Two AFC Teams Have Longest Conference Championship Game Droughts
01/26/2025 12:18 PM
The AFC hasn't spread the wealth much in recent years.
Patrick Mahomes leads the Kansas City Chiefs to their seventh straight AFC Championship Game. They'll face the Buffalo Bills in a rematch of the 2020 conference title clash.
Just as Mahomes started his reign of terror, Tom Brady's New England Patriots defeated the Chiefs in their eighth straight AFC Championship Game. That leaves some fans waiting a long time to witness a lengthy playoff run.
As noted by Pro Football Talk, two teams haven't reached the AFC Championship Game since 2000. The Miami Dolphins (1992) and Cleveland Browns (1989) have the conference's longest droughts after the Raiders (2002).
The Dolphins haven't even won a playoff game since the 2000 season. They followed back-to-back postseason appearances by going 8-9 this season.
At least they have their perfect 1972 season. The Browns have made just four playoff appearances since their last trip to the AFC Championship Game and are one of four teams to never play in a Super Bowl.
Cleveland didn't get any closer this season. A year after Joe Flacco led an 11-6 team to the playoffs, the Browns went 3-14 in their worst season since going 0-16 in 2017.
On the bright side, the Browns can hope the No. 2 pick of this year's draft will drastically change their fortunes. After all, it happened for the Washington Commanders.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has Washington one victory away from the Super Bowl. The Commanders are snapping the NFC's longest drought by playing for their first conference title since 1991.
Washington played that game 34 years ago against the Detroit Lions, who finally returned to the NFC Championship Game last year. Maybe it's just a matter of time before the Dolphins and Browns enjoy that same long-awaited comeback.
Meanwhile, that leaves the Dallas Cowboys as the only NFC team yet to play in a title game this century. "America's Team" last made it in 1995.
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