The final week of the regular season. Which means playoffs football! But also means I can’t spend my Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays watching football. As well as spend hours of every other day watching film and highlights. Nevertheless, let’s see where everyone stacks up as the regular season is coming to a close.
Dumpster Fires
32. Jacksonville Jaguars
Congrats I guess? You get Trevor Lawrence but if you have seen this team play you have no reason to believe he is changing anything without major roster overhaul. Good luck, Trevor…
31. Cincinnati Bengals
Signs of life from the Bengals over the last few weeks despite not having anything to play for. Brandon Allen and Ryan Finley looked like competent QBs. I still don’t believe Zac Taylor is the long-term answer. But for the first time in his two year career with the Bengals he has shown he can do something.
30. New York Jets
Look at the Jets man. More wins against winning teams than the Bucs. Still, the team sucks. Gase will be gone and now the front office is in a bind where they need to decide if they want to stick with Darnold and use the second pick on a offensive player to build around him or take a chance on Justin Fields or Zach Wilson.
29. Detroit Lions
Matthew Stafford has shown his value both by his play on the field and the play by other Lions QB. It’s possible that the next regime will want to continue to push to win now, but my gut says it’s time for a rebuild. If that is the case Stafford should be a hot name for team looking to win now.
Bad But Semi-Competitive
28. Philadelphia Eagles
Another week where coaching costs them a game. Doug Pederson is the epitome of “just because he won a Super Bowl doesn’t mean he’s a good head coach”. Something that seems silly to say, but when you read between the lines it’s actually true.
27. Atlanta Falcons
It’s the “Falcon Curse”. Really no other way to spin it. Week after week we keeping thinking “there’s no way they can top this blunder anytime soon” and they do it again. This is pure torture for Falcons fans.
26. New England Patriots
They gave it a good run. But over the last three weeks have shown they just don’t have the firepower this year. Cam was a bust signing. Look for the Patriots in every market–trades, free agency, and the draft–to get themselves a QB and some playmakers.
25. Denver Broncos
It is really hard for me to give up on Drew Lock, but he is giving me much reason to believe after me giving him high praise for his play last year. It also doesn’t help when your first round pick drops five passses in single game. Not sure where the Broncos go from here because their defenses timeline if way ahead of the offenses as far as age.
Bad But Competitive
24. Carolina Panthers
I have said it a few times now. Good young defense that has shown a lot of promise. The hired the right coach. If they can find a QB and one legit outside target the Panthers can be in business next year.
23. Houston Texans
Powerful message from JJ Watt. That’s what you want in your lockerroom. Obviously with no first or second round pick the Texans can only play for pride and you can bet that they will after JJ’s interview.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Still putting up big numbers people are buying Herbert stock now more than ever after stacking a few wins against some bad teams. Still he’s playing how I thought. Inconsistency on a week-to-week basis and critical errors late in the game is still a concern of mine. Proceed with caution.
21. Dallas Cowboys
I will issue some credit for McCarthy. The offense has looked alive over the last few weeks. The defense isn’t playing awful every week. Still not a good team. Still don’t believe McCarthy wins them a Super Bowl ever. But a good stretch of games.
20. New York Giants
5-10 vs 6-9 for a chance to win the division. I love football. With the Giants, they have regresses back to the mean after some unlikely wins. Still a chance to win the NFC Least they will see how their young QB plays when it’s all on the line. Pray for Giants fans.
19. Minnesota Vikings
A worthy effort for the Vikings to fight even though they were 1-5. The defense had let them down. An unusual thing to say about a Mike Zimmer team. However, their offense has been as good as they’ve ever been. If they can plug some of the fills on defense they could be a team to watch next year.
18. San Francisco 49ers
Another week where I praise Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh for getting this injury-plagued team to come out and take the wind out of the Cardinals sail. Obviously a wasted season due to injury but look out for this team to potentially win the NFC next year.
17. Las Vegas Raiders
The way the Raiders lost was extremely unfortunate. But when you’re not a good team you inadvertently find ways to lose these games, even with your season on the line. Jon Gruden will be on the hot seat next year if he can’t find a way to get this defense to show any kind of improvement.
“Playoff” Teams
16. Washington Football Team
Maybe I am still too high on this team. However, with Heinicke or Smith at QB, this team can move the ball enough in order to win any given games. When your defense is as good as Washington’s you will always have a chance.
15. Arizona Cardinals
Kingsbury’s seat is getting hotter. Also way to completely ruin such a great defensive prospect in Isaiah Simmons. At the very least just wasting his rookie season. Their season is on the line next week and I wouldn’t bet on them to do what needs to be done.
14. Los Angeles Rams
Two or potentially all three of this teams can limp their way into the playoffs. Goff unavailable for this week so they will rely on their backup John Wolford to push this team into the post-season.
13. Chicago Bears
What a resurgence from Mitchell Trubisky. Obviously it was against the Texans, Vikings, and Jaguars. Still it is nice to see that fire within Trubisky. Even though he will probably flop if the Bears do make it to the post-season.
12. Cleveland Browns
Browns have entered dangerous territory. A loss to the Steelers all but seals their fate to miss the post-season. Barring the unthinkable of the Titans losing to the Texans or the Colts losing to the Jaguars. A great turnaround for the Browns could still end up watching the playoffs from the couch.
11. Indianapolis Colts
Colts currently stand on the outside looking in. However, thanks to the Jets improbable win over the Browns all they need is a win against the Jaguars and a loss from any of the teams ahead of them (Dolphins, Ravens, Browns, and Titans). Remember who the Jags only win was against?
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
The offense played semi-competently in the 2nd half to rally against the Colts. Not sure if I still believe this team can win a playoff game, but their defense will give them a chance.
Legit Playoff Teams
9. Tampa Bay Bucs
I have always been skeptical of the Bucs. A 40 point win over the Lions without Stafford doesn’t really change that. However, with teams losing to the Jets and Bengals, the Bucs are slowly moving up. They seem to be a lock for the 5-seed, which means a date with the poor soul that wins the NFC Least.
8. Seattle Seahawks
Much like the Bucs I have been skeptical after their hot start. They went from winning comfortably and dropping 30 and 40 burgers to having to grind it out and rely on an unreliable defense. My hopes is they’re saving Wilson for the playoffs. Even though I still don’t believe in their defense to lean on, if they can play at this level the Seahawks will be in business if they decide to unleash Wilson in the playoffs.
7. Tennessee Titans
Titans will have win a shootout if they want to win a playoff game. Which isn’t even a guarantee still. They still need to get by a very motivated Texans team. They have enough offensive firepower to make a playoff run. But can their defense step it up?
6. Miami Dolphins
Good teams find a way to win games they shouldn’t have won. Miami has won games in every fashion. They have faced plenty of adversity and have certainly been battle-tested when injuries seem to pile up. They will be no easy out in the playoffs. Count on it.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Thanks to an easy five game stretch the Ravens have the opportunity to finish strong after what was an unexpected mid-season collapse. Much like the Dolphins they will be no easy out as they have a terrific coach, a good defense, and a good enough offense to win games. Plus a pretty darn good special teams and kicker.
4. Buffalo Bills
This is a loaded AFC. Allen looks pretty good right now and the defense has been playing like most expected at the beginning of the season. The question is how will Allen perform on the biggest stage? As we have seen from last from both Allen and Jackson, some young QBs can’t step it up. This weeks matchup against the Dolphins could a preview of what’s to come in the playoffs.
3. New Orleans Saints
It’s crazy how the Saints offense looks so bad as far as the eye test, but still drop 30 points a game. Obviously this week Kamara made the offense look unstoppable. But even though I no longer think they are the team to beat in the NFC they still have a legit chance to win the NFC.
Super Bowl Favorites
2. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers has my vote for MVP this season. At first it was Wilson, then for a while it was Mahomes. But Rodgers has been the best and most consistent QB throughout the entire season. And it doesn’t seem like a snowy game can slow him down. Watch out for the Packers.
1.Kansas City Chiefs
Still a lot of peoples pick to win the Super Bowl, but the gap is certainly closing. Mahomes has been up and down recently. So has the offense in general. Taking this week off and then having the bye might spell trouble once they get back into action against a team who’s probably been playing for their playoff lives for at least a month by the time they get to Kansas City.
