With all the parity that exists in the NFL, it's not likely that we see the same 14 teams in the playoffs. The 2025 NFL Season did bring some shocking playoff developments, as two non-playoff teams from the prior season represented each conference in the Super Bowl.
And the two No. 1 seeds from the 2024 season, the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, missed the playoffs entirely this past season. With all the different scenarios that can possibly play out, predicting the playoff field is an insane challenge.
What we've done here is predict which non-playoff teams have the best chance of getting back in 2026. We've picked the six most likely clubs that could do this, ranking them from least to most likely.
Predicting most likely non playoff teams to make the postseason in 2026
6. Kansas City Chiefs
Even when quarterback Patrick Mahomes was healthy during the 2025 season, the Chiefs were an average football team with some serious personnel concerns on offense. While the team did add running back Kenneth Walker in the offseason, the wide receiver and tight end rooms are massive unknowns, and I am not sure the offensive line is anything more than average right now.
The defense also lost some talent in the offseason, but there is the argument of, "well it's the Chiefs" at play here. While that may seem silly, the Chiefs have typically found a way to accomplish whatever people have doubted them to do in many prior seasons.
Even with the AFC West featuring two double-digit win teams in the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos, the Chiefs had ownership of that division for years prior to 2025 and could slide back into the playoffs this year.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have never been a great team in the Todd Bowles era, but they have won the NFC South frequently and still nearly did in 2025 despite being 8-9. The division went to the 8-9 Carolina Panthers, but what the Bucs have going for them is the best QB in the division in Baker Mayfield, and the history of having done this before.
The Bucs aren't going to make a deep playoff run or anything, but no one would be shocked if they figured out how to capture the division title in 2026.
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