The NFL is unpredictable. What we think we know on Labor Day

leaves us wondering what we were thinking by New Year’s. It happens every year.Seven of the 12 teams that qualified for the postseason were home for the postseason a year ago.The Ravens <a title="Frank Clark Color Rush Jersey" href="https://www.theseahawksfanshop.com/Frank-Clark-Jersey">Frank Clark Color Rush Jersey</a> , Bears, Cowboys, Texans, Chargers <a title="Dion Jordan Color Rush Jersey" href="https://www.theseahawksfanshop.com/Dion-Jordan-Jersey">Dion Jordan Color Rush Jersey</a> , Seahawks and Colts didn’t make the playoffs a year ago. Those seven teams combined for a 49-63 record a year ago. They are 75-37 this season.The Patriots, Rams, Eagles, Chiefs and Saints are the only teams to repeat with playoff berths.Since 1990 — a streak of 29 consecutive seasons — at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs that were not in the postseason the previous year.In 15 of the past 16 seasons at least one team has finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place.Chicago and Houston accomplished the “worst-to-first” turnaround this season <a title="Tedric Thompson Color Rush Jersey" href="https://www.theseahawksfanshop.com/Tedric-Thompson-Jersey">Tedric Thompson Color Rush Jersey</a> , which marks the second consecutive season that two teams have accomplished the feat. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the NHL, MLB or NBA have never had multiple teams go “worst to first” in their divisions in consecutive seasons. The XFL is likely preparing a pitch for Paxton Lynch.XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck said the league was keeping an eye on the battle between Lynch and Geno Smith for the backup quarterback job in Seattle because they’d want to have the loser join the upstart league.Bob Condotta of the reports that Lynch fell short in his bid for the job and will be released by the Seahawks. Lynch suffered a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit by Vikings cornerback Holton Hill in the second preseason game and missed one contest before returning to play on Thursday night.Smith missed the game against Minnesota after having a cyst removed from his knee and got the start on Thursday night, which was a sign that he was ahead in the competition to back up Russell Wilson this season. It will be his third backup job with as many teams in the last three years as he played for the Giants and Chargers since leaving the Jets after the 2016 season.