Cowboys Titans Chargers headline NFL bubble teams in 2017

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Cowboys, Titans, Chargers headline NFL bubble teams in 2017 Published: Jul 26, 2017 at 05:57 AM Contributing Columnist Football is near! Finally!! By the end of this week, every NFL team will have reported to training camp, and color me obse sed. The are loaded. wants to seal the deal. leads the Pack. is back. got , and the are ready for prime time on offense. We know the great players and storylines. And we know the teams on the bottom. Even receiver knows for Gang Green. OK, . But I digre s. What about that robust group of teams in the middle? You know, the ones that aren't widely viewed as top-tier contenders, but also aren't seen as potential holders of the No. 1 pick in the 2018 . How about them? At this point in the summer, they're the really interesting organizations to study. Below, I've compiled a list of nine fascinating teams, analyzing upside and downside before providing my gut feeling on each. Remember, I don't put my predictions in pen until the Tuesday after Labor Day. For now, let's take a closer look -- Schein Nine style -- at some franchises that could rise or fall in 2017: 1) Dallas Cowboys The case for: is a star. is fresh off one of the best seasons ever by a rookie quarterback. still boasts game-changing ability. and remain great players and leaders. Oh, and did I mention the offensive line? Yeah, that's quite a strength. The upside here is a run driven by a truly transcendent young running back. The case against: From Elliott to to to to , . An Elliott suspension would be a killer early in the season, given that the open up at home and then . And Dallas won't sneak up on anyone this year. Can these 'Boys handle the pre sure of lofty expectations in the Big D? The defense is mediocre overall, and Irving's four-game suspension doesn't help. The secondary's a huge concern, following the offseason lo ses of four key players (cornerbacks and , as well as safeties and J.J. Wilcox). The offensive line remains stout with , but Dallas must break in new starters at right tackle and left guard. My gut feeling: Nobody loves Zeke as a player more than I do, but I don't think Dallas is a playoff lock. The NFC East is great and the have the best defense in the division. I have the winning about nine games. I acknowledge the upside, but the postseason's hardly a foregone conclusion. 2) Tenne see Titans The case for: After breaking his leg last December, just said he's in training camp. Yeah, I think he's ready ... ready to explode in Year 3. I loved the pick, giving Mariota a legit WR1 talent for the first time. I also loved the acquisition. Mariota goes from a 1-2 punch of and to Davis and Decker. Upgrade! Not to mention, tight end 's coming off his second straight campaign. Tenne see has an elite offensive line that fuels a fantastic power run game led by . The defense showed improvement last season with Dick LeBeau as coordinator. The case against: Mariota needs to show -- not just say -- he is 100 percent healthy. Davis needs the light go on right away in Jerome Bettis Jersey his first pro season. (The guy tore up the MAC; the AFC South is a little different.) Is LeBeau's defense good enough to shut down potent offenses and win on the road? Tenne see surprised many by -- can that be replicated? And most crucially, this team has received a ton of offseason buzz -- are the ready to deal with expectations? My gut feeling: I'm not as sky high on these as many others. I believe the are clearly the team to beat in the AFC South, with at quarterback and healthy. But I think Tenne see wins 10 games and that puts thie group in the mix for a wild-card slot. I love watching this team. And this fan base is amazing and deserves its first playoff team since 2008. 3) Los Angeles Chargers The case for: is still a star. Don't worry about Carlos Davis Jersey last year's NFL-high 21 interceptions -- injuries leveled the (again) and Rivers was forced to overcompensate. I loved two coaching hires: Anthony Lynn as the new head man and Gus Bradley as the defensive coordinator. is healthy. The light went on for in Year 2, and he's poised for an even bigger season in 2017. The wisely addre sed receiver (Mike Williams) and O-line (guards and Dan Feeney) in the first three rounds of April's draft. is an absolute monster. Hard to find a better young edge-rushing duo than Bosa and Melvin Engram. The case against: Only the ! No. 7 overall pick already has a back problem. While that he could be due for season-ending back surgery, Williams clearly isn't 100 percent. It's a killer if Williams is compromised. When right, this guy can give Rivers a game-changing weapon. On defense, can CB again provide the kind of fine play he offered up last season (see: )? Will the have the fan support and interest in L.A. that they had in San Diego? My gut feeling: It's all about Williams. After the draft, I was ready to declare the my sleeper team. I was all ready to playoffs. Now, I have to hit the pause button. 4) Washington Redskins The case for: You like that?! Whether they realize it or not, the have a franchise quarterback in . This cat nearly hit 5,000 yards pa sing while completing 67 percent of his throws. The draft was strong: DL still feels like a steal at No. 17 overall, while fourth-round RB should make an impact in Year 1. The offensive line continues to be a strength of Jay Gruden's squad. The case against: The Cousins situation stinks -- questions about his future could be a big distraction all season long. I like , but Washington got worse at receiver by losing and . The defense, which , doesn't exactly make opponents shake in their shoes. My gut feeling: I like the and more than Washington. And I think the royally fouled up by not locking up Cousins on a long-term deal. Feels like eight or nine wins and no playoffs. 5) Philadelphia Eagles The case for: I love ! Remember, he wasn't supposed to start last year -- and he wouldn't have if hadn't gotten hurt, causing the to desperately give up a top pick for . Still, the rookie logged 16 starts and showed some real flashes, despite not having a legit receiving corps or run game. Enter -- Wentz is gonna love the guy. Also, I liked the signing and the drafting of scat back Donnel Pumphrey. The offensive line is great, and the defensive front is loaded with studs like , and first-round pick . The case against: The ' run game still doesn't look good enough for a young quarterback to truly lean on. The secondary -- particularly at cornerback -- is quite suspect. And so is the in-game coaching of Doug Pederson. My gut feeling: A part of me wants to get on the train before anyone else. I think Philly has the potential to surprise some people. Eight wins sounds right. And although that'd only be a one-win improvement from last year, I think this could be the type of team that'll challenge some powerhouses. 6) Baltimore Ravens The case for: OK, forget that nonsense, but you know you can win with him. I really like the pickup. It's easy to forget that John Harbaugh's team was just shy of and making the playoffs. Baltimore always plays hard and tough. The case against: Who are they? What's the identity of this team? Sr.'s play and leadership will be mi sed. 's, too. Versatile RB is . I like the signing, but can the former Charger (fresh off a torn ACL) and Terrence West do enough in the backfield? Color me skeptical. While the ' defense quietly finished last season seventh in yards allowed and ninth in points allowed, I still think it's a far cry from the Ray Lewis-Ed Reed units of yore. Miles Killebrew Jersey My gut feeling: I'm always high on the . Not this year. I think Pittsburgh is significantly better. But I'm smart enough to know how great Harbaugh and this organization are. I'll never count them out. It's a fascinating team. Eight wins? If not, 7-9 feels more likely than 9-7. 7) Kansas City Chiefs The case for: wins games. is a game-breaking star. Andy Reid is a tremendous coach. headlines a talented defense. And the enjoy a great home-field advantage. The case against: The division is so damn tough -- Oakland is my favorite -- and the have had a lot of drama of late. GM John Dorsey . I was stunned by . is . Odd start. And it's still only July. And then there's the quarterback situation ... I love Smith Pat Mahomes. And the rookie is there to watch -- in theory. But this kind of thing never runs smoothly. fans will be pining for Mahomes if Smith doesn't air it out or if K.C. isn't winning. My gut feeling: Kansas City has the roster to hit double-digit wins again. But with the QB situation, the have to manage all the outside noise -- and not create more noise on their own. 8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers The case for: GM Jason Licht dominated the offseason. Signing to take the top off of the defense was a masterstroke. The pick was the steal of the draft. This will all help take a step forward. and are defensive stars, while has the potential to be quite a player. The case against: Can you bank on , on and off the field? Can you trust the defense -- which finished last season at 23rd in yards allowed -- to make big stops in a division with superb quarterback play? My gut feeling: I am rolling with the Bucs and their upside. Jameis is about to go off. I think Tampa wins 10-plus games and makes the playoffs. 9) Arizona Cardinals The case for: is fantastic -- an all-around star rushing and receiving. The receiving crops is good and diverse, especially if is right again. Bruce Arians is a great coach. and are bona fide stars and is a top-notch pa s rusher. The case against: Can you win a title with ? Will he bounce back from last year? How much will the mi s 's play and leadership? My gut feeling: Last year was a fluke for the . The team is just too talented to finish below .500. The fine bra s and coaching staff won't allow that to happen again. Arizona bounces back and makes the playoffs. This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
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