NEVER IN JANUARY

Nine of the NFL’s 31 teams have never played in a Super Bowl. Four teams are trying to change that, five others are waiting for 2001, or 2010.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-4)

Somewhat amazingly, went 0-for-31 in runs at the Super Bowl as the Cleveland Browns from 1966-96. Blame John Elway for that.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-5) First year in NFL: 1967. First year in playoffs: 1987. First playoff victory: Maybe this year. First things first.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-5)

Reach NFC championship game every 20 years (1979, 1999), where they send Rams to their only two Super Bowls, losing by scores of 9-0 and 11-6, setting back offensive football 40 years.

DETROIT LIONS (8-6)

Last NFL championship is 43 years old. Failed to make the playoffs between 1957 and 1970. Postseason record since ’70 is 1-9, unlikely to improve in 2000.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (7-7)

Reached AFC championship game in second season, returned in 1999, going nowhere in 2000.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-8)

Reached NFC championship game in second season, still trying to figure out how that happened.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-8)

Reached only AFC championship game in 1983, quarterbacked by Dave Krieg and Jim Zorn and coached by Chuck Knox, the Gene Mauch of pro football. Lost that game, 30-14, to the Raiders. Glory days.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-11)

Playoff record per city: Chicago (1920-59): 1-1. St. Louis (1960-87): 0-2. Phoenix (1988-2000): 1-1. Lone NFL championship, in 1947, now old enough for its pension.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-12)

Not so amazingly, new Browns are 0-for-2 in runs at the Super Bowl. A Brown is a Brown is a Brown.