Who will be the biggest Overachiever in 2020?
Every year teams impress and teams get it wrong and underachieve. Overachieving teams can often be a team that was simply overlooked or a team that comes from nowhere to produce magic. An overachieving team is not defined by their playoff success or otherwise. It may be a team expected to win just a couple of games surprising everyone and winning five (looking at you Miami Dolphins), or it might be the team everyone expected to be a mediocre 7-9 going 10-6 and making the playoffs. Which team do our analysts see overachieving their expectations in 2020?
Our Analyst's Picks
Alex Chinery (Head of Analytics): Las Vegas Raiders
An offense that was already top five in efficiency in 2019 has gotten better with the addition of weapons and the continued maturation of others. That same maturation should extend to the defense which has to be better than it was last season. Don’t be surprised to see the Raiders notching up double digit wins.
Ben Rolfe (Head of NFL Content): Detroit Lions
Through three weeks of last season the Detroit Lions were 2-0-1. Week 4 saw them lose a heart breaker to the eventual Super Bowl champions before they were robbed by the officials in Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers. If the Lions enter Week 7 against the Vikings at 3-1-1 or 4-0-1 then their 2019 season could have looked very different.
This offense is loaded with weapons and Matt Stafford was on pace to throw for 5000 yards last season. Oh, and the defense looks to have improved as well.
To hear more thoughts from Alex and Ben about what they expect in the 2020 NFL season check out the Seven Step Drop Podcast. Available on all major podcast platforms.
Callum Squires (NFL Analyst): Arizona Cardinals
I think Kyler and the Cardinals finish second in the toughest division in football. Adding Hopkins to an already potent offense, which Kyler has had another year to study and improve in as well as Kenyan Drake having had a full off season to perfect, with Larry Fitzgerald STILL a threat… they’re poised to make a jump. Isaiah Simmons is added to a “Better than you think” defense and the glory days could soon return to Arizona. Look for them to make the playoffs.
Michael Norbury (NFL Betting Analyst): Arizona Cardinals
This offense can do damage this season, Hopkins joins the fold and Kyler Murray should take a step forward from a promising rookie season. If the defense gets its act together the Cardinals can upset the apple cart.
Paul Mainwaring (NFL Analyst): Miami Dolphins
Love the coach, Love Tua. A year too early for a real run at the AFC East but they will be exciting to watch.
Simon Carroll (Head of NFL Draft Content): Carolina Panthers
Pencilled in by many to be the whipping boys of the NFC South, don’t be surprised if Matt Rhule gets this young, inexperienced Panthers team punching above their weight. A completely revamped defense has gotten a much needed injection of youth, and if the Teddy Bridgewater move works out this offense could be dynamic under offensive co-ordinator Joe Brady.
Steve Moore (NFL Betting Analyst): Pittsburgh Steelers
I think that the Eagles, Texans and Bears are being underrated but the Steelers might just be the third best team in the AFC. If the NFL had added the extra play-off team a year earlier then they would have made the playoffs with players at QB that make Mitch Trubisky look like an MVP!
Tom Scott (NFL and Fantasy Football Analyst): Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans will once more be greater than the sum of their parts, and make a play-off run.