Five Teams that Could Surprise in 2017

Every year there is a team or two that catches the league by surprise. Just a season ago, the Atlanta Falcons went from being an afterthought (18-30 previous three seasons) to winning the NFC and nearly capturing the Super Bowl title. The Miami Dolphins started the season 1-4 before reeling off nine of their next ten for a playoff berth and their first winning record in eight seasons. 

(NFL.com)

                                              
Here are five teams that are set up to change their fortunes in ’17:

5. Arizona Cardinals

Playoff drought – 1 season

Much of the NFL season is surrounded by ‘ifs’. That couldn’t be truer for the Arizona Cardinals. Last year, injuries to QB Carson Palmer and DB Tyrann Mathieu made it tough to make a run at the playoffs. This season, with a healthy roster, the Cards are in position to make some noise in the NFC West - that is, IF they can stay healthy as the season wears on. This is a team that boasts the best all-around running back in the league in David Johnson (2,118 yards from scrimmage, 20 TD’s in ‘16) and one of the all-time greats in WR Larry Fitzgerald. And much is still intact from a team that two seasons ago had the number one ranked offense in the league. In 2016, Arizona ranked number two in total defense and number nine in total offense. The window of opportunity is closing but IF those numbers stay consistent, the Cardinals will be in playoff contention in ’17.

4. Los Angeles Chargers

Playoff drought – 3 seasons

A team smothered with injuries a season ago (most in the league), the Chargers were still a competitive group. Yes, they lost to the Browns and yes they were 5-11, but in those 11 losses, the average margin of defeat was 5.5 points! Every loss but one was by single digits, including three losses by 3 points, one loss by 1, one by 4 and another in overtime. Even if half of those games went their way they would have been at the least .500. 

This is a team loaded with talent. They’ve lost some key pieces once again to injury (LB Denzel Perryman, rookie G Forrest Lamp, rookie WR Mike Williams) but they’ve also brought some back in WR’s Keenan Allen and Travis Benjamin, among others. The defense is quietly becoming a force, particularly up front. DE’s Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram along with tackles Corey Liuget and Brandon Mebane form one of the most talented fronts in the game. And don’t forget this is a team that still has one of the most underrated gunslingers behind center in Philip Rivers. Entering his 14^th season, he is a lock to pass for more than 4,000 yards and 30 TD’s. Cutting back on turnovers (21 INT’s last year) will be key to making a run. Having his full set of playmakers at his disposal – including do-it-all running back Melvin Gordon, wideouts Keenan Allen and Tyrell Williams, and legendary tight end Antonio Gates – should help do just that. Under the radar and a new destination has the Bolts primed for a bounce back campaign in ’17.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Playoff drought – 3 seasons

The Eagles finished 7-9 a season ago with a first year head coach and a rookie quarterback. Not bad for an initial campaign in a loaded division. And given what he had to work with, Carson Wentz put together a solid first season (3,782 yards, 16 TD, 14 INT, 62.4 comp. %). Enter 2017, and he will have much better targets at his disposal with the additions of deep threat WR’s Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. Add in do-it-all back Darren Sproles, and this should be an offense that boasts speed & quickness with the ability to create mismatches. Meanwhile, the defense boasts arguably the deepest front in the game, with DE’s Vinny Curry, Brandon Graham, Chris Long, & rookie Derek Barnett, and DT’s Timmy Jernigan & Fletcher Cox manning the inside. Good luck blocking that front for 60 minutes. The secondary isn’t short on talent either with SS Malcolm Jenkins, FS Rodney McLeod and newly acquired CB Ronald Darby. This is a defense that has top-10, if not top-5, potential. 

Philly has the pieces in place to become a contender in the East. Also, keep this in mind: No team in the NFC East has repeated as division champions since 2004, when the Eagles captured their 4^th in a row.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Playoff drought – 9 seasons

There is reason for optimism in the Sunshine state. Superstars are emerging in DT Gerald McCoy, WR Mike Evans. The defense has up-and-comers in DE Noah Spence, and LB LaVonte David. They’ve added speedster DeSean Jackson, and versatile rookie TE O.J. Howard. But when all said and done, there is only one reason this team is on the rise and it starts and ends with #3.

There’s no denying Jameis Winston’s talent. But sometimes he looks like the next great while other times he looks like a mere rookie. There are the positives - he is the first player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, and he has accounted for 57 touchdowns (50 passing, 7 rushing). Then, there is the glaring negative - he is responsible for 41 turnovers (33 INT, 8 Fum) in that span. Beyond all that however, one thing is apparent about Famous Jameis (especially if you’ve watched ‘Hard Knocks’) – his leadership. He not only holds himself accountable, but his teammates as well. And most don’t realize this is a guy that is only 23 years old. The Bucs have increased their win total each of the last two seasons under Winston (had just 2 wins the season prior to drafting him). And this season, having been given his best supporting cast to date, that trend should continue, with a real chance at ending the Bucs nine year playoff drought. 

Side Note: Jameis Winston is the only QB in the NFC South not to have been to the Super Bowl (Brees, Ryan, and Newton).

1. Tennessee Titans

Playoff drought – 8 seasons

Tennessee has slowly been building a contender. Last season they nearly saw the fruits of their labor after finishing 9-7 (six more wins than the previous season). If it weren’t for quarterback Marcus Mariota sustaining a season-ending injury, the Titans very well may have won the division and made a trip to the postseason for the first time since ‘08. Now, all healthy again, they have added playmakers on the outside in rookie WR Corey Davis and veteran Erik Decker to complement an already powerful running game (ranked 3^rd in the league in ‘16). The defense isn’t far from being elite either as they ranked 2^nd in rushing yards allowed and 6^th in sacks a season ago. If their secondary can improve (20^th against the pass), and Mariota can stay healthy, this is a team that will push for a division crown and potentially make some noise in the playoffs.