Every year in the NFL, there are teams that most sports betting enthusiasts know that, in the absence of a major injury, will make it into the playoffs. In recent years, these teams have included the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Green Bay Packers, and the New Orleans Saints. Every year, there are also teams that end up in the postseason against the odds, such as the Washington Football Team last year — and then Washington gave the eventual Super Bowl champions a run for their money.
Let’s take a look at some teams that could surprise the oddsmakers — and the competition — and end up in the NFL playoffs.
NFL News: Sleeper Teams Poised to Break into the Postseason in 2021
Chicago Bears
Whether the Bears can snag a wild card or not this season will likely have a lot to do with how long Andy Dalton remains the starting quarterback. Dalton had a decent second half of 2020 with Dallas, replacing Dak Prescott. He also led the Cincinnati Bengals to several stints in the postseason in his 10-year career. However, he has Justin Fields behind him, and Fields has the athleticism to make run-pass options more believable, and he also has the arm to take dshows down the field. The Bears have two new starting offensive tackles, which could put a premium on mobility. The wide receiver duo of Allen Robinson II and Darnel Mooney is an impressive one, and the defense has two All-Pros (edge rusher Khalil Mack and safety Eddie Jackson) and Pro Bowler Akiem Hicks. If Fields bucks the learning curve and can get the Bears’ offense going, then this is a team that could hit nine or ten wins and snag a wild card in a soft NFC.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cards are my pick to win the NFC West, even though they only won eight games last year. Quarterback Kyler Murray enters his third season and projects to improve significantly. Christian Kirk and DeAndre Hopkins give him an elite pair of wideouts, and A.J. Green provides depth. Rondale Moore and Andy Isabella can run routes out of the slot. Tailbacks James Conner and Chase Edmonds give balance to the offense. On defense, Arizona ranked 28th in 2019 in points permitted per game; in 2020, they rose to 12th. The team lost cornerback Patrick Peterson and edge rusher Haason Reddick but added Malcolm Butler and J.J. Watt. Chandler Jones, a two-time All-Pro on the edge, returns after missing 11 games in 2020. The Cardinals have Seattle, the Rams and San Francisco in their division, but each of those teams has significant questions, and the Cards have the highest ceiling.
Pittsburgh Steelers
When you think about the Steelers in 2020, you no doubt think about the consecutive losses to Cleveland — in Week 17 and then again in the wild card round of the playoffs — that sent Pittsburgh home for the winter. You do remember, though, that those Steelers went 11-0 before going 0-6 to finish, in a season where COVID-19 cases in other locker rooms caused havoc in the Steelers’ schedule and kept them from having the true bye week that every other team got, right? The Steelers have a new OC in Matt Canada, which should mean a less stodgy offense, particularly in the passing game. Rookie tailback Najee Harris should absorb some pressure off Big Ben; no team rushed for fewer yards than Pittsburgh did in 2020. On defense, the Steelers will have one of the best units in the AFC, and even if Baltimore and Cleveland also have solid seasons, the Steelers have the talent to grab a ticket to the postseason as well.
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