Look for these 5 non-playoff teams to surprise in 2018
Every year, there's a major shakeup among NFL teams that make the playoffs.
Last year, eight of the 12 teams that made the postseason weren't in the playoffs in 2016. Three teams - including the Super Bowl-champion Eagles - had finished in last place in their respective divisions the prior year.
Three of the four teams that appeared in last year's conference championships - Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Jacksonville - weren't in the 2016 playoff picture and combined for just 18 wins that season.
Knowing that there's change every year atop divisions and in the playoff picture, here's a preview of this year's teams most likely to elbow their way back into the postseason after missing out in 2017.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ten seasons have passed since the Bucs last made the postseason. Their offseason moves reflected that sense of urgency to get back.
Borrowing a page from the Super Bowl champions' playbook, the Bucs strengthened and deepened their defensive line, starting with the signings of two former Eagles linemen - Vinny Curry and Beau Allen - and traded for two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. The Bucs also drafted defensive tackle Vita Vea 12th overall to pair him inside with six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.
The Bucs should be as stout and athletic up front as any team in the league, a formula that helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl.
Offensively, the Bucs have a plethora of weapons, starting with All-Pro receiver Mike Evans. DeSean Jackson's numbers dropped last year but rookie tight end O.J. Howard and rookie wideout Chris Godwin each averaged more than 15 yards per reception and should see increased roles.
Eight of Tampa Bay's 11 losses last year came by six or fewer points. If quarterback Jameis Winston raises his game, and with a defense that should be much improved, the Bucs are more equipped to battle with NFC South foes Atlanta, New Orleans, and Carolina.
New York Giants
The Giants finished 3-13 last season, last in the NFC East by four games, and were one of three NFL teams that were outscored by more than 140 points. Their minus-142 point differential was more than twice the NFC's second-worst differential (Arizona, minus-66).
Injuries to Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall compounded the team's inability to keep Eli Manning upright and protected in the pocket and failure to run the ball.
It sure appears as if the Giants' entire offseason plan was build up around the 37-year-old Manning instead of rebuild, a decision that won't be proven right or wrong until two years from now.
The Giants hired offensive guru Pat Shurmur to replace Ben McAdoo as head coach, signed former Patriots left tackle Nate Solder to a record-breaking deal, and practically sprinted to the podium to select transcendent running back prospect Saquon Barkley at No. 2, passing on several potential future franchise quarterbacks in the process.
The team also hired defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who inherits a talented defense that underperformed last year trying to compensate for a dormant offense. Defensive end Olivier Vernon, defensive tackle Damon Harrison, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, and safety Landon Collins are all Pro Bowl talents at their respective positions.
The Giants won 11 games two years ago with many of the same names. There's no denying that adding Solder and Barkley to the roster makes the team better, perhaps even good enough to win the NFC East for the first time since 2011.
San Francisco 49ers
Last year's decision to flip a second-rounder to the Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo could be already viewed as rookie general manager John Lynch's finest moment. The Niners were 1-10 before Garroppolo seized control of the offense and went 5-0, completing 67 percent of his passes and registering a 96.2 passer rating.
The Niners aren't loaded with playmakers, but look for Lynch to be aggressive on the trade market and waiver wire until the last day of training camp. Defensively, the front seven has a nice, young nucleus that includes first-round picks Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner, and Solomon Thomas. If linebacker Reuben Foster can avoid trouble - sure, a big "if" - the Niners should improve upon their 25th-ranked defense from last year and battle the Rams and Seahawks for the division title.
The Niners found their quarterback of the future. The rest is about filling the holes around him.
Cleveland Browns
Don't laugh, but the hapless, woeful, perennially pathetic Browns loaded up this offseason and have the chance to break through if No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield shows even a glimmer of the promise and potential he showcased at Oklahoma.
Even with Joe Thomas' retirement, the Browns are strong on the offensive line. As for weapons, the trade for premier slot receiver Jarvis Landry, free-agent signing of running back Carlos Hyde, and latest return of Josh Gordon give Mayfield plenty of help to start his rookie season - assuming Gordon can stay away from trouble and another suspension. New offensive coordinator Todd Haley is perhaps the best assistant coach pickup of the offseason.
The Browns probably shouldn't have passed on defensive end Bradley Chubb with the fourth overall pick but addressed a defensive need with Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. Moves they've made in the past two years have replenished coordinator Greg Williams' crew with promising talent in defensive end Myles Garrett, defensive back Jabrill Peppers, and linebacker Jamie Collins.
It won't be easy to usurp the Steelers for division supremacy, but stumbles by the Ravens and Bengals open the door for the Browns to move quickly up the AFC North standings and contend for a wild-card spot.
Los Angeles Chargers
After an 0-4 start, the Chargers won nine of their last 12 games and were poised to make the postseason until the Titans trumped them and the Ravens on the final weekend of the season to make the playoffs.
The Chargers stayed put in the offseason, avoiding the splashy signing and pinning their hopes on the team's young talent coming back with future Hall of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers to carry over the momentum from last year's second half of the season.
With the Chiefs and Broncos boasting new quarterbacks and the Raiders welcoming head coach Jon Gruden back into the league for the first time since 2008, the Chargers saw the least amount of change and turnover this offseason. Winning the AFC West is very feasible for them.
Geoff Mosher is an award-winning sports reporter, radio host, and TV personality with more than 20 years of experience covering all major sports and leagues. He also hosts regularly on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia and is co-host of "The Sports Shop" on Facebook.
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