NFL History: Ranking the 30 best wild card teams in NFL history

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 06: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Eli Manning #10 and Brandon Jacobs #34 of the New York Giants in action against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 6, 2013 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Eagles defeated the Giants 36-21. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (C) (Photo by VINCE BUCCI / AFP) /

Ranking the 30 best wild card teams in NFL history: 9. 1992 Buffalo Bills

The early 90s Buffalo Bills team were the stuff of legends. Only one team in the history of the NFL went to four-straight Super Bowls. Can we call them a dynasty? Well, no. Because they lost every single Super Bowl. Three of those four Super Bowl runs came as the AFC East winners, but one time, they did it as a wild card.

That season, things were stressful, but the Bills came out winners more times than not. The first game of the playoffs was an epic one. The Bills and Oilers went head to head in an offensive showcase. The two teams scored 38 points, and they needed overtime to find a winner. The game was known as “The Comeback” because the Oilers at one point owned a 35-3 lead and the Bills were forced to play backup quarterback Frank Reich (yes, the current Colts head coach). Jim Kelly was hurt, and it was looking like the Super Bowl streak was ending at two for the Bills.

The Bills came all the way back and took a 38-35 lead late before a field goal forced overtime. There, the Bills took advantage of the old rules and kicked a field goal to win.

Things got a lot easier for the BIlls from there. They beat the Steelers 24–3 and the Dolphins 29-10 in the AFC Championship Game. The Bills then went to the Super Bowl. The team didn’t show up, and they let up 52 points to the Dallas Cowboys. However, the run was worth the pain that the Super Bowl brought (again). It wasn’t the best Bills team of the four-year run, but it was the most tenacious.

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