by Jazz Ray
Friday, Mar 06, 2026It’s axiomatic that 6 or 7 of the teams that made the NFL playoffs this past season will be sitting it out in January 2027 when the next round starts. Just the way it is in a Not For Long league where careers are short, injuries are ever-present and the salary cap can force teams to cut good players and hope that a lower-cost replacement can fill the gap.
All that leaves the door open for an equal amount of non-playoff teams to enter the tournament. Here’s a look at 5 who oddsmakers feel have a more than decent shot of entering the fray next time around. (Odds to qualify are in parenthesis.)
1. KANSAS CITY (-250)
Just didn’t seem right without Andy Reid roaming the sidelines in the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes’s torn ACL ended any shot they had of slipping into the playoffs last season, but the horse had already left the barn after KC lost six one-score games before Thanksgiving. After seeing most of the same faces for the last several seasons, Chiefs fans can expect a new look this year as cap space frees up and the front office looks to be uber aggressive on the free agent market. Getting into the tournament this coming season most likely would mean that they would have to knock out either the Chargers or the AFC West-champion Broncos. No easy feat.
2. CINCINNATI BENGALS (-130)
Look for the Bengals to use most, if not all, of their high draft picks to fortify a defense that gave up nearly 500 points last season. If they can get to even average, that should be enough to get a seat in the playoffs – IF QB Joe Burrow can stay on the field for most of the season (he missed nine games last season). There is talk that the Bengals will not cheap out again on free agency, so that’s a plus. One thing in their advantage – Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland all will be adjusting to new coaches, so the NFC North could be wide open for any team that can get off to a fast start.
3. DETROIT LIONS (-220)
The Lions and Bears essentially traded places last season – Chicago ascending from last to first and Detroit moving from first the previous year to last (and out of the playoffs) this past season. The Lions were everything but in the playoffs before crushing late-season consecutive losses to the Rams, Steelers and Vikings put the kibosh on 2025. Weird fact – the Lions finished last in the NFC North despite having a winning record and despite have the best points for/points allowed differential (+68) in the division and the third-best in the NFC.
4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-125)
Buccaneer faithful are no doubt scratching their heads and still trying to figure out what the hell happened last season. They opened 3-0 and 5-1, and appeared a playoff lock before somehow managing to lose seven of their last nine and out of the playoffs in the weakest division in the NFL. Barring a massive influx of talent into the NFC South, it looks like only the division winner will qualify this time around. The Bucs hope that staying even a little bit healthier will be enough to get to maybe a 10-7 record that should be enough in this division.
5. BALTIMORE RAVENS (-350)
Anytime you can start a roster with an MVP-level talent in Lamar Jackson, you have to like your chances of at least getting into the playoffs. Was last year’s 8-9 team just a mirage? New coach Jesse Minter, taking over for John Harbaugh, has to think so. There is talent up and down the roster, too much to finish under .500 for a second straight season. Baltimore wouldn’t even be on this list if kicker Tyler Loop had not missed a field goal as time expired in the Ravens’ season-ending loss to the Steelers in Week 18.
All that leaves the door open for an equal amount of non-playoff teams to enter the tournament. Here’s a look at 5 who oddsmakers feel have a more than decent shot of entering the fray next time around. (Odds to qualify are in parenthesis.)
1. KANSAS CITY (-250)
Just didn’t seem right without Andy Reid roaming the sidelines in the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes’s torn ACL ended any shot they had of slipping into the playoffs last season, but the horse had already left the barn after KC lost six one-score games before Thanksgiving. After seeing most of the same faces for the last several seasons, Chiefs fans can expect a new look this year as cap space frees up and the front office looks to be uber aggressive on the free agent market. Getting into the tournament this coming season most likely would mean that they would have to knock out either the Chargers or the AFC West-champion Broncos. No easy feat.
2. CINCINNATI BENGALS (-130)
Look for the Bengals to use most, if not all, of their high draft picks to fortify a defense that gave up nearly 500 points last season. If they can get to even average, that should be enough to get a seat in the playoffs – IF QB Joe Burrow can stay on the field for most of the season (he missed nine games last season). There is talk that the Bengals will not cheap out again on free agency, so that’s a plus. One thing in their advantage – Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland all will be adjusting to new coaches, so the NFC North could be wide open for any team that can get off to a fast start.
3. DETROIT LIONS (-220)
The Lions and Bears essentially traded places last season – Chicago ascending from last to first and Detroit moving from first the previous year to last (and out of the playoffs) this past season. The Lions were everything but in the playoffs before crushing late-season consecutive losses to the Rams, Steelers and Vikings put the kibosh on 2025. Weird fact – the Lions finished last in the NFC North despite having a winning record and despite have the best points for/points allowed differential (+68) in the division and the third-best in the NFC.
4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-125)
Buccaneer faithful are no doubt scratching their heads and still trying to figure out what the hell happened last season. They opened 3-0 and 5-1, and appeared a playoff lock before somehow managing to lose seven of their last nine and out of the playoffs in the weakest division in the NFL. Barring a massive influx of talent into the NFC South, it looks like only the division winner will qualify this time around. The Bucs hope that staying even a little bit healthier will be enough to get to maybe a 10-7 record that should be enough in this division.
5. BALTIMORE RAVENS (-350)
Anytime you can start a roster with an MVP-level talent in Lamar Jackson, you have to like your chances of at least getting into the playoffs. Was last year’s 8-9 team just a mirage? New coach Jesse Minter, taking over for John Harbaugh, has to think so. There is talent up and down the roster, too much to finish under .500 for a second straight season. Baltimore wouldn’t even be on this list if kicker Tyler Loop had not missed a field goal as time expired in the Ravens’ season-ending loss to the Steelers in Week 18.
