2018 NFL Season: Ranking Likeliest Worst-to First Teams
By Erik Lambert
#6: New York Giants
Dave Gettleman shut the door on the future like a submarine taking a deep dive. He’s made it clear every intention moving forward is to squeeze every last drop of success they can from Eli Manning while he’s still there in New York. It’s why the Giants invested so heavily in Saquon Barkley and the offensive line this off-season. Manning has more weapons around him now than he’s had in a long time. If the defense can make a quick transition to a 3-4 alignment, it might just be possible for them to surprise people. After all, it’s not like they’re intimidated by Dallas or Philadelphia.
#5: San Francisco 49ers
They were the hot name to buy into after how 2017 ended. The 49ers ran off six-straight victories with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm, leading many to think they’re going all the way next year. Of course, logic has since set in. The 49ers finished strong but that was aided by an easier schedule. They still have plenty to prove before people take them seriously and it’s fair to wonder how much of that success was driven by Garoppolo. Still, this is a young team brimming with confidence. The NFC West isn’t the powerhouse it was a few years ago either.