NFL Playoff Predictions: 10 Teams That Will Come Up Just Short

NFL playoff predictions are my bread and butter.

In fact, I was thinking of changing the title to NFL Playoff Certainties. I have my crystal ball out and I am about to put it to good use.

Here are 10 teams that will just miss getting into the playoffs. 

The NFL season is a fast-paced affair. A slight stumble in the regular season can keep you out of the big dance.

Whether it be for a harsh upcoming schedule, a hobbled staff of players, or just plain fate, these teams will be kicking themselves in a month's time. 

10. Washington Redskins

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Donovan McNabb drops back to pass against the Minnesota Vikings at FedExField November 28, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Vikings won the game 17-13. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Redskins play in the rough confines of the NFC East.

The lackluster performances they have had so far will come back to haunt them. 

This does not mean that the Redskins are out completely. They still play the Giants twice.

I just think that it is optimistic to hope that Washington will even split that series.

It turns out the Redskins' woes were not due to having Jason Campbell as their starting quarterback. There is definitely a deeper issue to the ineffective play of the Redskins. 

Campbell left for Oakland and as, at times, flourished. Meanwhile, the Redskins are still floundering. 

9. Houston Texans

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 28: Wide receiver Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans is congratulated by Mike Brisiel after scoring in the first quarter at Reliant Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

I feel bad for the Texans. I really do.

Their four-game losing streak in the middle of the season was filled with near misses and miraculous endings. Even one of those close losses would have them tied for the lead of the division. 

This is still a very winnable AFC South. With the Colts faltering and the Jaguars pushing forward, it is anyone's game.

Anyone except the Texans. They have too tough a schedule to mount a comeback.

They will come up just short, much like they have in most of their games. 

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Larry French/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 28: Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passes against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens led the Buccaneers at the half 17-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Ima

It saddens me to no end to tell you that the young hot team we have all been cheering for all season, they will have to try again next year. 

Tampa has only five weeks to catch New Orleans for a wild-card spot. Meanwhile, they will be duking it out with Green Bay and the New York Giants for the other spot.

The other seasoned team could very well hold out longer. There is an immense amount of pressure going into the final leg for the young Josh Freeman.

He has come a long way, but has at times reverted to earlier incarnations. 

7. Kansas City Chiefs

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 28: Linebacker Tamba Hali #91 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Glenn Dorsey #72 and Jovan Belcher #59 after recovering a fumble on a sack of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck of the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on November 28

I understand they are in first place.

I can read the standings as well as anyone.

But the Chargers are doing it again. They are playing outstanding football at the end of the season.

This time, they will ruin the Kansas City party. The scary part is that the Chargers have been good all year.

They have just found a way to plug their special-teams holes. 

The Chiefs will relinquish control of the division in the next few weeks. After that, they would have an uphill climb to get a wild-card spot.

Even as they sit right now in first place, they would still lose out to the Steelers and Patriots for the remaining two spots. 

6. Seattle Seahawks

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qwest Field on November 28, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The grandeur and wonder that is the NFC West.

A division so bad that the winner could very well be at .500 by season's end.

The Seahawks are much too inconsistent to finish the year off in style. They have question marks all over the field, including their running game. 

That was the lone bright spot a few weeks back. Now it has gone surprisingly dormant.

Seattle will be trumped by one of the least-worse teams in the division. 

5. Tennessee Titans

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 28: Officials attempt to separate players from both the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans after a bench emptying brawl in the fourth quarter that was started by Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans and Cortland Finnegan of the Tenness

It is odd that only a couple of weeks ago, I would have been lambasted for putting the Titans here.

They were at the top of their table and had just answered their depth questions by adding Randy Moss. 

As it stands, the once-assured division winners have the wheels coming off at an alarming rate. With turmoil between Fisher and former starter Vince Young taking place, the Titans will struggle to win just two more games this season.

Unfortunate to see such promise wasted. 

4. San Francisco 49ers

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field following the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 29, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated

There is only one team that can lay an egg one half of the season and still make up for it in the end.

Sadly for the 49ers, that team is the Chargers. The 49ers will just miss taking the division from the Rams.

As I said earlier, the NFC West will not tout a wild-card team.

San Francisco still has to play Green Bay and San Diego this year. They also have an away game at St. Louis.

They must win at least three of their next five, and I don't see that happening. 

3. Oakland Raiders

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders sits on the bench during the closing minutes of their loss to the Miami Dolphins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Ge

The silver and black have had a great season considering where we all thought they would be.

They have an actual shot to win their division despite being labeled preseason also-rans. But their lack of consistency on the field and at quarterback have killed the playoff hopes that were lifted a mere two weeks back. 

Before the Raiders faced the Steelers, they had completed a three-game winning streak and were in the driver's seat of their own destiny. 

A couple of losses later, and it seems that the Raiders will again be on the outside looking in. 

2. Green Bay Packers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers rushes upfield away from Corey Peters #91 of the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on November 28, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Now we get on to the tough ones.

These are the teams that would really make a great addition to the big dance a month from now. 

The Packers are a hard-nosed team. They have fought and clawed in the brutal NFC North.

But alas, it will be too much. They will not win the division, and the last two spots will go to the Saints and the Giants.

New York has too easy of a schedule to stumble. Meanwhile, the Packers could very well lose three of their remaining games.

There is no way that kind of production will get it done. 

In their last three games, the Packers will have to face the Giants, Patriots and Bears. That is an immense wall to limb.

But if they do make it, we can feel comforted that they earned it. 

1. Indianapolis Colts

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 28: Reggie Wayne #87 of the Indianapolis Colts sits on the field after dropping a pass during the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The chargers won 36-14.

It seems almost inconceivable, but the Colts will fail to make the 2010 playoffs.

The Colts are reeling at the moment. Beset by injuries and lack of depth, the Colts are losing their footing. 

Their season could very well come down to an away game at Jacksonville in Week 15. The winner of that game may very well claim sole possession of the division.

As of right now, the Jaguars are the hotter, stronger team. 

If they lose the division, that will be it. The Steelers and Patriots are too far ahead to make ground on, especially if you are hobbled the way the Colts are.