A new year means new beginnings, a chance to start fresh, to make amends. And this goes for NFL teams just as it does for ol’ stubborn Aunt Patty. In the constant NFL grind, preparing for the week-to-week unknowns while also planning for the future, it’s usually good for franchises to stop and make a note of how they’re feeling. Happy? Sad? Defeated? A Bengal? Perhaps the team is doing spectacular, but the video department isn’t very stealth?
Whatever the reason, New Year’s resolutions are a good thing—sticking to them is another matter, of course, but that doesn’t mean file 13 them before the ball drops.
So, should auld acquaintance—or, in this case, roster moves— be forgot and never brought to mind…Let’s take a look at the New Year’s resolutions for each NFL team.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals had a rough 2019, with only two wins and multiple issues in multiple spots. They still have one of the best helmets in the NFL, though, and the team can only go up from here—not sure if there’s anything underneath “rock bottom.”
2020 Resolution: Don’t “Burrow” yourselves too deep in the “new quarterback” hole. Sure, getting a quarterback to replace Andy Dalton—sorry, Ryan Finley—seems like the to-do in Cincy. Especially when Joe Burrow will be sitting there at No. 1 in the draft. But consider this: The defense is awful. Head coach Zac Taylor and the franchise would do best in 2020 (and beyond) to build a more formidable bunch on that side of the ball.
Cleveland Browns
Good commercials and on-paper hutzpah do very little to actually stop the run or supply cohesiveness from the top down. As almost expected, the Cleveland Browns fell short of the 2019 expectations—other than the fighting and uniform infractions, of course. The franchise finished the 2010s as the only team not have a winning season.
2020 Resolution: So, let’s go with “have a winning season.” Sure, it feels so darn good to be a playoff hopeful with all the glitz and mountain-top barking, but the solid play here is to just be a factor in the AFC North. Fix the run defense—hello, Ravens and Steelers—while making sure the Bengals don’t jump you in the division’s pecking order. “AFC North Champs” would be a cool slogan on a t-shirt for the new head coach to wear, right?
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers opened the 2019 season against three would-be playoff teams—the Patriots, Seahawks, and 49ers. That’s was some tough sleddin’—and even more difficult without Ben Roethlisberger under center. But it left the team in an 0-3 hole, and things were looking bleak. Like them or hate them, though, you have to give credit to the Steelers, and more directly, to head coach Mike Tomlin. The rest of the season was filled with moments of ups and moments of “Whoa! Whoa! Duck!” Yet, the team managed to finish the year at 8-8. And remember, the OT loss to the No. 1 overall seed, the Baltimore Ravens, was a game the Steelers fumbled away.
2020 Resolution: Spend more! The Steelers had ignored the concept of spending on free agents since the days when there were only two rivers. But 2020 needs to be viewed at a different angle, sort of a “Big Ben is our quarterback and that’s got a shelf life of maybe two seasons, so let’s surround him with viable talent.” No, this is not a call for a cash-spin frenzy. Some current pieces make sense. However, securing the defense—tagging/signing Bud Dupree and Javon Hargrave, for starters—and then focusing on compensatory picks for other positions is a good step in the right direction.
Baltimore Ravens
No team had a more surprising run in 2019 than the Baltimore Ravens. The season began with a blimps-worth of chatter surrounding quarterback Lamar Jackson. But the second-year talent out of Louisville proved that he’s more than just a runner—although…his running ability is uncanny. Mark Ingram helped carry the load in the backfield, and Gus Edwards has done well filling in while Ingram’s been injured. The offensive line is top-tier, and almost makes what Lamar and the offense can do to defenses illegal. They finished the year 14-2—I don’t have all my scientific readouts, but I think it’s the first running back to lead a team at quarterback and take the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed.
2020 Resolution: “Rush” to judgment. The Ravens have a solid run defense, but disrupting the passing game hasn’t been as strong as normally expected. Finding a few pass-rushers will help alleviate some of the lagging, and will undoubtedly come in handy in 2020—especially against the Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots, and Chiefs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Without the arrival of Gardner Minshew, the Jaguars were basically non-Major golf in 2019. While there were moments of excitement, most of the year was just a bunch of people walking in the grass and staring off into the distance. Doug Marrone’s future is still unknown—though it might change by the time you finish reading this sentence—and Tom Coughlin is out. Coughlin wasn’t a good blocker, mind you, and it was good…wait, sorry…um…well, I guess it’s a “you tell me” kind of thing.
2020 Resolution: Stay away from trendy suggestions. Yes, Gardner Minshew is super cool, and he wears cutoff jean shorts—which makes him like a new-age Fonzie or whatever. But sticking with Nick Foles is something you must be prepared to do next season. Besides the $30-plus million the franchise would be wasting by not playing Foles, not giving the Super Bowl-winning QB—read that again—a full season, hopefully injury-free, to run the offense would be silly. Minshew isn’t the answer, either—or maybe, yet—so it does little harm for the Jags to develop him from the safety of a backup role in 2020.
Indianapolis Colts
Not too long ago, Andrew Luck retired from football. Colts fans were heated, with some carelessly offering up their season tickets to the likes of what I can only imagine would be equal to Wonka bars after the last golden ticket was found. But the 2019 season—the team—was not a total disappointment. Heading into Week 9, the Colts were 5-2 and looking good in the AFC South. The wheels (horseshoes?) came off a tad after that, however, and the team finished the year 7-9.
2020 Resolution: Make 13 the lucky number. The Colts have the 13th overall pick in the 2020 Draft, and that particular spot has some interesting history: this past decade, six of the 10 players chosen at 13 ended up going to the Pro Bowl, were selected as an All-Pro, or both. It’s unlikely that the Colts go bananas and ultimately move on from Jacoby Brissett and draft a new hopeful QB—but that’s not to say they don’t, either. Other than that, a little defensive line help or the next version of a Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne would be formidable “lucky” options.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans made the best of their opportunities in 2019, complemented with some good decision-making, and got a playoff birth to show for it. Yep, the future is looking good in Nashville, with a recharged Ryan Tannehill at quarterback, a nearly unstoppable workhorse at running back in Derrick Henry, and everyone’s favorite lip-read head coach of the past few weeks, Mike Vrabel.
2020 Resolution: Don’t downplay the 2020 schedule. While the Titans went 5-2 down the stretch and made the playoffs, getting hyped over a 9-7 season won’t do the franchise any good. Improving the pass defense makes sense, just as adding a few more weapons for Tannehill and the offense makes sense. But if there was one team that might get caught snoozing in 2020, it’s the Titans—next year’s schedule isn’t exactly filled with top-level teams…or, so you might believe.
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans won the AFC South in 2019. Deshaun Watson had a solid regular season—when he wasn’t on the ground or scampering to avoid that outcome—and Carlos Hyde put in a nice 1000-yard effort. The team finished 10-6 and looks to be on the rise, more so when JJ Watt returns.
2020 Resolution: Get defensive. No team that clinched their division had a slimmer point differential than the Texans. And while a win in the NFL is a win in the NFL, upgrading the defense is championship-level thinking—especially when looking at the overall pass-heavy NFL. A healthy JJ Watt will assist with the declined pass rush from 2019, no question there. But it will take more than Watts to power the defense.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins’ 2019 will go down as one of the more intriguing storylines in NFL history. Not kidding, either. The team was supposedly in “tank mode.” Players were traded, games were lost. Then suddenly, the murky bits of swirling media rumors and guesses slowly sank to the bottom, and we got a pretty clear look at what might be a brilliant think tank.
2020 Resolution: Understand what was under center in 2019 and use that as educational valium for calming the “Gimme Tua!” urges. The team has got a great coach in Brian Flores, money to spend and picks—oh man, such a plethora of picks—and now, Chan Gailey! So the overall idea should be getting out of the Scoring Offense Cellar, while also improving the passing defense. Both of those aspects are not totally remedied with the wave of a magical left hand.
New York Jets
The Jets had the most relaxed schedule on earth in 2019 and still managed to finish 7-9. Sam Darnold had mono. Le’Veon Bell made more headlines for his bowling prowess than he did running the ball. And Head coach Adam Gase didn’t seem to have any answers on either side of the ball. Like the Falcons, though, the team finished the season 6-2, including a feel-good win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 17.
2020 Resolution: Get really picky! The Jets have a decent number of picks in the 2020 Draft, including the 11th overall. They also have one pick in the second round, two third-rounders, one fourth-rounder, one fifth, and one pick in the sixth round. That’s plenty for upgrading the offensive line, cornerbacks—anything on the defensive side, really—and maybe a few outside weapons on offense. Just don’t get weird and take another D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
Buffalo Bills
Give credit to the Buffalo Bills: The AFC East has been a constant “battle for second-best,” with the Patriots sitting atop the mountain year after year, and the Western NY bunch managed to win that battle in 2019. Josh Allen looked good, at times, and complemented the Bills’ solid running game—not vice versa. The defense was outstanding, a top 5 group that certainly factored in the Bills’ 10-6 finish.
2020 Resolution: Find Josh Allen a wide receiver. It can’t be made more clearly than that and doesn’t need to be, either. The Bills’ passing game was the weak link in 2019, and a lot of the plain-oatmeal malaise can be energized with a wideout who can cause coverage nightmares (or simply be an unstoppable force.) Yep, filling a need such as this falls under the “water is wet” category, but the Bills will need to balance the attack next season (and beyond) because the division is seemingly becoming less top-heavy.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots made it to another NFL playoff. Regardless of the loss to Miami in Week 17, the Patriots do what they do—legal or not, loved or hated—and that’s simply football. The defense, though faltering lately, was the breadwinner in 2019, while Tom Brady and the offense held things together—scoring the seventh-most points in the regular season. It’s easy to dissect a perennial team such as the Patriots, but 12-4 makes that a complicated operation.
2020 Resolution: Protect the Hall of Fame goods. While a ton of finger-pointing can be made toward the Patriots’ lack of Gronk-type weapons, it’s the offensive line that seems to be a problem. Saying Tom Brady “isn’t getting any younger” is only a funny-yet-lazy slogan that masks the fact he was never fast/mobile and scouting him as slower is just comparing turtles at this point. He’s not out-maneuvering anyone, so the offensive line needs to do be solid, protecting Brady and allowing him time.
Denver Broncos
Inconsistency showered the Broncos in 2019, with the team going 7-5 the last 12 games the season to finish at 7-9, average enough for second in the AFC West. Joe Flacco came over from Baltimore as another possible answer to the Broncos’ quarterback woes, and it didn’t work. However, rookie QB Drew Lock stepped up big. (Looks around) And he might be the right answer for the post-Peyton Manning snoozer. True, it’ll take more than a few games for John Elway and the Broncos brass to make it officially official. But it’s an excellent start—one that complements well with a Broncos defense that finished in the top 10 for points allowed.
2020 Resolution: Don’t let third downs control you! The Broncos were brutal at converting on third downs, ranked down in the NFL’s cellar next to a pile of endless punts and broken momentum. Denver has a bunch of picks in the 2020 Draft—and hey, some of the significant needs are practically filled. So, get smart and get yourselves some offensive line help and maybe toss in a wide receiver/slot threat here and there.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers run as Kings of Carson, California is over. Next year, they’ll have a brand-new stadium to not fill down in Inglewood—which is mislabeled and generally up to all kinds of good. Anyway. The Chargers had a rough go in 2019, losing a handful of games by the slimmest of margins…and Philip Rivers’ interceptions. The passing defense was a top 5 air diffuser, but other than that didn’t really scare the schematic pants off of many offensive coordinators. And the offense? Right there with the Browns, Giants, and Panthers. Translation: Not great, but not terrible.
2020 Resolution: Regardless if you’re going by a river(s) or not, make the journey last a little longer. No team in the NFL averaged shorter drives on offense than the Chargers. That’s OK, of course, if the team is acting like a video game and scoring on four-play drives at will. But that was not the case with this team, which averaged a turnover nearly 20 percent of the time.
Oakland Raiders
Did I say Oakland? Yeah, I meant Las Vegas Raiders. It’s time to get used to it, folks because the move is really happening—the Black and Silver are on their collective way to Las Vegas to play in Darth Vader’s dog’s water dish. 2019 wasn’t an incredible sendoff for the Oakland bunch, unfortunately, with the team struggling to grasp any consistency on the way to a 7-9 finish. Josh Jacobs was a bright spot, and Derek Carr showed signs of capability at quarterback. But the offense didn’t score a lot of points—a “drive for show and putt for dough” type of dilemma.
2020 Resolution: Take comfort in the fact the referees will call them Oakland at least 100 times. At least 100! The Chargers had to go through this for two seasons, and it would be crazy to assume that other teams making a move to a new city won’t get the same treatment—especially one as iconic as Oakland. And truthfully, I have no idea how the fan base should (or will) react to this movie, and can only guess that most are disgusted. So, yeah. Sometimes a good laugh is better than a cry.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City was indeed a band of sunshine in 2019, with an incredible quarterback under center and a head coach who not only understands the need to adapt in the NFL, but also dances and makes for a nice Halloween costume for little Chiefs fans. Led by Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs finished 12-4 and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. (Thanks, Miami.)
2020 Resolution: Don’t be so welcoming to the opposing team’s running backs. For all the improvements over the last month or so, the glaring hole for the Chiefs is the one the defensive front leaves open for running backs. Tied with Seattle for fourth-worst in yards-per-attempt, the Chiefs will need to upgrade that aspect for the future, so the dynamic offense isn’t left sitting o the bench wilt the other teams’ backs chew up the clock.
Detroit Lions
Winning in the NFL is difficult, even when a team has all of its first-stringers on the field. To do so with a severely depleted squad due to injuries is almost impossible. But that’s been 2019 for the Detroit Lions. Not making excuses, of course, the team still has areas that need fixing, but not all hope should be shuttled to Windsor as a hope-filled bet for a better outlook.
2020 Resolution: Don’t wait! Procrastination is almost a given right when it comes to resolutions, but that type of goal-snoozing won’t work for the Lions. Whether this team gets the third, fourth, fifth overall pick or slides/trades up, the team must address the “now-now”—and that includes at quarterback. This team isn’t in a mode that allows them to look at all the enticing prospects of the future and mind craft them to fit a Player X-led offense in 2025. Nope. The Lions must hope that Stafford can avoid a third straight injury-ridden season, that Matt Patricia can figure out why his defense more abstract these days, that Darius Slay has a change of heart, and that any fixes made are for 2020.
Chicago Bears
Few teams were as disappointing in 2019 as the Chicago Bears. Fans expected Chicago style, and they got thin crust instead—the frozen kind, from Green Bay. Sort of a reversal of some teams already on this list, the Bears started decently, going 3-1. But they wound up 8-8. They did beat the Viking twice, and the defense finished the season in the top 4 for points allowed. This isn’t ’85, though. No Mike Dikta. No faith in the offense. And the only shuffle was at quarterback.
2020 Resolution: Pick up the ” Pace.” The offense was horrendous, swimming in stagnant waters that were only escapable if you went sideways or backward. 2020 should be all about forward, though, and that starts with GM Ryan Pace upgrading that side of the ball via the draft. Yes, the team doesn’t pick until the second round—thanks, Khalil Mack—but there are plenty of opportunities to snag a tight end, offensive line help, and yes, doing so while keeping in mind that Mitch Trubisky is your QB.
Minnesota Vikings
The beginning of the year had a pinch a salty turmoil in Minnesota, with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs voicing their concerns about Kirk Cousins. But the team—led by Cousins’ progression—managed to keep the vessel from sinking into the chilly waters of NFC North obscurity, and even earned a playoff birth. Even though the Vikings lost their last two games of the regular season, they still finished at a respectable 10-6.
2020 Resolution: Protect your Cousins. The overall sack numbers don’t look horrible for the 2019 Vikings, but when you factor in the times, Cousins went down with the number of passing plays…things get a little bleak. The running game helped alleviate and basically hide the offensive line’s protection breakdowns during the passing game. But it wouldn’t be smart to rely on that game plan any longer—time to revamp that O-line!
Green Bay Packers
Where did the 2019 Green Bay Packers come from, some mad wizard?! I bet even the fan base jumped from the coach in Week 17 and shouted, “Wait! A bye?!” Absolutely incredible. First-year head coach Matt LaFleur proved that he could handle running an NFL team—and a top-level (don’t care what stat-knowers say) quarterback. The offensive spread was refreshing, and Aaron Rodgers definitely benefited from it. So did Aaron Jones. (All the Aarons!) The team finished the season 13-3, snagging a first-round bye in the playoffs.
2020 Resolution: Take care of your own first. Aaron Rodgers had his contract restructured, which helps free up cap space in 2020, and there are a few other financial moves that can be made to free up more cash. And when that happens, the first move should be signing/extending players who are currently on the Packers’ roster—beginning with Bryan Bulaga and Tramon Willams, and even Mason Crosby. Then, go out and look for wideouts and other pieces that fit the puzzle.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers finished the 2018 season with a record of 7-9. It was a year of injuries and growing pains, nothing close to an expected trend. But then 2019 arrived, and so did injuries and more…pains. Head coach Ron Rivera got the midseason pink slip, and the team sunk into NFC South obscurity rather quickly. Other than the brilliance of Christian McCaffrey, it was a year to forget.
2020 Resolution: Hold your proverbial horses there, Panthers. The situation in Carolina can get a lot worse, a lot more quickly, if the team is entirely dissolved. So, don’t do that, gang. Keep Cam Newton. Make him happy by bringing in a coach with a good offensive system and coordinator—which is all the rage, currently. Work with his uncanny talents, complemented by McCaffrey’s uncanny abilities. The idea of rebuilding should take place into the decade, not right after Ryan Seacrest signs off.
Atlanta Falcons
What happened in Atlanta during 2019 will take years to unravel. (Anything short of a degree in mathematics and nuclear science need not apply.) The perfect example? If the season started in Week 10, they’d be 6-2, with both sides of the ball clicking and wins against NFC standouts the 49ers and Saints on the resume. Alas, there were a few weeks before that, and the team ended the season ranked second in the NFC South, with a 7-9 record.
2020 Resolution: The easy thing here is to say, “Pretend Week 1 is Week 10″ and then duck. But honestly, keeping things lighthearted—such as that—might be the best route in Atlanta. Offensively, the team is fine. Your kicker is internet famous and that’s awesome. And the upper brass was smart to restructure Matt Ryan’s and Grady Jarrett’s deal to help with the 2020 cap. The savings won’t be enough to supply the defense with free-agency fixes, but it won’t hurt when it comes draft time, either. And it will definitely help with signing Austin Hooper to a deal.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have scored the third-most points in 2019 (tied with the Saints). That’s a lot of points. But they ended the year at 7-9. What happened? Well, the team also surrendered the fourth-most points on defense. That, my friends, is called a push. It was that type of season for Tampa, too—with Jamies Winston leading the way as a 30 touchdowns-30 interceptions QB.
2020 Resolution: Save all that “get rid of Jameis” energy and use it toward building a passing defense that doesn’t allow nearly two touchdowns per game. Yes, Jameis is Jameis, and that’s confusing with all kinds of doubt-inducing juju. But this is the NFC South, where Matt Ryan and Drew Brees still play — scoring 90 means nothing if you’re getting torched for 91.
New Orleans Saints
Before the expected praise for Michale Thomas and Drew Brees commences, let’s stop and take a moment to look at the image above… The Saints finished the season 13-3. Five of those wins came while Teddy Bridgewater was under center, filling in for an injured Drew Brees. That’s something special. And yes, Brees is incredible, and Michael Thomas is one of the best receivers in the league. Latavius Murray and Alvin Kamara made a nice combo out of the backfield, and the Saints’ defense finished in the top half of the NFL.
2020 Resolution: Don’t look too far ahead in the future. We’re not talking about some distant cosmos here, with floating cars and whatnot, but more like a post-Drew Brees scenario. Yeah, don’t do that. It’s a reality that will be here sooner than later, but stressing about who will replace Brees—like a Teddy Bridgewater—isn’t worth the hair loss. Build around Brees while you have him. That starts with the receiving core, which outside of Thomas, is weak. Yes, this advice probably means that Teddy walks…but such is the NFL.
New York Giants
The Giants’ 2019 was an “out with the old, in with the new…then, out with the new and in with the old…then, in with the new but play beer pong with the old” type of year. In short: a tad messy.
2020 Resolution: Find that black cat, and then stop allowing things to “pass” you by. The Week 16 game against the Redskins showed flashes of brilliance from the combo of Daniel Jones and Saquaon Barkley. That’s refreshing. The bad air, however, is on the other side of the ball. While the offensive line and receiving core could both use some upgrades, the Giants’ passing defense is the real flatlining stat. If the team is going to get back into NFC East contention, the team needs to find ways to stop the passing attacks of the Cowboys, the Eagles, and eventually, the Redskins.
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins seem like they’re in a perpetual resolution, with owner Dan Snyder rewinding the ball drop to a fresh ten seconds and saying, “OK. Now, we go!” The franchise has talent on both sides of the ball, but the front office/coaching dysfunction has done a bang-up job negating any of the positives.
2020 Resolution: Get in shape is always a good recommendation, but you guys fired your trainer, so let’s look elsewhere: Rekindle history! Find a coach who can revive a franchise that, when playing well, makes the NFL a more exciting show. And make sure that coach can help build a run defense that isn’t terrible (See: 2019) while also continuing to improve a decent passing D. (And remember, this team could hire Bill Belichick and James Cameron’s film crew tomorrow, and they’d still be struggling next season.)
Philadelphia Eagles
Super fitting that the Eagles’ 2019 season was filled with “silver linings.” Despite injuries and issues on both sides of the ball and Orlando Scandrick talking about wearing shorts in the rain, the team managed to play its average-best when it counted the average-most. When the mediocre dust settled, the Eagles found themselves atop the NFC East. Now, because of a silly NFL playoff seeding system, the Eagles will host the Seahawks in Philly for a wild-card battle. It’s the greatest 9-7 story since the 2011 Giants.
2020 Resolution: Get to know the 2020 Draft. Playoff-bound teams are in a different position, with more immediacy, but the Eagles are too banged up for them to really make a push. Yes, there’s no telling what will happen during the playoffs—again, this team might go 2011 Giants, which is funny to say aloud—but the real need is for this team to mend the broken pieces, while understanding the team has ton of free agents who probably won’t all be back next season. For the first time in a while, they will have draft picks available to help rebuild for the future (because that Wentz cap hit isn’t going to disappear magically, leaving every coveted free agent available for a cash-filled cloud ride to the City of Brotherly Love).
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys had one of the best offenses in 2019. The offensive line was solid. They have a top-tier running back and quarterback, and unexpected talents like Michael Gallup balancing the attack. All of these things would make you think: playoffs. Yet, the Cowboys underachieved. The defense looked out-of-sorts more than once—the Jets beat them—and the decision-making on offense had the fan base throwing queso at the Tee-Vee, which brings us to head coach Jason Garrett. The entire staff has been let go, but as of 8:46 am on the west coast, Garrett still has a job—that’s probably not lasting. The problems in Dallas are on the GM, too, but those who argue that point probably only know Dallas from the television show.
2020 Resolution: Go small. The suggestion is not a slap at Texas, mind you. Y’all do big, and that’s great. But the success of this team is in the details. Consistently blown assignments in the secondary and miscommunication on a route or run add up over an NFL season, and are the reason a talented team finishes 8-8 and out of the playoffs. Sure, there are needs to fill, free agents will leave, and free agents will stay. Dak’s contract will be the overwhelming force that overshadows a lot of the mess. But regardless of the coach, who’s happy and who’s wearing the helmet with the star on it, the organization needs to realize it’s a wash (wersh?) if the schemes aren’t strictly implemented and followed.
Arizona Cardinals
Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray have improved in 2019. That’s huge. After the big upset in Seattle, you can say the first year has been a step in the right direction. However, that doesn’t mean fans should start booking tickets to Tampa in February 2021.
2020 Resolution: Go “big.” Sure, the passing defense, at times, has been more of a collective bunch of flight attendants making sure the opponents are having a pleasant flight to the endzone—a type of friendly skies that works for Delta, not the NFC West. But the breadwinner in Arizona is the offense, which includes an offensive line—especially the tackles—that will need to consistently win the battle against the Seahawks’, 49ers’ and Rams’ impressive fronts.
Los Angeles Rams
The sequel to the Los Angeles Rams’ 2018 blockbuster was a flop. Head coach Sean McVay lost a bit of magical offensive guru luster in 2019, with defensive coordinators exploiting reruns and feasting on what seemed to be the Rams’ inability to adapt. In Hollywood terms: the “screenplay” was doomed fro the beginning, because the dense already knew what was coming. Jared Goff led a fourth-ranked passing attack, but his consistency dropped a bit from his Super Bowl form the previous year—so did Todd Gurley’s. By season’s end, the team had the 17th-ranked scoring offense and a record of 9-7.
2020 Resolution: Run more. The Rams’ running game finished 2019 ranked just above the Chicago Bears and just below the Cincinnati Bengals. That sounds like there’s room for improvement. Upgrades! The Rams don’t have a first-round pick until like the year 2560 or whatever, but that doesn’t really matter when it comes to running backs. There should be a few options at that 52nd picks—maybe Ohio State’s JK Dobbins—and the Rams brass would be smart to make that selection a running back who can carry more than five or six times a game while helping out the passing game (which includes blocking).
San Francisco 49ers
The 2019 San Francisco 49ers: What a treat! The highlight of the 49ers team has been the defense, especially the front. All season, they tormented opposing team’s quarterbacks, on their way to a top 5 sack total and the NFL’s No. 1 overall pass defense. And don’t sleep on the offense—Jimmy Garoppolo and company didn’t go 13-3 by winning games 6-0; the running game ranked in the top 3, and the passing attack was in the top half of the NFL.
2020 Resolution: Prove 2019 wasn’t a one-hit-wonder. Unlike the Titans, the 49ers’ opponents in 2020 are in the upper echelon of NFL rankings. The Packers, Patriots, Cowboys, Saints, Bills, and Eagles all await the 49ers next season. How will they fair? Who knows. Continuing to build the defense, mainly for the run-stop, will be essential. Considering the Kyle Shanahan system, it probably wouldn’t hurt to look at the O-line, too, understanding that the teams mentioned above aren’t weak on the defensive side of the ball, either.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s chance at winning the NFC West ended in Week 17 on the one-inch line. But don’t let that defeat or the poor clock management deflate this Seahawks’ season. (I mean, Marshawn Lynch played yesterday. For Seattle!) They are still (always) a threat in the playoffs with Russell Wilson under center and Pete Carroll on the sideline ferociously chewing gum.
2020 Resolution: Make a symbolical 13th Man and put him on defense. It’s one of the oddest things, because the Seahawks’ defense always seemed like a force, but 2019 was not the case in that regard. They lost some eye-opening games, and even some of the wins had opposing team’s atypical numbers. Sure, there were injuries, and things happen. Quandre Diggs not being in the lineup hurt and was definitely a noticeable hole. But the NFC West is only getting stronger, and it’ll take the most vigorous defensive efforts to control it, and win it.
