2010 NFL Playoff Predictions: 5 Teams That Won't Make the Playoffs but Should
With the 2010 NFL playoff picture taking shape with every game, several teams are nearing elimination despite some great play.
A few teams have made it far in spite of injuries or other detrimental factors, but sometimes it's just too much to bear.
Some teams that don't deserve to make the playoffs will. Other teams that deserve to make the playoffs won't end up making it.
Here's my look at the latter category.
Green Bay Packers
1 of 5
Why they deserve to be in: Jermichael Finley. Ryan Grant. Nick Barnett. Brady Poppinga. Mark Tauscher. And those are just the note-worthy players on injured reserve this season.
Aaron Rodgers has been getting it done largely by himself without much support from the running game.
Thus, although it's unfortunate for the Packers that they've had so many injuries this year, the real icing on the cake was the concussion to Rodgers.
He was taken out of games against the Lions and the Patriots on the Packers' way to a two-game losing streak that ended their playoff hopes.
San Diego Chargers
2 of 5
Why they deserve to be in: I'd love to get a stat on the number of teams with a top-five-ranked offense and defense that have missed the playoffs.
If Norv Turner is unable to win with that, how can he maintain the confidence of general manager AJ Smith?
It's all come down to some fluke plays and poor special teams play in many games.
With a quarterback as talented as Philip Rivers, they are more than deserving of the playoffs. Especially considering what he was able to do even though he was called on to pass to third- and fourth-string receivers.
Oakland Raiders
3 of 5
Why they deserve to be in: The goal of every team is to win the division. The Raiders came closer to doing that this season than they have in any season since 2004.
Most teams live by the mantra that in order to win the division, the team has to win a majority of its divisional games. The Raiders are 5-0 in AFC West matchups, but still have a worse record than the Chiefs.
The Raiders must win both of their games: a home game against the Colts and a road game against the Chiefs.
The Chiefs will likely win the division, but the Raiders made an amazing run from one of the league's worst teams to within one game of winning their division.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
4 of 5
Why they deserve to be in: With a remaining schedule that features the Raiders and the Titans, the Colts are probably going to the playoffs. The Jaguars' games are also against soft competition (Redskins and Texans), but the Colts currently hold the division lead.
That's sad, because the Colts have struggled mightily all year, while the Jaguars have really turned things around from a year ago across the board.
David Garrard is enjoying a career year, yet he is hardly getting any recognition for it. They've even been blacked out a few times despite their success.
St. Louis Rams
5 of 5
Why they deserve to be in: The Rams were another team that had very little playoff hopes entering the 2010 season. Of course, they have the ineptitude of the NFC West to thank for any chance they may have of making the playoffs.
Still, the Rams showed a level of competitiveness on both sides of the ball that hadn't been seen since the days of the "Greatest Show On Turf." Their excellence was far from that level of greatness, but the potential is there.
Their immense strides across the board made them a darling team in 2010.
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