With the 2019 regular season finishing Sunday, a look on the bright side. Teams that delivered more than their fans expected.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One had to wonder if Bruce Arians was a glutton for punishment when he left the CBS broadcast booth to take over the perpetually floundering Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A 3-7 start did nothing to change the perception. Then, however, Arians got the Bucs in gear and they reeled off four wins in a row. They need a victory in the finale to finish .500, which would be a major success.
7. Minnesota Vikings
Mike Zimmer was another coach who faced a win-or-else season. The Vikings won’t capture the NFC North and are locked in as the sixth seed in the conference. However, they can reach 11 wins with a victory over Chicago in Week 17. Will be interesting to watch what this team can do if Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen can stay healthy for an entire season.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were 9-6-1 in 2018 and missed the playoffs in the last week of the season. Pittsburgh came into this season without Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown and soon lost Ben Roethlisberger. Mike Tomlin’s team started 1-4 and appeared headed nowhere. And it wouldn’t have a first-round pick, having dealt it to Miami for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Pittsburgh won seven of eight despite being down to second- and third-string QBs. They need a win against Baltimore to match last season’s win total but equaling it would be a huge accomplishment.
5. Oakland Raiders
Jon Gruden and the Raiders felt like they were going nowhere coming out of 2018 … except Las Vegas in 2020. The Raiders have not been consistent but they are still in the playoff hunt and are one win away from a .500 season.
4. Green Bay Packers
The trepidation was real as Matt LaFleur came into Green Bay as a rookie coach having to mesh — quickly — with Aaron Rodgers. The Packers erased concerns early and throughout 2019 as they have rolled to a 12-3 mark and the NFC North crown.
3. Buffalo Bills
For a guy who was walking the job tightrope heading into 2019, Sean McDermott delivered for the Bills Mafia and Buffalo. Josh Allen is a proven dual-threat QB and the defense is one of the best in the league, not only the American Football Conference.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Hard for a team that won its division to be a “surprise,” but don’t think anyone saw Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens being the dominant team in the NFL in 2019. The Ravens are 13-2 and have the luxury of resting their starters in Week 17. Major credit to John Harbaugh
1. San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan has worked magic, a la Sean McVay, only greater in turning the Niners from a double-digit loss franchise into one with 12 wins and chance to add one more and solidify playoff seeding Sunday against Seattle.
