For the past 15 seasons, the NFL has seen at least five teams make the playoffs that weren't in the post season the season before. That streak will reach 16 years when this year's playoffs start, thanks to the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, the AFC West Champion (Denver Broncos or Oakland Raiders), and the NFC East Champion (Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants).
Depending on how the Week 17 games go, that number could reach six teams, with Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, and the Raiders all able to the final wild card spot.
The five new teams to make the playoffs each year since 1996 are:
|
SEASON |
PLAYOFF TEAMS NOT IN PREVIOUS SEASON'S PLAYOFFS |
|
1996 |
5 (Carolina, Denver, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England) |
|
1997 |
5 (Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New York Giants, Tampa Bay) |
|
1998 |
5 (Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, New York Jets) |
|
1999 |
7 (Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington) |
|
2000 |
6 (Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, New York Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia) |
|
2001 |
6 (Chicago, Green Bay, New England, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco) |
|
2002 |
5 (Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Tennessee) |
|
2003 |
8 (Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis, Seattle) |
|
2004 |
5 (Atlanta, Minnesota, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego) |
|
2005 |
7 (Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Washington) |
|
2006 |
7 (Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York Jets, Philadelphia, San Diego) |
|
2007 |
6 (Green Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington) |
|
2008 |
7 (Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia) |
|
2009 |
6 (Cincinnati, Dallas, Green Bay, New England, New Orleans, New York Jets) |
|
2010 |
5 (Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle) |
|
2011 |
5* (Detroit, Houston, San Francisco, AFC West champion, NFC East champion) |
|
|
*Could increase to six pending Week 17 results |