Stat of the Jay: How Rare Is It To Post Back-To-Back Winning Records Without a Playoff Berth?

Jay Morrison | Jan 6, 2025

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) takes the field for the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals posted their fourth consecutive winning record by failed to make the playoffs for the second year in a row.

How rare is it for a team to finish about .500 in back-to-back season without a postseason appearance?

It’s rare historically, but not so much recently.

In addition to the Bengals, the Seattle Seahawks also had winning records in 2023 (9-8) and 2024 (10-7) without advancing.

Beyond that, only three other teams since the 1990 playoff expansion have done it.

They are:

Cleveland Browns – 10-6 in 2007; 9-7 in 2008

Miami Dolphins – 9-7 in 2002; 10-6 in 2003

Washington Redskins – 9-7 in 1996; 9-6-1 in 1997

The 1990 season was when the NFL awarded playoff berths to the top six teams in each conference.

From 1978-1989, there were five playoff teams per conference (excluding the strike year of 1982).

During that span, there were six instances:

New Orleans Saints – 10-6 in 1988; 9-7 in 1989

New England Patriots – 8-7 in 1987; 9-7 in 1988

St. Louis Cardinals – 8-7-1 in 1983; 9-7 in 1984

New England Patriots – 9-7 in 1979; 10-6 in 1980

Oakland Raiders – 9-7 in 1978; 9-7 in 1979

Seattle Seahawks – 9-7 in 1978; 9-7 in 1979

And from the 1970 merger through 1977, only four teams made the playoffs, and there were five instances:

Cincinnati Bengals – 10-4 in 1976; 8-6 in 1977

Denver Broncos – 7-5-2 in 1973; 7-6-1 in 1974

Kansas City Chiefs – 8-6 in 1972; 7-5-2 in 1973

Detroit Lions – 7-6-1 in 1971; 8-5-1 in 1972

Los Angeles Rams – 9-4-1 in 1970; 8-5-1 in 1971

That 1976 Bengals team is tied for the best winning percentage by a non-playoff team since the 1970 merger.

Also going 10-4 and missing the playoffs were the 1975 Houston Oilers, 1975 Miami Dolphins, 1976 St. Louis Cardinals and 1977 Miami Dolphins.

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