Photo courtesy of Chicago Bears
The 2020 NFL season presented unique issues for all 32 teams as they battled through this pandemic. COVID-19 played a vital role in scheduling changes, player opt-outs, lack of position depth for some games, and so many more difficulties.
This season also brought the end of the two previously longest playoff droughts by the Cleveland Browns (2002) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007) respectively. The Washington Football Team had to wait until Week 17 to clinch their playoff spot as they became just the fifth playoff team in NFL history with a losing record.
There are now 14 playoff teams this year, with an additional team being added this season for each conference. This new change helped the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts make the playoffs this year.
This playoff season could bring a back-to-back champion for the first time since the New England Patriots did so in 2003 and 2004. It could also bring a title to an organization who hasn’t claimed one in over 50 years (Buffalo, Cleveland and Tennessee).
Below are the 14 playoff teams for 2020 ranked by title drought, starting with the defending champions:
14. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: 0 YEARS
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 1 AFC (14-2)
Last Championship Title: 2019 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Last Championship Appearance: 2019 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Last Playoff Appearance: 2019 AFC West Champions
13. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: 6 YEARS (2014-19)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 3 NFC (12-4)
Last Championship Title: 2013 vs. Denver Broncos
Last Championship Appearance: 2014 vs. New England Patriots
Last Playoff Appearance: 2019 NFC Wild Card
12. BALTIMORE RAVENS: 7 YEARS (2013-19)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 5 AFC (11-5)
Last Championship Title: 2012 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Last Championship Appearance: 2012 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Last Playoff Appearance: 2019 AFC North Champions
11. GREEN BAY PACKERS: 9 YEARS (2011-19)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 1 NFC (13-3)
Last Championship Title: 2010 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Championship Appearance: 2010 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Playoff Appearance: 2019 NFC North Champions
10. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: 10 YEARS (2010-19)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 2 NFC (12-4)
Last Championship Title: 2009 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Last Championship Appearance: 2009 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Last Playoff Appearance: 2019 NFC South Champions
9. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: 11 YEARS (2009-19)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 3 AFC (12-4)
Last Championship Title: 2008 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Last Championship Appearance: 2010 vs. Green Bay Packers
Last Playoff Appearance: 2017 AFC North Champions
8. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: 13 YEARS (2007-19)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 7 AFC (11-5)
Last Championship Title: 2006 vs. Chicago Bears
Last Championship Appearance: 2009 vs. New Orleans Saints
Last Playoff Appearance: 2018 AFC Wild Card
7. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: 17 YEARS (2003 – 2019)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 5 NFC (11-5)
Last Championship Title: 2002 vs. Oakland Raiders
Last Championship Appearance: 2002 vs. Oakland Raiders
Last Playoff Appearance: 2007 NFC South Champions
6. LOS ANGELES RAMS: 20 YEARS (2000-19)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 6 NFC (10-6)
Last Championship Title: 1999 vs. Tennessee Titans
Last Championship Appearance: 2018 vs. New England Patriots
Last Playoff Appearance: 2018 NFC West Champions
5. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: 28 YEARS (1992-2019)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 4 NFC (7-9)
Last Championship Title: 1991 vs. Buffalo Bills
Last Championship Appearance: 1991 vs. Buffalo Bills
Last Playoff Appearance: 2015 NFC East Champions
4. CHICAGO BEARS: 34 YEARS (1986-2019)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 7 NFC (8-8)
Last Championship Title: 1985 vs. New England Patriots
Last Championship Appearance: 2006 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Last Playoff Appearance: 2018 NFC North Champions
3. BUFFALO BILLS: 54 YEARS (1966-2019)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 2 AFC (13-3)
Last Championship Title: 1965 vs. San Diego Chargers (AFL)
Last Championship Appearance: 1993 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Last Playoff Appearance: 2019 AFC Wild Card
2. CLEVELAND BROWNS: 55 YEARS (1965-2019)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 6 Browns (11-5)
Last Championship Title: 1964 vs. Baltimore Colts
Last Championship Appearance: 1964 vs. Baltimore Colts
Last Playoff Appearance: 2002 AFC Wild Card
1. TENNESSEE TITANS: 58 YEARS (1962-2019)
2020 Record and Seed Number: No. 4 AFC (11-5)
Last Championship Title: 1961 vs. San Diego Chargers (AFL)
Last Championship Appearance: 1999 vs. St. Louis Rams
Last Playoff Appearance: 2019 AFC Wild Card
Gregory Harvey is a staff writer for Fifth Quarter. Follow Gregory on Twitter @FQStats and @BetweenTheNums.