The Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl last year, but it really felt like the Cincinnati Bengals were the story of the 2021 season. This team rebounded from early losses to the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets to not only win AFC North for the first time since 2015, but also make it all the way to Super Bowl LVI.
While Cincy ultimately failed, much of the NFL world now views this franchise very differently than it did last year. Which NFL team will shock in 2022? There are a few young quarterbacks who may be ready to burst, and a few teams who will be much better than people expect.
What does “shock” mean? Well, for this list, we won’t be using any of the teams that Caesars Sportsbook has in the top 10 shortest Super Bowl odds. Teams like the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, for example, finished last in their respective divisions in 2021, but many expect them to be contenders in 2022. Let’s talk about some real sleepers in the NFL this season.
I’m high on this team and will bet them at +105 to make the playoffs. One of the main reasons people don’t seem to be excited about the Saints from a national perspective is that they lost head coach Sean Payton. No doubt it’s a loss, but Dennis Allen is a good replacement. He has been with the organization for seven seasons and is the defensive coordinator who has beaten Tom Brady four straight in the regular season since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This defense may be a top five unit, but I’m excited about the offense. New Orleans’ leading wide receivers in Week 1 of last year were Deonte Harty, Marquez Callaway and Chris Hogan. Now the Saints have added Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave, and Michael Thomas is back healthy. Some may see this as a non-serious stat since he only started seven games last year before getting injured, but Jameis Winston had the fourth-best winning percentage of any starting quarterback in Week 1 of the year. last. He’s not the same flagger with poor eyesight who threw 30 interceptions with a broken thumb on his throwing hand and a torn meniscus in 2019. Add in the versatile Alvin Kamara to go along with the revamped passing game, and this team is ready to shock.
There are plenty of reasons to believe the Dolphins could shock the NFL world in 2022. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has new weapons in Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson Jr., a revamped offensive line with the additions of Connor Williams and Terron Armstead, a new running back duo. in Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert, then a spirited defense with fun plays such as Jevon Holland and Jaelan Phillips. However, probably the most significant, and most intriguing, addition is head coach Mike McDaniel.
The Yale graduate is one of those now-stereotypical potential offensive prodigies who could make an immediate impact as a head coach. McDaniel made a name for himself by plotting one of the NFL’s most successful rushing attacks during his time with the San Francisco 49ers. With total control over a talented roster that has missed the playoffs by just one game two years in a row now, the Dolphins could shock the NFL world this season.
This Vikings team wasn’t great last year. Despite starting 1-3, Minnesota finished 8-9 and beat a few teams in the playoffs. It was probably time to move on from Mike Zimmer, and Kevin O’Connell is another of the young offensive minds people are high on. With tools to work with like Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook, we got to see an impressive campaign from Kirk Cousins - who actually hung out with O’Connell during his days in Washington.
Another reason the Vikings will have the opportunity to shock the NFL world is that the Green Bay Packers could take a step back from their 13 wins. No one is quick to bet against Aaron Rodgers, but without Davante Adams in the fold, can this attack be as effective? I’m saying the Vikings are a playoff team, and maybe they can do a bit of a run late in the season.
The second NFC South team on this list. I don’t know about you, but I think I’m starting to find myself supporting Baker Mayfield. I don’t guarantee he’s a franchise quarterback, but I think most of the NFL world would like to see him thrive in his new situation. I mean, a former No. 1 overall pick who brought a franchise its first playoff victory since Jan. 1, 1995 has been supplanted by a quarterback who hasn’t played in a year and a half, but remained in the headlines due to off-pitch allegations.
If you know anything about the kind of player Mayfield is, his competitive fire is one of his best qualities. I will never forget watching Kansas football players make the decision not to shake hands with Mayfield and his Oklahoma team before a November 2017 game. Mayfield spent the next few hours on a tear at the limit of fear. From the field, he threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-3 bombardment. During his time on the sidelines, Mayfield shouted and gestured towards the Kansas players, while tweeting at the Kansas fans who were in attendance. College commentators at the time claimed it would affect his draft status, but it was likely seen as a beneficial thing for some NFL general managers. Wouldn’t it be great to get this Mayfield when the Panthers face his former team the Cleveland Browns this Sunday?
Seriously, a healthy Mayfield is an automatic upgrade for the Panthers. Christian McCaffrey is back healthy – hopefully – DJ Moore is a big wide, the offensive line has been improved with free agent additions and the defense has a few dogs. I don’t see a situation where Carolina could clinch the division crown, but I can’t put my finger on what the ceiling is for this team. Maybe the Panthers could create shockwaves with a rejuvenated quarterback to prove he’s one of the best.
I can’t say the Cardinals are my first choice for a team to shock the world in 2022, but it’s interesting how most people think they’ll take a significant step back this season. They have worse Super Bowl odds than teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts, and the same odds as the Browns! Since the Cardinals hired Kliff Kingsbury as head coach, Arizona has improved its win total by three each season and improved its final division standings each season. The Cards finished last in the NFC West in 2019, third in 2020 and second in 2021 with an 11-6 record. What happens in 2022?
The Cardinals are increasingly notorious for their quick starts and slow finishes, and not having superstar DeAndre Hopkins for a third of the year will hurt. Arizona came out and acquired Marquise Brown, however, who helped Murray win the Heisman Trophy during their time together in Oklahoma. The NFC West is one of the top divisions in football, but I don’t think it’s fair to count the Cardinals given Kingsbury’s track record of improving Arizona every season. For the Rams, repeating as Super Bowl champions is rare, and the 49ers are going through a quarterback change. Maybe we’re all shocked by the Cardinals in 2022.