5 teams that will underachieve in 2015

The San Francisco 49ers are a perfect example of why no franchise can take success for granted. After a run of three straight seasons to the NFC Championship Game, the 49ers have absolutely imploded, following up an 8-8 year with a franchise-altering offseason.

As it stands, San Francisco is fielding a roster that could be competing for the league's worst record when Week 17 rolls around, as opposed to appearing in the playoffs.

It's proof that no franchise is bulletproof. Here are five that could underachieve in 2015.

Dallas Cowboys

2014 record: 12-4
2015 prediction: 8-8

This franchise has owned the popular title of most talented roster for the past decade, and what do they have to show for it? Two wild-card playoff victories - one of which was fraudulent - and little else. Now, more than ever, this roster is loaded with enough talent to compete for a Super Bowl.

But will they? They will not.

Outside of a great offensive line, quarterback Tony Romo, and Dez Bryant, the Cowboys lack playmakers in several key areas, with the defensive line and secondary being the most talent-strapped.

After fielding one of the worst pass defenses in the league in 2014, the Cowboys didn't make enough upgrades to justify the hype. They drafted cornerback Byron Jones in the first round, and are relying on Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory to put pressure on the quarterback. One has been out of football for a year, and the other gives the team more questions than answers.

Arizona Cardinals

2014 record: 11-5
2015 prediction: 6-10

The Cardinals are an 11-win team that got by on smoke and mirrors in 2014. This season they'll be challenged by an inconsistent quarterback who can't stay healthy, the loss of a game-changing defensive coordinator, and a stacked division in which wins are hard to come by.

Outside of a marginal upgrade at tight end and guard, there's no other position the Cardinals are demonstrably better at in 2015.

Looking back on it, the Cardinals' 11-5 record was suspect, seeing the kind of fluke bounces that no team can rely on. The Cardinals were 5-1 in games decided by eight points or less, and four of those wins (against the San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs) relied on low-percentage plays to pull out victories.

Miami Dolphins

2014 record: 8-8
2015 prediction: 7-9

A ton of money was dropped to make the Dolphins an immediate contender in the offseason, but the entire gambit will be unsuccessful if Ryan Tannehill doesn't take a big step forward.

While Tannehill has a slightly better arsenal of weapons at his disposal, the Texas A&M product will struggle to make those around him better - which is what Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, and rookie DeVante Parker will need.

The defense will most likely rush the passer well, with Ndamukong Suh adding to an already talented group, but defensive tackle free-agent acquisitions aren't historically a harbinger of future team success (see Pat Williams, Warren Sapp, and Albert Haynesworth, to name a few).

New England Patriots

2014 record: 12-4
2015 prediction: 9-7

The defending Super Bowl champions have a tough road back to the playoffs with a defense stripped of talent, a lack of competency at wide receiver, and their lynch-pin quarterback suspended for the first four games of the season.

The Patriots will clearly miss Tom Brady, and on defense, their secondary is bereft of talent. Stopping teams through the air will be difficult without Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, and a lacking pass rush.

The Patriots will struggle to reach the franchise's sky-high expectations this season. During the Bill Belichick era, the team has never posted a losing record, which is ridiculous at this point.

Following their 2001 Super Bowl, the team finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Things could turn out eerily similar this season.

Cincinnati Bengals

2014 record: 10-5-1
2015 prediction: 8-8

The Bengals have been to the playoffs the past four seasons, managing to be slightly better than mediocre while featuring one of the league's best defenses. The bottom has to fall out at some point, with quarterback Andy Dalton plateauing, A.J. Green slowed by injuries, and the defense not the world-beater it once was.

The AFC North is such a slugfest at this point that expecting the Bengals to get back to the playoffs is asking a lot. Add the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs to a difficult division schedule, and eight wins may be asking too much.