Over the years, the question has changed from “Will any new teams make the postseason?” to “How many new teams will make the postseason?”
Every year since the 12-team format started in 1990. at least four teams that missed the postseason the season before made the jump to the playoffs. Each of the past two seasons has seen seven new teams make the playoffs that missed the season before. Of course, that has been helped by the expansion to 14 teams in 2020.
CBS Sports’ Will Brinson used that number to pick out teams that can make the jump to the postseason in 2023. Not only are the Jets on that list, but they were also the easiest pick for Brinson’s list.
The easiest pick out there for new playoff teams, the Jets added Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Despite Rodgers already tweaking his ankle in OTAs (see why he never attended?!?!), the Jets are still a very popular team in Vegas and getting plenty of respect from the sportsbooks at just +200 to win the AFC East and -150 to make the playoffs at Caesars. There’s no need to belabor the point here: Aaron Rodgers absolutely makes the Jets a playoff-caliber team.
As a refresher, the seven AFC playoff teams last season were the Chiefs, Bills, Bengals, Jaguars, Chargers, Ravens and Dolphins. Just making the playoffs is the bare minimum for the Jets in 2023. They have their sights set on Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
The other teams Brinson picks that can make the jump to the playoffs are the Broncos, Texans, Lions, Falcons, Panthers and Rams.