At a Glance
- Five franchises enter the playoffs seeking their first Lombardi Trophy
- Jacksonville and Houston have never reached the Super Bowl
- The Bills and Vikings share the record for most Super Bowl losses (4) without a win
- Why it matters: History could be made if any of these teams claim the championship
The NFL postseason opens with five franchises still chasing their first Super Bowl title, setting up potential historic moments as the playoffs unfold.
Playoff Picture for Title-Hopeful Teams
The Bills, Panthers, Texans, Jaguars and Chargers all enter the tournament without a championship to their name. However, that number will shrink by at least one after the Wild Card Round, as the Jaguars host the Bills in an AFC matchup guaranteed to eliminate one title-less contender.
The Texans ride a nine-game winning streak into Pittsburgh to face the Steelers, while the Chargers travel to New England to take on the Patriots. In the NFC, the sub-.500 Panthers welcome the Rams to Charlotte.
Super Bowl History for Hopeful Franchises
Among the 12 teams that have never won the Super Bowl, several have come agonizingly close:
- Bills and Vikings: 0-4 in Super Bowl appearances
- Bengals: 0-3 in championship games
- Falcons and Panthers: 0-2 each
- Cardinals, Chargers and Titans: 0-1 each
The Jaguars and Texans join the Browns and Lions as the only teams to never reach the Super Bowl. Cleveland and Jacksonville have each lost three AFC Championship Games, while Detroit fell in the NFC title game twice, including the 2023 season. Houston hasn’t advanced past the Divisional Round since the franchise debuted in 2002.
Key Takeaways
- At least one of the five title-less playoff teams will be eliminated in the Wild Card Round
- The Texans’ nine-game winning streak makes them a dangerous opponent
- The Bills and Vikings share the unfortunate record for most Super Bowl losses without a victory
- Jacksonville and Houston remain the only playoff teams to never play in a Super Bowl
The quest for a first championship adds extra drama to an already compelling postseason as these franchises attempt to make history.
