When looking at the following teams that missed the playoffs in 2022, there’s sometimes an opening, when a new team makes the playoffs for the following season. We are going in order by draft selections prior to trades.

1. Chicago Bears!

Justin Fields shows he’s the best QB the Bears have drafted in a long time with the revamped O line, and jolt with his receivers like DJ Moore, and Darnell Mooney, along with the defense getting far more pressures, and sacks on opposing offenses in 2023.

2. Houston Texans!

They need to hope Demeco Ryans, will be the missing piece to get the most out of this team, especially with whose already with the team prior to the hire, and guys brought in from Free Agency, and the NFL Draft.

They have good players with RB Dameon Pierce, Edge Rushers in Will Anderson Jr & Jonathan Greenard, LT Laremy Tunsil, Safeties MJ Stewart & Jalen Pitre and CB Derek Stingley. In addition, rookie QB, CJ Stroud, has to be the guy for the Texans.

3. Arizona Cardinals!

Oof! This one will be tough but they need to drain the clock a lot since I have a hard time seeing how the offense will click without Kyler Murray, at least for the first few weeks of the regular season. The hope has to be, that Kyler can be better from his Torn ACL last season.

4. Indianapolis Colts!

Not as tough as the Cardinals to see how they’ll make the playoffs, it’s going to be hard to, but what can make them good? It’s more of letting Jonathan Taylor bulldoze defenses, to create play action for their QB, whether it’s Gardner Minshew or rookie Anthony Richardson under center.

Defense does have to make some spectacular plays to keep them in games.

5. Denver Broncos!

A lot of it will be on Russell Wilson, having to play better from 2022, and now under Sean Payton. Defense will need to repeat what made them good during the 1st half of the season last year.

6. Los Angeles Rams!

They need the O line to stay healthy for Matthew Stafford to stand upright, to show 2021 wasn’t a fluke seasonX and defense has to step up, now with many of their players not household names.

7. Las Vegas Raiders!

They need Jimmy Garoppolo’s foot to be fully healed to have some stability for 2023, and defense needs to improve in holding leads.

They’ve been one of the worst scoring defenses since Derek Carr took over at QB , and possibly even before him.

8. Atlanta Falcons!

They need the three headed monster of RBs in Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, and Bijan Robinson to pan out, along with second year QB , Desmond Ridder. The Falcons have some solid players like Calais Campbell, Grady Jarrett, Jessie Bates, AJ Terrell, and Troy Anderson, to bring them to the playoffs as a Wild Card or Division Leader.

9. Carolina Panthers!

Bryce Young will need to show he’s worth that number one overall pick, combined with Frank Reich as his HC, and defense playing stellar enough, at least to keep the offense in games.

10. New Orleans Saints!

With Derek Carr at QB for the Saints, they need to show it was a better choice, than Andy Dalton, and Jameis Winston. The Saints will need their defense playing solid enough to have them win games, at least to take the division or Wild Card.

11. Tennessee Titans!

It’s more of what has them being a solid team with running back, Derrick Henry, leading the way, and Ryan Tannehill doing just enough. Now, with the addition of WR DeAndre Hopkins, Second Round QB from Kentucky Will Levis on the bench, at least until he is ready, along with having the defense playing sneaky good.

I would say staying healthy is key as well.

12. Cleveland Browns!

Deshaun Watson reverting back to his 2019 version for the Browns, while having RB Nick Chubb staying consistently great, and WR Amari Cooper being his WR 1. Defense will need to step up in order to make this work.

13. New York Jets!

Aaron Rodgers being the man under center, and controlling the offense, add in the way the defense performed in 2022, that would be a receipt for keeping the team alive and in contention for 2023.

14. New England Patriots!

The offense will need to be much better under Bill O’Brien, and the defense keeps showing up most weeks.

15. Green Bay Packers!

Jordan Love showing he’s ready to be the leader of the team, with a solid showing along with the defense, Green Bay will need to play a little more tighter this year than last.

16. Washington Commanders?*

They need QB Sam Howell to be the man for Washington since everyone could be replaced, now especially after the new hire of Owner Josh Harris, if they fall short of any expectations it might not be pretty.

*Rumors are swirling that new ownership could change the name of the team. In my honest opinion, anything would work but “Football Team” .

17. Pittsburgh Steelers!

They need T. J. Watt to play a full season to make the defense respectable, while the offense has to pray that QB Kenny Pickett, makes great progress from his rookie year to sophomore year.

18. Detroit Lions!

They have to show that year two under HC Dan Campbell, makes Detroit legit enough to make the playoffs, with an offense that can throw or run the ball all over teams.

If the defense shows up for a big majority of games in 2023, they could be a dark horse team.

What are your thoughts? Let us know on Twitter @WeLikeSportzPC what you think.

– Jonathan Misak

*Photo courtesy of NBC Sports*