NFL’s 30 best teams that didn’t win the Super Bowl

27. 1979 Houston Oilers

This team was something of a phenomenon down in Texas, becoming known as the “Luv ya Blue” Oilers. Houston had started to really come onto the national scene the year before reaching the AFC Championship game before being blown out by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1979, Houston went 11-5 and finished second behind Pittsburgh in the AFC Central, earning another playoff berth.

In the postseason, the Oilers beat the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round but sustained critical injuries to their offense, with quarterback Dan Pastorini and running back Earl Campbell sidelined for the following week against the heavily-favored San Diego Chargers. Riding the incredible performance of defensive back Vernon Perry, who intercepted Dan Fouts four times, Houston stunned the masses with a 17-14 win.

In the AFC title game, Houston once again traveled to Three Rivers Stadium to play the Steelers. This time, the game was much closer but the result remained the same. Many point to a missed call in the third quarter, when officials deemed receiver Mike Renfro out of bounds, nullifying a touchdown. It proved to be the turning point, and Houston fell 27-13.

Next: 29. 1999 Jacksonville Jaguars