Teams are going to have a hard time dislodging the Cincinnati Bengals from the top spot in the 2020 NFL Draft. They are woeful and winless heading into the final five games of the season. Could another Ohio team finish 0-16 in NFL history? Seems so.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are a crisp 4-7 and Doug Marrone might want to start looking for a realtor. Rutgers, by the way, is looking for a head coach who has worked in the Northeast. This is one of the stranger stats and only the Jags could accomplish it. Derrick Henry has rushed for 101 yards in his last two games at Jax. In his last two games against the Jaguars in Tennessee, the former Heisman winner has run for 397 yards and six touchdowns.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston continues to throw for 300 yards per game and continues to throw multiple picks. The QB isn’t the long-term answer no matter how many yards he puts up because of his accuracy issues. The Bucs are in third place — hooray — after dropping the Falcons.
10. LA Chargers
The Chargers had a bye this week, mercifully after Philip Rivers poor performance Monday against the Chiefs. The Bolts looked like they had a great chance to down KC and Rivers suddenly has looked more like Old Man Rivers than the great QB he has been.
9. New York Jets
If Adam Gase and Gang Green don’t watch themselves, they will play their way out of a Top 10 draft spot. The Jets have won three in a row, crushing Oakland Sunday, and have a road trip to winless Cincinnati next. The Jets have had top six picks in four of the last five drafts.
8. Arizona Cardinals
It is sort of fitting the Cardinals and Lions are tied with the same 3-7-1 record since they finished in a tie opening week. The Cardinals have more hope than Detroit and that is because Kyler Murray looks like a player. That said, it is going to be tough going before they contend, especially when you figure the three teams in front of them in the NFC West.
7. Detroit Lions
Beginning to believe — beginning? — Matt Patricia was successful in New England because of Bill Belichick and not vice versa. The Lions lost to woeful Washington with Dwayne Haskins completing 13-of-29 for 156 yards. Jeff Driskel did his part to sink Detroit throwing three picks.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Ah, prosperity is such a short-lived entity. The Falcons had stomped all over the Saints and Panthers. They had the Bucs’ number and went out and were absolutely awful in a loss to Tampa Bay. They are now the proud owners of last place in the NFC South.
5. Denver Broncos
Vic Fangio and the Broncos fell to 3-8 with a particularly inept offensive performance in Buffalo. Inept. Fangio loves defense but the Broncos desperately need to think offense in the draft. And they also have to hope Drew Lock is a lock to be their next QB.
4. Washington Redskins
When you win, you lose. Washington managed to beat a sorry Detroit Lions team and in doing so became lumped with three teams vying for the second spot. Of course, the strength of schedule places Washington fourth. As we wrote, when you win, you lose.
3. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are back to double-digit losses. They did manage to score 17 straight points after spotting Cleveland 28 in the first half. That isn’t a strategy for victory. It is one for defeat. The Dolphins have the Eagles, Jets, Giants, Bengals and Patriots left. They could wrangle one or two more victories.
2. New York Giants
The New York Giants are awfully good at losing. How about seven in a row for Daniel Jones and Big Blue? Will Pat Shurmur survive this debacle? And because of strength of schedule, could the Giants have Ohio State’s Chase Young fall in their lap … unless the Bengals choose him over LSU’s Joe Burrow. By the way, what on earth has happened to Saquon Barkley? It is starting to look like the Giants did the Jets a favor … unless the ankle is more troubling than the running back is letting on.
1. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals bungled a chance for victory against a depleted Pittsburgh team and in doing so opened up a two-game lead with five to play for the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Cincy plays host to the resurgent Jets, has two games with Cleveland and Miami and New England left on its schedule. The chances for victory appear to be dwindling, and the Jets and Dolphins don’t seem to be prey.
