2015 NFL Predictions: New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jump Worst to 1st

Several teams make the jump every NFL season from Worst to 1st, and in 2015 there are six candidates for improvement. We make 2015 NFL Predictions, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets in line for glory. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

Every year in the NFL at least one team makes a giant leap from one season to the next. This often results in a worst-to-first turnaround, and it often occurs in the NFC South. Although they didn’t completely turn things around to win their division, the Houston Texans were the best example from last season. Houston went 2-14 in 2013, followed by a nine-win season last year.

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Between 2012 and ’13, three different squads made massive leaps: Kansas City, Philadelphia and Arizona. All three improved by at least five wins, with the Chiefs improbably jumping from 2-14 to 11-5 in one offseason.

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Who is the best pick to do likewise in 2015? I’m looking for a worst-to-first jump or something resembling the half-dozen-win jump made by the likes of those previous franchises. It’s not fair to predict another KC leap, but someone will come close.

There are a number of possibilities, but my pick is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

I’ve been a Jameis Winston hater for a while now, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to the possibilities open to this team in 2015. Winston needs to be good for this to come to fruition, but he’s a talented dude, so that isn’t asking too much. Despite off-field concerns, he went first overall in the NFL Draft for a valid reason.

The rest of the team is quite a bit better than a 2-14 record would indicate. In fact, expectations were relatively high for this club prior to last year. That is what impacts my pick here. Teams can be unexpectedly bad or surprisingly good in random years, but talent is so even dispersed in football that regression is an unyielding beast that cannot be stopped.

Tampa Bay certainly wasn’t as good as some expected in 2014, but it also isn’t as bad of a club as it ended up. Part of the team’s undoing was an uncanny 1-8 record in one-score games. Even the worst franchises see better luck than that in close games. A normal regression toward .500 would give the Buccaneers three more victories right there.

This roster is also loaded with talent (which led to the positive vibes in August of ’14). It’s hard to bank on a rookie quarterback starting week one for a 2-14 team, but Tampa Bay is my pick as the likeliest worst-to-first team of the year. It helps that its division is trash!

Sep 8, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets defensive tackle

Sheldon Richardson

(91) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back

Doug Martin

(22) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets won 18-17. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

DAN:

A crappy division certainly helps your pick of Tampa Bay. If last season is any indication, the Bucs don’t even need to put up a winning record in order to “win” their division. Gaining five more victories and finishing at 7-9, while still winning the division, hardly qualifies for a successful ‘Worst to First’ jump. It’s technically acceptable, but a total cop-out as far as I’m concerned.

Thankfully the NFL provides other more deserving candidates for a ‘Worst to First’ leap in 2015. There were five other teams that finished with four or fewer victories last season: Tennessee, Oakland, Jacksonville, Washington, and the New York Jets. The Chicago Bears notched only five victories, good enough for last in their division, but not quite in this debate.

Jumping from truly pitiful to a unanimously accepted success is no easy task. My pick is the New York Jets. Winning the division might not happen, but they solidify a playoff spot with a winning record in 2015.

The Jets put up only four victories a season ago. They stunk on offense, unable to throw and score points. The defense wasn’t much better overall, unable to stop the pass and get turnovers. Coaching decisions were suspect, and the organization needed a total overhaul.

All of those major problems I mentioned were not only patched up, but completely fixed in the offseason. New York’s offense now has three great receiving threats, and a literal dogfight for the backup positions with so much talent in camp. The Jets also brought in a veteran quarterback, something missing from the sidelines over the last few seasons.

On defense New York filled its secondary with old favorites, Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, who will certainly fill the holes that plagued the Jets’ defensive backfield last season. They will also bring up those crucial turnover numbers. The entire coaching staff was overhauled and replaced as well, ensuring what was once a stagnant and predictable team, will be a complete unknown entering the season.

Much like how Tampa Bay’s success hinges on the play of one player, Jameis Winston, the Jets’ success this season hinges on its head coach. New York had an outstanding run defense and offensive running attack last season. The new additions fill the other holes. But new head coach Todd Bowles must unite this new team. He must garner leadership from the quarterback, in order to instill a mindset of winning in a team that hit bottom. Quarterback play is always important, but considering how the 2015 Jets are built, the truly important cog is all the way up top with rookie head coach Todd Bowles.

Dan Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp, and a New York Jets Analyst for Pro Football Spot. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also a Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp, a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report, and an Analyst for Tipster Labs, among others. Follow him on Twitter.

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