Six NFL teams—the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders—made the NFL playoffs in 2016 despite not doing so in 2015. Four teams did so in 2015 despite failing to get there in 2014.
In fact, at least a third of the playoff field has been fresh in each of the last 10 seasons.
Which emerging teams are on the verge of making playoff runs despite failing to do so in recent years? Here's a breakdown of NFL squads set to solidify themselves as contenders in 2017.