NFL Off-season Review: 4 Teams that made the Playoffs, but Will Miss them this Season

Every year, there are four to six teams that made the playoffs the previous season but missed out the next season. A lot depends on health and luck, but here are the playoff teams from last season who I believe did not improve their playoff chances for next year. This is the NFL Off-season Review: Part Three.

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Jacksonville won 13 games this past season, but this current roster doesn’t look like a playoff team on paper. Not one player added through free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft is expected to start or play a big role immediately. They let running back Travis Etienne and linebacker Devin Lloyd leave in free agency, and did not adequately replace them. Is Bhayshul Tuten really a bellcow RB1? The Jaguars improved their depth on both sides of the ball, but didn’t add anyone who tips the scale in their favor. To make things worse, Jacksonville’s main competition in the AFC South – the Houston Texans – look like a legit title contender, the Colts are looking to build on last season, and the Titans look like a better team on paper.

Pittsburgh Steelers

• I actually like what the Steelers did this off-season. They did a good job filling holes at wide receiver, offensive guard, offensive tackle, and in the secondary. Aaron Rodgers coming back for one last hurrah keeps the playoff window open for this season. Pittsburgh’s potential fall out of the playoff picture comes from the fact that other teams in the AFC might just be better – including in their own division. A healthy Joe Burrow gives the Bengals a Super Bowl ceiling. Lamar Jackson is a two time MVP, and Baltimore has a talented roster that may thrive under new leadership. There’s a world where the Steelers can win 10 games and miss the playoffs.

Carolina Panthers

• Carolina shocked everyone and won the NFC South with a losing record. The Panthers took advantage of a bad division, but they likely can’t depend on having the same luck this season. Both the Falcons and Bucs have better rosters on paper at this point. The Saints will look to take a step forward in Tyler Shough’s second season. I love the Panthers upgrading their offensive line depth and front seven on defense, but a lot falls on Bryce Young taking a big step forward in his development. This team could very well finish last in their division a year after winning it.

Green Bay Packers

• Nose tackle Javon Hargrave and linebacker Zaire Franklin were the only vets added that figure to start week one, but needs remain unfilled. Rookies Chris McClellan, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Brandon Cisse are solid prospects and add needed depth on defense, but none appear to be immediate contributors. The Packers should have added a potential starting edge rusher in anticipation of Micah Parsons missing at least the first month of the regular season, but they haven’t. The NFC North is going to be tough, and the NFC looks deep this year.

Dishonorable Mention:

Philadelphia Eagles – the NFC East should be better, no A.J. Brown (addition by subtraction?), questions on offense, and a head coach who might find himself on the hot seat sooner than later.

Denver Broncos – Denver isn’t even favored to win the AFC West at the time of this writing. They are currently tied with Houston for the sixth best odds to win the Super Bowl, and have the third best odds of teams in their own division!