The NFL’s lovable losers are actually winning this year. Five of the teams with the longest playoff droughts hold division leads after Week 3: the Bills (11-year drought), Lions (11), Texans (nine), 49ers (eight) and Raiders (eight). But let’s remember there’s still 13 games remaining and that these teams have been here before.
Bills » In 2008, Buffalo started 4-0 behind some late-game heroics by quarterback Trent Edwards. But the Bills couldn’t keep the magic going and ended the year 7-9 and last in the AFC East.
Lions » Behind Jon Kitna, the Lions raced to a 6-2 start in 2007. After the first eight games, Kitna had a 94.3 passer rating. But the Lions lost seven of their last eight games as Kitna struggled and threw 14 interceptions.
Texans » Houston has been a sexy sleeper pick for a couple years. The Texans opened the 2010 season by defeating their AFC South nemesis, Peyton Manning and the Colts, and were 4-2 entering their bye week. Then Houston lost four straight and eight of its last 10 games.
49ers » San Francisco has now started 2-1 in four of the last five seasons, but the 49ers haven’t finished better than 8-8 over that span, and former No. 1 pick Alex Smith still has the starting quarterback job somehow.
Raiders » Oakland has had a much longer wait than its fellow fallen franchises. The last time the Raiders started 2-1 was 2004, the final season of Jerry Rice and Rich Gannon.
– Jeffrey Tomik
