Fansided

5 darkhorses to make a run at the Super Bowl after NFL free agency

By John Buhler

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) rolls out to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter of an NFL game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) rolls out to pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter of an NFL game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts during warmups before a AFC Wild Card playoff football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts during warmups before a AFC Wild Card playoff football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

2. player. 10. . AFC. South. Houston Texans

Believe it or not, but the 2016 Houston Texans should be the favorite to repeat as AFC South Division Champions. The rival Indianapolis Colts may have Andrew Luck as their star quarterback, but the rest of the Colts’ roster isn’t anything to write home about. The Jacksonville Jaguars will be improved in 2016, but not good enough to do better than a shocking trip to the AFC Playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Tennessee Titans, well, at least they’re not the Cleveland Browns…

Houston has five things going for it entering 2016: 1.) A dominant defense headlined by defensive end J.J. Watt. 2.) A Pro Bowl wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. 3.) One of the most under-appreciated head coaches in the NFL in Bill O’Brien. 4.) Potentially a franchise quarterback in Brock Osweiler. At the very worst, he’ll be like a Matt Schaub for Houston. 5.) Super Bowl LI is being played at the Texans’ home field of NRG Stadium.

While Houston is one of four NFL franchises to have never made it to a Super Bowl, this team has only been in existence for 14 years. Who’s to say that Houston can’t put it all together in 2016 and make a serious Super Bowl push in the 2016 AFC Playoffs?

Even though the Texans made the AFC Playoffs last year and won the AFC South for the third time in five years, people aren’t taking the Texans all that seriously entering 2016. If Osweiler is an improvement over Brian Hoyer at quarterback and new running back Lamar Miller can sniff anything near prime Arian Foster, Houston could have one of the most balanced teams in the AFC en route to their first trip to the Super Bowl.

With Houston probably being a playoff team again in 2016, capable of winning the AFC South or getting in as a Wild Card time, the Texans are definitely going to be a team lying low in the weeds ready to pounce on unsuspecting teams in 2016. They epitomize the type of team that could be a darkhorse Super Bowl contender.

Next: 1. Kansas City Chiefs

Home/Atlanta Falcons