Lounging Pass: NFL 2021: Post-Regular Season Power Rankings & The Rest, Pt. 1

Ranking the Non-Playoff Teams

32.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 3-14 (253-457)

Focus for 2022: Getting someone to resurrect Trevor Lawrence.

I'll talk about the most surprising result of the year in the Colts section, but the biggest positive for hte Jags in that game was Trevor Lawrence looking like a legitimate starting QB for the first time in months. His development this year has undoubtedly been stunted by Urban Meyer's idiocy. The only key for the next hire, whether the coach of the coach's picked OC, is how much can they get out of Trevor Lawrence. The team is bereft of talent, they just need someone who can coach up the QB to be as talented as he should be.

31.) New York Giants = 4-13 (258-416)

Focus for 2022: Finally coming to terms with it not being a Judge & Jones world.

It seems written in stone by now that Joe Judge and Daniel Jones are both somehow coming back. I have no idea why Judge is at this point, given how embarrassing their season ended with his lashing out in press conference, either lying or admitting to tampering, and running those godforesaken QB draws. For Jones, maybe he can turn it around, players have done that in a Year 4 before. I just have zero faith that it will happen under Judge, so it really seems this is a wasted season.

30.) New York Jets = 4-13 (310-504)

Focus for 2022: Letting Saleh get another year, but with a skeptical eye

It is a bit distressing that the Jets gave up more points than anyone else, and even more worryingly they finished 32nd in DVOA, so its not like behidn all the points are some strong numbers. Sometimes it takes more than one year for a defensive identity to get instilled, and in their good games they were very good. I trust Saleh to get them better, but I would not hesitate to cut bait after 2022 if teh defense doesn't markedly improve. The personnel needs to improve, and with two top-10 picks they have that route to go, but it seems like a bigger climb than just getting some talented rookies.

29.) Houston Texans = 4-13 (280-452)

Focus for 2022: Turning the page

It seems clear Deshaun Watson will get traded. It stupidly is unknown id David Culley will get another season despite them playing hard while being more bereft of talent than the three teams I ranked below them. I don't think Culley is a great coach, I just see no need to fire him before seeing what they can do with a legitimate team around him.

28.) Detroit Lions = 3-13-1 (325-467)

Focus for 2022: Assessing Goff long term

This is an interesting one, as the Lions played better than a three win team, though not so much better, coming in at an expected 5-12 record. Goff wasn't overly bad, but he definitely has a ceiling that might work for 2022 but they need to see if there is any runway on Goff into 2023. Connected to that is if they can get some consistency - the Lions played hard but it all seemed a bit smoke and mirrors and rah-rah around Campbell. That might be largely due to Campbell's bravado, but I would like to see them turn Swift into an even better playmaker, and Amun-Ra into a more consistent weapon.

27.) Carolina Panthers = 5-12 (304-404)

Focus for 2022: Don't wait to cut bait

I don't think any team is in a cycle of more mediocrity right now than the Panthers (I separate them with like the Giants who are stuck in a cycle of bad-ness). They have no clear future at QB other than fairly middling options. I don't buy Matt Rhule as a coach. The defense is nice and has developed some good players but that is as we all know inconsistent year to year. I just don't know where they go without hitting a bit of a reset, which you would think David Tepper wouldn't fear being hasty there.

26.) Chicago Bears = 6-11 (311-407)

Focus for 2022: Develop Justin Fields

Sometimes it is indeed this obvious. They have a QB they recently drafted in the Top-5. Well? Might be good to develop that guy more than the grating Matt Nagy was able to. They've already cleaned house with both Nagy and Pace out. I guess that gives some chance that the new GM/Coach combo would be willing to move away from Fields, but I would want them to at least take 2022 to make that decision. Fields hasn't shown much in two years, but again hard to know how much of that is on him or Nagy.

25.) Atlanta Falcons = 7-10 (313-459)

Focus for 2022: Toe the line between Ryan and the future

Matt Ryan is seemingly coming back for 2022 as a Falcon. He's not terrible, he's certainly better than say Ben Roethlisberger this year, but he's clearly limited, he can't take over games, he needs his skill players to elevate him - which aside from Kyle Pitts is not such a roster that is easily capable of this. The Falcons don't seem to be wanting to make a tough decision here to cut the cord and move on, which is admirable in a sense but probably just leaves them spinning their wheels a bit. But at the very least they need to ensure they create the room for 2023 to be with someone else at QB.

24.) Washington Football Team = 7-10 (335-434)

Focus for 2022: Picking a good name

Seriously, don't blow this opportunity. I'm sure they will because messing up is just what Dan Snyder does...

23.) Seattle Seahawks = 7-10 (395-366)

Focus for 2022: Just keep things going

This is a ranking based on 2021 performance, not 2022 outlook - as focusing on the latter would have moved them up. The Seahawks end up as massive pythagoreon outliers, but that's mostly driven by a few big blowout wins. This team has holes, like a defense that disappeared every other week, but still end up a good team unjustly put in the league's best division. The Seahawks will have a lot of work to do to stay competitive in said division, but they shouldn't assume the world is ending because they had a bad year. Just have to go back three years to the Packers in a very similar spot just holding course with their QB (admittedly, changing coach) and it works out.

22.) Miami Dolphins = 9-8 (341-373)

Focus for 2022: Who knows, fuck them

I can't even start to think of their 2022 without the glaring issue of them firing Brian Flores, who of course has some faults and blind spots but seems to be a very good coach in keeping a middling team hyper competitive, and not firing the guy who drafted Tua and has a whole roster of other mistakes in his past. Look, maybe something will come out to better explain why Flores had to go, but until then we're left with feeling that he was done wrong. Never a good sign when you fire someone and they immediately become one of the hotter names on the coaching market.

21.) Cleveland Browns = 8-9 (349-371)

Focus for 2022: Get Mayfield healthy and right

Maybe Mayfield is just too flawed to make it work, but in his two healthy seasons they went an impressive 7-8-1 (after going 0-16 the year before) and 11-5. Mayfield has a great arm but doesn't use it well, partially due to injuries sustained this year. I don't think the team is broken, nor he, just about yet. Maybe a year later we'll realize that he's just permanently not right - like Carson Wentz at this point - but I would give him the chance to show otherwise.

20.) Minnesota Vikings = 8-9 (425-426)

Focus for 2022: Offseason focus, but weigh hitting re-set?

The Vikings have fired Zimmer and Spielman, the latter coming as something of a surprise. They've had this core run its course, aside from Justin Jefferson of course. They have a chance to maybe hit reset - even considering trading Jefferson (though I admit that is way more an NBA like move...). And why not? Clearly they've hit their ceiling in 2017 and 2019. Maybe someone new comes in but I do think there is a ceiling to a Kirk Cousins offense. They can regroup and time things for when Rodgers inevitably leaves or retires - something like the Bills did with Sean McDermott to line up to when Brady left. It is a risk, but running in place seems to have run its course.

19.) Denver Broncos = 7-10 (335-322)

Focus for 2022: Not losing what you had

I get the decision to fire Fangio. The team seemed a bit limited and you can argue needed a new voice. It isn't the worst firing - not even close given what Miami did. That said, Fangio did create a team whose defense was strong year after year (ironically this years team was one of the weaker defenses). Like many teams who try to lean into fixing up the offense, there's always a risk what they gained on defense then disappears and I can definitely see that here.

18.) New Orleans Saints = 9-8 (364-335)

Focus for 2022: Figure out how to machinate your way to a great QB

The Saints have a great team aside from their hole at QB. They also have negative millions of cap space (even with it not being as bad as in years past). I don't know what hoops they have to go through to get into a potential Aaron Rodgers derby, but by god they need to do something. And maybe that is just bringing Jameis back - I am still certain had Jameis not gotten hurt they're a clear playoff team. There's probably not too long a window here where the defense will remain great.

17.) Baltimore Ravens = 8-9 (387-392)

Focus for 2022: Fix the practice facility, or something...

The Ravens were 8-3 before a combination of covid and injuries, stacking up on many preseason injuries, just torpedoed their season. They still nearly pulled off a miracle (had they beaten Pittsburgh, they would be in the playoffs right now as weird as that sounds). Clips circulated of their dust bowl practice field. I can't say for sure that equates directly to their spate of injuries, but whatever the cause is, something needs to be done. Healthy and they'll go back to being a top contender, but man do they have to get some semblance of health.

16.) Los Angeles Chargers = 9-8 (474-459)

Focus for 2022: Get a real RT and a second pass rusher

At some point, probably pre-FA, I'll do a real 'needs' type look at the NFL, but finally I'll do a specific focus here. The Chargers have a top young QB, a stud LT, a top pass rusher, but little else. Then again that's a really good set of top players. What they need is just to improve their biggest weaknesses that cost them mightily in that amazing game. They need a RT, as it was horrifying how badly abused they were by Maxx Crosby. They need a second pass rusher so in games where Bosa can get handled well enough with double teams they can maintain some semblance of a pass rush. Fix those two issues and I truly think they can have a great team.

15.) Indianapolis Colts = 9-8 (451-365)

Focus for 2022: Move on from Wentz

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. That was the worst Colts game in my time following the team. Seriously. I don't know what comes close aside from maybe their complete no-show in the 2014 AFC Championship Game. This isn't only on Wentz, but I'm sorry at this point he isn't the answer. Yes, they gave up a 1st round pick, but don't steer into that too much. He isn't the guy. Reich needs to know this. The rest of the team is good with a few adds to make (another pass rusher is desperately needed). I don't know who the answer is on QB - but again like the Saints they need to be in on any Rodgers or Russell Wilson rumors. They need to do something to put the taste of that loss far, far, far in the rear view mirror.

Predicting the Awards:

MVP:

1.) Aaron Rodgers, QB-GB

2.) Joe Burrow, QB-CIN

3.) Tom Brady, QB-TB

4.) Cooper Kupp, WR-LAR

5.) Derek Carr, QB-LV

OPOTY

1.) Cooper Kupp, WR-LAR

2.) Jonathan Taylor, RB-IND
3.) Tom Brady, QB-TB

DPOTY

1.) TJ Watt, LB-PIT