NFL 2021 season: 5 teams that could disappoint
The 2021 NFL season is underway with every team getting through OTAs. While hope abounds, which five squads could disappoint?
5. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have a couple of things going against them. For starters, we have no idea how Matthew Stafford will play in Sean McVay’s offense. Smart money says well, but it’s an unknown. Also, the defense, which ranked best in the NFL last year, lost coordinator Brandon Staley to the Los Angeles Chargers. The unit also watched safety John Johnson, corner Troy Hill and edge rusher Michael Brockers leave. It’s a lot of talent to lose without clear replacements. Oh, and the division is brutal.
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4. Dallas Cowboys
Everyone is assuming the return of Dak Prescott means the Cowboys are going to vault to the top of the NFC East. It’s worth noting Prescott is terrific, but the team around him is not. The weaponry is good with receivers Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, but the offensive line is aging and the defense is an absolute disaster until proven otherwise. Also, can Mike McCarthy get the job done? Who knows.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is more about age than anything else. The Buccaneers literally brought the entire team back after winning Super Bowl LV, but is that going to play out well? There’s a litany of stars over 30 years old (and in one case, 40) on this squad including quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Antonio Brown, tight end Rob Gronkowski, edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and linebacker Lavonte David. It’s asking a lot for those players to all stave off regression and stay healthy.
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2. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have massive expectations tis year, easily the highest since coming back into the league as an expansion team in 1999. Cleveland won its first playoff game since 1994 in January, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, the belief is this group should win the AFC North for the first time before making a real run towards the Super Bowl. Can Baker Mayfield avoid a step back? Will the defense step up as expected? Both are huge, and fair, questions.
1. Indianapolis Colts
This one is obvious. We’ve heard so much about the Colts who now have Carson Wentz, but is that a good thing? Philip Rivers was good last season, throwing for 4,169 yards with 24 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. In Philadelphia, Wentz threw for 2,620 yards and 16 touchdowns against 15 interceptions, tied with Drew Lock of the Denver Broncos for a league-worst total. Are we sure Wentz isn’t criminally overrated coming into the year?
