The major sports leagues in North America are littered with teams that are in desperate need of an upturn in their fortunes.
Several teams are in the midst of a rebuild, while there are numerous others that probably haven’t quite hit the depths of despair just yet.
With that in mind, read on as we take a closer look at four US sports teams who need to get their act together in the future.
Detroit Red Wings
Given that the Red Wings were Stanley Cup winners as recently as 2008, their steady demise over subsequent years has been painful to watch.
As highlighted by former Red Wings’ forward Darren McCarty’s recent interview with Betway, Red Wings fans expect their team to be challenging for silverware every season.
However, they have failed to qualify for the play-offs in each of the last five years and are likely to miss out again this time around.
General manager Steve Yzerman has improved some elements of the Red Wings’ roster, but he still has a massive job on his hands to restore their former glories.
Houston Texans
After posting a 4-12 record during the 2020 season, the Houston Texans were widely tipped to be one of the worst teams in the NFL last term.
They lived up to their billing, ending their AFC South campaign with a dismal 4-13 record to demonstrate that little has changed in Houston.
Re-signing 15 players who played last season does not seem to be the brightest idea anyone has ever had and Texans fans must be dreading the next campaign.
While the Texans have got six first-round draft picks in the next three years, it could still be some time before the team starts challenging for the play-offs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars ended a 20-game losing stream last October with a narrow 23-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins in London.
Anyone hoping that the result would spark an upturn in their fortunes was left disappointed, as the Jaguars won just two more games to end the season with a 3-14 record.
The Jaguars have filled plenty of gaps in their roster during free agency, but their squad still looks painfully short of the talent needed to climb the standings.
Jacksonville have finished bottom of AFC South in each of the last four seasons – they need more reinforcements if they want to avoid making it five years in a row in 2022.
Houston Rockets
James Harden’s controversial departure from Houston sparked a dramatic slump down the NBA ladder for the Rockets.
They finished last season with the worst record in the league (17-55), and are on course to finish bottom of the Western Conference this year.
The Rockets put an emphasis on youth after Harden’s exit, but their shift in focus is yet to deliver consistent results on the court.
Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr have shown flashes of potential, but the Rockets need much more if they’re to force their back up the NBA.
