Rafael Zamorano Oct 9, 2023, 12:03 a.m. ETRead: 6 min.
We unmask some of the NFL’s suitors, after the Sunday activity of Week 5
Sure, we’re only one game away from completing the Week 5 of the 2023 NFL regular seasonbut we don’t need to wait much longer to draw some conclusions based on what we’ve seen so far, do we?
To start, the two best teams in the NFL reside in the National Conference —San Francisco 49ers y Philadelphia Eagles–, and those on the other side of the fence are not even close. Furthermore, outside of the Miami Dolphinsit’s hard for me to even think that the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals o Buffalo Bills can defeat the Dallas Cowboyswith everything and its two defeats on top – including tonight’s beating – as the third best team in the NFC; This is how uneven the conferences look now.
It’s never too early to take a look at the playoff race of the rest of the teams, not just the ones at the top, and right in the month when costumes come into fashion, it’s time to take the mask off some of the suitors who have posed as suitors.
Justin Jefferson, Daniel Jones and Josh Allen see a very different outlook than what they thought they would have after five games at the start of the campaign.ESPN
Los New York Giants They were the sensation team of last season, with head coach Brian Daboll being appointed Coach of the Yearand the team making the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Now, they have a 1-4 record, with three consecutive losses, and their point differential of -91 is the worst in the NFL by -15 over his closest pursuer.
Daniel Jones He is the No. 27 quarterback of the NFL of 32 rated Total QBR with a 40.0, just about six months after the Giants They made him one of the 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the game with a four-year, $160 million extension that included $82 million guaranteed. Time to regret? Of course. Dispensing with him next offseason would generate a charge against the New York salary cap of more than $69 million. For Jonesit’s getting better or better, and I don’t know how much confidence there is in the ‘Big Blue complex that something like that can happen.
In the same NFC Eastlos Washington Commanders They are on another boat, but with the same destination. Only four teams in the NFL They have a worse point differential than the capital’s -53. A year ago, they came close to making the division the first in league history to send all four clubs to the postseason. This year, they are 2-3 with one quarterback in Sam Howell whose future appears to be that of a backup quarterback, not a starter. Howell is, along with Jonesone of four quarterbacks who lead the league with six interceptions each.
There are interesting pieces in Washingtonincluding its two runners, Brian Robinson Jr. y Antonio Gibsonand two young wide receivers, Terry McLaurin y Jahan Dotson, but there is no one on staff with their finger on the trigger capable of taking advantage of that arsenal. Include the Commanders among the teams that, unlike the last draft, will no longer be able to ignore the quarterback position.
In the NFC Nortelos Minnesota Vikings They won the division title last season, the first since 2017. This year, they are a shadow of what many of us thought they could be, with a record of 1-4 and a turnover margin of -9 that has them tied with Las Vegas Raiders for the worst total in the league.
The frustration of Justin Jeffersontheir best player, is palpable, and in recent days rumors have circulated – be careful, I’m talking about rumors, not reports – that the star wide receiver would have declined a record contract extension with the club before the start of the campaign, because of the long-term uncertainty at the quarterback position, where Kirk Cousins is clearly in the final stage of his career, even though he is coming off two years of Pro Bowl consecutive.
A defensive reconstruction was attempted in Minnesotaand that process has not ended, but we do have to look for a clear candidate to win the Norte from Nationalthen you have to turn to the Detroit Lions.
Los Bills They remain an enigma. One day, they lose to some disastrous New York Jets sin Aaron Rodgersthe other one beats the explosives Dolphinsand then they fall before some gray Jacksonville Jaguars who, by the way, also belong to the list of suitors, not contenders.
The window is not completely closed to Buffalo, but let’s say his chances of winning it all looked better a couple of years ago. The fracture in the chemistry between Josh Allen y Stefon Diggs It is open and clear, and without that duo in sync, it is difficult for this offense to achieve anything.
With everything and the European victory this Sunday, the Jags They seem to have lost some spark. I am not going to rule out that they are crowned in the AFC On this year for the second season in a row, but this team’s ability to make noise come postseason time looks significantly lower than last year. As in the case of the Giantsit is more difficult to win when you do not have the advantage of the surprise factor.
Removing masks can also apply to individuals in the NFLnot just the teams. Sean Payton made a lot of noise before the start of the season, calling his predecessor’s work as head coach of the Denver BroncosNathaniel Hackettas one of the worst head coach jobs in league history.
There is no way to deny what was said by Payton regarding the work of Hackett, who did not even last a full season at the helm of the franchise. But, the thing about Payton It has been quite unfortunate, likewise, with the Broncos stuck in a 1-4 start after losing to the Jets where Hackett He serves as offensive coordinator.
Before leaving the retreat, Payton was pointed out by many as a future member of the Hall of Fameafter being the mind behind some of the most prolific offensives in the NFL with the New Orleans Saintstaking advantage of the talent of Drew Brees as his quarterback, and earning a Super Bowl. Your hiring in Denverconsummated through an exchange that saw the Broncos sending a first-round pick and a second-round pick for the coach who was supposed to fix Russell Wilsonwas widely applauded.
Now, he risks suffering the same fate as George Seiferta five-time ring-winning coach Super Bowl –three as assistant Bill Walsh and two as head coach for the Niners–, who returned to the NFL after two years of retirement to direct the Carolina Panthers. Three years later, with records that were progressively worse until bottoming out with a 1-15 in 2001, Seifert He said goodbye to the league again and his name has not been taken seriously for the Canton campus since then.
Total QBR Wilson After five games it is 44.1, ranking No. 24 in the league, and just above the 38.8 that left it No. 27 last year.
There is a lot invested in Payton y Wilsonand the Broncos They won’t throw in the towel anytime soon with any of them, but clearly the returns have not been what they expected, and the compass does not seem to point towards any improvement.
2023-10-09 04:03:00
#Masks #contenders
