Road playoff win droughts

[Spider-Dan]

Obviously, there is a lot of discussion among Fin fans about the current win drought.  But I thought it would be interesting to mention another, different drought: road playoff wins.  Miami's last playoff win was at home, and they have only played one home playoff game since (a loss, obviously).

Miami's last road playoff win was in the 1999-2000 postseason, when they became the first #6 seed to win a playoff game in NFL history by beating the Seahawks, who were still in the AFC at the time.  (The following week was the infamous 62-7 game.)

Other teams with significant road playoff win droughts:

DEN- 1997-98
CHI- 1994-95
BUF- 1992-93
LV- 1980-81
DET- 1957-58

The Houston Texans have never won a road playoff game.

[Sibster]

They've actually played two home playoff games.   Their last home playoff win was 2000.   They had a home game in 2001 and again in 2008, both of which were losses to Baltimore where they never came close to even putting up a fight.

[Denver2]

I remember that Seattle win very well. The week after though was pain.

I’m also surprised the Broncos haven’t won a roadie since their 97-98 season

[Spider-Dan]

They've actually played two home playoff games.   Their last home playoff win was 2000.   They had a home game in 2001 and again in 2008, both of which were losses to Baltimore where they never came close to even putting up a fight.

Good catch.  I forgot that 2001 was under the old format where you could host a playoff game as a wild card team.

[Sibster]

Good catch.  I forgot that 2001 was under the old format where you could host a playoff game as a wild card team.

Yep.  That was the final year that the NFL only had three divisions in each conference, which is what made it possible for the wild card team with the best record to have a home game in the first round.   

[CF DolFan]

Kim Bokamper and Joe Rose were discussing this one day. They said it's very difficult to have to go on the road during the playoffs so winning the division is paramount. They also noted all of Miami's success came when they had home eadvantage.

[Denver2]

Kim Bokamper and Joe Rose were discussing this one day. They said it's very difficult to have to go on the road during the playoffs so winning the division is paramount. They also noted all of Miami's success came when they had home eadvantage.

Funny enough I was watching the 1984 MNF week 17 game against Dallas, where Miami won, clinched home field throughout.


IIRC it’s the last time Miami has had that kind of home field.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Kim Bokamper and Joe Rose were discussing this one day. They said it's very difficult to have to go on the road during the playoffs

Homefield advantage doesn't increase during the playoffs, however the better team is typically the home team and the results would have been similar on a neutral field.

[Spider-Dan]

Homefield advantage doesn't increase during the playoffs, however the better team is typically the home team and the results would have been similar on a neutral field.

The 4-5 matchup frequently has a home team with a worse record, yet they still seem to have a significant homefield advantage.

[masterfins]

Another factor against Miami for road playoff wins is that there is an increased chance of it being a cold weather game, which has notoriously haunted Miami.

[Spider-Dan]

Cold weather "haunts" Miami because it necessarily means Miami is on the road, where every team is worse.

As I've mentioned before, Brett Favre "couldn't play in a dome" until his home field became a dome, and Peyton Manning "couldn't play in the cold" until his home field became a cold weather stadium.

[CF DolFan]

Homefield advantage doesn't increase during the playoffs, however the better team is typically the home team and the results would have been similar on a neutral field.

I don't disagree. Outside of a few instances there is pretty much a good reason why the visiting team does not have a better record.

[Downunder Dolphan]

Funny enough I was watching the 1984 MNF week 17 game against Dallas, where Miami won, clinched home field throughout.

IIRC it’s the last time Miami has had that kind of home field.

The 1992 season playoffs ended up being pretty close (or close enough).

As the #2 seed we had a first week bye, and as it turned out, home field for both playoff games, including the AFC Championship Game that we lost to Buffalo (who knocked out the #1 seed Pittsburgh the week before).