NFL Playoffs: Counting Down The Top 25 Wild Card Teams In NFL History
The NFL adopted the Wild Card system in 1970. It allowed for teams which did not win their divisions to still qualify for the postseason.
Ever since, teams have taken advantage of it.
Since the Wild Card began 40 years ago, nine teams have qualified for Super Sunday, while just five have won the Super Bowl from the Wild Card spot. Three of those teams did it by winning three road games en route to the Super Bowl.
Join B/R as we take a trip down memory lane to remember the 25 greatest Wild Card teams in NFL history.
No. 25: 2003 Tennessee Titans
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Eddie George and the Tennessee Titans were a talented bunch during the 2003 playoffs. Tennessee took to the road, as most Wild Cards do, and beat the AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens 20-17.
The next week, in the divisional round, the Titans fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots by a score of 17-14.
No. 24: 2004 New York Jets
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The New York Jets made waves in the 2004 postseason when they snuck out of San Diego with a win over the AFC West-champion Chargers.
They then went back to the road to play the No.1-overall seed Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jets missed a late field goal and lost 20-17 in the divisional round.
No. 23: 1978 Houston Oilers
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The 1978 Houston Oilers wound up becoming the biggest threat to the Pittsburgh Steelers AFC title hopes. The Oilers defeated Miami and New England on their way to an appearance in the AFC championship game.
Pittsburgh would go on to rout the Oilers at home on their way to Super bowl XIII.
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No. 22: 1989 Los Angeles Rams
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The 1989 L.A. Rams fought hard in the playoffs. They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round before needing overtime to dispose of the New York Giants in the divisional round.
Joe Montana's 49ers were too much for the Rams, though, as they would go on to lose in the NFC championship game.
No. 21: 1982 New York Jets
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The New York Jets are one of history's best Wild Card teams. In the first two rounds of the 1982 playoffs, New York beat the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Raiders.
They would lose on the road to Miami in the AFC championship game, however, keeping them from their second title in franchise history.
No. 20: 1987 Minnesota Vikings
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In 1987, the Minnesota Vikings made a brilliant run to the NFC championship game. Minnesota eliminated the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers in the postseason's first two rounds.
The Vikings would go on to lose to the Washington Redskins in the title game.
No. 19: 1979 Houston Oilers
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The 1979 Houston Oilers had arguably a better run than their team from the previous year.
Houston knocked off Denver and San Diego before falling to Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game for the second consecutive season.
No. 18: 1980 Dallas Cowboys
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The 1980 Dallas Cowboys took care of business against the Los Angeles Rams and the Atlanta Falcons on their way to the NFC championship game that season.
However, they would lose to bitter division-rival Philadelphia in that game, missing out on a shot at Super Bowl XV.
No. 17: 1995 Indianapolis Colts
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The Indianapolis Colts knocked out half of today's AFC West in the 1995 playoffs.
The Colts beat San Diego and Kansas City before losing on the road to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game.
No. 16: 1983 Seattle Seahawks
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The Seattle Seahawks represented the AFC in 1983, not the NFC as they do today.
In that season, Seattle claimed wins over Denver and Miami in the playoffs before losing to the Los Angeles Raiders. L.A.'s Marcus Allen was a thorn in the side of the Seahawks in the title game.
No. 15: 2009 New York Jets
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The New York Jets, led by head coach Rex Ryan, entered the 2009 postseason as underdogs. The No. 5 seed Jets beat the Bengals and Chargers before falling to Indianapolis in the AFC championship game.
New York held a 17-6 lead in the second quarter but couldn't overcome Peyton Manning, who helped the Colts outscore New York 17-0 in the second half.
No. 14: 1986 Washington Redskins
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The 1986 Washington Redskins were not to be taken lightly.
Washington sent the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears packing much earlier than expected before finally losing to division-rival New York in the NFC championship game.
No. 13: 2008 Philadelphia Eagles
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The Eagles were a frightening No. 6 seed in 2008. Philly took to the road in wins over Minnesota and No. 1-overall seed New York.
Unfortunately, the Eagles could not outscore Kurt Warner's Arizona Cardinals, who won by a touchdown in Glendale on their way to Super Bowl XLIII.
No. 12: 2005 Carolina Panthers
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Carolina finished second to Tampa Bay for the NFC South title in 2005. But that didn't stop the Panthers from crashing the NFC championship party as a No. 5 seed.
Carolina dismantled the Giants in New York before traveling to Chicago to take out the Bears. The journey finally came to a halt in Seattle, though, when the Seahawks earned their first Super Bowl appearance in a win over the Panthers.
No. 11: 1996 Jacksonville Jaguars
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Jacksonville took advantage of a Wild Card berth in 1996 by making a run all the way to the AFC title game.
The Jaguars ousted Buffalo and Denver by identical scores of 30-27, before finally losing to New England in the AFC's deciding contest.
No. 10: 2008 Baltimore Ravens
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The Ravens entered the 2008 postseason as the No. 6 seed in the AFC. They took down Miami on the road before beating the No. 1-overall seed Titans in Nashville, 13-10, on their way to the AFC championship game.
The Ravens would fall 23-14 to the Steelers but not before crowning themselves as one of history's best Wild Card teams.
No. 9: 1975 Dallas Cowboys
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In 1975, the Dallas Cowboys became the first Wild Card team in NFL history to qualify for the Super Bowl. Though they lost to Pittsburgh 21-17, their season will always be remembered.
Dallas knocked off the Minnesota Vikings on the road before traveling to Los Angeles to defeat the Rams.
No. 8: 1992 Buffalo Bills
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The 1992 Buffalo Bills never gave up. They first erased a 32-point deficit against the Houston Oilers to win 41-38 in overtime. The game will be forever known as "the comeback."
After winning two more playoff games, Buffalo found itself in the Super Bowl. The Bills were throttled by the Cowboys 52-17 in Super Bowl XXVII.
But the game is remembered for Bills' wide receiver Don Beebe's hustle play which saved a sure Dallas score.
No. 7: 1985 New England Patriots
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If 1985 remembers the Chicago Bears as NFL champions, then it likely forgets the New England Patriots. The Pats weren't even supposed to be in Super Bowl XX.
New England won three-straight road playoff games over the Jets, Raiders, and Dolphins before getting hammered by the Bears 46-10 in the Super Bowl.
No. 6: 1999 Tennessee Titans
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In what was largely the most successful postseason in Titans' history, Tennessee came within a yard from sending Super Bowl XXXIV into overtime.
The Titans went 13-3 in 1999 and took out Buffalo, Indianapolis and Jacksonville before finally bowing out to St. Louis 23-16, after Steve McNair's pass to Kevin Dyson came up short of the end zone.
No. 5: 1980 Oakland Raiders
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The 1980 Oakland Raiders were the first team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl as a Wild Card. Oakland squeaked by on it's way to qualifying for Super Bowl XV.
The Raiders shut down the Philadelphia Eagles in the championship game, winning 27-10, securing title for the silver and black.
No. 4: 1997 Denver Broncos
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In 1997, John Elway led the Broncos to four-straight playoff wins. Denver defeated Jacksonville, Kansas City and Pittsburgh before defeating Green Bay 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII.
The championship was the first of two consecutive for Elway and the Broncos.
No. 3: 2000 Baltimore Ravens
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The 2000 Baltimore Ravens were a team of destiny. Baltimore rode one of history's greatest defenses all the way to a Super Bowl XXXV victory.
The Ravens allowed just 23 points in four postseason games that season and rolled to a 27-point win over the Giants for the Lombardi Trophy.
No. 2: 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
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Bill Cowler finally lifted the elusive Lombardi Trophy after his Steelers swept the competition in 2005. Pittsburgh went on the road to defeat Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Denver on it's way to Super Bowl XL.
The Steelers celebrated the league's 40th Super Bowl anniversary with a win of their own over the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10.
No. 1: 2007 New York Giants
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The 2007 New York Giants went on a postseason tear that won't soon be forgotten. New York outlasted three straight opponents (Tampa Bay, Dallas, & Green Bay) on the road before handing the then 18-0 Patriots their first loss of the season.
Eli Manning took home MVP honors in Super Bowl XLII as the Giants won it 17-14 on a last minute touchdown pass from Manning to Burress.
Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.
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