Fansided

Missed championship windows in NFL history

By Andrew Hammond

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 12: Fran Tarkenton
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 12: Fran Tarkenton /
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TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 5: Quarterback Joe Montana
TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 5: Quarterback Joe Montana /

1990s

Kansas City Chiefs

Championship Window : 1990-1995 (six playoff appearances.)

Biggest Opportunity : 1995 (13-3, best record in the league and the lost in Divisional Round to Indianapolis Colts.)

Aside from the Bills and Browns, one of the league’s most cursed teams might be the Kansas City Chiefs. With no Super Bowl appearances since Jan.1970, moments like the ’95 Divisional Round conjure thoughts of a curse. 

Buffalo Bills

Championship Window : 1990-1993 (four straight Super Bowl appearances.)

Biggest Opportunity : 1990 (Lost Super Bowl XXV after Scott Norwood missed a game-winning field goal as time expired.)

We all know: Four straight Super Bowls that ended in four straight losses. Someone should do a movie about it. Oh, wait…

Houston Oilers

Championship Window : 1991-1993 (two AFC Central titles.)

Biggest Opportunity : 1992 (Led Buffalo 35-3 in the 3rd Quarter of the AFC Wildcard, ended up losing 41-38.)

Like Cleveland, a possible Super Bowl appearance (or a win) might’ve been enough to save a franchise that was eventually moved to Tennessee. 

Minnesota Vikings

Championship Window : 1998-2000 (15-1 season, 2 NFC Title games.)

Biggest Opportunity : 1998 (Leading by a TD in the ’98 NFC Title Game, Gary Andersen missed his first field goal of the season, costing the Vikings a shot at a Super Bowl showdown with the Denver Broncos.)

Had Gary Andersen made that kick, I firmly believe that a Minnesota-Denver Super Bowl in ’98 might’ve been one of the greatest of all time. Minnesota’s record breaking offense against Denver’s balanced attack is the stuff dreams are made of. 

2000s

Philadelphia Eagles

Championship Window : 2000-2004 (Super Bowl appearance; three NFC Title games.)

Biggest Opportunity : 2003 (After two straight misses in the NFC title game, the Eagles came up short against a Cinderella Carolina Panthers team in a 14-3 loss.)

It’s quite possible the Eagles could’ve reached three straight Super Bowls during their run. 

2010s

San Francisco 49ers

Championship Window : 2011-2013 (three NFC Title games, Super Bowl appearance.)

Biggest Opportunity : 2012-2013 (The 49ers were fingertips away twice: Once in a loss to the Ravens in Super Bowl 47; and again to the Seahawks in a 2013 NFC Title game which led to us getting Richard Sherman’s WrestleMania-like postgame interview.)

Oh what could’ve been in San Francisco. A Super Bowl win could’ve changed many things. Harbaugh’s definitely not at Michigan, and the 49ers aren’t mired in a seemingly endless phase of self-discovery. 

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