NFL – The Concinnate Writer

Ranking Every NFL Team By Their First Round Picks Since 2019

The NFL Draft is a day away. For teams in a rebuild, this could be when they get their franchise player. For those who had a good run last year, this is a time to ensure long-term success. While there have been plenty of late-round and undrafted stars like former Chargers legend Antonio Gates and Buccaneers’ QB Tom Brady, it is without question that the first round has the most stars in the draft. I decided to use the last two drafts to see which teams are the best at finding quality players in the first round. To do so, I graded each player on a -5 to 5 scale. Note that Indianapolis, Chicago, and the LA Rams didn’t have a first-round pick in either year, so they are omitted.

1: San Francisco 49ers: 6 points – 2019 DE Nick Bosa (5), 2020 DL Javon Kinlaw (-2), 2020 WR Brandon Aiyuk (3)

The Niners struck gold with Nick Bosa, who, like his brother Joey, has been a terror for opposing QBs in his first two seasons. The biggest question is if 2020 first-rounder Brandon Aiyuk can be a solid #2 receiver. He has been a reliable receiver for the 49ers and is also one who can move the sticks (42 out of 60 of Ayuik’s receptions went for first downs), but I don’t think he is WR1 potential. However, partnered with a receiver like JuJu Smith-Schuster or Allen Robinson, he could be a very efficient #2 as defenses will not be so focused on him. The Niners had big hopes for Javon Kinlaw, but he has been underwhelming as a pass rusher with just two sacks.

T-2: Dallas Cowboys: 5 points – 2020 WR CeeDee Lamb (5)

The Cowboys had one pick last year and none the year before. However, they got a pro-bowl caliber talent in CeeDee Lamb, probably the second-best receiver in the 2020 draft behind the future Hall of Famer, Justin Jefferson. Despite playing with four different QBs, and missing a few games, Lamb was just short of the 1000 yard mark. Lamb was greatest when playing in the slot and racked up a league-leading nine receptions of 15 yards or more against zone defenses when he was in that position. The only place I think he needs to improve is his yards after catch, as he averaged 0.1 yards less than expected compared to Jefferson’s 1.9 yards more than expected.

T-2: Denver Broncos: 5 points – 2019 TE Noah Fant (2), 2020 WR Jerry Jeudy (3)

The Broncos had quite a bit of success with their 1st round picks. Fant has been a reliable option for young QB Drew Lock. I think he has not been as much of a red zone threat as the Broncos would’ve liked, as he ended the season with just three touchdowns. However, he is a great route runner, averaging 3.5 yards of separation, and gets an average of 1.3 YAC more than expected, both of which are higher than Travis Kelces. Jeudy has shown that he can be a strong deep threat receiver; however, I don’t think he was as much of an X-factor as Lamb and Vikings’ rookie, Justin Jefferson and he struggled with drops (only 46% catch percentage), which is why he has a three and not a five.

T-2: Washington Redskins: 5 points – 2019 DE Montez Sweat (5), 2019 QB Dwane Haskins (-5), 2020 DE Chase Young (5)

The Redskins have added two beasts to their D-line in the last two years. Both Sweat and Young have been stars from their first game and have helped make the Washington front seven one of the most feared in the NFL. Additionally, both Sweat and Young were both in PFF’s top 100 players list. However, their grade is tainted by the selection of Dwayne Haskins. Haskins has been one of the biggest busts in the NFL, mainly due to his inconsistent play and off-field and character issues, and the Redskins wisely cut him before the end of this season.

T-2 New York Jets: 5 points – 2020 OT Mekhi Becton (4), 2019 DL Quinnen Williams (1)

The Jets have drafted surprisingly well in the first round for a team that has struggled so badly. Williams has been exceptional, but I don’t think the Jets really needed him at that stage. The Jets didn’t have a single player in the top 50 for yards, targets, or receptions. This could have been avoided if the Jets had gotten a good receiver in 2019. Becton has already become a top lineman in the league, and I think he has done a phenomenal job. He received the second-highest grade from PFF for rookie tackles and was on the Pro Bowl ballot. I believe in a year or two, he could be headed to the Pro Bowl.

T-6 Baltimore Ravens: 4 points – 2019 WR Marquise Brown (3), 2020 ILB Patrick Queen(1)

The Ravens have gotten some excellent talent in the last two years. Last year, they found a true WR1 in Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. The second-year player has been a good offensive piece, but he hasn’t been utilized enough to justify the Ravens using a first-round pick on him as he was 48th in targets last year. Queen has shown flashes of talent but has been a very sloppy tackler. I don’t think Queen will ever become an excellent cover linebacker (his PFF grades for run defense and pass coverage were 29.0 and 30.2, respectively), but he could be a good pass rusher in the Ravens’ blitz-heavy defense.

T-6 Cincinnati Bengals: 4 points – 2020 QB Joe Burrow (5), 2019 OT Jonah Williams (-1)

The Bengals have been very focused on the offensive side of the ball lately. Williams has been good but has only played ten games in two seasons. He missed his entire rookie year after getting hurt in OTAs and then struggled with injuries this year as well. If he can stay healthy, this could be an excellent pick. If not, it could be disastrous. Burrow, however, was phenomenal in his rookie year as he was on pace for over 4250 yards which would have put him less than 100 yards away from Andrew Luck’s rookie record before a knee injury ended his season. If these two develop nicely and stay healthy, they could be the core of the offense.

T-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4 points – 2020 OT Tristan Wirfs (5), 2020 Devin White (-1)

The Buccaneers had high hopes for Devin White, who was touted as the best ILB in the Draft. However, he hasn’t been the dominant force the Buccaneers hoped would replace veteran LaVonte David. He’s one of the best pass-rushing off-the-ball linemen but has been hopeless in coverage and let in a staggering 87.8% of targets against him last season. Like Mekhi Becton, Wirfs has already catapulted himself into a top 10 tackle and had the highest PFF grade for rookie tackles at the end of the season. There’s not much wrong about his game and I expect him to continue to develop into a HOF-caliber tackle.

T-9 Kansas City Chiefs: 3 points – 2020 RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (3)

The Chiefs were a team that didn’t need any improvements in 2020. I think Edwards-Helaire was a bit of a reach, and his production has justified that. The rookie finished with 0.29 yards less than expected, which was the 11th worst of running backs with at least 85 attempts, and opposing defenses put eight men or more in the box on just 9.39% of snaps. I think the Chiefs should have considered trading down and getting offensive line depth instead.

T-9 Cleveland Browns: 3 points – 2020 OT Jedrick Wills (3)

The Browns got an excellent blocker in Wills. The Browns needed a quality lineman to replace Joe Thomas, and they got exactly that in the former Alabama tackle. He is excellent in both the run game and in pass protection, but he did have a league-high 11 penalties. While some people may find that concerning, I feel he can clean up his game and become one of the best tackles in the NFL.

11 Buffalo Bills: 3 points – 2019 DT Ed Oliver (3)

The Buffalo Bills have a potential future 1st team all-pro in defensive tackle, Ed Oliver. The ninth overall pick in 2019 has been a big part of the Bills’ front seven. Don’t expect him to be the next Aaron Donald because his pass rush skills are average but instead, expect him to chew up blocks and plug running lanes on the front line. In a few years, he could be a premier defensive tackle similar to the likes of Philly’s Fletcher Cox and Baltimore’s Calais Campbell.

T-12 Carolina Panthers: 1 point – 2019 DL Brian Burns (4), 2020 DL Derrick Brown (-3)

The Panthers have been very focused on their D-line in the past years. Brian Burns has been a phenomenal player, who I think will only get better in the next year or two. He ranked top ten in sacks and fumbles for edge rushers, even with him playing more like a defensive tackle than an end. Brown has been a good player in the pass rush department, but his run defense leaves plenty to be desired (PFF ranked him 77th in run defense). I don’t think he is anywhere close to justifying going seventh overall; he’s a late second-rounder at best.

T-12 Pittsburgh Steelers: 2 points – 2019 LB Devin Bush (2)

The Steeler defense was rather bad in 2019, and the reason that changed is partly thanks to this man. Bush came to a Steelers team that was all about rushing the passer and didn’t care much about playing coverage. The Michigan alum looked very strong during his rookie year, where he racked up 109 tackles and two interceptions. Many said he was even better than Devin White, who went fifth overall. Regardless, the addition of Bush, along with Steven Nelson and Minkah Fitzpatrick, has brought the secondary up to par with the Steelers’ ferocious pass-rush.

14 Arizona Cardinals: 2 points – 2020 S Isaiah Simmons (-3), 2019 QB Kyler Murray (5)

The Cardinals got their franchise QB in Kyler Murray, which is what you would expect from the number one overall pick. Murray has been a Pro Bowl caliber dual-threat quarterback, and his PFF grade beat-out superstars like Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert. I think he could develop into a very dangerous player. Simmons looked like a clear bust at the beginning of the season but has played better down the stretch and proven that he can make plays. If he can be more consistent, he could be a good asset in the secondary, but I’m not convinced that he can keep up his good form.

15 Green Bay Packers: 1 point – 2020 QB Jordan Love (-5), 2019 LB Rashan Gary (3), 2019 S Darnell Savage (3)

The Packers got two outstanding players on defense. Gary has been a good pass rusher with seven sacks on the year. Savage has turned out to be one of the best young safeties in the NFL, and this year he got 75 tackles and four interceptions, both very high numbers for a safety. However, the Packers reached way too far to get Jordan Love. I thought Love was a mid-second rounder to early third-rounder at best, and especially with Jalen Hurts on the board and Aaron Rodgers playing for a bit more, I don’t get this pick.

T-16 Minnesota Vikings: 0 points – 2020 WR Justin Jefferson (5), 2020 CB Jeff Gladney (-3), 2019 C Garrett Bradbury (-2)

The Vikings have been hit or miss in the first round. In 2019, they took a center in Garrett Bradbury. Despite playing all 32 games of his short NFL career, Bradbury has been mediocre. According to PFF, his 5.1% pressure rate was 34th out of 36 centers. Gladney was also underwhelming. While he did have 81 tackles, he also had 21 missed tackles, which is not NFL level. However, the Vikings did get a generational talent in Justin Jefferson, who could be the face of the NFL in a few years. He finished fourth in receiving yards and tied for the most receptions of 20 yards or more.

T-16 Detroit Lions: 0 points – 2019 TE TJ Hockenson (4), 2020 CB Jeff Okudah (-4)

The Lions have found an above-average franchise tight end in TJ Hockenson. The second-year tight end finished third among tight ends in yards and fourth in receptions last year. This is even more helpful when you’re a team that will be searching for a new QB in the near future because it’s no secret that young and developing QBs love having a good tight end. Look at Mark Andrews and Lamar Jackson or Greg Olsen and Cam Newton. Okudah has been very inconsistent in coverage, often getting beat or messing up coverage, and getting hurt midway through your first season doesn’t help.

T-18 Tennessee Titans: -1 point – 2020 OT Isaiah Wilson (-5), 2019 DL Jeffery Simmons (4)

Like many teams, the Titans have gotten one value player and one they would have rather not taken. Simmons has turned out to be an excellent pick and a focal point of the Titan’s defense. If a player is already above-average in his second year as a pro, there’s a good chance that he will turn into something special. Also, tackling Derrick Henry in practice doesn’t hurt either. Getting Wilson on the practice field was an achievement for the Titans as the first-rounder was on the COVID list twice and dealt with numerous off-field issues. After briefly being with the Dolphins, Wilson was cut without playing a game, and it seems likely that his NFL career is over.

T-18 Jacksonville Jaguars: -1 points – 2020 CB CJ Henderson (-1), 2020 LB K’Lavon Chaisson (-3), 2019 DE Josh Allen (3)

The Jaguars have a few players they would like to see improvement in. Henderson showed flashes of greatness but was hampered by injuries. Chaisson also had a few good games but was unable to contribute much. While the Jaguars did get a promising talent in Josh Allen, he injured his knee in the middle of last season, and it isn’t certain that he’ll be the same explosive player who racked up 10.5 sacks in his rookie year.

T-20 Atlanta Falcons: -2 points – 2019 OG Chris Lindstrom (4), 2019 OT Kaleb McGary (-3), 2020 AJ Terrell (-3)

The Falcons got only one value lineman in 2019, despite using two first-round picks to try to keep Matt Ryan’s jersey a bit cleaner. Lindstrom has been excellent and was probably the best offensive lineman of his draft class. He has already become a top-3 lineman, in my opinion. However, the same can’t be said about McGary, and to make matters worse, the Falcons traded up to get him. Terrell has been decent, but I think he needs to be more physical and work on his tackling to be a fixture in the league.

T-20 Houston Texans: -2 points – 2019 OT Tytus Howard (-2)

Howard has precisely what the Texans wanted when he’s on the field. He is a solid tackle who is excellent in the passing game, giving up only two sacks this whole year. However, the problem for him is staying on the field. Howard missed eight games in his rookie season and three this year. If he can stay healthy, he could be an excellent anchor on the Texans’ offensive line.

T-22 Los Angeles Chargers: -3 points – 2020 QB Justin Herbert (5), 2020 DT
Jerry Tillery (-5), 2019 LB Kenneth Murray (-3)

The Chargers did get their franchise QB in reigning OROY Justin Herbert, who had a stellar season where he broke the records for most passing TDs in a rookie year, most total TDs in a rookie year, most completions in a rookie year, and he fell just 39 yards short of Andrew Luck’s rookie passing yards record despite only playing 15 of the Chargers’ 16 games. However, the Chargers have had some woes on the front seven. Tillery could barely stay on the roster, which is something you surely do not want to see in a first-round pick, and while Murray has been a good tackler, he needs to be much more aggressive on the line of scrimmage to be a complete tackling linebacker.

T-22 New Orleans Saints: -3 points – 2020 C/G Cesar Ruiz (-3)

The Saints had only one first-round pick in the last two years, and they took Cesar Ruiz. While he has been a starter for the Saints, he has been inconsistent and gave up a whopping 16 pressures between week eight and week ten, although he did bounce back nicely. I think the fact that Ruiz can play both center and guard doesn’t help much, as center Erik McCoy will probably be around for quite some time. If the Saints really wanted a lineman, they should have either tried to get Wirfs at 13 or waited till round 2 or 3.

T-22 New York Giants: -3 points – 2019 QB Daniel Jones (4), 2019 CB Deandre Baker (-5), 2019 DT Dexter Lawrence (-1), 2020 OT Andrew Thomas (-1)

The Giants got their franchise QB in Daniel Jones, and that’s about it. Baker has been cut after struggling with off-field issues. He is now a backup in Kansas City. Lawrence’s production has been underwhelming for all the hype he created during his stay at Clemson. Thomas has been a decent tackle in the run game, but he has been clueless in pass protection. His 57 pressures allowed were 14 more than any left tackle last season.

T-25 Miami Dolphins: -4 points – 2020 QB Tua Tagovailoa (1), 2020 OT Austin Jackson (-3), 2020 CB Noah Igbinoghene (-5), 2019 DL Christian Wilkins (3)

The Dolphins have one young star on both sides of the ball. Tagovailoa hasn’t been as good as Burrow or Herbert, but I think he will still be the Dolphins’ franchise QB for at least a little bit longer. Wilkins has been excellent in a Miami defense, which has suddenly become one of the best in the league, finishing 6th in solo tackles. Jackson has been okay as a lineman but not extraordinary, and Igbinoghene is far from being starter-worthy, barely getting playing time in his first year.

T-25 New England Patriots: -4 points – 2019 WR N’Keal Harry (-4)

The Patriots tried to get receiver depth with this pick, but Harry has been underwhelming. Harry had minimal impact in his rookie year and hasn’t done much in year two despite being the number one receiver for Cam Newton. His 309 yards look more like a WR3 than a WR1. Time is running out for Harry to make his case to be a starter in the NFL.

27 Las Vegas Raiders: -5 points – 2020 CB Damon Arnette (-5), 2020 WR Henry Ruggs III (2), 2019 DL Clelin Ferrell (-1), 2019 RB Josh Jacobs (4), 2019 S Johnathan Abram (-5)

The Raiders have a few decent players that they drafted. Jacobs can become an All-Pro if he continues to get better. Ruggs has shown that he is an excellent deep threat but needs to work on the shorter stuff. Ferrel has been a starter but hasn’t had the X-factor impact you want from a first-round pick. However, there are two awful picks that the Raiders made. Both Abram and Arnette have struggled with injuries, and both looked utterly clueless in coverage. This has led the Raiders to have one of the worst secondaries in the game.

28 Seattle Seahawks: -6 points – 2020 LB LJ Collier (-3), 2020 LB Jordyn Brooks (-3)

Some may say that the Seahawks have been “drafting for the future,” which is quite reasonable. However, it becomes no longer reasonable when you have a serious chance to win the Super Bowl. Brooks will not be playing much when you have Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright patrolling the secondary, and trading Frank Clark for Collier was just silly. Perhaps the Seahawks could have addressed their secondary woes and repaired the running game, which never really recovered since Beast Mode’s departure.

29 Philadelphia Eagles: -8 points – 2019 OT Andre Dillard (-5), 2020 WR Jalen Reagor (-3)
I thought Reagor would be a star in Philly, but he hasn’t been utilized enough. For a number two receiver, I think the Eagles need to get him more involved as he only got 369 yards. Dillard has been a rather lousy pick. He has been a backup and thus hasn’t had much playing time, which is not a good sign if you are a first-round pick.

Which Rookie QB Will Have the Most Impact In Year One?

Free agency is, for the most part, complete, with just a few big names such as Jadeveon Clowney still without a contract. With the NFL Draft approaching, the big talk is on the quarterbacks. While I think we could see anywhere from six to eight quarterbacks taken this year, I believe there are only four ready to start year one. In this article, I have ranked QBs by how much impact they will make in year one.

Zach Willson – BYU

I think Wilson is going to be the most successful QB in year one. He is not a running QB, but he is athletic enough to make plays with his feet if he needs to. He has an excellent touchdown to interception ratio of 11:1, and I think he can make an immediate impact for whichever team takes him. If he falls to the Niners at 3, I would be lying if I said I think they aren’t a Super Bowl contender. Willson could be a Mahomes-esque player.

Trevor Lawrence – Clemson

Lawrence is the best QB in the draft, no doubt about it. He should and most probably will be the #1 overall pick. However, I highly doubt he will be able to quickly turn the Jaguars into a contender. Lawrence was really struggling against Ohio St., and it made me wonder if he can win games when he’s 1 or 2 scores behind in the fourth quarter. He’s had the luxury of being at the #2 school in the nation, and I don’t think he’ll be able to adapt to having a less than par team. While I think Lawrence will go on to have a very successful NFL career, I think it will take some time to get used to the NFL.

Mac Jones – Alabama

Mac Jones is part of an almost extinct breed of quarterbacks. He is a pure, strong-arm-QB with absolutely no mobility. Ten years ago, Jones would have looked like the best QB on the board. However, with smarter defenses, QB mobility is a major need. Very few QBs with low mobility have had success in the last 3-4 years. I think if Jones goes to a team with good pass protection and a decent run game, he could thrive. The Steelers seem like a perfect fit, but I doubt he’ll still be on the board.

Justin Fields – Ohio State

Justin Fields is the high-risk, high reward option. If he grows well, he’ll be a top QB similar to Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson. If he doesn’t, he could end up similar to Jameis Winston. I think Fields’ success depends on where he lands up. Like Zach Wilson, I think the Niners are the ideal fit for Fields, as he will enter a team that already has a solid run game, and Fields will not have to throw the ball 30-40 times, which would cut down on the opportunity for mistakes. If he lands with a team like Pittsburgh, I doubt he’ll be consistent enough to have any kind of success.

That’s it for this article. If you disagree with these predictions or have comments on the draft, let me know in the comments section.

Why the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl

Many fans (me included) believed that Super Bowl LV was going to be a blowout. We were right about that; however, the thing that we didn’t get right was who would be blown-out. That left many fans wondering how the Bucs were able to stop such a high-powered offense that only lost one game when playing with their starters. Here’s why I think the Bucs pulled off this massive upset.

They Got Pressure to Mahomes

The Buccaneer pass rush was one of the best in the league, and they showed that against the Chiefs. They pressured Mahomes a Super Bowl record 29 times. This led to plenty of incomplete passes and quick scrambles. It also forced Mahomes to get the ball out quickly and didn’t allow Tyreek Hill to get down field. I understand that you have two backup tackles, but I was surprised the Chiefs didn’t try to do much about it. I think they needed to perhaps keep the running back and maybe a tight-end back in pass protection to give Mahomes time to find his big playmakers.

The Offense Was Dominant

The Buccaneers beat the Chiefs on the offensive side as well. The Chiefs’ defense managed to pressure Brady on just 4 dropbacks; the lowest Brady has faced in a Super Bowl. Additionally, Rob Gronkowski looked like the Rob Gronkowski of old, running through the middle of the Chiefs’ secondary for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns. The run game was excellent as well, as Fournette and Jones III combined for over 140 yards to help ice the game.

They Won the Penalty Battle

The Chiefs were their own enemy in this game. They had 11 penalties for a whopping 120 yards. Even worse, many of these penalties were on the defensive side and on crucial third downs. The penalties allowed the Buccaneers to keep driving, and the Chiefs’ defense would have to get at least 2 or 3 stops due to the penalties. This not only allowed the Buccaneers to drive down the field and put up points but also meant that they controlled the football for long amounts of time.

That’s it for this article. If you have any thoughts on these players or the Super Bowl, please let me know in the comments section.

Superbowl LV Preview

The Pro Bowl is over, and that can only mean one thing. It’s Super Bowl week. While the Chiefs did beat the Bucs in the regular season, that’s not to say that they will be the clear winner. I will highlight what each team needs to do to win another Lombardi trophy, as well as my predictions for the big game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Stop Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce

The Buccaneers got absolutely shredded by Tyreek Hill and, to a lesser extent Travis Kelce in their Week 12 matchup. If they want to have a chance at taking down the Chiefs, they need to play super tight on Hill and Kelce. I think they should look to double-team both of them on every occasion. They need to force guys like Mecole Hardman or Clyde-Edwards Helaire to step up, which is not easy to do when you are in the Super Bowl.

Kansas City Chiefs – Play aggressive on defense

It’s no doubt that the Chiefs’ offense is their primary weapon, and for a good reason, as that unit is almost certainly the best in the NFL. That’s why I think the Chiefs should try to play very aggressive defense and get to Brady early. It’s no secret that Brady is not one of the tougher QBs in the league like Ben Roethlisberger, and he is certainly not a guy like Lamar Jackson who can escape using his feet. I think if the Chiefs can get to him early, it may rattle the veteran.

My prediction – Kansas City 38, Tampa Bay 28

I don’t think the Buccaneers defense can stop Hill and Kelce. I think based on what we saw in Week 12, the Buccaneers are not going to be able to do much to contain the Chief’s explosive pass-catchers. The only reason I feel that the game will even be close is that the Bucs have a QB who has played in 9 Super Bowls in Tom Brady.

Week 17 Preview

Week 17 is finally here. For teams still in the hunt, this is their last chance to get themselves into the playoffs. For teams that have clinched the playoffs, they can let the backups play and hope there are no injuries. Here’s what to look for in this week’s matchups.

Can Christian Kirk become the Star that he was meant to be and get his team in the playoffs?

The Arizona Cardinals control their own destiny. A win and they’re in the playoffs, a loss and they’re out. While playing against the Rams is good for the Cards’ defense as Qb Jared Goff will not play, it also means that Kyler Murray will not be able to use Deandre Hopkins as much as he would like. In the previous matchup between these two, Hopkins caught 8 of 13 target for just 52 yards and a touchdown. This was in part due to star corner Jalen Ramsey’s efforts to keep the All-Pro receiver at bay. To add insult to injury, Hopkins and number two Larry Fitzgerald have been dealing with injuries all week. That is why it’s time for Kirk to step up and prove that he can be a franchise receiver down the line. It will be difficult if both Hopkins and Fitzgerald are ruled out, but I think Kirk will still get a more than usual amount of targets regardless.

Can the Dolphins go from the 5th overall pick to a playoff team?

The Dolphins have been one of the biggest turnarounds in the NFL. Ryan Fitzpatrick got the Dolphins off to a hot start, and then Tua took over and somewhat kept riding the wave of success. The Dolphin defense has become a monster and, I think is a top 5 defense. However, needing a win against the Bills, I think Tua and the offense will still need to do some work. The offense isn’t what it was when Fitzmagic was at the helm, and it will be interesting to see if Tua gets pulled out earlier if the Dolphins are facing a big deficit. It is a big day for the young QB, and getting a few playoff wins could set him apart from Herbert and Burrow.

Can the Cowboys somehow make the playoffs?

After losing their Franchise QB in Dak Prescott, we all thought the Cowboys were done for. Now, three QBs later, they have a chance to make the playoffs. Andy Dalton has never won a playoff game in his 9-year career. Now in what is most likely his last shot, he will need to get a win against the Giants. If the Cowboys pass rush can get going, I think the Giants will respond with a lot of aggressive defense of their own, and that could let Dalton make a few big plays. I think if he can put around 20-30 points, they should be good. However, a win isn’t the only thing the Cowboys need. They will need the Eagles to also defeat the Washington Football Team.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Week 16 Review

Week 16 saw the playoff picture become much more rigid. The Chiefs have secured a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Steelers finally got back to their winning ways and pulled off a magnificent comeback against the Colts and they will be able to clinch their division. However, I think the biggest news is not about a playoff team. It’s that the Jets won another game!

Can the Steelers end their losing streak and clinch the division?

Yes. The Steelers looked like they were in for another loss, but they played like a different team at halftime. I think the main problem for the Steelers is consistency. Even before they went on the three-day losing streak, there were multiple games where the offense was virtually nonexistent in the first half. If they want to have a good playoff push, the offense needs to get going quicker. Also, Big Ben needs to cut down on the mistakes. While he didn’t have any balls picked off against Indy, there were quite a few which were dropped by the Indy defense. I think if he can fix that and get going quicker, the Steelers will be Superbowl contenders once again.

Can Sam Darnold and the Jets win two in a row?

The Jets seem to have finally come to terms with the fact that they will not be getting Trevor Lawrence next year. However, after seeing them play against the Browns, it makes me wonder if they really should be taking a QB. It was pretty obvious that Darnolds was basically playing for his job, and I think he really stepped up. Going forward for the Jets, I think they will need a better receiver as Jamison Crowder would really benefit from having a young threat on the other side. I think the Jets may try to trade down and try to accumulate some extra picks as there are plenty of QB-needy teams who would love to get their hands on Justin Fields.

Can Kansas City clinch the number 1 seed?

Yes, but not how they would have liked. I think the Chiefs did not deserve to win that game against the Falcons. The Offense could not get anything to work against a Falcon defense that’s not that great. I think the Chiefs will want to try to spruce up their offense before the playoffs as they don’t want to become like the Steelers where you are so predictable you can’t win any games. I expect them to play their normal game next week, but I think there will be a few changes come playoff time.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 17 matchups.

Week 16 Preview

Week 16 is here, and as we get closer to the end of the season, the games become more and more important. For teams that have been mathematically eliminated, perhaps it’s time for the backups and younger players to get some playing time. For everyone else, a single play could make or break their position in the playoffs. Here’s what to look for in this week’s matchups.

Can the Steelers end their losing streak and clinch the division?

I’m giving up on the Steelers’ inconsistent running game. If they want to beat the Colts, Big Ben will have to step up. That means no loose throws, no interceptions, no mistakes. If Ben can get the ball moving and not make too many mistakes, they might have a shot at the game. The defense will need to do their part as well. The offense is a pretty slow starter, so if TJ and Co. can keep the Indianapolis offense at bay for the first quarter or so, Ben might be able to keep up. A win here for the Steelers would clinch the division for them, and assuming Kansas City wins this week, the Steelers should be able to take a rest game next week.

Can Sam Darnold and the Jets win two in a row?

With the second pick secured now, the Jets can finally move on to trying to win a few games. For Darnold, a few good performances at the end could potentially convince the Jets to give him another chance and take Penei Sewell over Justin Fields with the second pick. It is also well known that Adam Gase could be fired very soon, and I don’t see a situation where the Jets win only one game, and Gase stays as head coach. Thus, there is still a lot to play for despite being in the midst of a very painful rebuild.

Can Kansas City clinch the number 1 seed?

With the new playoff expansion, the always coveted number one seed has become even more valuable as it is the only seed that gets a bye week before their first playoff game. It is difficult to see Kansas City losing two in a row now, but like the Steelers, I think they will benefit from having nothing to play for next week. The last thing they need is a star player getting injured right before the playoffs. Against an Atlanta team that has only won 4 games all season, I think the three-headed monster of Mahomes, Kelce, and Hill will be more than enough to get the win.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Week 15 Review

Week 15 turned out to be a good one. The Steelers are looking very bad right now after losing to Ryan Finley and the Bengals. Jalen Hurts has put up another monster game against the Cardinals. And an absolute thriller in New Orleans ended with the visiting Chiefs edging out a narrow 3 point victory. Here’s how our featured players performed.

Will the Steelers’ run game get back on track?

Answer: Yes. The Steelers finally had some kind of running game with Benny Snell racking up a solid 84 yards rushing. The problem for the Steelers is they quickly fell to an early 17-0 deficit before the offense got on track. I think the blame has to go on the offensive coordinator, Randy Fichtner. The Steelers have struggled all season with starting off quickly, and with playoff time getting closer and closer, I think they need to find a way to spark this offense quickly because their defense is not able to bail them out.

Can Jalen Hurts keep up the good work?

Answer: Absolutely. It seems like Hurts decided to show that he can throw the football as well. The rookie racked up 338 yards in the air and complemented it with a solid 63 rushing yards. The fact that the Eagles lost the game shows that their defense is lacking. I think the Eagles would be wise to spend the majority of their draft picks on the defense, especially the secondary. The only place where I think Hurts can improve is with his accuracy as 24/44 passing is not great in the NFL. Other than that, I feel Hurts will be a star in the league.

Will Drew Brees and the Saints hand the Chiefs loss #2?

No. The Saints may not have won against the Chiefs, but they still played a very good game of football. I think they have a very, very good chance to beat the Chiefs if they meet in the Superbowl. Drew Brees hasn’t played for a couple of weeks, and it’s tough to be 100% instantly. Alvin Kamara didn’t have the best of games but Brees was able to command a decent air attack to make up for that. The only surprise was that Taysom Hill had minimal involvement in this game which is interesting because you would expect him to be more involved considering it’s Brees’s first game back from injury. Nevertheless, the Saints are a very good team, and they will still be the favorites to win the NFC.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 16 matchups.

Week 15 Preview

Week 15 will feature a slew of interesting games. The Steelers have lost two straight and are looking very flat. They will hope to get back on track against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jalen Hurts will try to keep up his good form against the Arizona Cardinals after he pulled off an upset of the Saints last week. And lastly, in a potential Superbowl matchup, the Saints and the Chiefs will clash in New Orleans. Here’s what to look for in this week’s games.

Will the Steelers’ run game get back on track?

The Steelers have catapulted themselves out of Superbowl contender status and back into an average playoff team. The entire Steeler offense had been bad, but while Big Ben and the passing game has been inconsistent, the running game has been nonexistent. The Steelers will have a golden opportunity to fix this against a Bengal team that has struggled after the loss of #1 overall pick, Joe Burrow. If the Steelers can get a few big plays downfield early, it may force the Bengals to play deep and give Benny Snell more room to run.

Can Jalen Hurts keep up the good work?

Jalen Hurts is looking more and more like a franchise QB in Philly. Last week, Hurts shredded the Saints with 100 yards passing and rushing. He will face former 1st overall pick Kyler Murray and the Cardinals this week, and I imagine that Budda Baker will be spying Hurts a lot this week after what Hurts did to the Saints. I think it will be difficult, but I think Hurts will guide Philly to another win on Sunday, but this time he will have to do more in the air.

Will Drew Brees and the Saints hand the Chiefs loss #2?

This is arguably the best matchup all season. The top two teams in the NFL will go head to head this week. The Saints will get a welcome boost in the return of future first ballot hall of fame QB Drew Brees, who is coming back from a rib injury. I think Taysom Hill will play a larger-than-usual role this week as he has been the starter for the past few weeks. Also, Alvin Kamara seemed to have a diminished role during Hill’s reign, and it will be interesting to see if he will return to what he was in the first half of the season.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.

Week 14 Review

Week 14 featured some serious surprises. The Steelers lost for the second game in a row after going 11 games without a loss. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles shocked the surging Saints. The biggest surprise of them all, however, was the near defeat of the Kansas City Chiefs by the underdog Dolphins. Let’s see how our featured players performed in this week’s matchups.

Will James Conner help the Steelers bounce back?

Answer: No. Connor (and the entire Steelers offense) had a nightmare game against the Bills. Connor averaged a mediocre 1.8 yards per carry, and his longest run was a whopping 5 yards. For a player in a contract year, Connor needed big performances but has ended up with nothing. I think due to his injury issues, the Steelers would be wise to let Connor go and look for a franchise running back like Clemson’s Travis Etienne or Alabama’s Najee Harris.

Can Bill Belichick and Cam Newton create a repeat of Super Bowl LIII?

Answer: No. Apparently, any matchup between the Rams and the Patriots must be super boring to watch. At least this matchup had some offense, although only for one team. The Patriots looked bland and didn’t seem like they could move the ball in the air if the run game fizzled out. For LA, Cam Akers had a career day tearing up the Patriots D as he rushed for 171 yards on thirty carries. This loss will create serious doubts on if Belichick can take a Brady-less team to the playoffs.

Is Jalen Hurts for real?

Answer: Yes. Hurts had a monster game throwing for 167 yards and then rushing for another 106 yards. Even more impressive was that this happened against the number one team in the NFC who have been red-hot all season long. I think Hurts will be an absolute superstar in the league if he continues to keep playing like this. He could turn into a player like Lamar Jackson was, as they are both late draft picks who are extremely mobile. Perhaps Philly isn’t in as much trouble as expected.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 15 matchups.