Most consecutive winning seasons w/out a post-season berth

[74_75_78_79_]

Can’t even think of one off top of my head!

Anyone know?

[conace21]

Can’t even think of one off top of my head!

Anyone know?

A quick search shows the following teams with 4 straight.
49ers 1951-54
Lions 1936-39

[JuggernautJ]

Well...

The Staleys/Bears had winning seasons from 1920-28 without a post season berth.
And the Packers were winners from 1921-32 without a play-off game...
...of course, before there were any play-offs in the NFL.

[Rupert Patrick]

If you count the 1943 Phil-Pitt toward the Eagles, the 43-46 Eagles qualify, so do the 1966-69 Chargers. Those are the only others with four straight.

The 1959-63 Browns are the only team to do it five straight seasons.

Among those with strings of three straight, the 59-61, 60-62 and 61-63 Browns, the 36-38 and 37-39 Lions, the 60-62 Lions, 45-47 Packers, 1966-68 and 67-69 Chargers, 1943-45 and 44-46 Eagles, 52-54 Eagles, 1946-48 49ers, 1951-53 49ers, 52-54 49ers and 59-61 49ers.

Because of the additional teams in the postseason since 1970, it is much more difficult for a team to go three straight seasons with a better than .500 record and not make the playoffs. I thought I would list the teams since 1970 with two straight seasons above .500 and not making the postseason. The teams who have achieved this are:

1983-84 Cardinals
1975-76 Bengals
1973-74 Broncos
1971-72 Lions
1972-73 Chiefs
1970-71 Rams
2002-03 Dolphins
1979-80 Patriots
1987-88 Patriots
1988-89 Saints
1978-79 Raiders
1978-79 Seahawks
1996-97 Redskins

[74_75_78_79_]

Nice knowledge-drops, guys! Thanks!

[BD Sullivan]

Because of the additional teams in the postseason since 1970, it is much more difficult for a team to go three straight seasons with a better than .500 record and not make the playoffs. I thought I would list the teams since 1970 with two straight seasons above .500 and not making the postseason. The teams who have achieved this are:


1975-76 Bengals

Bengals were the WC in 75, losing at Oakland in the first round of the playoffs.

[Rupert Patrick]

Because of the additional teams in the postseason since 1970, it is much more difficult for a team to go three straight seasons with a better than .500 record and not make the playoffs. I thought I would list the teams since 1970 with two straight seasons above .500 and not making the postseason. The teams who have achieved this are:


1975-76 Bengals

Bengals were the WC in 75, losing at Oakland in the first round of the playoffs.

D'oh

One thing I did notice looking at the list of post-1970 consecutive .500-or-better seasons without a playoff appearance is that it has become much more difficult to accomplish since 1990 in the current six-teams-per-conference playoff format. Since 1990, it has only happened two times, by the 1996-97 Redskins and 2002-03 Dolphins. It happened four times from 1970-77 with four teams per conference making the postseason, and six times between 1978-89 with five teams per conference, but only twice since 1990.

[RRMarshall]

]The teams who have achieved this are:

1975-76 Bengals



Slight correction. The 1975 Cincinnati Bengals made the playoffs as a Wildcard, losing in the first round to the Raiders in Paul Browns' last game. They did have winning seasons in both 1976 and 1977 without making the postseason.