Last week we looked at some college football sleepers that were worth a shot with future prices. With NFL training camps opening, we will turn our attention to the pros and take a look at a couple teams that may surprise this season and make a Super Bowl run.
Atlanta Falcons (+2000)
The Falcons went 11-5 in 2008 and made it to the playoffs before losing to eventual NFC Champion Arizona. Last year it was another winning season at 9-7 but it wasn’t enough to make it back to the postseason. I see a big bounceback in 2010 as injuries played a big role in the step back from the prior season.
Quarterback Matt Ryan missed two games while running back Michael Turner missed five games and those two components are huge for the offense to succeed. Defensively, the Falcons need to continue to stuff the run as they had their best season since 2006 in that category, allowing 107 ypg on 4.0 ypc. An improvement would is out of the question.
Atlanta needs to get past defending Super Bowl Champions New Orleans obviously to make any move. The rest of the division is soft and the remainder of the schedule is in their favor. The Falcons open at Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh and they also catch Cleveland, St. Louis and Seattle on the road, all of which are very winnable.
Cincinnati Bengals (+5000)
Cincinnati went three straight seasons without a playoff berth until it broke through last season before being shown an early exit. The Bengals were a team that won when they weren’t supposed to and lost when they weren’t supposed to so finding their identity will be the first test.
Defensively, the Bengals were one of the best and most improved units in the league last season and if they can keep that up, they will be a player. Quarterback Carson Palmer is one of the top signal callers when healthy and the recent signings of receivers Antonio Bryant and Terrell Owens to go along with Chad Ochocinco will make the passing game one of the best.
Granted the Bengals play in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL so it won’t be easy. They catch Pittsburgh both times after Roethlisberger is back but the Steelers may already be done by then. The Ravens are the class on the division but that defense is not getting any younger. It is a longshot but I feel the value here with Cincinnati is worth a shot.
Matt Fargo is a Professional handicapper at Covers Experts, where “We only make money when you do”.