Bengals fighting NFL’s longest active streak without a playoff win

Credit: Michael Keating

Credit: Michael Keating


NEXT GAME

Who: Bengals at Texans

When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday

TV: NBC

Radio: 102.7, 104.7, 700

With back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in 30 years and three berths in the last four seasons for the first time in franchise history, one might assume Cincinnati Bengals fans would be spilling optimism and excitement all over themselves.

But instead, their emotions range from jaded cynicism to stone-cold doubt because one thing the Bengals haven’t done during their recent run of success – haven’t done since the elder George Bush was in the White House and the current group of rookies were still in diapers – is win a playoff game.

The franchise’s last postseason victory was 21 seasons ago, which ranks as the longest active streak in the NFL and ninth longest of all time. It was was a 41-14 thrashing of the Houston Oilers in a wild card game at Riverfront Stadium on Jan. 6, 1991.

On Saturday, the Bengals can end the drought one day shy of its 22nd anniversary when they face another Houston team, the Texans, at the site of their most recent playoff failure, a 31-10 loss at Reliant Stadium last year.

“We hear about it from you guys (the media), but we don’t talk about it,” cornerback Leon Hall said of the dry spell. “A win would mean the world to this locker room, and it would mean a lot to this city since it’s been so long. But we look at this year as a totally different year.”

Only 33 players on the 53-man roster were even on the team for last year’s loss, and just 14 were a part of the 2009 loss to the New York Jets. And Robert Geathers is lone survivor from the 2005 disappointment at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with us,” offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “What we did in 2006, ’07 or ’08 doesn’t have anything to do with this football team. What we did 20 years ago certainly doesn’t.

“This team is the last two years,” he continued. “Last year, we did what it took to get into the playoffs when a lot of people predicted us to be 0-16. This year, we got back into the playoffs when a lot of people didn’t think we could. We’re here. The next step is winning a playoff game. Hopefully, we can let that be a chip on our shoulder.”

Even though the current players have had a limited role in the 21 seasons of suffering endured by their fans, they understand it.

“I definitely do,” rookie guard Kevin Zeitler said. “We’re here representing the city of Cincinnati. We understand that. It would mean a lot to the city, but it would also mean a lot to us as individuals.”

“We want to get a win as much as the fans want us to get a win,” added quarterback Andy Dalton.

The 21-year streak actually only spans four playoff games. In addition to the losses in 2011, 2009 and 2005, there was a loss to the Oakland Raiders in 1990, the week after the victory against the Oilers started the drought clock ticking.

Head coach Marvin Lewis knows better than anyone in the locker room what the franchise and its fans have been through, but he said all those failures will be as meaningless as all of the regular-season success when the Bengals step on the field this weekend.

“I think it’s the same thing I’ve said before – it just matters what happens Saturday,” Lewis said. “It’s an exciting time for our team and our organization. But I think our guys realize that just being in the playoffs is not what we’re here for.”

Consecutive seasons without a playoff win (since 1933, first season of NFL playoffs)
 
Chicago/St. Louis/Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals 50 1948-97
 
Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers 37 1933-71
 
New Orleans Saints 33 1967-99
 
Detroit Lions 33 1958-90
 
Washington Redskins 28 1944-71
 
Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts 23 1972-94
 
New York Giants 22 1959-80
 
Los Angeles Rams 22 1952-73
 
Cincinnati Bengals 21 1991-2011
 
Kansas City Chiefs 21 1970-90
 
Boston/New England Patriots 21 1964-84
 
Source: STATS LLC
Bengals playoff history
 
Year Round Opponent Score Result
 
2011 wild card at Houston Texans 10-31 L
 
2009 wild card vs. New York Jets 14-24 L
 
2005 wild card vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 17-31 L
 
1990 divisional at Los Angeles Raiders 10-20 L
 
1990 wild card vs. Houston Oilers 41-14 W
 
1988 Super Bowl XXIII vs. San Francisco 49ers 16-20 L
 
1988 conference championship vs. Buffalo Bills 21-10 W
 
1988 divisional vs. Seattle Seahawks 21-13 W
 
1982 wild card vs. New York Jets 17-44 L
 
1981 Super Bowl XVI vs. San Francisco 49ers 21-26 L
 
1981 conference championship vs. San Diego Chargers 27-7 W
 
1981 divisional vs. Buffalo Bills 28-21 W
 
1975 divisional at Oakland Raiders 28-31 L
 
1973 divisional at Miami Dolphins 16-34 L
 
1970 divisional at Baltimore Colts 0-17 L

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