Ups and Downs: Surprise NFL Teams to Watch in 2010
Surprise Winners in 2010:
Seattle Seahawks – No team had a better offseason than the ‘Hawks. The addition of Leon Washington, if fully recovered from a broken leg, instantly upgrades the running game. Earl Thomas, who can play corner and safety, and Walter Thurmond are great rookie additions to the secondary. If the offensive and defensive lines are at least serviceable this team could steal the division championship and compete in the playoffs. A lot will be riding on the shoulders of QB Matt Hasselback and WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh on offense and LB’s Lofa Tatupu and Aaron Curry on defense.
Philadelphia Eagles – With Donovan McNabb traded to Washington the Eagles may just fly under a lot of radars. RB LeSean McCoy, QB Kevin Kolb, and WR’s DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are all young players looking to step up and prove themselves this year. The return of MLB Stewart Bradley will help a run defense that got torn apart by Dallas in the playoffs and the addition of DE Brandon Graham is one of the underrated stories of the draft. Do not be surprised if the rookie from Michigan collects 10 sacks this year. FS Nate Allen and CB Trevard Lindley are also both solid rookie additions to a secondary in need of depth.
Oakland Raiders – New surroundings should be good for QB Jason Campbell and a new QB should be good for the Raiders as a whole. Campbell does not have to be great; he just has to be better than JaMarcus Russell. That should not be too hard of a feat. The defense should be solid with a good front line led by DE Richard Seymour, who just signed his franchise tender, and former Jaguar DT John Henderson. Rookie Lamarr Houston could contribute immediately up front, rookie LB Rolando McClain will be expected to be the man in the middle, and CB Nnamdi Asomugha is one of the best in the business. However, RB Darren McFadden finally needs to step up to all-star status and the OL needs to at least be average, which is something that I believe can be accomplished.
Surprise Losers in 2010:
New Orleans Saints – Drew Brees should not slow his roll any time soon but the defense will continue to be a bit of a liability. The Saints will not be able to outscore opponents forever and their luck will run out soon. To make the playoffs this year they will have to beat out the Atlanta Falcons for the division championship as the Falcons look primed for a big year and the Buccaneers, who beat the Saints last year in New Orleans, are a team on the rise. There are just too many other NFC teams that will also be in the hunt for the playoffs to make the repeat a sure-thing.
San Diego Chargers – The “paper champions” of the last decade, the Chargers have gained a reputation as underachievers that continually take advantage of a weak division. If they make the playoffs again this year it will be a result of Denver’s, Kansas City’s, and Oakland’s futility just as much as anything. To bet on them winning a playoff game and making a run at a conference championship simply goes against tradition, as well as the odds, at this point.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Big Ben’s four to six game suspension and the loss of WR Santonio Holmes hurts more than anybody in the organization is willing to admit. WR Limas Sweed now has a torn achilles tendon, depleting the receiving corps of some valuable depth. The defense will again be good but not great as age is creeping up on the DL. Baltimore and Cincinnati both should be playoff-caliber teams as well, making things that much harder for the Steelers to regain their 2008 form in the AFC North. After another great draft this should be a Super Bowl contending franchise again in 2011 and beyond.
