It is never too early to speculate or predict what will happen in the 2022 NFL season.
To begin with, which teams could post a similar run as the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals, going from worst to first and making a playoff run.
The Bengals were a very talented team, but they did have a Cinderella-like run in 2021.
Several teams come to mind.
The three selected have new head coaches and younger quarterbacks.
Check out my TikTok that talks about these teams’ chances in 2022.
@brownsspice
In no particular order, they are as follows:
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
The 3-14 Jaguars are loaded with draft picks and salary cap dollars.
With Trevor Lawrence growing into the role of a franchise quarterback and the Jaguars hiring a Super Bowl Champion head coach in Doug Pederson, the sky is the limit for this team.
Pederson sees the potential already there and is ready to build and add to it.
“We’re going to add talent. We’re going to add competition. We’re going to bring value to the roster. Every team does that. We’re no exception to that. But I see talent here.”
The Jaguars ended the 2021 NFL season on a winning note by pulling off a huge victory against the Indianapolis Colts that kept the Colts from making the playoffs.
Press Taylor said he's excited to work with Trevor Lawrence and that any time anyone thought about the Jacksonville job, they thought about Lawrence. Said he remembers well being on the receiving end of Lawrence's game vs the Colts in Week 18
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) February 18, 2022
2. Houston Texans
It is hard to think about the 4-13 Texans and not focus on the Deshaun Watson saga that continues to drag on.
However, they have a new head coach (and a good one) in Lovie Smith who wisely wants the Watson issue handled sooner rather than later.
Smith also has a young and interesting quarterback in Davis Mills who put together solid performances at the end of 2021 when no one was focusing on the Texans.
QB Davis Mills finds WR Brandin Cooks for a 22-yard passing TD, completing a 15-play, 75-yard scoring drive that took 8:21.
Mills goes 6-7 for 53 yards as the #Texans score a opening-possession TD for the second consecutive game. Cooks now has 4 receiving TDs on the season. pic.twitter.com/P2rD16QXCi
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) December 19, 2021
There is a lot of potential to be tapped within this organization but only if the Texans handle the Watson business ASAP as their new coach wants.
3. New York Giants
Brian Daboll is the new head coach of the 4-13 New York Giants.
He is the architect of the offensive success for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Rex Ryan believes Daniel Jones will flourish with Giants coach Brian Daboll https://t.co/cfRJDRtrxt pic.twitter.com/qfgJ6aFkKE
— New York Post (@nypost) February 18, 2022
Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley have performed below expectations thus far in their young careers.
Part of the problem could be a less than stellar offensive line which Daboll can concentrate on fortifying.
Conclusion
Collectively, the three teams selected were 11-40 last season.
There is a lot of work to be done for any of them to climb the mountain and achieve the success the 2021 Bengals did.
They will also benefit from easier schedules given their poor performances in 2021.
That will definitely help as it did with the Bengals.
The other elements they need are luck and healthy players.
Luck is an integral part of the success of an NFL team.
Also, everyone knows the most talented and best-coached teams cannot compete if they are decimated with injuries.
It will be fun to track these teams throughout 2022 to see if they can flip their scripts and go from worst to first.
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