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:

SeasonCountTeams
19965Carolina, Denver, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England
19975Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, Giants, Tampa Bay
19985Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, Jets
19997Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington
20006Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia
20016Chicago, Green Bay, New England, Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco
20025Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Giants, Tennessee
20038Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis, Seattle
20045Atlanta, Minnesota, Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego
20057Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Giants, Tampa Bay, Washington
20067Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, Jets, Philadelphia, San Diego
20076Green 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 Division20082007
AFC EASTDolphins, Patriots or JetsNew England Patriots
AFC NORTHPittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
AFC SOUTHTennessee TitansIndianapolis Colts
AFC WESTSan Diego ChargersChargers or Broncos
NFC EASTDallas CowboysNew York Giants
NFC NORTHGreen Bay PackersVikings or Bears
NFC SOUTHTampa Bay BuccaneersPanthers or Falcons
NFC WESTSeattle SeahawksArizona Cardinals

 

NFL - Year After Year the NFL Playoffs are Unpredictable