5 NFL teams that could be surprise Super Bowl contenders

4. New York Jets

Only the Cleveland Browns (2002) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007) have longer current absences from the postseason than the Green and White. The New York Jets’ last playoff appearance came in 2010, when the club knocked off the reigning AFC champion Indianapolis Colts on the road and then went to Foxborough and couldn’t wait to upset a Patriots team that had humbled them, 45-3, on a Monday night in that same building roughly a month later. Rex Ryan’s team came up short in the conference title tilt at Pittsburgh.

The highlight since then was a 10-6 finish under then-head coach Todd Bowles in 2015. Over the past four seasons, the Jets are a combined 21-43. The club comes off a 7-9 showing this past season under Adam Gase. But the team won six of its final nine games after a troubling 1-6 start that saw New York go through three quarterbacks in the first two weeks.

Once Sam Darnold was healthy and able to regain his rhythm, he played well. General manager Joe Douglas revamped a troubled offensive line and running back Le’Veon Bell should be very effective in his second year after sitting out 2018. Add in Gregg Williams’ aggressive defense and this is a club that could build on last season’s strong second half.