![Nearly every season, a team makes the jump from last place to first. [Image Source: Flickr | Jonathan Moreau]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/7/25/660x290/b_502x220x82/nearly-every-season-a-team-makes-the-jump-from-last-place-to-first-image-source-flickr-jonathan-moreau_2300339.jpg "Nearly every season, a team makes the jump from last place to first. [Image Source: Flickr | Jonathan Moreau]")
One thing that is a near-certainty every NFL season is that a team that finished last in the previous year skyrockets all the way to a division crown in the following year. According to Bet Chicago, in 15 of the 16 seasons since the NFL went to eight divisions with four teams, at least one team made the last-to-first jump.
Who is the most likely to accomplish the trick this year? It won’t be an easy task for many of them. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, six of the eight teams that finished in last place in 2018 have the worst odds to win their division this season.
Here are the rankings from most-likely to least-likely to go from worst to first this season. Remember as a subjective list, this is just one man’s opinion.
Jaguars (AFC South) - 2018 record: 5-11
Remember this is a team that had the Patriots on the ropes in the 2017 AFC Championship Game. With the addition of quarterback Nick Foles (replacing the ineffective, turnover-prone Blake Bortles), the offense should be better-suited to keep the potentially elite defense off the field more.
Lions (NFC North) - 2018 record: 6-10
The team hopes second-year running back Kerryon Johnson can remain healthy because he represents the best at the position in the Matthew Stafford era. They do need a cornerback alongside Darius Slay to step up as they only recorded seven interceptions last season.
Giants (NFC East) - 2018 record: 5-11
It would take a magical season from Saquon Barkley, a seemingly non-existent pass rush to somehow emerge, and perhaps an injury to Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz for this to happen. The team would need to find a way to win the close games that they failed to prevail in recently (5-13 in games decided by seven points or less the last two seasons).
Jets (AFC East) - 2018 record: 4-12
It would take either an injury for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady or a sudden fall from grace for the soon-to-be 42-year-old for this to occur. The Jets could see the improvements from second-year quarterback Sam Darnold that were also seen from recent high draft picks in their sophomore season such as Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, and Mitch Trubisky.
Bengals (AFC North) - 2018 record: 6-10
Teams such as the Browns and Steelers had massive upheaval. The Ravens hope that Lamar Jackson won’t have a sophomore slump at quarterback now that teams have more tape on him. The Bengals new head coach Zac Taylor was on the Rams staff the previous two seasons so perhaps he learned a thing or two from Sean McVay that will help quarterback Andy Dalton perform at a Pro Bowl-level.
Raiders (AFC West) - 2018 record: 4-12
Quarterback Derek Carr will need to duplicate the success he had in the 2016 season when he was a strong MVP candidate as the team may move on from him after the season if he doesn’t. The team’s miserable pass rush in 2018 (13 total sacks) will need to improve vastly to have any hopes of competing with the Chiefs and Chargers.
Buccaneers (NFC South) - 2018 record: 5-11
Can 2015 first overall pick, quarterback Jameis Winston, finally show the consistency that the Buccaneers expected when they handed him the keys to the franchise? In a division with Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, and Cam Newton, it is an absolute necessity if they want to compete.
Cardinals (NFC West) - 2018 record: 3-13
First overall pick, quarterback Kyler Murray, will help to revitalize the team’s fan base, but the Cardinals are lacking otherwise in game-changing playmakers especially with star cornerback Patrick Peterson suspended for the first six games.
