NFL Teams Ranked By Least Wins Since 2005: Bottom 20 Teams of the Last 20 Years

While the NFL cycles through playoff teams every season, most franchises tend to stay very good or very bad for long periods, generally. NFL team success is so predicated on how well a franchise is run that it is often largely dictated by the competency of ownership. As such, bad franchises such as the Cleveland Browns or the Jacksonville Jaguars tend to circle the drain.

The last 20 seasons have featured multiple dynasties in the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. When one or a couple of teams are consistently great, it does not leave a lot of room for the success of other teams.

As we dive into this list, we will start to notice trends that have become apparent over the last two decades. Some of these teams have had a couple of good years here and there, but many of the bottom-dwellers in the league are simply marred by consistent losing records. The teams lower on this list have trouble ever sniffing the consistent high-end success that is reserved for the top 10 to 12 teams in the league. Let's check out the bottom 20 teams over the last two decades.

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20. Denver Broncos

Record Since 2005: 169-155

Worst Season: 2010 (4-12)

The Broncos have a winning record over the last 20 seasons, but they are lucky to have had four excellent years with Peyton Manning at the helm. After a Super Bowl win in 2015, the team did not return to the playoffs until 2024. With quarterback Bo Nix now at the helm, the future is bright for this team.

• Franchise QB
• Double Digit Sack Artist
• Great HC
• Richest Owners

Broncos are BACK pic.twitter.com/8AACwcmTNj

— Strez (@Its_Strez) November 25, 2024

19. Buffalo Bills

Record Since 2005: 164-159

Worst Season: 2010 (4-12)

The Bills spent the better part of the last two decades in mediocrity. The addition of Josh Allen in 2018 has turned this franchise around, as they have enjoyed five straight divisional titles. However, this team cannot seem to get by the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs, as they have lost to them in four of the last five postseasons.

18. Atlanta Falcons

Record Since 2005: 161-163

Worst Season: 2007, 2013, 2020 (4-12)

The Falcons are the first team on this list with a losing record over the last two decades. Despite enjoying some success with quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons could never get over the hump. They infamously lost the Super Bowl in 2016 after leading 28-3 at halftime. Second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. presents hope for this franchise.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Record Since 2005: 161-158-4

Worst Season: 2019 (2-14)

After experiencing a lull in the late-2000s, the Bengals surged back into the spotlight in the early-2010s with five straight playoff appearances. Unfortunately, the Bengals did not win a playoff game over that span. They would ultimately make it to the Super Bowl in 2021 but they would lose to the Los Angeles Rams.

16. San Francisco 49ers

Record Since 2005: 158-165-1

Worst Season: 2016 (2-14)

Before their recent return to dominance, the 49ers spent several years in and out of the dog house. They have made three Super Bowls over the last 20 years, and they have not won a single one. The clock is ticking for this current Niners team as several key players are aging out of the league.

15. Chicago Bears

Record Since 2005: 152-172

Worst Season: 2022 (3-14)

For a historic franchise, the Bears do not have the record to show for it. They currently have hope in the form of quarterback Caleb Williams. He will seek to become the team's first ever 4,000-yard passer. That in itself would be a huge accomplishment for a team historically devoid of solid quarterback play.

14. Tennessee Titans

Record Since 2005: 151-173

Worst Season: 2014 (2-14)

The Titans have enjoyed pockets of success over the last 20 years with no hardware to show for it. This team seems to be all or nothing. Having been through solid head coaches such as Mike Vrabel and Jeff Fisher, the hope is that Brian Callahan can push this team into the promised land.

13. Miami Dolphins

Record Since 2005: 151-173

Worst Season: 2007 (1-15)

The Don Shula-led Dolphins of the 1970s and 1980s are a thing of the past. While the modern Dolphins have not been consistently terrible, they have never been consistently elite. The hope is that young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can help this franchise rejoin the promised land.

12. Carolina Panthers

Record Since 2005: 148-175-1

Worst Season: 2023 (2-15)

The Carolina Panthers enjoyed a solid run in the mid-2000s but eventually fell off. That fall led them to draft quarterback Cam Newton, who would eventually win an MVP and lead the team to the Super Bowl in 2015, despite losing to the Denver Broncos. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the Panthers have not sniffed those heights since.

11. Arizona Cardinals

Record Since 2005: 147-175-2

Worst Season: 2018 (3-13)

Despite a few spike seasons over the last couple of decades, the Cardinals have largely lived in the bottom third of the league. The Cardinals' best successes have come with retread quarterbacks such as Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer. They just had been unable to put everything together with young quarterbacks such as Matt Leinart or Kyler Murray.

Worst record in NFL over last 25 games

Cardinals 5-20
Titans 7-18
Patriots 7-18
Panthers 7-18
Bears 7-18 pic.twitter.com/JbK1guSrkJ

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 9, 2024

10. New York Giants

Record Since 2005: 147-176-1

Worst Season: 2017 (3-13)

Despite winning two Lombardi trophies in the last 20 seasons, the Giants find themselves near the bottom of the league in overall record. Longtime quarterback Eli Manning was a staple for the franchise but they only made the playoffs six times in Manning's 16-year career. That is a whole lot of mediocrity if you ask me.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Record Since 2005: 146-178

Worst Season: 2014 (2-14)

The Tom Brady era in Tampa was fun for the city, yet it was short-lived. Other than the 2020 Super Bowl, this team has struggled through many quarterbacks and plenty of below-average seasons. Perhaps quarterback Baker Mayfield can remedy that issue moving forward.

8. Houston Texans

Record Since 2005: 146-177-1

Worst Season: 2005 and 2013 (2-14)

The Texans franchise has hardly been around long enough to even qualify for this list. The franchise's existence can be categorized into several solid seasons and several awful seasons. The arrow is pointing up, with young quarterback C.J. Stroud at the helm. Additionally, the Texans have made the playoffs eight times in the last 14 seasons.

7. Los Angeles Rams

Record Since 2005: 140-183-1

Worst Season: 2009 (1-15)

Ironically, the Rams have been one of the best teams over the last eight seasons. Unfortunately, the previous 12 before that were so bad that they have one of the worst records in the NFL over the last 20 seasons. The Rams have sandwiched poor seasons in between Super Bowl windows. The Kurt Warner Rams of old ended their run in the early 2000s. That gave way to several years of misery until head coach Sean McVay came around in 2017.

6. Washington Commanders

Record Since 2005: 136-186-2

Worst Season: 2013 (3-13)

The Washington Commanders endured a horrible stint of ownership when Dan Snyder ran the team. His lack of leadership and professionalism likely heavily contributed to the Commanders' struggles over the last 20 seasons. However, with new ownership in town and a shiny new roster, this team looks built for the future. Fresh off an appearance in the NFC Championship Game, the arrow is squarely pointing up for this squad.

5. Detroit Lions

Record Since 2005: 133-189-2

Worst Season: 2008 (0-16)

The Lions have been historically awful throughout their history, so much so that franchise legends such as Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson Jr. retired in their primes. Those days may be over with a new-look Lions team running through the NFC in recent seasons. Perhaps this squad can finally capture Detroit a Super Bowl.

Here's how every team in the NFL fared during the 16-game era (1978-2020).

The Detroit Lions were the worst with a 268-410-2 record 😥 pic.twitter.com/FJ1JNmDYtE

— Gridiron (@Gridiron) April 8, 2021

4. New York Jets

Record Since 2005: 129-195

Worst Season: 2020 (2-14)

The Jets own the league's longest playoff drought at 14 seasons and counting. The margin to the next closest team (Carolina at seven seasons) is not even close. The Jets consistently get in their own way. After a solid start to the century, nothing has gone right since then. The Jets have only finished with a winning record once since their last playoff appearance in 2010.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Record Since 2005: 120-204

Worst Season: 2020 (1-15)

Another one of the league's youngest franchises, the Jaguars have been up and down throughout their existence. Unfortunately, they have been horrible over the last 20 seasons, with only four playoff appearances. The Jaguars consistently live at the bottom of their division despite always seeming to amass solid talent. Perhaps this new regime with head coach Liam Coen at the helm can find a remedy.

The Jaguars are now the 3rd team in NFL history to lose 20 straight games. The others:
- Chicago Cardinals - 29 straight (1942-1945)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 26 straight (1976-1977) pic.twitter.com/xbeh4y0gsC

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 10, 2021

2. Las Vegas Raiders

Record Since 2005: 119-206

Worst Season: 2006 (2-14)

Despite being one of the most storied franchises in the NFL, the Raiders have been awful over the last 20 seasons. After a great run between the 1970s and 1990s, everything seemed to change at the turn of the century. The Raiders have been relatively dysfunctional over the last 20 seasons. They will look for some stability with minority owner Tom Brady and new head coach Pete Carroll calling the shots.

1. Cleveland Browns

Record Since 2005: 111-212-1

Worst Season: 2017 (0-16)

The Browns simply never seem able to get things right. They have recycled a smattering of quarterbacks over the years which has kept them consistently in the bottom third of the league. This team has only made the playoffs twice in the last 20 years. Both of those appearances came in the last five seasons. The arrow is nowhere near pointing up either.

With a record of 42-115-1, the Cleveland Browns have the worst record in the NFL this decade (2010-19).

That is a win percentage of .269. pic.twitter.com/4HgGtxCmIm

— ESPN (@espn) December 16, 2019

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