56 spectacular and unforgettable Super Bowl confrontations have left their marks on the hearts of fans from all over the world in the renowned annals of NFL history. This year, The NFL playoffs have already begun, and the winner will be announced soon enough. This may also be a year when some groups, including teams and fan bases, hope to win their first championship. While their stories may not have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, they were just as compelling as the teams that fought valiantly against all odds.
Every team experiences ups and downs, whether it be a historic rise like the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs experienced after discovering quarterbacks with generational talent or a tragic decline like the Dallas Cowboys dynasty experienced in the late 1990s as cornerstone players left one after another. Sadly, not all teams reach a plateau at the same level as others. This blog will discuss the 11 NFL teams that never won a Superbowl despite their best efforts.
NFL Teams That Have Never Been to the Super Bowl
As we go down memory lane to cherish some great wins and losses, let’s also look at the legends who never reached a Super Bowl. While their Super Bowl dreams still remain unfulfilled, the legacy of these underdog teams lives on as a testament to the enduring spirit of the sport. As we discuss these teams today, we also hope they break the curse and make their Super Bowl debut this season.
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1. Buffalo Bills
They made their final Super Bowl appearance in 1994, which was the season’s climax and Super Bowl XXIII. Early in the 1990s, the Bills and QB Jim Kelly pulled off the amazing accomplishment of earning four straight Super Bowl appearances. It’s a period that Bills fans will never forget, and for all the wrong reasons, starting with Scott Norwood’s missed field goal in 1990 and ending with the record nine turnovers in 1992.
Since losing the 1993 Super Bowl, Buffalo has failed to return. Of course, the Bills appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s, but they all ended in defeat, unfortunately making them lead the list of teams that never won a Super Bowl.
2. Cleveland Browns
The 1988 season, which culminated with Super Bowl XXIII, marked their last appearance in the Super Bowl. They faced a heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers in that game. Since the NFL playoffs in 1994, before the club was moved to Baltimore, Cleveland has not experienced postseason success. The 1980s saw the Browns lose a couple of heartbreaking AFC championship games to John Elway and the Broncos, but in 2021, they managed to win their first playoff game since 1994. Unfortunately, such winning has yet to pay off in the Super Bowl era. Despite winning four NFL Championships, the Cleveland Browns are, unfortunately, one of the four teams that have never won a Super Bowl.
3. Cardinals of Arizona
They made their final Super Bowl appearance in 2009, the season’s climax and Super Bowl XLIII. With only 35 seconds left in the game, Ben Roethlisberger hooked S. Santonio Holmes’ ( from Pittsburgh Steelers) outstanding touchdown catch, making the Cardinals miss the Super Bowl ring. Only twice have they advanced to the NFC Championship Game, and only once have they participated. Kurt Warner and the Cardinals faced off against the Steelers in the 2008 campaign.
4. Detroit Lions
The Lions haven’t won an NFL playoff game since the 1991 NFL season, making playoff success a rarity for them. Detroit has a record of 1-11 in NFL postseason games overall. The Lions have advanced to the playoffs eight times since their previous victory. The Detroit Lions did not win a single game during those eight playoff games, making them a team that never won the Super Bowl.
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5. Falcons of Atlanta
Atlanta has attended two Super Bowls in the course of the franchise and is, unfortunately, one of the NFL teams that never won a Super Bowl. During Dan Reeves’ first season as Atlanta coach, the Falcons went 14-2 and reached the Super Bowl against the team he previously played for, the Denver Broncos. For Atlanta Falcons fans, the final score of “28-3” has come to represent their team’s anguish because they were seconds away from winning their first Super Bowl but lost due to an unexpected turn of circumstances.
6. Texans of Houston
The Houston Texans are currently the most prosperous NFL team on the list. During the 2011 NFL season, they made their playoff debut. Six times in all, the Texans have advanced to the postseason. They lost 51-31 to the Kansas City Chiefs after blowing a 24-0 lead. While the Texans made the playoffs, they fell short of winning the Super Bowl.
7. Jaguars of Jacksonville
Seven times in the team’s history, the Jacksonville Jaguars have advanced to the NFL playoffs. Three times in all, they have advanced to the AFC Championship game, although they have never prevailed there and become qualified as the team to win the Superbowl. The 2017 NFL season was the most recent instance. They had 18 losing seasons of the total 25 NFL seasons they played.
In the 2017-2018 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars found themselves in a situation that had fans on the edge of their seats. Having a commanding defence and a roster full of potential, they managed to maintain a lead in the fourth quarter against the Patriots but, unfortunately, were unable to secure the win.
8. Cincinnati Bengals
Despite three Super Bowl appearances, the Bengals have never taken home the Lombardi Trophy, and thus, they have made it to the list of NFL teams that never won a Super Bowl. After the 1981 and 1988 NFL seasons, Cincinnati was defeated by Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers. At halftime, the Bengals were behind 20-0 and were unable to stage a comeback against San Francisco.
The second meeting was much closer; the Bengals had a 16-13 lead when Montana guided the 49ers on a 92-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining to win the game. The squad returned to the Super Bowl during the 2021 season, although they ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Rams 23–20.
9. Los Angeles Chargers
They nearly won the Super Bowl in 1994-1995 but were unsuccessful thereafter and never won a Super Bowl. For the first time since the 2018 campaign, the Los Angeles Chargers played in the postseason after defeating the Colts 20-3 in Week 16. The sixth-overall pick in the 2020 draught, quarterback Justin Herbert, played in his first playoff game. For the first time since the Chargers, who were then based in San Diego, lost to the San Francisco 49ers in 1994, Herbert, wide receiver Mike Williams, and head coach Brandon Staley are attempting to lead the team to the Super Bowl. As they get ready for Super Bowl LVII, the Chargers’ entire Super Bowl history, previous appearances, and previous victories are detailed below.
10. Minnesota Vikings
Also referred to as the “Purple People Eaters,” the Vikings have a proud tradition of fierce competition. They have made four Super Bowl appearances but have yet to capture the title. They left their impact on the 1970s with the play of Hall of Fame players like Fran Tarkenton and Alan Page. In 1970’s Super Bowl IV, they made their debut. They played the Kansas City Chiefs, who they lost to badly (7-23). The Super Bowl VIII was their second appearance in a Super Bowl. The Miami Dolphins were their opponent, and they lost 7-24. In 1975, the Vikings made their third, fervent Super Bowl appearance. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the opponent. 16-6 was the final score. The Vikings’ final Super Bowl appearance was at Super Bowl XI in 1977. The Raiders, who they faced, defeated them 32-14.
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11. The Tennessee Titans
In 1999–2000, they made it to Super Bowl XXXIV but came up just short. They still strive to win the Super Bowl and are one of the NFL Teams that have never won a Superbowl. They experienced a setback after their prior AFC Championship game appearance, and the upcoming free agency will result in significant changes to the team’s roster. But there won’t be a sharp fall when Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill, and A.J. Brown are on the pitch.
Conclusion
All these tales are tinged with sadness because these NFL teams infamously denied the Super Bowl glory. Four teams still aspire to that elusive Super Bowl itself. In the early ’90s, the Buffalo Bills endured heart-wrenching losses during their historic four consecutive Super Bowl appearances, while the Cleveland Browns faced equally heartbreaking defeats in the ’80s AFC championships. Who knows when the tide will turn and one of these teams will formally establish its position in the Super Bowl champion race?
FAQs:
What team has never won a Super Bowl in the NFL?
NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl include the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and the Arizona Cardinals.
Have the New York Jets ever won a Super Bowl?
By a score of 16-7, they defeated the Baltimore Colts in 1969. Super Bowl III, which was played on January 12, 1969, is their single Super Bowl triumph up to this point.
Who was the MVP of the first Super Bowl?
Bart Starr, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the first Super Bowl, also known as Super Bowl I. On January 15, 1967, he was a key factor in the Packers’ 35-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Who won the first Super Bowl ever?
The Green Bay Packers triumphed in Super Bowl I, the inaugural contest.
On January 15, 1967, they met the Kansas City Chiefs, who they defeated 35-10.