What teams have failed to deliver in the biggest manners in 2019? The expectations for each of these 11 were not the same. Still, they have all come up short in different ways.
11. Cincinnati Bengals
Zac Taylor has taken a team that went 6-10 in 2018 and turned it into a laughingstock that is 0-9. Sure, there is no A.J. Green and that is an enormous loss. However, it feels more like a blessing for the talented wideout. Also, don’t think about throwing the loss of John Ross into the equation. He was trending as a bust and had a few good games before being injured, again. Benching Andy Dalton on his birthday was a gift as much as an insult. And throwing Ryan Finley to the Ravens was almost criminal. Could they go winless? It feels more probable than impossible.
10. Tennessee Titans
The Titans were 9-7 last season and will be life-and-death to reach that mark in 2019. They are 5-5, and the best thing Mike Vrabel has done was to bench Marcus Mariota in favor of Ryan Tannehill. Tells you everything about how the team will need to dip into the draft for a franchise QB. Mariota, like Jameis Winston, is a Heisman-winning quarterback taken high in the draft, only to have failed to deliver on that hope and promise.
9. Atlanta Falcons
Don’t be fooled by the Falcons’ victory over the Saints in New Orleans Sunday, please. These birds were expected to be far better than 2-7 and they will have to have a dynamic finish for Dan Quinn to keep his job. It’s mystifying how the Falcons have plummeted since their Super Bowl atrocity against the Patriots. It will be fascinating to see if the victory over the Saints was a fluke or a sign of a resurgence.
8. New York Jets
New coach, new regime, same ol’ Jets. Sam Darnold came down with mono and the team has produced the same tired results. It doesn’t matter whether Adam Gase has downed the Cowboys. This team added Le’Veon Bell and had hope it would have a powerful attack. A complete failure as they are 2-7 with wins over NFC East foes the Giants and Cowboys. They managed to lose to Miami, their coach’s former team. Embarrassing.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As Bruce Arians’ first year as head coach in Tampa Bay unfolds, you have to wonder if he rues leaving the TV booth for a team that can score 55 points on the Rams (in a road game) and still is 3-6. The Bucs managed to lose a considerable lead and flop against the Giants at home. Yet, they can play the Rams and Seahawks like a team that is equal to them. There is no way to figure that out. Jameis Winston doesn’t feel like he is the answer, either.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
This figured to be a strong season for the Eagles after their magical Super Bowl win two seasons ago and somewhat magical playoff run in 2018. They almost defeated the Saints. The difference, however, is Nick Foles appears to be the man who knew how to make Philly special. Carson Wentz is fragile and inconsistent–not qualities you want out of a franchise QB. Did Philly make the wrong call in letting Foles take the free-agent route to Jacksonville? At 5-4, the Eagles are going to be in a struggle with Dallas to win the division. And a Wild Card appears to be a long shot for any team in the NFC East.
5. Dallas Cowboys
Coming off a 10-6 record and NFC East championship, much was expected of Jason Garrett and the Cowboys. Not only have the Cowboys under-delivered, but they are also a game over .500 after nine. The Cowboys have one of the two worst losses of the season, falling to the anemic Jets. The merry-go-round/coaching carousel around Jason Garrett is going to spin. They need to go 5-2 to match 2018, and there is no reason to think that will happen.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers were 12-4 in 2018 and already have more losses in 2019. Philip Rivers is not looking sharp. Melvin Gordon decided to hold out and when he returned it took weeks to get in gear. The Chargers are 4-6 and looking like they have to run the table to have any chance of returning to the playoffs. Beginning to look more and more like Rivers will not get to a Super Bowl. Oh, and there is no heir apparent to Rivers, either.
3. Cleveland Browns
Hype, headlines and being full of themselves. That is what has the Cleveland Browns in an ugly 3-6 position in the AFC North. Don’t say people didn’t warn us that the Browns could be more myth than reality. They have to go 4-2-1 to match the 2018 mark of 7-8-1. That would be considered a flop as opposed to the accomplishment it was last season. There is a ton of heat in Freddie’s kitchen, and with all the talent on offense, it is only a matter of time before discontent percolates.
2. Chicago Bears
The Bears are far behind the NFC North-leading Packers. Another team that would have to win out to have any playoff hope, which is not to be expected when you are 4-5. The offense is pathetic. Mitchell Trubisky had six good minutes against the Lions, which pretty much sums up his performance in 2019. So much was expected of a team with a staunch defense. However, Matt Nagy and the offense have stalled, and it is crushing a team that won 12 games in 2018.
1. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams went to the Super Bowl and now are looking at needing a miracle finish to achieve a Wild Card spot. They are far behind San Francisco and Seattle in the NFC West. The magic that was Sean McVay seems to have evaporated. Jared Goff and the offense have a season of struggles en route to their current 5-4 mark. There is no margin for error for a team that is an enormous disappointment and is injury-riddled as it tries to make a run.
