The NFL regular season has come and gone and the best twelve teams are left standing. Before we close the book on a memorable season we should all take a moment to reflect the drams that’s unfolded.
Black Monday is, by far, the coldest day in all of sports. It’s when teams fire head coaches, GMs, and other front office members and start looking for the next hot coordinator or an old retread that’s been on the shelf for a few years.
As we stand now the following teams have released their head coach.
The Browns have said that they will retain Hue Jackson but I don’t know how much value I put into that. Bruce Arians is retiring and the Broncos have announced that they will retain Vance Jones.
Houston is in an odd situation. Head Coach Bill O’Brien and GM Rick Smith can’t get along but Smith will be leaving the Texans for at least a year while he tends to his wife during her battle with cancer. There have been reports that O’Brien was going to give the team a ultimatum of him or Smith. Will some distance help mend their relationship or is this story on pause until (if?) Smith comes back.
Meanwhile, Oakland is reaching into the time machine and is going to hire Jon Gruden as their head coach. Though I think that firing Del Rio is a terrible mistake it can only be justified by hiring someone like Gruden. I know Al Davis has passed but it sure feels like he’s pulling the strings from beyond the grave. I’ll selfishly admit that I’m really looking forward to the dynamic between Gruden and Lynch especially if the team falls on hard times.
Jim Caldwell did as well as anyone in Detroit and still got the boot. The question for the Lions is; who are you going to hire that can do better?
Jim Caldwell's tenure in Detroit: – 36 wins in four years (36 total wins in seven seasons prior) – Three seasons of 9+ wins (three total seasons of 9+ wins in 17 seasons prior) – Two playoff appearances (two total trips in 15 seasons prior)
It’s been reported that the Giants are looking for a defensive minded head coach. Names like Jim Schwartz and Matt Patricia have been floated as potential candidates. I’m sure big blue will hire Josh McDaniels in a heartbeat if they can but all signs are pointing to the Giants keeping Eli Manning for at least one more year. I don’t know how you can do that after ending his streak but crazier things have happened. I still say the most interesting piece of this puzzle is Odell Beckham. The Giants didn’t give Odell an extension last offseason so maybe keeping Eli around will help sweeten the deal. They do, however, need to start planning for life after Manning. With the second overall pick in the draft there’s no better time than the present.
2nd Down
For the remaining twelve teams life is about to get a lot more interesting. I’ll eat my crow now from last week’s predictions about who would get in. I’ll give it another shot by predicting the wild card round this weekend.
The Chiefs will beat the Titans in a game where Alex Smith struggles. The Mahomes whispers will get louder and we start to question if Mariota is everything we’ve built him up to be.
Chiefs 17-10
In my upset special I have the Falcons flying across the country and beating the Rams. I don’t have any “statistical evidence” to back this claim but the playoffs are about great quarterbacks or great defenses. The Rams have a great defense but the Falcons, when on, have a better offense. Matt Ryan is better than Jared Goff and that’s all my gut is telling me.
Falcons 27-24
The Jaguars will bounce back from two horrible weeks and beat a Bills team that’s breaking a 20+ year playoff drought. The fact that they are there will be good enough to please Buffalo fans. What shouldn’t please them is that the team will cut Tyrod Taylor this offseason for no good reason.
Jaguars 21-10
The Panthers and Saints wrap up wild card weekend with an NFC South showdown. The Saints swept the Panthers this year with a 15.5 point average margin per victory. It’s hard to beat a team three times in one year but I’m saying the Saints win by that same margin. The Super Dome rocks in what is probably the last home game of the season.
Saints 35-20
3rd Down
Mock draft season is upon us. As a fan of the NFL it’s a great time of year and the best way to kill time while in the office.
I’ve stated many times how infuriating it’s going to be listening to analysts push Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, and Josh Allen over Lamar Jackson.
Seriously, look at this clip. Those three guys couldn’t do this against children.
I’m pulling a Skip Bayless right now. The eye test tells me that Lamar is better than all three of those guys.
He’s better than Baker, too.
4th Down
Bowl season has come and gone and the same controversy still remains. That is, potential NFL picks sitting out of their teams bowl game in risk of injury.
On one side you have traditionalist who harp about finishing and how it’s not a good look to leave your team high in dry. They also say it’s selfish and a character flaw.
The more modern viewpoint is that a players body is their investment so why risk that for a meaningless bowl game? If it’s not for a national title then why risk it?
I have to agree with the latter of the two arguments. Last year Jake Butt, one of the nation’s top tight ends, tore his ACL in the Orange Bowl. That caused him to drop to the fifth round of the draft.
Stop asking teenagers to risk their potential fortune for a meaningless bowl game and your entertainment.
Extra Points
All Hue Jackson has to do is win one game next year and the Browns will probably give him a lifetime extension. Anyone outside of Georgia and Alabama excited for the national title game? JuJu should win ROY for his tweets alone.
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