Even the Worst Teams Have a Chance to Win in 2007

A Look at the NFL's Bottom Feeders and Why They Could Turn it Around

One of the things that makes the National Football League exciting is parity. Almost every year, some team that finished with a losing record the season before shows drastic improvement and makes a run at the playoffs.

Last season, the New Orleans Saints came within one game of the Super Bowl after finishing 3-13 the year before. The year before that, the Chicago Bears improved on a 5-11 season to win the NFC North title.

Here's a look at the teams that finished last in their divisions in 2006 and why they could be play off contenders in 2007.

Miami Dolphins (AFC East) - The Dolphins finished 6-10 last season despite adding experience at quarterback with trades for Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington. This season, they have Cam Cameron as their head coach. Cameron called plays for the top offense in the league last season. They also will likely have running back Ricky Williams back (unless they choose to cut him or trade him). The last time Williams was paired with Ronnie Brown in the backfield, the team finished 9-7, one game shy of the division title.

Cleveland Browns (AFC North) - After finishing 4-12 last season, coach Romeo Crennel is playing for his job this year and making some desperate moves that might pay off. They improved their offensive line and stole running back Jamal Lewis away from the Baltimore Ravens which, at very least, means they won't have to face him. They are making a move to add an experienced quarterback (Trent Green) to compliment their talented but young receivers. Even if they don't get Green and instead elect to draft quarterback Brady Quinn with the 3^rd overall pick, they are upgrading the position. What's helping them most is two of the other teams in their division (Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers) only finished 8-8 last year and are having issues of their own.