NFL playoffs 2021: Ranking the 12 losing playoff teams’ chances of reaching the Super Bowl in 2022

The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to sq. off in Super Bowl LV, with Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady every trying to make historical past on reverse ends of the age spectrum. It might’ve been exhausting to script a extra dramatic matchup, to be sincere. The reigning champions towards the perpetual champion in Brady? Tampa Bay preventing to show which you could nearly purchase your approach into championship competition, what with its 2020 overhaul? That is going to be one heck of a battle for the Lombardi.

However what about all of the groups left of their wake? Who, among the many 12 fallen postseason contenders, is greatest suited to an look within the subsequent Tremendous Bowl, in 2022? Here is a way-too-early rundown of this season’s playoff losers, ranked by their probabilities of rebounding and cracking the subsequent Tremendous Sunday:

You possibly can at all times rely on powerful protection right here, however Chuck Pagano is out as defensive coordinator, and extra importantly, their quarterback scenario stays awash in mediocrity. With Matt Nagy and Ryan Tempo again, the roster meeting and in-game administration won’t be any higher. Until they promote the farm to get Deshaun Watson, this workforce feels a methods off.

Is Ben Roethlisberger coming again? If he does, there’s severe motive to be involved about him going into an age-39 season. If he does not, the Steelers are both going to be betting on Mason Rudolph (yikes), the newly added Dwayne Haskins, or going out of character to make a splashy addition. James Conner, JuJu Smith-Schuster and others may simply depart. And Mike Tomlin’s playoff file since 2010 will not be nice.

Jared Goff is not inspiring an entire lot of confidence proper now, nevertheless it’s exhausting to disregard the opposite items right here. Between Cam Akers and Robert Woods — and a protection that’ll now be coached by Raheem Morris — L.A. has the inspiration of a contender. It is simply that darn QB spot. The very best Sean McVay may be capable to do, barring a blockbuster commerce of Goff, is mid-tier veteran competitors.

They’re definitely not getting there with Alex Smith or Kyle Allen at QB. However to illustrate they scratch their annual itch for a daring veteran addition beneath heart. Abruptly, they’d be price speaking about. Couple a good QB (Matthew Stafford?) or, dare we are saying, a fantastic one (Deshaun Watson?!) with their younger weapons and Ron Rivera’s protection, and you have got a rock-solid squad.

It feels a bit of untimely to say the Titans have peaked with their Ryan Tannehill-Derrick Henry battery, however the concern with them has at all times been whether or not or not they’re able to really opening issues up downfield when the time requires it. Mike Vrabel will at all times have this workforce able to struggle, and even another splashy weapon on offense would go a good distance. However can they end towards elite groups?

That is wholly depending on Aaron Rodgers‘ return, which isn’t to be taken with no consideration, regardless of what number of Inexperienced Bay media members insist in any other case. Even within the occasion No. 12 is again, it positive feels just like the Packers are due for a transition. It is exhausting to make two straight NFC title video games, not to mention three. And now Aaron Jones could also be headed out, with different questions on the offense.

Sure, sure, we all know Drew Brees is ready to retire. It’s totally doable the Saints may flip to Jameis Winston or another boom-or-bust possibility at QB and crater. However that is Sean Payton we’re speaking about. He is recognized without end that 2020 was doubtless Brees’ swan tune. You do not imagine he has a plan? The larger challenge is that New Orleans has been the Steelers of the NFC by way of playoff letdowns.

Their disappointing postseason flame-out is trigger for concern, and boy, did Russell Wilson simply tease us all through 2020. However let’s not child ourselves: So long as Wilson is beneath heart and Pete Carroll is on the sidelines, Seattle can be within the NFC combine. A more healthy Jamal Adams is perhaps big for his or her protection in 2021. Ditto for a renewed dedication to a run-first assault, imagine it or not.

Now we’re getting spicy. Possibly we’re shopping for a bit of an excessive amount of into the Kevin Stefanski hype, however the best way they closed 2020, we do not suppose so. Baker Mayfield appears proper at house as the purpose guard of a killer rush-first offense, which may/must be extra explosive if Odell Beckham Jr. returns and/or one other weapon arrives. The “D” must be more healthy. They’ve the appears of a feisty contender.

Fairly daring to place them within the high three with solely Jacob Eason beneath contract at QB, no? Nicely, that is as a result of we’re banking on Chris Ballard discovering Frank Reich his greatest QB since Andrew Luck. He has no different selection. The Colts are constructed to win now, with promising playmakers and a stout protection. Usher in Matthew Stafford or Carson Wentz or, heck, transfer up for Trey Lance, and also you’re within the combine.

We are able to gripe all we wish about Greg Roman’s insistence on making Lamar Jackson the centerpiece of a floor recreation fairly than a bona fide passer. These gripes are justified. But when the Ravens well refocus in 2021, constructing round Jackson’s strengths but additionally beefing up his capability to throw downfield with higher safety and targets, there is not any motive they cannot make a run for all of it.

This looks like a little bit of a cop-out contemplating they simply got here inside one win of creating the massive recreation. However it’s exhausting to not love what Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs are doing. Sean McDermott’s protection can even at all times be opportunistic sufficient to make a run. You may argue Buffalo peaked in 2020, however this felt an terrible lot like a heat as much as us. Get Allen much more snug, and so they’ll go far.