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.