Obviously this season was never supposed to be anything, but even then it is surprising just how bad the Dolphins are. The best case scenario is this is something like 2019 where they were similarly, embarrassingly bad for much of it, before having a sneakily decent last half of the season. Maybe that is in Malik Willis and co's future, but anyway, for now they are the doormat we all predicted them to be.
31.) Tennessee Titans = 0-5 (58-109)
30.) Los Angeles Chargers = 0-5 (84-129)
30.) Los Angeles Chargers = 0-5 (84-129)
The other two 0-5 teams are very bad, and deservedly 0-5, but the big difference is neither was supposed to be this bad. Hell, many had the Chargers as a playoff team if not a sneaky Super Bowl wildcard. That was always probably an extreme, but the Chargers are just lost right now. I can't believe how bad the Herbert & McDaniel pairing has gone. Yes, I realize the OL is in tatters, but still I would've thought there was some change-up. For teh Titans, to me the real goal of teh rest of this season is to figure out if CJ Ward is worth investing in further, or call it a day and dip back into the QB pool in the upcoming draft (a good QB draft, supposedly). That may seem extreme, but to me he is not developing in the least.
29.) Arizona Cardinals = 1-4 (108-162)
28.) New Orleans Saints = 1-4 (118-151)
27.) Washington Commanders = 1-3-1 (115-149)
26.) Cleveland Browns = 3-2 (93-112)
25.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers = 1-4 (110-112)
26.) Cleveland Browns = 3-2 (93-112)
25.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers = 1-4 (110-112)
Yes, I 100% stand by putting a team above .500 on this list, but the Browns barely won their three games and have a pretty bad point differential more in line with teams in this range. I don't but that team longer term, with a weak schedule and one admittedly great win, keeping them afloat. For teh rest, the Cardinals, Saints and Commanders are all potential contenders for me "team that plays scrappy for 5-6 games but loses most of them and then starts imploding on themselves." Not sure which of them will fall most into that - the Saints are a good shout as Shough starts having rougher games as teams have done more to cover Olave. For teh Buccaneers - shocking win for a team that has done a great job having passable offense under the backup, and they grade out by some metrics as one of the better 1-4 teams of all time. They are still just one game back in that division after all.
24.) Indianapolis Colts = 2-3 (124-138)
It's amazing over now basically two generations of football (~15 years), teh Colts have been laughably bad playing in Pittsburgh, and that shows itself mostly on defense, where they just have never been able to stops the Steelers there. Made more sense when it was Ben and the B's, but someone the same holds true with Rodgers and Warren. On their offense, it is concerning that Jones continues to play like Giants Daniel Jones, but I guess charitably he is still coming off of an achilles tear less than a year ago.
23.) New York Giants = 3-1-1 (109-106)
22.) New York Jets = 2-3 (93-96)
22.) New York Jets = 2-3 (93-96)
It's funny that the Commanders blowing the late game OT situation overlooks that the Giants fighting for extra yards in wet conditions on their OT drive was nearly as dumb. That was a gimme field goal before Skattebo fumbled. Anyway, somehow this team is still at just one loss and seeing most of the division implode around them. I still don't think it is in any way sustainable, mostly because of Jameis, but they stay competent. As do the Jets, who are just a solid team in a way that Robert Saleh tried to make them, but couldn't. I don't think they are good - but the defense is above average, and they have a good run game. I don't think either New York team makes the playoffs but we may at least have interesting late Fall football in New York for once.
21.) Houston Texans = 1-4 (110-112)
20.) Dallas Cowboys = 2-3 (138-136)
19.) Carolina Panthers = 2-2 (121-109)
20.) Dallas Cowboys = 2-3 (138-136)
19.) Carolina Panthers = 2-2 (121-109)
18.) Las Vegas Raiders = 3-2 (132-129)
17.) Atlanta Falcons = 2-3 (119-122)
I like pairing these five together because all things are possible here. One of these may end up 11-6 (mostly likely: one of the two NFC South teams). One may end up 5-12 (most likely: somehow maybe also one of the NFC South teams). Just hard to know which. The Texans defense finally settled (playing Cam Ward helps), and I do like the buy-low potential with MHJR, but that 0-4 start is probably a step too far to dig out of. The Cowboys loss was pathetic, as was the Raiders. Don't trust either of those teams over sixteen, but either can have a great game/. The Falcons really let that one slip away, but the offense when Penix is in there, remains strong and something to build around. Just have to hope he can stay healthy, which admittedly has been a big concern for him for years now. For the Panthers - fun bye week to exit it now being atop the division.
16.) Pittsburgh Steelers = 3-2 (111-109)
15.) Philadelphia Eagles = 2-3 (92-112)
15.) Philadelphia Eagles = 2-3 (92-112)
14) Green Bay Packers = 3-2 (104-112)
13.) Denver Broncos = 3-2 (97-111)
13.) Denver Broncos = 3-2 (97-111)
Call it the slightly better pedigreed version of the five teams before, with also some unpredictably where these end up, but some more upward momentum (e.g. wouldn't be shocked if any end 12-5 or better). The Steelers are a weird team where it seems they will get 9+ good Rodgers and run-game games to continue that .500 streak. The Eagles need to get healthy quick - a gutsy performance that they had no business almost winning, but it is clear the overall talent, when healthy, is still there. The Packers finally played like we expect - but how much of these last two weeks was playing adn dominating two backup QBs - and Love's deep ball over-corrected to somethign not sustainable in this one also. Finally for the Broncos, Payton taking the reins back didn't fix much, but teh defense remains excellent, and you just have to expect the offense to gel a bit more as the season goes on. If it doesn't, will be an interesting offseason in Denver as Payton may have to come to terms with his hand picked QB just not having it.
12.) New England Patriots = 3-2 (110-94)
11.) Detroit Lions = 3-2 (164-148)
10.) Cincinnati Bengals = 3-2 (128-109)
9.) Baltimore Ravens = X-X (XXX-XX)
8.) Chicago Bears = 3-2 (119-96)
9.) Baltimore Ravens = X-X (XXX-XX)
8.) Chicago Bears = 3-2 (119-96)
7.) Minnesota Vikings = 5-0 (109-64)
6.) XXXXXX
5.) XXXXXX
4.) Seattle Seahawks = 3-2 (134-105)
3.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 4-1 (123-70)
2.) Kansas City Chiefs = 4-0 (118-77)
3.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 4-1 (123-70)
2.) Kansas City Chiefs = 4-0 (118-77)
1.) San Francisco 49ers = 5-0 (154-93)
