These NFL Teams Were Shocking Surprises This Season
Every year the NFL is a rollercoaster ride, and this season was no different. A handful of teams will come out of nowhere and surprise you, just like the Cincinnati Bengals did last year. I’m not saying these teams will go on to make this season’s Super Bowl, but they have done a great job, and nobody expected it.
New York Giants
The New York Giants had themselves a season, and they currently sit with a record of 9-6-1 heading into Week 18, and they have a playoff spot already locked up.
The Giants hired new general manager Joe Schoen and new head coach Brian Daboll in the offseason, and they inherited a roster in salary cap hell that was not very talented.
The Giants also needed to find out if fourth-year starting quarterback Daniel Jones was the right guy for the team moving forward, and he will be getting a contract this offseason.
🗣 DANIEL JONES! 🗣 DANIEL JONES! 🗣 DANIEL JONES! pic.twitter.com/ciuTIuw2HY — New York Giants (@Giants) January 5, 2023
The Giants have the worst receiving core in the league, and they have won nine games in a loaded NFC East where a few weeks ago, every team in the division was in a playoff spot.
It doesn’t matter what the Giants do in the playoffs this year because they were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league and are now a great story.
New York Jets
Let’s look at a team who shares the same stadium as the Giants, and that would be the New York Jets. The Jets were supposed to stink this season, and even though they haven’t had a quarterback all year, they somehow found a way to win seven games so far.
The Jets will most likely miss the playoffs, but this is a good start after years of being horrible.
Second-year head coach Robert Saleh has turned this defense into one of the best in the league, rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner has already turned himself into one of the best in the league, and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams has been a monster and giving opposing quarterbacks nightmares all season.
Sauce Gardner masterclass in Seattle – 4 PDs (career-high) – Allowed 3/8 passing for 17 yards – D.K. Metcalf: 3 yards (2nd-worst of career) pic.twitter.com/m5Fovpyn9e — Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) January 4, 2023
The Jets need an upgrade to the quarterback next season; if they don’t, this team could start to go the other way again.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars could win the AFC South tomorrow, and if I had said this six weeks ago, you would have called me nuts, but we are here.
The Jaguars hired former Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson in the offseason, and it looks like a great move.
Jacksonville was 4-8 at one point, and their season looked to be over, but they are now on a four-game winning streak, and second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks to be the guy we saw at Clemson for three years.
Again, Trevor Lawrence is SIX FOOT SIX INCHES TALL. How is he this fluid of an athlete. #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/dy5BhSAMPd — Jacob Nierob (@JNierob) January 5, 2023
The Jaguars were the worst team in the league the last two seasons, and it’s a miracle that this team is one win away from winning their division and making the playoffs.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks traded away their franchise quarterback Russell Wilson, and they made out pretty well. Seattle was supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league this season, and they had one of the worst quarterback rooms in league with Geno Smith and Drew Lock.
Smith played well this season, and the team is sitting at 8-8 going into the last week, and they have their eyes on a playoff spot.
#Seahawks Geno Smith 2022 regular season stats with one game to go: Passing: 4,069 Yds Passing TD’s: 29 Int: 9 Completion %: 70.2% Rushing: 315 Yds Rushing TD: 1 pic.twitter.com/WRukEccUOM — Mikaela Mattes 🎙 (@mikaelamattes) January 2, 2023
I would never have thought going back to March when they traded Wilson that this team would be playing to make the playoffs, and the team who traded for Wilson, the Denver Broncos, would be out of the playoffs and already regret the move they made by trading for Wilson.
All these teams will have a bright 2023 season, and I look forward to seeing who a surprise team will be next year.
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