Underrated NFL Teams
August 19, 2008
With the National Football League Preseason now underweight we have had a chance to get a sneak peak at some teams. Also, the new season is just around the corner and will prove to be very exciting. A couple of teams are not getting much credit again this year and I feel that they may shock some people. These teams have made some improvements and are ready to compete. I am here to give you an update on some of the underrated teams in the NFL this year. Let’s take a look:
Arizona Cardinals – Last season the Cardinals finished with an 8-8 record in what many people feel is the worst division in the NFL. For a team that has been a losing franchise since it entered the NFL, this was quite the accomplishment. Arizona had a lot of key injuries last year as well, so I think they could very well be a playoff team this year. Everyone knows that they have an excellent offense. The Cardinals have some of the best receivers in the league in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Arizona was 7th best in scoring last year, averaging 25.2 points per game. They were 5th in passing, averaging 254 per game. These numbers are great for a .500 team and should only get better this upcoming season.
They really want to show that they can play this year and have made several changes to compensate for their problems from the past. Arizona was never really a strong team on defense. They gave up 24.9 points a game last season which was 27th in the league. Arizona was ranked 28th in pass defense, giving up 232 yards a game. This year they spent 3 of their 4 draft picks on defense. In the draft they acquired
Rogers-Cromatie, who is a speedy cornerback. They also got Campbell, who is a defensive end from Miami. It looks like they have addressed the issues that hurt them last season and I feel they can hit a 9-7 or even a 10-6 mark this year and make the playoffs.
Cleveland Browns – Last season the Browns surprisingly had one of the better offenses in the league. It was also a breakout season for quarterback Derek Brown, who did an excellent job of spreading the football around to a variety of different offensive weapons. Receivers Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. were his favorite targets and lead the offense. This year they should be even more effective and explosive. The big question however, is how the Browns will respond on the defensive end. Cleveland just nearly missed out on a division championship last year, so with a small amount of improvements they might be able to claim it this season. The Browns have added defensive linemen Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams to lead the defense. These two are spectacular players and are just what Cleveland needs to help them get over the hump. I expect the Browns to come out this season ready to complete. They have a chance to win 9 or 10 games and I feel they will make the playoffs.
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