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By The Athletic NFL Staff
4h ago
63
The Athletic’s NFL experts are here to make their predictions for which 14 teams they think will make the playoffs this season. Each writer and editor was asked to pick the seven teams from each conference they think will compete for a chance to go to Arizona and play for the Super Bowl in February.
These predictions have nothing to do with who they think will win the Super Bowl or who will win each division. They were just asked a simple question: Will (insert team name here) make the playoffs? It’s a valuable exercise because, as we know, making the playoffs is often the measuring stick for whether a team had a successful season. Only a few teams (hello, Kansas City, Buffalo and Green Bay) have expectations so high that only making the playoffs could be considered a disappointing season.
Last week, The Athletic’s NFL experts made their choices for who will win each division. Tuesday, we will look at expert picks for offensive and defensive rookie of the year. Wednesday, will we look at their picks for MVP and coach of the year. Thursday, before the Rams and Bills start the season on “Thursday Night Football,” we’ll lock in our Super Bowl picks for the year.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ve broken these down into the AFC and NFC.
AFC
The locks
Bills
Chargers
Chiefs
Bengals
Ravens
ColtsIt is interesting The Athletic’s expert pickers selected two teams that missed the AFC playoffs last season as locks to make it in 2022. The Chargers cost themselves the final playoff spot last season by losing to the Raiders and injuries ravaged the Ravens’ season. The experts are a little less confident in the Colts to make the playoffs, but there also seems to be a consensus that they’ll be the team to win the AFC South.
On the bubble
Titans
Raiders
Patriots
BroncosIt’s clear that our experts think there are five strong teams at the top of the AFC in the Bills, Chargers, Chiefs, Bengals and Ravens. That’s why everyone split their votes on who they think can win the wild cards in the AFC.
Competing for the No. 1 pick
Jaguars
Texans
Steelers
Jets
Browns
DolphinsThere’s no real surprising teams in this group. The Dolphins have been a well-discussed team this offseason and added Tyreek Hill to the mix. That said, our experts don’t believe the Dolphins will break through and make their first playoff appearance since 2016. The Browns’ roster is strong from top to bottom, but they won’t have Deshaun Watson until Game 12 and things could be out of reach before he returns.
NFC
Division winners
| TEAM | MAKE PLAYOFFS |
|---|---|
 Packers | 100% |
 Buccaneers | 100% |
 Rams | 98% |
 Cowboys | 95% |
There’s no surprise in the consensus top four teams in the NFC. All four are considered Super Bowl contenders and the best teams in their respective divisions. Would anyone be shocked to see these four teams playing against each other in the divisional round in January for the right to play in the NFC Championship game? All four have good quarterbacks and that is always key to winning in the NFL. All four teams made the playoffs last year.
Fighting for wild card
Eagles
49ers
Vikings
Cardinals
SaintsThe Athletic’s experts see these five teams competing for the three wild-card spots in the NFC. Each team has its set of questions but also has the talent to put together a solid year and make it into the playoffs. Of these teams, Minnesota and New Orleans have new coaches. The Eagles, 49ers and Cardinals made the playoffs last year. San Francisco upset Dallas and Green Bay before losing to Los Angeles in the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers will have a new starting quarterback in Trey Lance.
Competing for the No. 1 draft pick
Falcons
Commanders
Giants
Panthers
Bears
Seahawks
LionsThe one surprising team to see on this list is the Lions. Our experts don’t give Detroit much of a shot to compete in the NFC North or to make the playoffs. Last season, the Lions faced the fifth toughest schedule and they’ll face the fifth easiest schedule using BetMGM win totals. They face the Panthers, Seahawks and Jaguars, and the Bears twice. Maybe this is buying into the “Hard Knocks” hype, but the Lions’ public perception may be higher than that of our experts.