Doormats No More: Five NFL Teams to Watch Out For in 2010

Every fan does it.  Before the season starts, we all take a long look at our favorite teams schedule and begin the "We'll win this one, this game'll be tough, we should be able to take those guys, etc, etc."  

The problem with this is, teams don't always live up to expectations, the injury bug strikes and bad teams are overlooked which lead to upset victories. 

While you should still be able to circle the Jaguars, Rams and Bills as wins for your team (or maybe not?)  the following are a list of teams not to be so quick to count out in 2010.  All might make the playoffs, or none, but regardless of final records, teams should circle these teams as "easy wins" no longer.

Seattle Seahawks

Many experts pick to have a turnaround season last year under Mike Holmgren's coach in waiting, Jim Mora Jr, the 'Hawks just never lived up to expectations and failed to produce a consistent running game.

Mora Jr. even went on a mini tantrum after week three when kicker Olindo Mare missed two field goals in a game in which they eventually lost to the Chicago Bears by six points. 

While many thought the game would cost Mare his roster spot, it was actually Mora who has been relieved of his duties (Mare didn't miss a kick the rest of the year and remains the starting kicker).

Enter longtime USC coach Pete Carroll who brings a more relaxed atmosphere to a team in desperate need of it.

Seattle also had one of the best drafts of any NFL team, upgrading the offensive line, wide recieving core and secondary with picks Russell Okung, Golden Tate, and Earl Thomas. 

Leon Washington was brought in to bolster a running game featuring promsing third year back Justin Forsett.

Add in a possible acqusition of Vincent Jackson combined with playing in a weak division, and the Seahawks should be soaring above .500 this year.

Miami Dolphins

While nobody may be chalking the Dolphins up as an automatic win, they are often forgotten by members of the media for sharing a division with the Jets and Patriots.

Yes, we all know there's a new Marshall in town, but Miami made a lot of other improvements over the course of the off season. 

All but one of the Phins draft picks were spent on defense where they struggled mightily last year.  Two picks, Jared Odrick and Koa Misi will start right away and coupled with last years first round pick Vontae Davis will start to form a very nice, young and athletic defense. 

Karlos Dansby was signed from Arizona to captain the line-backing spot for the departed Joey Porter, who no one in Miami seems sad to see leave. 

This year Chad Henne has had a whole preseason to prepare for a starting role instead of being thrown into the mix last year (where he still went 7-6).

The wild card (cat?) of the bunch is Ronnie Brown who is a top 10 back when healthy.  His biggest asset?  Going into his contract year.  Expect big things from #23, and the rest of the Dolphins, this fall.

Kansas City Chiefs

Jamal Charles ran like a man possessed at the end of last season, racking up 658 yards and 4 touchdowns in his last four games, ending with a 259 yard performance in a 44-24 win over the Broncos.  Together with Thomas Jones the Chiefs now feature the best running game in their division.

While Matt Cassel proved he was a product of the Patriots system, thanks to new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, he's back in the closest thing to it. 

Dwayne Bowe is an excellent young receiver who paired with Chris Chambers provide nice weapons for Cassel to develop with under Weis. 

If the 1st round draft picks from past years (Glenn Dorsey, Tyson Jackson, Eric Berry) can live up to expectations on defense under coordinator Romeo Crennel, the defense should be much improved and be able to handle division rivals Oakland and Denver's offenses with ease.

With San Diego facing problems with the offensive line and wide receiving core, now is the chance for Kansas City to make a run at the weak AFC West.

Cleveland Browns

I'll be the the first to say that the Browns could be better than they were last year and still finish with a worse record.  In the first twelve games last season, Cleveland wasn't getting beat.  They were getting flat out spanked.

Now with a proven veteran to lead the team at quarterback with Jake Delhomme, Cleveland may not win all of those games this time around, but they should stick in them until at least the fourth quarter, while being able to squeak out a couple wins.

Delhomme has showed tremendous poise and accuracy in the preseason and is fighting to prove Carolina wrong for cutting ties with him.  Josh Cribbs is not only the best return man in football, but is developing nicely as a wide receiver. 

The running game is the wild card.  No one expects Jerome Harrison to duplicate last seasons 286 yard performance against the Chiefs, but he has severely disappointed in preseason. 

Rookie back Montario Hardesty has missed most of training camp and preseason with injuries, but could challenge Harrison for the starting job.

The Browns downfall (besides a suspect defense) is that they play in a loaded division which saw them go winless last season.  While the final record may not look glamorous, Browns fans should be able to enjoy games past the first quarter this year.

Detroit Lions

This Thanksgiving, that indigestion you're feeling may be the result of Aunt Martha's stuffing instead of the usual Detroit Lions football.

The Lions got the best player in all of college football last year in Ndamukong Suh, who will be the best defensive tackle in the NFL within the next three years. 

Detroit has also added veteran toughness in Kyle Vanden Bosch  to shore up one of the league's worst defensive lines. 

Matthew Stafford should continue to develop with the help of stud rookie running back Jahvid Best and top five wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

Many holes still remain on the roster, and Detroit hasn't enjoyed a winning season in a decade.  While it'll be another losing season for the Detroit faithful, a  7-9 record is not out of the question. 

While Stafford is the staple for the team to build around, the real turnaround began September 24, 2008, the day Matt Millen was fired.

The Lions will begin to reclaim they're roar this season, and should contend for an NFC North crown in near future.