Next year's surprise team and disappointment?

[Manster7588]

Surprise team = Colts
Disappoint team = Patriots, Yes I'm calling it now, they will finally FAIL.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

Surprise team = Colts
Disappoint team = Patriots, Yes I'm calling it now, they will finally FAIL.

I keep thinking the Colts but then they fold, again.

 

[Southieinnc]

Surprise team = Colts
Disappoint team = Patriots, Yes I'm calling it now, they will finally FAIL.

Trolling the Patriots is so worn......

 

[Manster7588]

Trolling the Patriots is so worn......

Yes, but so EASY

 

[Southieinnc]

Yes, but so EASY

 

[rmilia1]

I know it's typical for the SB loser to have a fall off the next year and it's certainly possible but I just don't see anything that would point to that happening. Atlanta was fairly pedestrian in close games ( 4-4 ) and pretty much dominated the rest of their schedule. It would require a plethora of injuries imo for them to fall of substantially. Statistically speaking it's more likely NE falls back 3 or 4 games as they win far more close games vs a weaker schedule. Of course no one actually believes that'll happen because of track record though lol.

 

[beardown07]

The Bears will somehow manage to be both.

 

[cdumler7]

I know it's typical for the SB loser to have a fall off the next year and it's certainly possible but I just don't see anything that would point to that happening. Atlanta was fairly pedestrian in close games ( 4-4 ) and pretty much dominated the rest of their schedule. It would require a plethora of injuries imo for them to fall of substantially. Statistically speaking it's more likely NE falls back 3 or 4 games as they win far more close games vs a weaker schedule. Of course no one actually believes that'll happen because of track record though lol.

It isn't that hard to see. They lost their OC that helped develop what many would consider the most explosive offense in football. 1st place schedule plays into the equation. The team had less rest than many of the other teams in the league playing for an extra month. There really is something to the psychological let down of losing the Super Bowl and maybe just pushing a little too hard the next season. So plenty of reasons beyond just the usual ones like injury.

 

[rmilia1]

It isn't that hard to see. They lost their OC that helped develop what many would consider the most explosive offense in football. 1st place schedule plays into the equation. The team had less rest than many of the other teams in the league playing for an extra month. There really is something to the psychological let down of losing the Super Bowl and maybe just pushing a little too hard the next season. So plenty of reasons beyond just the usual ones like injury.

The psychological aspect is legit imo. The rest isn't that worrisome. Atlanta played a better schedule last year than th e y will this year imo although the difference is negligible. I'll be interested to see what Shanahan leaving means but because the exact system is staying in place my guess is it won't matter much. I do see the psyche aspect though ESPECIALLY with how they lost the game

 

[cdumler7]

The psychological aspect is legit imo. The rest isn't that worrisome. Atlanta played a better schedule last year than th e y will this year imo although the difference is negligible. I'll be interested to see what Shanahan leaving means but because the exact system is staying in place my guess is it won't matter much. I do see the psyche aspect though ESPECIALLY with how they lost the game

Well see now knowing they are keeping the same system has me more worried for them. New coaches coming in trying to operate the system of the old coach do not usually mesh well. Ask the Ravens how that went trying to keep Kubiak's system with a new coach. You are now asking the coach to try and learn the ins and outs of a system they have never fully ran themselves and go and make play calls compared to a guy that has spent his entire career developing that scheme in Shanahan.

 

[rmilia1]

Well see now knowing they are keeping the same system has me more worried for them. New coaches coming in trying to operate the system of the old coach do not usually mesh well. Ask the Ravens how that went trying to keep Kubiak's system with a new coach. You are now asking the coach to try and learn the ins and outs of a system they have never fully ran themselves and go and make play calls compared to a guy that has spent his entire career developing that scheme in Shanahan.

Word is that Ryan will be given more ability to call plays at the line til Sarkisian has it down do we shall see how it plays out

 

[Godstree]

The Bears will somehow manage to be both.

Surprise.....the Bears have exceeded all expectations at how bad a football team can be. Something like that?

I hate the Bears but I did feel bad for them for some unknown reason. I don't think I will ever feel bad for SF, no matter how bad they suck. Cleveland, I am ambivalent about.

 

[Godstree]

My surprise team is the Bucs. I think they could take a step forward big time. Going the other way is the Pats. They may take a step back........and loose a close SB game.........ugh.......

 

[thedddd]

Word is that Ryan will be given more ability to call plays at the line til Sarkisian has it down do we shall see how it plays out

Sorry to pour salt on the wound but just think if he had that freedom last year your avatar would be different.

Truthfully I think that Ryan will thrive with that ability, especially when you have Julio Jones as an option on every play.
As for the Falcons as a disappointment, yeah I mentioned them (sort of taking the easy way out) but the reason I did was that Division is odd how is swings from year to year with the Quality of QB's. We know the Saints aren't good, and haven't been for a few years around Brees, but any team with a great QB can sneak in wins. TB is improving with Winston looking consistent, and the Panthers I think are a better than a 6 win team but it all comes down to if Newton's head is in the game.

 

[rmilia1]

Sorry to pour salt on the wound but just think if he had that freedom last year your avatar would be different.

Truthfully I think that Ryan will thrive with that ability, especially when you have Julio Jones as an option on every play.
As for the Falcons as a disappointment, yeah I mentioned them (sort of taking the easy way out) but the reason I did was that Division is odd how is swings from year to year with the Quality of QB's. We know the Saints aren't good, and haven't been for a few years around Brees, but any team with a great QB can sneak in wins. TB is improving with Winston looking consistent, and the Panthers I think are a better than a 6 win team but it all comes down to if Newton's head is in the game.

Hey its viable. Tampa is going to be a playoff team and Carolina will be better ( if Cam is OK). Panthers are one of the examples of teams I talk about, 8-1 in one possession games in 20q5 and 2-6 on one possession games last year. Neither of those records is something you're going to see consistently. I could see Atlanta reverting to 9 wins, can't really see less than that with the schedule though

 

[thedddd]

Hey its viable. Tampa is going to be a playoff team and Carolina will be better ( if Cam is OK). Panthers are one of the examples of teams I talk about, 8-1 in one possession games in 20q5 and 2-6 on one possession games last year. Neither of those records is something you're going to see consistently. I could see Atlanta reverting to 9 wins, can't really see less than that with the schedule though

Oh very true. In my mind I would think 9 wins as a disappointment because I see them as a top team in the NFL, very good coach, great offense, young and talented defense.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Every year there's at least 1 team that surprises in a positive way and one team that underperforms preseason expectations.

What I usually do when trying to figure out who those teams may be is look at how teams performed in one possession games. Generally speaking you're going to win roughly 50% of those games so I'll look and see who severely underperformed that and who over performed. I'm my oponion the team in for the biggest letdown next year is Miami. Dolphins went 8-2 on one possession games this last year ( winning their last 8 ). Odds are they lose at least 3 wins off their 2016 total. On the flop side I think the Eagles will surprise. 1-6 on one possession games is an anomaly and the Eagles ranked very high in most metrics. I see them winning 10-11 this year.

Who ya got?

Good topic.

Good surprise...SD...err LA Chargers. 5 win team LY, several close ones went the other way. They really tailed off at the end of the year. They should get an impact player on DEF, lot of mocks have them going S and there are 2 top 10 type talents at the position. They can be a 8-9 win team easy this yr.

Bad surprise...KC & DAL...I think both teams will still be in the 10 win category so "bad" is probably not the right word, but I expect both to win fewer games than LY.

KC...They had a couple of wins that will be hard to repeat...the CAR game, great play to strip (basically took it) the ball by Peters but not something you see every week. Also the ATL game...I think they got 3 scores the OFC did not factor in. I think they could actually be better on DEF this yr, but on OFC the weapons are solid, but Smith is just not the guy you want in crunch time.

DAL...They were a top 5 DEF vs scoring with a rather weak pass rush. I think that catches up to them a little this yr. OFC they were clutch behind two rookies...I think teams will do a better job of forcing the game into Dak's hands.

 

[NCChiFan]

Bears will be better than last year, even if they just get the injury bug worked out. But, until they fix the QB situation, I fear they will languish.

 

[Tharvot]

Surprise team: sort of a surprise i guess. Panthers going back to being good

Disappointment: Cowboys. They have a much tougher schedule this coming season and lost basically their entire secondary to free agency. I could see them reverting to an 8-8 team.

 

[Tharvot]

Surprise Team: Browns ...will get 5 wins.
Actual Surprise team: Colts
Disappointment: As much as I want to see them back in the SuperBowl, the Falcons.

5 wins is a big improvement from 1.

If they find a serviceable QB, they may threaten a .500 season (working under the assumption that they do good things in the draft). That would qualify them as a good surprise team.