Every year, at least three teams that didn’t make the playoffs the previous season re-join the postseason picture. And you can pretty much guarantee that’ll be the case again in 2015.
Miami Dolphins: We get the feeling someone other than the New England Patriots will rise up in the AFC East, and although the Buffalo Bills are a temptation, Miami’s the only team among those three “others” that has a solid quarterback. Ryan Tannehill has improved markedly in three consecutive seasons and could be on the verge of a breakout fourth campaign. The Dolphins also made a splash in free agency, highlighted by the signing of All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. A team that went 8-8 last year should move its win total into the double digits in 2015.
New York Giants: The NFC East is up for grabs on an annual basis and patterns suggest it’s New York’s turn. After all, the Giants won the Super Bowl in both 2007 and 2011. Do the math. Beyond silly stuff like that, though, it’s scary to think how good this Big Blue offense could be in Eli Manning’s second year under quarterback-friendly offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. Behind what has become a superb offensive line, without system growing pains and with Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz both presumably healthy, Manning could be on the verge of the best year of his career. And if that’s the case, the G-Men should be back in the playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings: During the final five weeks of his rookie season, Teddy Bridgewater was the league’s second-highest-rated qualified passer, behind only Tony Romo. He completed 72.1 percent of his passes and averaged 8.8 yards per attempt, winning three of five games during that span. Add Mike Wallace to the offense and some solid rookies to the defense and Minnesota should have the ingredients to make a run at a wild-card spot in 2015.
