The NFL hope index: Which three-win teams can still make the playoffs?

Which fringe playoff candidates have reasons to believe?

We’re now officially eight weeks into the 2021 NFL season. Does your favorite team have at least four wins? If so, congratulations! They’re officially in the playoff hunt. Yes, even you, smoking crater where the Kansas City Chiefs used to be.

But a 14-team postseason leaves more room than ever for struggling teams to sort themselves out en route to extra games. Last year, the Washington Football rallied from 2-5 to win the NFC East (mostly due to attrition, but it counts!). In 2019, the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans each pulled themselves up from 3-4 records and into a 12-team playoff.

Seven teams sit at three wins through roughly one half of the year, staring up at the second half of the season but not yet ahead to the NFL Draft. None are more than 1.5 games out of their conference’s final Wild Card spot. In the NFC, all these teams have to do to earn their EZ Pass to the toll road to the Super Bowl is overtake the 4-4 Carolina Panthers.

Each of these teams still has hope for January. Which teams can reasonably expect for a rally and meaningful football this winter? Who’ll be left to languish with nothing but a rising spot in the draft order to comfort them?

All lines are provided by Tipico Sportsbook.