Every year, about half a dozen teams make the NFL playoffs despite failing to do so the previous season. Inevitably, several teams that have often been left out of the playoff picture in recent years will make big runs in 2016. Here are the top candidates with Week 1 still four months out.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags were in contention with a 5-8 record before losing out in December and January last season, but they’ve made a ton of progress in the offseason. Not only did they land two of the best defensive players in the draft in Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack, but they signed stud defensive lineman Malik Jackson on the free-agent market and they’ll also be getting 2015 No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. back from the knee injury that cost him his 2015 campaign. Those four guys should dramatically boost the defense, and a high-flying offense should only get better as young centerpieces Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns continue to come into their own.
Oakland Raiders: Despite finishing with a 7-9 record last season, the Raiders look ready to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. They already had an exciting offensive trio in quarterback Derek Carr, running back Latavius Murry and top 2015 pick Amari Cooper at wide receiver, but now they’ve got two of the best front-seven defenders in the NFL in Khalil Mack and free-agent addition Bruce Irvin. Throw in that they signed Keleche Osemele and brought back Donald Penn to strengthen an already decent offensive line and it’s hard to imagine this team posting another losing record in 2016.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A lot of this is on quarterback Jamies Winston, who should be in for a big second season with help from Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin. But the defense also got better with the addition of top pick Vernon Hargreaves and veteran free agent Brent Grimes, both of whom might start and immediately help an already strong front seven which features Gerald McCoy and free-agent addition Robert Ayers. If Winston can come through, he might have enough support to get Tampa Bay to the postseason for the first time since 2007.
