The Carolina Panthers are set to become the 18th NFL team with a record of .500 or worse to play in the postseason when they host the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.
There hasn’t been an NFL team with a .500 or worse record to advance to a conference championship game, let alone the Super Bowl.
Here’s a look at the playoff history of NFL teams with a .500 record or worse.
2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
The Buccaneers lost 31-14 to the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 19, 2023, at home in what wound up being Tom Brady’s last NFL game.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed 25 of 33 passes for 305 yards.
One of the only things that went wrong for the Cowboys was kicker Brett Maher missed his first four extra points, becoming the first player in NFL history to miss that many in a game.
2020 Chicago Bears (8-8)
The Bears lost on the road on Jan. 10, 2021, against the New Orleans Saints by a final score of 21-9.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed 28 of 39 passes for 265 yards, connecting with Michael Thomas and Latavius Murray for touchdowns.
The Saints’ win came days before Brees’ 42nd birthday. It also marked Brees’ final playoff win of his 20-year career.
In the first quarter of the game with the Saints leading 7-0, Bears wide receiver Javon Wims dropped what should have been an easy touchdown catch. The drop came after running back David Montgomery took a shotgun snap from the wildcat formation on first down at the New Orleans 40 and flipped it to quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who launched a perfect deep ball.
Bears starting receiver Anthony Miller was ejected for shoving Saints defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson after a failed third-down play early in the second half. Gardner-Johnson also was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct but not ejected.
2020 Washington Football Team (7-9)
Now known as the Washington Commanders, Washington went by the Washington Football Team for the 2020-21 seasons. The Buccaneers won against Washington 31-23 on Jan. 10, 2021, the wild card round enroute to an eventual Super Bowl victory.
Then-Bucs QB Brady threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor Heinicke made his second pro start and first playoff start in place of injured starter Alex Smith.
Heinicke had 306 yards passing and a touchdown pass. He also had 46 yards rushing and a rushing score.
2014 Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
On Jan. 3, 2015, the Panthers held the Arizona Cardinals to 78 yards and forced three turnovers in a 27-16 win.
Quarterback Cam Newton overcame two turnovers, throwing for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jonathan Stewart ran for 123 yards and a score on a rain-soaked afternoon.
The following week, the Seattle Seahawks knocked out the Panthers, 31-17.
2011 Denver Broncos (8-8)
Led by quarterback Tim Tebow, the Broncos opened the playoffs with a 29-23 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 8, 2012.
Tebow connected with wide receiver Damaryius Thomas on a slant pass for the game-winning score. Thomas stiff-armed Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor and outran the Steelers’ defense for the 80-yard touchdown.
The New England Patriots blew out the Broncos, 45-10, in the divisional round on Jan. 14, 2012. The Patriots never trailed in the game.
2010 Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
The Jan. 8, 2011, wild-card game between the Seahawks and defending Super Bowl champion Saints provided fans with an incredible play known as the “Beast Quake.”
In the fourth quarter with the Saints up four points, running back Marshawn Lynch – whose nickname is “Beastmode” – ran for 67 yards and broke nine tackles on one play to score a touchdown. The score helped the Seahawks secure a 41-36 win.
The play’s name comes from Lynch’s nickname and the Seahawks fans’ celebration registering a magnitude 2.0 on a nearby seismometer.
The Seahawks lost 35-18 the following week to the Chicago Bears.
While the Seahawks missed the playoffs the following season, they ended up making five consecutive playoff appearances during the “Legion of Boom” era.
2008 San Diego Chargers (8-8)
On Jan. 3, 2009, the Chargers knocked off the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts with a 23-17 overtime win.
Chargers speedy running back Darren Sproles ran 22 yards for the winning score 6:20 into overtime. Sproles had a big night after the Chargers played the final 2.5 quarters without future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
Tomlinson’s groin injury prompted him to miss the next game in the divisional round against the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who limited Sproles to 15 rushing yards.
2006 New York Giants (8-8)
Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers made a 38-yard field goal as time expired in a 23-20 win over the Giants on Jan. 7, 2007.
2004 Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
On Jan. 9, 2005, Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper threw for four touchdowns in the team’s 31-17 road win over the Green Bay Packers.
Wide receiver Randy Moss caught two of Culpepper’s touchdown passes. The Vikings intercepted Packers quarterback Brett Favre four times in the win.
The following week, the Eagles defeated the Vikings, 27-14. It marked the Eagles’ fourth consecutive NFC championship game.
2004 St. Louis Rams (8-8)
On Jan. 9, 2005, the Rams upset the Seahawks, 27-20.
Rams quarterback Marc Bulger threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns, including a 17-yarder to Cam Cleeland with 2:11 to play. The Rams became the first NFL team without a winning record to advance in the playoffs.
The Atlanta Falcons routed the Rams, 41-17, the following week.
1999 Detroit Lions (8-8)
On Jan. 8, 2000, the team then known as the Washington Redskins knocked off the Lions 27-13 in the playoffs.
Washington running back Stephen Davis had 199 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
1999 Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
On Jan. 9, 2000, the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 27-10. Vikings quarterback Jeff George earned his first playoff win, throwing three touchdown passes.
George threw touchdown passes of 26 yards to running back Robert Smith, 58 yards to Moss and five yards to wide receiver Cris Carter.
1991 New York Jets (8-8)
On Dec. 29, 1991, the Houston Oilers defeated the Jets, 17-10.
Oilers quarterback Warren Moon threw two touchdown passes to Ernest Givens.
Two interceptions by Oilers safety Bubba McDowell helped put the Jets away.
1990 New Orleans Saints (8-8)
On Jan. 6, 1991, the Bears defeated the Saints, 16-6.
Bears quarterback Mike Tomczak threw for 166 yards and a touchdown and directed three other scoring drives to guide Chicago to a victory at Soldier Field.
1985 Cleveland Browns (8-8)
On Jan. 4, 1986, the Miami Dolphins overcame an 18-point second-half deficit in a 24-21 win over the Browns at the Orange Bowl.
Rookie running back Ron Davenport scored his second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard plunge with 1 minute 57 seconds to play, to allow the Dolphins to match what was the second-biggest comeback victory in NFL playoff history at the time.
1982 Detroit Lions (4-5)
Washington routed the Lions, 31-7, on Jan. 8, 1983. Quarterback Joe Theismann threw for 210 yards and three touchdown passes to wide receiver Alvin Garrett.
Garrett, who was listed at 5’7” and 178 pounds, started in place of Art Monk, who suffered a broken foot the week before. Garrett had six catches for 110 yards and three touchdowns in the playoff win.
Running back John Rigggins had 25 carries for 119 yards.
1982 Cleveland Browns (4-5)
On Jan. 8, 1983, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Browns, 27-10.
The Raiders sacked Browns quarterback Paul McDonald six times in the win.