Statistically, this team ranks No. 13 in passing offense, No. 30 in rush offense and on the other side of the ball, No. 18 in pass defense, and No. 30 in rush defense. There are many holes to fill, and once this season is officially over for a playoff run, you can bet the front-office staff will tell the coaching staff it’s time to evaluate. However, owner Mark Davis is an imbecile and, since taking over this team in 2011, is 74-112 (.398 winning percentage) and has gone through five coaches. That’s about a coach every two years. Again, an imbecile! I feel for Raider Nation!
NFL Power Rankings: Rebuild and Retool Teams
22. Atlanta Falcons (24) Record: 4-6 (Bye Week)
23. Green Bay Packers (27) Record: 4-6 (win vs. Los Angeles Chargers 23-20) – Give the Packers credit here. They never quit, and against the hapless Chargers, that’s not a bad deal, as the Chargers are notorious for losing games in the closing minutes. I’ve been stating this is a rebuilding year for the Packers, and this kind of win helps a team grow.
The Chargers are a high-powered offense (supposedly), and the Packers caught them when they’ve been struggling, as their No. 22 passing offense attests. They played many youngsters and came through this week, specifically on offense. Led by QB Jordan Love, who went 27-of-40 for 322 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, he showed some nice “touch” and accuracy with his throws.
The rushing attack also came through with 102 yards (28-102-1) against the Chargers’ No. 11 ranked offense. This win is a shocker, but it shouldn’t be. This team should begin to see improvement. While this season’s lost as they’re four games behind the division-leading Lions, it’s a great game to build on.
You can’t sugarcoat that the Packers are No. 25 in passing and No. 23 in rushing. They understand this and will continue to build toward next year and, at this point, begin to evaluate these younger players as they continue to work with Love as this team’s focal point and leader. Looking ahead, big games against the Lions, Chiefs, and division opponents, this team has the opportunity to continue growing through experience in big games. Be sad, Packers fans, but the NFL is cyclical, and they’re working their way back.
24. Chicago Bears (28) Record: 3-8 (loss vs. Detroit Lions 31-26) – Honestly, fan-hos are the worst. Their incompetence, ignorance, racism, and tribalism are at their peak in how bad we can get as a society when discussing sports. I told anyone who would listen that no “rush-first” quarterback has led their team to a Super Bowl. Eventually, you have to learn to play the position as a quarterback.
Over the past few games he’s been in, we’ve seen a transition by QB Justin Fields into staying in the pocket, holding firm, and making some spectacular passes. Then, when you combine that with his legs to buy time and rush for critical yards, you have a legitimate dual threat at the position. Think Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, John Elway, Brett Favre, and Steve Young during their Super Bowl runs. Those were rushing quarterbacks who learned to stay in the pocket.
This week, Fields went 16-of-23 for 169 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions and also blew out the rushing yardage, going 18-104-0. While the passing yardage doesn’t look great, some came by, buying time with his legs. While a brutal loss, management and ownership can finally believe they’re seeing their franchise quarterback begin to mature and improve, whereas the previous seasons have been one nightmare after another.
They still have much to improve with the No. 23 passing offense, but he’s clearly on his way. This off-season will be significant for this team as their rebuild is now in a positive direction.
25. Washington Commanders (17) Record: 4-7 (loss vs. New York Giants 31-19) – The only bright spot you can say about this loss is that the defense had nine sacks. That’s about it. Their defense is utterly porous, ranked No. 31 versus the pass and No. 22 against the run. Players and coaches are playing for their jobs, but nothing can save head coach Ron Rivera. With a lack of leadership, a defensive specialist with one of the league’s worst, and he’s losing games they should be winning; it’s only a matter of time before offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy finally lands a head coaching gig!
QB Sam Howell doesn’t seem to be growing, but he’s been under duress more than he’s had time to throw. Opponents have taken him out 51 times this season – an average of five sacks per game. He has no rushing attack to help him as the team ranks No. 19 in rushing and is on pace to get sacked 79 times this season. That would take the top spot owned by David Carr in 2002 with the Houston Texans, which saw him go down 76 times.
It will not be surprising to see Rivera let go before the season’s end if only to send a message to the team. New ownership wants better results, and no one is off-limits. Then, evaluate what you have from the players and go from there.
Playing for Draft Positions – the Worst of the Worst
26. Arizona Cardinals (26) Record: 2-9 (loss vs. Houston Texans 21-16) – We’re not QB Kyler Murray fans, but give the kid credit, he’s looked solid with his comeback from an ACL tear. He went 20-of-30 for 214 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. However, he needs time to acclimate to the team and build chemistry. The Cardinals’ goal is to begin evaluating including this past season, and looking toward their offseason needs. Despite how much is left. That’s not the actual team or coaching staff, but it will affect them because it will be time to start evaluating.
Youngsters will see time to determine their future; this team will go from there. Ownership should be happy with the job Jonathan Gannon’s done as head coach despite a 2-9 record. They play hard every week and many times are competitive. That’s where a rebuild begins – creating a culture where you leave it on the field and never quit.
27. Cincinnati Bengals (10) Record: 5-5 (loss vs. Baltimore Ravens 34-20) – Without Bengals QB Joe Burrows playing, this game was never in doubt. Throwing undrafted free agent Jake Browning into the fold, most fans probably said a prayer. After spending all three seasons on the Vikings (2) and Bengals practice squad, he didn’t look terrible, but he was no match for an elite Ravens’ defense. He went 8-of-14 for 57 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions to go on to lose.
When he came in, they were trailing 14-10, and despite a valiant effort by a rushing attack (ranked No. 31) that’s been on life support all season, we all knew the outcome. Despite the rush being an Achilles heel for the Ravens (ranked No. 19). Fans, look toward your head coach and front office for this season’s inept showings.
Bengals fans, you got your man for $275 million. The problem is you have no depth anywhere. Between the San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota Vikings, the Bengals join the ranks of overpaying for elite quarterbacks who’ve won NOTHING! Yet, not realizing you need a team around them and competent coaching.
Playoffs? To borrow one of the most infamous quotes in our NFL lifetime,
- “Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs. You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!” ~ Jim Mora, as New Orleans Saints head coach.
The Bengals face the Steelers (twice), Jaguars, Chiefs, and Browns. They’ll be underdogs, and there’s no guarantee they can beat the Colts or Vikings. I predict you can put a fork in this team.
28. New York Jets (23) Record: 4-6 (loss vs. Buffalo Bills 32-6) – The NFL has another bust to add to their list, QB Zach Wilson, overall No. 2 pick in 2021. Look, quarterbacks go to the New York Jets to die, so Wilson still has a shot somewhere else, but between inept coaching under the previous regime and an inept offensive coordinator in Nathaniel Hackett, who made his bones by calling plays for an already entrenched Hall of Famer in QB Aaron Rodgers. Let’s not forget he has no coaching ability and didn’t begin working towards Wilson’s strengths until after the game when Rodgers went down. Wilson has been horrific, but he’s had no help.
This take contradicts what the media says, but being adept means understanding the game from within the weeds. Nathanial Hackett, who owes his current career to Rodgers, started his career because his daddy was an NFL offensive coordinator. Yes, this offense is horrific, and it began with the play caller not utilizing his strength – a rushing attack with two quality backs. RB Breece Hall went 10-23-0, and Dalvin Cook was 2-13-0. When you’re running back is struggling, you don’t have only 13 attempts in a game!
The rush offense is ranked No. 25, and that’s a disgrace when you have Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook as your running backs. While this defense is overrated, they’ve had no help and have proven, unlike elite defenses like the “Steel Curtain” or the Ravens’ defenses under Ray Lewis, not to carry this team. At the same time, they rank a studly No. 4 against the pass but can’t stop anyone against the run, with a No. 27 rush defense.
Even then, how real is that No. 5 ranking? They’re not as elite as the media portrays them, and QB Josh Allen carved them up for 275 yards and three touchdowns. This team is in disarray right now, and the coaches have no clue how to right the ship and won’t as long as Hackett’s there.
Technically, they’re not out of it being three games back, but they have yet to face the Dolphins (twice), Texans, and Browns, and even the rest of the winnable games they have aren’t a given as any team can beat them right now as long as they have Hackett calling the plays.
29. New York Giants (32) Record: 3-8 (win vs. Commanders 31-19) – In a surprising performance, undrafted, still lives at home, free agent QB Tommy Devito who went 18-of-26 for 246 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Luckily, he faced the 31st-ranked pass defense. However, he still had to show he could play in this league, and this game is a huge step toward that.
The rushing attack led by RB Saquon Barkley (14-83-0 rushing, 4-57-1-5 receiving) had a stellar game with 140 scrimmage yards. They didn’t perform well on the ground as a team, amassing only 91 yards despite facing the No. 22 rush defense. Obviously, there’s still a lot of work.
The defense was the bomb with six turnovers (three fumbles, three interceptions) and elevated them into the top 12 in forced turnovers from previously tied near the bottom. Never forget to take stats within context. This defense is still horrific, with a No. 28 ranking in pass defense and No. 31 in rush defense. They’re terrible. One final positive is that they also got to the quarterback four times. However, that’s actually under the margin of how many sacks the Commanders allow per game – 4.6. Regardless, this was a rare win, and the G-men defense will enjoy it.
Ironically, most Giants fans, led by our own, Big John, are pissed off! They want a top pick for a quarterback. Let’s set the record straight. This team needs a massive upgrade on its offensive line as they lead the league in sacks allowed with 63 – about six sacks per game. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand your quarterback will not be successful with a line that porous and will get injured. You would think Daniel Jones (ACL) and Tyrod Taylor (rib) would be a clue to this hidden problem – that’s sarcasm, people, and that’s not all!
That’s one-half of the issues affecting the quarterback position. The other is that their receivers stink! Their top receiver is TE Darren Waller, who ranks No. 65 with 36 receptions, and WR Darius Slayton checks in at No. 61 with 419 receiving yards. As I said, they stink, but it’s not all on them. However, contrary to Waller’s limited success, he’s not as good as people’s perception of him – check his statistics! The point is that this team has no playmakers at receiver.
Then there’s the coaching situation, as this analyst believes it’s only a matter of time before head coach Brian Daboll loses this team unless he changes his leadership style from bully to mentor and teacher. I’m not sure he can. Regardless, this team is playing for a draft position, and players on the cusp are playing for jobs next year.
30. New England Patriots (30) Record: 2-8 (Bye Week)
31. Tennessee Titans (29) Record: 3-7 (loss vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 34-14) – How far and quickly did this team fall to the league’s bottom tier? Look, no matter what anyone says, losing teams begin to lose players at this point in the season. They don’t want to get hurt. They’re looking ahead toward next season and don’t give it 100 percent on the field. That’s not all players but some, and it is likely happening here regardless of what the head coach, Mike Vrabel, says.
The positive is that the Titans cap space opens up next year (about $100 million), and they’ll enter what is likely the beginning of a rebuild. The question is if Mike Vrabel will be leading that charge.
This week meant another look at rookie QB Will Levis, and opponents are sending wave after wave of blitzes because their line can’t handle it. Defenses got to him ten times in the last three games, a 3.3 average per game. Teams have blitzed 52 times since Levis became a starter with 41 pressures. You want to see what you have with the kid, but you must give him time to throw, too. They’re not.
What a waste on WR DeAndre “Show me the money” Hopkins, who checks in at No. 45 in receptions and No. 22 with yards – 42-650-4-78, which is a per game average of 4.2-65-0.4-7.8 which translates to four receptions, for 65 yards on eight targets and a touchdown ever 2-3 games. It’s not quite the elite wideout they thought they were getting. Sadly, everyone else knew!
We all know the rushing attack is miserable, with their rush offense ranking at No. 20, but this is Derrick Henry’s last season (likely). This team is done for the season and is playing for a draft position. Also, never say never, but the coaching staff could also be on the hot seat. They’ll continue with Levis to evaluate what they have on the roster and see what’s worth keeping. The Titans are playing ugly football.
32. Carolina Panthers (31) Record: 1-9 (loss vs. Dallas Cowboys 33-10) – This team is terrible. They lack discipline, as eight penalties for 90 yards attest. Sure, some will say the Panthers hung tough until after the second half, and maybe that’s something to build on, but at 1-9 and no first-round pick, it’s not only becoming a season no one saw this bad, but they have no gold at the rainbow, regarding the draft.
The only solace they can take is that they converted three fourth-down possessions during a drive. However, QB Bryce Young may be developing, but it’s sometimes hard to see. He went 16-of-29 for 123 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Young’s not playing well. Every time he moves forward with a bright play, he takes four steps back, usually including a pick-six. The passing offense is ranked No. 29, and the rush is No. 29. This team needs massive help via the draft and free agency.
That’s not to mention the No. 24 ranked rush defense. It’s been a long season for this team, and it’s not even over, and a longer offseason is yet to come, with the big question of what they really have in Young.
