There is always turnover when it comes to NFL teams returning to the playoffs. These three teams could fall short of the postseason in 2023.
A season ago, four teams that finished in last place in their respective divisions (Ravens, Jaguars, Giants, and Seahawks) went on to reach the playoffs. Conversely, seven clubs, the Patriots, Steelers, Titans, Raiders, Packers, Rams and Cardinals, failed to return to the postseason after reaching the playoffs in '21.
Here are three teams that could fall under the latter category after 272 games this upcoming season.
3. New York Giants
There has seemingly been more discussion about contracts than football this offseason for Big Blue.
A year ago, the New York Giants finished 9-7-1 and clinched their first playoff berth since 2016. Thanks to a wild-card triumph at Minnesota, the club came up with its first postseason win since Super Bowl XLVI.
Brian Daboll earned NFL Coach of the Year honors. Running back Saquon Barkley stayed healthy and returned to Pro Bowl form. Quarterback Daniel Jones was efficient and cut down on the mistakes.
That's the good news. Still, the Giants allowed more points (371) than they scored (365). Including the divisional playoff loss at Philadelphia, Daboll's club was a morbid 1-5-1 vs. their NFC East rivals. Three of those five losses were courtesy of the Eagles.
Hence, moving up in the standings could indeed be an issue. It could be a rough road in the quest for the team's first back-to-back postseason appearances since reaching the playoffs four straight years from 2005-08.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Will there be a hangover from last season's wild-card playoff disaster? Stranger things have certainly happened to football teams that have suffered devastating losses in the past. The Los Angeles Chargers went to Jacksonville and picked off Jaguars' quarterback Trevor Lawrence three times in the first quarter and four times in the first half. The Bolts got a fifth takeaway on a muffed punt. Brandon Staley's team owned a stunning 27-0 advantage in the second quarter.
That would not be good enough. The Chargers would fall, 31-30, and now head into 2023 with very few changes from a year ago. One is the hiring of new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, late of the Dallas Cowboys.
The team has talented defenders such as edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. and safety Derwin James. Still, the club's biggest issue remains the inability to stop the run. A year ago, only four teams in the league allowed more yards per game on the ground. In 2021, the Bolts were 30th in the NFL in rushing defense. Jaguars' running back Travis Etienne ran 20 times for 109 yards in the Chargers' playoff loss at Jacksonville.
It's hard to put up a lot of points when the other team has the ball. Staley's club got another big year from quarterback Justin Herbert. That could be the case again unless the Chargers' continuous failure when it comes to stopping the run comes back to bite them in the end zone.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The falloff for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the span of two seasons was dramatic. In 2021, the team finished second in the league in points scored (511) and quarterback Tom Brady led a team that totaled 61 offensive touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests. This past season, the team fell to 25th in the NFL with 313 points and just 31 offensive TDs with Brady still at the controls.
Now Brady is retired and running back Leonard Fournette, tight end Cameron Brate and left tackle Donovan Smith were all released (the latter is now with the Chiefs). Guard Shaq Mason was traded to the Texans. That's a lot of talent no longer with the team.
Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has been replaced by former Seahawks' quarterbacks coach Dave Canales. There's an ongoing quarterback battle between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask that could be season-long. The Bucs still have their share of playmakers on defense but a year ago, this looked like a frustrated unit as the season unfolded.
Keep in mind that if you include last year's home playoff setback to the Cowboys, this team lost 10 games in 2022. Things may be even worse this fall given the current state of Todd Bowles' club.
