I know. It sucks.
But we have some good news!
We are just about six months away from NEXT SEASON!
That's right! It's not a time to get depressed! It's a time to celebrate because the NFL season is just six months away!
In the meantime, let's take a look at why YOUR favorite NFL team either will or won't win the Super Bowl next year.
Sounds fun, am I right?
Arizona Cardinals
Why the Cardinals will win the Super Bowl next year: They are one of the most well constructed teams in the NFL. They made it all the way to the NFC championship this season and another year of playing together and adding some more pieces easily makes the Cardinals one of the favorites to win it all next year.
Why the Cardinals won't win the Super Bowl next year: Carson Palmer isn't getting any younger and he still remains a mystery to everyone in the playoffs. Palmer was an MVP candidate for most of the 2015 season, but he stunk up the joint in the playoffs. If the Cardinals don't win it all next year, it'll probably be because of the QB position.
Atlanta Falcons
Why the Falcons will win the Super Bowl next year: Matt Ryan + Devonta Freeman + Julio Jones = one of the most exciting offenses in the league. There's a reason the Falcons started out the 2015 season on a hot streak. They are a pretty damn good team on the offensive side of the ball.
Why the Falcons won't win the Super Bowl next year: Their defense. The Falcons have been atrocious on the defensive side of the ball for years now. Does anyone actually think that this team is only one solid off-season away from having a great defense? No. They can improve, but there's no way they become a championship caliber defense by next season.
Baltimore Ravens
Why the Ravens will win the Super Bowl next year: They should have won it this year because I picked them to. Maybe I was just a year off?
Why the Ravens won't win the Super Bowl next year: Did you see them play this year? Sure, they were one of the most injury-ridden teams in the NFL, but there's no way you can pick these guys to be a Super Bowl contender after what we saw them do this year. My faith in the Ravens has plummeted, even though I expect them to be back up in the 8+ wins column next year.
Buffalo Bills
Why the Bills will win the Super Bowl next year: QB Tyrod Taylor was one of the surprises of the NFL season this year. Let's say he continues to improve, the Bills add a few more significant weapons on the offensive side of the ball and the defense goes back to playing how they were playing in 2014. I guess it's not too far fetched to think Buffalo could go from an 8-8 season to a Super Bowl if all those things happened.
Why the Bills won't win the Super Bowl next year: Rex Ryan is their head coach.
Carolina Panthers
Why the Panthers will win the Super Bowl next year: They almost won it this year but ran into a juggernaut known as the "Denver Broncos defense". The good news for Panthers fans is, the Denver defense is loaded with guys that are about to hit free agency and they may not be around next year. They were the only ones who could contain Cam Newton this year, so if they split up....watch out.
Why the Panthers won't win the Super Bowl next year: How will Carolina and Cam Newton respond to losing the Super Bowl in such a depressing manner? Some teams that lose the Super Bowl hit rock-bottom and never return (Hi Oakland Raiders!). Some teams get their butts whooped and then return to the game two years later and put a whooping on someone else (Hi Denver Broncos!). Which way will the Panthers go? I don't know, but after watching them in the Super Bowl, I feel like this team is still a few pieces away from being an elite team (wide receivers and an elite offensive tackle would be ideal).
Chicago Bears
Why the Bears will win the Super Bowl next year: John Fox has already brought the two previous teams he coached in the NFL to the Super Bowl (Carolina and Denver). That means the Bears are due for a Super Bowl appearance under Fox's regime, right? I mean, we've seen stranger things happen in the NFL people.
Why the Bears won't win the Super Bowl next year: Did you see them play this season? This team is a looooooooong way from being a Super Bowl contender. The loss of offensive coordinator Adam Gase will likely set them back next season. And right when Jay Cutler was showing some signs of improvement to....
Cincinnati Bengals
Why the Bengals will win the Super Bowl next year: They have one of the best overall rosters in the NFL. Cincinnati was one of the hottest teams in the NFL this year before QB Andy Dalton went down with an injury. If Dalton is healthy next year and plays as well as he was playing this season, it's not too crazy to picture the Bengals hoisting the most important trophy in football at the end of the year next season.
Why the Bengals won't win the Super Bowl next year: They're the Bengals. You do remember that this team hasn't won a playoff game in almost 30 years, right? How about we focus on winning a playoff game before we get all crazy and call the Bengals "Super Bowl contenders". Marvin Lewis is still coaching this team you know.
Cleveland Browns
Why the Browns will win the Super Bowl next year: New head coach Hue Jackson has some energy buzzing in Cleveland. He will finally be the head coach that leads the Browns to the promised land.
Why the Browns won't win the Super Bowl next year: Come on now. They're the Browns. You want to know how hard it was to write a sentence for "Why the Browns will win the Super Bowl next year"? Damn near impossible.
Dallas Cowboys
Why the Cowboys will win the Super Bowl: TONY ROMO IS BACK! Remember how good the Cowboys were in 2014 when Romo was healthy? They were Super Bowl contenders then. They can be Super Bowl contenders again with a healthy Romo behind center.
Why the Cowboys won't win the Super Bowl: Which version of the Cowboys are we going to get next year? The ones we saw in 2014 or the ones we saw in 2015? If Dallas brings back Greg Hardy and signs Johnny Manziel to back-up Romo, I would lean more towards the 2015 team repeating themselves. Chemistry is an underrated thing in the game of football and guys like Hardy and Manziel hurt chemistry more than help it. Stay away Dallas. Stay far far away.
Denver Broncos
Why the Broncos will win the Super Bowl: They just won the Super Bowl. They can do it again as long as they keep that defense together.
Why the Broncos won't win the Super Bowl: The Broncos have a lot of free agents coming up this off-season and they will be a different team next year. John Elway put together this roster knowing they had a short window to win a Super Bowl in and they did exactly that. It wouldn't surprise me to see Denver let some of their free agents walk as they look to the draft to replace them. The Broncos should still be a good team next year, but I highly doubt they will repeat.
Detroit Lions
Why the Lions will win the Super Bowl: The Lions are arguably the worst ran NFL franchise in history (although the Cleveland Browns will gladly dispute that claim). They are due eventually, right? Next year is the year they finally cash in.
Why the Lions won't win the Super Bowl: Ignore everything I just said. The Lions aren't winning the Super Bowl next year. There's just no way. A return to the playoffs could happen, but there's no way a team with Jim Caldwell as their head coach is going all the way next season. "Megatron" isn't walking back through that door anytime soon.
Green Bay Packers
Why the Packers will win the Super Bowl: Even though he didn't have his best year this year, Aaron Rodgers is still one of the best (if not the best) players in the NFL when he's on. As long as Rodgers is the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, they are Super Bowl contenders.
Why the Packers won't win the Super Bowl: There will be an injury at some point during the season that changes the landscape of the Packers year. It seems to happen to them all the time. It might be Rodgers. It might be Jordy Nelson again. Or perhaps Eddie Lacy eats the team bus and they have to forfeit? I don't know. The Packers are always Super Bowl contenders and if they aren't next year, something really bad happened.
Houston Texans
Why the Texans will win the Super Bowl: The Texans were a playoff team this year and it's not that far-fetched of an idea that a playoff team from the previous season goes on to win the whole thing the next year. I know the Texans weren't THAT good this year, but you can never say never in the NFL.
Why the Texans won't win the Super Bowl: They don't have a QB. What do you need to win the Super Bowl in the NFL? A really good head coach. An elite defense. And a QB who is at least capable of being a "game manager" when called upon. The Texans don't currently have that guy on their roster.
Indianapolis Colts
Why the Colts will win the Super Bowl: After playing in the AFC championship game last year and signing some big-time free agents in the off-season, the Colts were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders this year. That didn't happen though. The wheels fell off the bus and everyone looked like they didn't know what they were doing now. However, the Colts still have Andrew Luck on their roster and even though he was garbage in 2015, I have high hopes that he'll get it turned around in 2016. If he does, that means trouble for the rest of the NFL.
Why the Colts won't win the Super Bowl: I still have a lot of bad taste left in my mouth from this Colts team in 2015. From that awful fake punt formation to the sudden downfall of Andrew Luck, I just don't know what to make of these guys going forward and if I was holding on to any Colts stock...I would gladly sell it for pennies on the dollar. Take it. TAKE IT ALL!
Jacksonville Jaguars
Why the Jaguars will win the Super Bowl: For those of you who haven't been paying attention to the Jaguars recently, this is a nice little young team they are building in Jacksonville. Guys like Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Blake Bortles are turning into nice little players. If they can continue to build chemistry and develop with each other and if the Jaguars can build a defense this off-season, they could make some noise next year. Say it with me people. "Jacksonville Jaguars. Super Bowl champions".
Why the Jaguars won't win the Super Bowl: Say it with me people. "Jacksonville Jaguars. Super Bowl champions." Sounds REALLY weird doesn't it? That's because it's never going to happen.
Kansas City Chiefs
Why the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl: The Chiefs got their first playoff win in over 20 years this season and then lost to the New England Patriots in a close game in the second-round of the playoffs. The Chiefs did this without their best offensive player (Jamaal Charles) and by playing tremendous defense all-season long. What if the Chiefs were healthy this year though? What if Kansas City had Jamaal Charles, Justin Houston, and Jeremy Maclin at 100% for the playoffs this year? They almost beat the Patriots without those guys. With them? They are Super Bowl contenders.
Why the Chiefs won't win the Super Bowl: Alex Smith and Andy Reid.
Los Angeles Rams
Why the Rams will win the Super Bowl: The Rams first year in Los Angeles is a great one. They debut in spectacular fashion by winning the Super Bowl. It's Los Angeles guys. Let's not put it past the "City of Angels" to somehow find a way to win a Super Bowl the first year they get an NFL team in over 20 years.
Why the Rams won't win the Super Bowl: They suck. And Jeff Fisher is an awful head coach. Go ahead and have Super Bowl dreams all you want Los Angeles. The rest of us will be laughing and pointing at you guys as Jeff Fisher leads you to another 8-8 or 7-9 season. YA BABY!
Miami Dolphins
Why the Dolphins will win the Super Bowl: With new head coach Adam Gase in town, everything finally clicks for the Dolphins. Ryan Tannehill has a career year and turns into one of the best QB's in the league. The defense finds a way to improve as the Dolphins do the unthinkable and knock the New England Patriots off their throne and not only claim the AFC East, but also claim a Super Bowl title. Ace Ventura is named the "Grand Master" of the Super Bowl parade and hilarity ensues.
Why the Dolphins won't win the Super Bowl: Let's be realistic here. The Dolphins won't win the Super Bowl next year. Their sights should be set on a return to the playoffs before they even dream of bringing home a Lombardi trophy. I think Miami will be an improved team next season (stop me if you've heard that one before), but if you're a Dolphins fan with Super Bowl dreams. You might want to build a time machine and go back to the early 70's.
Minnesota Vikings
Why the Vikings will win the Super Bowl: Good head coach. Good defense. Decent QB who should continue to improve. Another year together after a solid year this year which resulted in a playoff appearance. If the Vikings make the right moves this off-season, there's no reason they shouldn't be even better next season.
Why the Vikings won't win the Super Bowl: Regardless of how good the Vikings looked this year, they still have a lot of questions surrounding this team. And the biggest one is obviously "Is Teddy Bridgewater good enough to lead this team to a Super Bowl?" We all know he's good enough to get your team to the playoffs, but what can he do from there? In 28 NFL starts, he has 28 passing touchdowns. For you math geniuses out there, that's a touchdown a game. NFL experts seem split on the prospects of Bridgewater and we need to seem some improvement out of him next season. Until then, Minnesota isn't getting anywhere near the big game.
New England Patriots
Why the Patriots will win the Super Bowl: They're the Patriots. That's what they do.
Why the Patriots won't win the Super Bowl: Because there just so happened to be one or two better teams in the AFC. It happens sometimes. One thing we know for sure is, the Patriots will be Super Bowl contenders next year. The only question is, who can stop them from winning the Super Bowl?
New Orleans Saints
Why the Saints will win the Super Bowl: The Saints made a great move this off-season when they decided to retain the services of head coach Sean Payton. Payton is one of the best head coaches in the NFL and it would've been a death sentence for the Saints to let him go. As long as Payton and Drew Brees are in town, the Saints at least have a shot at winning the Super Bowl. Why? Because they've done it before and they can do it again.
Why the Saints won't win the Super Bowl: Come on now. Did you see this team play this year? The Saints are so far away on the defensive side of the ball from being a Super Bowl contender that it's not even funny. A good step in the right direction for New Orleans this off-season is to try and bring in as much defensive talent as possible. They'll need it before they can even think of anything close to a Super Bowl run.
New York Giants
Why the Giants will win the Super Bowl: Eli Manning. We don't know how he does it, but it seems like every so often, Eli Manning comes out of nowhere and wins a Lombardi trophy. Manning could potentially have his best offense yet next season in the NFL, so don't count the Giants out just yet.
Why the Giants won't win the Super Bowl: The Giants might be one of the best offensive teams in the NFL next season, but what about the other side of the ball? The Giants ranked DEAD LAST in the NFL in defense this last season and no matter what they do in the off-season, I can't see a big enough jump from that unit to make the Giants contenders for the Lombardi trophy. I hate to burst your bubble Giants fans, but that's the truth. Your defense sucks.
New York Jets
Why the Jets will win the Super Bowl: The New York Jets exceeded expectations this year when they went from fighting in the locker room in the pre-season to ALMOST making the playoffs at the end of the year. Who's to say the Jets can't exceed expectations once again under Todd Bowles and win it all next year? Who are you to doubt Todd Bowles? HUH?
Why the Jets won't win the Super Bowl: No QB. Ryan Fitzpatrick was a solid QB for the Jets this year, but in order for New York to take the next step, they need someone better behind center. Geno Smith is a bust and it would be wise for New York to move on from that failed experiment. The Jets need to draft a QB or go all-in for someone like Kirk Cousins before they even start to think of getting to a Super Bowl anytime soon.
Oakland Raiders
Why the Raiders will win the Super Bowl: Perhaps no team in the NFL this season showed as much improvement as the Raiders did. If Oakland can have another solid successful off-season, they might not only finally return to the playoffs next year, but they might return to the Super Bowl as well.
Why the Raiders won't win the Super Bowl: Let's be serious here folks. The Raiders aren't going anywhere near the Super Bowl next year. Let's take some baby steps and return to the playoffs first. It's been forever and a half since Oakland has played post-season football and that should be there goal for next year. If you're goal as a Raiders fan is the Super Bowl, you're going to be devastated.
Philadelphia Eagles
Why the Eagles will win the Super Bowl: New head coach Doug Pederson comes in and he's the best thing since sliced bread. Somehow he manages to fix Chip Kelly's mess and not only gets the Eagles back to the playoffs, but gets the Eagles all the way to the big game. Philadelphia fans everywhere celebrate by murdering the 76ers.
Why the Eagles won't win the Super Bowl: This roster is too much of a mess to be considered Super Bowl contenders. Everyone knows I love my boy Chip Kelly, but he did a number on this team as a personnel guy. It's going to take the Eagles a couple of off-seasons to right this ship. Maybe they can pull a trade with Kansas City and bring back Jeremy Maclin? Hey, that would be a step in the right direction....
Pittsburgh Steelers
Why the Steelers will win the Super Bowl: Ben Roethlisberger. Antonio Brown. Le'Veon Bell. Martavis Bryant. Need I go on? The Steelers have some of the nicest offensive pieces in the NFL. If they can all stay healthy for a full season, there's no reason to believe the Steelers couldn't become the team to beat in the NFL next year. The thought alone just scares the crap out of me.
Why the Steelers won't win the Super Bowl: Health reasons. Someone will get hurt and we won't get a chance to see that dynamic offense on the field all-year long like we want to. If that happens, we will likely get a repeat of this year. Close, but no cigar.
San Diego Chargers
Why the Chargers will win the Super Bowl: The Chargers have one of the top picks in the draft and with it, they draft a defensive player who makes an impact in the same fashion Von Miller has with the Broncos. On offense. Philip Rivers has a career year as the Chargers go from a 4-win team to a Super Bowl team and move to Los Angeles while flipping middle fingers to San Diego.
Why the Chargers won't win the Super Bowl: They suck. It seems like the owner is more concerned about WHERE the team will be playing football in the future than the actual football that's being played in the moment. Can we get Rivers on a Super Bowl contender so he can play the last remaining years on a good team? San Diego is far from that as they showed this year on the football field.
San Francisco 49ers
Why the 49ers will win the Super Bowl: We all know Chip Kelly can coach in the NFL. He has a winning record as a head coach in the league and the only thing stopping him from being successful in Philadelphia was the fact that he was a horrible GM. Now that "Chip Kelly The GM" has been retired, we can sit back and watch "Chip Kelly The Coach" do his work. Kelly enters San Francisco and immediately turns them around in the fashion that Jim Harbaugh did. Chip Kelly and Jim Harbaugh have been called the "same person" by anyone who has ever met the two of them. That's a good omen for San Francisco fans.
Why the 49ers won't win the Super Bowl: I love Chip Kelly, but there's no way he's turning this shitastic roster into a winner in just one season. It's going to take some time. However, call me in 2017 and I might feel a hell of a lot different about the 49ers Super Bowl situation. Right now it's not good though.
Seattle Seahawks
Why the Seahawks will win the Super Bowl: Russell Wilson. Pete Carroll. Defense.
Why the Seahawks won't win the Super Bowl: They've lost too much talent over the years (the bad side of winning a Super Bowl) and I'm just not sure they still have what it takes to get to the big game and win it all. The NFL's salary cap can be a team-killing son of a bitch.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Why the Buccaneers will win the Super Bowl: Jameis Winston looks like the real deal. Doug Martin somehow returned to his glory days last season. The Buccaneers also have young playmakers Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins looking like they are ready to blossom into stars as well. With new head coach Dirk Koetter running things, the Tampa Bay offense may be a thing of beauty next season. If the defense can find a way to get it together, why can't the Buccaneers find a way to win the Lombardi Trophy in Winston's second year in the league?
Why the Buccaneers won't win the Super Bowl: They still aren't good enough. Even though I expect the offense to be significantly better next season, I have a whole lot of question marks regarding Tampa Bay's defense. The Bucs were 7th in the league in points allowed this year and if they can't find a way to fix that, they may miss out on the playoffs once again next season.
Tennessee Titans
Why the Titans will win the Super Bowl: Marcus Mariota. He's the greatest thing since the invention of the DVR and it's only a matter of time before he starts adding Super Bowl rings to his legacy.
Why the Titans won't win the Super Bowl: They are awful. When I say awful, I mean awful. From head-to-toe they have one of the worst rosters in the NFL and things aren't going to get better anytime soon. They do have the first pick in the NFL Draft so they have the chance to add another significant piece to the puzzle (or multiple significant pieces if they wish to trade the pick, which I would do) this off-season. Unfortunately their owner situation is one of the worst in the NFL as well, so they will likely end up ruining the draft pick and the career of Marcus Mariota.
Washington Redskins
Why the Redskins will win the Super Bowl: They re-sign Kirk Cousins and he suddenly turns into a top-5 NFL QB. YOU LIKE THAT WASHINGTON FANS? I bet you do.
Why the Redskins won't win the Super Bowl: They let Kirk Cousins go in free agency because they just don't think he's good enough. The Redskins are then left scrambling for a replacement until JOHNNY MANZIEL shows up in town and makes everyone in D.C. want to kill themselves. YOU LIKE THAT?
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