Harvard study: Jets, Dolphins have better odds of making playoffs than Bengals

Say WHAT?

By Jason Marcum@marcum89 Jul 29, 2015, 1:00pm EDT

A recent study from Harvard University has given the Bengals a 39 percent chance of making the playoffs this year.

Harvard student Kurt Bullard created a model he used to determine the chance each team has of making the playoffs by evaluating the most important players on the roster. You can read more about Bullard's method here, which, to no surprise, show the Seahawks and Packers will be the best teams in the NFL this year.

Here's where Bullard's study maybe goes off the reserve: He has the Dolphins leading the AFC with a 77 percent chance of making the playoffs and the favorites to win the AFC East. These are the same Dolphins who haven't made the playoffs since 2008 and have just one winning season since 2006.

Oh, and Bullard's study has the Jets with a 56 percent chance of making the playoffs this year. I really don't care if the Bengals play the Seahawks 16 times this year. I'd still give them a better shot at making the playoffs than the Jets.

Here is the full list of predictions from the Harvard College Sports Analysis Collective:

(Overall ranking, team, percentage chance of making playoffs) NOTE: Overall ranking is not fully determined by playoff chances.

1. Seattle Seahawks: 95 percent chance of making the playoffs (Highest chance)

2. Green Bay Packers 93 percent

3. Miami Dolphins 77 percent

4. Kansas City Chiefs: 66 percent

5. New England Patriots: 62 percent

6. Denver Broncos: 62 percent

7. Detroit Lions: 53 percent

8. New York Jets: 56 percent

9. Indianapolis Colts: 62 percent

10. Buffalo Bills: 43 percent