Top 5 NFL Post Season Sleepers for 2011

While a few teams, such as the Patriots, Packers and Eagles are essentially locks to make the 2011 postseason, there are many NFL teams which I believe are being seriously underestimated by media and NFL fans alike.

Here are five teams that I believe are being overlooked and have a great chance of sneaking into the playoffs in this upcoming NFL season. 

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

I have to admit, I always have had a soft spot for the Jags. It seems that it's been largely forgotten that the Jaguars led their division all the way up until Week 16 last season, and it took a defeat by Peyton Manning and the Colts to finally knock them out of the playoff picture. 

This year, the Jaguars are desperate. Coach Jack Del Rio and quarterback David Garrard are being given one last chance to turn things around and lead the team into the postseason. I think they have a great chance. 

Maurice Jones-Drew is finally healthy and has recently made comments that he's extremely motivated to prove the doubters wrong. Mike Thomas is looking to break out at the wide receiver position and could have a monster year. 

On the defensive side, LB Paul Posluzny was a great addition and has been looking good in training camp. And tackle Terrance Knighton, who is vastly underrated, should be a force to be reckoned with on the inside.

If the Jaguars defense can keep them in the game and give the offense a chance to make the big plays that they're definitely capable of, the Jags will be serious playoff contenders. And it wouldn't be far fetched to say they could possibly catch the Colts and win the division. 

4. St. Louis Rams

The Rams are on this list more for the division that they are in rather than their on-field talent. Winning the NFC West isn't a huge accomplishment, but it does get you into the postseason. I think that eight wins will be enough this season, and out of the 49ers, Cardinals, Seahawks and Rams, St. Louis looks to be the most probable to hit the .500 mark. 

On the offensive side of the ball, Sam Bradford should do nothing but improve after having a very successful rookie season. If he can continue to improve, he'll be on the path to elite QB status. He's that promising.

Steven Jackson should have another very good year, as he has proven to be one of the most reliable and durable backs in the game. He's given so much to the franchise and this could be the year all of his work is rewarded.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Rams aren't spectacular, but when compared to the rest of the division, they should hold their own. Chris Long and James Laurinaitis should be consistent enough to anchor the defense and will probably do enough to give the offense a shot to win some crucial games.

One final piece that works in the Rams favor is that they have the sixth-weakest schedule in the NFL this upcoming season, a fact that surely should help them reach the postseason.  

3. Detroit Lions

The Lions are a team that really hinges on the health of its quarterback.

If Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, I believe the Lions will sneak into the postseason in the NFC wild card spot. With Calvin Johnson and Jahvid Best, along with tight end Brandon Pettigrew, Stafford will have the weapons he needs to make big plays downfield and win games.

Stafford has demonstrated that he's a real stud when he's able to get on the field, but having been injured for the majority of his first two NFL seasons, his health is a legitimate question mark.

On the defensive side of the ball, Detroit should have a great year, at least on paper. Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley will look to lead a defensive line that could very well end up being one of the best in the league come the end of the season. If Detroit's defense lives up to its potential, I can't see how they couldn't win at least nine games, which should be enough to make it into the playoffs.

One final note: Last year, Detroit went 6-10. They lost seven of those games by eight points or less, and the majority of those games were played without their starting quarterback. If they can win the close ones this year, they should make it to the playoffs.   

2. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are as enigmatic as any team in the league. Last season they went 6-0 in the division, yet they still missed the postseason. I can't recall any time in recent memory that a team swept its division and finished out of the playoffs, but if any team could do it, it's Oakland. 

Oakland's star running back, Darren McFadden, will look to improve on a great 2010 campaign in which he really shined for the first time in the NFL. If Jason Campbell can have a decent year, he should be able to complement the electric McFadden enough to get the Raiders into the playoffs.

One player who is a wild card is the human lightning bolt that is Jacoby Ford. He reminds me a lot of DeSean Jackson and could really be a big asset to the Raiders in 2011. 

On special teams, the Raiders have the rocket leg of Sebastian Janikowski. With the new NFL rule that makes kickoffs take place from the 35-yard line, look for Janikowski to record a significant amount of touchbacks and put a fledgling Oakland defense in good position to make stops. 

1. Dallas Cowboys

I didn't think I'd ever say this, but Jerry Jones' Cowboys have been awfully quiet and have really flown under the radar in the buildup to the 2011 season. 

Dallas seems to really be overshadowed in the NFC East by the Miami Heat-esque Eagles and the New York Giants, but it seems they really could care less. Jason Garrett will look to expand on the success he had last year as the Cowboys head coach following the firing of Wade Phillips. Garrett went 5-3 without Tony Romo, who appears to be perfectly healthy at this point. 

Felix Jones could have an excellent year, as he is now going to be the featured back and is someone who I always felt deserved to be an NFL starter. Dallas will be good on offense as they always are and the addition of Dez Bryant on special teams could give them a boost in critical games and help them pull out some wins that they'll need. 

Out of all the teams on this list, Dallas is the only team that I would actually bet on to make the playoffs in 2011. I would be genuinely surprised to see them not playing come January. This team simply has too much talent to underperform two seasons in a row.