United States of America eSeries: Ranking NFL playoff contenders for 2021

Ranking NFL playoff contenders for 2021

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Monday, July 12

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys - this year's team for HBO's "Hard Knocks" - are a popular pick to reach the playoffs among the teams that didn't reach the postseason in 2020.

Ranking NFL playoff contenders for 2021

Which 2020 non-playoff teams might reach the postseason in 2021? Which 2020 playoff teams might not return?

The NFL is a parity party. Since 1990 — when the league expanded the playoff field to 12 teams — each season has featured at least four different playoff teams from the previous year.

In 2020, the first time there were 14 playoff entries in a non-strike season, half of the bracket was composed of teams that didn't reach the postseason in 2019.

Given the larger playoff field, it seems highly likely that 2021 will continue that three-decade trend.

So, which 2020 non-playoff teams are most likely to contend for the postseason in 2021? Also, which 2020 playoff teams might not return to the postseason during the 2021 season?

With an aging Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers might be hard-pressed to return to the playoffs in 2021.

Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports

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