4 Absentees Who COULD Return To The Playoffs Next Season
The NFL playoffs are back, beginning on Saturday as the San Francisco 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks.
In the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens, there are seven teams who made the playoffs this season that did not do so last season.
This is not a one-off, which is why we love the NFL. Last season saw seven teams return to the playoffs a hiatus and the 2020 campaign saw six teams return after an absence.
In fact, in the past few seasons, we have seen many teams reach the Super Bowl and then not make the playoffs during the following season.
This season, the Los Angeles Rams failed to make the playoffs after starting the campaign as Super Bowl champions, going 5-12 in 2022. They also failed to make the playoffs in the 2019 season after losing to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 53.
We saw the 49ers fail to reach the playoffs in the 2020 season after losing to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 54, as well as the Broncos and Panthers both missing the playoffs in the campaigns that followed Super Bowl 50, with the former still waiting to make the postseason since winning that game.
So which teams could make the playoffs in the 2023 after missing this season’s knockout tournament? Here are four teams that could do so.
Denver Broncos (5-12 in 2022)
The Broncos were one of the biggest disappointments in the 2022 season.
It was an offseason full of hype, with the trade for Russell Wilson and a new head coach in Nathaniel Hackett who had been offensive coordinator for a back-to-back MVP.
There were many that has the Broncos as not only a playoff team, but also a Super Bowl contender.
However, hope faded despite a 2-1 start. The wins against the Houston Texans and 49ers were far from convincing, with just 27 points combined in those two games
They then lost their next four, including arguably the worst game of the season as they lost in overtime to the Indianapolis Colts. What followed was just two wins in their next nine, with a final day win over the Chargers.
A 51-14 loss to the Rams on Christmas Day saw Hackett fired, in just his first season as head coach. However, the Broncos have looked twice the team since he was relieved of his duties.
Albeit a small sample size, but under interim head coach Jerry Rosburg, they looked far more capable on offense and Wilson looked much better. It is no coincidence that two of their four highest points tallies in games this season were without Hackett.
On defense, they were also fairly good. They allowed less than 20 points in 10 of their 17 games, were 10th in rushing yards allowed and 13th in passing yards allowed. Only six teams in the NFL allowed fewer total yards per game than Denver in the 2022 season.
Offense was there they struggled, with only 11 teams having fewer total yards per game on offense than Denver. Wilson had the worst single-season touchdown total of his career (16) and his second highest interception total (11).
However, in Week 18, Wilson had his best yards total of this season (283) since the Week One loss to Seattle (340), against a Chargers team that played their starters for a good portion of the game despite their playoff appearance and seeding already confirmed.
Wilson threw for multiple touchdowns in a game for just the third time in the 2022 season, and his three touchdowns against the Chargers was a sign of what’s to come next season.
Their next head coach move is pivotal, as they will want to avoid getting another head coaching decision wrong. They will want someone that can help improve the offense but keeping the defence productive.
The Broncos have reportedly been given permission to speak to Sean Payton, who is understandably the biggest target for most teams. His appointment could be one that guides them back to the playoffs for the first time in over seven seasons.
Additional Information
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/den/denver-broncos
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/team/_/view/defense/table/rushing/sort/rushingYards/dir/asc
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/team/_/view/defense/table/passing/sort/netPassingYards/dir/asc
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/team/_/view/defense/table/passing/sort/netYardsPerGame/dir/asc
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/team/_/table/passing/sort/netYardsPerGame/dir/desc
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WilsRu00.htm
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/14881/russell-wilson
Detroit Lions (9-8 in 2022)
The poor Lions. A 9-8 record would normally see teams get into the postseason, and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers getting in with a losing record, it makes it all the more disappointing for the Lions players, coaches and fanbase.
It has been a wonderful season for the Lions, who started 1-6 before finishing the season 9-8 and second in the NFC North. It is the first time since the 2017 season they have finished with both a winning record and a top-two finish in their division.
However, despite their victory in Week 18 over the Packers knocking their division rivals out of contention, this was not enough due to the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Rams.
Some may think, was this a one-off? The 2023 NFL Draft implies this is not the case. Due to the trade with the Rams which saw Matthew Stafford go to LA in exchange for Jared Goff combined with the poor season from the Rams, they have the sixth pick. Add this in with an 18th overall pick due to their own record, the Lions have draft capital.
Goff’s positive end to the season means that they do not need a quarterback in the draft. They ranked fourth in total yards per game and sixth in total passing yards . Goff had the sixth most passing yards (4,438) and only four players had more passing touchdowns (29). They had the rushing touchdown leader in Jamaal Williams (17) and one of the top receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown.
They have the potential to trade down or use the picks where they have them and take two players to improve their squad. Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer is seen as the best tight end prospect, an area of need. He could be used in the 18 slot, with defensive linemen Jalen Carter (Georgia) and Bryan Bresee (Clemson) two top prospects in the position they could choose from at 6.
The Lions have drafted exceptionally under general manager Brad Holmes, and under a head coach in Dan Campbell, they have someone who cares. They are a team trending in the right trajectory.
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has gained a lot of attention for the Lions offensive performances, with a wonderfully executed hook-and-ladder play as they defeated Green Bay in Week 18. He has been requested for head coaching interviews. If the Lions can keep him, then they are a team to keep an eye on in 2023.
Additional information
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/index.htm
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/team/_/table/passing/sort/netYardsPerGame/dir/desc
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/team/_/table/passing/sort/netPassingYards/dir/desc
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/player/_/season/2022/seasontype/2/table/passing/sort/passingYards/dir/desc
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/player/_/season/2022/seasontype/2/table/passing/sort/passingTouchdowns/dir/desc https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/stats/player/_/stat/rushing/season/2022/seasontype/2/table/rushing/sort/rushingTouchdowns/dir/desc
Green Bay Packers (8-9 in 2022)
Their position on this list is all dependant on whether Aaron Rodgers plays for the team next season. Should he do so, then the Packers are a team that could bounce back in 2023.
Rodgers appeared to find his guy after the departure of Davante Adams last year, with Christian Watson a contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He caught for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. After a combined 88 yards across his first six games from 14 targets and 10 games, he followed that up with 107 yards from eight targets. He had two more 100-yard plus games, including seven touchdowns in four games.
They showed their old selves down the stretch, but like the Lions, their late season form was too little too late. Backup quarterback Jordan Love may well be the next Brett Favre, but there is no guarantee. Rodgers will leave at some point, and will not be there forever, but if he was to stay one more season, then they can be a team to content next season. If he does not stay, then their chances of returning are less likely, but Love could surprise everyone.
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8 in 2022)
The final team is the Steelers. Like the Lions and Packers, Mike Tomlin’s men had a great run down the stretch.
A 3-7 start saw Tomlin’s record as a head coach who has never had a losing season in the NFL in jeopardy. However, they won six of their final seven games to go 9-8 16 and keep Tomlin’s fantastic record as an NFL head coach 17.
T.J. Watt’s return from injury proved massive, showing that they could have made the playoffs had he played. His record was 6-2 in games he played 18.
Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett improved more and more throughout the season and his relationship with wide receiver George Pickens is telling. They have a stud at wideout and will go into the 2023 campaign with plenty of confidence.
Additional information
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers
https://pro-football-history.com/coach/420/mike-tomlin-bio
https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/3045282/tj-watt
Honourable Mentions
There of course, are likely to be more than four teams who return to the playoffs next season. The Rams are one team, with the talent they have. However, Sean McVay is rumoured to be going into television and there is no guarantee Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald will return from their injuries as the same player. With a full offseason, Deshaun Watson and the Browns could be another team to look out for as well as the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts, who could be a contender again under Mike Vrabel if they get the quarterback position right. However, the Colts have tried and failed in each of the last four seasons and the Titans will have strong competition in their division and Derrick Henry is not young anymore with a heavy workload.
Whatever happens, 2023 is sure to be another fascinating season.