NFL Playoff Predictions: Current Non-Playoff Teams That Will Make the Cut

There may still be five and a half weeks remaining in the NFL season, but it's never too early to start speculating on which teams will make the playoffs. While some teams would seem to basically be entrenched at the moment, there are plenty of outside teams that can still make a run.

Scheduling will have a lot to do with which teams are able to ascend in the season's closing weeks, but the makeup of the team itself is important as well. Here are three teams that would be outside of the playoffs if they started today, but will be playing into the second week of January come season's end. 

New York Giants (6-4)

The New York Giants were comfortably atop the NFC East for a few weeks, but a couple of tough losses leave them at 6-4, which is a half game behind the surging Dallas Cowboys. The Giants have a very tough game on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Monday night, but they essentially control their own destiny in terms of winning the division.

Generally speaking, the Cowboys have an easier road to the postseason at this point. The Giants have to play the Saints, Green Bay Packers and New York Jets down the stretch, but the Cowboys and Giants still have two head-to-head matchups remaining.

Ultimately, I believe the Giants have the better team. Not only has Eli Manning been a more consistent quarterback than Tony Romo this season, but the Giants have a far more legitimate defense thanks to their awesome pass rush. As long as New York keeps its head above water, I think it will clinch the NFC East with a win over Dallas in Week 17. 

New York Jets (5-5)

The New York Jets may look to be in a precarious position with a .500 record and two consecutive, losses to their credit, but few teams have an easier remaining schedule. Buffalo, Washington, Kansas City and Miami are all struggling squads and all on tap for the Jets.

New York will likely be pursuing the 6-4 Cincinnati Bengals for the duration of the season. The Bengals have some easy games against Cleveland, St. Louis and Arizona in their own right, but they will also have to take on Houston, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. With that said, I think the Jets have the advantage.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez will certainly have to play better for the Jets to make a run, but they also need to establish the running game with Shonn Greene. If New York can strike a better balance offensively and continue to play strong defense, they should sneak into the playoffs and be dangerous as usual. 

Atlanta Falcons (6-4)

The Atlanta Falcons lost only three games all last season en route to the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but have already managed to lose four games this year. Much of that is due to some early-season struggles that the Falcons seem to have figured out. They are currently just one game behind the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions and seem poised to make a run.

Atlanta has an extremely advantageous schedule moving forward as Houston and New Orleans are the only winning teams remaining on its schedule. The team that the Falcons are most likely to catch at this point is the Bears. Chicago doesn't exactly have a murderous schedule, but quarterback Jay Cutler is likely out for the rest of the regular season, meaning they will have to rely on the inexperienced Caleb Hanie.

The Falcons' defense has come a long way from where it was early in the season, and their offense is as good as it gets thanks to quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner and wide receiver Roddy White. Provided Atlanta continues to play the way it has over the past month or so, it should have no issue catching either Chicago or Detroit over the next six games.