Heading into the 2023 NFL season, five teams have not reached the playoffs for a half-decade or longer. The Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and New York Jets are all starved for a postseason appearance.
While none of these squads are close to breaking the all-time streak without a postseason berth—a dubious 25-year distinction that is shared among the Washington Commanders (1946-1971) and Arizona Cardinals (1949-1974)—it's still been a painful wait for fans of these franchises.
Fortunately, parity is thriving in the modern NFL. It's unlikely these teams will come anywhere close to a two-decade or longer drought thanks to the constant roster turnover created by free agency and the draft, as well as the salary-cap restrictions that prevent organizations from hoarding superstar players.
Some of these clubs may even break through as early as this year. With that in mind, it's time to play fact or fiction regarding these five teams ending their playoff droughts in 2023.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons remain in rebuilding mode after they failed to unearth a franchise quarterback this offseason. The club didn't have a suitable heir in place for an aging Matt Ryan before shipping him off last year and likely still doesn't barring an unexpected breakout from 2022 third-round pick Desmond Ridder.
That's unfortunate, given just how much the team has invested into the wide receiver, tight end and running back positions in recent years. The Falcons employ some of the league's most promising up-and-coming skill position players in Drake London, Kyle Pitts and first-round rookie Bijan Robinson, but they lack the passer to truly unlock their collective potential.
Until the team finds a capable quarterback, the ceiling on this offense will be too low to compete with the league's best on a weekly basis.
Defensively, the Falcons should improve upon last year's disappointing performance. After allowing 362.1 yards per game and 22.7 points per game in 2022, Atlanta went after veteran pieces such as Jessie Bates III and David Onyemata on the open market and selected Zach Harrison and Clark Phillips III in the third and fourth rounds of the draft, respectively.
These may not be enough to push the Falcons into the league's upper echelon, but it should get them closer to the middle of the pack.
While Atlanta is loaded with rising stars on offense and boasts an improving defense, the lack of star power under center will be this team's undoing. Barring a drastic move, the team is in real danger of lingering in the NFL's version of purgatory, faring well enough to miss out on a top pick but not being strong enough to contend for the playoffs.
Fiction: The Falcons will not break their five-year playoff drought in 2023.
