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10 teams that could dethrone the New England Patriots in 2017
Odell Beckham and the Giants have Super Bowl aspirations in 2017. Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

10 teams that could dethrone the New England Patriots in 2017

With the start of the 2017 NFL season right around the corner — thank you, football gods! — the clear favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy come February are the New England Patriots. This, of course, comes as no surprise. The Pats will continue to be one of the best teams in football until Tom Brady retires. Despite recently turning 40, Brady is as sharp as he's ever been. On top of that, Bill Belichick has some new toys to play with on both sides of the ball — wide receiver Brandin Cooks and defensive back Stephon Gilmore come to mind.

But this is football we're talking about, and anyone can win on any given Sunday. History has proved that not even the most dominant team of the last 20 years is exempt from this law of nature. Despite the fact that the Patriots have arguably gotten better since winning Super Bowl LI, the league is stacked with teams that could prevent them from becoming repeat champions. Here are the ten teams most likely to dethrone Brady, Belichick and Co.

 
1 of 10

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Historically speaking, teams that lose the Super Bowl don't have good seasons the following year. But no other team has lost the big one quite like the Falcons did last year, allowing the Patriots to score 31 unanswered points in what's become one of the most shocking comebacks in sports history. If the Golden State Warriors can overcome losing a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals, you better believe reigning MVP Matt Ryan can do the same. It's not just Ryan with something to prove. The Atlanta defense — led by a young, talented secondary and Vic Beasley Jr., last season's sack leader — will surely want to atone for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in such spectacular fashion.

 
2 of 10

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Of course losing Ezekiel Elliott for at least six games will make it harder for this Cowboys squad to replicate the success from last year. The good news Dallas's offensive line is the best in the league — and has been for quite some time now — and just about anyone can rush for 1,000 yards a season behind that unit. The Cowboys will be fine with Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris. Dak Prescott also has Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and Cole Beasley to help him move the chains. The defense also got a whole lot better. The Cowboys have enough poise in their young squad to beat the Pats in the Super Bowl should they go on a hot streak and reach the championship.

 
3 of 10

Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver defense is so good that it more than compensates for the shaky quarterback situation. Unlike the Texans, the Broncos face the toughest schedule in the league. This year's opponents had a collective record of .578 last year. On the bright side, the last team to beat the Patriots in the playoffs was Denver two seasons ago, and the Broncos went on to win Super Bowl 50. Don't be surprised if they're the squad that knocks the mighty Pats out of the postseason this year.

 
Green Bay Packers
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

It doesn't matter than the Packers' defense allowed the 11th most yards last season. Aaron Rodgers has the ability to pull big plays out of thin air; he's the only quarterback who makes the otherwise desperate Hail Mary into a legitimate called play. He's one of the most clutch players of the last 10 years, and having him on your team always gives you a chance at winning a title. I'm also a firm believer that Rodgers will win more than one Super Bowl ring before he retires. With the offseason addition of tight end Martellus Bennett, who won Super Bowl LI with the Pats last year, this season is just as good as any to be proven right.

 
5 of 10

Houston Texans

Houston Texans
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

With the exception of a handful of years when Matt Schaub showed he could ball, the Houston Texans have never really had a solid quarterback. Tom Savage will likely win the starting job, so this season doesn't look to be any different in that department. Despite this, the Texans will have a healthy J.J. Watt, who, along with Jadeveon Clowney, will terrorize opposing offenses. It doesn't hurt that the Texans have the seventh easiest schedule in the NFL, which makes facing the Patriots in the playoffs a very real possibility.

 
Kansas City Chiefs
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The AFC West is hands down the toughest division in football at the moment. Denver, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers (yep, still feels weird to say) and the Oakland Raiders have the hardest 2017 schedules in that order. Like the Broncos, the Chiefs have a dominant defense. The Chiefs are also just one of eight teams that have beaten the Patriots in the last three seasons, trouncing them 41-14 in Week 4 of the 2014 regular season.

 
7 of 10

New York Giants

New York Giants
Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

No list about NFL teams that could potentially dethrone the Patriots would be legitimate without the inclusion of the New York Giants. The only reason Tom Brady and Bill Belichick don't have seven Super Bowl rings is because of the Giants, who beat them in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. Their inclusion on this list is more than just lip service. New York had a top five defense last season and added wideout Brandon Marshall in the offseason, who will definitely take off pressure of Odell Beckham Jr.

 
8 of 10

Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Raiders and their resurgent offense were the most fun team to watch last year. They were poised to make a deep playoff run had it not been for quarterback Derek Carr breaking his leg against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. Carr is now healthy, and the Raiders brought Marshawn Lynch out of retirement, which will only make their offense even more potent. This team is the favorite to win the AFC West. If the Raiders pull it off, they have more than enough firepower to outgun the Patriots in the playoffs.

 
Pittsburgh Steelers
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

If it weren't for those pesky Patriots and their reign of dominance, the Steelers could have easily been the most frequent AFC representative at the Super Bowl in the last 20 years or so. Since the start of the millennium, the Steelers have only missed the playoffs six times. They are perennial contenders, and 2017 is no different. Despite holding out in the preseason, running back Le'Veon Bell, who averaged a mind-boggling 157 yards per game from scrimmage last year, indicated on Twitter that he'll rejoin the team Sept. 1. Promising wideout Martavis Bryant will also be back after being suspended all of the 2016 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, making the 2017 Steelers the AFC team most likely to stop the Patriots.

 
10 of 10

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

With the exception of the Atlanta Falcons, no team is more motivated to beat New England in the Super Bowl than Seattle. Were it not for a last-second end zone interception in Super Bowl XLIX, Seattle would have been back-to-back champions. 2017 could be the season the Seahawks avenge that loss. Seattle's secondary, the Legion of Boom, is completely healthy, and quarterback Russell Wilson has only gotten better.

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