Which non-playoff team from 2013 do you think will make the 2014 playoffs?

[ivanvamp]

I know we haven't even gotten to training camp yet, but I'm already getting pumped for the football season.  So I'm wondering what you guys think about this year's surprise team - the team that stands the best chance from going from missing the playoffs in 2013 to making the playoffs in 2014.  Here's my list:
 
AFC
- Houston.  Just 2-14 last year.  Horrible.  But they added a lot in the offseason, and I think they could be the single biggest mover up the standings this year.
 
- NYJets.  8-8 last year.  I think Vick could give them something they haven't had.  When he's good, he's a quality QB.  He needs to be healthy and good, but still, the potential is there.  The defense is solid.
 
- Baltimore.  8-8 last year.  Time for the 2013 SB champs to get back on track.
 
- Pittsburgh.  8-8 last year.  They are never bad for long.
 
 
NFC
- Atlanta.  4-12 last year, seems impossible for a 4-12 team to make the leap, right?  But the last 5 years before then they were:  11-5, 9-7, 13-3, 10-6, and 13-3.  So it's a solid franchise with a good QB at the helm.  
 
- Arizona.  10-6 last year, in a loaded division.  They have a lot of talent.  Can they get over the hump?
 
- Chicago.  8-8 last year.  I am not a Jay Cutler fan, but were 10-6 in 2012.  They have a shot.
 
- NYGiants.  Just 7-9 last year, but if Eli Manning can bounce back, they could make some noise in that division.
 
 
 

 

[Norm Siebern]

Great topic and question.

Atlanta and Baltimore

 

[Norm Siebern]

To follow up, I would also put Washington in there as a good possibility as well.

 

[RIrooter09]

Jets- Improved QB play and continued strong D should net them a wild card.
Ravens-I expect the Bengals to take step back this season and Baltimore should win the division.
Texans-Colts are still the class of that division, but improvements on both side of the ball should help Houston grab a wild card.
Bears-If Cutler stays healthy they can win 10-11 games and a wild card.

 

[LondonSox]

I wouldn't but then I'm a biased Eagle fan.
 
Atlanta and pittsburg for me.
I think those are all good candidates in the AFC, the Jets the weakest. Vick being an answer would be a shock and they still need a game plan, although to be fair Vick has been his best in run around a bit and throw it to someone vs an actual scheme.
 
Arizon still has to get through a stacked division, but otherwise a good candidate for sure. Chicago isn't easy either.
The NFC East isn't great, Dallas defensively is a tire fire, and Washington is a giant question mark. The Giants have a good chance if Foles turns into a pumpkin.

 

[TeddyBallgame'sDirtbagSon]

It's easy to sleep on cleveland but soon they are going to erupt. The Gordon situation and youth/inexperience at QB might hold them back another year from making their big move. However, thier division is down a little right now and Johnny Cleve can win a few games by himself on magical sandbox Doug flute bullshit, so I feel like they could get the party started this year.

 

[Tony C]

Houston and Atlanta -- 6 wins btw them last season and I'd bet on 16 btw them next year. Massive underachievers each with a solid talent base and a fair number of new acquisitions to further bolster them.

If only Houston had Mallett....

 

[cornwalls@6]

Chicago - Like the Jared Allen signing, love their wide-outs, and if they ever get a fully healthy season from Cutler, can easily see them as 10-11 win team, and a threat to make some noise in January.
 
Baltimore - Last year felt like super-bowl hangover at least to some degree. While I don't love Flacco's inconsistency, I do think there is enough on the defensive side of the ball, and enough weapons around Flacco, for them to get back to the playoffs. Actually think the Bengals take a step back this year, so 11 wins and the AFC North title seem very much in reach for the Ravens.
 
NY Giants - Offensive line needs to be significantly improved, but I liked their draft(think Beckham will be a huge addition/impact to their receiving corps) Just think the system Reese and Coughlin have put together is very sound, and due for a bounce back. Could see a big year from Eli with any kind of decent protection.   

 

[Mooch]

Tampa - The move to Lovey Smith will be a step up from the previous tire fire.   I like adding McCown with some legit weapons (V. Jax, Mike Evans, Saferian-Jenkins and adding Anthony Collins at LT) and adding Michael Johnson to the defense along side McCoy could be disruptive.  I also think that Jeff Tedford as offensive coordinator will get Doug Martin back on track in the running game. 

 

[Briz]

For the AFC, Pittsburg or Baltimore.  Lack of consistency killed them last year.  One of these two if not both will right that ship.
 
The NFC is a little bit harder for me.  I want to say Arizona and/or Atlanta.  But the competition in their division makes me hesitant, especially Arizona.  Arizona might be a top 5 team in the NFC and not make the playoffs because of 3-4 losses to Sea and SF.  Will they go 10-2 against everyone else to make it?  Might be tough.  They have the AFC West and drew @Den.  It might be 10-1 against everyone else.
 
Same deal with Atlanta.  Car and NO might hand them a minimum of 3 losses.  Considering they have to go @Balt, @Cinci and play a Pitt team late that might be fighting for a playoff spot, a 3-3 Division record might punch them out of the playoffs.
 
I also am not going touch the NFC East.  Too many moving parts to choose a team.  If I had to, it would be the Giants  But is this a Jekyll or Hyde year for them?  I don't remember.
 
I would say Chicago is my pick.  They should be better and they have a lot of offensive talent.  As long a Cutler stays healthy and throws to the guys in Bears jerseys, they should win 10-11 games and win their division.

 

[Kliq]

Houston- They remind me a lot of KC from 2012-13 where they actually had quite a bit of talent, but just had a miserable season where everything that could go wrong did go wrong. They also play in a division with a tomato can and an unreliable TEN team.
 
Chicago- I don't really like Jay Cutler, but I may not have too. There offense was so damn good last year that they made a career backup look like a Pro-Bowler. GB will be good, but I don't think Detroit will be able to put it all together and MIN will have some growing pains. I like TB as well, but their division is just so hard to figure out.

 

[Buck Showalter]

Pittsburgh
 
I think they had a solid draft to compliment an already solid core that obviously includes Ben.
 
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see them contend strongly for the AFC Championship.

 

[Old Fart Tree]

Atlanta and Pittsburgh.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Pittsburgh and Chicago

 

[dynomite]

AFC: Houston is a decent bet because the AFC South is garbage outside of the Colts, but I'll go with the Ravens -- I think a healthy Pitta will be huge for that offense, and I think the defense will be better.

NFC: I'll go with the Lions, who went 7-9 despite losing 6 games by 4 or fewer points. A lot of talent on that roster.

 

[Tony C]

You're right that Det has a ton of talent. And mock Caldwell all one wants, but I think he'll bring professionalism to the club and mentor ship to Stafford -- both are precisely what the doctor ordered. Schwartz was a disaster.

 

[Toe Nash]

The Jets really had 5 or 6-win talent last year, or maybe worst in a better division. They won two games on fluke penalties as we know. They had the 7th-worst point differential which was only saved from being 3rd-worst by late wins against the sinking ship that was the Dolphins and Cleveland. Vick is toast and I don't think Smith will be much better. The defense is good, but it was good last year too...it just never got off the field. I can't see a scenario outside of extreme luck that they make the playoffs.
 
I'd go with Detroit and Pittsburgh.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Both AZ and StL could be potential playoff teams in most divisions, but as was already said, the NFC West is just brutal.

 

[tims4wins]

The flip side of this question is which 2013 playoff teams will not make it back in 2014?
 
NFC: Carolina seems like the best bet here, while I could see Philly not making it. Dark horse here is San Fran, I think that team is teetering on the brink and in that division could easily slip to 9-7 or worse and out of the playoffs
 
AFC: San Diego and KC are both somewhat obvious candidates, and I could see the Bengals also falling back to 3rd or even 4th in the AFC North

[/quote]

Nailed all 3 NFC teams and 2 out of 3 AFC teams. Not bad.

 

[RedOctober3829]

AFC
 
Pittsburgh
 
NFC
Detroit
Chicago
Arizona
 
  Pittsburgh for most of the reasons others have stated.  Chicago added Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston to bolster the pass rush, but the back four still scare me.  Arizona's offensive line should be better with Jared Veldheer added and Jonathan Cooper healthy. 

 

[tims4wins]

Psst RedOctober: San Diego made the playoffs last year

 

[RedOctober3829]

Psst RedOctober: San Diego made the playoffs last year

Ha how soon I forget!!

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

There's no way the Jets make the PO. 
 
They sure ain't winning the AFCE, and have vastly less talent than Pittsburgh and/or San Diego.
 
Steelers are going to be a big comeback team this year. Finished second half of 2013 at 6-2, won at home against Bengals and beat the Packers on the road before walloping Browns at home. 

 

[Rudy's Curve]

and I could see the Bengals also falling back to 3rd or even 4th in the AFC North

 
I'm generally a glass half-empty guy (as if this franchise has given me any reason not to be) but this is pretty ridiculous. Johnson is a big loss and Zimmer leaving will have some effect, but that should be at least offset by having Hall and Atkins for more than half a season. Offensively, Jackson is a sizable upgrade on Gruden and they gave 220 carries to BJGE and Sanu a bunch of snaps on the outside, both of which are being replaced by clearly superior options. While I'm certainly not a Dalton fan, he's good enough to consistently beat mediocre and bad teams. Plus, there are a lot more younger guys in significant roles with arrows pointing up than the other way around.
 
The Bengals were 116 points better than the Steelers last year, 157 than the Ravens and 223 than the Browns, who lost their best player. There's no way they finish last and it's pretty doubtful they come in third.

 

[tims4wins]

 
I'm generally a glass half-empty guy (as if this franchise has given me any reason not to be) but this is pretty ridiculous. Johnson is a big loss and Zimmer leaving will have some effect, but that should be at least offset by having Hall and Atkins for more than half a season. Offensively, Jackson is a sizable upgrade on Gruden and they gave 220 carries to BJGE and Sanu a bunch of snaps on the outside, both of which are being replaced by clearly superior options. While I'm certainly not a Dalton fan, he's good enough to consistently beat mediocre and bad teams. Plus, there are a lot more younger guys in significant roles with arrows pointing up than the other way around.
 
The Bengals were 116 points better than the Steelers last year, 157 than the Ravens and 223 than the Browns, who lost their best player. There's no way they finish last and it's pretty doubtful they come in third.

 
This is all fair, but there aren't too many of those easy wins on their schedule:
 
@ KC
vs. NYJ
@ AZ
vs. IND
@ Balt
vs. Atl
vs. Ten
@ NE
vs. Car
@ Ind
vs. Balt
vs. Jax
vs. Cle
@ NO
@ HOU
@ TB
vs. Pit
@ Cle
vs. Den
@ Pit
 
I could easily see an 8 loss season

 

[ivanvamp]

This is all fair, but there aren't too many of those easy wins on their schedule:
 
@ KC
vs. NYJ
@ AZ
vs. IND
@ Balt
vs. Atl
vs. Ten
@ NE
vs. Car
@ Ind
vs. Balt
vs. Jax
vs. Cle
@ NO
@ HOU
@ TB
vs. Pit
@ Cle
vs. Den
@ Pit
 
I could easily see an 8 loss season

Well, with that 20-game schedule you list, yeah, 8 losses look real possible.

 

[Rudy's Curve]

 
This is all fair, but there aren't too many of those easy wins on their schedule:
 
@ Balt
vs. Atl
vs. Ten
@ NE
vs. Car
@ Ind
vs. Balt
vs. Jax
vs. Cle
@ NO
@ HOU
@ TB
vs. Pit
@ Cle
vs. Den
@ Pit
 
I could easily see an 8 loss season

 
Even if you give them losses at NE and NO (even though they beat Payton/Brees there last time many years ago) and a split in division (which I would say is a worst-case scenario), I don't see too many more losses. They project to be pretty clear favorites in every home game except Denver where they're probably a slight dog at worst.
 
I don't think enough can be made of the upgrade at OC. Gruden wasn't terrible but he got way too pass-happy at times, especially in the playoff game. Hue Jackson should be a head coach and it was an absolute crime he wasn't even a coordinator the last two years. He's a running game savant and considering what he did with inferior talent in Oakland, there's really high potential here.

 

[tims4wins]

Well, with that 20-game schedule you list, yeah, 8 losses look real possible.

Ha whoops. Preseason. D'oh
 
Edit: you should have gone with this
 
:bill-throwing:

 

[j-man]

AFC -  Pitt NYJ  Maybe   HOU 
NFC- STL My Sleeper   then Maybe NYG CHI DET ATL and Zona  

 

[j-man]

There's no way the Jets make the PO. 
 
They sure ain't winning the AFCE, and have vastly less talent than Pittsburgh and/or San Diego.
 
Steelers are going to be a big comeback team this year. Finished second half of 2013 at 6-2, won at home against Bengals and beat the Packers on the road before walloping Browns at home. 

JETS Could Sweep the AFC West   they will beat either CHI  or DET they match well against MIAMI   Sipit Buff NE   i say JETS finish 9-7 and get the 6 spot  and a likely 1 round matchup with indy    

 

[snowmanny]

You are saying it is more likely the Jets sweep Miami than it is New England sweeps them.

 

[Grunherz54]

Pittsburgh and Washington

 

[Eric Ampersand]

There seems to be a plurality of Steelers backers. That pick seems accurate. The Bengals have talent but can't be trusted. The Ravens have Baltimore problems. The Steelers are well coached and well run. That's usually enough in a weak division.

I'll go with The Lions for NFC. They are the contrarian pick but I still have reasons. Good ones. Most importantly they don't play in the west or south. Their average defense is worlds better than the rest of the north. They have talent on both lines. Their QB is not Jay Cutler. The team is no longer coached by a jackass.

 

[jk333]

My bold prediction is one of Arizona or St. Louis will make the playoffs and San Francisco will miss it. 

 

[tims4wins]

The flip side of this question is which 2013 playoff teams will not make it back in 2014?
 
NFC: Carolina seems like the best bet here, while I could see Philly not making it. Dark horse here is San Fran, I think that team is teetering on the brink and in that division could easily slip to 9-7 or worse and out of the playoffs
 
AFC: San Diego and KC are both somewhat obvious candidates, and I could see the Bengals also falling back to 3rd or even 4th in the AFC North

 
Bump.
 
Loving my picks of Carolina and SF, was probably wrong about Philly.
 
Similarly looking like I will get at least 2 of 3 right in the AFC, possibly all 3.

 

[ivanvamp]

I know we haven't even gotten to training camp yet, but I'm already getting pumped for the football season.  So I'm wondering what you guys think about this year's surprise team - the team that stands the best chance from going from missing the playoffs in 2013 to making the playoffs in 2014.  Here's my list:
 
AFC
- Houston.  Just 2-14 last year.  Horrible.  But they added a lot in the offseason, and I think they could be the single biggest mover up the standings this year.
 
- NYJets.  8-8 last year.  I think Vick could give them something they haven't had.  When he's good, he's a quality QB.  He needs to be healthy and good, but still, the potential is there.  The defense is solid.
 
- Baltimore.  8-8 last year.  Time for the 2013 SB champs to get back on track.
 
- Pittsburgh.  8-8 last year.  They are never bad for long.
 
 
NFC
- Atlanta.  4-12 last year, seems impossible for a 4-12 team to make the leap, right?  But the last 5 years before then they were:  11-5, 9-7, 13-3, 10-6, and 13-3.  So it's a solid franchise with a good QB at the helm.  
 
- Arizona.  10-6 last year, in a loaded division.  They have a lot of talent.  Can they get over the hump?
 
- Chicago.  8-8 last year.  I am not a Jay Cutler fan, but were 10-6 in 2012.  They have a shot.
 
- NYGiants.  Just 7-9 last year, but if Eli Manning can bounce back, they could make some noise in that division.

Shows you what I know. Of this group, only Arizona and Pittsburgh are really doing well. Baltimore is hanging around, and I guess Houston still has a small chance. The Giants and Bears kind of stink, and the Jets and Falcons are plain old horrible.

 

[Mooch]

I win for worst prediction on Tampa.

 

[Ed Hillel]

I win for worst prediction on Tampa.

 
Nope, we had a Jets pick.

 

[dynomite]

AFC: Houston is a decent bet because the AFC South is garbage outside of the Colts, but I'll go with the Ravens -- I think a healthy Pitta will be huge for that offense, and I think the defense will be better.

NFC: I'll go with the Lions, who went 7-9 despite losing 6 games by 4 or fewer points. A lot of talent on that roster.

Well, we'll have to wait and see, but I think there's a decent chance I'm going 2 for 2.

The AFC North looks like a mess, though, so it will probably come down to the last week or 2.

 

[tims4wins]

The flip side of this question is which 2013 playoff teams will not make it back in 2014?
 
NFC: Carolina seems like the best bet here, while I could see Philly not making it. Dark horse here is San Fran, I think that team is teetering on the brink and in that division could easily slip to 9-7 or worse and out of the playoffs
 
AFC: San Diego and KC are both somewhat obvious candidates, and I could see the Bengals also falling back to 3rd or even 4th in the AFC North

Nailed all 3 NFC teams and 2 out of 3 AFC teams. Not bad.

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

Nailed all 3 NFC teams and 2 out of 3 AFC teams. Not bad.

None of KC, CAR, SD, and PHI have been eliminated yet. Would not be a shock if SD and CAR made it.