{"id":80866,"date":"2023-01-09T20:09:37","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T20:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscroll.com\/?p=80866"},"modified":"2023-06-16T10:39:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T10:39:51","slug":"overhyped-nfl-teams-that-were-one-and-done-in-the-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.sportscroll.com\/overhyped-nfl-teams-that-were-one-and-done-in-the-playoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Overhyped NFL Teams That Were One-and-Done In The Playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"
The NFL playoffs are arguably the most exciting part of the football calendar. Every football player dreams of winning a Super Bowl but it’s a brutal slog to even appear at the showpiece event. With that said, many great NFL regular season teams were one-and-done in the playoffs despite analysts projecting them to go far.<\/p>\n
Today we’ll look at some of the most disappointing performances and shocking one-and-done defeats ever. Many of these teams appeared to be unbeatable during the regular season<\/a>. Others had weaker records<\/a> but carried a lot of momentum into the postseason or ended long droughts. Check them out right here as we head into the 2023 playoffs.<\/p>\n The Cowboys came into 2021 with high hopes<\/a> after a lost season the previous year. Somehow, Mike McCarthy had time and resources to fix the problems that beset the franchise<\/a>. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott was back from the brutal broken ankle that ended his 2020 season and had a key role in sending ‘America’s Team’ to the playoffs (via NFL.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n But this came to a miserable, early end as they lost<\/a> at home against the 49ers. This was a disappointing result because they started too slowly. In the end, they couldn’t overcome the early deficit and became a one-and-done team. Prescott didn’t exactly help with his sarcastic comments to fans<\/a> after the game either.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Somehow the 9-6-1 Eagles made it to the Divisional Round in 2009. They faced the reigning Super Bowl<\/a> champion Giants and nobody gave them a shout. Analysts expected the Giants to roll through them before facing sterner tests. But instead, they became a one-and-done team and disappointed their fans.<\/p>\n It’s not the worst Super Bowl<\/a> defense ever because at least they made the playoffs. But they blew most of their third-down opportunities and missed crucial kicks. This was a very bad day at the office for the Giants and Philly made them pay a heavy price for that (via Reuters<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nobody expected the Steelers to amass an 11-game win streak to start the season in 2020. But that’s exactly what happened after they went on a scintillating run. However, analysts believed that their record didn’t reflect their overall abilities. This prediction came through in the postseason after a crushing defeat<\/a>.<\/p>\n They faced the resurgent Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round. Ben Roethlisberger had one of the worst games of his career<\/a> because he threw four interceptions. Finally, the Steelers fell to a 48-37 loss and dropped out of the postseason as a one-and-done team (via Sporting News<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s always shocking when the No. 1 seed crashes out after a single playoff game. But that’s also part of the magic of the playoffs because anything can happen. Sometimes form goes out of the window and a franchise upsets<\/a> the odds. Denver fell foul of this against the Jaguars in the Divisional Round.<\/p>\n The media projected the 13-3 Broncos to win the Super Bowl<\/a> after a rampant regular season. But Jacksonville shocked them and ensured they were another hyped one-and-done team. Natrone Means deserves mention because he was crucial in the victory. Denver couldn’t stop him from wreaking havoc (via Denver Post<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several Detroit players made the Pro Bowl after a resurgent season. However, they became a one-and-done team after a disappointing playoff loss. They earned their place after achieving a decent 11-5 record. This wasn’t enough to win their division but they played in the Wild Card round.<\/p>\n Then they had a tight loss against the Cowboys in controversial<\/a> circumstances. The Cowboys benefited from some dubious officiating that enraged Detroit. But there was nothing that they could do about it as they fell to a 24-20 defeat. Sometimes that’s the way it goes but it doesn’t make it easier for the fans (via SBNation<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Bengals entered the 2015 postseason with a strong<\/a> 12-4 record. They won the AFC North as they pulled no punches against their foes. Opposition fans loathed polarizing personalities like Adam Jones and Vontaze Burfict, but they were very effective for the Bengals (via USA Today Sports<\/a>).<\/p>\n But the problem with these players is that they live<\/a> on the edge. Burfict demonstrated this with a vicious helmet hit against Mike Brown. ‘Pacman’ became emotional and lost control of himself. Finally, the Bengals missed a field goal and Pittsburgh stole the game.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some people like to pretend that Colin Kaepernick<\/a> wasn’t a good player, at least for a few years. But the Niners’ quarterback put on a clutch performance in freezing conditions against the Packers. San Francisco stunned the fourth-seed team at Lambeau Field and progressed to the Divisional Round.<\/p>\n This was a tough defeat for the Packers to take because they showed a lot of heart all season. Aaron Rodgers<\/a> bounced back from a broken collarbone and inspired his team to the playoffs. They also missed some other key performers and that ultimately cost them (via Reuters<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2016 was a shocking year for the Panthers but they bounced back the following season and returned to the playoffs after missing out the previous year. Also, Cam Newton appeared to have returned to his integral best. They played the Saints in their first and only postseason game.<\/p>\n In the end, they became a one-and-done team after New Orleans snuck past them. The officials called Newton for a penalty late in the game. Then the Saints sacked the quarterback twice as they clung to victory. Many people thought the Panthers were dark horses to go all the way (via Sporting News<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Lions didn’t enter the 2016 postseason in the best shape after three defeats. Matthew Stafford’s wrist injury was a costly blow but he recovered in time for the playoffs. Some analysts think Detroit would have won their division with their reliable quarterback in the driving seat.<\/p>\n They played the Seahawks in the Wild Card round but fell miserably short. The Lions don’t make the playoffs very often so they must do their best. Sadly, they didn’t reach that level and didn’t even score a touchdown to give their fans something to cheer about (via Detroit Free Press<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s remarkable that Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson<\/a> only won a single Super Bowl together. Yes, they were inches away from a second ring in 2015. But they had other opportunities to go on a deep postseason run. 2020 saw them assemble a 12-4 record as they won the NFC West.<\/p>\n They carried a lot of expectations into the playoffs but failed to live up to them. But the Rams’ defense rattled Seattle and carried them to a 30-20 loss. Nobody saw this coming, least of all Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. The veteran head coach said that he had ‘no place in his brain for this outcome (via Seattle Seahawks<\/a>).”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Cowboys enjoyed a great period of dominance in the ’90s but that fizzled out at the end of the decade. Nonetheless, analysts projected the 10-6 team to crush the Cardinals in the Wild Card Round. Arizona had never even won a playoff game in its history<\/a> at this point.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Dallas smashed the Cardinals twice during the regular season. It appeared to be a foregone conclusion but Arizona belied all expectations. Troy Aikman threw four interceptions while Arizona got him for four sacks. They won the game 20-7 against all odds (via Pro Football History<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Titans cruised to an AFC South victory in 2021 and faced the Bengals in the divisional round as the conference’s top seed. Many people expected their rushing offense to have too much for an upstart Cincinnati team. But the Bengals pulled off a shock as they began their run to a Super Bowl (via USA Today Sports<\/a>).<\/p>\n Ryan Tannehill had a horrible game as he infuriated everyone watching. There are no excuses<\/a> for throwing three picks in a playoff game. Meanwhile, Evan McPherson was the Bengals’ MVP as he kicked them to victory. Tennessee had a one-and-done playoff campaign as they wasted a great shot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Packers went 15-1 in 2011 and had history on their side. No team had failed to reach the conference championship game<\/a> before this game. Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champions had experience and one of the top quarterbacks in the sport (via Bleacher Report<\/a>).<\/p>\n However, the Giants defeated them somehow and turned them into a one-and-done team. The Packers’ incredible<\/a> regular season record papered over the cracks in their defense. But Eli Manning exposed them as one 37-yard touchdown pass showed. It was a bad day at the office for the Packers because they shouldn’t have lost.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Everything was going right for the Giants in this crucial playoff game. They put themselves in a dominant position with under two minutes left. Somehow they failed to hold onto their nine-point lead against the Vikings. It’s amazing how quickly things can go wrong.<\/p>\n One bad snap was all it took for the Giants to panic and lose momentum. Eddie Murray’s game-winning<\/a> field goal sent Minnesota to the next round. The Giants became a one-and-done team despite their obvious strength. It was a waste of talent and a missed opportunity (via Yardbreaker<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This defeat against the Ravens hurt the Steelers in more ways than one. It was an excellent regular season for Pittsburgh because they had a devastating<\/a> offense. Some of these names are notorious and it’s wild that they played together. Antonio Brown, LeVeon Bell, and Ben Roethlisberger will never win human of the year awards.<\/p>\n But they were part of one of the NFL’s most effective offenses in 2014. However, Bell didn’t play against Baltimore and ‘Big Ben’ didn’t perform at his highest level. Analysts projected that the Steelers were contenders but they wasted a golden opportunity (via ESPN<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the end, this was Tom Brady’s<\/a> final game for New England. Nobody thought that this was the greatest edition of the Patriots. But they didn’t expect them to fail with a whimper like this either. This story was also about the Titans’ defense because they stopped him from firing (via NBC Sports<\/a>).<\/p>\n Brady threw a crucial pick-six as Tennessee stormed<\/a> ahead. It never looked like New England had enough in the tank<\/a> to eke out a win. This was a significant disappointment for Brady’s devoted fanbase because they didn’t want to see him leave like this. Fortunately, he had his fairytale story continue the following year in Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many people thought that 2021 would be the year that Aaron Rodgers<\/a> won his second Super Bowl ring. The veteran quarterback had an amazing career and was the reigning MVP. But many people think that he doesn’t perform well in the postseason and this proved to be true (via Sports Illustrated<\/a>).<\/p>\n The 49ers smashed Green Bay in the divisional round in another franchise implosion. This was a terrible<\/a> result because they were contenders on paper. The Packers’ special teams had a nightmare as they suffered multiple blocked kicks. Rodgers was also overdependent on his top receiver Davante Adams.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This wasn’t the greatest edition of the Dolphins but nobody expected this capitulation against the Jaguars. Hindsight reveals that Jacksonville was the favorite. But Miami fans knew that this was Dan Marino’s last hurrah and dreamed of an elusive Super Bowl win.<\/p>\n Instead, the Jaguars humiliated<\/a> Miami with a brutal blowout win. Their 62-7 victory ended his career<\/a> in the worst possible way. It wouldn’t have been a big deal if the Dolphins competed well but fell short. However, they became a one-and-done playoff team after a garbage display (via Jaguars.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This was the game where Michael Vick showed the world that he was one of the best quarterbacks on the planet. However, it also exposed Brett Favre’s limitations in the postseason as he failed to deliver<\/a> again. Yes, he won a Super Bowl<\/a> ring but the Packers could have had more success in this era.<\/p>\n His shotgun approach didn’t work as he repeatedly threw the ball away. Vick’s numbers don’t tell the full story but his on-field display was scintillating. He took the fans’ breath away as he rushed at will. But the 12-4 Packers shouldn’t have been a one-and-done team (via AJC<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Saints know more about heartbreak than most NFL franchises in recent seasons<\/a>. In 2019 they endured a brutal defeat against the Vikings in the Wildcard round. Minnesota dramatically snatched victory in overtime<\/a>. It was crushing for Drew Brees because he believed they had a genuine shot of winning rings (via The Ringer<\/a>).<\/p>\n New Orleans and bad pass interference calls go together like salt and pepper. Somehow they became the first 13-3 team not to make the Super Bowl<\/a>. However, they threw away a 10-point lead so they can only blame themselves. But nobody expected them to be a one-and-done team.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If the Titans had more composure they would have won this game. They entered the playoffs with a 13-3 record but faced a stern test against the 12-4 Ravens. They also met twice during the regular season and won a game each. But the much-hyped Titans should have taken this one (via Tennessean<\/a>).<\/p>\n They destroyed<\/a> the Ravens’ Trent Dilfer with multiple sacks and had more yardage. But they didn’t convert their on-field dominance into scores. In the end, the Ravens did less work but were more prolific. The No. 1 seed Titans became one of the strongest rosters ever to go one-and-done.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Patrick Mahomes has done a good job of helping Chiefs fans forget about their previous 50 years of woe. But the franchise put them through tough times and broke their hearts every season. One of the worst in recent memory saw them suffer a miserable defeat against the Steelers (via SBNation<\/a>).<\/p>\n There are a couple of reasons why this one-and-done divisional round loss was heartbreaking. First, it meant that Kansas City fell to 1-9 in their last 10 playoff games. Meanwhile, the AFC West winners became the first team to lose a postseason game despite scoring two more touchdowns than their opponents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This Oilers’ defeat may have been the death knell for the franchise in Texas. Everything went downhill from this moment and soon they were playing football in Nashville. Houston could only blame themselves as they threw away a 28-3 halftime lead. This should have been unassailable but the Bills didn’t give up (via History<\/a>).<\/p>\n Bills Backup Frank Reich stayed calm and put his team through the motions. Somehow they took the lead but the Oilers dragged them into overtime. In the end, it was all for nothing as Buffalo kicked the winning field goal. This was a cruel defeat for the Oilers to take because they thought they were out of sight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Bears went 15-1 in 1985 and won the Super Bowl. It appeared that a dynasty had begun but the truth was very different. The following year they became a one-and-done playoff team as they failed to defend their title. This wasn’t the way they expected to fall out of contention.<\/p>\n Chicago only allowed a record low of 186 points all year. But Jay Schroeder unlocked their defense and threw a couple of key touchdown passes. The Bears couldn’t mount a response and the game drifted away from them. It was a shocking loss but no less than they deserved (via Bleacher Report<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lamar Jackson won the NFL MVP award in 2019 after an amazing year with the franchise. He answered his critics who believed that he was an overblown running back. But his abilities didn’t translate to Ravens’ postseason success. Instead, they became a one-and-done playoff team after a Titans’ win.<\/p>\n They entered the game as massive favorites after they went on a 12-game winning streak<\/a>. Meanwhile, their 14-2 overall regular season record was the best in franchise history. But they lost this divisional game with a whimper after they allowed Tennessee to open a 22-point gap (Baltimore Ravens.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer after this loss against the Patriots. He led the Chargers to a 14-2 regular season before they faced the Patriots in the Divisional Round. San Diego justifiably held the favorites tag against the 10-6 Pats. They had a better record and a stronger roster on paper (via Bleacher Report<\/a>).<\/p>\n However, New England had a lot of postseason experience<\/a> and three recent Super Bowl wins. Tom Brady didn’t play well either with three interceptions. But San Diego threw the game away after retrieving the ball. A shocking play cost their head coach his job after Marlon McCree lost the ball.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sometimes during this playoff game, it felt like the Seahawks still carried the trauma of 2015. According to The Ringer<\/a>, NFL teams ran the ball less than ever in 2018. They increasingly depended on their quarterback’s arm to work some magic. NFL scouts hunted for elite rookie quarterbacks like blood diamonds.<\/p>\n However, Seattle took the opposite approach as they barely used Russell Wilson against the Cowboys. Pete Carroll deserved criticism for conservative play-calling after this game. Wilson was having a good time but he couldn’t stop them from becoming a one-and-done team.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This was a shocking game for many reasons because there were some wild outcomes. First, the Chiefs broke their 22-year streak without a playoff win and delighted their long-suffering fanbase. But they shocked the NFL because they destroyed the Texans in a way nobody expected (via ABC 13<\/a>).<\/p>\n It’s important to remember that the Texans came into this game on a hot streak. But Brian Hoyer chose the worst possible time to have a garbage game. Houston fans booed him off the field and ended his association with the franchise. In the end, they suffered a 30-0 shutout loss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Packers must be one of the most underachieving franchises in postseason history<\/a>. They are perennial contenders but they fall short more often than not. This time the 10-6 Packers lost against the 8-8 Vikings. Minnesota became the second team to win a postseason game with this record<\/a>.<\/p>\n There was no excuse for Green Bay because they were one of the strongest teams in the competition. At least that’s what everybody thought on paper but the reality proved different. Brett Favre had a meltdown and threw four interceptions (via MPR<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Giants led 38-14 late in the third quarter of this Wild Card game against San Francisco. Somehow they managed to throw it away. Trey Junkin admits that he still has nightmares<\/a> about his infamous bad snap. Matt Bryant’s missed field goal attempt was another key moment in this defeat.<\/p>\n It’s amazing how teams can capitulate after one bad moment. They lose their momentum and suddenly the floodgates open. NFL fans saw that with the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. This was a smaller scale but it captures the reality of the on-field drama (Dallas Cowboys – 2021<\/h3>\n
New York Giants – 2008<\/h3>\n
Pittsburgh Steelers – 2020<\/h3>\n
Denver Broncos – 1996<\/h3>\n
Detroit Lions – 2014<\/h3>\n
Cincinnati Bengals – 2015<\/h3>\n
Green Bay Packers – 2013<\/h3>\n
Carolina Panthers – 2017<\/h3>\n
Detroit Lions – 2016<\/h3>\n
Seattle Seahawks – 2020<\/h3>\n
Dallas Cowboys – 1998<\/h3>\n
Tennessee Titans – 2021<\/h3>\n
Green Bay Packers – 2011<\/h3>\n
New York Giants – 1997<\/h3>\n
Pittsburgh Steelers – 2014<\/h3>\n
New England Patriots – 2019<\/h3>\n
Green Bay Packers – 2021<\/h3>\n
Miami Dolphins – 1999<\/h3>\n
Green Bay Packers – 2002<\/h3>\n
New Orleans Saints – 2019<\/h3>\n
Tennessee Titans – 2000<\/h3>\n
Kansas City Chiefs – 2016<\/h3>\n
Houston Oilers – 1992<\/h3>\n
Chicago Bears – 1986<\/h3>\n
Baltimore Ravens – 2019<\/h3>\n
San Diego Chargers – 2006<\/h3>\n
Seattle Seahawks – 2018<\/h3>\n
Houston Texans – 2015<\/h3>\n
Green Bay Packers – 2004<\/h3>\n
New York Giants – 2002<\/h3>\n