Fear The UnderDog: Darkhorse Teams Heading into 2016

Hello fellow members of TSF. AskQuestionsLater here... giving you a list of my personal darkhorse teams for the upcoming 2016 season. Those of you new to the term, a "Dark Horse" is a team that seemingly flies under the radar but contain just as much talent to trade blows with the elites of their conference. For this list, there are ten teams total. As always, please keep in mind that this is just an opinion and nothing more. Feel free to agree/disagree but be appropriate based on your critique please. With that... let us begin the list.


Number 10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers:


In the early days of 2015, Jamies Winston looked a bit off. His throws were quite suspect and his confidence shaky; typical rookie growing pains. However, as the season progressed post week 4, Winston kept the Bucs season much better than it would have been. Yes.... 6-10 is not very much becoming of what we would consider "DarkHorse" teams. Keep in mind though that, this was when Jamies was growing as the season progressed. Now, armed with a new coach in Dirk Koetter, a much better defense overall on paper than a year ago in the return of Known Alexander and nabbing Noah Spence + Vernon Hargreaves III, Tampa fans now have a good reason to be excited as 2016 comes near. The Tampa Bay Bucs place 10th on my list due to the increase of youth and talent towards a resurgence. However, with Carolina as the top dog and the NFC already having their "Big Three" entrenched, it is going to take more than talent and youth to earn a playoff spot; doubly so since your coach is entering his first year of guiding a team through the tempest.



9.) Baltimore Ravens:


Never thought I would be using "Dark Horse" and a John Harbaugh coached team in the same sentence. Either way, injuries is what really hurt this squad a year ago. To make matters worse, Kelechi Osemele is now gone. With all of these factors, how and why are the Ravens at number 9 on the list?

The answer... is what hurt the Ravens in 2015.. health. All the aforementioned return. In addition, their draft picks improve positions in desperate need of it. Adding Mike Wallace (for better or worse) and Eric Weddle also help this squad out. With Joe Flacco now intact, you better believe this year's Ravens squad is set for another playoff run..... but why only No. 9 on the list? Unlike it's other two big rivals in the North, sadly, this team goes as far as Joe will go. The issue lies in the fact that, post Super Bowl XLVII, Joe.. has not been the same. Should Joe's lack of production continue... the Ravens may have to settle with another rebuilding year.


8.) New York Giants:


This team, is already there offensively and adding Sterling Shepard will increase this offense. Defensively, 1/4 of a billion dollars in free agency plus Eli Apple is nothing to scoff at. Odel Beckham Jr. is still the electrifying player and Eli is still the guy. The reason the Giants are at 8 is now the question for this team is now seeing if all these pieces fit together well enough to make the impact New York needs. In addition, outside of Ereck Flowers... someone needs to call an SOS for that offensive line considering Eli may have to run for his life.... again.


7.) Dallas Cowboys:

A two peat for the East? You better believe it. Most people would have the Cowboys rated higher... and for good reason. That offensive line is still the gold standard of the NFL, Dez and Romo are back, and Elliot adds yet another offensive juggernaut to the offense. Why 7? Their issues stem from their defense and Jaylon Smith. Will he be the same again? For that defense, will Charles Tapper be enough? Even for the offense, will 'Zeke last 16 games? Too many "ifs" and "wills" for a team that has its window rapidly closing faster and faster each year.


6.) Indianapolis Colts:

Protect Andrew Luck. Protect Andrew Luck. Did I mention protect Andrew Luck? Well... Ryan Grison's sure did not get that memo in 2015; causing Luck to take abuse the equivalent of car crashes. This year though, Ryan drafted a Ryan and some other offensive lineman to help the face of the franchise. In addition, Luck is back along with the resurgence of Phillip Dorsett. They are number 6 on this list due to the AFC South's impending surge, an ongoing dire need of a pass rush, and some harsh growing pains for the young offensive line.

Now for the "Real Deal" teams... onwards to the list!


5.) Houston Texans:


Playoff caliber defense? Last seven regular season games of 2015 say so. Rising offense? Brock Osweiler now has the keys and some additional protection in Nick Martin and more firepower in Will Fuller. Houston's receiving trio of Hopkins, Strong and Fuller compliment Brock's abilities well and the games best player in JJ Watt is ready to dominate yet again; a healthy Clowney further increasing Houston's defense along with Kevin Peterson. So.. what is not to like? How well will Brock perform after being benched in the last week and can Jadeveon finally bust onto the scene or will he bust out?


4.) Minnesota Vikings:

Both sides of the offensive and defensive lines are set (almost). Bridgewater now has LaQusn Treadwell and Stephen Diggs. Adrian Peterson will again be a strong plus and Mackensie Alexander completes Mike Zimmer's own "No Fly Zone" along with Trae Waynes, Xaiver Rhodes and ageless wonder Terrence Newman. "They should be higher on this list. Why 5?".. I hear you asking. For whatever reason, Aaron Rodgers seems to be the Kryptonite of the Vikings and he received "Invisible" Nelson back from a year ago. In addition, while this line is set, it is meant for a rushiny attack mentality. Encountering the Panthers and Seahawks of the conference will mean more pressure for Bridgewater; Clay Matters being back to his position, Ziggy Ansah and newcomer Leonard Floyd in addition.


3.) Washington Redskins.

One year's worth of playoff action will definitely help the 'Skins. The offensive line and defensive lines are still in act and getting better and adding one of the best corners in Josh Norman helps a depleted secondary greatly. The reason they come in 3rd is their receiving corps and running back situation. Jordan Reed, Josh Docston and DeShaun Jackson can only accomplish so much. Without a running game and subsequent boosts from their rivals, unless a running game is discovered, Washington will still get in the playoffs but will not be a complete team to reach the big dance.


2.) Jacksonville Jaguars:


... * TSF members jaws drop in shock...


Now, before you rip me to shreds, here me out. Talent wise on paper, they can compete with ANY NFL team not named Pittsburgh, New England, Arizona, Seattle or Green Bay. Both sides of the ball are LOADED with talent top to bottom and some could easily put this team as a darkhorse Super Bowl contender. However, this does not answer the question as to why they are not No. 1? Their offseason? Incredible. Draft? Something pulled from the book of a fairy tale. Their offensive line? Solid but not rock solid... even with the Beacham signing. "But the offensive line is fixed AQL. What is there to worry about?" An AFC South that has all other teams that can give Jacksonville headaches. If J.J. Watt is not harassing Blake, then Andrew's newly forged offensive line will. A throwback style of ground n pound could catch up to Jacksonville should they take the ascending Titans to lightly. All in all, Jacksonville's talent can rival the elites on some levels, but their own division is what prevents them from cling number 1.


Now.... number 1...


1.) Oakland Raiders:


Much like Jacksonville, there really is not any team that I can think of outside the sure fire title contenders that can trade blows with them.. even Jacksonville themselves. In addition, while the draft was not as mythical as the Jaguars was, Karl Joseph and Jihad Ward are plently. Adding Bruce Irvin, Reggie Nelson, Sean Smith and Kelechi Osemele further cements Reggie's spectacular job of the "Reviving A Tradition" moniker that Jack promised a year ago. Unlike Jacksonville however, there really is no challenger in the AFC West (yes, I just said that). As such, they are my number 1 "Dark Horse" team.


That does it for my list. Now it your turn to have your say. Who are your top "Dark Horse" teams? Were some higher/lower than you thought? Which teams would be your honorable mentions? Please let me know. Remember;


If you forget, you can always "AskQuestionsLater"

 

Indeed. I thought their 2016 draft was the best draft the NFL has seen in the past five seasons; six even. There really is not a single player from their 2016 draft class whom I cannot think of that will falter considering how well Gus has brought them back from the brink.


Still, while I loved the Jaguars consistent and steady improvement... my only issue is that can it all come together? For Oakland... it almost did last year. The issue was losing 6 of your last 9 is not going to cut it. I am sure however that, now with a year under Cooper's belt, the Raiders are definitely going to be the team no one wants to play come mid-October.

 

Jaguars or Raiders could possibly win their divisions.

 

Afc is tough, Raiders and Jags are my dark horses.

 

My only issue with Jacksonville I'd that their division has also improved. Maybe not to the level that Jacksonville has, but considering that Houston and Indianapolis needed more tweaking than overhauling, this makes events in the South very intriguing to watch; final week of the regular season no less.

 

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