One season remains in the 2010 decade. The time is ripe to see where each team ranks in this span.
32. Cleveland Browns
They may be the “it” team now, but the Browns’ decade has been forgettable. Seven out of eight seasons with double-digit losses and a 4-44 run from 2015-17. They are the anti-New England Patriots of the 2010 decade.
31. Oakland Raiders
Seven people have worn the title of “head coach” in one form or another for the Raiders in the decade. That speaks to failure for the Silver & Black. The only season the Raiders were above .500 was 2016. Otherwise is has been mediocrity and misery.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay has not made the playoffs this decade. It has not won a postseason game since winning the Super Bowl after the 2002 season. Six seasons with double-digit losses and Bruce Arians is the Bucs’ fifth coach since 2010.
29. Washington Redskins
A once-proud franchise has fallen and continues to drop. Four seasons with double-digit losses and only one with double-digit victories. Surprisingly, Washington has had two head coaches in this span. Would have expected more. Jay Gruden is up against it in 2019, especially when he is choosing Case Keenum over Colt McCoy and Dwayne Haskins to run the offense.
28. New York Jets
One playoff appearance in the entire decade. They are on their third coach and he can be described as Mediocre in Miami. The Jets picked up 21 of their 61 victories in two seasons. That tells you how awful everything else was.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
This is a team that should not be in the depths. Only a year ago, it was considered a Super Bowl contender. However, the bottom fell out — again and the Jaguars are way down. Five different people have worn the title of head coach at one time or another. Seven seasons of double-digits losses against one with 10 wins. They made the playoffs once and when expected to be in the postseason in 2018, they fell into the basement.
26. Detroit Lions
Surprisingly, the Lions made the playoffs three times. They also had two 10-plus win seasons. However, that can not offset a dreary decade. They have not won a playoff game since 1992 and while this decade is the barometer for placement, that can’t be ignored.
25. Miami Dolphins
Another team with one playoff appearance. Miami has not won a playoff game since Dave Wannstedt was its coach in 2000! Three 10-loss seasons and six head coaches in one form or another. You can’t blame being in the AFC East for everything. They only play the Patriots twice a season.
24. Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay can only erase so many memories. The Rams are 24-8 over the last two seasons. That does not obscure a run that saw them below .500 every season from 2010-16. And finishing third or fourth every season from 2011-16. The decade began with Steve Spagnuolo as coach and two seasons that turned into 9-23. Better luck next decade for sure.
23. Buffalo Bills
Another team that can’t blame everything on the New England Patriots no matter how much it would love to do so. The Bills began the decade with a run of four straight last-place finishes, losing 42 games in the process. They made one playoff appearance, a loss, and have not won a postseason game since 1995. Five head coaches in one form or another speaks to bleak.
22. Tennessee Titans
In a decade of murk and dull seasons, Tennessee somehow won a playoff game in its lone postseason appearance (2017). Other than that, it was dull as dull could be. The Titans have lost seven or more games in every season in the 2010s. Mike Vrabel is coach No. 5. The vibe is he has what it takes to straighten the ship.
21. Chicago Bears
There was a run that saw the Bears lose 45 games between 2014-17. They have one playoff win in the decade. As impressive as Matt Nagy was leading Chicago to 12 victories in 2018, it did not advance beyond the wild card. Double doink.
20. San Francisco 49ers
Going 17-47 in the last four seasons likely had people thinking the Niners would be close to the top of the bottom. However, they had a three-year run from 2011-13 when they went 36-8 and lost in the Super Bowl. They have seen a quintet of coaches in the decade, including one year with Chip Kelly/
19. Arizona Cardinals
This could feel like another team ranked slightly higher than expected. However, Arizona actually went 34-14 from 2013-2015. The Cardinals’ 10-loss plus seasons have book-ended the decade thus far.
18. New York Giants
The Giants deserve consideration for a lower slot. However, they do have the Super Bowl victory on their resume after 2011 with Tom Coughlin in charge and that earns bonus points. On the sad side, they are in double-digit losses four of the last five seasons. Another 10-loss season and they will slide considerably.
17. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have three playoff appearances in this decade. They also have three seasons of 10 wins or more. Only one division title, however, and you can’t point all that blame toward Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay. Would be nice to see Kirk Cousins and Mike Zimmer step it up in closing out the decade.
16. Cincinnati Bengals
It is easy to bash Marvin Lewis. The former Bengals coach deserves credit, however, as he did have the team make the playoffs five consecutive seasons while going 43-20-1. Biggest problem was Cincy never won its postseason game. Double-digit losses bookend the season to this point. Coach Zac Thomas will be challenged to get the Bengals back in the right direction.
15. Los Angeles Chargers
Until winning 12 games in 2018, the Chargers spent most of the decade floating around seven or more losses each season. They do have a pair of playoff appearances and feel like one of the better teams in the league as the decade draws to a close.
14. Kansas City Chiefs
Five 10-plus win seasons are stellar. And the current run is 45-19 in the last four seasons with three consecutive AFC West titles. However, the Chiefs have not gained the Super Bowl since 1969 and that can’t be offset by all the wins in this decade. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid need to take the next step to become a Top 10 team for the 2010 decade.
13. Indianapolis Colts
A 10-win season in 2010 concluded a run that saw Indy reach double digits nine years in a row. The Colts have had five such seasons in this decade and made the playoffs five times. No Super Bowls on their resume this decade. However, they are one of the prouder franchises in the league and can prove so by stepping up in a season that sees Andrew Luck step away.
12. Atlanta Falcons
It may not be fair for a loss to take away from the accomplishment of making a Super Bowl. However, the Falcons won’t live down 34-28 until they earn a ring. There have been five playoff appearances. The decade opened with a 36-12 run, but no Super Bowl appearance. Dan Quinn & Co. are coming off an injury-plagued 7-9 season. A strong finish would not be stunning.
11. Houston Texans
For a team that started in 2002, the Texans have done well for themselves. They have won their division five times in this decade. A notable accomplishment. Three 10 or more win seasons and another trio of nine-win campaigns. Each of the five playoff seasons has come up short of making it to the big dance. The next step has to be playing in a Super Bowl.
10. Dallas Cowboys
Three playoff appearances in the decade all resulted in America’s Team’s season ending with an “L.” The good news is there were three seasons of 10-plus victories, all resulting in NFC East crowns. There was a particularly dull stretch from 2010-2013 that saw the team go 30-34. Will be fascinating to see how the decade closes with the Ezekiel Elliott holdout and other contract issues hanging over the team.
9. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons and lost a Super Bowl. They had a 15-1 season in 2015. That’s the good news. Consistency has not been a hallmark. The past seven seasons have seen a seesaw. When good, very good, when bad … not good. This is a key season for Ron Rivera and Cam Newton to prove they do belong in the Top 10.
8. Baltimore Ravens
A Super Bowl victory for John Harbaugh and five 10-or more win seasons. The Ravens opened the decade going 34-14. Will they add another double-digit season to their resume in 2019?
7. Green Bay Packers
A sluggish last two seasons is offset by a run that saw Green Bay reach the 10-win mark in six of seven seasons. The Pack went 36-12 from 2010-12, which compares favorably with runs in this decade. Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy were a great tandem and then they weren’t. There was a run of seven consecutive playoff appearances.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Four 10-plus win seasons, three NFC East titles and a superb Super Bowl run puts the Eagles comfortably in the Top 10. They have had four coaches, including an interim, and only one putrid season, when they went 4-12 in 2012.
5. Denver Broncos
The bulk of this placement comes from a run that saw Denver go 50-14 from 2012-15. There was a Super Bowl shellacking and the Broncos came back to win one after the 2015 season. Feels like a long time ago off the last three seasons, but that’s one heady stretch of four seasons.
4. New Orleans Saints
Sean Payton is one of the elite coaches in the league and he has done a great job in New Orleans. There has been five playoff runs in the decade. Five seasons with at least 10 wins. New Orleans has not lost double-digit games since Jim Haslett’s final season, which was 2005.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Six playoff appearances and six 10-plus win seasons land the Steelers in the third slot. One point against is they have not been to the Super Bowl since 2010. However, Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of Pittsburgh thrives no matter who the foe is. They have won the AFC North four times and finished second four times in this decade.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll have had six 10-plus win seasons in this decade. The Seahawks have made the playoffs seven times, winning one Super Bowl and came within one play of going back-to-back. They can be a scary foe in the regular and post-season.
1. New England Patriots
There simply are no other alternatives. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady & Co. have laughed at parity. They have been in the playoffs every season since 2009. They have won 10 or more games every season since 2002. The Patriots are seemingly invincible.
