Longest Active NFL Losing Streaks to Another Team

It’s possible that two of the longest-active NFL losing streaks to another team could end this week, shining a spotlight on some of the most well-sustained futility that modernity has to offer.

In Week 6, the Broncos and Jets have opportunities to quell enduring traditions of failure. They meet the Chiefs and Eagles, respectively, and it has been a long while since either had the last laugh in the series. So long that Obama was president when the Broncos last beat the Chiefs, and there is no presidential administration I can use as a reference point for the most recent Jets triumph over the Eagles, because it has never happened.

Neither the Broncos nor the Jets are expected to snap their skids this week. Perhaps one or both will surprise and restore some local pride. Their histories in the series don’t inspire confidence, but it’s an intriguing instance for these matchups to come at the same time.

The Broncos and Jets aren’t the only teams piling up Ls every time they share the field with a familiar foe, even if they’re the best at being the worst. Let’s break down the longest-active NFL losing streaks to other teams and laugh or cry together, depending on your perspective.

As of Oct. 11, 2023. Series records via footballdb.com.

Chiefs over Broncos – 15

The last time the Broncos beat their in-division rival was Sept. 17, 2015. In a tight game throughout, Knile Davis hit paydirt to break the deadlock with 2:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving Kansas City a late 24-17 advantage. But Peyton Manning marched the Broncos down the field on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended in a 19-yard score to Emmanuel Sanders, knotting the score. With 36 seconds on the clock, the Chiefs handed the ball off on the first play of the ensuing drive and the unthinkable happened: Jamaal Charles fumbled the football, Bradley Roby picked it up, and 21 yards later, Denver had scored 14 points in less than 10 seconds of gameplay to claim a stunning victory, 31-24.

Whatever horrible blood promise the Broncos had to make to turn around that game at Arrowhead has cost them dearly since. For 15 times in a row, the Chiefs have taken out their frustration from that day on the Broncos, and Patrick Mahomes is undefeated (11-0) against Denver.

For years now, it’s been a rough ride for the Broncos, their series with the Chiefs notwithstanding. The franchise has nosedived since its Super Bowl title in 2015, now seven years removed from its last winning record. Not much positivity swirls in the Rockies these days with the team 1-4 while parading around one of the worst defenses in the NFL. If the Broncos don’t find a way to get it done at Kansas City on Thursday night as 10.5-point underdogs, their embarrassment will grow to become the only owner of a 16-game active losing streak to another NFL team.

Patriots over Jets – 15

In a late-season clash on Dec. 27, 2015, overtime was necessary to separate the Patriots and Jets at MetLife Stadium. A six-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzgerald to Eric Decker sealed the deal for the home team, 26-20, and the Jets celebrated their 10th win of the campaign and first success over New England since 2013.

The Jets have been waiting for something as sweet ever since. The Pats have dominated this series for a long while, but they’ve taken it to another level dating back to 2016. Nine of the 15 wins during this run have been by at least two possessions. The Jets have averaged 10.87 points in their last 15 meetings with the Patriots; New England’s usual is close to 30.

Things haven’t been as comfortable for the Pats lately with each of the last three contests being decided by seven points or fewer. New England narrowly escaped its first 2023 matchup with New York on Sept. 24, 15-10, to extend the streak further. The two will play again in the final week of the regular season on Jan. 7. Given the current state of the Patriots, it’s as good a time as any for the Jets to finally end this misery.

Eagles over Jets – 12

The first time the Eagles and Jets came together was Dec. 9, 1973 at Veterans Stadium. Roman Gabriel threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles rallied for a third-quarter comeback and sneaked by the visitors, 24-23. Along with their one-point loss to Philadelphia in 1996, that’s the closest the Jets have ever come to beating the Birds.

The Eagles and Jets don’t play in the same conference, so they haven’t faced off too much given the age of both franchises. They’ve only had 12 meetings, all spanning across the last 50 years. Competition has increased over the last 20 years with changes to NFL scheduling practices. It hasn’t mattered on the scoreboard, though.

The Jets have their latest shot at the Eagles coming this Sunday at home, their third opportunity since 2019 to dismantle the goose egg that’s lived in their win column since the dawn of time. They’re 7-point underdogs against these 5-0 Eagles, but maybe some magic happens and the upset is granted. If not, Philly fans can update their bragging rights to 13-0.

Packers over Bears – 9

Mitch Trubisky and the Bears stopped the upset-minded Packers at Soldier Field on Dec. 16, 2018, their 10 fourth-quarter points enough to make the difference in a 24-17 victory. Trubisky threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns and Khalil Mack provided 2.5 sacks of Aaron Rodgers to improve Chicago to 10-4 on the season.

Nine games later, and the Bears are still searching for a way to replicate that day. They already blew one chance to make this cloud go away this season, and like most of the so-called contests during this run, it wasn’t too close, 38-20. In both 2019 games, Chicago was within a possession of Green Bay at the final whistle. That hasn’t been the case since.

Things weren’t going too well for the Bears in this rivalry before the 2018 win, either. Dating back to 2009, Chicago only has four wins versus Green Bay. If you go back further to 1994, Green Bay dominates the series, 47-13.

Chicago will have another shot at redemption on Jan. 7, the final week of the regular season. If it can’t make it happen at Lambeau, then the humiliation reaches double digits.

Other Notable Streaks

Steelers over Colts – 8

Last Colts win: Nov. 9, 2008 (24-20 in Pittsburgh)

Last Game: 24-17, Steelers in Indianapolis (Nov. 28, 2022)

Next Game: Dec. 17 in Indianapolis

Chiefs over Jaguars – 8

Last Jaguars win: Nov. 8, 2009 (24-21 in Jacksonville)

Last Game: 17-9, Chiefs in Jacksonville (Sept. 17, 2023)

Next Game: TBD

Chiefs over Commanders – 8

Last Commanders win: Sept. 18, 1983 (27-12 in Washington, D.C.)

Last Game: 31-13, Chiefs in Landover (Oct. 17, 2021)

Next Game: TBD

Raiders over Broncos – 7

Last Broncos win: Dec. 29, 2019 (16-15 in Denver)

Last Game: 17-16, Raiders in Denver (Sept. 10, 2023)

Next Game: Jan. 7 in Las Vegas

Patriots over Falcons – 7

Last Falcons win: Nov. 8, 1998 (41-10 in Foxboro)

Last Game: 25-0, Patriots in Atlanta (Nov. 18, 2021)

Next Game: TBD

Steelers over Panthers – 7

Last Panthers win: Dec. 22, 1996 (18-14 in Charlotte)

Last Game: 24-16, Steelers in Charlotte (Dec. 18, 2022)

Next Game: TBD

Saints over Bears – 7

Last Bears win: Dec. 11, 2008 (27-24 in Chicago)

Last Game: 21-9, Saints in New Orleans (NFC Wild Card Game on Jan. 10, 2021)

Next Game: Nov. 5 in New Orleans

Bengals over Lions – 7

Last Lions win: Nov. 22, 1992 (19-13 in Cincinnati)

Last Game: 34-11, Bengals in Detroit (Oct. 17, 2021)

Next Game: TBD

Broncos over Cowboys – 7

Last Cowboys win: Sept. 10, 1995 (31-21 in Irving)

Last Game: 30-16, Broncos in Arlington (Nov. 11, 2021)

Next Game: TBD

Eagles over Seahawks – 7

Last Seahawks win: Nov. 2, 2008 (26-7 in Seattle)

Last Game: 23-17, Eagles in Philadelphia (Nov. 30, 2020)

Next Game: Dec. 17 in Seattle