A horrific season from start to finish mercilessly ends. One of the more interesting random things is this Panthers team is the first super extreme record in the 17-game era. Until now no one had gone worse than 3-14 or better than 14-3, but here we are with a team that never took a snap with a lead in the 4th quarter. I'll be interested who they go after this offseason - many teams will probably line up for Belichick, but certainly Tepper, after getting deservedly clowned all season, may open his wallet unbelievable wide.
31.) Washington Commanders = 4-13 (329-518)
Hey, here's another team that might go extreme on Belichick. More realistically though, their going to do some galaxy-brained move after bringing in Bob Meyers for some reason in the committee to help find a new coach. The roster tanked well so they have a lot in the cupboard to reload, and clear path to a new QB, so the future at least is somewhat bright.
30.) New England Patriots = 4-13 (236-366)
I found it weird how confidently people were talking about that being the end of the Belichick era. Where there's smoke, there's fire, so I assume this is true. I also find it hilarious already one of the names that have bubbled up is Josh McDaniels. God, I hope the Patriots make that ridiculous decision. I said when Brady and Belichick split that I found myself taking the side of Belichick. Still true now as well. I hope Bill goes somewhere to coach Herbert and the Pats cast their lot with McNasty.
29.) Arizona Cardinals = 4-13 (330-445)
They should keep Kyler. There was enough there, and Gannon has that team playing well. They're in positioned now to go draft Marvin Harrison Jr., give Kyler a real top receiver to work with, and things can look a lot different. Kyler may have his faults but they had the league's best run game once he came back. This team was just not talented enough to really make a run at it in 2023 by design.
28.) New York Giants = 6-11 (266-407)
I just don't know how they weasel out of the Daniel Jones conundrum. The play didn't work. It just didn't. They looked so much better whether it was Tyrod or DeVito in there. I also am confused about the Wink Martindale move. I guess it is mutual, or maybe pushed by Wink, but that defense was far from the issue here. In the end, unless Daboll can manufacture a league average offense like they were able to last year, this team has very limited upside.
27.) Los Angeles Chargers = 5-12 (346-398)
I'm not ranking this on where I expect these teams to be next year. If I was I would have teh Chargers higher, as I'll assume there ire no long lasting effects with Herbert's recovery. Anyway, for this season, it was disaster - and outside of just Herbert it lay fully clear that the rest of the roster was nowhere near as complete or skilled as people kept saying. Full reset here - another team I can see opening up the wallet for Belichick, but more than that they probably need a reliable GM to pick better players than Telesco did for years.
26.) Atlanta Falcons = 7-10 (321-373)
Man this offense could be so fun if they get someone with his head less up his ass next year than Arthur Smith was. What w waste that entire Smith era was. Clearly also they need someone better than Ridder at QB as well. The name that intrigued me is hearing some NFL twitter folks throw out Justin Fields if the Bears were to decide to go with Caleb Williams. Sign me up for that with a coach who knows how to scheme to the best of his players' talent.
25.) New York Jets = 7-10 (258-355)
So we're just going to do the Aaron Rodgers thing next year? I think I said it a couple weeks back, but I really hope the Jets draft a QB in the first two rounds. Other than reinforcing the OL they don't ahve many weaknesses assuming Rodgers returns as a capable QB. Invest in the future. I like that Saleh is coming back because we can say "why didn't get go get Name X" but realisstically their season was over four plays in.
24.) Tennessee Titans = 6-11 (305-367)
No surprise at all that the Titans beat the Jags - just the type of game they would win. If this is for Vrabel (more in the sense he's a hot name as a potential Belichick replacement) than he went out in style, as did Derrick Henry. I'll always remember the Vrabel era as giving us the weirdest #1 seed of the 32-team era (in my mind at least). For the future, hope Levis comes back healthy and see what you have in 2023. The Hopkins experiment worked better than I thought it would, but it would also be prudent for them to ivnest further in weapons.
23.) Denver Broncos = 8-9 (357-413)
I'm not sure what Payton's plan is at QB. Clearly they're done with Russell Wilson. Stidham did nothing as a replacement and is also not a long term answer. I guess they coudl go the draft route but don't have a top pick, and I can't imagine the offense Payton wants to run is something too easy for a rookie to pick up. Seems to be a bit of treading water season next year as well.
22.) Chicago Bears = 7-10 (360-379)
Even if we assume this is it for Justin Fields, man does the future for the Bears look a whole lot brighter than it did a few weeks back. Eberflus's defense took off. DJ Moore showed up, as did the running game even outside Hurts. At this point I want them to go with Caleb Williams and really take off. Not sure any team (outside of whoever nabs Belichick) has a more interesting offseason to come.
21.) Minnesota Vikings = 7-10 (344-362)
The rumblings on Cousins taking a home town discount to stay is growing louder, and I'm fully for it. There's no reason to close that door if Cousins is open to it. The team showed throughout this season they are good enough to compete. Flores defense even played above its level and could do with some further reinforcements. Cousins injury derailed what probably would've been another wild card team (or at least 9-8 and let tiebreakers fall where they lie). I trust in KOC as well.
20.) Las Vegas Raiders = 8-9 (332-331)
God help us all if Antonio Pierce is passed over for the full time job. Hard to see what more he could've done, from resurrecting that locker room after the excised the tumor that was McDaniels, to having the defense improve basically overight, to keeping them in most games with Aidan O'Connell having to take most of teh snaps. Not sure what options they have at QB, but even then they should trust Pierce with a multi year contract to see what he can do wtih his players.
19.) Seattle Seahawks = 9-8 (364-402)
Seems like they'll keep Carroll. They need to invest in the interior DL. The run defense has been too bad for too long now. I still like this offense enough with Geno back there - this year was very much proving that last year was not a fluke. Can they compete for a Super Bowl with Geno? Maybe not, but not sure what better alternatives they have.
18.) Indianapolis Colts = 9-8 (396-415)
The whole controversy about that last play was so overhyped to me. Taylor was clearly a bit hampered, and the play-call schemed Goodson wide open. just have to make that catch. Anyway, the future is still bright because the weakness of this team was Minshew's erraticness. I hope they invest a ton in the DL because you can't just assume thsi group will be as productive again. Anyway, the thing they absolutely got right is Steichen is a great coach.
17.) Jacksonville Jaguars = 9-8 (377-371)
What a brutal collapse but in reality this team is basically the same as last year's team - that did this in reverse with a miracle finish to steal the division. I hope they don't overreact, but look to improve where this team is the weakest - the back-seven and the OL. That all said, Lawrence has to improve. I guess you can chalk up some of the late season play to various knicks and bruises (and of course the concussion that took him out two games), but he didn't really seem to get any better this season, which is certainly alarming.
16.) New Orleans Saints = 9-8 (402-327)
It's so weird this team will end up with a +75 point differential, but miss the playoffs and it is hard to feel really bad for them. Looking back they were one of the ultimate paper tigers losing to basically any good team they played. Were they better than teh Bucs? Probably, but them's the breaks and again I don't think anyone feels like we're missing out on a good team here. The incoming cap crunch will be hilarious to see them navigate.
15.) Cincinnati Bengals = 9-8 (366-384)
In the end, they were never seriously going to challenge after the Burrow injury, but what their end of season play under Browning showed is that this team is more talented top to bottom on the roster than you would think. Similar to say the Colts making it to 9-8 with their backup, this shows a good roster with a good coaching staff, missing the head of the operation. The Higgins contract will be interesting to watch, but at the end of the day, getting Burrow back means a whole lot more than losing Higgins.
Some Random Ramblings on Wild Card Weekend:
= Are they just going to call it Super Wild Card Weekend for eternity? Like I got it the first year in 2021 as a way to signify we have two more teams, and two more games - three games Saturday and three games Sunday. But it's year three now. Pretty soon many won't even remember the ancient 8-team wild card round set-up. At some point it should become just "Wild Card Weekend" again, no?
= So weird to see the schedule be the three AFC games and then the three NFC games. With the jumbling of who broadcasts what, I guess no real complains for CBS and FOX since they just get the one game each. I remember a few times in the old era we would get both Saturday games be AFC and then Sunday was NFC. But anyway, just found that curious.
= Think the Mike McCarthy revenge game is getting totally lost in the glow of the Jared Goff revenge game, and the Joe Flacco / Cleveland revenge game. Maybe it should be, but McCarthy was certainly, most would say fairly, scapegoated for how things ended in Green Bay. He found greener pastures, and has this team generally rolling. I do like also the nuance of the Packers recent history ruining the Cowboys life in 2014 and 2016 that Dallas will try to also take revenge for.
= Dolphins @ Chiefs may be my favorite game. Strength v. Strengh with the Dolphins offense against the Chiefs defense (and yes, I know how weird it is to type that...). Spags the God going up against Mike McDaniel is a great one. On the other side, if tehre was ever a team that the Chiefs could get right against it is a Dolphins defense missing a ton of people (though maybe Zavien Howard gets back). Just a great one, along with the backdrop of what should be like 10degree weather in Arrowhead. Good stuff.
= More to come later this week
