DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Shocker team

I say if the Dolphins and Panthers both end up in the Super Bowl
it would be a pretty shocking story for both teams.

(Shocker team? Albu@uer@ue Isotopes?)

I'm going to pick the Eagles.

I think Hurts is going to have a break out year - he's dynamic running, I like the additions they have given him to throw to with AJ Brown, Devonte Smith I'm expecting to break out. I'm a big fan of Miles Sanders - he just needs to stay healthy. I think their D might be middle of the pack - but their offense is going to be dynamic and score a lot of points. I'm targeting Jalen Hurts in all my fantasy teams (all two of them).

On the flip side - picking a team to under-perform.... harder to do, but I think Denver might not make the playoffs despite adding Russell Wilson.

I don't know if my picks are really shockers, but here goes...

One team that will move upward: New Orleans. They missed the playoffs last year. They have an excellent defense and added weapons on offense.

Two teams that will move down. Dallas was 12 and 5 last year, but they lost some good players in Cooper, Gregory, L. Collins, C. Wilson, and C. Williams. Their LT is injured and out until December. I think they miss the playoffs. I also think New England will miss the playoffs after making them last year. Losing McDaniels was huge and their offseason moves were perplexing.

I think Minnesota could be a dark horse super bowl type team for the NFC

I also think Indianapolis could do it for the AFC

Both of those teams aren’t considered bad, but also aren’t really talked about as being championship type

You have mentioned the Eagles and Colts. I was thinking about picking both, but I believe many are picking both to win their divisions and the Eagles made the playoffs last year. I do agree that both should have good years.

Due to the buildup in the AFC West, the shocker will be the KC Chiefs finishing in last in the AFC West. IMHO, Hill will he missed more than they think, and their defense is bottom tier in the division.

Picking a shocker for the SB is difficult task since so many things must go right for it to happen. That said, the shocker would be the Vikings representing the NFC in the SB. With the new FO and head coach in place, Minnesota will shy away from being a run first team to exploit their WR group of Jefferson, Thielen, and Osborn with TE Irv Smith that will make Cook even more explosive since teams won't be able to focus on him with a vastly improved defense. Cook won't have the number of carries he had in the run first model that's been in place for a number of years thus preserving the wear and tear but IMHO, his overall yardage will increase on the ground and through the air. IMO, Cousins will easily top 45 TD passes and 4,500 yds passing threatening to go over 5,000 yds for the year (based on no injuries of course).

I’m also interested to see how KC does without Hill and how GB does without Adams.

If history proves itself, both of those WRs will see a drop off without such elite QBs

I see the bungles dropping. I like Joe Burrow's guts, drive and effort, but he's a serious injury waiting to happen the way he plays. If he misses any time, Brandon Allen takes over. A 3yr backup that's 2-7-0 with equally impressive performance stats. They have Jake Browning on the PS.

I actually think Cincy drops back again too. They’ll still be good, but not the juggernaut some think

Panthers.

I heard Cincy cut/waived some @uarterback, I thought it was Brandon Allen.

KC is not going to finish last in the AFC West if Andy Reid is still their head coach. ... and if Mahommes is still their @uarterback.

It was Jake Browning. He was waived and then signed to their PS.

The Cleveland Browns

Last year I picked the 49ers as my sleeper team since I felt they were a good team that missed the playoffs a year earlier. I was looking at who I thought fit that bill this year and I see 3 teams Dolphins, Chargers, and Browns. I would like to say the Browns but since we will not see Watson until the 12th game I will say the Chargers. I think they are further along than the Dolphins.

Shocker?

I'm going with the Browns since most pundits think we'll have 5-8 W's.

I'm riding 11-6 to 12-5 until the Browns tell me differently.

We're Loaded.

Isn't any player a candidate to be injured on any play?
Anybody that can take 70 sacks to route to a SB run has to be mentally
Bulletproof and physically in tip top shape.
But with a better oline he should easily replicate his 2021 season

...and very lucky.

Bone I agree. Whenever we are expected to have a good season, we fall flat on our faces. We only do well when no one expects it, and that's not very often.

AFC shocker..

The Browns, seems like they started shocking starting March 18th 2022. Hopefully the shock waves goes into the favor of a winning season.

NFC shocker..

Detroit, I think Dan Campbell turns the Lions team around.

We're ranked above BAL in receivers? Wow. Says more about them than us.

Agree with Deisle ... I was thinking DET. Not in the Super Bowl, but fighting for a wild card until the end.

AFC
As doing better than expected, I have the Browns (homer) & Miami.
AS far as worse.... I do not see any team in the AFC dropping considerably.

Bengals, Ravens, Patriots, Chiefs, Raiders, and Titans all finishing close to .500.

By no means dumpster fire but maybe falling a bit short of expectations. 2-3 games just go the wrong way.
Steelers and Ravens each could end up on either side.


NFC
Sleepers... 49ers, Eagles, Bears and Saints to surprise.
Crashers.... Buccaneers, Cowboys,Cardinals

I'm going with the Jaguars. Not that I think they'll make the SB and they may not even make the playoffs. But I do think they'll at least make a push for the playoffs. I think that alone would surprise many. Trevor Lawrence is a QB I have some faith will be coming into his own. The kid certainly has the talent. I mean if you're going to predict a shocker team, why not make it a team that would really be a shocker?

More often than not Seattle produces WEIRD games. It’s like a weird vibe in that building lol

I’ve been to Seattle’s stadium and watched the Browns get pounded into the turf. Not a fun game. Loud stadium.

I will say that Geno Smith has come a long way from that Jets game when Rex Ryan ran the ball 95 percent of the time.

He has improved significantly…

Has he? Or did he just play a lot in the preseason due to the QB comp and was more prepared than most?

Week 1 was basically the final preseason game for most. The season actually starts this weekend.

(I'll still take the win.)