FAVORITE TEAMS

It may be over for teams that didn’t make the postseason, but some showed grit, competitiveness, and potential. A few of the listed teams below impressed me for most of the season while others left so much to be desired. I don’t have any details on these teams because anything can happen in the offseason. I will do plenty of research and follow-up before the next season begins. Here’s the list of non-playoff teams that should contend next season.

1) WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Chase Young’s healthy return next season will make a huge difference for this team. Brian Robinson Jr. will only get better from there. But what’s most important is the quarterback position. Either Taylor Heinicke is the guy, or they throw a wrench at the plan and let Sam Howell start next season. That’s all they need to do to contend for the playoffs.

2) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

I fail to understand the offensive inconsistency from their offense. It looked like they had things together to either win the division or net a playoff spot. Next season, they have Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Juwan Johnson as reliable pass catchers. They also have their best options in Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, but who’s going to man the quarterback position? It’s probably the only position that needs a solution.

3) ATLANTA FALCONS

Atlanta could make more noise next season. The rebuilding process may have sped up to where this team could compete for the division title next season. Desmond Ridder will only get better and has plenty of options to go to. They may need a piece or two on both sides, and they should threaten the rest of the NFC South.

4) DETROIT LIONS

This is the new-look Lions for sure. From start to finish, they looked like the formidable team in most games they’ve played, whether they were blown out or not. The beginning of the season didn’t look promising due to injuries and bad defensive performance. After the bye week, the Lions did a 180 after two losses and competed like a playoff team. This young group should compete for a playoff spot next season. They’re slightly better than Chicago, Green Bay has offseason uncertainties, and Minnesota will be questioned if they can even perform consistently.

5) GREEN BAY PACKERS

It’s hard to tell what Green Bay will look like next season. Will Aaron Rodgers return, leave for another team, or retire? Is Matt LaFleur really the guy for a coach at Green Bay? Will Jordan finally get some Love at the starting position? Questions loom in the offseason, but it’s hard to count out Green Bay from the playoffs and everyone knows it whether they like them or not.

1) PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Pittsburgh had absolutely nothing going until after the bye week. Players returning from injury (including TJ Watt), trading away Chase Claypool, and the continued weekly upward trajectory of Kenny Pickett made Pittsburgh optimistic about their future. They will be in the playoffs next season for sure.

2) CLEVELAND BROWNS

Let’s shelf the whole Deshaun Watson situation and say he will find his way back eventually. He’s shaking the rust off and looked like himself in some moments. Cleveland is slowly but surely putting together a playoff team but maintaining this roster by September would be good to make it a possible reality.

3) DENVER BRONCOS

Denver was a dumpster fire of a disappointment ranging from Russell Wilson’s performance and his off-the-field criticism to coach Nathaniel Hackett’s lackluster coaching and decision-making. He’s gone and Wilson was spared. Depending on who they hire as the new coach, Denver still has the opportunity to turn things around. They have players on this roster that could still make this team formidable but clean up whatever mess is there in Denver and start playing football.

4) NEW YORK JETS

Robert Saleh must explain to his auditors about his “receipts”. Some were plausible at the beginning, but the rest of the season was unexplainable, including Zach Wilson’s performance. Now, the Jets did play well enough to where they could take the next step next season. Saleh’s defense has proven to be Top 10 caliber on a yearly basis. There’s also potential on offense, but he must address the offensive line and Zach Wilson and the rest of the quarterback depth. That’s all.

5) HOUSTON TEXANS

It probably won’t happen next season, but Houston could creep towards a playoff spot. They could scare some teams and maybe even spoil a couple of them. If anyone watched Houston this season, they showed up for every one of them, win or lose. They also managed to tie and defeat the Colts and net a win against Indianapolis and Jacksonville. Outside of their division opponents, they went 0-11. Their last non-divisional win was against the Chargers in 2021. If they can win a few of those games, they could surprise in 2023.

6) LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

This is questionable, but Vegas could clean up their issues and probably be in line for the playoffs next season. They played like the 2021 Vikings where some of their close games ended in losses, including leads that were lost by the end of the game. It has been a consistent issue this entire season and parts of last season and further down. If they could address that problem, they could turn those close losses last season into next season’s wins. Who is their quarterback, and how can they fix this defense so they could be adequately better?