Ranking which NFL teams can pull off worst-to-first turnaround

Jim Reineking Paste BN

Last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars − a team that had picked at the top of consecutive drafts¹ − overcame the odds and pulled off a worst-to-first turnaround.

They even won a playoff game!²

Which last-place finisher from the 2022 season is most likely to win their division this season after finishing last in 2022? Paste BN Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz ranks the eight candidates:

1. New York Jets: The arrival of a certain psychedelic advocating quarterback³ immediately transforms this team into a legitimate AFC contender.

2. Atlanta Falcons: There are no established contenders that call the NFC South home, and eight wins might be all that's needed to secure hosting rights for a wild-card contest.

3. Chicago Bears: Chicago gets pushed up this list merely by being in the NFC North, as the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are both in transition and the Detroit Lions can't be considered a lock in the unfamiliar role of front-runner.

4. Cleveland Browns: The offense has the talent and stability to be one of the league's more productive units, and the defense should be invigorated by coordinator Jim Schwartz simplifying things for Myles Garrett and Co.

5. Washington Commanders: Second-year quarterback Sam Howell has shown a playmaking flair. New offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy seems like a good candidate to help Howell tap into that ability while not overburdening his young signal-caller.

6. Denver Broncos: The first order of business needs to be ending that unsightly 15-game skid against the Kansas City Chiefs. Only then can Denver entertain the possibility of making an actual push for the AFC West perch.

7. Houston Texans: After treading water with two one-and-done coaches and enduring Davis Mills behind center for the last two seasons, the Texans finally look poised for a proper relaunch.

8. Arizona Cardinals: If Kyler Murray can make an expedited return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last December, the Cardinals at least have a hope to be somewhat competitive against the league's middle- and bottom-tier teams.

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¹ Teams owning the No. 1 overall draft pick in consecutive years has happened seven times since the advent of the "Player Selection Meeting'" in 1936: Jacksonville Jaguars (2021-22), Cleveland Browns (twice, 1999-2000 and 2017-28), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (twice, 1976-77 and 1986-87), Chicago Cardinals (1939-40) and Philadelphia Eagles (1936-37).
² The Jaguars erased a 27-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers. Al Michaels was criticized for his low-key call of one of the biggest playoff comebacks in NFL history. Only the Buffalo Bills' 32-point comeback against the Houston Oilers in a 1992 wild-card game and the Indianapolis Colts' 28-point comeback against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 2013 wild-card game are larger than the Jaguars' rally.
³ Aaron Rodgers was the keynote speaker for the Psychedelic Science 2023 convention in Denver last Wednesday.

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