5. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings were one game away from being the first team in the NFL to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. Their season ultimately fell short against the Philadelphia Eagles, who were the eventual Super Bowl champions. After that loss,  they were able to get the prized quarterback of free agency, Kirk Cousins. He would then lead them to 8-7-1 season as they would fall short of the playoffs and another dream run at the Super Bowl. This year the Vikings got off to red hot start as they crushed the Atlanta Falcons 28-12 in their season opener. Third  year running back Dalvin Cook appears to be finally making his presence known after struggling with injuries earlier in his career. He got off to a hot start running for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. The defense is a whole other monster of its own. They held the stacked Falcons to 0 points through the first 3 quarters. This is a dangerous team and if they find their into the playoffs, expect them to do damage.

4. Philadelphia Eagles

2017 was a magical season for the Eagles, as during the entire season they were consistently the number 1 team in the NFL until Carson Wentz tore his ACL in week 13 while lunging for the endzone trying to put the game away. The Eagles would eventually clinch the number 1 seed in the NFC, but  fans were skeptical as Nick Foles was leading the way for their team. Well, this would turn out to be a blessing in disguise as they would become Super Bowl Champions. Last year it was a similar story, but with a different ending. Alshon Jeffery would drop a big pass that was intercepted by Marshon Lattimore that ended their season. This year the offense is different though. Carson Wentz is heading into his fourth  season as the Eagles starting quarterback. He is determined to play a full healthy season and take his team to the Super Bowl once again. When it comes to shutting teams down, their defense has been consistently scary and always atop the NFL. Don’t be so shocked if there is a rematch of the 2017-18 NFC championship with the Eagles on top once again.

3. New Orleans Saints

There is going to be one word to describe the Saints this year: revenge. They are out for retribution  on the entire NFL, as they believed they were robbed of a trip to the Super Bowl. Drew Brees and his high powered offense are pretty much a lock to be on top of the league, as he has a high-powered supporting cast featuring guys like Michael Thomas as his top wide out, Alvin Kamara in the backfield, and protecting Drew is Ryan Ramczyk. On the defensive side of the ball they have perennial Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan. In the 2018 offseason, they added a breakout star in Demario Davis as a linebacker who has made big plays in big games. And their secondary is riddled with talent with guys like Marcus Williams and Marshon Lattimore, whom are two of the NFL’s youngest stars. This team is very good and the rest of the NFL should be scared because this team is gunning for the Lombardi.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

3…2…1… SHOWTIME!!! The MVP is back and ready for another season to impress everyone. Last year, Pat Mahomes, the second-year quarterback, took the entire league by storm with his no look passes and  crazy arm strength. Mahomes threw for 50 touchdowns, nearly breaking the all-time record in his first year as a starter in the league. He fell short in the AFC championship game due to a controversial offsides, but Chiefs fans should have no reason to worry, as they improved their defense and kept the insane offense as it is. Adding  guys like Chris Jones and Tyrann Matheiu, their offense is still stacked with flashy receivers in Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, and Demarcus Robinson. This team is all in on a Super Bowl run this year; all they have to do is get over the hump of dethorning the greatest dynasty in all sports, the New England Patriots.

1. New England Patriots

The evil empire is back… or as they like to say, “We’re still here.” They are, of course, led by “the G.O.A.T.” Tom Brady. Playing in his seventeenth season in the NFL, Brady has made it to a record 9 Super Bowls. The reason this team has been so dominant is because of the brilliant mind of Bill Belichick, who going into his 25th season as a head coach and his 19th with the Patriots. He is the longest active tenured coach in the league because he is the brains behind this dynasty, seemingly always making moves that benefit the team and rarely making mistakes. He has taken guys who are unheard of and made them into superstars. A prime example of this is wide receiver Julian Edelman, who was a 7th round pick turned Super Bowl MVP. This famous coach has also added guys like stud receivers Josh Gordon and Antonio Brown, both of whom have had  their own off the field issues, but now look to turn it around and bring another ring to this dynasty. They have debatably the most versatile backfield in the league, with the tandem of Sony Michel and James White returning to the team. The defense is also a force to be reckoned with as they are loaded with guys like Jamie Collins, Stefon Gilmore, Patrick Chung, Dont’a Hightower, Michael Bennett and the McCourty twins. This is the greatest dynasty of all sports and show no signs of slowing down any time soon.

* photo via Google Images under the Creative Commons license