5 non-playoff teams that can make Bengals-like leap to Super Bowl 57
By John Buhler
Pick Analysis. South. player. 44. Scouting Report. NFC. Atlanta Falcons. 4
The Atlanta Falcons might be the favorites to win the awful NFC South in 2022
The Atlanta Falcons might have a finite ceiling of being a 10-7 football team in 2022, but that should be good enough to win an awful NFC South. Even if the Dirty Birds are a sub-.500 team for the fifth year in a row, they are in a better spot entering the offseason than all three of their division rivals. Not only that, but Matt Ryan thrives in his second season in any offensive scheme.
He won NFL MVP and guided the 2016 Falcons to the Super Bowl in his second year working with Kyle Shanahan. Arthur Smith and Dave Ragone will be in year two in Flowery Branch. While Atlanta is in need of more talent … everywhere, look for emerging stars in Kyle Pitts and A.J. Terrell to be even better next year. If Ryan gets better protection, he can cement his hall of fame legacy.
Ryan is the most accomplished veteran quarterback in the league who has not won a Super Bowl.
East. player. 58. NFC. Washington Commanders. 3. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
New nickname, new quarterback could change Washington’s football fortunes
As with Pederson in Jacksonville, Ron Rivera has won a Super Bowl as a player and been to one as a head coach. While his latest trip to the Super Bowl came when he was leading the 2015 Carolina Panthers, maybe the 2022 Washington Commanders can change their fortunes? Washington was once a Football Team that won its awful division only two years ago with incredible defensive play.
Though the Dallas Cowboys are the team to beat in the NFC East, America’s Team has a bad habit of coming up short in big spots. Assuming Washington can upgrade at quarterback over Taylor Heinicke, they can close the gap on its division rivals. If the defense can play up to its standard, Washington might be more of a complete Football Team than most of us could begin to realize.
If Mike Brown can watch his team play in a Super Bowl, what is to stop Daniel Snyder in 2022?