NFL Preseason: 7 Teams Whose Preseason Form Won't Carry Over

Every year, there are teams who overachieve as well as underachieve in the NFL Preseason.

With starters playing limited minutes, it is hard to gauge how good a team really is.

Teams can go undefeated in the preseason and then lose their first three games, like the 2008 Detroit Lions, proving that preseason performance doesn't always carry over to the regular season.

Here are seven teams whose preseason performance will not carry over to the regular season. 

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions improved to 3-0 in the NFL Preseason when they defeated the New England Patriots, 34-10, Saturday night at Ford Field in Detroit. 

The way the Lions played against the Patriots, you would think they were one of the contenders for the Super Bowl in February but that is just not the case.

They should be a much improved team, if they can stay healthy.

Matthew Stafford has found it difficult to stay on the field but he has shown how good he can be if he stays healthy. Unfortunately, history is not on his side as he has played in just 13 games in two seasons.

Look for them to improve on the 6-10 record they posted last season but they will not keep up the undefeated pace in the regular season. 

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have been anything but a "dream team" this preseason.

They hold a 2-1 record but haven't played the type of football to live up to the level of talent they have on their roster.

Michael Vick has made bad decision after bad decision, leading to a preseason with just one touchdown through the air and three interceptions.

The star-studded defense has not looked so hot either.

The trio of shut down corners, Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asoumugha, got torched by Pittsburgh quarterbacks in the second preseason game.

Ben Roethlisberger went 8-12 for 125 yards and three scores and Dennis Dixon added 90 more yards through the air on 8-11 passes. 

That being said, the Eagles have too much talent for this type of play to continue.

When the regular season rolls around, expect the Eagles to be atop the NFC East and the Super Bowl contenders they were deemed to be when Vince Young called them the "Dream Team."

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are always one of the favorites in the AFC and that will continue this season despite their 0-3 start to the preseason. 

Peyton Manning has been out for the duration of the preseason but he was activated from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list today, a good sign for the Colts future.

As long as the Colts have Manning at the helm, they will be a contender. 

Another factor in the Colts' favor is the low talent level in the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans will not be factors this season and the Houston Texans have yet to show the ability to take the next step to become a playoff team.

If Peyton Manning and the rest of the key Colts can stay healthy, look for them to improve on their 0-3 start to the preseason and win the AFC South. 

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are another team to add to the list of probable playoff teams who have started the preseason 0-3.

The Falcons seem to be a team that is not focused on the final result in preseason games, whatsoever.

Matt Ryan has performed well, 35-67 for 426 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, so there is no need for concern there.

Michael Turner has had a slow start but he is one of the best backs in  the game and should be expected to take it up a notch when the regular season begins. 

In general, they need to get the running game more involved, as they passed the ball 60 times against the Pittsburgh Steelers in their last preseason game, and ran just 25 times.

One area the Falcons should be concerned with is the defense, as they have allowed 77 points in just three games. 

But with the talent level the defense has, Dunta Robinson, Jonathan Abraham, etc., the Falcons have to believe the defense will come around.

Expect the Falcons to turn it around come regular season and compete with the New Orleans Saints for the NFC South  title. 

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs burst onto the scene last season with 10 wins and a playoff appearance but have started the preseason 0-3.

Matt Cassel has looked terrible at the quarterback position, having yet to surpass the 100 yard passing milestone in any game or complete 50 percent of his passes.

Breakout star Jamaal Charles hasn't shown the flash he showed last season and has just 16 yards on six carries this preseason.

Once the offense gets more snaps under their belt, Cassel and Charles should start to heat up. 

The leading rushing team in the 2010 season, 164.2 yards per game, you have got to believe that Charles will step his game up when the regular season starts. 

Apart from the San Diego Chargers, the Chiefs don't have much competition in the AFC West. 

Expect them to compete with the Chargers for the division title and make their 0-3 preseason start a thing of the past. 

Denver Broncos

With all the talk about Tim Tebow and the quarterback controversy, the Denver Broncos have still managed to start the preseason fast with a record of 2-1.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, this fast start likely will not transition to the regular season.

There is too much turmoil and too many unanswered questions in Denver for them to be able to compete in the AFC West. 

They just don't have the offensive talent to compete with the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers.

Mix the lack of talent and the turmoil in Denver with a first year coach and you have a recipe for disaster.

Look for the Broncos to battle it out with the Raiders for last place in the AFC West. 

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have come out of the gates running with a 3-0 start to the preseason but don't expect that pace to carry over to the regular season.

The Texans have a high-powered offense led by Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson, but they may have lost one of those pieces in their 30-7 victory of the San Francisco 49ers when Foster limped off the field with a hamstring injury.

Although head coach Gary Kubiak says the injury isn't serious, hamstring injuries love to linger and could be aggravated at any moment.

The Texans have yet to show that they have the ability to take the next step to become a playoff team and the defense is a big part of that.

They have allowed just 37 points in three preseason games but most plays don't come against the first team offenses.

The pass defense will have to be improved if the Texans want to take the next step as they were dead last against the pass last season, allowing 267.5 yards per game.

The Texans could win some big games this year but expect them to hover around 8-8 or 9-7 and finish second in the AFC South behind the Indianapolis Colts.