5 interceptions between them. But maybe Starr wouldn't have made a difference. The Bears really manhandled GB both times they met that year.

[RichardBak]

I gave it some more thought and I think the best team not to make the NFL playoffs since the merger is the 2022/23 Georgia Bulldogs.

[Sonny9]

'48 San Fran 12-2 247 point differential
495 points scored, outgained opponents by 1200+ yards, +17 turnover differential
The 3 and 7 point losses to Cleveland kept them out of the playoffs

[RichardBak]

'48 San Fran 12-2 247 point differential
495 points scored, outgained opponents by 1200+ yards, +17 turnover differential
The 3 and 7 point losses to Cleveland kept them out of the playoffs

How easy it is to forget AAFC teams. Thanks for reminding us.

[Brian wolf]

1991 Niners finished up strong at 10-6. Might have made noise in the playoffs ...

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

A couple to add off the top of my head:

Can't remember the year but the Broncos went 11-5 and didn't make the playoffs.

1948 Bears lost 2 games by a total of 8 points. Lost to the Champion Eagles and runner-up Cardinals.

[7DnBrnc53]

the 1981 Broncos were pretty good, 10-6
Top 10 defense
Maybe offense in the middle

1985 they were 11-5
Top 10 offense
Defense in the middle

I would take the 1981 version. The defense was younger, and they got back to that Orange Crush-style defense after an off 1980. In 1985, Denver's D was starting to decline (the final remnants of the Orange Crush were on the verge of retirement). In 85, 86, and 88 (three non-strike years. 1987 was an anomaly), they were 13th, 15th, and 20th in points allowed. And, by then, Elway was the whole offense. They had a decent offensive line (with three guys 30 and over), but a weak running game and average weapons (I would take Haven Moses and Riley Odoms over Steve Watson and Clarence Kay anyday. Also, Vance was just a rookie in 85, and Ex-Cowboy Butch Johnson was about done).