NFL 2012: Potential Playoff Teams for Next Season

Every year there are new teams in the NFL playoffs who weren't in the year before.

The reasons for this are many. Teams get better because of experienced players, teams decline when players leave or get old. Injuries also kill teams who are playoff-caliber, opening the door for other teams.

Of the 12 teams in the playoffs in 2010, only six returned this year. That is a turnover rate of 50 percent.

If current trends continue, here are a few teams who have watched the New York Giants and New England Patriots work their way to the Super Bowl who might have a chance to get there next season.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have more questions to answer this offseason than any other team.

Chief among those questions is this: Will Peyton Manning play in Indianapolis in 2012?

Other questions include: Who to draft No. 1, what free agents to target and how many current players will be packing their bags and leaving?

So, why is a team that just went 2-14 on a list of potential playoff teams?

The if, then factor.

If Peyton Manning comes back in 2012, and if he plays at the high level that he has in the past, and if the Colts retain key veterans or attract quality free agents, then they are a potential playoff team as they have been over Peyton Manning's career.

Dallas Cowboys

No team could be sicker watching the Giants' run to the Super Bowl than the Cowboys.

If the Cowboys would have been able to close out games they, not the Giants, would have been NFC East champions.

Instead they will spend the offseason thinking about the games they should've, could've won.

The games against the Jets, Lions, Patriots, Cardinals and the first Giants game.

If they can fix the problems over the summer, there is no reason to think they can't make a playoff run next year.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles 2011 season can be summed up in one word—disappointing.

A "dream team" expected to contend for a Super Bowl title stumbled coming out of the gate.

Their blown second-half leads, especially against San Francisco, were dubious. No coach has a hotter seat than Andy Reid.

Did anyone notice they won their last four games, all by large margins, to finish 8-8? It was too much, too little, too late.

However, it could set them up nicely for 2012.

Chicago Bears

Say what you will about Jay Cutler, the Bears need him to be successful.

The Bears had a playoff spot in view before Cutler was lost for the season. Without him they were 1-5, beating only Minnesota on the season's final day.

Coach Lovie Smith could start to feel heat. He will work with a new offensive coordinator and general manager next year.

Even in a tough division with Green Bay and Detroit, the Bears still have a chance if Cutler stays healthy.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers just finished an 8-8 year.

Here's how it went: 4-1 start, six-game losing streak, 4-1 finish.

During the losing streak they lost in overtime to division rivals Kansas City and Denver. If they had won either of those, they would have won the division.

In a three-way tie for the AFC West, they lost on tiebreakers.

Coach Norv Turner was given another year.

They have the talent, but is Turner the man to lead them back to the playoffs?

New York Jets

For the last two years, the Jets have gotten to the AFC Championship Game.

In 2011, they lost their last three games, and missed the playoffs.

As usual, the quarterback is getting his share of the blame. Despite leading the team to those championship games, there are questions regarding if Mark Sanchez will ever be an "elite" quarterback.

Some are even suggesting the team trade for 36-year-old Peyton Manning.

Didn't the Jets try this four years ago when they brought in an aging quarterback (Brett Favre) for one year?

The Jets should stick with Sanchez, but get him adequate coaching to develop him into a franchise quarterback.

If they can do that, and the defense stays good, the Jets might be back in 2012.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders went through a lot this year.

As usual, they had a first-year head coach.

Their starting quarterback and best running back suffered injuries.

They had a devastating late-season loss to Detroit.

Their iconic owner Al Davis died.

Finally, with a chance to win the division, they lost to hated rival San Diego in the season finale.

In 2012 they will again have a first-year head coach.

However, if they can keep key players healthy, they should be contenders in the NFL's most competitive division.

Carolina Panthers

After a 2-14 season in 2010, the Carolina Panthers drafted Auburn quarterback Cam Newton with the top pick of the 2011 NFL draft.

Newton started from day one and exceeded expectations. He became the first quarterback to throw for over 400 yards in each of his first two games.

Like most teams quarterbacked by rookies, the Panthers struggled. They started the season 2-8.

However, they won four of their last six to finish 6-10.

Their offense was ranked seventh, but the defense hurt them with their 28th ranking.

What really hurt them, though, was their inability to hold leads.

In five games against NFC playoff teams—Green Bay, Detroit, Atlanta (twice) and the first New Orleans game—the Panthers had a lead and lost.

Fix the defense and the Panthers will contend in 2012.