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6 NFL teams that won’t return to the playoffs in 2021

By Randy Gurzi

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 17: Jameis Winston #2 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 17, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 17: Jameis Winston #2 of the New Orleans Saints throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 17, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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2021 NFL Playoffs
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 10: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5. Tennessee Titans

In 2020, the Tennessee Titans made it to the postseason on the strength of an 11-5 campaign — which was good enough to win the AFC South by way of a tie-breaker with the Indianapolis Colts. Now in 2021, they enter the season as favorites to repeat and they still have only one real contender in the Colts once again.

Indianapolis, however, might be the better team this season. They lost quarterback Philip Rivers but added Carson Wentz in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Wentz ended his time in Philly in a rough way but he re-joins Frank Reich, who was his offensive coordinator in 2017 with the Eagles when he had an MVP-caliber season.

Their reunion should help Wentz keep the Colts successful. As for the Titans, they lost Adoreé Jackson and Malcolm Brown this offseason. They’re banking on Caleb Farley to help out at cornerback — and Elijah Molden was also a solid addition. As for Farley, it’s the second time in three seasons that they drafted an injured player in the first round and the numbers aren’t in their favor for that to be a success again.

Bud Dupree also comes in as a pass-rusher, but he has his own concerns as he was able to win often in Pittsburgh due to the talent around him.

On offense, Corey Davis left and the Titans didn’t do enough to replace him. They shouldn’t be a bad team but with so many talented AFC teams, they just miss out in this prediction.

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