In recent NFL campaigns, unheralded sides have risen to the fore seemingly out of nowhere. Back in 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl off the back of the brilliance of number one pick Joe Burrow under center. The former Heisman winner transformed the Ohio outfit from the worst team in the league to the brink of a maiden Lombardi Trophy in just two seasons, ending a 31-year wait for a playoff victory.

Last season, it was the Detroit Lions that were shedding skin. Thanks to a revamped offense under Dan Campbell, the Motor City outfit won the NFC North for the first time in history, but they weren’t done there. They then picked up their first postseason victory in 32 years with a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the wildcard round, before beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make it to the NFC Championship game.

This season, there are plenty of other contenders that have risen seemingly out of nowhere. The Denver Broncos look set to secure their first postseason berth since lifting the Lombardi at Super Bowl 50 eight years ago, while the Atlanta Falcons are poised to end an eight-year wait for playoff football thanks to the scintillating form of new quarterback Kirk Cousins. But while those two have the postseason in their sights, which teams have waited the longest for an actual playoff victory?

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins last celebrated a playoff victory in the 2000 season, defeating the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wild Card round. They were then eliminated in the Divisional Round by the Oakland Raiders, and have lost five times in the opening round since then. In the two decades spanning 2001 and 2021, the Floridians reached the playoffs just twice – in 2008 and 2016 – but in recent times their fortunes have transformed under head coach Mike McDaniel.

With their maverick head coach at the helm and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa firing on all cylinders, the Dolphins have reached the postseason in each of the last two seasons, marking the first time they have qualified for the playoffs in consecutive campaigns in over 20 years. Unfortunately for them, on both occasions, they came up against heavyweights, firstly losing to their divisional rival Buffalo Bills and then the dynasty-like Kansas City Chiefs to extend their wait for a playoff victory into a 23rd season.

This year, McDaniel has been emphasizing the importance of ending the drought. Things started well, but yet another concussion to the aforementioned Tagovailoa sent Miami spiraling, winning just two of their opening seven games. Despite boasting perhaps the best wide receiving corps in the league in the form of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the latest NFL odds make the Dolphins a whopping +1800 to win the AFC East this term, indicating that their wait for playoff football may well go on.

Las Vegas Raiders

The last time the Las Vegas Raiders tasted postseason success was during the 2002 season, when they reached the Super Bowl. Unfortunately for them, that would end in defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who picked up a blowout 48-21 victory despite being four-point underdogs heading into the game. Their victory over the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship remains their last playoff win, with the Sin City side making the postseason just twice in the two decades since.

The Raiders are currently in a rebuilding phase since moving from Oakland to the state-of-the-art Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. They did sneak into the postseason in 2021 as the conference’s fifth seed, but they were dispatched by a Bengals side that went on to reach the Super Bowl. Since then, they haven’t had a whiff of the postseason, with a new leadership team ushering in a rebuilding phase that will hopefully restore the glory days of the franchise.

The ongoing campaign has been a challenging one, as the Raiders have struggled with consistency. Superstar wide receiver Davante Adams has traded in the Vegas Strip for the bright lights of the Big Apple, and the Raiders have suffered as a result. They have lost six of their opening eight games so far this term, including a stunning loss to the lowly Carolina Panthers, and the sooner the 2024 season ends, the better.

Washington Commanders

One team that has shone this season is the Washington Commanders. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels – selected second overall in this year’s draft – has been a revelation, helping his side to six wins in their first eight games and top spot in the stacked NFC East. He threw a walk-off hail-mary touchdown in their most recent victory against the Chicago Bears, and now the capital city faithful will be hoping their side can end an 18-year wait for a postseason victory.

Their last playoff victory came in the 2005 season, when they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round. Since that win, the Commanders have made sporadic playoff appearances, including three defeats to the Seattle Seahawks between 2005 and 2012. Their most recent appearance came in 2020, where they lost in the Wild Card round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccaneers, but the Commanders look primed and ready for glory in 2024. Many people are watching sports sites eagerly to see what’s coming next.