How close is each franchise to a Super Bowl Title?

[DFWJC]

ESPN has an article grouping each NFL team into categories on how close they are to winning a Super Bowl.

fwiw
Here is the article and break down
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18544122/how-close-every-nfl-team-making-super-bowl

Nowhere close
Cleveland, Chicago, Jacksonville, NYJets, San Francisco

Lots of work to do
Buffalo, Indianapolis, LA Rams, LA Chargers

Middle of the pack
Baltimore, Cincinnati, Detroit, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Washington

Should contend, but there are question marks
Arizona, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minnesota, NY Giants, Oakland, Seattle, Tennessee

On the cusp of a Super Bowl appearance
Carolina, Dallas, Green Bay, Pittsburgh

Currently in Super Bowl
Atlanta, New England

 

[percyhoward]

The Cowboys came within a stop on third-and-20 in the final minute against Aaron Rodgers of advancing to the NFC Championship Game.

That's assuming we win the coin toss.

 

[lqmac1]

I'd say we're about 370 some odd days away from being a Super Bowl champion

 

[Joe Realist]

Great news! I will attend the " on the cusp parade " !!!!

 

[RS12]

I believe every year is different for a variety of reasons (See Carolina and Denver). I do think that if the O Line stays relatively intact, Zeke stays healthy, and Dak progresses, this team should contend for years.

 

[percyhoward]

Realistic ways the Cowboys can improve their chances to contend for a Super Bowl:

1. Help the defense. The Cowboys know they will be strong offensively with the tools at their disposal but they need to make commitments to the pass-rush and secondary. It doesn't have to be pricey signings. They can do it through the draft or with smart free-agent moves.
2. Hope Jaylon Smith is a player. He would have been a top-five pick if not for his serious knee injury. If he can perform close to his Notre Dame level, the Cowboys will have a tremendous linebacker duo with Lee and Smith. He might be as athletically gifted as any Cowboys defender since DeMarcus Ware.
3. Ride Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys never got the chance to see what DeMarco Murray could do after his 1,845-yard season in 2014. With Elliott, they know they have a back who can alter defenses, impact their passing game and affect their defense in a positive way. Teams have de-emphasized running backs in recent years, but Elliott is a difference-maker on par with Adrian Peterson.

The importance of #3 depends very much on #1 and #2. The better the defense, the more the running game will mean.

 

[DFWJC]

Great news! I will attend the " on the cusp parade " !!!!

Party down

 

[jwooten15]

Carolina?

 

[KingintheNorth]

How close is this franchise to a Super Bowl Title?

About 4 defensive upgrades. Hoping Jaylon Smith is 1 of them. The other 3 must come from free agency and the draft.

 

[ShiningStar]

This the age of "everyone is a contender" Basically a move here and a move there and you are contending. It probably takes harder work to be out of contention early on. See Cleveland.

Heres my question, "how many teams are honestly just playing half a season" You have bad teams turning good mid way through. Honestly how many thought GB was done? How many average teams picked it up and got "this team is going to make the playoffs" by every "expert"?

I feel the middle of the pack is now extending to "all but 1 team" and honestly some bad teams just look good because of 1 or 2 players can really make some bad teams look good.

 

[Longboysfan]

Should contend, but there are question marks
Arizona, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minnesota, NY Giants, Oakland, Seattle, Tennessee

I would put Arizona and Minnesota on the decline list.
The Giants, Houston on the treading water.
The Seahawks, Miami, Kansas city on the upper level.
Denver and Tennessee as the top of this class

 

[noshame]

Yep, I've begun the countdown to the 2018 Super bowl.

 

[jazzcat22]

Carolina?

That's what my take was from it...why Carolina....

GB and SteAlers...well they are perennial contenders with the refs on their side.....

 

[cowboyblue22]

I think the cowboys need to figure out how to win a divisional playoff game before we put them in the superbowl

 

[dragon_mikal]

One more thing Garrett can put on his resume.

 

[KJJ]

That's assuming we win the coin toss.

Right, because the first team that had the ball in OT would have scored a TD.

 

[gmoney112]

Vikings are so dumb. If they didn't trade for Bradford, they'd have a top 5 pick and able to add a ton of talent to a team that already has an excellent young defense. They could have been set up to be contenders every single year.

It's fun to see the up and coming teams. Oakland when Carr comes back.

I'm kinda rooting for the Titans. They've got a young team, looks like Mariota is a keeper when he gets healthy. They have LeBeau as DC. And they've got a lot of picks this year. The AFC South has been terrible for so long, they have a chance to be perennial contenders. If Houston doesn't get a QB they'll never win anything.

I like TB too as kinda a darkhorse i guess. We'll see what they do this offseason.

 

[endersdragon]

Denver and Houston move up to on the cusp if they get Romo, especially if Brady and Big Ben retire which seems a bit likely

 

[robjay04]

Denver and Houston move up to on the cusp if they get Romo, especially if Brady and Big Ben retire which seems a bit likely

No way Brady retires. He's still playing at a peak level. He says he plans on playing until his mid 40s....I can't really doubt the guy.

 

[Sarge]

Denver and Houston move up to on the cusp if they get Romo, especially if Brady and Big Ben retire which seems a bit likely

Brady is not retiring this year.