What teams that missed the playoffs have the best chance of making it to the Superbowl?

Question

My picks are Washington, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Cincinnatti, and Atlanta

Answer 1

I'd agree on Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and San Francisco. Pittsburgh's on a 6 game winning streak when their opponent isn't named the Baltimore Ravens (their fanbase would love to forget 27-0 and 31-7, which cost them the playoffs). Cincinnati would be in the playoffs if they hadn't been distracted by their crime spree (9 arrests and counting). San Francisco really turned around after their 41-0 first half against Chicago and they have Frank Gore, who is probably better than anybody else (he almost won the rushing title despite 100 fewer attempts than LT or LJ and a far inferior line).

I'm not too confident in Washington because I don't think their overpaid coaching staff can win, no matter what they do. I'm also not certain about Campbell's ability to develop into a good enough QB, though if Rex Grossman can almost win a Super Bowl, I guess you don't need to be very good if you happen to play for an NFC team. I'm also not very confident in Atlanta because I don't think they'll do much of anything as long as Mike Vick is starting for them. He's far worse than TO (compare the relative effects of sleeping in meetings or insulting QBs with taking plays off, leaving the game when you're healthy, and flipping the bird to your fans and he's far worse, because you take into account that he's a QB and TO's a WR). Atlanta needs to do one simple thing, which I don't think they will, if they want to fix their team and that's to name Matt Schaub the starting QB.

Teams I would add are last year's favorites Miami and Arizona, as well as Green Bay. Miami's got a healthy Daunte Culpepper and hopefully a better year from Chris Chambers. It's trendy nowadays to attribute Culpepper's success to Randy Moss, but that just isn't the case. Moss was hurt during his career year and only caught 49 passes (his 13 games played are a delusion; he would run as a decoy for a play and return to the bench because his coach was lieing that he would start). Culpepper could surprise this year because it does take 2 years to recover from knee injuries and the sack problem evaporates once his mobility returns. Arizona really started to play like it should have been playing from the start during the last few weeks of the year. It took them that long to recover from an embarrassing loss against Chicago that wouldn't have happened if the kicker had made the field goal (then they'd probably have rode that momentum of knocking off Chicago into the playoffs and the Super Bowl; Miami, which had Joey Harrington for a QB, did go on a winning streak afterall when they beat Chicago). Green Bay's got Favre returning and they've also got a young team that blew out the NFC champs the last time they played (in a game that the Bears didn't throw by the way). They were also a tiebreaker from the postseason. Wouldn't Brett Favre prefer to go out on top as the QB of the NFL's youngest team? Wouldn't that put his legacy on par with John Elway? When a team goes 8-8 despite being a bunch of rookies, they've got a good chance to win the Super Bowl the following year (if that isn't a Maddenism, it should be).

Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Arizona, Miami, Green Bay

All of them missed the playoffs last year, but all have pretty good chances of making it to a Super Bowl this year.

Answer 2

Washington? Not even close, the same team that made Adam Archuleta the highest paid safety in the NFL only to let him ride the bench, and a 6-10 record? No way.

Pittsburgh? With a new coach, and some losses in free agency, I just don't see it happening. Turnovers killed the Steelers this year, and I think the jury's still out on Rothlesburger. I know he won a Super bowl, but how much of a role he had in it? Either way, not the best team to make it to the SB next year

The niners still are a better defense and a better O-line away. Alex Smith is the answer to a lot of questions, but not all of them. San Fran will contend, but not win.

Cincy's D still is lacking in the passing game. And with all those arrests, the team might ship out some talented but bad character guys. Losing E.Steinbach didn't help either. Out of your picks i think they're the best.

Atlanta also has a new coach, and the passing game woes aren't limited to Vick's problems throwing the ball too. They had a solid D in 05, but 06 it came apart, especially in the secondary. I've always thought they're the most overrated team the past 2 years

I'ma go with Carolina. I thought they're overrated too, but I couldn't put my real pick, Jacksonville, with all the QB problems they've had. The Jags had a top 5 defense statistically and the 2nd best rushing attack. Carolina has a good defense, though they've always been sidetrack by injuries, and an OK offense. I say OK because they run the ball alot but they're not very good at it. Steve Smith can take it to the house anytime, anywhere. Jake Dellhome is the key. Last season he struggled, and the team struggled. The pathers will go only as far as he takes them.

Answer 3

I think the Bengals. Last year with the injuries and off-field incidents they didnt have the ability to make it, but this year everyone is healthy and with Palmer throwing to Johnson and Houshmandzadeh they have the best chance of making it all the way. I think with the recent free agency moves the 49ers have a good shot at the playoffs, maybe superbowl in a couple years. The falcons will do good as well but probably no superbowl appearance. Washington doesnt have enough strength and pittsburgh struggled last year and from then to now have only lost key players, so no for them either.

Answer 4

AFC: Steelers, Broncos, Bungles (I don't like them, but they have a powerful offense), and Jaguars

NFC: 49ers, Packers, Panthers (If they can get some other offense that's not Steve Smith, because if he gets injured, then forget about it), and, the sleeper pick for what seems like the fifth year in a row, Cardinals (they have the wide receivers, a quarterback that was awesome in college, and a running back, even though he was behind a great O-Line so the jury may still be out on Edge, so what's going on there?)

Cheers!

Answer 5

Cincinnati is beyond talented; big time underachievement last season. I think they'll rebound now that they realize the error of their ways. Hopefully they have some of those character issues worked out. Jury's out on Pittsburgh; three coordinators and the head coach are gone. It's going to take a little time for everything to gel but Pittsburgh has always been good for at least 8-9 wins a season.

Answer 6

Cincinnati, Denver, Atlanta, St. Louis

Answer 7

Pittsburgh.

Answer 8

I would have to say in the AFC. The Steelers or Bills.
For the NFC Green Bay or Arizona. Teams to watch this year I would have to say would be Arizona, Houston, Cleveland and Miami for the AFC and the NFC would be Detroit, NY Giants, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans.

Answer 9

Green Bay has a lot of talent, but Brett Favre keeps returning and that hurts them a lot. Cincinnati has a great chance of becoming the next Super Bowl team, now that Carson Palmer is healthy with a great line of wide receivers. Carolina also has a great team. Even though they were said to be Super Bowl champions last year, and didn't even make it to the Super Bowl they have an experienced team that knows what it feels like to win, and lose.

Answer 10

If Jay Cutler has a strong season and their recent trades turn out well, I would say the Broncos have a shot. Cutler played very well to end the year, and the Broncos did go to the AFC championship the year prior.