I never thought that the Lions, as bad as they were, would be able to pull off the 0-16 miracle last year, but they did. I don’t think that another team will be that bad this year, but if a few teams get just a little bit too unlucky then anything can happen. Here are the five teams that seem most likely to flirt with the disaster:

1. Detroit Lions – There aren’t a whole lot of reasons to believe that this team will be dramatically better than last year. Sure, they have new management and a new coaching staff, but neither has had the time yet to make their mark, and they don’t have a lot of talent to work with. Their long term quarterbacking situation appears to be in decent shape, but in the short term anything could happen, and most of it isn’t good. I think the team will be barely adequate on offense, and potentially disastrous on defense. They’ll finally win a game at some point, but they certainly won’t make a habit of it.

2. Oakland Raiders – I think JaMarcus Russell is a disaster. The team has made horrific personnel decisions time and time again. The coaching is brutal. The schedule is tough. This team has been lousy for a long time now, and I don’t see any real reason to think that that won’t continue again this year. They won’t go winless, but they will be a long way from respectable.

3. St. Louis Rams – I think they made a good coaching choice this time to make up for a bad one last time. Coach Spagnuolo learned his stuff from Jim Johnson, and he’s already implementing a tougher, more physical tone with the Rams. That is sorely needed. There biggest problem in the short term, though, is a stunning lack of talent. I can’t trust Steven Jackson anymore, and the receiving corps is absolutely brutal. The defense has some nice pieces, but not nearly enough of them. This team needs a few more good drafts and a good free agency period or two before they can even hint at the team’s past glories.

4. Kansas City Chiefs – The story here is the same as with the Rams. I love the new management direction, and I think the head coaching choice is inspired. They just don’t have enough to work with in the short term, though. Matt Cassel is a good risk, but it’s totally unclear who he is going to throw to, and whether Larry Johnson is up to the challenge of carrying the ball anymore. The offensive line is a bit concerning, and the defensive line practically didn’t exist last year. They are moving in the right direction, but it sill be a slow trip, and this year could be truly scary.

5. Cleveland Browns – I have no love for Brady Quinn, and I think that Eric Mangini is one of the bigger idiots in the entire league. I’m a big Braylon Edwards fan, but I can’t say with authority that he is going to bounce back and put together a big year. This team probably has the most talent on this list, but they are also the most volatile. They could win eight games or two and I wouldn’t be surprised either way.