San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on the sideline. Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, AZ; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan looks on at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

The teams that didn’t make the NFL playoffs were surprising. Here are five that could make the postseason next year (the 2025 NFL season):

5. Chicago Bears (5-12)

Ben Johnson maximized Jared Goff, who enjoyed a career season for the best Detroit Lions team we’ve ever seen. Now he’ll try to mold Caleb Williams into a superstar. Williams’ mobility is a skill Goff doesn’t possess, so that immediately expands Johnson’s playbook. The Bears have talent on offense with wide receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, tight end Cole Kmet, and running back D’Andre Swift. If the Bears can fix the offensive line, they could improve quickly. The NFC North might not be as strong with the Lions’ losses on its coaching staff and the Minnesota Vikings possibly starting a new quarterback in J.J. McCarthy.

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-9)

It doesn’t take much to win the NFC South. If you can get to nine or 10 victories, that’s enough. So, the Falcons possibly rising up is more an indictment of the division. In recent years, everyone said this franchise was a quarterback away. Even after signing Kirk Cousins last off-season, Atlanta was still a quarterback away. Cousins, who looked like a shell of himself since coming back from injury, is expected to be cut. Get ready for the Michael Penix Jr. Experience. The lefty and first-round draft pick looked decent enough as a rookie. If he can be competent, the Falcons could win the NFC South for the first time since 2016.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)

The Bengals wasted career seasons from Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow led the league in passing yards (4,918) and touchdown passes (43). Chase won the receiver triple crown, leading the league in catches (127), yards (1,708), and touchdown receptions (17). Poor personnel decisions on defense by management contributed to Cincinnati’s 4-8 start. The way the team rallied down the stretch was encouraging, and maybe they can avoid another slow beginning. Al Golden steps in as the new defensive coordinator, replacing Lou Anarumo, but Anarumo wasn’t the problem. Cincinnati should return to the playoffs if contract issues don’t undo the Bengals.

2. Dallas Cowboys (7-10)

Don’t get us wrong. The Cowboys are not a serious Super Bowl threat. However, there’s no reason they can’t make the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. If not for injuries to DaRon Bland (10 games missed), Dak Prescott (nine), and Micah Parsons (4), they might have made the playoffs. Perhaps new head coach Brian Schottenheimer will bring new energy and make this team less predictable. One thing is for certain. Dallas needs to play with a lead, so expect them to aggressively address the running game through the draft and perhaps have more free-agent spending than last year.

1. San Francisco 49ers (6-11)

We thought there might be the regression that often happens to Super Bowl losers. No one expected it to be this bad. From Brandon Aiyuk’s contract dispute to his season-ending injury, to first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall getting shot in the chest, to the organization’s secrecy surrounding Christian McCaffrey’s injury, to Deebo Samuel’s alarming decline, this was a weird season. Kyle Shanahan couldn’t scheme his way out of trouble. San Francisco was 14th in scoring offense (22.9 points per game) after being second (28.6) the previous season. On paper, San Francisco still has a strong roster, assuming McCaffrey and Aiyuk are healthy. Plus, Robert Saleh’s return as defensive coordinator should help.

About Michael Grant

Born in Jamaica. Grew up in New York City. Lives in Louisville, Ky. Sports writer. Not related to Ulysses S. Grant.