This Concerning Stat Puts Bills’ AFC East ‘Dynasty’ In Perspective

With the Buffalo Bills’ one-point loss on Sunday to the Philadelphia Eagles, the New England Patriots were crowned the champions of the AFC East.

This snapped a franchise record of five consecutive division championships for Buffalo.

With this streak snapped, the Bills became owners of a new NFL record.

The Bills became the first team in NFL history to win five or more consecutive division titles and not make a Super Bowl appearance during their run.

There are only five other franchises in the Super Bowl era to have ever won their division five or more years in a row.

The Minnesota Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” won the NFC Central six seasons in a row, spanning from 1973 to 1978. Like Buffalo, Minnesota has never won a Super Bowl. However, during this time, the Vikings made appearances in 1974, 1975, and 1977.

Then there was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain.” This iteration of the Steelers won their division from 1974 to 1979. They appeared in and won four Super Bowls during those six years.

The Los Angeles Rams held the record for most consecutive divisional titles for 30 years after winning seven in a row starting in 1973. These Rams’ seasons usually ended in a conference championship loss to one of the other teams on this list, but they did manage to make one Super Bowl in the final year of their run.

Most recently, we have the Kansas City Chiefs, whose failure to win the AFC West this season ended their stab at the Patriots’ record. The Chiefs made five Super Bowls during their nine-year reign atop the division, winning three.

But none compares to New England’s NFL record 11-year division title streak starting in 2009 and ending when Buffalo claimed its first.

The Patriots appeared in eight straight AFC Conference Championship Games, made five Super Bowl appearances and lifted three Lombardi Trophies.