Three Teams That Got A Ring But Could Have Been A Dynasty Who Compare To These Bills

[HOUSE]

And than there is the Sabres 

[BarleyNY]

On 8/29/2025 at 2:17 PM, corta765 said:

A lot has been made about the Bills inability to breakthrough to a SB and win at this point and for understandable reason when you have a QB like Allen and the regular success they have had since 2019. I am pretty big into football history post SB 1 on and these three teams are very big comparables to the Bills right down to having a team block their way who was their own dynasty and literally took rings off the board. This is not meant to guarantee a SB for the Bills (I wish) as much as show that sometimes you are on the wrong side of the coin but the success in itself is still impressive and appreciate the wins when they come. My criteria for this were franchises who had long term success (decade), consistently won their division, and had some playoff success outside of their super bowl victory.

 

Oakland Raiders  1969-1978

Record 103-32-7 W/L/T, 1 Super Bowl, 7 Division titles, 8 playoff appearances in 10 years, 7 AFC title appearances (1 Victory)

 

John Madden's Raiders were sublime during there time and one of the best teams in the NFL for over a decade. Unfortunately they happened to be in the AFC as the 70's Steelers Dynasty a team they would lose three times in the playoffs including back to back AFC title games in 1974 & 1975 (one of those games were at home). When the Raiders finally broke through in 1976 they demolished the Steelers in the AFC title game at home 24-7 before routing the Vikings in the Super Bowl 32-12. They made the AFC title game against the Broncos the next season before missing the playoffs at 9-7 in 1978 due to tie breaker which was also Madden's last season as a coach. They were truly a great team during that time led by Ken Stabler & George Blanda at QB, HOF WR Fred Bilientnitkoff, HOF OT Art Shell, etc.. They may be the team the most resembles the Bills as they played the Steelers tough and clearly were the 2nd best team in the AFC during the 70's who probably would have been a dynasty had the Steelers not been in their way.

 

San Francisco 49ers 1990-99

Record 113-47 W/L, 1 Super Bowl, 6 Division titles,  8 playoff appearances in 10 years, 5 NFC title appearances (1 Victory)

 

This is an interesting submission because the 1980's 49ers were the dynasty and immovable object of the decade under Bill Walsh & Montana. Head coach George Seifert took over in 1989 from Walsh and won the SB with Montana who was also the league MVP. I am viewing this more as the Steve Young 49ers while using the 1990 season as the starting point. Things changed in 1990 as the 49ers were upset at home by the Giants in the NFC title game and Montana was knocked out of the game (and 49ers lineup as the starter for good). From 1991 on Steve Young became the starter and regular season success was just as frequent as it was for the 49ers in the 80s... until the NFC title game. The Cowboys dynasty stood in the way as Dallas took out the 49ers at home in the 93 NFC title and then in Dallas in 1994. The 49ers finally got revenge in 1995 as they loaded up their defense adding Deion Sanders and linebacker Ken Norton (from Dallas) to win the NFC title and Superbowl. But the following three years the Packers led by Brett Farve & Mike Hologram knocked the 49ers out in the divisional round (96 & 97) and the NFC title in 1998 which again the 49ers lost at home. In the 1998-99 season the 49ers went 12-4 and finally beat the Packers in the playoffs only to lose to the Falcons in the divisional round when stud running back Garrison Hearst (rushed for 1510 yards that year) broke his ankle early in the 1st quarter. 1999 would be Steve Young's last season as the 49ers started 3-1 but saw Young get knocked out with a concussion that would end his career and send the 49ers plummeting to a 4-12 record. The 90's 49ers were truly great throughout but failed to capitalize at home in the NFC title going 1-3 in that time (and 1-4 overall). The team was loaded with future HOF's such as Young, Jerry Rice, Charles Haley, Deion Sanders, & Bryant Young etc.. all were on the team for portions or the entire time. There is a saying that iron sharpens the sword the the 49ers of this period faced some truly great teams in Dallas & Green Bay that all went on to win rings and were just a little better a few times than San Fran.

 

Indianapolis Colts 1999-2010

Record 138-54 W/L, 1 Super Bowl, 8 Division titles, 11 playoff appearances in 12 years, 3 AFC title appearances (2 victories)

 

The favorite comparison for every team/fanbase with a great quarterback that hasn't broken through and for good reason as the Colts from 99-2010 really were a dominate wagon that consistently came up short come playoff time. Much is made about the Patriots being in the way come playoff time, but the Colts & Patriots played three total times with IND breaking through in 2006 to go to the Super Bowl. The greater issue for the Colts was the offense went quiet way to often with Colts scoring under 20 points in nine of their ten playoff defeats during that time (including Super Bowl XLIV vs New Orleans). The Colts also lost two games in overtime during this run as they couldn't close vs the Dolphins in 99' and Manning didn't even see the ball in their 2008 loss to the Chargers. Additionally the 2005 loss to Pittsburgh was especially painful as the Colts defense forced a fumble of HOF running back Jerome Bettis at the goal line which the Colts returned close to mid field only for kicker Mike Vanderjagt to miss the game tying field goal badly (he was perfect kicking at home all season) preserving a 21-18 Steeler win. Many people bring up that the Colts never had a great defense during that time which is a fair point and only when safety Bob Sanders was healthy were they really a good unit. What is kind of ignored though is the Colts defense in the playoffs were not sieves the way the Bills defense has been vs KC. The Colts defense in six of the ten playoff defeats held their opponent to 21 points or less including the two playoff games they allowed 17 pts heading into OT. Again they were not a top flight unit, but they certainly did a decent job for the league's top offense to have a good chance to do work. In defense of the Colts offense, they ran into many of the leagues top defenses in these losses as the 99 Titans, 03 Pats, 04 Pats, 05 Steelers, & 2010 Jets all fielded top 5 defenses in the NFL in those years. The Colts only having three AFC title appearances during this time is a reflection of a team that probably relied on its offense too much, but an offense that also failed to hold the pace it regularly did during this period. It is forever interesting to me that Manning in just four years in Denver got to the same number of Super Bowls and just one less AFC title game then his entire time in IND (also in their loss to BAL he was tremendous, you can blame the D for that blown AFC title game appearance). Tony Dungy led to the greatest height of these Colts and it is a fair question what would have happened and if Manning even would have left if Dungy was still his coach. Regardless the Manning Colts are the latest great example of a team being blocked out of a dynasty but at least getting their ring to solidify the success they had during this run.

Are you okay?

[Maine-iac]

It was almost a different era but Elway found his SB wins later in his career.  I think no discussion in futility would be complete without mentioning Schottenheimer's run in KC.  He was there ten years and had some of very good teams.  I think one got the cover of SI as a SB favorite.  All of those teams didn't make it to the SB.  The thing is you can't stare at the ditch.  Put your eyes where you want to be and enjoy the ride.

[Breakout Squad]

On 8/29/2025 at 4:34 PM, corta765 said:

Yep.

 

I actually should’ve added Rodgers and the Packers here. If you told me after 2010 they’d never be back I wouldn’t have believed it.

It really shows how hard it is to win a Super Bowl. 

[Lafromboise]

1 hour ago, Breakout Squad said:

It really shows how hard it is to win a Super Bowl. 

Then why is it so easy for the pats and chiefs all these years

[billsfan714]

On 8/29/2025 at 6:50 PM, Gunsgoodtime said:

If they got a ring they do not compare to the Buffalo Bills

You are exactly right.  Comparisons to the Browns or Schottenheimer Chargers are the most apt.

[twoandfourteen]

18 hours ago, SoMAn said:

This further reinforces the argument at how difficult it is to win it all. 
When the Idiot Choir chimes in with the “fire McDermott” chorus, consider the number of teams and coaches who never experienced a Super Bowl victory more than once, and many that never get bgck to the dance again. When 31 other teams are fighting for the same prize, it’s a major achievement to get there and to win it. 

 

Non of those teams have Josh Allen — arguably the most physically gifted player to ever take an NFL snap.

 

At least ONE SB appearance in eight seasons should be the expectation. 

[90sBills]

14 hours ago, Lafromboise said:

Then why is it so easy for the pats and chiefs all these years

Two historically great QBs with hof coaches. They shouldn’t be used for comparison to ‘normal’ teams that are trying to reach the Super Bowl once let alone win it.