dead money kills us again

I get the glass is half-empty analogy but let's not pretend we are an elite team this year just because of one dominant game against LV. I think we will have a better view after the Baltimore game. I'm a you are what your record says you are type of person.
There are three elite teams. So did the other 28 non-elite teams also mess up their cap situations? Or is it maybe one of those years where we just have to try to get into the playoffs and see what happens?