Baltimore Ravens

2019 NFL Power Rankings: Week 11

Chris McGlynn Football, NFL, Power Rankings , , ,

Consistency. It’s what every NFL team hopes to achieve. It’s what each coach wants from his players. It’s what fans count on every week of the season. Turns out it’s also very hard to find these days. After two months with the Patriots atop the power rankings, we have a new team taking over the top spot for the second time in as many weeks. The Saints suffered a shocking loss to the Falcons. The 1972 Dolphins can finally pop their champagne following the 49ers’ loss on Monday as there are no more unbeaten teams. That turned out to be one of the all-time great contests between Seattle and San Francisco, resulting in a game-winning field goal in overtime as time expired.

It was truly a bizarre week, as the Falcons, Browns, Dolphins and Jets all won. Miami is actually on a winning streak right now, as hard as that is to believe. Possibly lost in all of this is the fact the Titans stunned the Chiefs. There is a ton to unpack from this weekend of action. All the chaos led to a massive overhaul of these very power rankings, as you can see below, starting with a completely reordered top five.

Ravens logo

1. Baltimore Ravens: 8-2 (Last Week: 3)
Won 49-13 at Cincinnati
Welcome to the top spot Baltimore. After dismantling the Patriots in primetime, the Ravens battered the Bengals to continue their dominance in the AFC North. Lamar Jackson looks like something out of a video game as he accounted for four more touchdowns on Sunday, including potentially the best run of the season. Champions aren’t crowned in November, but that has to be the mindset of this team right now given the current level of play.

Patriots Logo

2. New England Patriots: 8-1 (Last Week: 4)
Bye Week
Giving New England a bye week almost feels unfair considering who it has at head coach. Bill Belichick is the king of midseason adjustments, which is why he has six Lombardi trophies hanging out in his facility. The Patriots have a tough stretch upcoming with the Eagles, Cowboys, Chiefs and Texans all on the schedule. There is a very good chance the Pats go 3-1 in that span and cruise to another number-one seed in the conference thanks to changes made by this coaching staff during the week off.

Seahawks logo

3. Seattle Seahawks: 8-2 (Last Week: 6)
Won 27-24 (OT) at San Francisco
For the second straight week, Seattle needed overtime to come out on top. The Seahawks survived a 12-round heavyweight thriller with the 49ers on Monday Night Football to slay the final unbeaten team in the league. Russell Wilson spent a good chunk of the game running from the San Francisco defensive line and very nearly cost Seattle the win with an interception in overtime. In the end, it was the defense who made some critical plays to put Pete Carroll’s crew in position to come out on top. Don’t look now, but the Seahawks are perfect this year on the road.

49ers Logo

4. San Francisco 49ers: 8-1 (Last Week: 2)
Lost 27-24 (OT) vs. Seattle
Undefeated no more, the 49ers can put history behind them and refocus after a bitter loss to their division rival. This defense is the best in the NFL, led by clear Rookie of the Year candidate Nick Bosa. However, that is not the area most critics are worried about with this team. It was another rocky performance from Jimmy Garoppolo. He was not on target with a number of throws, including a few passes that should have been intercepted. Losing Emmanuel Sanders certainly did not help matters, but Garoppolo does not look like a quarterback capable of leading this team to a championship at the moment.

Saints logo

5. New Orleans Saints: 7-2 (Last Week: 1)
Lost 26-9 vs. Atlanta
This is what I get for moving the Saints to the top of the power rankings. New Orleans turned in by far its worst performance of the year. The offense was an absolute dud against Atlanta, giving up six sacks and failing to find any sort of rhythm. Drew Brees looked like a quarterback past his prime trying to carry an undermanned offense. They completely abandoned the run as well with just 11 attempts on the ground. All of the concerns people had about the Saints showed up at the same time, resulting in a resounding flop. One divisional loss far from sinks hopes of a title chase, but it provides a reality check for Sean Payton and company.

Packers logo

6. Green Bay Packers: 8-2 (Last Week: 7)
Won 24-16 vs. Carolina
Green Bay bounced back in the snow by stymieing Christian McCaffrey on the goal line as time expired. Aaron Jones had another ridiculous day with three touchdowns on just 13 touches. The defense came up with a pair of takeaways to preserve the lead. This does not feel like the Packers we are used to seeing with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, but they are winning a lot of games with this new style of play. In crunch time, we have seen how dominant the former MVP still can be when needed.

Vikings logo

7. Minnesota Vikings: 7-3 (Last Week: 9)
Won 28-24 at Dallas
Kirk Cousins won a big game for the Vikings! He might not have had gaudy numbers, but the Michigan State product turned in one of his better showings off the season. Dalvin Cook took on a massive workload, despite a lack of overall efficiency. The defense deserves some praise too after making Ezekiel Elliott feel like an afterthought. With Adam Thielen and Trae Waynes out, this was a massive win for a Minnesota team currently controlling the wildcard conversation.

Chiefs Logo

8. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-4 (Last Week: 5)
Lost 35-32 at Tennessee
It may be time to start wondering how much of a Super Bowl contender these Chiefs really are. Losing to the Packers without Patrick Mahomes is one thing. Falling to the Titans in the MVP’s return is another. Defensively, Kansas City seemed to regress after all the progress is had made in recent weeks. Derrick Henry tore apart the interior of that line on the ground. Mahomes is now capable of working his magic once again, but he needs some help from that floundering defense.

Texans logo

9. Houston Texans: 6-3 (Last Week: 11)
Bye Week
With Indianapolis losing to Miami, Houston can once again breathe easy atop the AFC South. Deshaun Watson has been playing lights out, even if he is being overshadowed by some of the other great quarterbacks around the league. We will get a chance to see him go up against one of those great quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson when the Texans take on the Ravens this week. With the Colts and Patriots to follow, this is a crucial stretch for Bill O’Brien’s team.

Cowboys logo

10. Dallas Cowboys: 5-4 (Last Week: 10)
Lost 28-24 vs. Minnesota
No matter how many toe-tapping grabs Amari Cooper comes up with, the Dallas defense needs to play better in order for the Cowboys to win. Dak Prescott looked sharp, but Minnesota completely shut down Ezekiel Elliott. In fact, Dallas as a team managed just 50 yards on the ground. For as good as Prescott has been playing, the Cowboys need to be able to run the ball and keep their defense well rested. They also might want to consider covering Kyle Rudolph in the red zone if these two teams meet again.

Pittsburgh_Steelers logo

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: 5-4 (Last Week: 16)
Won 17-12 vs. Los Angeles
If the Steelers somehow reach the playoffs, Mike Tomlin should be a lock for Coach of the Year. Without Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh has channeled the Steelers of old with stifling defensive play. Minkah Fitzpatrick is making a real case for Defensive Player of the Year after an interception, a fumble recovery and a touchdown on Sunday. Pittsburgh has climbed over the .500 mark and continues to rise to whatever challenge comes its way. After winning five of its last six, with the lone loss coming to the Ravens, this is one of the hottest teams in football.

Eagles Logo

12. Philadelphia Eagles: 5-4 (Last Week: 13)
Bye Week
Philly had to enjoy watching Dallas fall on Sunday Night Football to bring those two teams level in the division standings once again. While that is an encouraging sign, the Eagles still have a lot to be concerned with. This offense has struggled to find consistency this year, in part because of injuries, but also due to uneven play from key players. The backfield duo of Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders has been better in recent weeks, but Carson Wentz has not looked like the big-money quarterback Philadelphia was hoping for when it signed him to that massive extension. Coming off the bye, this group needs to start scoring points more frequently.

Rams logo

13. Los Angeles Rams: 5-4 (Last Week: 8)
Lost 17-12 vs. Pittsburgh
The offensive struggles continued for the Rams as Jared Goff cost this team a chance at winning. It was one of his worst performances in a season full of disappointment. The offense managed just 12 points and failed to rely on Todd Gurley when he clearly was in a groove. He finished with 73 yards on just 12 attempts while Goff threw the ball 41 times. Defensively, Los Angeles is playing well enough to win games. For a team and a head coach in Sean McVay that made it’s name last year as an offensive juggernaut, this year continues to be the ultimate letdown.

Raiders logo

14. Oakland Raiders: 5-4 (Last Week: 17)
Won 26-24 vs. Los Angeles
Far from the most reassuring win of all time, the Raiders move within a game of the Chiefs for the AFC West lead. Derek Carr is playing his best football in years and Josh Jacobs looks like the clear frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Defensively, this is more of a bend, but don’t break group. However, the improved pass rush and defensive scores go a long way to making Oakland look like a team to watch as the playoff picture comes together.

Titans logo

15. Tennessee Titans: 5-5 (Last Week: 19)
Won 35-32 vs. Kansas City
Of all the surprising success stories this season, Ryan Tannehill’s resurgence as a NFL quarterback might be the best one of them all. Tennessee put its hope in the Miami castoff when it decided to move on from the Marcus Mariota experiment. After taking down the Chiefs to reach .500, the Titans have hopes of making a playoff run. While I am praising Tannehill, it is really Derrick Henry who deserves recognition. The fourth-year back powered the offense with 188 yards rushing, including a 68-yard touchdown. Tennessee is going to be a tough team to beat down the stretch.

Panthers logo

16. Carolina Panthers: 5-4 (Last Week: 14)
Lost 24-16 at Green Bay
Christian McCaffrey played like the MVP once again, but a lack of offensive support saw the Panthers fall. This game was a lot more than just a goal line stuff on the final play. Carolina did exactly what it should have done in giving it to its best player. This team relies so heavily on McCaffrey to carry them. Considering that it does not seem like Cam Newton is coming back, it will have to find a way to win close games with Kyle Allen at the helm.

Bills logo

17. Buffalo Bills: 6-3 (Last Week: 12)
Lost 19-16 at Cleveland
This could be a sign of things to come for a Buffalo team that has had so much unexpected success this year. The Bills took a tough loss to the Browns and looked like the offensively inept team they were last year in the process. Buffalo once again put the Ball in Josh Allen’s hands too many times, failing to lean into its strength of running the football. With a challenging stretch ahead in the schedule, this team will have to find some stability on offense.

Colts logo

18. Indianapolis Colts: 5-4 (Last Week: 15)
Lost 16-12 vs. Miami
The rudder has completely fallen off the boat in Indy. Despite some early success, this team looks extremely average. It even has a score differential of plus-one to help underline that point. Jacoby Brissett’s knee injury held him out of the contest and the offense could not recover. Miami has been playing better in recent weeks, but this was an inexcusable slip up from a team with hopes of winning the division. Brian Hoyer and Adam Vinatieri cost the Colts this game with a number of mistakes. Defensively, Indianapolis has a lot to hang its hat on, but this team needs a lot of help to get back on track offensively.

Jaguars logo

19. Jacksonville Jaguars: 4-5 (Last Week: 20)
Bye Week
Despite the bye week, this is a week of massive change for the Jaguars. Nick Foles is slated to take over as quarterback, replacing Gardner Minshew. Foles went down with a collarbone injury during the season opener and Minshew has been in the role ever sense. Jacksonville has an unexpected quarterback controversy on its hands and could end up in a very awkward situation if Foles struggles. With chance still to make a run at a wildcard spot, the Jags need Foles to channel some of his late-season heroics.

Bears logo

20. Chicago Bears: 4-5 (Last Week 24)
Won 20-13 vs. Detroit
Chicago played their best offensive game in weeks, but still did not impress with their level of play. Mitchell Trubisky took real strides with three touchdowns and no turnovers, but still only managed 173 yards passing. Progress is progress though and the Bears defense took advantage of a missing Matthew Stafford. This was a game Chicago had to win, but it far from quiets its critics. A Sunday night visit to the Rams is on tap.

Lions Logo

21. Detroit Lions: 3-5-1 (Last Week: 18)
Lost 20-13 at Chicago
With the unexpected absence of Matthew Stafford on Sunday, the Lions offense ground to an absolute halt. Jeff Driskel did not do much to fill the void. With Kerryon Johnson already out due to injury, Detroit found itself unable to get going. When healthy, this team has the chops to compete with the best in the NFC. We saw what it could do earlier this year at full strength against the Packers. However, this all but ends the Lions’ playoff hopes, especially if Stafford is not back next week. I think the front office will be investing a bit more in a backup quarterback this offseason.

Buccaneers logo

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-6 (Last Week: 25)
Won 30-27 vs. Arizona
Tampa Bay is one of the most unpredictable teams in the league from week to week. However, this two-week stretch has been the best the Buccaneers have played this season. After pushing Seattle to the brink, Tampa edged out a hard-fought victory against Arizona. If the Bucs could ever find a way to avoid turnovers, this team might just have the potential to get on a real winning streak and create some optimism for next year.

Denver_Broncos

23. Denver Broncos: 3-6 (Last Week: 23)
Won 24-19 vs. Cleveland
Here is a team struggling to find its way with a couple of extremely talented players. Denver is lacking a clear direction forward, but with names like Von Miller, Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Chubb, the talent is there for a quick turnaround. There is some hope with Drew Lock near a season debut for the offensive side of things and the emergence of Courtland Sutton as a true number one receiver. Vic Fangio is going to need a stronger second half to convince the Broncos brass he is the long-term solution at head coach.

Browns logo

24. Cleveland Browns: 3-6 (Last Week: 26)
Won 19-16 vs. Buffalo
It was ugly, but that really doesn’t matter. Cleveland got a much-needed victory to essentially save their season. The Browns are still a long way from even thinking about the playoffs, but dropping to 2-7 might have genuinely led to coaches losing their jobs. Baker Mayfield and the offense finally took care of the football. Nick Chubb had 116 yards on the ground and Kareem Hunt looked promising in limited action. If Cleveland can lean on its run game the rest of the way and avoid turnovers, this team is good enough to make a playoff push.

Chargers logo

25. Los Angeles Chargers: 4-6 (Last Week: 21)
Lost 26-24 at Oakland
The roller coaster season continued for Los Angeles with a troubling road loss in Oakland. Philip Rivers threw three interceptions and the offensive line gave up five sacks. Defensively, the Chargers did not make enough plays to compensate. On the bright side, Melvin Gordon finally showed up with his first 100-yard performance on the ground since Week 8 last year. The season is not over for LA, but the climb towards a playoff spot just got a lot steeper.

Arizona_Cardnals_logo_(1994-2004)

26. Arizona Cardinals: 3-6-1 (Last Week: 22)
Lost 30-27 at Tampa Bay
This was a good reminder to everyone that the Cardinals still have a ways to go before they are anything resembling a complete team. There are tons of positives to take away from this loss and it is clear that the combo of Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray can be a winning one. Christian Kirk finally showed up after a sluggish first half of the year with 138 yards and three touchdowns. Arizona has a lot of the pieces in place to compete well in the future, but lacks the depth to win tight games like this on a consistent basis.

Falcons logo

27. Atlanta Falcons: 2-7 (Last Week: 28)
Won 26-9 at New Orleans
While the Dolphins winning two straight is unexpected, the Falcons’ road win against the Saints was the most stunning result of the weekend. After weeks of non-existent pass rush, Atlanta came up with six sacks of Drew Brees and shut down what had previously looked like a good New Orleans offense. Keeping the Saints out of the end zone is truly remarkable given how banged up the defense is at this point of the season. This win might just save Dan Quinn’s job.

Dolphins logo

28. Miami Dolphins: 2-7 (Last Week: 30)
Won 16-12 at Indianapolis
What in the world is happening? The Dolphins have shockingly won two straight games. Brian Flores took down a team who had legitimate aspirations of winning its division. This Miami defense has stepped up well in recent weeks, with three interceptions of Brian Hoyer on Sunday to show for it. The offense is still a massive work in progress, but there is a lot to like about what the Dolphins have started to build this season.

Jets logo

29. New York Jets: 2-7 (Last Week: 31)
Won 34-27 vs. New York
If nothing else, the Jets can point to the Giants and say that maybe their rebuild is going better than the team they share a stadium with. Or not. It’s hard to really how much a win over a two-win team means. Sam Darnold is talking about the playoffs, which is laughable considering the level of inconsistency New York has displayed on a week-to-week basis. Give the defense a ton of credit though for the plays it made to win this game. Jamal Adams was the best player on the field and no one else even came close.

Giants Logo

30. New York Giants: 2-8 (Last Week: 27)
Lost 34-27 at New York
This brutal season continues for New York as it failed to maintain control of the city during the battle for Gotham. Daniel Jones played very well in the eventual loss, but failed to get the offense going in the fourth quarter. A lot of that has to do with some terrible play along the offensive line, as the group allowed six sacks. Saquon Barkley also had by far the worst game of his NFL career. He managed just one yard on 13 carries. Barkley’s struggles actually makes Jones’ performance even more impressive, but this Giants defense has a long way to go after giving up 34 points to arguably the worst offense in the league.

Washington made up logo

31. Washington: 1-8 (Last Week: 29)
Bye Week
And just like that, there is only one one-win team in the NFL. Washington got a week off and saw a lot of teams in the lower part of the standings pick up victories. This group has looked a bit more competitive in recent weeks, but will be continuing to break in a rookie quarterback in Dwayne Haskins. It will probably be a long rest of the season for Washington, but the prospect of drafting Chase Young or picking up a ton of assets in a trade with a team desperate for a quarterback has to be appealing.

Bengals Logo

32. Cincinnati Bengals: 0-9 (Last Week: 32)
Lost 49-13 vs. Baltimore
Sitting all alone as the final winless team in the league this season, Cincinnati was embarrassed by Baltimore at home. It was a rocky start to the Ryan Finley era. The rookie quarterback from North Carolina State could not get into a rhythm and committed a pair of costly turnovers. Putting a positive spin on things would be looking at Joe Mixon’s most productive game of the season and the possibility of an A.J. Green return next week.

Follow the Aftermath via email to get every article delivered right to your mailbox. Enter your email in the text box to subscribe. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

10 Trades that should happen at the NFL Trade Deadline

Chris McGlynn Football, NFL , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well NFL trade season is off and running with Marcus Peters headed to Baltimore from Los Angeles and Jalen Ramsey taking his place in Los Angeles coming from Jacksonville. Those weren’t even the only trades the Rams were involved in on Tuesday, as they acquired Austin Corbett from the Browns. With all the wheeling and dealing already underway, I’ve got to jump in on the action. As I noted in Week 7’s NFL Power Rankings, there is no question this week of NFL action will be the deciding factor for a lot of teams on the fringe. Let’s start talking about some moves that should happen in the next week before the October 29th trade deadline.

Cam_Newton
Newton has missed four games this season with a foot injury. (Wikimedia Commons)

Carolina Panthers trade QB Cam Newton
Tennessee Titans trade 2020 2nd round pick, 2021 2nd round pick, CB Adoree’ Jackson

Let’s start with a bang. Cam Newton is a former MVP in this league and has played in a Super Bowl. Still, it might be time for the Panthers to think about moving on from the 30-year-old signal caller. For one, Newton has not been able to stay on the field the past two seasons. Even when he has been available, he has struggled mightily. Carolina has some capable options in Kyle Allen and 2019 third-round selection Will Grier. So far this year, the Panthers are undefeated with Allen under center (4-0) and winless (0-2) with Newton. I will admit that Allen has a very small sample size, but he has shown flashes of real potential. Some fans might be miffed at not getting a first rounder for Newton, but his injury history could make that tricky. Getting more draft capital is nice, but so is adding Adoree’ Jackson. The third-year corner has been losing favor in Tennessee, playing just 52 percent of his team’s defensive snaps on Sunday. At 24, Jackson still has plenty of time to develop. Carolina could use some depth at corner back to help them right away, so this is not just simply a long-term move.

On the Tennessee side of this, I know this team seems content to just win with a grinding defense and a couple of playmakers, but this team needs a better short-term solution at quarterback than Ryan Tannehill. Marcus Mariota is done and while Tannehill is fine as a replacement starter, he is not good enough to lead this team to the playoffs. He takes care of the football for the most part, but the Titans need more playmaking ability from the quarterback position. Getting Newton would be a huge development for the offense. He is a more dynamic player, with the ability to change the game as a passer or a runner. Honestly, he is exactly what the Titans thought they were getting when they drafted Mariota. Assuming Newton can get healthy, he should be well-positioned to lead an offense that boasts a good group of running backs and a bunch of young pass catchers. If Newton does go down for a game, Tannehill can step in as well. Tennessee has the cap space to absorb Newton’s contract and could move on from him as early as this offseason if it doesn’t work out. It would not prohibit the Titans from drafting a quarterback in the first round this year either, but given that they do not seem positioned to grab one of the top passers, getting Newton gives them some other options.

7819973440_0827f46115_b
Green has yet to play this season due to injury. (Wikimedia Commons)

Cincinnati Bengals trade WR A.J. Green
Buffalo Bills trade 2020 2nd round pick, 2020 5th round pick

Don’t look now but the Buffalo Bills are 5-1 and seem headed for the postseason. It hasn’t been pretty most of the way and part of that is the offense’s inability to get into a rhythm. Buffalo’s defense is championship caliber, arguably the best in the NFL, but the offense has been pedestrian at best. To help remedy that, the Bills acquire the 31-year-old A.J. Green. With John Brown and Cole Beasley, Buffalo has a couple of good complements to a top-tier receiver. Green would immediately take over as the top option for Josh Allen to target. It would give this offense a legitimate big-play threat and also a reliable outlet when Allen is under pressure. Given how close the Bills were to knocking off the Patriots earlier this year, this move could be what pushes them into the realm of winning a division title. Green projects as a one-year rental for now with his contract expiring after the season, but that is a risk worth taking.

For Cincinnati, it is time to move on from your franchise receiver. This team is about to begin a major overhaul with Andy Dalton clearly on the way out and possibly the worst offensive line in the league. Flipping Green, who is likely going to leave in the offseason anyway, for a pair of picks seems like the best move to set up the Bengals for long-term success. His return to action this year is not going to make up for the awful start to the year this group has had. Green carries a lot of value right now for a contender, and at 0-7, Cincy is very far from being in that conversation.

Trent Williams
Williams has yet to play this season for Washington. (Wikimedia Commons)

Washington trades OT Trent Williams, 2021 conditional 7th round pick
Cleveland Browns trade 2020 2nd round pick, 2021 5th round pick

Washington is being about as stubborn and ridiculous as I’ve seen an NFL franchise act. Rather than trading Trent Williams at the deadline, they are saying they want to trade him after the season is over. Just a reminder, Williams is holding out and Washington has way more leverage trading to a team in need of immediate help midseason than during the offseason. I’m focusing on what should happen, not what will happen. Bruce Allen should absolutely cash in on his disgruntled left tackle before the deadline. At 31, there is not going to be a much larger trade market for him in the offseason. Getting a second round pick and a late pick next year is a decent haul for a player who has no interest in being on your roster and carries a large cap hit. Saying you plan to trade him in the offseason feels like showing your hand as well. There is no chance Washington lands a Jalen Ramsey-type haul either. Regardless, Washington would be smart to capitalize on the pressing need a team will have at tackle.

One such team in this case would definitely be Cleveland. After re-signing Cam Robinson this offseason, it is clear the Browns need a bit more help protecting Baker Mayfield. After trading away former Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zietler for Olivier Vernon, nothing was ever done to replace him. The former former overall pick from Oklahoma has suffered 16 sacks in just six games this season. He has been hit way more than last year and has spent chunks of games running for his life. Robinson could bump inside as well in an effort to revitalize the offensive line. Williams would be a significant upgrade. Even though he projects as a shorter term solution rather than a long one, he probably still has a few good years left in him. After all, Jason Peters is still going at 37. Eventually, Cleveland will have to pay Baker Mayfield. In the meantime, load up on talent around him to give yourself a championship window with a quarterback on a rookie contract.

15192461968_47787d28fc_b
Sanders is second on Broncos in receptions and receiving yards this season. (Wikimedia Commons)

Denver Broncos trade WR Emmanuel Sanders
San Francisco 49ers trade DL Solomon Thomas, 2020 4th round pick, 2021 6th round pick

Emmanuel Sanders might be one of, if not Denver’s best offensive player, but at 32 years old with a team beginning to turn things over to a younger group, it is time to move on. Sanders is in a contract year, so this would be a one-year rental for the 49ers, but given that there are a few other teams that could use some help at receiver, specifically the Bears and Patriots, they will have to give up at least a fourth-round selection to ensure he arrives in the Bay Area. With Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton already on the roster as second-year pros, the Broncos won’t be stranding their offense completely for the future. Given that this is a loaded wide receiver class coming up as well, the front office could easily find some additional help in the 2020 draft. They also add Solomon Thomas. The 2017 third overall pick has not panned out in San Francisco and has yet to play 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in a given game. He would provide the Broncos with a situational rusher that also provides some defensive line depth. In his limited time on the field, Thomas does have a pair of sacks this year. He won’t make a huge difference, but he could prove to be a useful piece.

For the 49ers, this fills a clear need. Through their first six games, Jimmy Garoppolo has been throwing to the collection of Marquise Goodwin, Dante Pettis and 2019 second round pick Deebo Samuel on the outside. George Kittle is one of the top tight ends in the league, but adding a proven receiver like Sanders could help open up the offense a bit more. After all, Kittle is the only receiver to eclipse 200 yards so far this season. Given the investment in both Samuel and Jalen Hurd, who is on injured reserve, San Francisco should have no problem making a short-term addition before turning it over to the young draft picks. This defense looks ready for a championship run, now it is time for the 49ers to bring their offense closer to that level.

chrisharrisjr
Harris has a $12.5 million cap hit for 2019. (Wikimedia Commons)

Denver Broncos trade CB Chris Harris Jr.
Philadelphia Eagles trade 2020 3rd round pick

Wow this secondary needs loads of help. The backend of the defense was not supposed to be a strength, but it also wasn’t supposed to be this big of a weakness. Sidney Jones and Jalen Mills have both really struggled. Avonte Maddox is still out and while Ronald Darby is finally back from injury, this group needs a boost. Enter Chris Harris Jr., who would not only raise the level of play, but also bring some swagger to this secondary. Rumors have been swirling for a while now about the 30-year-old corner leaving Denver. Philly has more than enough space to absorb his cap hit and parting with a third-round pick seems like a no-brainer for a team that has its eyes set on returning to the postseason.

For Denver, the fire sale continues. Harris has been a good player for the Broncos, but he is nearing the end of his career and on an expiring contract. Netting a third round pick in the 2020 draft is nice compensation for a player they likely would’ve let walk in free agency. It essentially just means Denver receives it’s compensatory pick a year earlier. After an embarrassing showing on Thursday night, it’s time for John Elway to start looking to build for next year and amass draft capital to find some future contributors on this roster.

leonard_williams_28american_football29
Williams was the 6th overall pick in 2015. (Wikimedia Commons)

New York Jets trade DL Leonard Williams
Baltimore Ravens trade 2020 3rd round pick, 2021 5th round pick

The Baltimore Ravens find themselves in an interesting place six weeks into the 2019 NFL season. After watching the Browns faceplant out of the gates, coupled with quarterback injuries in Pittsburgh, the Ravens comfortably hold the division lead. Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There is a lot of season left, but this feels like a team that could try to take advantage of a struggling division and start planning for the postseason. One major area of need is at pass rusher. I don’t think the front office is in swing for the fences mode, but they could try to add a quality contributor in the final year of his contract. Leonard Williams fits that bill nicely. Williams is not a pure edge rusher, but he might fit well into Baltimore’s defense scheme. He has enough speed to play outside and enough power to kick inside as well. He is far from a prolific pass rusher, just 17 sacks in his previous four years, without one yet in 2019. I have a feeling though that a change of scenery could see Williams turn into a player who generate six to eight sacks per year and contributes to building a strong culture. That’s something this Ravens team could use, with just 12 sacks so far this season.

Over in New York, this is a team under new management with Joe Douglas taking over for Mike McCagnan late in the offseason. Williams was not a player he drafted and general managers have a tendency to want “their guys” on the roster. Additionally, this is the final year of Williams’ deal. The Jets would likely land a compensatory pick if he walked in free agency, which they can recoup here and add an additional late-round pick to make trading him worth it. New York is desperately in need of pass rushers, but given the signings and draft picks it has made along the defensive line in recent years and Williams’ general lack of production in this scheme, it seems safe to say its time to move on. This will give Douglas some immediately draft capital to start reshaping the roster.

Terrell Suggs
Suggs moved into tie for 9th on all-time sack list on Sunday. (Wikimedia Commons)

Arizona Cardinals trade EDGE Terrell Suggs
Kansas City Chiefs trade conditional 2020 6th round draft pick

Terrell Suggs is one of the most dominant pass rushers of the past 15 seasons. He had 132.5 sacks in 16 seasons for Baltimore. He is up to five already this season with the Cardinals. While Arizona seems like it is heading in the right direction, there is no question that Suggs is a luxury they don’t really need right now. He is 37 and on a one-year deal in the desert. With a number of contenders in need of some pass rushing help, Arizona should look to turn the still productive veteran into a late pick.

Kansas City needs all kinds of help right now defensively. It finally put together a great showing on Thursday night against Denver, but that feels more like an aberration than a sign of things to come. Adding a rotational pass rusher who has lots of big game experience could be transformative for the Chiefs. Suggs has played in and won the games that Kansas City wants to win this year as a part of the Ravens 2012 Super Bowl team. Even though he slowing down, Suggs posted seven sacks last year and seems on pace to at least match that this season. This seems like a logical one-year rental for the Chiefs.

vic_beasley_2015_3
Beasley was the 8th overall pick in 2015. (Wikimedia Commons)

Atlanta Falcons trade EDGE Vic Beasley
Seattle Seahawks trade conditional 2020 5th round pick

There have been few careers as wonky as Vic Beasley’s in Atlanta. After an uninspiring rookie season, the former Clemson edge rusher led the league with 15.5 sacks in 2016, earning himself a 1st-team All-Pro nod. Beasley hasn’t been able to get over the five sack mark in the two seasons since. With the Falcons spiraling, they have already voiced hopes of trading away their former first round pick. Moving on from Beasley, who is a free agent after the season, makes a ton of sense for the front office.

If there is a team that has shown they are willing to take fliers on players who have flashed talent, but struggled with consistency, it would be Seattle. The Seahawks also desperately need pass rushing help entering the weekend averaging just two sacks per game. Beasley has not been very productive this year, with just 1.5 sacks so far. At just 27 years old though, he is worth it, especially for a conditional late-round pick. There are a lot of similarities between the Atlanta defense and the Seattle one because that is where coach Dan Quinn came from when taking the top job for the Falcons. Few other teams are going to be willing to part with potential pass rushers, especially with Terrell Suggs playing for a division rival, so the Seahawks will make do with what they’ve got here.

492px-mitchell_trubisky_2019
Trubisky has the second-lowest yards per attempt this season, ahead of Josh Rosen. (Wikimedia Commons)

Miami Dolphins trade WR Albert Wilson
Chicago Bears trade 2020 6th round pick

Chicago needs a major boost on offense. This offense already has plenty of speed with Taylor Gabriel and Tarik Cohen, but the Bears could desperately use another explosive playmaker. Mitch Trubisky threw the ball 54 times for just 251 yards on Sunday, which is a microcosm of this unit in 2019. Trubisky on the season is averaging a woeful 5.5 yards per attempt. With Chicago likely to get outbid for the top receivers on the market, Albert Wilson seems like a solid option to help this offense’s efficiency. He seems like the type of player Matt Nagy would be able to integrate into his system quickly to maximize his skill set. His is withering away on a Dolphins team determined to land a top-three pick. He will not solve all of Chicago’s issues on that side of the ball, but he would provide another veteran pass catcher at an affordable price. If he doesn’t work out, the Bears can cut the 27-year-old with just $1.3 million in dead money.

On the Miami end of things, moving on from a player who has been hurt a lot for another late pick always seems logical when you are 0-6. Wilson is not going to make a difference for this team in the long-term and is barely doing enough right now as it is. Part of that is because he is trapped in a floundering offense. The Dolphins might not acknowledge they are tanking, but it really doesn’t look much like they are trying to win. At this point, the more draft capital, the better for this front office.

Vernon Davis
Davis has over 7,000 career receiving yards and 63 career touchdowns. (Wikimedia Commons)

Washington trades TE Vernon Davis
Seattle Seahawks trade 2020 7th round pick

Russell Wilson could use a short term upgrade at tight end. With Will Dissley done for the season after the best start to a year in his short career, Seattle has a big need at the position. Luke Wilson is valuable, but he is not a reliable pass catcher. Nabbing Vernon Davis for a 7th round pick would be a great move to aid the offense. Davis might turn 36 in January, but he has shown flashes that he still has something left in the tank on a terrible Washington team. He would immediately offer the Seahawks another pass catcher capable of picking up some third downs and making plays in the red zone. It is the type of move you make to bolster a team capable of making a deep playoff run.

For Washington, this is just another player that has more value elsewhere. Davis still clearly has a role to play in the nation’s capital, but he is far from the only option the offense has at tight end with Jeremey Sprinkle and Jordan Reed, if the latter ever gets healthy. Picking up another draft pick for this year doesn’t hurt the rebuilding process that is undoubtedly needed. Put it this way, Vernon Davis probably won’t be in the NFL anymore by the time Washington is ready to compete for a division title again, so send him elsewhere and get something in return.

Is Joe Flacco Overpaid?

Chris McGlynn Football, Free Agency, NFL ,

I’m back, and Ravens fans aren’t going to like me for this one.

I just don’t get it. I really don’t. I don’t usually like to take down athletes because I know that I could never be doing what they are doing on the field each week, but this one continues to be mind-boggling to me.

Joe Flacco
Flacco signed a three-year, $66.4 million extension during the 2016 offseason.

Joe Flacco continues to get paid among the top-five quarterbacks in the league and I really cannot figure out why. He enters the 2016 season as the highest-paid quarterback on average per season at over $22 million a year, having just signed a contract extension this offseason.

Yes, I know he made that incredible run during the 2012 playoffs to win the Super Bowl. And I know he always makes it to the playoffs, but is that really because of Flacco?

I don’t think Joe Flacco is a bad quarterback. I just don’t think is very good either. He is just kind of average with help from some great running games and defenses.

For starters, Flacco has never thrown for 4,000 yards in a single season. He came very close in his last full season, 2014, where he came up just 14 yards shy of the 4,000 mark. Looking at that season though, there were 11 quarterbacks that did hit the 4,000 yard plateau. Throwing for at least 4,000 yards is common place in the league now and Flacco failing to hit that mark is not a result of him not throwing the ball enough. A better indicator of his struggles is lackluster yard per attempt average. He only finished 13th among quarterbacks that threw at least 400 passes in 2014 and for his career has an average under seven. If he cannot hit these benchmarks, then it is hard to justify paying him more than any other quarterback in the league.

Flacco doesn’t throw many touchdowns either. In fact, only twice in his career has the Delaware product thrown for 25 or more in a single season. He has never hit 30 either, with his career-high sitting at 27. In an age where quarterbacks regularly throw 30-plus touchdowns in a given season, Flacco’s numbers once again come across as average at best.

His lack of scores is not because he is an overly cautious player either. Flacco has thrown double digit interceptions in each of his eight NFL seasons. That includes 22 in the 2013 season and 12 during his injury-shortened 2015 campaign, where he only played 10 games. His completion percentage leaves a lot to be desired as well. Flacco completes roughly 61 percent of his passes, a pretty typical figure for middle of the road quarterbacks in the NFL.

It’s not like Flacco can complain about being constantly under pressure or knocked around either. He had a rough year in 2013, taking 48 sacks, but over the course of his last 26 games (the 2014 and 2015 seasons) Flacco has only been sacked 37 times. For some reference, there were 10 NFL quarterbacks sacked more than that in just 2015 alone.

Joe_Flacco
Flacco is under contract with the Ravens until he is 37 years old. 

Baltimore has always been good about giving its quarterback tons of help too. During his first four seasons in the NFL, Flacco had a top 10 scoring and yardage defense to rely on, often with that group ranking in the top three. He also can’t carry the team on his own. 2013 was Flacco’s worst statistical season and it was the only one where he played the whole year and did not have a ground game that ranked in the top half of the league.

On top of all of this is the fact that Flacco is coming off a torn ACL and MCL. That is a major knee injury at the age of 31 for a team to decide to invest in him long term. The Ravens have him locked up until 2022 despite the injury concerns.

Breaking Flacco down even further, over the course of his career, he has thrown for about 232 yards per game, while averaging about 1.4 touchdowns and 0.86 interceptions per game. Those numbers are very comparable to Ryan Tannehill, whom many view as the definition of an average quarterback. NFL franchises seem more than willing nowadays to pay top dollar for average quarterback play.

Joe Flacco has had a ton of success, including a Super Bowl ring. No one can take that away from him. However, he does not deserve to be one of the top paid players in the world of professional sports. If you ask me, he is just an average Joe.

Counting down the most successful sports city

Chris McGlynn MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So following the Super Bowl and now starting the long four-month lull until another championship game is played, I thought it might be interesting to reflect back on the last 15 years of sports champions. More specifically, I am ranking the top ten sports cities in the US since 2000. This includes the five largest sports leagues in America, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS. The rankings will mainly rely on championships won by a single city but I will also take into account appearances in the finals as well. Let’s see if your city makes the list.

The cities just missing the cut are Houston, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Houston has two titles, both coming from their MLS club the Dynamo. The Astros made a World Series run in 2005 but got swept. The Texans haven’t helped. Philly has four appearances in the big game but only one victory. The Phillies won the World Series in 2008 but then lost the next year. The Eagles lost in 2005 as did the Flyers in 2010. Baltimore has two titles but both came from the Ravens. The Orioles did not do enough to really pad Baltimore’s resume.

#10 Kansas City 2 total titles in 4 total appearances
Not exactly a massive market but Kansas City has been a pretty solid sports city since 2000 when it comes to success. The forgotten team here will be the MLS club. The Kansas City Wizards, who is now Sporting KC, won the MLS Cup in 2000 and later made it to the 2004 final. 13 years later, Sporting KC left its mark with a MLS Cup victory. Then just this past year, the Royals made a shocking run to the World Series, eventually losing to San Francisco. The Kansas City NFL team, the Chiefs, could have boosted this city up the list some but they have had very little playoff success since 2000, not coming anywhere near the Super Bowl.

#9 St. Louis: 3 total titles in 5 total appearances
The St. Louis Rams were actually the first team to win a sports championship in the new millennium, taking home the 2000 Lombardi Trophy (which I ranked as my most exciting Super Bowl game of all time). The baseball team in St. Louis has done most of the heavy lifting though as the Cardinals have been among baseball’s best in the past 15 years. The Cards have two World Series titles from the 2006 and 2011 campaigns. This MLB team also came up just short in both 2004 and 2013, at the hands of the Boston Red Sox on each occasion. A little help from the Blues in the NHL could’ve pushed St. Louis above the next few cities on this list.

#8 San Francisco: 3 total titles in 5 total appearances
The San Francisco Giants have been baseball royalty over the past five years. In that time span, they have nailed down three World Series titles. San Francisco also made a trip to the Series in 2002, eventually losing in Game 7 to the Anaheim Angeles. The football team in San Francisco is pretty good as well. The 49ers came close for years to making it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995. They finally accomplished that goal in 2013, but came up short against the Baltimore Ravens. Close, but no cigar. That Super Bowl victory could have vaulted San Francisco past the number seven city on the list.

#7 Pittsburgh: 3 total titles in 5 total appearances
If this were an all-time list, Pittsburgh would have to be higher up on it. As it is only since the year of 2000, the city takes a drop. This has still been a successful city though when it comes to sports titles. The Steelers have earned two of them, in 2006 and 2009. They also came up a touchdown short in 2011 of winning another one against the Packers. On the ice, the Penguins have been one of the top teams in the NHL for some time now. They are perennial contenders and managed to make a Stanley Cup run in 2008, losing to the Detroit Red Wings, before returning the following year to beat those same Red Wings. Unfortunately, the Pirates haven’t been much help to the Pittsburgh cause in a while. Pittsburgh has been good, just not as good as…

#6 San Antonio: 4 total titles in 5 appearances
Amazing that a city with only one professional sports team can make the list. Well that’s what happens when the San Antonio Spurs are that one team. After a win in the NBA Finals in 1999, the Spurs watched as the Lakers won three consecutive titles to open the 21st century. The Spurs retaliated by winning three out of the next five. After an eight-year finals drought, San Antonio got another shot at a ring in 2013, eventually losing in Game 7 to the Heat. The rematch the following year though fell the other way giving the Spurs their fourth title since 2000.

That is the bottom half of the list. Check back in tomorrow for the top half of the countdown.

NFL Divisional round predictions

Chris McGlynn Football, NFL , , , , , , ,

The Wildcard round featured storied rivalries and entertaining finishes. This weekend though gives us some of the best storylines of the season. We will see Tom Brady face off with the team that has given him so much trouble in the playoffs when Joe Flacco and the Ravens come to town. Two quarterbacks who have greatly changed how the position is viewed will share the field in Seattle when Russell Wilson’s Seahawks host Cam Newton’s Panthers. Two MVP candidates square off as a hobbled Aaron Rodgers takes on Tony Romo’s Cowboys at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. The best though is the showdown in Denver between golden boy quarterbacks of present and future. Andrew Luck battles the man he replaced in Indianapolis, Peyton Manning, when the Broncos match up with the Colts. This is Manning’s first playoff game ever against the franchise that drafted him in 1998. Now it is time to break down these divisional round games and tell you who will be advancing to the conference championship.

I will start in New England with the Patriots and Ravens will play for the second time in three years in the playoffs. The last time these two teams met, the Pats lost in Foxboro as Baltimore continued its run to the Super Bowl. This time around will be very different though. This New England defense resembles nothing that it did two years ago. There are a couple of holdovers but the biggest additions include corners Brandon Browner and Darelle Revis. Those two alone allow Bill Belichick to pressure the quarterback without safety help for his corners. Joe Flacco has been on a quite a run of late in the playoffs but it will end in Foxboro. Belichick will be sending pressure Flacco’s way all game long and he will emphasize shutting down the Ravens rushing attack as Pittsburgh did a week ago. I think Brady will exorcise some demons and key on a Baltimore secondary that struggled throughout the regular season. Look for Tim Wright and Rob Gronkowski to have big games. The Ravens are a talented enough team to keep the game close but I think New England will pull away late and win 27-14.

Flipping to the NFC now, many are calling this a mirror image game. Seattle and Carolina play very similar styles of football relying heavily on the defense to make plays and the offense to kill the clock with an explosive running game. At the helm, both squads have talented, mobile quarterbacks, who can give defensive coordinators nightmares when trying to game plan against them. The Panthers have been on a hot streak entering the playoffs and continued it last week with a commanding win over Arizona. The score was closer than the game ever seemed. Seattle had the week off and should be ready for the former Heisman winner. Saturday’s game will be very scrappy and I expect some turnovers. Seattle had the best defense in the league and Carolina’s was no slouch either ranking tenth. The first half will be a lot shifting momentum with both teams exchanging field goals. The Panthers might be the underdog but this team came close to upending Seattle earlier this season. This game will go down to the wire and I think in the end Russell Wilson’s ability to make plays outside the pocket will be too much for Carolina to handle. In this defensive battle will be low scoring and finish 19-13, Seahawks on top. When all is said and done, Seattle should be set to host its second straight NFC Championship game.

Dallas will travel north to take on Green Bay in the other NFC divisional round game to travels to Seattle. This should be an exciting game to watch. The Cowboys will need to start fast in this one if they have any hopes of surviving until the next round. They fell behind early and were lucky to escape with a win over Detroit. This game could be much easier for Dallas though than was initially thought if Aaron Rodgers is truly not at 100% with a serious calf injury. However, Rodgers was clearly hobbled in his game against Detroit two weeks ago and still led the Packers to a victory. Yet, the key to this game will be the Packers’ defensive front. The Lions laid out the blueprint to beat the Cowboys last week getting after Tony Romo and limiting Demarco Murray’s ability to break long runs. Romo was sacked six times, Murray averaged less than four yards per carry and it was clear Dallas struggled. I think Green Bay will come out with a plan early to get after Romo. Meanwhile, Dallas’ defense ranked in the bottom quarter of the league for passing yards allowed. I think Rodgers gets the Packers out to an early lead that the Cowboys, as good as they can be, are unable to overcome. Green Bay wins 34-28.

The last game pits two quarterbacks desperate for a playoff win. Peyton Manning’s career is winding down and his critics have always pointed out Manning’s struggles in the playoffs. On the other hand, Andrew Luck has burst onto the scene and has be called a great quarterback but the doubters still have yet to see Luck take his team past the divisional round of the playoffs. When the Colts visit the Broncos, we should see two offenses heading in completely different directions. Indy has struggled running the ball all year and Denver’s defense ranked second during the regular season for rushing yards allowed. This game will fall squarely on the shoulders of the former Stanford quarterback if Indianapolis is going to stand a chance in this game. Luck has the ability to put up incredible numbers but he has also been turnover prone of late. He will need to play mistake free to give the Colts a chance. For Denver though, this game will be about running the football. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase completely restructured Denver’s offense down the stretch this season to rely heavily on the running game, taking the weight off Manning. The Broncos will want to keep the ball out of Luck’s hands as much as possible and simply wear the Colts defense out with C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman. This approach should make also negate the Colts pass rush, which registered an impressive 41 sacks this season. This should be an interesting game but in the end, I think the quarterback of the present holds off the quarterback of the future. Broncos win 31-21.

So my prediction is that we will see the Packers travel to Seattle and another round of Brady versus Manning in the conference championship. Let me know if you think I completely overlooked something or you have a different idea of how next weekend will look. Keep an eye for next week’s predictions as well. Enjoy all of these great matchups this weekend.