NFL Vitality Rankings: Buccaneers reign over Chiefs! Where enact Saints, Steelers plod from here?

Revealed: Feb 09, 2021 at 11: 20 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

15-5

The immense experiment changed into once a ancient success. The Bucs focused Tom Brady in free agency, hoping the soon-to-be 43-year-outdated quarterback quiet had greatness in him. Brady rewarded that religion with a stellar season capped by an MVP performance in the Gorgeous Bowl. Needless to explain, Brady didn’t beat the Chiefs by myself. Tampa Bay’s protection delivered a legendary effort, hanging immense pressure on Patrick Mahomes and nearly erasing Tyreek Hill, the identical wide receiver who hung 200 yards on them — in a single quarter — two months earlier. A total team victory and a masterclass in team-constructing for celebrated manager Jason Licht and the overall Bucs group.

Gorgeous Bowl LV will be remembered, in phase, as the day we realized Patrick Mahomes wasn’t invincible. The quarterback is as special and talented a player as now we bear considered enter the league in the previous 30 years, but even the immense Mahomes changed into once no match for an unyielding Bucs plod scamper that made mincemeat of Kansas Metropolis’s compromised offensive line. The craziest stat, per Next Gen Stats: Mahomes ran a total of 497 yards forward of his passes/sacks, the most pre-throw/pre-sack yards flee by any QB in a sport this season. A day that began with dreams of reduction-to-reduction titles changed into an ambush.

Neglect the premise of 2020 NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers leaving metropolis — that never felt life like even in the instant aftermath of Green Bay’s painful NFC championship loss to the Bucs. The right effect a matter to is what can the Packers enact to make a decision on up over the tear and return to the Gorgeous Bowl — 10 years after Rodgers’ one and greatest appearance? An even bigger, more dynamic protection would elevate some balance to the operation — unique defensive coordinator Joe Barry has an predominant job on his hands in a undoubtedly predominant season for the franchise.

Buffalo fell one place short of reaching the Gorgeous Bowl, but there’s no disgrace in shedding to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC title sport. Now comes the time for some advanced choices: The Bills are already magnificent around the projected 2021 salary cap and bear 14 avid gamers slated to alter into unrestricted free agents, per Over The Cap. Buffalo might perhaps well bear to develop some onerous choices because it looks to take the last step.

After one other disappointing postseason exit, it’s time for the Ravens braintrust to position the correct doable offense on the topic around Lamar Jackson. That might perhaps maybe additionally quiet indicate adding a dynamic expertise to a wide receiver group that managed fair correct 137 receptions and 1,729 yards receiving this previous season (each and each with out problems league lows). The pending free-agent market might perhaps maybe additionally encompass names equivalent to Chris Godwin, Allen Robinson and Kenny Golladay. Any of these avid gamers would provide a mighty-the largest enhance to Baltimore’s attack.

Now what? The Saints were turned reduction on the gate of the Gorgeous Bowl all over again this January in what changed into once very seemingly Drew Brees’ last bite on the apple. Sean Payton instructed Correct Morning Football that Original Orleans has “massive hobby” in bringing reduction Jameis Winston (a pending free agent) and jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill is below contract. The Saints bear continually acknowledged they imagine in each and each avid gamers — we’ll bag out in the next two months if that’s legit or merely a smokescreen forward of an aggressive subsequent step.

A second-half of swoon on offense led to Seattle’s one-and-executed postseason exit and also worth Brian Schottenheimer his job as offensive coordinator. Pete Carroll changed Schottenheimer with feeble Rams passing sport coordinator Shane Waldron, a slight of a mystery hire given Waldron’s absence of expertise in the OC role. Waldron has never called plays in his seven seasons on the sideline in the NFL, but feeble boss Sean McVay has called the 41-year-outdated a “phenomenal coach.” Russell Wilson requested for input in the hire, so that it is probably you’ll perhaps well bag the quarterback is on board.

The cease of the connection between Jared Goff and the Rams changed into once stunning in its swiftness. Goff helped take the Rams to the Gorgeous Bowl in 2018, signed a monster extension in 2019, and opened the 2020 season as the unquestioned franchise quarterback. Or, no less than, that’s how it seemed from the outdoors reduction in September. More seemingly, Sean McVay had some reservations after which felt compelled to act when Goff regressed additional in his last season in blue and yellow. Now Goff’s in Detroit and Matthew Stafford is the man in the reduction of heart. After the blockbuster trade, the Rams are scheduled to head seven years between first-spherical picks. This better work.

In the 2020 offseason, the Browns effect their focal point on constructing a bigger offense around Baker Mayfield. That gambit labored, but now Cleveland has to turn its focal point toward bettering the protection. The unit’s incapacity to make a decision on up a final end in opposition to a Patrick Mahomes-less Chiefs offense will stick in the craw of Browns followers for a very prolonged time. The D has superstar wattage thanks to Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, but GM Andrew Berry will be tasked with adding more surrounding expertise at linebacker and the secondary.

Now we bear got — for the necessary time in a very prolonged time — drama on the quarterback inform in Pittsburgh. Original off the 2020 campaign’s team-wide give design, Steelers president Artwork Rooney II acknowledged there would must be “vital concessions” for Ben Roethlisberger to return for an 18th season, and the soon-to-be 39-year-outdated quarterback replied by telling The Athletic he didn’t care how mighty the Steelers paid him in 2021. All of it substances to a reunion of the 2 sides for one last rodeo, but you wonder if team brass and Mike Tomlin will critically ponder having a unique QB option in the mix advance September.

The Titans did no longer adequately take care of their shortcomings on protection entering 2020. After a season of tale-breaking offense and porous play on the different side of the ball, GM Jon Robinson might perhaps maybe additionally quiet again effect his focal point on reaching better team balance. Which manner discovering a plod scamper (Tennessee had the third-fewest sacks in the league) and bettering a secondary that flailed once Adoree’ Jackson went down with a knee damage.

Tua Tagovailoa labeled his rookie voyage with the Dolphins — a season wherein he changed into once benched more than one events in settle on of dilapidated Ryan Fitzpatrick — as “under moderate.” We respect the 22-year-outdated’s candor, and you hope he’ll decide up an opportunity to procedure his profession in Miami. Rookie struggles apart, or no longer it is easy to omit that Tua came into the league off necessary hip surgical operation and with out a weak offseason on account of the pandemic. In other words, it is mighty too early to develop a snap judgment about his future in the NFL. Even with Deshaun Watson doubtlessly on the market, Miami might perhaps maybe additionally quiet beget fastidiously a pair of short pivot.

Matthew Stafford is off the table as an option, and the Texans seem steadfast in their refusal to trade Deshaun Watson (for now, anyway). That might perhaps well seem to expand the potentialities Jimmy Garoppolo will get one other season in San Francisco, but use pencil to beget the damage-inclined QB into your starting-lineup sheet. Other moving dilapidated suggestions stay on the trade market, and the Niners might perhaps maybe additionally target a quarterback in the draft. Kyle Shanahan has no longer confirmed his hand the manner the Rams did with Jared Goff — which leaves us in a suspended inform of blind speculation. Dwell tuned.

Philip Rivers is retired. Andrew Luck is rarely any longer coming reduction. Ever. Now we bear been instructed the Colts wish to raise in an experienced passer to interchange Rivers, but who will that be? Stories surfaced for the length of Gorgeous Bowl weekend that a Carson Wentz trade might perhaps maybe additionally be approaching, and Indy is the most logical landing predicament on account of the combination of need and Wentz’s relationship with Frank Reich going reduction to their time together in Philadelphia. Can Reich fix Wentz? Given Wentz’s struggles, is he well worth the excessive worth it might perhaps well maybe perhaps maybe seemingly take to accurate him?

Justin Herbert with out problems snagged Offensive Rookie of the Yr honors last weekend, a no brainer after the quarterback inform six necessary passing data in his debut season. Regardless of Herbert’s instantaneous excellence, the Chargers made the selection to reboot the teaching workers around their younger superstar, and there’ll be scrutiny if Herbert regresses in Yr 2. That’s cynical pondering, clearly: Herbert has the items, and or no longer it is more seemingly he continues to blossom with more expertise. The Chargers hit a substantial slam in last year’s draft, and now they’ll turn their focal point to constructing a championship-caliber team around their younger superstar.

The Cardinals made vital year-over-year development from 2019 to 2020, it fair correct didn’t undoubtedly feel that design when the season wrapped. You might perhaps well well additionally chalk that up to the team’s wretched enact — six losses in the last nine video games — and an offense that sputtered down the stretch as Kyler Murray battled more than one accidents. Murray will enter his third NFL season with hype as an MVP candidate, whereas coach Kliff Kingsbury will face pressure to take the team to the playoffs. Something less than that can perhaps well well undoubtedly feel treasure Arizona has the atrocious man responsible on the sideline.

It came as a slight bit of a shock that coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Tempo survived one other disappointing season, but trade will be a given if the pair can no longer decide up the Bears on the magnificent song in 2021. That all begins with determining the quarterback inform. The frustrating saga around Mitchell Trubisky is neatly-documented, and now or no longer it is time for the franchise to switch forward. The effect a matter to is whether or no longer they’ll enact that with a dilapidated passer through trade or the free-agent market, or bag a fresh option through the draft. Gain it magnificent or everyone disappears.

Washington Football Crew

7-10

Quarterback is the inform to peruse in Washington. Dwayne Haskins is now no longer in the image and Alex Smith is more a immense tale than a immense option at quarterback at this stage of his profession. Ron Rivera and the Washington brain belief bear to search out a prolonged-length of time answer to pair with a superstar-studded protection. They even bear to supply their 2021 quarterback with better weapons previous superstar receiver Terry McLaurin. Even though its 2020 season featured a stable enact, Washington quiet has mighty work to enact to alter into a sound Gorgeous Bowl contender.

In the occasion you imprint a head coach to a 10-year contract — as the Raiders did with Jon Gruden in 2018 — you effect your self in a doubtlessly weak inform. A second consecutive December free plunge doomed the Raiders in 2020, and the jury is most positively out on the Gruden/Mike Mayock era. It be uncommon in this day’s NFL that any coach can dwell on four seasons with out a single postseason berth, but Gruden quiet feels treasure a head coach with as mighty job security as any in the league heading toward the fourth campaign of his second Raiders tenure. If the Raiders regress additional in 2021, things will delivery to make a decision on up very shaded in the reduction of the scenes in Vegas.

A vital offseason focal point will be development and reinforcement in the trenches. The Vikings’ protection accomplished 2020 with the fifth-lowest sack complete in the league, whereas their offensive line delivered a tepid plod-block place price (56.3%, 18th overall) and allowed Kirk Cousins to be sacked 39 events (sixth-most in soccer). The return of monster plod rusher Danielle Hunter following a misplaced season will be a plump prefer if the player and team can determine contract concerns. That might perhaps be the largest storyline of the next two months in Minnesota.

The Falcons got their man in unique head coach Arthur Smith, and all indications gift Matt Ryan and Julio Jones getting an opportunity to jump-delivery the franchise’s fortunes with one among the brighter offensive minds in soccer. Original GM Terry Fontenot has his work lower out for him: Per ESPN, the Falcons are for the time being projected to be tens of hundreds and hundreds of bucks over the salary cap in 2021. Fontenot desires to whittle that quantity down whereas discovering financial solutions to coast roster holes. A productive 2021 draft class would be a plump prefer.

The Dallas Cowboys bear now long previous 25 years with out a Gorgeous Bowl day out. How shut are they to ending that coast? Their 6-10 tale this season signifies The USA’s Crew is a prolonged design off, but 2020 changed into once also a Murphy’s Law year, where the entirety that can perhaps maybe additionally plod atrocious pleasing mighty did. The foremost expose of commercial, clearly, is settling industrial matters with Dak Prescott, the quarterback who’s in line to make a decision on up a unique contract of Mahomesian proportions. Locking up Dak would be considered as a spot, nonetheless it might perhaps well maybe perhaps well well also develop team-constructing more advanced, with a vital amount of cap residence tied up in a single player. Dallas desires to be tidy and environment friendly to procedure a prolonged-length of time winner and at last decide up reduction to the Immense Recreation.

The flee of six titles and nine Gorgeous Bowl appearances changed into once luminous, nonetheless it couldn’t bear been easy for heaps of Pats followers who watched Tom Brady and Grab Gronkowski hoist the Lombardi Trophy for one other team on Sunday evening. This all feels treasure the hangover after an comely occasion that seemed treasure it might perhaps well maybe perhaps maybe never cease. Original England has mighty work forward, but whereas on the topic of Brady and Gronk, the Pats would enact neatly to advance reduction out of this offseason with younger unique suggestions at quarterback and tight cease.

The Panthers reportedly made a serious offer in their strive to land Matthew Stafford. It didn’t determine, nonetheless all of it tests out for a franchise — and, specifically, an owner in David Tepper — that is able to take massive swings in the quest to procedure a sustained winner in Charlotte. To that time, Deshaun Watson stays an energetic probably option in the trade market. Carolina would supply Houston the flexibility to ship the disgruntled superstar out of convention and out of mind (in theory, anyway). A probably trade equipment would delivery with the eighth overall use in April’s draft and develop bigger from there.

Daniel Jones is coming off a disappointing second season, but you are no longer listening to the Giants mentioned mighty in speculation surrounding dilapidated quarterbacks on the switch. Per chance that’s by invent as phase of a stealth, scrutinize-and-create opinion by GM Dave Gettleman, or — and that is no longer always undoubtedly nearly as keen — Immense Blue quiet believes in Jones and desires to gaze him on the topic with a wholesome Saquon Barkley and an improved supporting solid in 2021. To be magnificent, a stable case can even be made for either option.

Philadelphia Eagles

4-11-1

The Eagles took a enormous step toward a fresh delivery by changing Doug Pederson with unique head coach Nick Sirianni, but they’ll no longer truly turn the web advise unless their inevitable divorce from Carson Wentz is finalized. Stories gift that can perhaps maybe additionally advance as soon as this week, and a wholesome asset return in a trade of the feeble No. 2 overall use would inform the franchise up neatly, with a promising younger quarterback in Jalen Hurts able to take heart stage.

John Elway has handed team-constructing duties to unique GM George Paton, who instructed the media last month it might perhaps well maybe perhaps well well be his responsibility to wide awake a “sound asleep broad” in Denver. Five years previously, it changed into once the Broncos celebrating a Gorgeous Bowl title, however the seasons since bear been stuffed with frustration and failed expectations. Paton has massive choices to develop: Could well quiet the team persist with Drew Lock at QB? Could well quiet Denver use up the pricey option on Von Miller for the length of a time when the three-time All-Skilled is below criminal investigation? There are quality roster pieces already in inform, but Paton has mighty work to enact as the Broncos strive to purchase up to the Chiefs in the AFC West.

What’s going down in Houston? The Texans bear frustrated followers and alienated avid gamers with their option-making and entrance-office hierarchy, but NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport experiences the team stays fascinated about preserving disgruntled superstar Deshaun Watson. The bid, clearly, is that latest NFL historical previous tells us that avid gamers of Watson’s ilk place the leverage in these staredowns, and he might perhaps well well finally leave the Texans without a other option but to trade a 25-year-outdated quarterback on a Hall of Standing trajectory. This feels treasure the darkest timeline.

Cincinnati Bengals

4-11-1

The Bengals allowed No. 1 overall use Joe Burrow to take a beating in his rookie year, one which changed into once finally ended upfront by a unsightly knee damage. Burrow’s rehab from reconstructive surgical operation looks heading in the correct direction, and now Cincinnati desires to apply celebrated sense and effect its focal point this offseason on defending its most prized asset. Pick into consideration it a vital shock if Cincinnati doesn’t pour hundreds and hundreds of bucks and draft picks into fixing the offensive line. Pick the side road blueprint of the Cleveland Browns and apply it closely.

It wasn’t easy to explain goodbye to Matthew Stafford, but give the Lions credit for maximizing the trade probably of their one-time franchise cornerstone. The blockbuster take care of the Rams netted two first-spherical picks to expedite the Detroit rebuild below a unique regime, in addition to to a quarterback in Jared Goff who is rarely any longer nearly the authorized responsibility the Rams regarded as if it might perhaps well maybe perhaps maybe present him to be in the last weeks of that relationship. Goff might perhaps well well never ever reach the expectations that came with his space as a No. 1 overall use, but he can play and fabricate at a excessive stage when surrounded with the magnificent procedure and expertise. Under the class of “reclamation initiatives,” it is probably you’ll perhaps maybe maybe additionally enact lots worse. 

The skies seem lots brighter over Florham Park following the a hit courtship of Robert Saleh, the highest coach who’s change into the face of a unique era of Jets soccer. Original York enters a undoubtedly predominant offseason with noteworthy cap residence and two first-spherical picks, together with the second overall option. The Jets are neatly inform up to develop a serious flee at Deshaun Watson, and they even bear the selection to total their organizational reboot with a unique quarterback or use their cap freedom and draft riches to give Sam Darnold a second hire on existence in Gotham. Whatever the direction, you choose up the feeling the Jets bear folks responsible who know what they’re doing. It be been a minute.

Jacksonville Jaguars

1-15

The Jaguars got their man in Urban Meyer, and quickly ample, they’ll bear their franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. Now comes the next massive option for the Jaguars brain belief: Put they plod all out in free agency with the target of constructing an instantaneous contender around their generational prospect at QB — or enact they take a more conservative, measured manner to team-constructing in what’s going to be a deep rebuild in Jacksonville? Both design, or no longer it is onerous no longer to make a decision on up sharp about the prolonged flee in Duvvvvvvvvvvvvvvval.