Which NFL Teams Make the Playoffs? Our experts make their choice

the athleticThe NFL’s pundits 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 select the seven teams from each conference they believe will compete for a chance to go to Arizona and play 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 only given a simple question: Will (insert team name here) make it to the playoffs? It’s a valuable exercise because, as we know, making the playoffs is often the benchmark for determining whether a team has had a successful season. Only a few teams (Hello, Kansas City, Buffalo and Green Bay) have such high expectations that just making the playoffs could be considered a disappointing season.

Last week, the athleticNFL’s pundits made their picks for who will win each division. Tuesday we’ll be looking at expert picks for offensive and defensive rookie of the year. On Wednesday, we’ll look at their picks for MVP and Coach of the Year. Thursday, before the Rams and Bills kick off the season on “Thursday Night Football,” we’ll be pinning down our Super Bowl picks for the year.

For the sake of simplicity, we’ve split it into the AFC and NFC.

AFC

the locks

It is interesting the athletic‘s expert pickers selected two teams that missed the AFC playoffs last season as locks to make it into 2022. The Chargers cost themselves the final playoff spot last season by losing to the Raiders and injuries ruined the Ravens’ season. The pundits are a little less confident in the Colts to make the playoffs, but there also seems to be a consensus that they will be the team to win the AFC South.

On the bubble

Obviously 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 wildcards in the AFC.

Compete for the No. 1 Choice

There are no really surprising teams in this group. The Dolphins were 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 his reach before he returns.

NFC

Division winners

There is no surprise in the consensus top four teams in the NFC. All four are considered contenders for the Super Bowl and the best teams in their respective divisions. Would anyone be shocked to see these four teams play 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 the key to winning in the NFL. All four teams made it to the playoffs last year.

Fighting for wild card

the athletic‘s experts see these five teams competing for the three wildcards in the NFC. Each team has its set of questions, but also has the talent to put together a solid year and make it to 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 get a new starting quarterback in Trey Lance.

Compete for the No. 1 Draft Pick

The only surprising team to see on this list is the Lions. Our experts aren’t giving Detroit much of a chance to compete in the NFC North or make the playoffs. Last season, the Lions faced the fifth most difficult schedule and they will face the fifth easiest schedule using BetMGM win totals. They face the Panthers, Seahawks and Jaguars, and the Bears twice. Maybe this is buying the “Hard Knocks” hype, but the public perception of the Lions may be higher than our experts.

(Photo of Lamar Jackson: Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)