Way-To-Early NFL 2020 Power Rankings
San Fran 49ers-One question: Run it back? The 49ers had one of most dynamic running attacks last season. The combination of Mostert, Samuel, Brieda and Coleman rumbled and stumbled their way to the second-best ground game in the league. This masked up that Jimmy G and the passing game just weren’t very good. Kyle Shannahan didn’t trust their $137.5 million man (especially in the biggest moments) and that will be a huge problem if (and predictably when) the run game regresses next season. Can the running game replicate its prolific season? Will Deebo Samuel take the next step? Will the defense continue to improve? Will Jimmy G become the man the 49ers paid $74 million guaranteed?
New Orleans Saints-One question: What will he “Drew”? Drew Brees enters his (19th) 20th season with one question in mind: Will the 41-year-old free agent return to the Saints or retire? Brees has ran it back twice only to have the Saints ultimately let him down during the postseason. New Orleans now has big off-season decisions with all three of their quarterbacks being free agents (one of which is in for a big payday, (Bridgewater), What will Drew Brees do, stay or go (retire)? Can the Saints get a downhill running back and legit wide receiving core? Can the Saints defense show up come playoff time? The Saints season depends on this.
Baltimore Ravens-One question: Can the Ravens raise the “Lamar”? Mr. Jackson was the runaway (regular season) MVP for a reason. The electrifying athlete broke defenders ankles en route to a 3,000 passing and 1,0000 rushing season but the playoff woes continued. Despite amassing 500 total yards offensively, Jackson and the Ravens struggled to play from behind and Jackson contributed to this with 3 big turnovers. Yes we can all agree Lamar, statistically is phenomenal and already one of the best dual threats the game has ever seen. But tangibly, can Jackson become more of a leader? When the times are tough and games aren’t going his way, can he demonstrate the maturity and positivity to lift his team (teammates)? Also is Baltimore’s offensive system a regular season or playoff system. All these questions will be answered next season.
Kansas City Chiefs-One question: Will he stay or will he go now? Free-Agent Chris Jones has been the most dominant interior defender Kansas City has had the last decade. Will Kansas City resign him? (franchise tag or big contract) Can the Chiefs improve at cornerback, at running back and between the trenches? Coach Reid and Mahomes’ Super Bowl Chances may depend on the answer.
Seattle Seahawks-One question: Will health prevail? The Seahawks might be one of the most unheralded teams in the NFL. The general NFL fan couldn’t even name another player outside of Russell Wilson for Seattle, yet every year the Seahawks are religiously a playoff contender and a Super Bowl threat. Mad props to Coach Carroll and players like Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Chris Carson, Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and etc. for continuously improving and overperforming. Back-to-back late season injuries to running backs and defensive players have derailed Seattle’s chances to contend fully but the real question is can Seattle (particularly at running back) stay healthy through an entire season? Can the defense particularly at pass rusher and secondary be improved? These answers are keys to keeping Carroll, WIlson and the Hawks as contenders.
Green Bay Packers-One question: Are we Aaron (staring) at the problem? While Rodgers had for all-intensive purposes an impressive year (4,002 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, just 4 picks and 62% completion percentage) he only surpassed 300 yards twice and 400 yards twice. Green Bay’s 13 wins are the most since 2011 yet the Packers were an average offense and defense throughout the season. Not to mention getting smoked in the playoffs by the 49ers. Can Rodgers take his game to the next level (when their season is predictably tougher)? Can the Packers defense improve their porous run defense? Can Green Bay protect Rodgers and solidify a consistent run game? Rodgers playoff woes depend on it.
Philly Eagles-One question: Quite the head game when your head’s in the clouds. No one suffered more injuries or bad luck than the Eagles. I mean, Carson Wentz was basically throwing to everyone’s practice squad at the end of the year. Yet, Wentz and Doug Pederson (albeit cruddy competition) won four straight to make another playoff appearance (their third under Pederson) in three years. An early concussion to Carson Wentz sidelined Philly’s chances of any postseason success but one could be impressed by the Eagles overall season with all the obstacles encountered. The question will remain two-fold: Can Carson Wentz play a full season (injury-free) to justify his mammoth contract and can the Eagles defense pull a “Chiefs,” and revamp their God-awful secondary and aging trenches to make another playoff push? We will see next year.
LA Rams-One question: Surely someone can find me a Gurley. Todd Gurley’s arthritic knee paired with offensive line regressions plagued any chances the Rams had to reach the postseason. Jared Goff was the bystander of these regressions, throwing 16 interceptions and posting a 48.5 QBR (out of 100). All these struggles and still the Rams had both a top 10 offense and defense all said and done. Will the Rams trade $60 million dollar Todd Gurley and draft/sign a running back? Will Jared Goff justify his massive contract? Will the defense led by Jalen Ramsey continue to improve? All those answers and more next season.
New England Patriots-One question: Should I stay or should I go now? Tom Brady, the absolute G.O.A.T is a free agent and why aren’t 32 teams knocking his door down?! Well firsty, he’s 42. Secondly, he’s not a mobile quarterback in a fluid game (Mahomes, Watson, Wilson, Rodgers and Allen all have wheels). and Thirdly, career lows in passing touchdowns, completion percentage and a 53.7 (out of 100) QBR and a NFL career-high in throwaways (33) contributed. Obviously, six super bowls in nine years is unreal but New England has been notorious for selling low as opposed to buying, high whether that’s with Moss, Welker, Haynsworth and the list goes on. Will Brady return to New England or be wearing a Titans, Chargers or Colts jersey? The dynasties continuity depends on this.
Minnesota Vikings-One question: Do you like that?! While Kirk Cousins finally got the monkey off his back winning a big game (against the Saints in the playoffs) yet he still isn’t that great. He and the Vikings were 0-4 (1-1 in the playoffs) against teams with a winning record, moving Cousins to 6-33 overall against those teams. Minnesota signed Cousins to an $84 million extension. He was average last season in passing yards, touchdowns and overall QBR despite having an 1,000 rusher in Dalvin Cook and one of the best receiver duos in the NFL in Adam Theilen and Stefon Diggs. Can Kirk Cousins take the next step and win the games he is paid to win? Can Minnesota (despite being dominant defensively) improve their inconsistent run game and will Mike Zimmer hire a dynamic offensive coordinator to push this Vikings “O,” to the next level. Until next season we will see.
Dallas Cowboys-One question: To pay or not to pay, Dak is the question. Mr. Prescott had one of his best seasons yet passing for 4,902 yards with 30 touchdowns completing 65% of his passes. As a starter, Dak has 40 wins and a playoff win to show for it.. All those things would make you believe that Jerry and Stephen Jones would pay-up and make Dak one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league. So why have they not done that? Your answer is as good as mine. With contracts looming for Amari Cooper, Byron Jones, Randall Cobb and Sean Lee, who will the Cowboys be able to afford after paying their franchise QB $30-$40 million a year?
Buffalo Bills-One question: The Bills are built to stay, No Joshes (Jokes). Sean Mcdermott has proved he is one of the best coaches in the league with a vicious defense and rough/tough offense. The biggest question this off-season is can their young ascending quarterback make the next step? Josh Allen passed for 3,089 yards and doubled his passing touchdown total from 10 to 20 thanks to having play-makers like Josh Brown (first 1,000 receiver since Sammy Watkins in 2015), Cole Beasley and a dynamic running back duo of the ageless Frank Gore and rookie sensation Devin Singletary to help. Allen’s accuracy (58% passing, footwork and turnovers) are still an immense problem but the ceiling is limitless for his abilities. In order for the Bills to amas double-digit wins once more, Allen must improve. More play-makers must be brought in and the defense needs to replicate their previous outing. Can they do this (especially with the Patriots being vulnerable)? Only next season will tell.
Houston Texans-One question: In Bill we trust? Houston’s biggest off-season move thus far, was tabbing Coach Bill O’Brian as the defacto GM and Coach. How the Texans thought a .500 coach with a 2-4 playoff record is their savior, I do not know. But be it as it may, will O’Brian be able to recruit talent especially on both lines and in the secondary? Can Deshaun Watson and the Texans run-game play well in big-games and the game after? Next season will tell all.
Denver Broncos-One question: Is Drew Lock the future? Look, Von Miller isn’t getting any younger, we don’t know if Chris Harris will be wearing the orange crush next year. More so than ever, the NFL is an offensive-minded league and Denver (for John Elway’s sake) needs this QB to stick. Lock showed promise last season going 4-1 as a starter, throwing for 7 touchdowns off 64% passing. Denver was a few games away from a playoff spot and if Lock can progress in year 2, playoff time could be in Mile High. Can Drew Lock continue to improve? Will Bradley Chubb return from his injury stronger? Can John Elway draft well (trenches, secondary and kicker)? Next season will tell us the answers we need.
Pittsburgh Steelers-One question: Ben not break? Mike Tomlin (despite not winning an award) won eight games with a Duck...let's think about that..all jokes aside, Coach Tomlin proved to be one of the best coaches in the game, winning 8 games with a fourth-string (even fifth-string) quarterback and a stingy defense. Big Ben had one of his best overall years as a pro in 2018, completing a career-best 67% of his passes with 5,129 yards and a career best 34 touchdowns. With the Steelers acquisition of Minkah Fitzpatrick all they need on the other side is a game-manager who doesn’t turn the ball over. Big Ben has struggled in this category with 23 turnovers last season so can Roethlesberger stay healthy and take care of the football for a full season? Can the Steelers draft enough offensive weapons and resign their defensive core to compete in a tough division? ‘Til next season, the answers will be found.
Oakland Raiders-Driving fast in our Carr? John Gruden’s favorite quarterback is the next one up and that news doesn’t bode well for Derek Carr. Despite completing 70% of his passes and throwing for over 4,000 yards, there’s zero indication from John Gruden or GM Mike Mayock that Carr is their franchise QB. This unknown leaves the door open for a multitude of options whether that be in free agency (Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Teddy Bridgewater, Marcus Mariota or Phillip Rivers) or the NFL Draft (Justin Herbert, Tua T or Jordan Love). But for a team transitioning to a new city, stadium and fan base, it will be imperative for the young Raiders to continue to build on their 7-9 record by continuing to develop, draft and sign key pieces (secondary, linebacker, pass rusher, wide receiver, interior offensive line and maybe quarterback) and make a playoff push in a tough AFC West. Will that be with Carr starting behind center?, we shall see next year.
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