Which teams might be the dark night surprise team of the NFL?

Question

For me, it is...

1. Buffalo Bills

2. Arizona Cardinals

3. Oakland Raiders

4. Carolina Panthers

5. Cincinnati Bengals

6. St. Louis Rams

Answer 1

Neither of them.  My choice would be:

1) Saints.  Their off-season transactions really seemed to round out the team.  http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team/Tra...

2) The Vikings:  not because of anything they did.  But the Packers went from a Favre in his prime to a Aaron Rodgers as a first year starter.  The Bears will continue to be anemic on offense.  I do not believe orton is going to be a messiah for their QB woes.  The vikings have a QB that can manage the offense, a good running game, and a solid defense.  That is abot all that is needed to win this division this season.

As for your list

1) Bills:  The patriots have the AFC east on lock down, so forget about winning the division.  Plus the rest of the division got better in the off-season.  The jets finally got an upgrade with the addition of Favre.  The dolphins got Parcells.  I see the Bills finishing 8-8, maybe 9-7

2) The cardinals: An average team last year,  that still has issues with the linebackers/secondary.  Add a leinart coming off an injury.  Anyone with Hasselback on their fantasy roster should start him when they play the Cardinals.    

3) The raiders:  The organization as a whole has been falling from grace ever since gruden bolted for tampa bay.  The team did improve, but that isn't saying much for the worse team in the NFL last season.  The Chargers will win this division with ease.  The raiders have along road before they are even relevant again.    

4) Panthers: i think they made improvements but not as much as the rest of the division.  The saints as I mentioned above look good for this year.  Brees, and Brunell with a running game, and a decent defense, they don't have a glaring weakness.  This division is between the Saints and the Bucs.

5) The Bengals: The only thing the team had going for them was the passing game.  With their two top receiver hurt, having to bring henry back was an omen for the season.  

6) Rams: No.  Maybe in a few years when they develop all the new talent.  As of now, more holes then a block of swiss cheese.  The Seahawks still win the division.  The NFC west can forget about a wild card berth.  Those will go to the runner ups of the NFC east and NFC north.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story...

Answer 2

Jets, Eagles, Redskins, Raiders

Answer 3

with a quality qb now the jets should make the playoffs this season

Answer 4

Redskins.  Nobody is talking about us, well everyone is in store for a nasty surprise soon.  The Redskins will win at least 12 games this year.

Answer 5

Cardinals will make the playoffs and win one game.

Buffalo will fall just short.

Obama will win the election.

Gas will not fall below $3.25 ever again.

the sun will come up tomorrow...

Answer 6

None of those 6 that you mentioned.

But the only possibility is maybe Buffalo (if Tom Brady gets injured this year - NE will not win a single game without Brady).

Answer 7

1 Jets

2 Raider

3 Pittsburgh

4 Bills

5  jacksonville

Answer 8

As a Bills fan I think we have a chance at making a nice run this year.

I also like the Redskins. They have talent and have had a relatively quiet offseason to concentrate on Football. They will make the playoff this year over the Giants.They also don't have the death of Sean Taylor and the emotional impact of losing a teammate to deal with this year.  

Answer 9

Vikings

Bills

Redskins

Browns

Answer 10

Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, NewYork Jets

Answer 11

Raiders and Jets

Answer 12

Texans

Raiders

Cardinals

Saints

Answer 13

ALL of the teams you listed are losing for a reason.  In most cases it's bad coaching and lack of focus.  How else do you explain a team with all the tallent that the Bengals have NOT making the playoffs?  

As far as a surprise team for the 2008 season?  I don't think there will be any real surprises until the playoffs.  Take last year for example.  NOBODY predicted that the Giants would advance in the playoffs with road games against Dallas and Green Bay, to say nothing of winning the Super Bowl!  Biggest surprise EVER.  

But if I had to pick a surprise team this year.......I would have to go with Jacksonville winning the AFC South.  The Colts are too banged up, too many issues, and the Jaguars are blood thirsty.  So although nobody doubts that the Jags are a tough team, I think it could be a total surprise if they win the AFC South with Indy being an AFC Wildcard for a change.

Answer 14

i think the Bills have a great chance to be a sleeper team this year.they have significantly improved the defense and an easier schedule this year will surely help them finally get back to the playoffs.If they dont have tons of injuries like last year!

Answer 15

  I would say the Raiders but, they are 2 years and 4 coaches away still....just show up baby!   Jacket sales for the future welfare recipients and gang-bangers  are on sale now.