Who's Next?: 10 Teams on the Brink of Breaking Through for Titles
Winning in sports isn't guaranteed. It's not easy to simply band together as a franchise and go after a championship. But year in and year out, this phenomenon continues to happen, putting smiles on the faces of fans everywhere.
With the Chicago Cubs officially ending a 108-year drought and capturing the 2016 World Series, the time to look toward the future is now. Across all of sports, we wanted to use statistics, wins, losses, the ability to persevere and more to answer one question: Who's next?
Some obvious choices are missing like the New England Patriots, Chicago Blackhawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. Why? Because wanted to explore a few "under-the-radar" clubs instead of strictly searching for powerhouses.
Next up is our detailed look at 10 teams on the brink of winning a championship.
Honorable Mentions
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A list of potential contenders can't simply end at 10. With that in mind, here's a look at a few honorable mentions. These are teams also on the brink of making a championship run.
- Atlanta Falcons
- Chelsea
- Washington Nationals
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Montreal Canadiens
- Boston Red Sox
Liverpool
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The Premier League saw a break from reality last season when Leicester City somehow captured the title after a hectic ride. It was a stunning turnaround for the program, and in many ways it worked due to the fact some of the more traditional teams got pushed toward the middle of the standings.
The start of the 2016-17 campaign is starting to reflect more of a "standard" Premier League season. Counting down the top-five ranked teams, shows Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and at the top, Liverpool.
We're a long way out from crowning a winner, but Liverpool has looked shockingly good thus far. Manager Jurgen Klopp's tactical decisions have turned the Reds into an offensive force.
Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho explained how Klopp's mind works, per Chris Shaw of LiverpoolFC.com. "The manager asks us to move a lot and that’s what we tried to do in the game and create space for our teammates."
Being on the cusp of a title is big for this club. Liverpool has never won the Premier League since it formed in 1992—to be fair, they have captured 19 league titles prior. This year, the way they're playing could finally turn those Premier League dreams into reality.
Oakland Raiders
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All of the misconceptions and any doubt you may have had for the Oakland Raiders has come crashing down this season, as the Silver and Black have forged on to lead the AFC West.
With a 7-2 record, Oakland has become a team built on the back of a dynamic offense and viable coaching. Quarterback Derek Carr has led the way, completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,505 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman dubbed the Raiders "A real, hardcore Super Bowl threat" after defeating the Denver Broncos in Week 9. It's all been surreal to watch. Under Jack Del Rio, the Raiders have already match their win total from 2015. If things hold up, there's no reason to believe the Raiders couldn't make a championship push.
Whether it happens this year or next, the Raiders have finally become a contender once again and have a shot to make the postseason for the first time since 2002.
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Los Angeles Clippers
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Don't look now, but the Los Angeles Clippers are 6-1, tied for the best record in the Western Conference.
With all of the media attention being thrown toward the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and in some ways, Russell Westbrook's Oklahoma City Thunder, the Clippers have glided out to a hot start in a forgotten capacity.
Blake Griffin has stepped back into an offensive role, averaging 19.3 points per game. DeAndre Jordan remains a defensive stalwart, posting 12 rebounds per contest and two blocks, and both guys have continued an elevated sense of play thanks to Chris Paul.
The veteran's 19.3 points, 8.6 assists and 3.3 steals per game have once again thrust him toward the top of the pack when it comes to NBA guards.
The 2016-17 NBA season is young, and Los Angeles isn't promised anything. With Golden State and the San Antonio Spurs in the mix, the hunt for a title will be forged on consistency and veteran leadership. However, it is a promising sign to see L.A. battling for the top seed in the West.
Dallas Cowboys
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A lasting injection of youth within the Dallas Cowboys organization has sparked an unprecedented 7-1 start. Blame Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott for the damage. The combination of these two rookies has created something unique in Dallas: an offense devoid of Tony Romo.
"The fans are dreaming of Super Bowl LI after a championship drought of 21 years," ESPN.com's Todd Archer wrote. Why wouldn't they be? Dallas is 7-1. They are on top of the NFC East by two games—the Giants have a 5-3 record.
In terms of great teams in the NFC, Dallas and the Atlanta Falcons are the only ones worth mentioning. Even if 2016 isn't the year they break the Super Bowl drought, Prescott and Elliott's energy and youth are good signs for the future.
Dallas is fighting to be the best team in the NFC, even if owner Jerry Jones won't admit it. "Oh, I wouldn't dare make that comparison," he told Archer. Dreaming of future championships isn't that far off. The Cowboys appear to be a team trending in the right direction.
Edmonton Oilers
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It can't be possible, can it? The Edmonton Oilers, a team that won 31 games last year, are actually in contention for an NHL title. At 9-3-1, the Oilers lead the NHL Pacific Division and look like they have enough ammunition to at least reach the postseason.
A championship might be out of the picture right now, but we've seen growth and firepower come from all angles, as ESPN's Craig Custance touched on after the Oilers beat the Detroit Red Wings. "These Oilers won 2-1 to improve to 9-3-1 on the season. It’s as gutsy a win as a team can have at this point in the season. It’s a great indicator that the Oilers have learned to grind a bit, that this team is unlike previous versions."
Down the road, this Oilers team has a legit shot to become a powerhouse, mainly thanks to the logistical support of Connor McDavid—he's tied at No. 4 for points scored this season.
Barring any critical setbacks, the Oilers are starting to look like a team skating toward the brink of dominance. And that is a great sign for the future of NHL supremacy.
Cleveland Indians
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The Cleveland Indians might have fallen short to the Chicago Cubs in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, but they shouldn't be discounted moving forward.
This is a young team built on good pitching and power hitting. Kind of like the Kansas City Royals did a year after they lost the World Series to San Francisco Giants, the Indians have enough of a core to bounce back and capture the trophy they missed out on.
ESPN senior writer Jerry Crasnick explained why he believes the Indians could be even better in '17, pointing to a checklist of sorts. From a great closer, to salary-cap management and a strong nucleus of talent, Cleveland has all of the tools needed to make another World Series run.
Washington Capitals
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It feels like with each passing season, the Washington Capitals are close to breaking through and finally winning Lord Stanley's Cup. Then, things fall apart and they are never able to complete the mission.
The team has historically performed well since the start of the Alexander Ovechkin era began in 2005. Eleven years into this glorious run of goal-scoring and points, the Capitals have reached the postseason eight times.
Despite consistent success, the Capitals have never reached the Stanley Cup Final.
The 2016-17 season looks like it's going to be another playoff year for the Caps. The team is currently 8-2-1.
With Ovechkin leading the way, the time to win is now. The Eastern Conference is full of great teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. In order to succeed, Washington will have to stay the course and use their prior postseason experience to come up big in the playoffs.
New York Mets
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Pitching in baseball can be directly correlated to World Series wins. If nothing else, the New York Mets have fantastic pitching.
Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz have become a core of blistering arms in New York's rotation. The Mets have to rely on these guys to come together and take over baseball if they want to succeed. Relying on these arms is above and beyond the team's best shot at winning their first World Series title since 1986.
If we're to believe pitching can turn into a championship, then the Mets have to be a team considered on the brink. Just two years removed from missing out on a World Series title, 2017 is shaping up to be a big year for the Metropolitans thanks to a group of young arms.
Kansas City Chiefs
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The job Andy Reid has done since taking over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013 has been nothing short of remarkable. Reid's never experienced a losing season since '13, registering two seasons with 11 wins and one with nine. Kansas City has grown into a consistent performer behind his excellent leadership.
This year, the Chiefs sit at 6-2. They're one game back of the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West, and currently the No. 1 seed in the Wild Card picture. Another year of Reid-inspired football has meant another year of big wins.
Is it feasible to think the Chiefs could actually win the Super Bowl come February 2017? From a statistics-driven perspective, the answer is yes.
Kansas City leads the NFL in team interceptions and ranks No. 8 in points allowed per game. Their defense is good enough to contend for a title, and they haven't even had the luxury of Justin Houston's edge-rushing services this season—though he could be back soon, per NFL.com's Conor Orr.
Offensively they have a quarterback allergic to turning the football over—Alex Smith has two interceptions this year—and a running game which has seen Spencer Ware turn into a capable dual-threat option in the absence of Jamaal Charles.
Kansas City has done a lot with somewhat of a makeshift lineup, and Reid deserves a lot of the credit. He's put the Chiefs in a position to win a title simply by edging them closer to the postseason.
New York Rangers
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The New York Rangers are knocking on the door of a dominant season. At 10-3, this club has transformed the way they play, dismantling their competition by scoring a league-leading 55 goals.
We've seen a capable offense turn into a firestorm of pucks being flung into the back of the net. Balance has been a conveying message, with six players having scored five goals or more, including Michael Grabner and Kevin Hayes.
If this holds up, it's tough to picture the Rangers going away. They are full of offensive weapons and defensively, they've held up well, allowing just 29 goals.
It's a recipe for sustainable success. The way things are going right now, the Rangers are definitely a team on the brink of a championship.
All stats, box scores and information via Sports-Reference.com, unless noted otherwise.
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