NFL: Which 5 Teams Are on the Rise and Which 5 Are in Decline?

Cowboys, Buccaneers Among the Five NFL Teams on the Rise; Chiefs, Titans Among the Five in Decline.

While the history of the National Football League is littered with dynasties, parity is the force that truly drives football. 

Every new season we see teams that either: a) breakout after struggling the previous year, or b) take the next step after a surprising season. 

Just the same, dominant teams can fall back into the average pool and average teams can join the bottom feeders.

Next season shouldn't be any different—assuming we even have NFL football. 

Here are five teams on the rise, and five more who are in decline. 

Honorable Mentions

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DENVER - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers runs the offense against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 33-28. (Photo by Doug Pensin

RISE

Falcons: Atlanta won 13 games and retains their core at all the key positions. 

Broncos: A brief glimpse of Tim Tebow has to give Denver a boost over their four wins last season.

Chargers: Still the class of the AFC West, San Diego is a bounce-back candidate next season.

DECLINE

Vikings: Minnesota doesn't have a home past this season or a quarterback, but they do have an aging defense.

Dolphins: Is Chad Henne the answer? Without a quarterback in place, this team will either fall or remain among the average crowd.

Rise: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

2010-2011 finish: 10-6, third in NFC South

Why they are rising: The two leaders of the franchise—coach Raheem Morris and quarterback Josh Freeman—are rising stars at their crafts. 

Morris improved the Bucs from three wins in his first year to 10 in his second, and Tampa Bay was in the hunt for a playoff spot heading into the last week of the season. 

Freeman made huge strides in his first full season under center, and he should continue to improve with a bevy of young weapons on offense. 

While the Bucs may have only beat one team with a winning record in 2010, this is a team ready to make the jump. 

They'll need to shore up the run defense (131.7 yards/game, 28th in NFL) and prove it against the NFC's best teams, but would you be surprised if Tampa Bay won the NFC South next season? 

Rise: Detroit Lions

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 02: Jahvid Best #44 of the Detroit Lions tries to get around the tackle of Frank Walker #41 of the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on January 2, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

2010-2011 finish: 6-10 (third in NFC North)

Why they are rising: This isn't a misprint; the Lions are a team on the right track. 

Detroit has plenty of potential on both offense and defense with impact players already in place. 

On offense, Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew are established receiving threats, and Jahvid Best and Matthew Stafford make a solid backfield duo on the field.

Defensively, there's no doubt that Detroit needs to keep rebuilding. However, their defensive line is a disruptive force.

Ndamakong Suh was the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams round out one of the best lines in the league. 

There are still holes on the roster, but a healthy Lions team could definitely make a legitimate run at one of the NFC's wildcard spots. 

Rise: Dallas Cowboys

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown by Jason Witten against the New York Giants in the first quarter at Cowboys Stadium on October 25, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Gett

2010-2011 finish: 6-10 (third in NFC East)

Why they are rising: The Cowboys underachieved so badly last season that it's hard to envision Dallas not making improvements next year. 

Two major factors should facilitate a revival in Dallas. 

First, Tony Romo will be back under center.

While the Cowboys certainly weren't very good even with Romo playing last season, he brings more to the table offensively than does Jon Kitna or Stephen McGee. 

Secondly, and most importantly, the Cowboys will get a full season under the direction of Jason Garrett.

Dallas went 5-3 after Wade Phillips was fired last year, and Garrett obviously brought a sense of urgency to the team that it lacked under the player-friendly Phillips. 

Rise: Cleveland Browns

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CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

2010-2011 finish: 5-11 (third in AFC North)

Why they are rising: The Browns have a new head coach in Pat Shurmer, but two equally important pieces remain in quarterback Colt McCoy and president Mike Holmgren. 

McCoy showed flashes of being the franchise's answer at quarterback last season, and his 74.5 rating was better than Mark Sanchez in his first season (63.0). 

Holmgren also has a history of developing quarterbacks, and if McCoy can become the next on that list, the Browns will have the biggest piece of the puzzle intact.

They'll need to continue adding talent to the roster, but the future in Cleveland finally has a plan to follow.

Rise: St. Louis Rams

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ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 26: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams passes against the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome on December 26, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the 49ers 25-17. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

2010-2011 finish: 7-9 (second in NFC West)

Why they are rising: The Rams couldn't close the deal on a division championship last season, but that could be changing next year. 

Sam Bradford, the 2010 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, will head into 2011 as arguably the best quarterback in the NFC West, and running back Steven Jackson is still an explosive threat when healthy.

St. Louis needs to keep restocking its defense and add a play-making receiver, but the Rams appear to have the brightest future of any team in the NFC West. 

That might not be saying a lot, but Bradford and the Rams could keep a stranglehold on the West for years to come. 

Decline: Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs is hit as he throws by defensive tackle Tommy Kelly #93 of the Oakland Raiders in a game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tim U

2010-2011 finish: 10-6 (first in AFC West)

Why they are declining: The Chiefs find themselves in decline for a couple of reasons, one they can't control. 

First, it's hard to love Matt Cassell. Sure, he threw 27 touchdowns last season, but the Chiefs were also ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards. 

In this age of football, that just won't cut it. You have to be able to beat teams with the pass, and the Chiefs just aren't built to do that.

Second, the Chiefs beat just one playoff team last season—the Seahawks—and were embarrassed at home in the playoffs. That alone isn't reason for decline, but it should worry fans. 

The Chargers are a more talented team than the Chiefs, and it wouldn't surprise anyone if Kansas City finished around .500 next season.

Decline: Tennessee Titans

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans is tackled by Eric Foster #68 of the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. the Colts won 23-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

2010-2011 finish: 6-10 (fourth in AFC South)

Why they are declining: The Titans might be the most obvious candidate for a drastic free-fall next season. 

Tennessee lost Jeff Fisher, their head coach of 16 seasons, and is beginning the process of starting over at the quarterback position. 

There probably isn't two pieces of an organization that are as important as head coach and quarterback, and the Titans are going to have unknowns at both. 

6-10 was a bad season a year ago, but things could be getting worse in Tennessee. 

Decline: Seattle Seahawks

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks argues with a referee in the first half against the Chicago Bears in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo

2010-2011 finish: 7-9 (first in NFC West)

Why they are declining: While winning the NFC West and a playoff game last season might give Seahawks fans a reason for optimism, Seattle will be hard-pressed to repeat that performance next year. 

Matt Hasselbeck is no longer the division's best quarterback, and the Seahawks' schedule in 2011-2012 (Bears, Falcons, Steelers, Eagles, Giants) will be brutal for a team that lacks the talent on both sides of the ball. 

Seattle's home-field advantage will keep them in the playoff race, but this is Sam Bradford's division now. 

Decline: Washington Redskins

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LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Rex Grossman #8 of the Washington Redskins is hit by defensive end Osi Umenyiora #72 of the New York Giants during a game at FedEx Field on January 2, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. The Giants won the game 17-14. (Ph

2010-2011 finish: 6-10 (fourth in NFC East)

Why they are declining: With all the turmoil in Washington, does this selection even need to be discussed? 

The Redskins have a huge problem in Albert Haynesworth on their hands, they benched Donovan McNabb at the end of 2010 and they just released running back Clinton Portis. 

Washington also had the 31st ranked defense in the NFL and was 30th in rushing yards. 

Things aren't looking good for the Redskins, and six might be the ceiling for wins even next season. 

Decline: Oakland Raiders

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ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 18: New Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson pauses as he speaks to reporters during a press conference on January 18, 2011 in Alameda, California. Hue Jackson was introduced as the new coach of the Oakland Raiders, replacing the fired

2010-2011 finish: 8-8 (third in AFC West)

Why they are declining: The Raiders were probably the hardest choice out of any on this list. 

On the outside, they look like a team that's primed for a breakout season and should be included with the "rise" teams. 

However, the Raiders can't escape their own doings. Hue Jackson should make a decent coach, but Tom Cable didn't deserve to get fired. 

Oakland also doesn't have a long-term answer at quarterback and will lose Nnamdi Asomugha this offseason. 

The Raiders could go either way, but with all the changes again, it's better to bet against Oakland than with them.