Skip to content

3-Wide: Which 2015 division winner will miss the playoffs?

Mark Zerof / USA TODAY Sports

3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.

Which 2015 division winner will miss the playoffs?

Mitch Sanderson: The Washington Redskins stunned the NFC East last season with a 9-7 record - good enough for top spot in the division - but that's all in the past. Washington exploited an easy schedule and three divisional opponents imploding around them, and still only finished two games above .500. With the Steelers, Cardinals, Panthers, Packers, and Vikings on the schedule, along with a strengthened division, there may not much to "like" about the Redskins this season.

Arun Srinivasan: The Cincinnati Bengals will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010, in a division that ought to be among the league's most competitive. Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard will spearhead an erratic running game, while the stigma of blowing a fifth consecutive wild-card game will eventually take a toll on the team's collective psyche. The Ravens are expected to rebound from an injury-ridden season and the Steelers' firepower always poses a formidable threat, so the Bengals will be watching the postseason from the couch this winter.

Jack Browne: The Houston Texans squeaked out the AFC South in 2015, finishing one game ahead of the Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts. While the Texans improved on paper this offseason, adding running back Lamar Miller and quarterback Brock Osweiler, they are no lock to return to the playoffs. Osweiler has yet to show he'll be a significant upgrade from last year's carousel of mediocre passers, while a back injury to J.J. Watt has put his Week 1 status in doubt. The Colts aren't as talented as the Texans, but that's arguably been the case for the last several years, even while Indy has taken the division. The Jaguars and Titans, meanwhile, should both significantly improve, giving away no easy wins.

Which team will be a surprise division winner?

Srinivasan: After emerging as one of the offseason winners, the Jacksonville Jaguars will surge to the top of the AFC South. Buoyed by one of the NFL's best receiving duos in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, along with a defense that underwent extreme renovations through free agency, the Jaguars are no longer a laughingstock. Fourth-year head coach Gus Bradley holds an abysmal 12-36 career record, but with his job likely on the line, the team will rally to earn a surprise postseason berth.

Browne: The NFC East rarely sticks to the script, as the Washington Redskins shockingly took the division last season. In 2016, it'll be the Philadelphia Eagles' turn for a surprise run to the top. Philadelphia finished second in the NFC East last season, despite the Chip Kelly era falling apart. The Eagles made a series of dramatic moves to rid themselves of Kelly's failings - especially at quarterback - which has many dismissing their chances this year. However, there is no elite team in the division and Philadelphia should take advantage by returning to the playoffs.

Sanderson: The San Diego Chargers are as motivated as ever to have a bounce-back season. Back in Philip Rivers' heyday, the team won five division titles in six years, but haven't seen the top of the AFC West since 2009. It's also pretty apparent that the Chargers want to end the careers of Rivers and Antonio Gates on a high note. As long as Joey Bosa's contract dispute isn't too big of a distraction and the team can stay healthy, the Bolts could surprise.

What's the toughest division in the NFL?

Browne: No division in the NFL has the depth of the AFC West, which boasts four teams that could challenge for a playoff spot. The Chargers finished 4-12 in 2015, but were devastated by injuries, and unlike other bottom-dwellers, they have an elite quarterback in Rivers. The Raiders haven't made the playoffs in 13 seasons, but used free agency to boost their up-and-coming young roster with strong veteran talent. The Chiefs look playoff-ready as always, and will only improve when Eric Berry returns from his holdout. The Super Bowl-winning Broncos might have questions at quarterback, but remain a contender to keep the Lombardi Trophy.

Sanderson: The NFC West has two of the league's top teams and the NFC East is easily the most unpredictable, but the toughest division remains the AFC North. Not only do three of the teams make up a trio of great rivalries, but they're all tough as nails - the Steelers', Ravens', and Bengals' hatred for each other is one the most entertaining aspects of the NFL. While the lowly Browns also reside in the AFC North, part of their inability to crawl out of the basement is due to the relentlessness of their division schedule.

Srinivasan: The NFC West is a veritable nightmare, possessing two perennial Super Bowl contenders in the Seahawks and Cardinals. Every team in the division boasts a genuine Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and an NFC West club has advanced to the conference championship game in five consecutive seasons. For the better part of a decade, the division has served as a barometer of overall league talent and will be the standard-bearer once again in 2016.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox