5 NFL playoff teams most likely to miss in 2020

NFL teams can both rise and fall quickly, with the postseason featuring different teams each year. Below we look at 5 playoff teams who could miss out next year.

5. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings made the playoffs as a sixth seed in the NFC, but things could be tougher next year. Why? Because the team is already over the projected NFL salary cap for next year. Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman will have a very hard time building on this roster, only having a draft class to do so. Additionally, the Chicago Bears should be better, and the schedule will be tough for the second-place Vikings. A tough road ahead to be sure.

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4. Houston Texans

The Texans should be back in the mix with Deshaun Watson leading the way. However, the thought of Bill O’Brien working as both the head coach and general manager again has to scare every Houston fan alive. O’Brien was comically outmatched in the AFC playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs, watching a 24-0 lead turn into a 51-31 loss. The Texans desperately need a new voice but won’t get one. Lastly, the Texans don’t have their top picks in each of the next two NFL drafts after trading for Laremy Tunsil. Not ideal.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia is a bit of a leap of faith on this list, but there are reasons to believe 2020 might be a tough campaign. The Eagles have talent, but much of it is injury-prone including quarterback Carson Wentz. Philadelphia is also in a division where the New York Giants and Washington Redskins almost have to be better, and the Dallas Cowboys finally have new blood at head coach. If Dallas can win a few more games and steal the division, the Eagles might be fighting for a wild card spot in the tough NFC.

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2. Tennessee Titans

After what was a Cinderella run in the postseason, the Titans have a very arduous offseason to traverse. Tennessee has Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, Jack Conklin and Logan Ryan all hitting free agency. While the Titans and general manager Jon Robinson have money available to keep them, it won’t be easy getting all four under the cap. Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Tennessee can use the transition and franchise tags to keep two of the aforementioned players. Keeping the others will be a matter of winning a bidding war in free agency.

1. Buffalo Bills

The Bills are an ascending team, but there’s a lot working against them. Here’s a list of the teams they beat this past season

• Miami Dolphins (x2)
• New York Jets
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Tennessee Titans (with Marcus Mariota)
• Denver Broncos
• Dallas Cowboys
• Washington Redskins
• New York Giants

Buffalo beat one team with a winning record, the Titans. This was before Tannehill took over as a starter. The Bills have a long way to go before being an elite team, and now they draw a brutal schedule in 2020.