Go from basement to first place in a Division from year to year it’s a very common thing in the NFL.
How common? In 16 of the most recent 18 seasons, at least one team finished first in their division one year after being last.
In fact, of the 49 teams in history that have gone from basement to first place (in 2020 it was the Washington Football Team in the East of the NFC), 26 of them did so in the last 18 years (2003-20), including three in 2005 and 2006.
Who could achieve this in 2021? I have two candidates: Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
Eagles are in the NFL’s most volatile division, the NFC East. There, no one has been able to repeat as divisional champion since 2004, when precisely Philadelphia won its fourth crown in a row.
It is true that Washington and Dallas are the big favorites to take the Division, But recent history says that when it comes to the NFC East, expect the unexpected.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, in his second year in the league, He is the favorite to be named a starter, but will have competition in training camp and preseason, with veterans Joe Flacco and newly signed Nick Mullens.
What’s more, Nick Sirianni debuts as Eagles coach, They finished with a 4-11-1 record last season, which cost Doug Pederson his job.
Sirianni, former offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts (2018-20), gets his first chance as a head coach, on a team that spent the night in free agency that actually lost veterans like Jalen Mills, DeSean Jackson, Jonathan Ford, Malik Jackson and Vinny Curry.
The other great candidate is the Niners, who were hit hard by injuries last season and finished 6-10 at the bottom of the NFC West Division.
As soon as the training camp in San Francisco started and the 49ers had already lost wide receivers Deebo Samuel (broken foot) y Richie James (broken wrist), y a los cornerbacks D.J. Reed (pectoral torn) y Teez Tabor (broken foot).
And the thing did not stop there: during the regular season they lost 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas and Jalen Hurd with knee ligament injuries; Ezekiel Ansah also missed much of the season (biceps), among many other injuries.
The roster of the gambusinos has not undergone major changes And you have to remember that this team played the Super Bowl just a couple of years ago.
The return of the 49ers will depend largely on Jimmy Garoppolo. The veteran is prone to injury and therefore the team recruited Trey Lance with the third overall pick of the 2021 Draft.
It is difficult for San Francisco to win the Division with Lance, so the coach Kyle Shanahan needs “Jimmy G” healthy all season.
The New Orleans Saints in 2009 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, won the Super Bowl after finishing last in their Division the previous season.
In 2021 the 49ers could become third on the list.
And I’m not exaggerating.
