4 teams who will exceed expectations
The NFL season is right around the corner! What better way to get it started than to give predictions? This is just my opinion based on what I have seen from every team in training camp and what they did in the offseason. Also, this isn’t just teams who I think will make the postseason. It’s more of just teams I think will exceed the expectations people have of them this upcoming season.
Atlanta Falcons
Last year the Falcons were actually still in the race for the division crown late in the season. Though it wasn’t because they were good. The whole division was awful with the Buccaneers winning the division at 8-9 and the other three teams all being 7-10. This year though, I expect the Falcons to compete with the Saints for the top spot in the division. They have all the tools needed to really improve. Drafting RB Bijan Robinson to go with young WR Drake London and the unicorn TE in Kyle Pitts should help QB Desmond Ridder immensely and take the pressure off him to be great all the time. They also added some pieces on the defensive side of the ball. Adding star safety Jessie Bates to put in the back with CB AJ Terrell should help the secondary improve a lot. Also adding DT David Onyemata to the defensive line should help shore up the defensive line and these two additions will bring much-needed experience to an otherwise young defense. The Falcons have the recipe to make some noise even if they don’t make the playoffs and the future is bright for them.
Chicago Bears
The Bears are another team I don’t expect to make the playoffs but will still exceed expectations. They had the second-worst record last year at 3-14 and I see a lot of experts say they don’t expect them to be any better this year too. I might be in the minority, but I do think Justin Fields has what it takes to be a franchise QB for the Bears. The Bears front office thinks so too as they traded for WR DJ Moore of the Carolina Panthers this offseason. Adding another weapon will help elevate Fields' play if he really is that guy. Last year there was a debate about who his best WR was between Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney. You’re not going to win many games with those being your top two WRs. Now he has a very good offense around him, and I expect his stats to look a lot more respectable as far as the passing stats go. On the defensive side, they also improved a lot on paper. They added LBs Tremaine Edmunds, TJ Edwards, and DE Yannick Ngakoue to bolster the defense. Don’t expect the playoffs for this team but don’t be surprised if they are fighting for the last spot late into the season.
Denver Broncos
This is a weird one because I know it's easy to hate on the Broncos and Russell Wilson. I see it all the time and it's warranted. Last year they had an awful season. Whether that was because of Wilson’s horrible play or HC Nathaniel Hackett’s terrible coaching is still yet to be seen. What I do know is that Wilson is still a Super Bowl-winning QB, and he now has one of the best HCs of our generation in Sean Payton calling plays. He has the tools around him to succeed. A great set of WRs, a great defense, and a great HC. The only unit that was consistently bad last year was the offensive line. It looks like it might also be an issue this year. During the first preseason game, the Broncos had their starting offense out there for a lot of the first quarter and Wilson was pressured or hit almost every play. If they can shore up the offensive line somehow, I do think they will be fighting for a playoff spot. But without good offensive line play, you won't get far.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are another weird team because they are consistently always good. Since Mike Tomlin became HC for the Steelers, they have yet to have a losing record with him. That’s an impressive feat. Like
the Broncos, they have all the necessary tools to be a very good team. They have a good defense, and they have a lot of good weapons on offense. Second-year WR George Pickens is starting to like a stud and has been playing great all training camp. Add that to already-established players like RB Najee Harris and WR Diontae Johnson, and this offense will be scary good. If second-year QB Kenny Pickett can take that leap and improve from last season, I expect them to win 10 to 11 games.
