The following teams aren’t expected to be there late in the playoffs this year, but with the right amount of luck or just less injury trouble they easily could be this year’s New York Giants and the Cinderella champion of 2008-2009.

5. The Cleveland Browns

You would be hard pressed to remember the last time anyone considered the Browns a contender or even a good football team. This, however, isn’t your dad’s or your grandpa’s Browns team. With the acquisition of Jamal Lewis and the emergence of Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards, and Kellen Winslow, Jr. the Browns easily have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. If the defense can keep pace, there is no reason to believe they can’t be around late in the playoffs.

4. The Arizona Cardinals

Every year we think this could be the year the Cardinals surprise everyone, yet time and time again they disappoint by failing to make the playoffs. With a tenacious young defense led by playmaking corner Antrelle Rolle and arguably the best receiving duo in the NFL in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, there is no reason to believe they can’t finally break the playoff bubble and take their place as contenders, as long as Arizona can keep Edgerin James healthy and get sustained health and play out of veteran Kurt Warner.

3. The Chicago Bears

After watching an injury riddled year in which the defense couldn’t stop anyone and even many high school offenses looked superior, this is probably the biggest surprise of this list. If Matt Forte can be a solid contributor as a rookie and Kevin Jones can return to his rookie of the year form, Chicago very easily could be back deep into the playoffs once again. However, even with great defensive and special teams play their offense must provide a spark, and they must stay healthy and get more consistent quarterback play or it could just as easily be another long year in Chicago.

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