5 likeliest NFL teams to go worst-to-first in 2020

Though they’ve made their fanbase cry for decades, the Miami Dolphins have the best shot of going worst-to-first of any team next year. They weren’t supposed to win a single game last year and they ended up winning five. If they draft either Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert, it might be enough to win one of the weakest divisions in football next year.

Brian Flores could become the greatest Bill Belichick disciple in due time, but the Dolphins’ chances of winning the AFC East have improved mostly because the New England Patriots aren’t guaranteed to win it anymore. Tom Brady has left Foxborough, giving the Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets hope they haven’t had for the better part of two decades.

Buffalo may be the new favorite, but the Bills are unproven when it comes to being the hunted. Josh Allen is a fine quarterback, but the Dolphins could end up with someone better than him by the end of the draft. Even if Tagovailoa or Herbert aren’t ready to play just yet, don’t think for a second Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t ready to lead a team to the playoffs for the first time in his career.

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The Dolphins made huge gains in free agency and have so many picks in the upcoming draft, it’s ridiculous. Their cultural turnaround under Flores is undeniable. If it all goes right, they might contend for a playoff spot. If New England fades as expected and Buffalo chokes under pressure, then Miami could win the AFC East for the first time since the Wildcat was a thing back in 2008.