The NFL’s enduring popularity can be attributed to the anticipation that fresh contenders will arise each year to compete for the Super Bowl crown. Since the expansion of the playoff field in 1990, with two additional postseason spots added in 2020, a minimum of four teams that did not make the postseason in the previous year have qualified each season. In 2023, this number jumped to six. Over the past four years, an average of nearly seven new teams have entered the playoffs, with at least six new entries every time. The average year-over-year increase since 1990 stands at 5.85.
In a recent interview, NYJ QB Aaron Rodgers was asked about the possibility of the Super Bowl following his tumultuous 2023 season. “It has to be the goal,” replied the four-time league MVP confidently. He expressed his belief that New York’s current roster is superior to the highly praised one from the previous year. “I mean, the beauty is, every single year there’s eight to 12 teams maybe – probably less – but eight to 12 teams that could actually do it. And we are one of those eight to 12.”
After clinching the AFC South title last year, Jacksonville’s QB Trevor Lawrence echoed similar sentiments about their upcoming season. “We expect to win, and the time’s now,” Lawrence asserted, underlining the team’s confidence and readiness to compete at the highest level.
As the new season approaches, all teams have a chance to start fresh and prove themselves. Here is a breakdown of the 18 teams that missed out on the playoffs last year, ranked from most likely to least likely in terms of their potential to secure a playoff spot this year.
