6 NFL teams that won’t return to the playoffs in 2022

NFL team not returning to the playoffs in 2022: Las Vegas Raiders

Any fans of the Las Vegas Raiders reading this should have some peace of mind knowing that your team was not originally on this list.

The team that originally occupied this spot was the Philadelphia Eagles, but I felt rather convicted that the Eagles had a better chance of returning to the playoffs in the NFC compared to the Raiders returning to the playoffs in the absolutely loaded AFC despite the team’s blockbuster additions in 2022.

As this post was being written, the Philadelphia Eagles strengthened their roster even further by signing cornerback James Bradberry, a name that had been connected strongly to the Raiders as well.

Philadelphia’s additions of AJ Brown, James Bradberry, Haason Reddick, Jordan Davis, and others are not inherently better — even collectively — than the Raiders’ additions of Davante Adams and Chandler Jones.

This simply has everything to do with how difficult it is going to be to crack the playoffs in the AFC.

All of the teams in the AFC West are candidates to make it this season.

In the AFC South, the Colts and Titans are strong contenders to win the division.

The AFC North boasts four potential playoff teams if the Steelers can get good play at the QB position.

The AFC East features multiple playoff teams already with the Dolphins making waves this offseason, too.

I think the Raiders have a better shot at the playoffs than teams like the Patriots, Steelers, Dolphins, and Colts, but in order for them to make the playoffs, it’s possible that the teams in the AFC West would have to have four of the best records in the AFC, in general.