Cincinnati Bengals

NFL: 4 Franchises That Got Royally Screwed By Old Playoff System

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The current playoff system allows for six teams in each conference to advance to the postseason, but which playoff-worthy NFL teams from years past missed out on that privilege?

An 0-4 record in the playoffs is self-explanatory. Even if it’s not an immediate replacement, the Cincinnati Bengals must prepare for a potential life after Andy Dalton. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Whenever a new system (or rule) gets implemented, we often look back to see how our teams would’ve fared had that protocol been in effect. Had the current playoff system not been in place, there’s a chance the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2007 New York Giants, and 2010 Green Bay Packers would be missing a Lombardi trophy.

In the early days, it was the best regular season record that won the league. Then, one division winner faced the other division champion to determine who wins the league. Eventually, it was would expand to four teams then to eight and now 12. The Wild Card could be the league’s greatest invention. It’s made for some wild moments and has proven that a stellar regular season record means nothing come postseason. Just ask the undefeated 2007 New England Patriots.

Here are my honorable mentions:

Here’s my list of the top franchises who missed out on making the playoffs thanks to the old system:

Dec 22, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; General view of a Denver Broncos helmet on the sidelines against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos

1981 Denver Broncos

Record: 10-6
Winning Percentage: .625

In Dan Reeves’ first season as Broncos head coach, the ‘81 Denver team finished with a 10-6 record, tied with the San Diego Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. The Chargers owned the tiebreaker and thus, won the AFC West. The Bills also owned the tiebreaker over Denver for the fifth and final playoff spot. Had there been six qualifiers, the Broncos would’ve snuck in as a Wild Card.

That ‘81 defense was a top-ten unit spearheaded by Pro Bowlers Bill Thompson, Randy Gradishar, and Bob Swenson. Meanwhile, the Broncos offense ranked in the middle of the pack led by Craig Morton and Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Watson.

In those playoffs, both the Bills and Chargers beat their opponents. Buffalo topped the Jets in the Wild Card, and San Diego outlasted Miami in that CLASSIC Divisional Round overtime contest. Denver wasn’t competitive with the Chargers, however, the Orange Crush only lost by two to Buffalo in the regular season.

1985 Denver Broncos

Record: 11-5
Winning Percentage: .688

The ‘85 team went 11-5, tying with the New York Jets and New England Patriots, who both owned the tiebreaker over Denver. Two excruciating overtime losses to the Oakland Raiders did Denver in: Week 12, 31-28, and Week 14, 17-14.

This time around the offense was a top 10 unit under John Elway’s command while the defense – led by Pro Bowlers Karl Mecklenburg and Dennis Smith – trailed behind towards the mid-tier of the league.

The ‘85 Patriots would beat the Jets in the Wild Card, the Browns in the Divisional Round, and the Dolphins in the Conference Championship before getting rolled by the Bears in the Super Bowl.

Denver only lost to Miami by four points in the regular season, while the Dolphins split their series with the Pats in two closely contested battles.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals

1976 Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 10-4
Winning Percentage: .714

The ‘76 Bengals finished 10-4, tied with the Steelers, however Pittsburgh owned the tiebreaker having beaten Cincy twice, the second time by only four points. It was Bill Johnson’s first season as head coach. A Week 2 loss by one point to the eventual AFC East Champion Baltimore Colts would come back to bite the Bengals in securing the Wild Card playoff spot.

Pro Bowl quarterback Ken Anderson led the offense, along with Pro Bowl wide receiver Isaac Curtis. The defense had Pro Bowlers Tommy Casanova, Lemar Parrish, and Coy Bacon.

In the ‘76 playoffs, the Raiders just edged the Patriots in the Divisional Round, then went on to beat the Steelers and the Vikings to earn the Lombardi. Cincy lost to Oakland by 15 in the regular season.

1986 Cincinnati Bengals

Record: 10-6

Winning Percentage: .625

The ‘86 Bengals wound up with a 10-6 record in head coach Sam Wyche’s third season, tied with the Jets and Kansas City Chiefs. Both of those teams owned the tiebreaker over Cincy to earn the two Wild Card spots. KC beat Cincy in Week 1, and the Bengals crushed the Jets in the final week of the season, but New York had a better division record (6-2 to Bengals’ 3-3) and conference record (8-4 to Cincy’s 7-5).

Cincy’s offense ranked first in the league in total yards and rushing touchdowns, second in first downs and rushing yards, and third in points scored and passing yards behind Pro Bowlers Boomer Esiason, James Brooks, and Anthony Munoz. However, the defense ranked towards the bottom of the league in rushing yards and touchdowns allowed and couldn’t generate turnovers.

The Jets would go on to pummel the Chiefs in the Wild Card round then lose by three to the Cleveland Browns the next week. Meanwhile, the Broncos would score close victories against the Pats and Browns, only to lose by 19 in Super Bowl XXI to the New York Giants. The Bengals only lost by six to the Broncos in the regular season.

Miami Dolphins helmet: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Dolphins

1975 Miami Dolphins

Record: 10-4

Winning Percentage: .714

In Don Shula’s sixth season as head coach, the ‘75 Fins finished with a 10-4 record, tied with the Baltimore Colts and Houston Oilers. The Colts owned the tiebreaker over Miami, having swept the series, winning the second matchup – a Week 13 game – by a field goal in overtime. Houston beat Miami by a point in a Week 9 contest.

The Oilers’ only four losses came from within the division – twice to Pittsburgh and twice to Cincinnati. Their conference record matched the Dolphins, however, Miami had a better divisional record at 6-2.

Miami’s running game was among the tops in the league thanks to backs Mercury Morris and Don Nottingham, while the defense was a top-five unit led by Pro Bowl free safety Jake Scott.

The AFC East Champion Colts would lose to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Steelers in the Divisional Round. Miami was 0-3 against playoff teams, having lost to the Colts twice and the Raiders by 10 in Week 1.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

1977 Miami Dolphins

Record: 10-4

Winning Percentage: .714

Shula’s eighth season ended with his team going 10-4, tied again with the Baltimore Colts, whom they split with during the regular season. However, B-more scored the tiebreaker thanks to a better conference record (9-3 vs. Miami’s 8-4). The difference was a one-point loss to the Chargers in Week 7.

The offense ranked third in points scored and second in passing touchdowns. That unit was led by Pro Bowl First Team All-Pro quarterback Bob Griese and Pro Bowl First Team All-Pro wide receiver Nat Moore. Miami’s defense was decent against the run, but gave up a lot of passing yards. Even so, that unit was fifth in the league in points allowed.

The Colts would lose to the Raiders at home in DOUBLE OVERTIME, 37-31, then Oakland would lose by three points to the AFC Champion Broncos.

Aug 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Detail view of Washington Redskins helmet on the sidelines against the Detroit Lions during the second half at FedEx Field. The Washington Redskins won 21 – 17, Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Redskins

1979 Washington Redskins

Record: 10-6

Winning Percentage: .625

The ‘79 Washington team went 10-6 under head coach Jack Pardee in his second season at the helm. The Hogs went 5-3 in the division and 8-4 in the conference. Washington’s playoff hopes were dashed when they lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the final week of the season, 35-34, on a last-minute game-winning touchdown drive by Roger Staubach. So, the Cowboys won the NFC East over the Eagles, who would get the Wild Card despite having the same 11-5 record because Philly lost one more conference game than Dallas.

The Chicago Bears also went 10-6 overall with a 5-3 divisional record and 8-4 conference record, but won the points tiebreaker for the second WIld Card spot. Chicago would go on to lose to the Eagles by 10 in the Wild Card round then Philly would lose to Tampa by a touchdown in the Divisional round. Dallas would lose by two to the L.A. Rams that same week.

The ‘79 ‘Skins were among the best in turnover ratio with its offense leading the league in fewest turnovers given and second most turnovers taken away.

1985 Washington Redskins

Record: 10-6

Winning Percentage: .625

This would be Joe Gibb’s fifth season as Washington’s head coach. His team would go 10-6, tied with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. Washington got swept by the Cowboys, split the series with the G-Men, and got blown out by the Niners.

The Giants would finish with a better divisional record (5-3 vs. 4-4) and conference record (8-4 vs. 6-6), thus New York got #4 seed. San Francisco got the #5 seed thanks to a 4-2 divisional record and 7-5 conference record.

Big Blue would beat the Niners in the Wild Card, 17-3, before getting shut out by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Bears, 21-0. The Cowboys would also get shut out by the Los Angeles Rams, 20-0.

The ‘85 Skins had a strong rushing attack led by George Rogers and John Riggins, finishing second in yards and fourth in touchdowns. The defense led the league in fewest passing yards allowed thanks to defensive ends Charles Mann and Dexter Manley who combined for 29.5 sacks.

1989 Washington Redskins

Record: 10-6

Winning Percentage: .625

The ‘89 Washington squad ended up with a 10-6 record — winning its last five games in a row — to tie with the Green Bay Packers, who also missed the postseason. The ‘Skins were 4-4 in the division and 8-4 in the conference while the Packers went 5-3 in the NFC Central and 10-4 in the conference, so the Pack would’ve won the final Wild Card spot in the current playoff system.

Still, a pair of three-point losses to the eventual NFC East Champion Giants and a four-point loss to the Broncos in Week 11 did Washington in. One win out of those three games would’ve given Washington a playoff berth.

The offense was fifth in the league in points scored, second in total yards, and led the league in passing yards thanks to Pro Bowler Mark Rypien and trio of Ricky Sanders, Art Monk, and Gary Clark. Pro Bowler Charles Mann led the defense with ten sacks, and linebacker Wilber Marshall contributed 108 solo tackles.

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