6 NFL Playoff Bubble Teams Better off Missing the 2024 Postseason

Living on the bubble of the NFL playoff race can create a challenging juxtaposition for postseason hopefuls.

On one hand, winning a division or securing a wild-card berth is objectively a positive thing. The sense of accomplishment and the value of postseason experience can be helpful in future seasons.

It's not always all good, though.

While a higher draft pick is alluring, that's just one part of this discussion. The greater issue can be that sneaking into the playoffs—often only to lose badly—can cause organizations to retain a coaching staff or current personnel that doesn't look capable of truly competing for a Super Bowl.

"At least we made the playoffs" is not the ultimate goal. Missing the postseason may embolden these franchises to make a few necessary bold moves during the offseason.

Atlanta Falcons

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Desmond Ridder

The Atlanta Falcons are a single game out of the NFC South race. They'd need a little help but can track down the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Does anyone feel Atlanta is moving in a positive direction, though?

Between a 20-28 career mark and the current 6-8 record, third-year coach Arthur Smith is likely on the hot seat. Quarterback Desmond Ridder has struggled with turnovers in his first year as the full-time starter. The recent loss to the hapless Carolina Panthers was particularly brutal, and the Falcons' season is full of one-possession setbacks.

The roster needs a jolt during the offseason, and it might need to happen at QB. Every win makes that potential splash only more expensive for Atlanta, which presently holds the 10th pick of the 2024 draft.

Even if the Falcons manage to improbably steal the NFC South, they're no better than an average team right now.

Green Bay Packers

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Matt LaFleur

What a roller coaster this season has been for the Green Bay Packers.

Early on, Matt LaFleur's team lost to the reeling Las Vegas Raiders and the then-disastrous Denver Broncos. Green Bay started 3-6 and looked like it might end with a top-five pick in the draft.

But then the Packers beat the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs as a part of a three-game surge, climbing into the NFC playoff picture at 6-6. As quick as they ascended, the Pack tumbled as the favorite in losses to the New York Giants and Buccaneers.

Sure, a 6-8 record is only a game out of the wild-card race. Green Bay holds tiebreaker wins against the Saints and Los Angeles Rams. The postseason is still a distinct possibility.

However, this roster isn't winning anything of consequence. Both the offense and defense are too inconsistent for it.

Green Bay's future would be better off having a chance to draft a high-impact prospect in the early portion of the first round.

Las Vegas Raiders

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Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4)

After a 3-5 start, the Raiders fired Josh McDaniels and named linebackers coach Antonio Pierce the interim boss.

Under his direction, Las Vegas is 3-3. The vibes are pretty good, considering the Raiders just steamrolled the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21 and effectively sealed now-former L.A. coach Brandon Staley's fate.

But let's not get carried away.

Pierce's other two wins happened against the floundering Giants and New York Jets. Additionally, the Chargers—who have played badly for six weeks anyway—didn't have quarterback Justin Herbert or wide receiver Keenan Allen available in the blowout.

The best outcome for 6-8 Las Vegas is ending the year with competitive losses. It'd allow the Raiders to have a top-10 draft pick and avoid making hasty decisions at head coach and quarterback.

Minnesota Vikings

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Kevin O'Connell and Josh Dobbs

Twelve points in a loss to the Chicago Bears. Three points in a win over Las Vegas. Falling to the Jake Browning-led Cincinnati Bengals.

In short: Not exactly an inspiring late-season run for a legitimate playoff contender, you know?

Nevertheless, the Minnesota Vikings are 7-7 and actually sixth in the NFC standings. They've commendably withstood Kirk Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury, leaning a defense that has compensated for the QB carousel from Jaren Hall to Joshua Dobbs to Nick Mullens.

Minnesota's ceiling is one playoff win, though—and that's largely only if the familiar Lions are the Wild Card round matchup.

Squandering a strong shot a postseason bid could help nudge the Vikings' front office to make bolder moves in hopes of escaping their perpetual eight-win mediocrity.

New York Giants

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Tommy DeVito

At the risk of angering Tommy DeVito's agent, the Giants are included.

New York is an unlikely playoff team, yes. During the last three weeks, the 5-9 Giants would need a 3-0 finish—including two wins against the Philadelphia Eagles—while receiving a ridiculous amount of help.

Enjoyable as the DeVito-fueled craze (and three-game winning streak) was, this is a very flawed team. New York is far greater served just resetting after the regular season ends instead of celebrating a supremely improbable rise—and immediate playoff exit.

DeVito has earned a spot on the roster in 2024 and perhaps beyond. But the Giants should not be afraid to consider, say, LSU's Jayden Daniels with a first-round selection to potentially replace Daniel Jones in the future.

More wins, however, and New York would probably have to sacrifice extra capital to draft a QB instead of using its own pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Mike Tomlin

Mike Tomlin is doing it again. Maybe.

Now in his 17th year as the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach, he's never finished a season with a losing record. The streak may cease in 2023, but only because an ankle injury has sidelined Kenny Pickett since early December and influenced three straight losses.

With or without Pickett, however, the offense is not capable of navigating the playoffs. Pittsburgh ranks 27th in yards per snap (4.8) and 28th in points per game (15.9).

In fairness to the Steelers, they're a prime case for the benefits of experiencing the postseason environment. In theory, that may help Pickett's preparation for the playoffs in future years. If he'd be truly healthy—not 100 percent, but healthy—by then, it would provide more value.

Otherwise, it's reasonable to lean toward Pittsburgh missing—even at the expense of Tomlin's amazing streak.