3 NFL Teams Who Will Miss the Playoffs this Year but Make Them in 2022
The 2021 NFL season is starting to wind down. He have a pretty good idea of which teams will advance to the postseason and which teams will be watching the NFL playoffs from their couch.
As a fan of one of those teams (Falcons), I'm already starting to look ahead to next season.
I've narrowed down three teams who I think will be in the playoffs next year, despite missing out on them in the 2021 campaign.
Any odds listed are via WynnBET Sportsbook.
Non-Playoff Teams Who Will Make the NFL Playoffs in 2022
Cleveland Browns
The 7-8 Cleveland Browns aren't yet mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but considering there are four 8-7 teams and a 7-7-1 team ahead of them in the race for the final playoff spot in the AFC, we can assume they'll fall short.
The Browns were coming off a playoff win last season, and their expectations were higher than ever. A run-in with bad injury luck and more than their fair share of close losses sealed the deal on their 2021 campaign. Six of their eight losses this season were one score games, and their last two defeats came by a combined four points.
This roster is too talented not to return to the postseason next year.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints were 5-2 before losing quarterback Jameis Winston for the season due to an injury. Trevor Siemian, Taysom Hill, and Ian Book all failed to provide the Saints with adequate QB play, and as a result, the Saints have gone 2-6 since.
The Saints still have one of the best defenses in the NFL and a coach in Sean Payton who is amongst the most winningest in the league, so I expect a return to the postseason next year as long as they can find a half decent quarterback.
Seattle Seahawks
Arguably one of the most disappointing teams this NFL season was the Seattle Seahawks. At 5-10, they've been officially eliminated from one of the playoffs and are having one of their worst campaigns in recent franchise history.
The bright side is that they finished 17th in average scoring margin and 16th in net yards per play, so they aren't a terrible team by any stretch of the imagination. If Russell Wilson sticks around, but the Seahawks part ways with Pete Carrol, a new coach might be able to breath life into this franchise.
I don't expect the Seahawks to be NFL basement dwellers again in 2022.