When we compiled the last Touchdown Wire Power Rankings of the regular season, we based them strictly on how teams fared in the 2019 season. That’s a tried and true formula and a fair way to judge how a team performed in that season.
Now, we’re going to take a slightly different approach. That’s because there already have been a lot of changes this offseason — coaching changes, changes at the top of the quarterback hierarchy and plenty of speculation about potentially significant player movement when the league year starts in March.
That’s why we’re taking a different approach to our postseason rankings. Yes, what a team did during the season will play heavily, but changes in 2020 also matter.
For example, the Washington Redskins were No. 31 in our rankings at the end of the regular season. But they’re moving up with the arrival of coach Ron Rivera, who will bring a sense of order that was previously lacking.
Now, that the Super Bowl has been played, it’s time for the final Touchdown Wire Power Rankings for the 2019-20 season.
32. Cincinnati Bengals
(2-14; Previous rank: 32)
The Bengals were consistently dismal all season, and that’s why they’re holding onto the No. 32 spot. Head coach Zac Taylor is lucky to be returning for a second season, but owner Mike Brown has been unusually patient through the years. Maybe that patience will pay off this time. The Bengals get a great reward for being so bad. They earned the first pick in the draft, and it’s almost universally believed they’ll use it on LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner. Burrow might make a big difference right away. But he needs help. The offensive line needs an overhaul, and it’s imperative that the team re-signs receiver A.J. Green, who can make Burrow look good in a hurry.
31. Carolina Panthers
(5-11; Previous rank: 26)
We dropped the Panthers to No. 31 because they’ve had so many changes. And none of them are clearly for the better. Owner David Tepper continues to put his stamp on the team, and things are likely to get worse before they get better. Tepper fired coach Ron Rivera late last season. Rivera is highly respected around the league. Tepper replaced him with Matt Rhule, who has a reputation as a program builder on the college level but has never been an NFL head coach. Throw in Luke Kuechly’s surprise retirement and the parting of ways with tight end Greg Olsen, and the roster is worse today than at the end of the season. Plus, there’s no telling what the Panthers will do with injury-plagued quarterback Cam Newton.
30. Detroit Lions
(3-12-1; Previous rank: 30)
Head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn held onto their jobs despite a disastrous season. The only reason I can see for that is that owner Martha Ford gave Patricia a pass because he played much of the season without quarterback Matthew Stafford. The veteran Stafford isn’t a world beater, but he puts up stats and keeps the Lions competitive. Stafford’s return will help the Lions, but Patricia and Quinn have to go out and acquire more talent if they’re going to contend for a playoff spot. If they don’t, they’ll be gone.
29. New York Giants
(4-12. Previous rank: 28)
Head coach Pat Shurmur was fired, and that’s not a bad thing. But he was replaced by Joe Judge. That likely prompted many New York fans to say, “Joe Who?” because Judge wasn’t a household name. Judge was the special teams and wide receivers coach for the Patriots. His New England pedigree undoubtedly helped him land the job. But this is a tough gig. Shurmur and predecessor Ben McAdoo failed miserably. Judge doesn’t have a lot to work with besides quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
(6-10. Previous rank: 29)
The Jaguars move up one spot in our rankings — mainly because they kept coach Doug Marrone but got rid of executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin. That should take pressure off Marrone, because Coughlin was a control freak and loomed over every move the coach made. Now this truly is Marrone’s team. His first big decision will be whether to start veteran quarterback Nick Foles or second-year pro Gardner Minshew. Neither is a bad choice.
27. Washington Redskins
(3-13. Previous rank: 31)
Washington scooped up former Carolina coach Ron Rivera to replace the fired Jay Gruden and interim replacement Bill Callahan. That was the best coaching hire of the postseason. Now, the Redskins have an adult running the show. Rivera, a former linebacker for the Chicago Bears, is known as a players’ coach. That’s only partly true. He also is a no-nonsense coach, who is firmly in control of his team. His specialty is defense, but his first task in Washington will be to find out if the Redskins can win with second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
26. Miami Dolphins
(5-11. Previous rank: 27)
Remember all the early talk last year about how the Dolphins were tanking and could go 0-16. That looked like a possibility for a bit. But coach Brian Flores held his team together, and the Dolphins started winning games, including the season finale at New England. They took themselves out of contention for the No. 1 overall draft pick. But they still could land their quarterback of the future with the fifth overall pick — perhaps Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert. In the meantime, veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick will be around to guide the offense until a replacement is deemed ready for action.
25. Los Angeles Chargers
(5-11. Previous rank: 25)
Next season will be one of change for the Chargers. They’ll be moving into a new stadium they’ll share with the Rams. More importantly, they should have a new look on the field. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers is almost certainly done after 16 seasons with the franchise. That has fueled wild speculation that New England quarterback Tom Brady could be coming to the Chargers. There’s some logic to this one. Brady has said he’s open to playing for another team. He owns a home in Los Angeles. The Chargers need wins. They also need help at the box office. There might not be a bigger drawing card than Brady. Maybe this is a pipe dream, but it’s not an impossibility.
24. Arizona Cardinals
(5-10-1. Last week: 24)
No. 1 overall draft pick quarterback Kyler Murray got better as the season progresses, and that’s encouraging. What’s just as encouraging is that coach Kliff Kingsbury’s college offense seemed to translate well to the NFL. Other teams are using similar schemes, and that’s a form of flattery. Murray still needs to get better, and so do the Cardinals. But Arizona still is a few years from challenging San Francisco and Seattle – and even the Rams — in the NFC West.
23. Cleveland Browns
(6-10. Previous rank: 21)
Head coach Freddie Kitchens is out after one season of questionable decisions and clock management. He took a team that some saw as a Super Bowl contender and ran it into the ground. In his place steps Kevin Stefanski. The former Vikings offensive coordinator has a reputation for running a balanced scheme. Stefanski has the ingredients to do that in Cleveland with quarterback Baker Mayfield, receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and running back Nick Chubb. Stefanski’s biggest challenge will be getting Mayfield back to his rookie form of 2018 when he set an NFL rookie record with 27 touchdown passes.
22. New York Jets
(7-9. Previous rank: 23)
Don’t laugh too hard, but if things break right for the Jets, they could be a contender in the AFC East. Seriously, think about it. If Tom Brady leaves New England, the Patriots are in for a fall. That could leave the Jets competing with the Bills for a division title. Any way you look at it, the Jets should be improved. They started that improvement last season after quarterback Sam Darnold returned from missing four games with mononucleosis. Darnold and coach Adam Gase get along well, and you can expect bigger and better things in the future. But the Jets need to use the offseason to bolster their defense and find a true No. 1 receiver.
21. Atlanta Falcons
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports(7-9. Previous rank: 22)
After a 1-7 start, coach Dan Quinn somehow saved his job. Same for general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Owner Arthur Blank hasn’t always been patient, but he recently said continuity is the key to turning the Falcons around. Quinn shook up his coaching staff by making Raheem Morris his defensive coordinator. Morris had been Atlanta’s wide receivers coach but has spent most of his coaching career on the defensive side of the ball. Still, it’s the offense that must carry the Falcons. They have a very young offensive line. But they also have dynamic playmakers in receiver Julio Jones and quarterback Matt Ryan. Quinn needs a playoff berth in 2020, because Blank won’t be patient forever.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(7-9. Previous rank 20)
Here’s what we know about the Bucs – they have an excellent front seven on defense, led by Shaquil Barrett, Vita Vea, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh. That’s enough to keep them in a lot of games. Here’s what we don’t know about the Bucs — who will be the quarterback? It may not be Jameis Winston, the starter for the past five seasons. He threw a league-high 30 interceptions in 2019. Head coach Bruce Arians was complimentary of Winston at the start of the season, but his criticism of Winston picked up late in the year. Will the Bucs let Winston walk as a free agent, sign him to a long-term contract, or place the franchise tag on him? I suspect he either walks or gets franchised.
19. Indianapolis Colts
(7-9. Last week: 19)
Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett started the season pretty well after the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck. But it didn’t last. Defenses started loading up on running back Marlon Mack and challenging Brissett to beat them. He wasn’t able to do that often enough. Then, Brissett didn’t get a ringing endorsement from owner Jim Irsay after the season. Irsay indicated the team likely will draft a quarterback. That’s a slap in the face to Brissett. But the fact is he’s probably better suited to be a backup than a starter.
18. Denver Broncos
(7-9. Previous rank: 18)
The Broncos could be one of the league’s most improved teams next year. They’ve had a full season to acclimate to coach Vic Fangio’s defense. More importantly, rookie Drew Lock showed that he might be the franchise quarterback the Broncos have lacked since Peyton Manning retired. It’s not fair to compare Lock to Manning or John Elway. But he has confidence and a good base skill set, and he could be a very competent starting quarterback.
17. Chicago Bears
(8-8. Previous rank: 17)
Some teams would be content with an 8-8 record. The Bears aren’t one of them. That’s because great things were expected after a 12-4 record in 2018. What went wrong? It was a combination of things. But the main reason for the decline was the play of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who took a big step back following a solid 2018. The Bears were weak on offense, and that wasted some good defensive efforts. The Bears say they’re sticking with Trubisky, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if they bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with him.
16. Las Vegas Raiders
(7-9. Previous week 16)
They now are officially the Las Vegas Raiders and no longer are Oakland’s franchise. Will things be better in Las Vegas? That remains to be seen. The defensive line should be better with the arrival of veteran position coach Rod Marinelli. But the bigger questions are on offense. The Raiders have a solid running back in Josh Jacobs. But like any team coached by Jon Gruden, there are questions at quarterback. Derek Carr is the incumbent, but there have been rumblings Gruden isn’t sold on him. That’s not surprising because the last quarterback Gruden was sold on was Rich Gannon.
15. Dallas Cowboys
(8-8. Previous ranking: 15)
Head coach Jason Garrett was fired because he failed to achieve playoff success despite having enormous offensive talent. Mike McCarthy was hired to replace him because the former Green Bay coach has won a Super Bowl. McCarthy had a tumultuous relationship with Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers even though the two had plenty of success together. McCarthy needs to establish a good vibe with Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott to succeed. Oh by the way, forget the talk about Prescott becoming a free agent. There’s no way the Cowboys let him walk.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
(8-8. Last rank: 14)
No coach got more out of less than Mike Tomlin. The Steelers parted ways with Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell — two very good players who came with lots of headaches. But the big blow came early in the season when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was lost to a season-ending elbow injury. Shuffling between Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges, Tomlin managed to scrape together a .500 season. But things should get much better next season. Roethlisberger is expected to be back. Put him behind center, and the Steelers are a playoff team.
13. Los Angeles Rams
(9-7. Last rank: 13)
The Rams went from the Super Bowl to missing the playoffs. You shouldn’t put too much blame on quarterback Jared Goff and a talented group of receivers. They did their jobs within the confines of coach Sean McVay’s offense. The passing game isn’t supposed to carry the offense for the Rams. The running game is — and that was and is a huge problem. Running back Todd Gurley used to be the focal point of the offense. He’s not anymore. Gurley has a chronic knee condition and can’t carry the load he once did. It’s time for the Rams to find a new running back.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
(9-7. Last rank: 12)
The Eagles won the NFC East almost by default. A talented Dallas team choked, and the Giants and Redskins were never factors. In a divisional playoff loss to Seattle, quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a concussion early in the game, and 40-year-old Josh McCown had to play much of the game with a torn hamstring. But Philadelphia’s future is bright — if Wentz can stay healthy. He’ll also benefit from the return of deep threat DeSean Jackson, who missed much of the season with a torn abdominal muscle.
11. Minnesota Vikings
(10-6. Last rank: 9)
The Vikings did what many thought was impossible. They went into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and beat the Saints in the wild-card round. Minnesota wasn’t able to beat San Francisco in the divisional round, but the season was an overall success. After a rocky start by quarterback Kirk Cousins, he found his game and got the offense clicking. The Vikings should be strong again next season, but the loss of offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski to Cleveland could create uncertainty on that side of the ball.
10: Houston Texans
(10-6. Last rank: 10)
Houston coach Bill O’Brien is becoming the next Andy Reid. He’s shown he can win lots of games, but he has trouble winning the big ones despite a roster that includes stars such as quarterback Deshaun Watson, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and defensive end J.J. Watt. O’Brien is now also the general manager, so all fingers will be pointed at him. Houston fans and ownership want to start winning big. If O’Brien continues to come up short of the Super Bowl, patience is going to wear thin. That may already be the case after the Texans blew a 24-0 lead to Kansas City in the divisional round.
9. Tennessee Titans
(9-7. Last rank 11)
No team improved more in the second half of the season than the Titans. They surprised oddsmakers by winning on the road in the playoffs against the Patriots and Ravens. The defense was good all along, but it was the offense that pushed the Titans into the playoffs. Running back Derrick Henry was almost unstoppable down the stretch, and Ryan Tannehill showed he can be a franchise quarterback after supplanting Marcus Mariota. Assuming the Titans can re-sign Henry and Tannehill, who are both free agents, they’ll be a trendy Super Bowl pick next season.
8. Buffalo Bills
(10-6. Last rank: 8)
Despite a loss to Houston in the wild-card round, the 2019 season was an overall success for Buffalo. The Bills hung close to the Patriots in the AFC East, and they did it with young players such as quarterback Josh Allen and running back Devin Singletary playing key roles. General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott have carved a bright future in Buffalo. It could get even brighter in a hurry. If Tom Brady leaves New England (and there has been plenty of speculation about that), the Patriots suddenly are no longer the favorite to win the AFC East. The Bills are.
7. New England Patriots
(12-4. Last rank: 6)
It’s hard to say a dynasty is over when a team goes 12-4. But that might be precisely the case with the Patriots. They weren’t the same team this year as in their glory years. They won with defense, not offense. Quarterback Tom Brady wasn’t himself, but that may be because he didn’t have a strong receiving corps. The Patriots lost at home to Tennessee in the wild-card round. Now comes the real drama. Brady, who can become a free agent in March, has said he’s open to playing elsewhere. If he does, the dynasty really is over.
6. New Orleans Saints
(13-3. Last rank: 2)
For the third straight year, the Saints suffered an excruciating playoff loss. This time, fans can’t really blame it on the officials — a non-call on possible pass interference by Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph notwithstanding. This time, the Saints simply lost in the wild-card round to a Minnesota team that was better that day. That was shocking because the Saints looked like a Super Bowl team much of the year. There could be drama ahead this offseason. Quarterback Drew Brees, 41, said he will take a month to decide if he wants to play next season. If he retires, the Saints need to re-sign Teddy Bridgewater and make him their franchise quarterback.
5. Seattle Seahawks
(11-5. Last rank: 7)
The Seahawks lost to Green Bay in the divisional round. There’s no shame in that, because Lambeau Field is a difficult place for visiting teams to win — especially in the postseason. The problem is that Seahawks coaches think they’re a run-first team. But the reality is that quarterback Russell Wilson is their best player. The Seahawks need to give Wilson more freedom going forward.
4. Green Bay Packers
(13-3. Last rank: 4)
There’s not much bad you can say about Matt LaFleur’s first season as a head coach. The Packers went 13-3 and made it to the NFC Championship Game before losing to San Francisco. But these aren’t the Packers of a young Brett Favre or a young Aaron Rodgers. They no longer run a gunslinging offense. With running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, the Packers emphasize the run, and that will continue next year. Rodgers has bought into the system because he realizes it opens up play-action passing.
3. Baltimore Ravens
(14-2. Last rank: 1)
The Ravens were the best team in the league most of the season — until they were stunned by Tennessee in the divisional round. Lamar Jackson won Most Valuable Player, Mark Ingram topped 1,000 rushing yards and the defense played consistently well. There’s no need to blow up this team because of one loss. The Ravens remain loaded with talent. They’re going to be a Super Bowl contender again next year.
2. San Francisco 49ers
(13-3. Last rank: 3)
The 49ers played well on both sides of the ball for three quarters in Super Bowl LIV. But, then they got in the way of a Kansas City freight train that has rallied back furiously from deficits throughout the postseason. Quite frankly, the 49ers just ran into a better team. There’s no shame in that, especially since San Francisco was coming off a 4-12 season in 2018. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have built a team, led by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and defensive end Nick Bosa, that’s going to be good for a long time.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
(12-4. Last rank: 5)
Never again can it be said coach Andy Reid can’t win a big game. He now has won the biggest game of all with the Chiefs’ 31-20 victory over San Francisco in Super Bowl LIV. Reid had won a lot of games in Philadelphia and Kansas City but always seemed to come up short when it mattered most. No more. Reid coached brought his team back from a 10-point deficit on the arm of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Reid, 61, is one of a handful of coaches who don’t seem to get worn down by the grind of the NFL. He still has a lot of coaching left in him. If he sticks around with Mahomes for the next decade, Reid will win a lot more big games.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
