Who will step up? Who will fall back or fade in 2019? An early look at how the 100th NFL season is shaping up.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have added Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray and subtracted Steve Wilks and Josh Rosen from a team that went 3-13 and earned the first pick in the NFL Draft. Don’t expect dramatic improvement — if any — in the first year for K&K. There should be plenty of growing pains in the desert.
Atlanta Falcons
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This is a make-or-break season for Dan Quinn and the Atlanta Falcons. They have not been the same since the Super Bowl collapse. Coming off a 7-9 mark, they need to improve in a big way. Injuries ravaged the Dirty Birds in 2018. Expect to see positive steps, whether they can get to double digits in the wins column will be quite the test.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens went 10-6 and won the AFC North in a season that saw the team transition from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson at quarterback. John Harbaugh and the Ravens will be tested to match their 2018 win total. The addition of Mark Ingram and Earl Thomas helps. However, the division is always testing and the improving Browns and solid Steelers will make repeating a challenge.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills went from the playoffs to double-digit losses. Will they be able to turn double-digit losses into double-digit wins? Highly unlikely. Sean McDermott needs Josh Allen to stay healthy. The Bills added a strong center in Mitch Morse via free agency as well as wideouts John Brown and Cole Beasley. That may be enough to get to .500 but anything else would be surprising.
Carolina Panthers
Like the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers are coming off a 7-9 season. Unlike Atlanta, the feeling is the Panthers are not headed for improvement in 2019. The Ron Rivera-Cam Newton duo feels like it has run its course and the franchise is heading for a split or potentially looking at replacing its quarterback and coach in the short run rather than the long-term.
Chicago Bears
The Bears saw tremendous growth in 2018, going from last place and 5-11 in 2017 to 12-4 and winning the NFC North. Expect to see more growth as Khalil Mack & Co. have a year under their belts and Mitchell Trubisky and the offense take another step. Winning the division again won’t be a surprise. Adding a victory to last year’s total won’t be shocking, either.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals fell a game to 6-10 in Marvin Lewis’ final season in Cincinnati. Lewis is now an advisor to Arizona State’s Herman Edwards. Zac Taylor steps in and the situation tends to trend downward before turning up. Another double-digit loss season seems to be the direction for Cincy and don’t be surprised if another loss or two is added to the 2018 tally.
Cleveland Browns
It is one thing to win when you are not expected to produce victories. The Cleveland Browns now face the challenge of winning games as a team stepping into a contender’s role. Freddie Kitchens is in his rookie season as coach. He faces the task of pushing Cleveland over the .500 mark and into playoff contention. There’s a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, starting with Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. on offense. The belief is the .500 hurdle will be conquered and double-digit wins will be close but could be another season away.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys managed 10 victories in a season that saw the Eagles sputter out of the gate, the Redskins devoured by the injury bug and the Giants crumble. Jason Witten returns and he should provide another offensive outlet for Dak Prescott, if the tight end can defy Father Time. Don’t be surprised if America’s Team falls behind Philly and needs to find a wild-card spot to make the playoffs.
Denver Broncos
Vic Fangio is the head coach in Denver. Joe Flacco is the current QB for now and Drew Lock is waiting in the wings, for now. This is a testing position for a new coach. The potential for a QB controversy is daunting when you are a veteran coach, let alone in your first year. The Broncos are coming off back-to-back double-digit loss seasons. They won’t threaten the Chiefs or Chargers. They are better than the Raiders and that doesn’t mean much.
Detroit Lions
The Lions fell from 9-6 in 2017 to 6-10 in Matt Patricia’s first season as head coach. Ominous sign. The NFC North will be tougher as Minnesota and Green Bay should bounce back and Chicago is already ultra-tough. There isn’t much reason to see believe the Lions will move out of the cellar.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers have lost 18 games over the past two seasons. That cost Mike McCarthy his job in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers seems happier with the change to Matt LaFleur. Having a happy quarterback is a giant first step toward climbing toward the top of the division. Don’t expect to see another “9” in the loss column. In fact, that number could easily appear in the win column before the last week of the season.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans started off 0-3 last season and still finished as AFC South champs with 11 victories. This team has a lot going for it. Stars on both sides of the line of scrimmage. It would not be stunning to see another regular season victory or two and a deep, deep run in the playoffs.
Indianapolis Colts
The combination of Frank Reich and Andrew Luck helped turn the Colts from a 4-12 team to a 10-6 team. Indy scored 170 more points in 2018 than 2017. That shows you what a top-notch quarterback and offensive guru can do for a team. The improvement figures to slow a bit but the Colts will be a threat to win the AFC South and take another playoff step in 2019.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars fell from 10-6 to 5-11 in a season that had some believing they were contenders for the Super Bowl. Tom Coughlin has to want better results from Doug Marrone and his players. Do they have enough to turn things around in a big way and compete with the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans in what is a tougher-than appears AFC South? Would be surprised if they didn’t pick up a win, two or three in 2019 from last season. And if they don’t, expect them to be looking for a new coach.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are tricky. One would think there would be room for improvement off a 12-win season in 2018. However, there’s always trouble bubbling with KC. First, it was Kareem Hunt. Now Tyreek Hill is a big question. The Chargers are going to get better. Are the Chiefs? Andy Reid figures to be challenged to repeat the success seen in 2018.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are strong and always seem to be ready to take that next step … and don’t. They are coming of a 12-4 season, which equaled the most wins in the AFC. Philip Rivers is always good for plenty of offense and the defense is to be feared. The test is being in the same division as the Chiefs. However, the Chargers have had a far quieter offseason and it would be no surprise if they matched the 2018 win total and flirted with elevating it.
Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay’s magic isn’t going to wear off anytime soon, especially in the NFC West. The Rams have won two dozen games over the last two seasons and there is no reason to believe they won’t add another 12 or more in 2019. Will they return to the Super Bowl and take the next step is the question they have to answer? And it is the stiffest test McVay’s genius faces.
Miami Dolphins
A new coach from the Bill Belichick staff in New England has people believing change is for the better in Miami. The arrival of Josh Rosen presents and interesting watch. Will he struggle as he did in Arizona or can he play at the level the 10th overall pick was expected to show? With all the QB challenges in 2018, Miami still went 7-9. Wouldn’t be a shock if those numbers flipped in 2019 for Brian Flores.
Minnesota Vikings
Mike Zimmer needs to deliver big time in 2019. His first year with Kirk Cousins as the rich, free-agent quarterback was a major misstep. Not sure another one will be affordable for the Vikings’ coach. Unfortunately, don’t see them improving much off the 8-7-1 mark in 2018. The pieces are in place. The chemistry feels off.
New England Patriots
This script has been read and played out many times. The Patriots will be the Patriots until Belichick & Brady exit. Expect another division crown, another double-digit season of wins and a deep run in the playoffs. Will it wind up in another ring? Doubters beware.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are remembered for being one controversial non-call away from the Super Bowl. What is lost is they won their division by six games last season. SIX! That’s astonishing in a 16-game season. The combination of New Orleans being a powerhouse and the other three teams being dismal led to an incredible gap. New Orleans can post a similar 13-win season without surprising anyone. Will the gap be Secretariat-like again? Unlikely but no one is making up that much ground in one off-season.
New York Giants
The Giants may not have a quarterback controversy with Eli Manning and Daniel Jones. All it will take for that to percolate is a slow start. There’s no more OBJ. Golden Tate is going to receive a lot of attention from the quarterback. Opponents scored more than 400 points on Big Blue in 2018. Don’t be shocked to see another step or two down.
New York Jets
The Adam Gase era is off to a contentious start (see above). Trouble and controversy seem to find their way to the Jets. Hiring a coach that didn’t have much success in the AFC East doesn’t bode well for improvement or confidence. The Jets have 23 losses in their past two seasons. Another 10-plus loss season would not be hard to fathom, despite adding free agents such as Le’Veon Bell and C.J. Moseley. This is a franchise that cannot get out of its own way.
Oakland Raiders
In Jon Gruden’s first season in his return, the Raiders actually won two less games than they did in 2017. That’s what happens when you trade Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. There is zero reason to believe the team is going to make an upward turn. In fact, the Silver and Black are more likely to battle for the No. 1 overall pick than anything else.
Philadelphia Eagles
Expect to see more of the Philadelphia team that closed the 2018 season than the one that struggled through much of it. The Eagles got their act together late and showed why they won the Super Bowl the season before. The key to the team has to be Carson Wentz staying healthy. There is no Nick Foles to save the day. A healthy Wentz and you can expect to see an NFC East championship. Without him, trouble’s ahead.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The troublemakers — Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell — are gone. There are no more finger-pointers or players to point fingers at in 2019. Ben Roethlisberger and Juju Smith-Schuster will make Brown’s memory fade quickly. The dysfunction saw the Steelers drop from 13-3 to 9-6-1 in 2018. They need to keep the focus on the field because Cleveland is coming and Baltimore is never easy. Double-digit wins should happen and the Black and Gold will be a menace in the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers
Last season went out when Jimmy Garoppolo went out. If the quarterback can stay healthy and Nick Bosa can do the same on the defense, there could be some improvement. Don’t expect miracles after a 4-12 season, however. Seven wins would seem to be a giant step forward.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle is the second-best team in the NFC West. It has been for the past two seasons and there is no reason to believe that will change in 2019. Pete Carroll & Co. are way better than Arizona and San Francisco. The test is can the Seahawks close the gap on the Rams. Feels like it will a stiff and challenging one.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Good luck to Bruce Arians in his return to coaching. The Bucs never seem to figure it out. Arians’ veteran wisdom and guile can only help. However, there is no reason to believe yet Jameis Winston is the person who can guide a deep playoff run. Will have to see the improvement to believe anything more than .500 after a 5-11 season is possible.
Tennessee Titans
The attitude Mike Vrabel has instilled in Tennessee is a strong one. He knows how to win and showed he can find ways no matter the hurdle. Marcus Mariota needs to stay on the field because Ryan Tannehill isn’t going to help the Titans move forward. The former Dolphin needs to stay in a backup role. The AFC South won’t be easy. Expect the Titans to be in a lot of close games and count on Vrabel to team them how to close.
Washington Redskins
Jay Gruden will be tested again, in 2019. The Redskins were doing good things in 2018 before Alex Smith’s horrific leg injury. Dwayne Haskins was taken in the first round and indications are he could face the heat early. A rookie QB on a team that has been dinged up for the past year is not a great recipe for victory. The backfield should be loaded with Adrian Peterson, Derrius Guice, Chris Thompson and Bryce Love. Problem is three-quarters of those players are candidates to see more of the injury report than the field. The seven victories in 2019 feel like a high bar for a team that has had plenty of bad luck.
