Six NFL teams poised to surge in 2016

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Six NFL teams poised to surge in 2016

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Rachel Wold9 hrs ago

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© Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports Will a healthy Joe Flacco help the Ravens rebound from a disastrous 2015 season? Not every NFL team finished the 2015 season in the position they intended last September.

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Player injuries or superior competition within their own divisions forced certain NFL teams to stumble and ultimately kiss their playoff chances goodbye.
A new season brings new hope, though. Several key players that were injured last year (including star quarterbacks) are slated to return, and the picture for some ailing teams appears to be much brighter. On top of that, shrewd free agency moves have the following six teams poised to rebound in 2016.

Baltimore Ravens
© Andy Lyons/Getty Images Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 29, 2013 in Cincinnati. The Ravens were dealt several rounds of hard knocks in 2015 that eventually led to a dismal 5-11 record.
Among season-ending injuries to various players such as Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith Sr. and Justin Forsett, quarterback Joe Flacco also missed games for the first time ever after sustaining a torn ACL in Week 10.
Sweeping the past behind and looking ahead to the 2016 season, Flacco claims he is “on track for training camp,” according to Garrett Dowling of the team’s official website.
Flacco’s recovery process will be aided by the fact that the Ravens adding several impactful players such as Mike Wallace, Benjamin Watson and Eric Weddle during free agency.
Speaking about Wallace as a new weapon in the outfield, Flacco enthusiastically endorsed his new weapon:

“I plan on him having a huge impact. I think he’s a talented guy. He can run, he can catch, he can do a lot of things. I’m planning on him coming in here and having a big impact on our football team and helping us win a lot of games,” per Dowling.

Smith Sr. and Forsett are slated to return as well as second-year receiver Breshad Perriman. Furthermore, the Ravens have nine total 2016 draft picks to bolster the roster, including seven within the first four rounds.

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Dallas Cowboys
© Tom Pennington/Getty Images Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys talks with Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys between plays against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half of their preseason game at AT&T Stadium on Aug. 16 in Arlington, Texas. Last year’s 4-12 Cowboys were a far cry from the team’s 2014 playoff season.
Double collarbone breaks for quarterback Tony Romo that kept him sidelined for 12 games were the major downer of the season. On top of that, wide receiver Dez Bryant missed seven games due to a broken foot.
This all looks to change when the Cowboys get Romo back in 2016. After a surgical procedure to his neck, Romo is already throwing just 30 days post-operation.

#Cowboys QB Tony Romo tells us he's feeling good & has begun throwing - just 30 days after surgery. @1053thefanpic.twitter.com/L4uzEWiBb1
— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) April 8, 2016

Optimistic about the upcoming season, owner Jerry Jones commented on the team’s current roster and NFL Draft, via Rob Phillips of the team’s official website.

“I think our biggest improvement – and I’m not trying to be trite – will be a healthy (Tony) Romo and a healthy (Dez) Bryant. And having (Orlando) Scandrick. That’ll be our biggest improvement. Then I would say probably draft, as far as an impact.­­”

Free agency signings such as running back Alfred Morris, defensive tackle Cedric Thornton and defensive end Benson Mayowa only look to enhance depth at critical positions.
With more wins realistic in 2016, the big question as to how the Cowboys will address their backup to Romo will be a storyline to follow in the upcoming months.

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Jacksonville Jaguars
© AJ Mast/AP Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Trent Cole (58) chases New York Jets running back Chris Ivory (33) in the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. At times last season, the Jaguars (5-11), looked more like contenders rather than pretenders on the field. After all, the team recorded the 10th-most passing yards in the league while a pair of young wide receivers posted record-setting numbers.
Unfortunately, on the other side of the field Jacksonville’s pass defense was extremely porous. By the season’s end, the unit allowed the second-most points (28), along with 375 total yards per game to the opposition.
Working fiercely to improve their soft defense, the Jaguars made some impressive free agent signings that look to have an immediate impact.
New to beef up the squad are defensive end Malik Jackson, cornerback Prince Amukamara and safety Tashaun Gipson. Furthermore, second-year defensive end Dante Fowler will return after missing his entire rookie season due to an ACL tear.
The team also has the fifth pick in the upcoming draft to potentially target a top defensive rookie prospect.
To balance out the offense, the Jags signed veteran running back Chris Ivory, who should immediately improve the Jag’s 27th-ranked rush attack.
Needless to say, the Jaguars could be that dark horse team that sneaks up to bite its AFC South competition in the butt this fall.

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Indianapolis Colts
© Sam Riche/AP Photo Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck throws against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL preseason football game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. Speaking of the AFC South, the Colts will hopefully rebound to championship-contention status with the much-needed return of quarterback Andrew Luck.
Had Luck been completely healthy and played all last season, it is left to question whether the Colts would have been the Wild Card team playing the Kansas City Chiefs rather than the Houston Texans this past January.
Nevertheless, with Luck back to pass to his slew of young receivers, the Colts offense should be running more smoothly than it was last year under multiple backups. With the exception of last season, Luck has yet to miss a postseason.
To better protect his franchise quarterback from sustaining injuries this year, head coach Chuck Pagano said that Luck will work on changing his playing style. And, Luck himself admitted he needs to play more safely according to Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports.

“There’s a time and a place for taking a hit; I’m not going to apologize in that sense, because sometimes it’s appropriate. But sliding is something I need to improve on, but we’ve talked about that before. It’s no secret.”

Luck remaining upright is integral to the Colts success. Therefore it is highly suspected the Colts will use a couple of early-round draft picks to target some enhancements for the offensive line.

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New York Giants
© Julio Cortez/AP Photo New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) comes down with a pass in the end zone against the Washington Redskins during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. While the Giants offense ranked No. 8 in the league in 2015, its defense finished dead-last, allowing its opponents a whopping 420.3 yards and 27.6 points per game.
Because of this, the Giants finished in third place in the NFC East with only six wins. Aggressively putting a plan into attack to strengthen its defense, the team signed some big-name players in free agency.
With a generous amount of cap space, the Giants were able to lure some big fish, including Oliver Vernon, Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison, Keenan Robinson and Kelvin Sheppard. These additions will help Jason Pierre-Paul, who will be returning with his hand in better shape than it was last year due to his fireworks accident.
On offense, wideout Victor Cruz should return to work in tandem with stud receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
If the G-Men’s improved defense can stop allowing opposing teams to get away with the farm, the Giants could force a power struggle within their division.

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Oakland Raiders
© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Dec 28, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) scores on a 49-yard interception return in the fourth quarter against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 20-6 to clinch the NFC West division title. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Looking to improve on their 7-9 season, the Raiders made some prudent free agency moves that could pay off sweetly in 2016.
Reinforcing their offensive line to keep quarterback Derek Carr protected, the team acquired guard Kelechi Osemele from Baltimore and re-signed tackle Donald Penn. To tighten up their defense, the Raiders added linebacker Bruce Irvin from Seattle and cornerback Sean Smith formerly of Kansas City.
And most recently, the Raiders smartly secured safety Reggie Nelson, responsible for a career-high eight interceptions in 2015.

2nd INT of the game?
Couldn't have come at a better time.
Now he'll be sealing games for the @RAIDERS. https://t.co/nwuS22dOLO
— NFL (@NFL) April 6, 2016

The Raiders also will select at No. 14, and have a total of eight draft picks to enhance their roster later this month.
After watching the Raiders offense improve immensely last season while Carr turned heads, the team appears to be poised for advanced success in 2016.

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