Which NFL Teams Have The Most At Stake In 2021?

Which NFL Teams Have The Most At Stake In 2021?

Many NFL teams are hoping to have a big season in 2021, but high levels of excitement across the league always come with disappointment for some. Although much is on the line for many teams this year, these are the three teams with the most at stake in the 2021 NFL season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hear me out on this. Tom Brady is turning 44(!) this August and while he is showing no signs of stopping, Brady will not be playing football forever. Tampa Bay’s front office will be looking to maximize their championship window with the GOAT at the helm, and winning back-to-back titles is at the top of their minds. Anything short of at least an appearance in the Super Bowl will be a disappointment, especially since it appears Tampa Tom is taking things one year at a time. The Bucs regressing this season could make Brady consider his future in Tampa and would likely cause experts to call for his retirement as well. While he has already proven this roster is good enough to win a championship, replacing Brady would be a very tall task in 2022, and many wonder if this team could still make noise in the playoffs if Brady rode off into the sunset.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts made the playoffs last season behind a strong defense and one of the best offensive lines in football. With Philip Rivers retiring, Frank Reich will attempt to revive Carson Wentz’s incredible form from his 2017 season in Philadelphia, and a comeback is possible for Wentz since Indy has better linemen and weapons compared to the Eagles. Quenton Nelson, Darius Leonard, DeForest Buckner, and T.Y. Hilton are all playmakers who are looking to go further than the Wild Card Game this year, and the team could face serious repercussions if they fail to meet their lofty expectations. The Colts gave up some serious draft capital for Wentz, so missing the playoffs is not the desired outcome for them, and it could even cost Reich his job.

Chicago Bears

The Bears squeaked into a wild card spot thanks to the expanded playoff format last season, and although they could return to the playoffs from a fairly weak NFC North, that return is far from guaranteed. 2021 has some serious implications for Chicago as Justin Fields has generated some serious excitement, but whether or not he lives up to it remains to be seen. A trip to the lottery would really hurt, as Chicago sent the New York Giants their first-round pick next year in order to move up to the #11 spot in this year’s draft. If the Bears fail to work their way into the NFC playoff picture and waste another year of Khalil Mack’s prime, heads will roll in Chicago.