NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Sep 27, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) after a win against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. The Colts won 35-33. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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5 NFL teams that could surprise in 2018

Matt Verderame NFL

Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl. Nobody saw that coming, even if a few people want to lie and pretend to have known it was coming.

Point is, the NFL is much more of a year-to-year sport than any of the other big leagues in North America. No team has repeated as Super Bowl champion since the New England Patriots did so in 2004, and smart money says that drought continues into the future.

So which teams could be this year’s Eagles, or even just a surprise participant in the playoffs? Here are five teams to keep an eye on.

5. Arizona Cardinals

It seems like every team in the NFC is a contender to make a run, but nobody is talking about the Cardinals. Why? Because Arizona is in quarterback limbo. The Cardinals drafted Josh Rosen 10th-overall to be the future, but Sam Bradford is the present. it’s hard to sell Bradford as exciting, even if he’s surrounded by David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. So why buy into Arizona? The division isn’t great, the team went 8-8 larger starting Blaine Gabbert last year, and Johnson is healthy.

4. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are typically in the mix come December, and look for them to push the issue in the AFC North throughout the campaign. Joe Flacco isn’t getting anybody’s applause, but with Lamar Jackson behind him perhaps this is a rebound year for the former Super Bowl champ. The defense should be very good led by Tony Jefferson, C.J. Mosley and Eric Weddle. If that unit does the job, don’t be surprised if the Ravens find a way to the top of the division.

3. New York Giants

There might not be a better candidate for a bounceback campaign. The Giants are talented on both sides of the ball, especially after adding Saquon Barkley, Will Hernandez and Nate Solder to the offensive unit. Provided Eli Manning doesn’t completely go off the cliff, New York should have one of the best attacks in the league led by new head coach Pat Shurmur. The defense isn’t what it was a few years ago, but a group led by Landon Collins and Janoris Jenkins isn’t without talent.

2. Indianapolis Colts

This pick is an outlandish one, but what is the preseason without blind hope for the fanbase? The Colts aren’t good, in fact they might have the worst overall roster in football. Yet Andrew Luck is returning to the group after missing all of last season, and if he’s right, the Colts will win some games on his right arm alone.

1. New York Jets

Yes, the Jets could be a playoff team in 2018. New York did a really nice job of revamping the roster this year, adding Avery Williamson and Trumaine Johnson to the defense while finally landing a franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold. With Darnold starting right away, the Jets’ fate rests on his talent. If the former USC star can show up and show out, New York could be a problem in the AFC.

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