Carolina Panthers and 4 Teams to Be Scared of in 2012

It's so hard to tell what an NFL team will be like from one season to the next. Personnel changes, coaching shifts, draft strategy and players returning from injury all combine to make nearly every team look significantly different in at least one key way every year.

Struggling teams can turn things around in no time in the changeable NFL, and it's not hard to see hints even now that some of this year's bad teams could become dominant next year.

Here are four teams that might not seem intimidating now, but are just a few key components away from turning into some of the most dangerous squads of 2012.

Carolina Panthers (5-9)

At 5-9, it doesn't seem like the Carolina Panthers and rookie quarterback Cam Newton are having a good year. However, the team is an offensive powerhouse that just needs the return of injured defensive starters and a smart draft strategy to vault themselves into the upper echelon of the league.

The Panthers field a top-10 offense thanks to Newton's excellent passing and even better running. He's assisted by two solid running backs, two great tight ends and the revitalized wide receiver, Steve Smith.

But their defense, which is giving up an average of 365 yards a game and around 30 points, has been the sole reason why Carolina's record is so poor.

Injuries, especially the season-ender suffered by middle linebacker Jon Beason, have been a major reason for this terrible performance, but the team will need to draft some serious defensive talent in April and grab some talented veteran free agents to really turn things around.

Once they do, however, the Panthers are going to be extremely hard to beat. Though Carolina plays in an extremely tough NFC South division, with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons consistently playing well, the Panthers, if they add the right pieces, are going to be right with them in 2012.

Houston Texans (10-4)

The Houston Texans have put together quite a season for themselves this year, clinching their first playoff berth and AFC South title in franchise history. However, they've done it while being riddled with injuries to their biggest playmakers.

That means next season at full health, the Texans are going to be a force to reckon with. No longer does it appear that the Indianapolis Colts will have a monopoly on the AFC South, which means only good things for the surging Texans.

The Texans have been on the brink of a good year for so many seasons now, and it seemed that perhaps their time had passed. Instead, they've managed to string together wins despite losing two quarterbacks, their best outside linebacker, Mario Williams, and having wide receiver Andre Johnson healthy and on the field for just six games.

Once these starters are healthy, the Texans are going to be even better, which has to be scary for every team they're slated to face in 2012.

Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

The Cincinnati Bengals were not projected to do well in 2011. With a rookie quarterback under center, a rookie wide receiver as his primary target and an inconsistent defense, it seemed like the perfect setup for a three-win season.

Instead, the Bengals have performed admirably well and are on the verge of nabbing themselves a Wild Card playoff spot depending on how the final two weeks of the season play out. But in 2012, they're going to be even more impressive.

In trading quarterback Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders earlier in 2011, the team netted itself quite the collection of draft picks. Now, the Bengals can use those picks to nab a top-level running back, shore up their defense and even provide more weapons for quarterback Andy Dalton to throw to.

If they play those picks correctly, the Bengals could propel themselves into the rarefied position of being a true team to beat in the NFL.

Miami Dolphins (5-9)

Once said to be the best 4-8 team in the NFL, once the Miami Dolphins dropped to 4-9, the tune changed dramatically. They fired head coach Tony Sparano after dropping a 26-10 game to the Philadelphia Eagles despite it being just their second loss in six games.

However, they started the year 0-7, and it was clear even before the season began that Sparano was not going to hold onto his job much longer.

After that seven-game losing streak to open the season, the Dolphins finally found an offensive formula that worked. Surprisingly enough, they've been led well by former backup quarterback Matt Moore, and running back Reggie Bush seems to have found a role that suits him.

These two components will be useful to the team when they undergo somewhat of a rebuilding period this offseason. If the Dolphins can find a head coach that meshes well with the players already on the team, they should only get stronger.

If they can add more receivers, another solid running back and fill several gaps on defense, the Dolphins could have a much-improved 2012. So improved, in fact, that they may just leapfrog the New York Jets as the second-best team in the AFC East.