Only 11 NFL teams will enter the 2022 season with an active multi-year drought, including only five teams who have missed the playoffs in at least five consecutive seasons.
Here are three teams with a high chance of making the playoffs this year and ending the active multi-year drought.
#1 – Denver Broncos
The last time the Denver Broncos ran the playoffs, Peyton Manning led them to victory in Super Bowl 50. The six-year drought was the second longest drought in the NFL, just 11 years after a massive drought for the New York Jets.
The Broncos have struggled to find stability in their midfield position since Manning’s retirement, but they finally landed in the elite position during the 2022 season. They acquired Russell Wilson via a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, making them not only legitimate playoff contenders this season but potentially the They’re Super Bowl competitors, too.
#2 – Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have missed playoffs in each of the past five seasons, but have failed in the playoffs in the past two years. They finished the 2020 NFL season with a 10-6 record and followed that up with a solid 9-8 record in 2021, missing the playoffs by just one game difference in each of the past two seasons.
The Dolphins have been aggressive during the 2022 NFL season to improve their roster as much as possible. They added several weapons to their attack during free agency while also obtaining Tyreek Hill’s extensive star receiver through trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Their improved roster might be enough to end the playoff drought.
#3 – Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers barely missed the playoffs in the 2021 NFL season. They entered the final week of the regular season needing a win or a tie to get to the post-season but were defeated by the Las Vegas Raiders in overtime, ending their season shortly before the playoffs.
The Chargers have one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in Justin Herbert and they’ll be back with all his primary offensive weapons from last year. They also improved their defense by adding two stars, Khalil Mack, and JC Jackson. They seem well positioned to end the three-year drought.