VikingsTalk- One reason each team will and will not make it to the playoffs in 2019-2020.
Deshawn
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Arizona Cardinals –
Will: The Cardinals could potentially have the best young core we have ever seen in the NFL. They also have a new coach with fresh ideas. 2019 has the potential to be incredibly exciting in Arizona.
Will Not: Winning with a rookie QB is a tall task, but trying to do so with one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL is borderline impossible.
Atlanta Falcons –
Will: The Falcons have a very talented roster, especially on offense. Matt Ryan is a fringe top 10 Quarterback, Julio Jones is arguably the best wide receiver in the game, and Devonta Freeman is one of the most underrated players in all the NFL.
Will Not: The Falcons have struggled to put everything together since Shanahan’s departure and nothing suggests this season will be different. Couple this with playing in the same division as Drew Brees and Cam Newton, and Atlanta could be destined for mediocrity again.
Baltimore Ravens –
Will: It is expected that Lamar Jackson will take a step towards becoming an elite QB. Any progress from Jackson bodes well for the Ravens chances at a playoff return. The addition of Earl Thomas to an already stacked secondary adds to their intrigue.
Will Not: it’s possible the Ravens could have the worst offense in the league next year. Their receiving options aren’t anything to write home about, and it’s not guaranteed that Lamar has improved his poor throwing abilities.
Buffalo Bills –
Will: Josh Allen actually had a solid rookie season despite not having much talent around him. The Bills brought in a solid group of pass catchers, including John Brown and Cole Beasley, and patched the offensive line together. The defense was also quietly among the best in football last season, and McDermott is one of the premier defensive coaches. We could see Josh Allen’s first postseason snaps in 2020.
Will Not: It’s hard to imagine the Bills being explosive offensively, and without a consistent offensive output I don’t expect them to do much in 2019. Being in the same division as the Patriots also makes things more difficult, even if they are improved after last season.
Carolina Panthers –
Will: With the addition of Darryl Williams and Matt Paradis, the Panthers offense can go to another level. I would not be surprised if we see MVP Cam Newton in 2019. Along with other underrated additions like Chris Hogan and Aldrick Robinson, the Panthers are a threat in 2019.
Will Not: Defensively, the Panthers are not very good outside of Luke Kuechey and a couple of solid corners. The defense will be a liability in 2019. Playing Drew Brees and Matt Ryan twice each twice a year also does not build well for their playoff chances.
Chicago Bears –
Will: The defense can carry the Bears to another winning record in 2019. Matt Nagy is a prolific play caller, with tons of exciting young talent to play with, and it’s not very hard to add new wrinkles to an existing offense.
Will Not: Mitch Trubisky is a bottom half quarterback in the NFL, and his pass catches did not improve from last year. An unplayable turnover margin, injury luck, and the resurgence of the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will make their path to the playoffs tough.
Cincinnati Bengals –
Will: The Bengals only chance of returning to the playoffs this season is improved play on the offensive line and staying entirely healthy.
Will Not: Jonah Williams is already injured for the entire season and I do not see Andy Dalton taking the next step toward being a good quarterback, even with Zac Taylor installed as the new head coach. The Bengals are in for a long rebuilding process under their new head coach.
Cleveland Browns –
Will: The offense should be one of the best in the league and the defense is criminally underrated. The combination of Freddy Kitchens and Baker Mayfield should carry the Browns to an exciting 2019.
Will Not: Star power does not always equal wins. If the offense cannot gel together, then the Browns will have another losing season. The recent departures of Joe Thomas and Kevin Zeitler have also depleted the offensive line, which could lead to offensive struggles.
Dallas Cowboys –
Will: The Cowboys have all they need to make a deep playoff run, and if their offensive line can stay fully healthy, then they will be a dangerous team.
Will Not: Jason Garrett isn’t the best coach and most Dallas fans will tell you that. The Cowboys playoff return falls squarely on the shoulders of Garrett and Moore.
Denver Broncos –
Will: Philip Lindsey was sensational last year. Joe Flacco should be more capable than Case Keenum and the defense has a chance to recapture the magic it used to have with the Chubb and Miller combo at linebacker.
Will Not: Joe Flacco has been the definition of mediocre since his super bowl win. The Broncos receiving core won’t give him much more than what he had in Baltimore, which could certainly lead to another mediocre season for the Broncos.
Detroit Lions –
Will: Matt Patricia led the Lions defense to a top 10 ranking last season. While it was a very quiet top 10, they could very well improve on that, considering the addition of Trey Flowers. Kenny Golladay is primed to emerge as one of the best young receivers in the NFL.
Will Not: The loss of Golden Tate destroyed the offense. It also didn’t help that the offensive line took a huge step back from previous seasons. Matthew Stafford has proven year after year he cannot carry the team, which could lead to the Lions falling back to the basement in a stacked division.
Green Bay Packers –
Will: Aaron Rodgers is still one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL. He has carried the Packers when he is not injured and there is nothing to suggest he couldn’t do it again this season. There has also been a big effort to improve the defensive side of the ball.
Will Not: When Rodgers isn’t playing like a hall of famer, the Packers are one of the worst teams in the NFL. The defensive acquisitions are not going to change that. The Packers still need Aaron at the top of his game if they’re are going to have a winning record, let alone make the postseason.
Houston Texans –
Will: Deshaun Watson is a terrific young quarterback and their offensive weaponry is one of the best in the NFL. It’s a bonus to have Watt and Clowney on defense.
Will Not: They made an effort to repair the offensive line, but trusting two rookies for a playoff team’s offensive line is incredibly risky.
Indianapolis Colts –
Will: Luck can be the best Quarterback at times. Along with Frank Reich and a transformed offensive line, the Colts could be looking at a Super Bowl run.
Will Not: The Colts defense took steps in the right direction last season, but without a true star in the pass rush or secondary their defense will continue to come up short against elite talent.
Jacksonville Jaguars –
Will: Last year teams figured out their defense. Nick Foles should bring the offense alive and take some pressure off of the defensive side of the ball. If the Jaguars can average around twenty points a game, they should be in playoff contention late in the season.
Will Not: Nick Foles just isn’t that good of a QB. It was obvious the Super Bowl winning system he was a part of was largely due to Frank Reich. The loss of Telvin Smith is huge, and could create problems for an already merely average run defense.
Kansas City Chiefs –
Will: Patrick Mahomes will probably repeat as MVP. He is a polarizing player that is so difficult to stop. He and Andy Reid will go down in history as one of the best QB/Coach pairs of all time.
Will Not: Defenses are usually able to get the best of a QB after an MVP season. If Patrick misses a step, this team will crumble. The defense will continue to be non-existent, so everything will depend on how well he performs.
Los Angeles Chargers –
Will: A lot of analysts think the Chargers have one of the best rosters in the NFL, and on paper they do. It’s just a matter of putting all together.
Will Not: The Chargers have had this roster for 3 years and have not been able to put it all together yet. I don’t see any changes that would suggest this year would be any different.
Los Angeles Rams –
Will: The Rams will continue to be one of the best offenses in the NFL. Todd Gurley will continue to score an absurd amount of touchdowns, and Donald will destroy opposing linemen.
Will Not: the loss of Rodger Saffold is low-key one of the biggest losses of the entire offseason. The Rams have a big issue facing top defenses in the NFL, and they face six of them this upcoming season.
Miami Dolphins –
Will: If Brian Flores can get the most out of Josh Rosen and revitalize that defense. The Dolphins could get lucky and contend for a wildcard spot.
Will Not: if everything does not align perfectly, the Dolphins won’t win more than 4 games for various reasons, including QB play, defense, and lack of overall offensive output.
Minnesota Vikings –
Will: The Vikings offensive line was the only thing holding them back last season, and the offensive line can’t really get much worse; there is only room for improvement. Along with some much-needed veteran offensive coaching, this roster is primed for a Super Bowl run.
Will Not: While the offensive line can’t get worse, it can stay about the same. I fully expect all other units to continue to perform at a good level, but a winning record depends almost entirely on the offensive line.
New England Patriots –
Will: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. That is all.
Will Not: This is the least talented Patriots team we have seen in a long time. If the Patriots are going to miss the playoffs with Brady and Belichick present, this is the year it would happen.
New Orleans Saints –
Will: The Saints have one of the most talented offenses in the league. They shouldn’t miss a beat in 2019. The defense is also sneaky good. It’s not elite, but it is good enough to hold its own.
Will Not: The defense is no match for elite offenses. They will be liable every single time. Drew Brees is getting older and low key had a down season last year, could we be seeing a start to the end of a successful Saints era?
New York Giants –
Will: The only way the Giants will make the playoffs is if everyone is wrong about Daniel Jones and he carries them to a wild card spot, because Eli Manning is not going to cut it.
Will Not: This team should be in complete rebuild mode. Letting go of Odell will decimate the offense, even with Saquon present. I don’t expect more than a 3-13 season out of the Giants in 2019.
New York Jets –
Will: The Jets might have had the best offseason of any team. Mosley, Bell, and Osemele are all pro bowl level additions that could remake this roster.
Will Not: I’m not a huge believer in Sam Darnold or Todd Bowles. Sam will need to clean up his game and Bowles will need to get a much better handle on the defense if it wants to make it to the promised land.
Oakland Raiders –
Will: Jon Gruden is absolutely the man for the job. Acquiring Antonio Brown was a great move and should help Carr return to top 10 QB status.
Will Not: The team just isn’t finished rebuilding yet. The defense needs a star and a couple secondary pieces. This isn’t the year the return to glory.
Philadelphia Eagles –
Will: This team still has what it takes to return to the playoffs. If they can have better luck with injuries this year, then they will be back in the playoffs in 2019.
Will Not: They just aren’t as good as they were in 2017 and it’s obvious. They’ve struggled to improve and now they may not even be the best team in the division. The Eagles will struggle in 2019 and it may result in them being at home in 2020.
Pittsburgh Steelers –
Will: Ben Roethlisberger is still one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL and the offensive line is still intact. The emergence of James Conner should curve the loss in production that will come with losing Antonio Brown.
Will Not: The loss of Antonio brown will cripple this team, and they will be contending for a wildcard spot at best. They will depend on the play of Big Ben more than ever this season, and if he isn’t perfect; this could be the year the team begins to fall apart.
San Francisco 49ers –
Will: The return of Jimmy Garoppolo should give this offense a big boost. Kyle Shanahan is still a great play caller, and they should have no trouble putting points on the board.
Will Not: The 49ers May have the toughest schedule that’s not talked about. I count 11 tough games on their schedule that I believe they will struggle with. That includes the Rams and Seahawks twice each, the entire NFC south, and the Packers.
Seattle Seahawks –
Will: Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll as long as they have those two they are always a threat to make the playoffs.
Will not: The Seahawks defense took a big blow with the loss of Frank Clark. The loss of Doug Baldwin is going affect their game plan as well, While Metcalf will be explosive he won’t be a savvy. The addition of Ezekiel Ansah will not help as much as fans would like. This may be the year Russell isn’t enough to overcome their deficits.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers –
Will: A total team effort could revive the Buccaneers. The defense has lagged behind for the last couple of years, but if they can match the offense this year they could make some noise in the division.
Will Not: Their division is way too tough and they just aren’t good enough, yet. There isn’t much else to it.
Tennessee Titans –
Will: This might be the best Titans team we’ve seen in recent years. If Marcus Mariota can step up, they could find themselves vying for a playoff spot. AJ Brown and Roger Saffold are going to play big roles in their success.
Will Not: While this may be a good Titans team, they do not measure up to the elite teams in the NFL. They will have to make their living beating the subpar teams and hope to steal a few from the likes of the Colts and the Saints.
Washington Redskins –
Will: Dwayne Haskins will start day one and becomes the savior this team has been searching for. While this scenario isn’t too likely, it is the only way they make the playoffs.
Will Not: The Redskins are in full rebuild mode and that’s completely okay. The team will focus more on developing Haskins than trying to have a winning record.
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