6 NFL Teams That Could Get Back to the Playoffs in 2012

I recently did a little research and found that on average over the past 10 years, 5.9 teams miss the post-season the year after they made it. I wrote about it extensively here on Bleacher Report and listed six teams who need to be on notice for next season.

So now here are the six teams that could take their places in 2012. Up-and-comers, resurgent teams, and teams looking to make that one last run are all the type of teams that inconsistently make the playoffs.

New York Jets

Though many believe the Jets to be a traveling circus, the team has done a nice job focusing on mini-camp and OTAs.

The Jets went boom-or-bust during the draft and free agency. They also finally got rid of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who had worn out his welcome with strange game plans and terrible play calling in his six years in New York.

The Jets will be installing a very dangerous Wildcat offense as a wrinkle for the base offense, and by adding deep threat Stephen Hill to the team, they hope to open things up for the running game and create a problem for teams to scheme around.

On defense, the Jets' addition of Quinton Coples gives them an exceptionally deep defensive line to help an already stout defense. The Jets were good in the red zone and excellent at creating turnovers, but they lacked speed on the edges leading to a much higher opposing yards per carry (4.1) on the outside than between the tackles (3.5).

To combat this, the Jets had their linebackers slim down to try and create a little more speed. They also added the instinctual and speedy Demario Davis with their third-round pick, though Davis is likely a passing down linebacker only early in his career.

If the Jets get a healthy LaRon Landry, they have enough depth at safety that they'll be able to keep Yeremiah Bell fresh. If Landry and Bell both struggle, the Jets' defense could be in a bit of trouble.

They're not flawless, but playing in an AFC that lacks a truly elite/balanced team and facing a relatively weak schedule in 2012 could help the Jets get back into the playoffs.

The Jets are likely looking at a wild card spot, as they would probably need to sweep New England (something that won't happen) to win the AFC East.

Tennessee Titans

Despite inconsistent play from Matt Hasselbeck and Chris Johnson last year, the Titans were able to finish 9-7. Despite a middle-of-the-road third-down conversion percentage, a plus-one rating in turnovers, a below-average pass rush and struggles stopping the run, the Titans finished 9-7 with a rough interior line and no Kenny Britt.

Jake Locker also sparked the team, throwing for 8.2 yards per attempt and four touchdowns and no interceptions in limited action. When Locker was in, the offense definitely passed the eye test. He extended plays with his feet and provided a level of velocity and explosion that Matt Hasselbeck can't anymore.

Enter Kenny Britt and Kendall Wright. Britt has dominant potential and has shown it, but a variety of off-field woes and injuries have stopped him from fulfilling that potential.

The Titans also drafted Kendall Wright, which just makes the weapons on offense so deep that it will be hard to decide who to cover. Wright may not be a dynamic receiver, but his downfield ability opens up offenses for everybody else.

With Britt, Wright, Nate Washington, a solid possession receiver in Damian Williams and a mismatch tight end in Jared Cook Jr., who averaged 15.5 yards per catch and finished the season with 21 catches for 335 yards and a touchdown in the final three games, you can see some explosive potential here.

Add in a rejuvenated Chris Johnson, and you're asking for all sorts of problems for opposing defenses. If Steve Hutchinson can put in one more solid year of interior line work, the Titans should be a playoff shoe-in in a weak AFC.

Center Eugene Amano should benefit from Hutchinson's experience, and guard Leroy Harris should benefit to moving to right guard where he'll have less responsibility than at left guard.

On defense, the Titans hope new addition Kamerion Wimbley can open things up in the pass-rush department for former first-round pick Derrick Morgan.

With an athletic group of linebackers highlighted by youngsters Akeem Ayers and Colin McCarthy, the Titans' biggest question marks will be in the secondary, where they need to hope Alterraun Verner is ready to step in for Cortland Finnegan, who left in free agency for St. Louis.

Count me firmly on the Tennessee bandwagon heading into 2012. I think they're going to win the AFC South. I am also counting on Houston taking a step back, but if they don't, then mark Tennessee down for a wild-card spot.

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers have been underachieving for a few years now, but they've slowly become less and less talented as A.J. Smith seems to have lost his touch. That being said, this could be a big bounce back year for San Diego.

A Norv Turner offense is vertical based and uses a lot of seven-step drops. It requires outstanding pass blocking by the tackles, and Marcus McNeill and Brandon Dombrowski struggled in this last year.

While Jeromey Clary is a question mark at right tackle, Jared Gaither helped the Chargers offense seriously turn around and allowed Philip Rivers to stop checking down as much and start putting balls up for Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd.

Jackson left in free agency, but the Chargers added former Saints deep threat Robert Meachem, who is a great fit in the Chargers offense.

On defense, the Chargers will likely get immediate rookie contribution from linebacker Melvin Ingram and safety Brandon Taylor. Expect Jarrett Johnson to help shore up a struggling edge run defense as well.

San Diego again will have some holes in the secondary and on the offensive line, but these are more question marks right now than legitimate issues.

With a stout pass rush, Antoine Cason could have a big bounce-back season for the Bolts, and with good protection from Gaither and Clary, you could see a return to elite form from Philip Rivers.

In a weak division and a weak conference, San Diego has a great shot at either winning the AFC West or taking one of the two wild-card spots.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles' "Dream Team" disappointment was pretty much a total crash and burn, but if you paid attention to the signs last offseason, you had to know that the Eagles' season wasn't going to be easy.

That being said, the additions of Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans could be huge for the Eagles. Cox allows for a nice DT rotation of Patterson, Jenkins and Cox, while the additions of Kendricks and Ryans will totally overhaul the linebacking corps.

In the Wide 9, linebackers are almost entirely responsible for defending the running lanes that are opened up because of the defensive ends who are lining up on the tight end's outside shoulder (hence the Wide 9...nine technique is on the tight end's outside shoulder).

It creates serious openings in the running game if the linebackers don't defend it properly, and Casey Matthews and Brian Rolle were big culprits in last year's fiasco of a run defense.

If Michael Vick stays healthy and the Eagles pick up where they left off—winning four straight to end last season—you'd be hard-pressed to say the Eagles weren't the most talented team in the NFC East. It will take a fully healthy, fully functional team that isn't being mismanaged by Juan Castillo, but the Eagles will pose a serious challenge to the Giants in the NFC East.

Chicago Bears

I know the Bears are worried about Matt Forte's knees after all the carries he had in college and how many he's had so far in the NFL, but just work in a shorter deal and put the guaranteed money up front. This isn't hard. You have a nice window right now after overhauling the receiving corps this off-season.

I loved the Brandon Marshall trade and the drafting of Alshon Jeffery. The Bears all of a sudden have a much different element to the offense than just speed and lateral agility. They've got size, YAC ability, and catch radius which is great for Jay Cutler. You want to limit Cutler's turnovers but still let him sling it? Give him guys who have the ability to go up and get jump balls.

The offensive line is still the biggest issue in terms of talent, but Mike Tice has always found a way to keep the unit functional even if it's not the most talented group of guys.

On defense, the Bears found a nice pass-rushing complement to Julius Peppers by drafting Shea McClellin. They will enjoy adding another outstanding run defender to a team that did a great job in that area last season.

While there is age in the linebacking corps and in the secondary, the Bears' veteran leadership in their core has shown throughout the years that they have the resiliency to bounce back from sub-par years.

With easily the most talented group of receivers Jay Cutler has had in Chicago, the Bears are my favorite right now for an NFC wild-card spot.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs were quite aggressive in the offseason.

After an odd coaching search that included Oregon coach Chip Kelly, the Bucs went out and got a disciplinarian who will hold players accountable for mistakes in Greg Schiano.Some thought it was odd, but for a team that had limited leadership and no real accountability last year, it makes an awful lot of sense.

Next they went out and signed the two blue-chip free agents on the market—guard Carl Nicks and wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Then they added Eric Wright, a gambling corner who struggles in coverage but does a great job making plays on the ball and will add the occasional big play.

Wright will get to play, for the first time in his career, across from a real corner in Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber (who will move to FS).

Mark Barron gets to go to a team where he can play more in-the-box and should be able to contribute immediately. Bucs' second-round pick Lavonte David could be an early candidate for defensive rookie of the year as a highly instinctual and technically sound outside linebacker.

On offense, the Buccaneers added running back Doug Martin after the running game fell apart, thanks to the predictability that LeGarette Blount created. Blount was very poor in protection and as a receiver. Teams pretty much knew that when Blount was in, he was running, and this predictability seriously hurt the Bucs.

They may have ended the season on a 10-game losing streak, but the Buccaneers got a serious infusion of talent and leadership this offseason.

Carl Nicks is the best guard in football, and his addition will aid Donald Penn as well. Former Pats left tackle Matt Light became one of the better tackles in the game when the Pats added Logan Mankins, and Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson's career is very much in debt to the veteran teachings of Alan Faneca.

The Bucs are definitely a wild-card contender.

Wrap-Up

Once again I wrap up this piece by asking you, the reader, a question. If six playoff teams miss the playoffs the next year...then who are your six?