There are a ton of great teams in the NFL, but there is also one reason for each team to miss the playoffs in the 2024 NFL Season. No team is perfect; every single club in the NFL has flaws, and that won't change. Some teams are clearly better than others, but in the NFL, crazy things have happened.
The top teams in the league are pretty much set in stone, but power rankings can be subjective. Even among the elite teams, can we identify one reason for each team to miss the playoffs in the 2024 NFL Season?
1 reason why each NFL team could miss the playoffs in the 2024 season
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens - Lamar Jackson's body breaks down toward the end of the season
This is something that has already happened to Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson is someone who loves to use his legs, and for good reason. He's the best dual-threat QB of all-time, so Jackson will carry the ball many times during a game. Well, sometimes that wear and tear catches up to him at the end of a season.
If this again happens, the Ravens could be without their starting QB for the home-stretch. That could lead to them missing the postseason.
Cincinnati Bengals - Another season-ending injury for Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow has already suffered two season-ending injuries in his short NFL career, which began in 2020. You have to wonder if this is now a legitimate issue for the Bengals and Burrow. Well, there isn't anything to say it can't happen again. While no one wants to see it happen, it's a possibility.
Cleveland Browns - Deshaun Watson is de-washed up
Deshaun Watson has looked thoroughly awful during his short time with the Cleveland Browns. Well, is there a possibility that he simply doesn't have it anymore? I mean, it might be hard to believe since Watson is still in his 20s, but it's not like he's proven otherwise thus far for the Browns.
Pittsburgh Steelers - The QB position is still very much unstable
AFC South
Houston Texans - Tough schedule in 2024 leads to regression
The Houston Texans are set to have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this year, and that could lead to this young team regressing a bit and taking a step backward. I don't believe this will be the case, but their schedule is nothing to scoff at.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Richardson needs another year
Anthony Richardson hardly played in 2023 due to injuries, and ended up suffering a season-ending one. With Richardson hardly playing many NFL games, he still might be in that rookie status in 2024, so the Indianapolis Colts could be looking at 2025 as the year that they breakout.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Injuries again derail their season
The Jacksonville Jaguars need to stay healthy in 2024 if they want to make the postseason. Them being banged-up toward the end of the 2023 season derailed their year and ended up with them on the outside looking in after a white-hot start. Well, if the Jags again suffer the same fate, they'll be in Cancun instead of in the playoffs.
Tennessee Titans - Will Levis isn't any good + roster still needs work
A double-whammy if you will, the Tennessee Titans still might need another season. If Will Levis isn't any good, the whole season is done for. However, while Levis might show enough, the roster itself in Tennessee still needs a bit of work, so GM Ran Carthon simply might need to put together another strong offseason.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills - Too many veterans leaving
The Buffalo Bills did have to part ways with quite a few veteran players this past offseason an effort to get more cap-compliant. Them having to do this re-tooling might catch up to them in 2024, so if they do miss the playoffs, their sheer lack of talent could be a reason why.
New York Jets - Aaron Rodgers isn't himself
The New York Jets will again go as Aaron Rodgers goes, so if Rodgers isn't himself after this Achilles injury, the Jets are going to be bad again. The last time Aaron Rodgers did play a full season, the 2022 year, he wasn't that great, finishing with a passer rating in the low-90s.
That was two years ago, so the four-time MVP may have an uphill battle to enjoy success again in the NFL.
Miami Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa gets hurt + team again can't play in cold weather
The Miami Dolphins have made the postseason in both years of the Mike McDaniel era, but two reasons why they could miss in 2024 would be because of a major injury to Tua Tagovailoa, who has battled injuries during his college and NFL career, and due to them not being able to play in cold weather.
That could come back to (frost)bite them late in the year and could push them out of the playoffs in the final weeks.
New England Patriots - Do I need to explain?
No but really, do I have to explain?
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs - The offense takes another step back
The Kansas City Chiefs offense was quite average in 2023. With Travis Kelce getting older, clearly declining a bit in 2023, and the Chiefs still not having clarity at WR, it's not outrageous to think that their offense can again take a step back. The Chiefs defense was arguably the best in football last year, so you have to figure that unit remains strong.
But the offense could take a step back, which puts more on the defenses plate. Could that lead to KC totally missing the postseason?
Denver Broncos - Rookie QB Bo Nix needs time to develop
Even though Bo Nix fits the Denver Broncos offense well, he may still need some time to develop. That could give the Broncos a path to contending perhaps in 2025, but 2024 might be that type of year for Denver. It's truy rare to see an NFL team make the playoffs with a rookie QB. The Broncos could surely break that trend, but history tells us they won't.
Los Angeles Chargers - Bad roster with bad depth
The Los Angeles Chargers don't have a great roster or depth. Their in the first year of the Jim Harbaugh era, so they're not a safe bet to make the postseason. New general manager Joe Hortiz didn't exactly have the most stellar of offseasons, and it's safe to bet that them cleaning house this offseason doesn't yield a quick playoff berth.
Las Vegas Raiders - Quarterback play isn't nearly good enough
The Las Vegas Raiders may end up starting career backup Gardner Minshew in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season. Folks, that simply isn't good enough to make the playoffs in the AFC. The Raiders could sport a solid defense and do have some nice pieces on offense, but their QB play might be average at best.
NFC North
Detroit Lions - Jared Goff reverts back to final years-LA Rams version
Jared Goff was playing mediocre football in 2019 and 2020 with the Los Angeles Rams, as he combined for just 42 touchdowns against 29 interceptions. In the last two seasons with the Detroit Lions, he's combined for 59 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. One of the only ways that the Lions miss the playoffs this year is if Goff reverts back to his old self.
Chicago Bears - Too young and inexperienced
I do not think it's out of the question for the Chicago Bears to be in the playoff hunt this year, but their sheer youth and inexperience could keep them on the outside looking in. They do have one of the seven-best rosters in the NFC, but could be looking at the 2025 season as where a window opens.
Minnesota Vikings - Quarterback situation needs to settle for a year
No matter if it's Sam Darnold or JJ McCarthy starting for the Minnesota Vikings, the organization may have to settle their QB situation for most of the 2024 NFL Season to find the long-term answer. They hope it's McCarthy, but he might take his lumps in 2024. The Vikings could be dangerous in 2025 if McCarthy can make the popular year two quarterback jump.
Green Bay Packers - Was Jordan Love a one-year wonder?
Did Jordan Love simply happen to catch fire in 2023? Was it just a one-year wonder? If it was, the Green Bay Packers will surely miss the postseason, as they'd then have way more questions than answers at the QB position. It's a scary thought, but Love has not put a full season of good play on film.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons - Limited ceiling with QB Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins is the best "average" QB in NFL history, if that makes sense. He's always been insanely efficient, but never has climbed into that elite status at any point of his career. His teams are usually good for 8-10 wins per season, but will that remain true with the Atlanta Falcons?
New Orleans Saints - Head coach + QB combo simply isn't good
The duo of Dennis Allen and Derek Carr might be the vehicle equivalent of a 1999 Honda Accord with 210,000 miles. It's just not getting the job done at this point. Allen has never been a good head coach, and Carr has been average for a majority of his career. Them not being able to make the playoffs last year in the NFC is pretty telling.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Regression after pretty average '23 season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a pretty average football team in 2023 that barely won the weak NFC South. Them regressing a bit, especially since they lost Dave Canales to the Carolina Panthers, is firmly possible. Baker Mayfield might come back down to earth a bit in 2024.
Carolina Panthers - Too much change + no certainty at QB
Yeah, the Carolina Panthers still might need another year or two. While they did bring in some needed help on offense, there was a ton of new faces brought in and there isn't any guarantee that Bryce Young can be the guy. This is going to be a huge year for the Panthers; even winning five or six games should be seen as an accomplishment.
If all goes well, they can approach 2025 as the first year of a window to contention. But 2024 is just too steep of a hill to climb.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys - No Dan Quinn leads to huge regression on defense
Dan Quinn had the Dallas Cowboys defense as one of the best units in the NFL for the three-year stretch he was there. With no more Quinn and now Mike Zimmer instilled as the DC, there could be a huge regression coming. Zimmer is a quality defensive mind, but after three years of Dan Quinn, it might take some adjusting for Dallas in 2024.
Philadelphia Eagles - 2022 season was the outlier
If the 2022 season was indeed an outlier, the new offensive and defensive coordinators in Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio might not much of a difference for the Philadelphia Eagles, who regressed across the board in 2023. The 2024 NFL Season might be just as tough for them if 2022 was the lightning in the bottle year.
New York Giants - Daniel Jones and Drew Lock
Like, come on. Giants fans deserve better. The offensive line is also still a bit of a mess.
Washington Commanders - Year 1 of the rebuild makes playoffs unrealistic
Yeah, it just won't happen this year. The Washington Commanders are in year one of this rebuild/new era that features new and notable faces at head coach, general manager, and quarterback. Their roster is also iffy at best, so playoffs seem like a longshot.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers - Major injuries across the roster
The San Francisco 49ers have dealt with major injuries before, and this is really the only way they miss the playoffs, as they have so many top players at different positions, and they have a Super Bowl-caliber coaching staff. Injuries could derail their season in 2024.
Los Angeles Rams - Matthew Stafford meets Father Time
Matthew Stafford has been banged up for years and has played through a ton of injuries. He's set to play in his age-36 season in 2024, so Father Time could catch up to him in 2024. It would be sad to see, but Stafford is likely headed to that decline at some point in the next few seasons.
Arizona Cardinals - Roster isn't quite good enough yet
While I am high on the Arizona Cardinals for 2024, their roster simply is not good enough just yet, so the talent alone could keep them out of the postseason for another season. The 2025 year could be a huge window opening for Arizona, but 2024 might be tough.
Seattle Seahawks - Eugene Cyril Smith III
Geno Smith was noticeably worse in 2023 than he was in 2022, so Smith not being able to re-capture his 2022 form could lead to the Seahawks again missing the postseason. Smith is an average QB aging into his 30s, so Seattle is probably looking in a different direction for a long-term answer after this year regardless.