What Was Number 1 When Your NFL Team Last Won A Playoff Game?

After 272 games in the regular season, the NFL playoffs are set, with the Buffalo Bills securing the number 2 seed in the AFC after beating the Dolphins in Miami. The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers had already secured the number one seed in the AFC and NFC respectively, before the final slate of games.

Both the Ravens and 49ers have earned a first round bye in the playoffs that start this weekend as seven teams from each conference battle it out for a place in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Sunday, February 11. 

For eight teams, this season extends their run of successive seasons in the playoffs, for the other six, it's a welcome return to the postseason.

It's one thing getting to the playoffs, it's another to win in the playoffs. The Ravens and 49ers are the favorites to win Super Bowl LVIII with the leading sports betting sites.

We've looked through the history books to find out what song was the Billboard number one when your NFL team last won a playoff game. 

Lions Look To End 32-Year Wait

The Detroit Lions and playoff wins are rare. Very rare. In the last 60 seasons, the Lions have won just one game in the postseason. That once-in-three-generations win came against the Dallas Cowboys on January 5, 1992, when Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders rounded off the scoring with a 47-yard touchdown run. 

Top of the Billboard 100 that memorable day was Michael Jackson’s Black Or White. Lions fans have been counting the days since Erik Kramer threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns against Dallas, for whom Troy Aikman was playing in his first postseason game.

Lions fans have been counting the days since that win. It will be 11,698 and counting when they take to the field at home to the Los Angeles Rams in Matthew Stafford’s return to the Motor City on Sunday. Detroit is favorites with the leading sports betting apps to win this weekend’s Wild Card game. 

Wayne Fontes was the Lions’ head coach in 1992 and he is revered in the city for what he achieved. Dan Campbell can become just the second Lions coach to lead the Lions to a playoff win since Detroit beat the Steelers 17-10 in the Playoff Bowl in 1962, 14 years before Campbell was born.

If the Lions beat the Rams on Sunday, then Detroit can kiss goodbye to Michael Jackson’s Black Or White as the song number one the last time they won a playoff game, and welcome Jack Harlow's 'Lovin On Me', which will be the new official number one on the Billboard chart this weekend.

Can Tua Lead Dolphins To A Rare Playoff Win

The Miami Dolphins possess the second longest wait for a playoff win, after the Lions. Miami’s last postseason win came on December 30, 2000 when the ‘Fins needed overtime to beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-17 in South Florida. 

Some might think legendary pair Don Shula and Dan Marino were behind that win, but both had retired by then. Dave Wannstedt was the head coach and Jay Fiedler was under center, but it was Lamar Smith who stole the show.

The running back ran for 209 yards from a playoff record 40 carries and it was fitting that his final carry won the game for the Dolphins. Number one that week on the Billboard chart was ‘Independent Women’ by Destiny's Child.

After 22 years and four losses in the playoffs, it’s time for the Dolphins to add a positive note to their recent playoff history, but a trip to the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs will be as tough as they come.  

Raiders And Commanders Droughts Continue

If the Dolphins and Lions win their playoff games this weekend, then the longest wait for a playoff win will be handed over to the Las Vegas Raiders. 

The Raiders have been rebuilding for a number of seasons and they have some big decisions to make in the off season as to who their head coach should be going forward. 

Antonio Pierce replaced Josh McDaniels and finished the season 5-4, but missed out on the playoffs. If Pierce gets the job for next season, making the playoffs will be a must for a franchise that lives by their ‘Commitment to Excellent’ mantra.

After a seventh successive season without a winning record, it promises to be a huge off-season for the Washington Commanders. New owner Josh Harris will about how to move the franchise forward and bring the good times back to the capital. 

The last time Washington won a playoff game was in the 2005 season when George W Bush was President. Since then, the team named has changed twice and there have been three presidents. 

That playoff win came at Tampa Bay where Washington won 17-10, despite only racking up 120 total net yards. Mariah Carey was top of the charts that day with Don't Forget About Us. Another season or so without a playoff win and it would be easy to forget about Washington's glory years.