Playoff Pain Index (PPI)
Ranking the top active streaks of playoff failure in North American pro sports
#1
Philadelphia Flyers
NHL
208
PPI Score
Since last title in 1974-75:
- Finals losses: 6* (most of any team)
- Semi-finals losses: 7
- Quarter-finals losses: 7
- First round losses: 14
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#2
Minnesota Vikings
NFL
186
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1961:
- Finals losses: 4
- Semi-finals losses: 6
- Quarter-finals losses: 13
- First round losses: 9
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 4
#3
Phoenix Suns
NBA
172
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1968:
- Finals losses: 3
- Semi-finals losses: 7
- Quarter-finals losses: 10
- First round losses: 12
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 4
#4
Buffalo Bills
NFL
142
PPI Score
Since last title in 1965 (AFL):
- Finals losses: 4
- Semi-finals losses: 4
- Quarter-finals losses: 8
- First round losses: 5
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 4
#5
Indiana Pacers
NBA
140
PPI Score
Since last title in 1973 (ABA):
- Finals losses: 2
- Semi-finals losses: 8* (most of any team)
- Quarter-finals losses: 2
- First round losses: 18
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#6
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
CFL
140
PPI Score
Since last title in 1999:
- Finals losses: 4
- Semi-finals losses: 6
- Quarter-finals losses: 7
- First round losses: 0
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#7
Connecticut Sun
WNBA
140
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 2003:
- Finals losses: 4
- Semi-finals losses: 7
- Quarter-finals losses: 5
- First round losses: 0
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#8
Utah Jazz
NBA
138
PPI Score
Since team moved to Utah in 1979:
- Finals losses: 2
- Semi-finals losses: 4
- Quarter-finals losses: 11
- First round losses: 14
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 2
#9
Cleveland Guardians
MLB
137
PPI Score
Since last title in 1948:
- Finals losses: 4
- Semi-finals losses: 3
- Quarter-finals losses: 6
- First round losses: 2
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 21* (most of any team)
#10
New England Revolution
MLS
136
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1996:
- Finals losses: 5
- Semi-finals losses: 3
- Quarter-finals losses: 7
- First round losses: 2
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#11
Portland Trail Blazers
NBA
135
PPI Score
Since last title in 1977:
- Finals losses: 2
- Semi-finals losses: 4
- Quarter-finals losses: 5
- First round losses: 25* (most of any team)
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 1
#12
Minnesota Wild + North Stars
NHL
132
PPI Score
Combining all Wild and North Stars seasons since 1967:
- Finals losses: 2
- Semi-finals losses: 5
- Quarter-finals losses: 7
- First round losses: 15
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 2
#13
Buffalo Sabres
NHL
130
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1970:
- Finals losses: 2
- Semi-finals losses: 4
- Quarter-finals losses: 9
- First round losses: 14
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 2
#14
New York Red Bulls
MLS
130
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1996:
- Finals losses: 2
- Semi-finals losses: 4
- Quarter-finals losses: 14
- First round losses: 5
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#15
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL
128
PPI Score
Since last title in 1966-67:
- Finals losses: 0
- Semi-finals losses: 5
- Quarter-finals losses: 14
- First round losses: 15
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 2
#16
Atlanta Hawks
NBA
128
PPI Score
Since team moved to Atlanta in 1968-69:
- Finals losses: 0
- Semi-finals losses: 4
- Quarter-finals losses: 16
- First round losses: 16* (most of any team)
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#17
New York Knicks
NBA
126
PPI Score
Since last title in 1972-73:
- Finals losses: 2
- Semi-finals losses: 3
- Quarter-finals losses: 13
- First round losses: 9
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#18
Vancouver Canucks
NHL
122
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1970-71:
- Finals losses: 3
- Semi-finals losses: 0
- Quarter-finals losses: 10
- First round losses: 16
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 2
#19
Miami Dolphins
NFL
109
PPI Score
Since last title in 1973:
- Finals losses: 2
- Semi-finals losses: 2
- Quarter-finals losses: 9
- First round losses: 8
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 9
#20
San Francisco 49ers
NFL
106
PPI Score
Since last title in 1994:
- Finals losses: 3
- Semi-finals losses: 5
- Quarter-finals losses: 4
- First round losses: 1
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#21
Houston Texans + Oilers
NFL
100
PPI Score
Combining all Texans and Oilers seasons since 1962:
- Finals losses: 1
- Semi-finals losses: 3
- Quarter-finals losses: 11
- First round losses: 6
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 4
#22
Cleveland Browns
NFL
98
PPI Score
Since last title in 1964:
- Finals losses: 1
- Semi-finals losses: 5
- Quarter-finals losses: 7
- First round losses: 4
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 6
#23
San Jose Sharks
NHL
98
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1991-92:
- Finals losses: 1
- Semi-finals losses: 4
- Quarter-finals losses: 9
- First round losses: 7
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 0
#24
FC Dallas
MLS
97
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1996:
- Finals losses: 1
- Semi-finals losses: 3
- Quarter-finals losses: 12
- First round losses: 4
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 1
#25
Cincinnati Bengals
NFL
94
PPI Score
Since team was founded in 1968:
- Finals losses: 3
- Semi-finals losses: 1
- Quarter-finals losses: 4
- First round losses: 8
- Winning record w/o playoffs: 6
PPI Scoring Rules
- Points: Each team receives the following points for each type of playoff loss: Finals(16), Semi-finals(8), Quarter-finals(4), First round(2).
- Different playoff formats: Since MLB and the NFL have historically had smaller playoff fields, 1 point is also given to each season with a winning record that didn't result in a playoff appearance.
- Active streaks only: Once a team wins a title, their PPI score resets to 0.
- Franchise relocations: Once a team moves, their PPI score resets to 0. The Oklahoma Thunder don't inherit points from the Seattle Supersonics, and the Atlanta Hawks don't get credit for the St. Louis Hawks seasons.
- Expansion teams: Cities with a replacement expansion team get to combine PPI scores with the team that left. Houston football fans get credit for the Texans and Oilers, and Minnesota hockey fans get to do the same with the Wild and North Stars.
- Honorable mentions: Puebla, Querétaro, and maybe Necaxa might be worthy of the Top 25, but Liga MX's format is difficult to translate to the PPI scoring rules.
- Historical context: Here are the PPI scores of some notable teams when they broke their title droughts: 1993-94 New York Rangers (195), 2016 Chicago Cubs (188), 2004 Boston Red Sox (142), 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers (94), 2005 Chicago White Sox (90), 1980 Philadelphia Phillies (89), 2023 Texas Rangers (68).