Six Teams that could make the Playoffs in '09

With the parity that exists in the NFL today every team has hope that they can make the playoffs at the start of the season.  Last year saw the Dolphins and the Falcons both finish 11-5 and made the playoffs after winning four games combined in 2007.  As for 2009 here are six teams that I think can make the playoffs after missing them in 2008.

New England Patriots- The Patriots are an easy pick to make it back to the playoffs.  They went 11-5 last season in doing so became the first team since 1985 to do.  They did all of that without star quarterback Tom Brady who is set to come back from injury after getting injured in Week 1 of last season.  The Pats threw in a seventh round quarterback who hadn’t started a game since high school and they went 11-5.  I’d expect better this year with a future hall of famer at quarterback.

Chicago Bears- The Bears nearly made the playoffs last year with Kyle Orton and made the Super Bowl in 2006 with Rex Grossman at quarterback.  Enter Jay Cutler.  The franchises first great quarterback in decades.  The presence of Cutler should make their receivers better especially Greg Olsen who could have a breakout year.  The Bears also improved their offensive line adding Orlando Pace and getting 2008 first round pick Chris Williams back from injury.  Matt Forte had a great year last year as a rookie and should be even better this year with the improved o-line.  Their defense while not as good as it was a couple of years ago is still formidable.  Also the NFC North is average at best.

San Francisco 49ers- The 49ers finished the 2008 season with a 7-9 record but went 5-4 after Mike Singletary took over as head coach and won five of their last seven games.  With a full season with Singletary as coach the 49ers should improve.  They started to buy in to what he was preaching and it showed at the end of last season.  Also the 49ers fired Mike Martz, their offensive coordinator, and should become more of a smash mouth football team which plays to their strengths with Frank Gore at running back.  Also the 49ers started J.T. O’Sullivan last season before replacing him with Shaun Hill who now has a 7-3 career record and a 90.5 QB rating.  They also selected Michael Crabtree in the draft who should come in right away and contribute.  The 49ers should come into this season with a different attitude and can win the NFC West which is up for grabs.

New York Jets- The Jets looked destined for the playoffs last year before a late season collapse that cost Eric Mangini his job.  The Jets hired Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan to take Mangini’s position.  Ryan will bring a attacking, aggressive defense to the Jets which they lacked last year. Ryan also brought along Bart Scott and Jim Leohard over from Baltimore to help ease the defensive transition.  In the draft the Jets traded up to get quarterback Mark Sanchez.  Sanchez is not guaranteed the starting job but Ryan has hinted at it and was of big supporter of Joe Flacoo starting last year in Baltimore.  The Jets want to run the ball a lot and have a three headed monster in Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and Shonn Greene which should help make it take some pressure off Sanchez.  The Jets have all the ingredients of a playoff team but it will come down to the play of the quarterback.

New Orleans Saints- The Saints finished 8-8 in 2008 but finished last in a competitive NFC South division.  Like usual the Saints defense was the teams weak point last season.  In the off season the Saints were aggressive in upgrading their secondary.  They signed Jabari Greer and Darren Sharper and also drafted Malcolm Jenkins and Chip Vaughn.  All should play an important role this season and two of them will probably start.  They also resigned their best defender Jonathan Vilma to a contract extension making sure he’ll be there for awhile.  Their offense was great last year but has the potential to be even better next year.  Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, and Jeremy Shockey who are arguably their three best skill position players all missed significant time last season.  The Saints have the talent they just need their defense to improve slightly and they can make the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals- I’m going out on a limb with this one but you would have laughed at anyone that said the Dolphins of Falcons would make the playoffs this past year.  The Bengals could be that team this year.  Carson Palmer was injured for most of last year and they had to play with Ryan Fitzpatrick.  With Palmer back and a rejuvenated Chad Ocho Cinco and Cedric Benson, who looked good running the ball late last season, their offense can be explosive.  Their defense should be somewhat better with the addition of Rey Maualuga and if they can get decent pass rush their defense should improve.  I’m not saying it will happen but watch out for the Bengals as a sleeper team in 2009.