Most Playoff Appearances -- NFL Teams

So, the Giants had a chance to beat the Dallas (George Carlin word)ing Cowboys, and win the NFC East, and get the 3rd seed and a first-round home game in the NFC Playoffs.

And the Jets had a chance to beat the Miami Dolphins, and, if 3 other games fell their way, make the AFC Playoffs.

The G-Men stepped up, and delivered.

The J-E-T-S-Jets-Jets-Jets did not.

As we would say if they were an English soccer team, the Jets bottled it. Again. Against the Dolphins. Again. And they can't even blame Dan Marino. Yes, he was in New York, but he wasn't working for the Dolphins. He was working for CBS on The NFL Today.

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This newly-completed regular season was the Giants' 87th. In those 87 seasons, they have made the NFL Playoffs 32 times -- this counts the 1927 season when they finished 1st in the NFL, before there were separate divisions and an NFL Championship Game. That means they make it once every 2.7 seasons.

This was the Jets' 52nd season in the AFL and the NFL combined. In those 52 seasons, they have made the Playoffs 14 times. An average of once every 3.7 seasons.

The Giants and Jets have both made the Playoffs 4 times: 1981, '85, '86 and 2002. Only in 2002 did both teams make it and the Jets went farther.

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The Giants have not won more NFL Championships than any other team. That's the Green Bay Packers, with 13. And the Chicago Bears, with 9, are also ahead of the Giants, who have 7.

But the New York Giants have made the Playoffs more times than any NFL team: 32.

1 New York Giants 32
2 Green Bay Packers 30
3 Dallas Cowboys 29
4 Cleveland Browns 28
5 Chicago Bears 26
6 Minnesota Vikings 26
7 Pittsburgh Steelers 26
Rams combined 26
8 San Francisco 49ers 24
Colts combined 24
9 Philadelphia Eagles 23
10 Miami Dolphins 22
11 Oakland Raiders 21
12 Washington Redskins 21
Oilers/Titans combined 21
13 New England Patriots 19
14 Denver Broncos 18
15 Buffalo Bills 17
16 San Diego Chargers 17
17 Kansas City Chiefs 16
18 Detroit Lions 15
19 New York Jets 14
20 Indianapolis Colts 14
21 Atlanta Falcons 11
22 Seattle Seahawks 11
23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10
24 Cincinnati Bengals 9
25 Baltimore Ravens 8
26 New Orleans Saints 8
27 Jacksonville Jaguars 6
28 Tennessee Titans 6
Cardinals combined 6
29 St. Louis Rams 5
30 Carolina Panthers 4
31 Arizona Cardinals 3
32 Houston Texans 1

The Texans made it this year, for the 1st time in their history. Now all 32 current NFL teams have made it, and each in their current city.

In comparison, all 30 NBA teams, and all 30 NHL teams, have done so. All 30 MLB teams have made the Playoffs, but the Washington Nationals have not done so since they moved out of Montreal. And there are a few NBA teams that have still not made it.

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Of course, some context is needed. Of course, "most times made Playoffs" is weighted toward the older teams. So how about percentage?

The 1st column to the right of the team's name is the number of times they've made the Playoffs. The next is their number of seasons. The last is, on the average, every how many years they make the Playoffs.

1 Dallas Cowboys 29 52 1.79
2 Minnesota Vikings 26 51 1.96
3 Indianapolis Colts 14 28 2.00
4 Baltimore Ravens 8 16 2.00
5 Miami Dolphins 22 46 2.09
6 Tennessee Titans 6 13 2.17
7 Cleveland Browns 28 63 2.25
Colts combined 24 59 2.46
8 Oakland Raiders 21 52 2.48
Oilers/Titans combined 21 52 2.48
9 New York Giants 32 87 2.72
10 New England Patriots 19 52 2.74
11 San Francisco 49ers 24 66 2.75
12 Jacksonville Jaguars 6 17 2.83
Rams combined 26 75 2.88
13 Denver Broncos 18 52 2.89
14 Green Bay Packers 30 91 3.03
15 Pittsburgh Steelers 26 79 3.04
16 Buffalo Bills 17 52 3.06
17 San Diego Chargers 17 52 3.06
18 Kansas City Chiefs 16 52 3.25
19 Seattle Seahawks 11 36 3.27
20 St. Louis Rams 5 17 3.40
21 Philadelphia Eagles 23 79 3.43
22 Chicago Bears 26 92 3.54
23 Washington Redskins 21 75 3.57
24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 36 3.60
25 New York Jets 14 52 3.71
26 Atlanta Falcons 11 46 4.18
27 Carolina Panthers 4 17 4.25
28 Cincinnati Bengals 9 44 4.89
29 Detroit Lions 15 78 5.20
30 New Orleans Saints 8 45 5.63
31 Arizona Cardinals 3 24 8.00
32 Houston Texans 1 10 10.00
Cardinals combined 6 92 15.33

This really doesn't do the New York teams any favors, especially the Jets.

So, the Cowboys are Number 1 on this list.

It doesn't change the opinion, shared by all people with taste, that DALLAS SUCKS.

Speaking of things that suck, that reminds me: I have to hold my nose and root for the Philadelphia Flyers to beat the Rangers in today's NHL Winter Classic.

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Hours until Arsenal play again: 2, this afternoon, away to West London club Fulham. It is not yet known if the returning Thierry Henry will play.

Days until the Devils play another local rival: 19, a Saturday matinee against the Flyers on January 21, at the Prudential Center. They next play The Scum on Tuesday night, January 31, at the Prudential. The next game against the New York Islanders isn't until March 4, a Sunday matinee at the Nassau Coliseum.

Days until the next North London Derby: 55, on Sunday, February 26, at New Highbury. This game had been scheduled for the day before, but was moved to accommodate TV -- never mind accommodating fans.

Days until the Red Bulls play again: 72, on Sunday afternoon, March 11, at FC Dallas.

Days until the Red Bulls' home opener: 83, on Sunday afternoon, March 25, at Red Bull Arena, opponent to be announced.

Days until the Yankees' next Opening Day: 95, on Friday afternoon, April 6, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays. A little over 3 months.

Days until the Yankees' home opener: 102, on Friday afternoon, April 13, against the Whatever They're Calling Themselves This Year Angels of Anaheim.

Days until the next Yankees-Red Sox series begins: 109, on Friday night, April 20, at Fenway Park in Boston.

Days until the last Nets game in New Jersey: 112, on Wednesday night, April 23, against the Philadelphia 76ers, at the Prudential Center. Just 16 weeks before New Jersey no longer has an NBA team.

Days until the 2012 Olympics begin in London: 207 (July 27). Under 7 months.

Days until Rutgers plays football again: 250, on Saturday September 8, against an opponent and at a location to be announced. A little over 8 months. They closed the 2011 season this past Friday by winning the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium II, 27-13 over Iowa State.

Days until East Brunswick High School plays football again: 256, on Friday, September 14, opponent and location to be determined.

Days until the 2012 President election: 309, on Tuesday, November 6. Register to vote... and on November 6, vote!

Days until the next East Brunswick-Old Bridge Thanksgiving clash: 325.

Days until Alex Rodriguez collects his 3,000th career hit: 565 (estimated around July 20, 2013).

Days until Super Bowl XLVIII at the Meadowlands: 762 (February 2, 2014). 25 months.

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 700th career home run: 835 (estimated).

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 756th career home run to surpass all-time leader Hank Aaron: 1,670 (estimated).

Days until Alex Rodriguez hits his 763rd career home run to become as close to a "real" all-time leader as we are likely to have: 1,704 (estimated -- estimating 28 home runs a year, he should get it late in the 2016 season, maybe around September 1, at age 41).