NFL Playoffs are Unpredictable Year After Year
As unpredictable as the NFL 2008 Season has been the past two weeks, with the NFL one thing may be for certain -- there will always be change.
A prime example is the NFL teams that make and don't make the playoffs.
For the 13th consecutive season, five or more teams will qualify for the playoffs that were not in the postseason the year before.
The Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers did not make the playoffs in 2007 but have done so this NFL 2008 season.
This Sunday, that number will jump to four teams with either Minnesota or Chicago winning the NFC North. The fifth (and potentially sixth) team will come from the pool of Baltimore, Miami and the Jets, who are competing with New England (2007 AFC East champion) for two AFC playoff berths.
The number can jump to as high as eight if Denver emerges as the AFC West champion and Philadelphia or Chicago takes the final NFC wild card spot.
Teams since 1996 to make the playoffs a season after failing to qualify the previous year:
Season | Count | Teams |
1996 | 5 | Carolina, Denver, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England |
1997 | 5 | Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, Giants, Tampa Bay |
1998 | 5 | Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, Jets |
1999 | 7 | Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington |
2000 | 6 | Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia |
2001 | 6 | Chicago, Green Bay, New England, Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco |
2002 | 5 | Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Giants, Tennessee |
2003 | 8 | Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis, Seattle |
2004 | 5 | Atlanta, Minnesota, Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego |
2005 | 7 | Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Giants, Tampa Bay, Washington |
2006 | 7 | Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, Jets, Philadelphia, San Diego |
2007 | 6 | Green Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington |
Change in leadership atop the NFL's divisions
Heading into NFL 2008 Week 17, there are already five NFL divisions with a different champion than last year.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only repeat division winner at this point.
The potential seven new division winners would set a record since realignment in 2002, topping the six new division winners of 2003.
Teams that have clinched their division as well as potential division winners in 2008
NFL Division | 2008 | 2007 |
AFC EAST | Dolphins, Patriots or Jets | New England Patriots |
AFC NORTH | Pittsburgh Steelers | Pittsburgh Steelers |
AFC SOUTH | Tennessee Titans | Indianapolis Colts |
AFC WEST | San Diego Chargers | Chargers or Broncos |
NFC EAST | Dallas Cowboys | New York Giants |
NFC NORTH | Green Bay Packers | Vikings or Bears |
NFC SOUTH | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Panthers or Falcons |
NFC WEST | Seattle Seahawks | Arizona Cardinals |
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NFL - Year After Year the NFL Playoffs are Unpredictable