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Surprise Teams

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WitheringPlant

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I was just on ESPN and they had a pull asking who would be last in the NFC East. To my surprise, Washington was ahead by a landslide. It got me thinking. Who, of the teams that nobody is giving a chance, do you think will surprise everyone this year?

I struggle to think of Washington as a surprise team. They were just in the playoffs last year. However, with the results of the SportsNation poll, I have to make them my choice.

I know you can't expect too much from rookies, but I can't help but fall in love with their offense. With Zorn guidance, I can't help but see Campbell take a giant step forward this year. Davis should be a terror out of the #2 TE position. Cooley should have a pro-bowl season. Portis and Betts should be excellent out of the backfield. If either Kelly or Thomas step up at Split End, that is a very nice collection of skill players. They have the line to pull it all off as well.

Have Williams gone as DC should hurt, but they still have the personnel for a solid defense.

So, your turn. Who surprises? One rule, leave the Fins out. We all know they are going 16-0 this year.
 
WitheringPlant said:
I was just on ESPN and they had a pull asking who would be last in the NFC East. To my surprise, Washington was ahead by a landslide. It got me thinking. Who, of the teams that nobody is giving a chance, do you think will surprise everyone this year?

I struggle to think of Washington as a surprise team. They were just in the playoffs last year. However, with the results of the SportsNation poll, I have to make them my choice.

I know you can't expect too much from rookies, but I can't help but fall in love with their offense. With Zorn guidance, I can't help but see Campbell take a giant step forward this year. Davis should be a terror out of the #2 TE position. Cooley should have a pro-bowl season. Portis and Betts should be excellent out of the backfield. If either Kelly or Thomas step up at Split End, that is a very nice collection of skill players. They have the line to pull it all off as well.

Have Williams gone as DC should hurt, but they still have the personnel for a solid defense.

So, your turn. Who surprises? One rule, leave the Fins out. We all know they are going 16-0 this year.
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The Skins are in a tough division and they are the least like a "Team" of any in their division, now maybe Zorn changes that, but if a guy like Gibbs can't get it done, I doubt Zorn can, at least right away.

I would have to go with the Browns or Panthers. Simply because A) Their division is weak or B) They really made strides last year and are ready to move up.

The Redskins just don't seem to have the ability to put it all together. I know you could look at the Skins last year and say they played better then the Browns for the whole season, but they don't have the QB IMO that the browns do and they also don't have as tough a division as the Skins do. I think the Panthers were ready to step it up last year and with Delhome already a proven SB caliber QB I think that's a big part for them and they play in a weak division.
 
feelthepain said:
The Skins are in a tough division and they are the least like a "Team" of any in their division, now maybe Zorn changes that, but if a guy like Gibbs can't get it done, I doubt Zorn can, at least right away.

I would have to go with the Browns or Panthers. Simply because A) Their division is weak or B) They really made strides last year and are ready to move up.

The Redskins just don't seem to have the ability to put it all together. I know you could look at the Skins last year and say they played better then the Browns for the whole season, but they don't have the QB IMO that the browns do and they also don't have as tough a division as the Skins do. I think the Panthers were ready to step it up last year and with Delhome already a proven SB caliber QB I think that's a big part for them and they play in a weak division.
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didn't the browns win 10 games last year so I don't think they would be a surprise

I'll say the rams because I think the nfc west isn't that good
 
Since the Vikings wouldn't be much of a surprise, I'm going with Houston. That division is serious!! I don't see a more competitive division out there so with each team battling it out week after week, anything can happen.
 
Two teams i think are going to surprise are the 49ers and the Lions. The 49ers have a solid defense and weapons all over the field to throw to.
 
feelthepain said:
The Skins are in a tough division and they are the least like a "Team" of any in their division, now maybe Zorn changes that, but if a guy like Gibbs can't get it done, I doubt Zorn can, at least right away.

I would have to go with the Browns or Panthers. Simply because A) Their division is weak or B) They really made strides last year and are ready to move up.

The Redskins just don't seem to have the ability to put it all together. I know you could look at the Skins last year and say they played better then the Browns for the whole season, but they don't have the QB IMO that the browns do and they also don't have as tough a division as the Skins do. I think the Panthers were ready to step it up last year and with Delhome already a proven SB caliber QB I think that's a big part for them and they play in a weak division.
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I think that is where we really differ. Hasselbeck, in my mind, wouldn't be anywhere near a pro-bowler with Holmgren and Zorn. Who had the bigger impact? Thats debatable, but even if you give credit to Holmgren, Zorn has been soaking Holmgren up for 7 years. I think, with Zorn, Campbell will be every bit as good as Anderson. Also, Campbell's firepower has increased tremendously over the off-season. Anderson, with the possible exception of Rucker, really doesn't have much new to work with.

Do the Browns have a better shot at making the playoffs? Probably. Will they be a better team? I'd say no.
 
Alot depends on how strong divisons are. Surprises usually come out of weak ones. This season I see the AFC East and West & in the NFC West and South being the weakest.

AFC East depends on how competitive the Jets and Dolphins are, which will ultimelty decided if the Bills go to the playoffs or not.

In the West the Bolts win this one at a canter, but Denver in this one are dangerous and are my tip to surprise a few people. Oakland are an outside bet and their season depends on if the defense can play like they did in 2006 and on the form of D-Mac and Russel.

NFC West as usual the Cards are tipped to finally end the Seahawks reign as top dogs of the West. Personally the Rams I think are more likely to upset the Hawks.

NFC South again is impossible to call as the Bucs, Saints and Panthers are all contenders here.
 
Jeez! Having a look through, I am going to guess the team with the best chance of making a big improvement on last season's record would be the Rams. They're in a weak division and don't stick out as being any real amount worse than the other teams there. They're strong in some important areas and could do reasonably well, compared to last season anyway. Other than them, the Broncos are in with a chance of the playoffs this year and, if things fall the right way for them, it's not inconceivable the Ravens (Although I don't think they'll be playing postseason football) could show improvement. Of course, it won't be the first time I was wrong if/when I am.
 
I think the Arizona Cardinals , the Rams, the Redskins and saints in the nfc . and i think the Chiefs , the Bengals , and the Ravens in the afc but this all just a guess on my part.
 
In the NFC the....

49ers

Panthers

eagles

In the AFC.....

Titans

ravens

jets
 
Ok, you can scratch the Skins off of the surprise list now. They trade for JT, and all of the sudden everyone is labeling them as contenders. I'm not sure I'd say that, but the playoffs are looking very good for them.
 
WitheringPlant said:
Ok, you can scratch the Skins off of the surprise list now. They trade for JT, and all of the sudden everyone is labeling them as contenders. I'm not sure I'd say that, but the playoffs are looking very good for them.
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even with JT now the skins will not make the playoffs. the 2 teams that will make the playoffs from the NFC east are the cowboys and eagles. the skins do this every off-season, they get big name players, and what do they do NOTHING.
 
The Falcons: I do not see them in the superbowl, but i think the addition of Turner is going to open things up for Ryan, and take some of the rookie stress of his shoulders.

I see a possibly wild card for them... I don't see them beating the saints for the division.


Redskins: If people are saying last in there division they could be surprised. The NFC East looks Crazy this year.
 
Boltsfan619 said:
The Falcons: I do not see them in the superbowl, but i think the addition of Turner is going to open things up for Ryan, and take some of the rookie stress of his shoulders.

I see a possibly wild card for them... I don't see them beating the saints for the division.


Redskins: If people are saying last in there division they could be surprised. The NFC East looks Crazy this year.
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I don't know man....is Michael Turner that much of an improvement over what they had in Warrick Dunn/Jerrious Norwood? QB is still the problem there until Matt Ryan proves otherwise. Alge Crumpler is gone now....who's their TE? At WR, it's Roddy White and who? What have they done to solidify their O-Line? Let's not forget that they have a new coaching staff.

If I had to pick my surprise teams, I'd pick Baltimore in the AFC and St.Louis in the NFC
 
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