5 most overlooked NFL teams heading into 2019

Every NFL season, there are teams that fly under the radar. 2019 will be no different. Below we take a look at 5 teams who could quietly compete next season.

5. Houston Texans

Talk about the AFC South, and you’ll inevitably talk about the Indianapolis Colts. Andrew Luck and Frank Reich are the new power couple in the division. Within a year, Deshaun Watson and the talented roster around him seem as though their time has been passed by. Yet, for all the fawning over Indianapolis, it’s Houston that is trying to defend its divisional crown. The Texans certainly have issues — the head coach and offensive line say hello — but there’s reason to believe they could make serious noise come January.

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4. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are almost always the favorites to win the AFC North. This year, it’s somehow the Cleveland Browns who have finally taken that mantle for the first time in 30 years or so. While Pittsburgh does have question marks at the second wide receiver spot and across the secondary, it also has a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback, a terrific coach and one of the league’s best offensive fronts. Pittsburgh isn’t a guaranteed playoff team anymore, but it certainly will be in the mix.

3. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta gets forgotten about by the NFL far too much. While the New Orleans Saints are the deserved favorite in the NFC South — if not the entire NFC — the Falcons have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. Offensively, few teams can compete with the trio of Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Mohamed Sanu on the outside, with Devonta Freeman in the backfield and Matt Ryan under center. If the Falcons can simply stay healthy, something they couldn’t do a year ago, they will be back in the postseason.

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2. Minnesota Vikings

Kirk Cousins. If the Vikings don’t reach the playoffs again, it will begin to look as though paying Cousins $84 million guaranteed could cost a ton of good people their jobs. However, it should be noted Cousins is surrounded by one of the league’s best rosters, and is a quarterback more than capable of throwing for 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns. Minnesota plays in the tough NFC North, but it has a terrific defense and an offense led by Adam Thielen, Stefan Diggs and Dalvin Cook. There’s plenty of talent to win double-digit games.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

If Carson Wentz stays healthy, the Eagles are arguably the league’s best team. Somehow, there’s little talk about how Philadelphia is primed to make another major run. Wentz’s durability has to be called into question, but should he be upright, the Eagles have playmakers all over the offense and one of the league’s most lethal front sevens.