NFL Recap

Nate’s 9: Final Thoughts on the NFL’s Regular Season

                It’s been a fantastic season this year, and I think one of the reason’s I enjoyed it so much was because of the unpredictability.  No one in their right mind could’ve said that the Houston Texans would go 2-14 and end up with the #1 draft choice in 2014.  And as much as I like the Arizona Cardinals team, there’s no way I thought they would be within reach of a playoff position playing in the nasty NFC west.  Here are some things that I took away from the 2013 NFL season.  Enjoy the playoffs my friends!

#9. I really like what Rex Ryan was able to do this season.  To go 8-8 with the player he had at quarterback, I think he should garner some talk for NFL coach of the year.  Geno Smith made absolutely no improvements from week 1 to week 17, and I think he should go by way of a Jimmy Clausen or David Carr.  We probably never see him again.  Rex did so well with almost no NFL quality offensive weapons, and they were only a game back of the wild card position. I’m very impressed.

#8. My call for the Dallas Cowboys to trade up with the Saint Louis Rams in 2012 to draft RG3 looks more true than ever right now.   I know that Griffin has his issues, and there are many concerns about him being able to play as a pocket QB, but I still think he has a better shot at Super Bowl success than Tony Romo.  Washington’s offense is mediocre at best, and the line had a rough time protecting Griffin this season and last.  Dallas is in a little better shape, would have offered the talents of Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and Miles Austin to RG3, and I think Jason Garrett would have been better for Mr. Griffin.  All speculation now though!

#7. What are the Miami Dolphins?  At times, they look like a bona fide playoff contender.  They played New England very well this season, beat Atlanta back when the Falcons cared about winning, and also played the Panthers and Saints tough earlier in the year.  Then they lay an absolute egg against the Buffalo Bills in week 16, and follow it up with an even more unimpressive performance against the Jets in the finale.  I think the Bengals should be glad that they don’t have to play Miami in the wild-card round, but who really knows.  They had a such a tough season between locker room issues, and inconsistent quarterback play, but there is enough talent to take over New England’s spot in the AFC east if they can piece it all together.

#6. Jay Cutler cuts a polarizing figure.  My guess is either Bears fans love him or hate him.  There really isn’t any in between.  He has tons of talent, is surrounded by an offense with which he can make an extensive playoff run, but for some reason there still seem to be question marks suggesting that he can’t get the job done.  I know that the Bears just gave him that huge deal, but is Chicago happy to have him back?  Or were they ready to drive him on the next bus out of town?

#5. I like Teddy Bridgewater for the #1 pick in Houston next year.  I don’t think he’s the next Andrew Luck, and I’d be doubtful of him even putting up a Donovan McNabb type career, but this guy isn’t going to be a bust in the slightest.  I’d place him in the Randall Cunningham class of success, and I think he will be a great locker room guy.  If Houston can rebuild their talent base, (and they aren’t that far off), he could be the missing piece that Matt Schaub wasn’t that could give the Texans and the city of Houston their first Super Bowl appearance.

#4. Just as I think Green Bay wanted to avoid San Francisco, I think San Francisco wanted to avoid Green Bay.  The 49ers are probably the best looking team heading into the playoffs.  I think that they believe they can win anywhere, and now that they are in the post-season, they are looking forward to take it that next step further and win a Super Bowl.  The problem with that is they are facing a team in Green Bay that got all of their momentum back with Aaron Rodgers getting healthy, and Randall Cobb coming back from the broken leg could be huge too.  This game could be won by either side, and both teams could go on another Super Bowl run.

#3. I think Cincinnati is licking their chops as they host a playoff game against the vulnerable San Diego Chargers.  The Bengals have taken so many shots this year on defense between losing Geno Atkins, and probably the most underrated CB in football in Leon Hall.  Their offense is starting to click however, and they have to like the fact that they won’t see Denver until the AFC championship game if both teams keep winning. The Bengals have a realistic shot at going to the Super Bowl this year.

#2. Kansas City and Indianapolis will be the first round’s most interesting matchup.  The Colts are in the exact same position as they were last year with a 4-5 game against a real upstart AFC team.  Last year, they had to go to Baltimore which was always going to be tough, but played well and increased expectations for this season.  Kansas City owned the first half of the NFL season, but may have shown their true colors during a 3-5 finish including two losses to the AFC favorite Denver Broncos.  They have the most dangerous weapon in the game in Jamaal Charles though, and when their defense is playing well, they can win any game.  I like Andrew Luck to take that next step forward, and offer the NFL a mouth-watering prospect of Luck vs Manning in the AFC divisional round next week.

#1.  The Philadelphia Eagles landed on a gold mine when they decided to go with Nick Foles at quarterback when Mike Vick got hurt.  Foles has been everything they imagined and then five times that.  He has gone from a guy who may be replaced once the season ends to someone that Chip Kelly can’t do without.  He is my favorite kind of quarterback; one that doesn’t care about statistics so he isn’t afraid to make any throw, and he gets better as the game goes on.  He owned the second half in many games this year, and is along with Shady McCoy, the only reasons that the Eagles are going to host a playoff game this year against the Saints.  Foles vs Brees could be a classic.