Surprise
NFL Playoff Teams in 2014
There is no denying
it. Every year there are a handful of surprise teams bursting onto
the scene and annually changing the playoff picture. This season
will be no different. These teams will be sticking around for a
while in 2014 so let us get acquainted with them.
1) Washington Redskins - Why not? Their skill
position talent rivals any team in pro football. The running game
will be in good shape behind Alfred Morris and Robert Griffin’s dual threat
ability. They now have a top five wide receiver duo with the
acquisition of Desean Jackson from rival Philly to complement Pierre Garcon on
the other side. That should open up the middle of the field for the
breakout star of 2014, tight end Jordan Reed. With new offensive minded head
coach Jay Gruden, who did a great job working with Andy Dalton, a plethora of
weapons, and the ACL injury behind him, expect to see the 2012 version of RG3
once the season rolls around. The skins should have no problem
scoring points against the average defenses in the NFC East, which will give
their fierce pass rushers in Kerrigan and Orakpo plenty of opportunities to get
after the passer. Deangelo Hall is also good enough to follow and slow
down number one receivers. Their defense does not have to be elite to win this
always wide open division. A worst to first season is how it is
shaping up to be for Washington.
2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – New GM Jason
Licht should get a big pat on the back for giving the Buccaneers arguably the
best offseason in the NFL and easily establishing an identity for
2014. It is clear that the Bucs are a very physical football team
that just added more size and length at several key positions. New Head Coach
Lovie Smith adds a winning pedigree and will serve this defense very
well. Lovie has the personnel to make his Tampa 2 defense work
effectively. The combination of the newly acquired Michael Johnson and first
team all pro Gerald McCoy gives the Bucs the effective four man rush that Lovie
Smith wants for his scheme. Linebacker Lavonte David excels in pass
coverage as well as anyone playing his position and the two safeties they have
back there will intimidate almost anybody to catch a pass in the middle of the
field. The scary part is that the defensive might not be the most
improved unit on this team. They made their offense that much better
by signing veteran quarterback Josh McCown, coming off a stellar 2013 season
throwing thirteen touchdowns to just one interception in eight starts, doing a
better job running that offense in Chicago than Jay Cutler
did. Pairing up Vincent Jackson with another six foot five inch
receiver in Mike Evans gives McCown a similar situation that he had with his
Chicago receivers. They also drafted the immensely talented 6 foot 5
Austin Sefarian Jenkins in the second round to provide a legitimate receiving
threat at the tight end position which Tampa Bay sorely lacked for
years. The healthy return of pro bowl caliber running back back Doug
Martin is the biggest key in what looks to be the best looking Buccaneers
offense in recent memory. Ten wins is definitely within reach for
Lovie’s team.
3) St. Louis rams – I know what you are thinking. They are in the
NFC west so by default they will finish in third place at best in their
division, therefore miss out. Not so fast. The Rams went
7-9 in the NFC West with their starting quarterback out most of the year and
were one of the youngest teams in the NFL. One year later, we are now talking
about a team with toughness as a whole and a physical edge in the trenches that
rivals Seattle and San Francisco on both sides of the ball. They are
built for a power running game that can grind out those tough needed yards even
when opponents know it is coming much like their division rivals. Zach
Stacy is a strong bruising back running behind five battering rams averaging
three hundred and nineteen pounds each. This will force that extra defender in
the box to open up the downfield passing game, especially off play action much
like their fellow divisional teams. No team is going to put out a
better defensive line than the Rams each Sunday. Robert Quinn and Chris
long will set the edge all day long and rookie first round pick Aaron Donald
will provide immediate impact with inside penetration. Their ability
to stop the run and get to the quarterback will make everyone on that defense
so much better. It will be tough sledding to move the ball on this stout unit. Jeff Fisher has established his team’s
identity and built them to contend for the playoffs right now. The pieces are
in place to shock the league in 2014 en route to their first winning season
since 2003 in a loaded division.
4) Houston Texans – I am aware they lost their last fourteen games in
2013. They were so much more competitive than their record
indicates. Nine of their losses were by seven points or less and
they came mere minutes away from beating four playoff teams, including the
Seattle Seahawks. Their division is weak and there is a lot of reason to
believe they will battle Indy to the end for it. For starters, they
have the best defense in the division and that can go a long way this year when
you throw in the return of Brian Cushing and the signing of first overall pick
Jadaveon Clowney to form one of the best front sevens in the AFC. Yes, they
still have the best defender in the game in JJ Watt. We also know how much the
Colts offensive line struggles. They also should have the top running back and
running game in the division with Arian Foster back healthy. The offensive line
remains solid led by pro bowl tackle Duane Brown and we know how the Colts
struggle defending against the run. Andre Johnson has reported to
camp ready to play and it is hard not to like the talent Deandre Hopkins
possesses to make a second year jump and lighten some of Andre’s load. Ryan
Fitzpatrick is not going to wow anybody, but all he needs to do is manage a
smart game and not turn the ball over. He does not have to win it with his arm because of the
strong defense and running game to support him. I have seen worse quarterbacks go deep in the playoffs. Their biggest roadblock is an inconsistent Colts team that lacks the ability to run the ball well, protect their quarterback, and stop the run.
5) Chicago
Bears – 2013 was a tail of two opposite units for the
Bears. On one hand they scored the second most points in the league
only behind the record setting broncos, but surrendered the third most points
on the defensive side of the ball. This resulted in a disappointing
8-8 finish and falling one game short of the division title. Heading
into 2014, the Bears look to bring in another top five offense as Marc Trestman
is in his second year installing his sytem which gives Jay Cutler a more firm grasp of it. Brandon Marshall and
Alshon Jeffery makeup the best receiver duo in the game and it does not stop
there. Matt Forte is a top five running back in this league when healthy
and has great ability catching the ball out of the backfield, making him an
outstanding three down back. Martellus Bennett is another big weapon Cutler can
go to in the middle of the field at 6’6”. The offensive line played
solid all of last year and should be solid again which is big for Cutler’s
ability to stay healthy. The only question people have about them is the
defense. It will be much improved this year with the signing of Jared
Allen alone. He is older but still one of the premier edge rushers
and opposite him will be Lamarr Houston, formerly of the Oakland
Raiders. He is a much underrated player who will get a lot of one on
one rush opportunities with the protections keyed on Jared
Allen. Jay Ratliff is another low key signing. I do believe he has
more football left in the tank and will provide a boost in controlling the
inside gaps against the run. Lance Briggs also rounds out the front
seven being one of the top 4-3 linebackers in the game still. The inside
linebackers are young and promising but still have to prove more. Their
secondary is just fine, especially at cornerback with Charles Tillman and Tim
Jennings on opposite sides. Everyone keep an eye out for rookie safety Brock
Vereen. He has playmaker written all over him. Do not be
surprised to see them beat out Rodgers and the Pack for the North and maybe contend for a first round bye.
