There will be no mystery about the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The top slot belongs to the Bengals. The scramble is on behind them.
13. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons got big performances from Matt Ryan and Julio Jones in waltzing to a 12-point victory over hapless Jacksonville. Will be fascinating to see if Dan Quinn has saved his job.
12. Cleveland Browns
The Browns were the buzz team before the season. To the shock of few, they fell apart and are now on the list of what teams will draft first. Freddie Kitchens & Co. are a soap opera and most story lines don’t have happy endings.
11. Denver Broncos
Vic Fangio has done a nice job in getting the Broncos to 6-9. The team struggled to start the season and has done a solid job against opponents not named the Kansas City Chiefs. Drew Lock has stepped in and delivered nicely. Looks like Denver has its QB.
10. New York Jets
The victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers will not make Adam Gase any more of a fan favorite. Gang Green is in the top 10 of drafting, again. That’s not what the MetLife faithful expected from the team and its first-year coach. Strength and schedule will play into where the Jets and everyone else wind up if their records are the same.
9. Arizona Cardinals
Give credit to the Cardinals. It might have been a trap game with the Niners coming up next for the Seahawks but Arizona posted an impressive 27-13 victory. The Cardinals improve to 5-9-1 and are flirting with falling out of the Top 10 when it comes to draft position.
8. Carolina Panthers
Simply disgraceful. There can be no other explanation for what has happened in Carolina. Seven straight losses after a first half ended at 5-3. Think it wasn’t Ron Rivera’s fault? Damn sure it wasn’t.
7. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers played another road game at home as Oakland Raiders fans swallowed the Bolts’ brigade. Another loss by seven points (or less) in a season full of them. It appears as if the time to move on from Philip Rivers has come.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
And the Jaguars lose Tom Coughlin, who was relieved of his duties. And they lose to the Falcons, another step toward Doug Marrone almost assuredly being relieved of his position as head coach. What will the Jags do in the future with Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew? Decisions, decisions.
5. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins almost returned to laughingstock by allowing the Bengals 23 points in the final 6:11 Sunday to force overtime. Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn’t about to let all his work go to waste and he led a game-winning drive that gave Miami its fourth win of the season.
4. New York Giants
Daniel Jones can’t win when he wins. Rather than fans being happy the Giants picked up their fourth win of the season, Big Blue’s faithful sees it as the chance to land Ohio State’s Chase Young vanishing.
3. Detroit Lions
It appears as if Matt Patricia will return in 2020. The best news about Detroit would be if the rumor Amazon boss Jeff Bezos is interesting in buying the team is true. There needs a change from top to bottom for a franchse that always finds a way … to lose.
2. Washington Redskins
Washington played the mighty New York Giants to a standstill for 60 minutes, tying at 35. However, it was unable to — or didn’t want to — pick up its fourth victory of the season and tumble in the draft slottings. The 41-35 loss to Big Blue positions Washington nicely for the second pick with Dallas left on the schedule. Dwayne Haskins, Terry McLaurin, and possibly Chase Young. Wonder if there is a former Ohio State coach who might want to make it a Buckeye foursome in D.C.?
1. Cincinnati Bengals
The race is over. The Cincinnati Bengals have managed to lock up the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and won’t have anything to play for in Week 17. Wait, they aren’t playing for anything, anyway.
