NFL history shows momentum isn’t everything heading into playoffs

Momentum is a big subject in the NFL this time of year.

Specifically, who’s got it going into the playoffs. No team in the NFC has built more over the past month than the Washington Epithets, who have won four in a row. Seattle’s first-round opponent, Minnesota, is right behind with three straight wins. Kansas City has the longest streak of any team in either conference with 10 consecutive victories.

How Super Bowl champions have played entering the postseason: 2002-2014
Season	Champion	Streak	Dec. W/L
2014	Patriots	Lost 1	3-1
2013	Seahawks	Won 1	3-2
2012	Ravens	Lost 1	1-4
2011	Giants	Won 2	3-2
2010	Packers	Won 2	3-2
2009	Saints	Lost 3	2-3
2008	Steelers	Won 1	3-1
2007	Giants	Lost 1	3-2
2006	Colts	Won 1	2-3
2005	Steelers	Won 4	4-1
2004	Patriots	Won 2	4-1
2003	Patriots	Won 12	4-0
2002	Bucs	Won 1	3-2

Except it’s not about racking up wins heading into the playoffs, it’s about racking up wins in the playoffs. History provides a pretty good lesson in that regard.

Over the previous 11 seasons, there have been 17 teams that entered the playoffs having won five or more games in a row. That includes last year’s Seahawks, who won their final six regular-season games. Not one of those 17 teams won the Super Bowl.

In fact, take it a step further and you can say it’s more likely for a team riding a significant win streak to lose its first playoff game than to reach the Super Bowl.

Of those 17 teams that had won five or more games entering the postseason, seven lost their first game in the playoffs while just three reached the Super Bowl.