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Detroit Lions own longest active playoff drought in 4 major North American sports leagues

jared ramsey, detroit free press
·4 min read
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The Detroit Lions have their best chance to break a drought that has been haunting the franchise for over 31 seasons.

After winning the NFC North and tying the franchise record for most wins in a season with a 12-5 regular season, the Lions are hosting the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the NFL playoffs as three-point home favorites.

The Lions have not won a playoff game since the 1991-92 season, when Barry Sanders ran all over the Dallas Cowboys to lead Detroit to a 38-6 win on Jan. 5, 1992, at the Pontiac Silverdome. The Lions were then blown out by Washington in the NFC championship game. The Lions entered Sunday with a 31-season playoff victory drought —the longest active streak of not advancing in the postseason across North America's four major sports leagues.

Here is a look at the longest active playoff droughts across the four sports leagues.

NFL

Detroit Lions QB Eric Kramer waves to the crowd from the sideline during their playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys at the Silverdome in Pontiac on Jan. 5, 1992.
Detroit Lions QB Eric Kramer waves to the crowd from the sideline during their playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys at the Silverdome in Pontiac on Jan. 5, 1992.

Again, Detroit comfortably holds the current crown for the longest time since a playoff win. Sunday marked 11,697 days since the Lions last won in the playoffs, the longest drought in the NFL by nine seasons, and the longest in any sport by four.

The Lions jumped to the top of the list during the 2021-2022 season when the Cincinnati Bengals went on a run to the Super Bowl, which snapped their 31-year drought without a win. The Lions have had their chances, but are 0-9 since the last win and are the only NFL team without a playoff win in the 21st century.

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The Lions have made eight playoff appearances since that NFC divisional win and have lost nine straight postseason games. Before this season, the Lions last won their last division title in 1993 and made the playoffs as a wild card in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2014, and 2016.

The team with the second-longest active drought is the Miami Dolphins, who extended their drought on Saturday night as the No. 6 seed in the AFC with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Dolphins last advanced in 2000 with a win over the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round.

MLB

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto looks to the dugout in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 14, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto looks to the dugout in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 14, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Cincinnati Reds are the current holders of the longest streak without a playoff series win in the MLB. The Reds last won a playoff series in October 1995, making it 28 seasons without advancing in the MLB playoffs. The Reds have made the playoffs four times since and last won a game in 2013.

The Detroit Tigers are tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the longest active streak without a playoff appearance; they have both missed the playoffs every season since getting swept out of the playoffs in 2014. The Tigers' most recent playoff win came in the 2013 ALCS, where they were booted from the playoffs in six games by the Boston Red Sox.

NBA

BOSTON - NOVEMBER 08: Sean May #42 of the Charlotte Bobcats talks with referee Violet Palmer #12 in the second half against the Boston Celtics on November 8, 2006 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Bobcats 110-108 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets own the current title of the NBA franchise with the longest active postseason drought (since 2015-16) and the longest drought without a playoff series win (since 2003-04). The Hornets last advanced in the playoffs during the 2003-04 season and only appeared three times since, all with a first-round exit.

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The Detroit Pistons are the current owners of the longest streak of consecutive games without a postseason win (14), with the last win coming in 2008. The Pistons' streak is the longest active one across the four sports leagues after the Minnesota Twins snapped their 18-game losing streak in the 2023 MLB playoffs. The Pistons have reached the playoffs in three seasons since they last advanced (to the Eastern Conference finals in 2008) and have been swept all three times.

NHL

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie clears the puck during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Dec. 5, 2023.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie clears the puck during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Dec. 5, 2023.

The Buffalo Sabres own the longest postseason drought and longest postseason series win drought in the NHL. The Sabres last made the playoffs in the 2010-11 season, and haven't won a playoff series since the 2007 conference semifinals.

The Red Wings have the second-longest drought without a postseason series win, dating back to 2013 when they advanced to the conference semifinals by beating the Anaheim Ducks. The Red Wings made the playoffs three straight times from 2014-16 but lost in the first round each season before eventually snapping the franchise's 25-season streak of making the postseason in 2017.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions own longest active playoff drought in 4 major leagues