5 NFL teams that could disappoint in 2018

Last year, the consensus around the experts covering the NFL was that the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks would duke it out for the NFC representation at Super Bowl LII. When the dust settled, it was the Philadelphia Eagles who took that mantle, while Seattle and Green Bay never got to play a 17th game.

So who could be a disappointment come December this time around? Here are five NFL teams that should be worried.

5. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers aren’t expected to make it to the Super Bowl, but there’s a pervading thought that San Francisco should be fighting for a playoff spot. Look, everybody loves Jimmy Garoppolo, but he’s started seven games in his career. Before putting him into the Hall of Fame, let’s see how a full slate plays out once teams have tape on him. Additionally, the roster isn’t ready for primetime just yet. We’re a year ahead of ourselves with the 49ers.

Want $250 to bet on NFL Week 1?

4. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers have plenty of talent, but they are consistently short on results. Last year, Los Angeles beat the Bills, Broncos, Browns, Redskins, Raiders (x2), Giants, Jets and Cowboys. The only good team there? Buffalo, who that week started Nathan Peterman, a fourth-round rookie making his first career appearance. The Chargers are largely running back the same roster, sans Hunter Henry. Why are they suddenly being viewed as a Super Bowl favorite? It boggles the mind.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville has an incredible defense. Nobody wants to have to face the likes of A.J. Bouye, Jalen Ramsey, Marcell Dareus, Abry Jones, Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, Barry Church, Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue and Tashaun Gipson. So why are they potentially overrated? Blake Bortles is the quarterback, and the supporting cast on that side of the ball is underwhelming to say the least.

Read: Heisman Odds After First Week

2. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles should be a very good team, but they have to go here for a few reasons. First, the Super Bowl hangover is very, very real. Second, Carson Wentz still has not been cleared for contact and we are almost 48 hours from the opening kickoff to the 2018 season. Third, it’s simply going to be a better conference this year, which is saying something considering how good the NFC was a year ago.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Ryan Shazier is a massive, massive loss. The Steelers weren’t the same without him last year and they never replaced him. Beyond just that, Pittsburgh is without Le’Veon Bell for an uncertain amount of time as he continues his holdout, and Ben Roethlisberger isn’t getting any younger. Is Mike Tomlin still getting his message across? All of these things have the Steelers as a serious candidate to fall off the map this season.