The St. Louis Bluesand Toronto Raptorswon their first championships in franchise historythis week in the NHLand NBA, respectively.That begs a question acro s the other major sports. Who is next? Sporting News looked at the four major profe sional American sports MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL and the teams that have not won a championship. One important disclaimer: For the NFL, we did not include NFL championships won before the Super Bowl eraor AFL championships won before the merger. Your teammust win the Super Bowl. MORE: That leaves several pro franchises acro s the four sports looking to hold up that championship trophy for the first time. How close or how far is your team from winning the World Series, the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup Final or the NBA Finals? We take a closer lookfrom top to bottom, with the teams ranked based on their likelihood of becoming the next first-time champion. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded. 1. Milwaukee Brewers This year: 39-29, first in NL Central How close? The Brewers'time is now. MVP candidate Christian Yelich leads a heavy-hitting lineup complimented by a strong pitching staff. Milwaukee has been to the NLCS twice thisdecade but has not made the World Series since 1982. 2.Houston Texans Last year: 11-5, first in AFC South How close? The Texans have a franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, a dominant receiver in DeAndre Hopkins, an elite pa s rusher in J.J. Watt and a coach in Bill O'Brien who has shown he can get to the postseason. Minuses? Houston just fired its GM, and it hasbeen to the divisional playoffs only three time this decade. If the Texans don't take the next step soon,then the next NFL team on this list might. 3.Cleveland Browns Last year: 7-8-1, third in AFC North How close? Believe in The Land, which last won an NFL championship before the Super Bowl era in 1964.The Browns have the same things as the Texans with Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., andMyles Garrett, and first-year coach Freddie Kitchens has the confidence of an aggre sive GM in John Dorsey. Cleveland's Super Bowl window is open. Onecould argue they should be ahead of the Texans, but Blake Bortles Jersey Houston beat Cleveland last season and plays in a weaker division. Perhaps they will settle it in the playoffs this year. 4.Vegas Golden Knights Last year: 43-32-7, third in Pacific Division How close? The Knightsreached theStanley Cup Final in their first year as a franchise, and a mix of four 50-point scorers and goaltender Marc Andre-Fleury should help the Knights keep that window open. 5.Los Angeles Chargers Last year: 12-4, second in AFC West How close? The Chargers have an experienced quarterback in Philip Rivers, and coach Anthony Lynn was exactly what this franchise needed to get back on track. Los Angeles, however,mustdeal with the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomesin its division. That could block the Chargersfrom the Super Bowl in this window. MORE: 6.Nashville Predators Last year: 47-29-6, first in Central Division How close? ThePredshave made five straight playoff appearances under Peter Laviolette, and that includes the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Nashville will have to bounce back from a first-round upset, but the Predsaren't alone in that regard in the Western Conference. 7.Denver Nuggets Last year: 54-28, first in Northwest Division How close? The first NBA team is a result of a predictable landscape. The Nuggets had the second best regular-season record in the Western Conference last year, but they were knocked out in the second round of the playoffs by Portland. Still, this group had seven players average double figures. They could benefit from a potential Golden State break-up, too. 8.Winnipeg Jets Last year: 47-30-5, second in Central Division How close? The Jets had a tough first-round exit from the playoffs lastseason, but they have averaged 106.5 points over the last two yearsand should be right back in contention in the Western Conference in 2019. Will Winnipeg be the team that ends Canada'sStanley Cup drought. 9.Atlanta Falcons Last year: 7-9, second in NFC South How close? The Falcons are two years removed from the 28-3 meltdown in the Super Bowl, but Matt Ryan has proven he can lead a team to the title game. The Falcons have made the second weekend of the NFL playoffs four times this decade. 10.San Jose Sharks Last year: 46-27-9, second in Pacific Division How close? The Sharks have made four straight playoff appearances and were in the Stanley Cup Finalin 2016. The recent conference final lo s to the Blueswas a Jack Youngblood Jersey mi sed opportunity for a franchise that has averaged close to 100 points the last four seasons. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded. 11.Brooklyn Nets Last year: 42-40, fourth in Atlantic Division How close? The Nets made theplayoffs last year, and D'Angelo Ru sell and CarisLeVertare emerging stars. Brooklyn, however, needs more star powerto reach the next level in the Eastern Conference. Is Kyrie Irving that guy? 12.Carolina Panthers Last year: 7-9, third in NFC South How close? The Panthers for some reasoncan't put together back-to-back winningseasons. The good news is this is the "good"year, Cam Newton looks ready to return from a shoulder injury and the defense will keep them in games. 13.Minnesota Vikings Last year: 8-7-1, second in NFC North How close? The Vikings made the NFC championship game two years ago, but the Kirk Cousinscontract has become a lightning rod for criticism. They mi sed the playoffs last season, and coach Mike Zimmer will have his hands full to get back to the top of the NFC North. 14.Utah Jazz Last year: 50-32, third in Northwest Division How close? Utah could not get past the first round of the playoffs this year, but Donovan Mitchell is the kind of player who could leadan NBA Finals run at some point in his career. Utah has not been to the Western Conference finals since 2006-07. 15.Colorado Rockies This year: 35-32, second NL West How close? The Rockies have been in the postseason the last two years, and we like their ballpark for offensive purposes. Will Bud Black lead a breakthrough this season? MORE: 16.Tampa Bay Rays This year: 41-26, second in AL East How close? The Rays have found their rhythm under fifth-year manager Kevin Cash and could make the playoffs for the first time since 2013. It's still difficult in a division that features the Red Sox and Yankees. 17.Los Angeles Clippers Last year: 48-34, second in Pacific Division How close? They have made seven playoff appearances in this decade, but the Clippers have been bounced in the first round in three of the last four seasons. Doc Rivers is a solid coach, but this franchise needs to go all in if it ever wants to make the NBA Finals. The next NBA team on this list can relate. 18.Tenne see Titans Last year: 9-7, third in AFC South How close? The Titans just mi sed the playoffs last season, but coach Mike Vrabel proved his worth in his first season. Tenne see can compete for playoff berths, but it hassome catching up to do againstIndianapolis and Houston. 19.Jacksonville Jaguars Last year: 5-11, fourth in AFC South How close? The Jaguars were in the AFC championship game just two seasons ago, but a blown lead against New England ballooned into a hangover season. Is NickFolesthe cure around a group that still has enough young talent to win the division? 20.Texas Rangers This year: 36-31, second in AL West How close? The Rangers have gone 58 seasons without a championship and last made the World Series in 2011. They are challenging for a wild-card spot this season. 21.Detroit Lions Last year: 6-10, fourth in NFC North How close? The Lions won the NFL championship in 1957, but they have yet to reach the Super Bowl. Matthew Stafford Brian Allen Jersey remains a solid quarterback, but how much time does he have left in Motown? 22.Indiana Pacers Last year: 48-34, second in Central Division How close? The Pacers are a playoff regular with eight appearances this decade, but they have lost in the first round each of the last four seasons. 23.San Diego Padres This year: 33-35, fourth in NL West How close? The Padres made a splash by getting Manny Machado, and and have a young core of exciting players, but they still struggle at PETCO Park. San Diego has not played in the postseason since the one-game playoff lo s against Colorado in atiebreaker for the wild card in 2007. 24.Vancouver Canucks Last year: 35-36-11, fifth in Pacific Division How close? The Canucks have just one playoff appearance in the last six seasons, but they have a bright future around center Elias Petter son, who piled up66 points as a rookie. Vancouver must continue to build around him to take that next step. 25.Orlando Magic Last year: 42-40, first in Southeast Division How close? The Magic made the playoffs undercoach Steve Clifford in his first year in Orlando, but this teamis a long way from playing like the group that made the 2009 NBA Finals. 26.Columbus Blue Jackets Last year: 47-31-4, fourth in Metropolitan Division How close? The Blue Jackets made history by winning their first playoff series with a thrilling sweep of top-seed Tampa Bay last season, but a pending free-agent exodus Ethan Westbrooks Jersey that might include Sergei Bobrovsky andArtemiPanarin will test a young farm system.Otherwise, Columbus would be much higher on this list. 27.Florida Panthers Last year: 36-32-14, fifth in Atlantic Division How close? The Panthers have been looking to return to the Stanley Cup Finalsince their only visit in 1995-96, and they have two 90-point scorers in Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. Joel Quenneville was hired to get this team back to the postseason. 28.Washington Nationals This year: 31-36, fourth in AL East How close? Bryce Harper left for Philadelphia, anddespite a strong pitching staff, the star's departure isgoing to make it tougher for the Nationals to win it all. A string of four NLDS lo ses this decade will only grow more painful with time especially if the Phillies win it all. 29.Minnesota Wild Last year: 37-36-9 How close? The Wild mi sed the playoffs last season after six straight appearances, a run that ended after three first-round exits. Did they mi s their window? 30.Cincinnati Bengals Last year: 6-10, fourth in AFC North How close? The Bengals moved on from Marvin Lewis, so maybe Zac Taylor is the right coach to lead this team back to the Super Bowl. Cincinnati has not won a playoff game since 1990-91 which came shortly after the Reds won the World Series. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded. 31.Arizona Cardinals Last year: 3-13, fourth in NFC West How close? The Cardinals begin the great experiment withKliffKingsbury and Kyler Murray. Will that be enough to get them back to the Super Bowl? If it is, then the NFL will be changed forever. 32.Memphis Grizzlies Last year: 33-49, third in Southwest Division How close? The Grizzlies have their third coach in three seasons in Taylor Jenkins, and they appear headed for yet another makeover in the loaded Western Conference. At least they to get build around the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. 33.BuffaloSabres Last year: 33-39-10, sixth in Atlantic Division How close? TheSabreshave finished sixth or worse in the Atlantic Division the last six seasons. Ralph Krueger inherits a team that increased its point total by 14. A playoff berth should be next if they can proprerly build around Jack Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin. 34.Buffalo Bills Last year: 6-10, third in AFC East How close? The Bills haven't won a playoff game since 1995 and have been to the playoffs once since 2000. Tom Brady has not retired yet, either. 35.Charlotte Hornets Last year: 39-43 How close? KembaWalker's future isa question mark. The Hornets have not advanced past the first round since before they relocated in 2001-02. Charlotte has finished below .500 the last three seasons, too. 36.Minnesota Timberwolves Last year: 36-46, fifth in Northwest Division How close? If Karl Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler can't get this team to the postseason, then what's it going to take? There's a long way to go here. 37.Arizona Coyotes Last year: 39-35-8, fourth in Pacific Division How close? The Coyotes just mi sed the playoffs lastseason under second-year coach RickTocchet Rodger Saffold Jersey . We need to see them get in before we start thinking championship. 38.New Orleans Pelicans Last year: 33-49, fourth in Southwest Division How close? There are too many unanswered questions about Anthony Davis'future here, but it looks like New Orleans might get to start over with Zion Williamson. We will re-evaluate this after the NBA Draft. MORE: 39.Seattle Mariners This year: 29-42, last in AL West How close? It's not looking good for the M's, who have not made the playoffs since the magical 116-46 season in 2001. 40.Ottawa Senators Last year: 29-47-6, Eighth in Atlantic Division How close? The Senators face a long rebuild after trading away some top talent and finishinglast in the Eastern Conference with just 64 points. 41.Phoenix Suns Last year: 19-63, fifth in Pacific Division How close? The Suns are a perpetual NBA Lottery team that has not made the playoffs in nine seasons. They area long way from a championship.