The Chiefs won Super Bowl 54 and they’re also coming in at the top spot in our 2020 NFL Power Rankings with the 49ers and Ravens on their heels.
With Sunday’s 31-20 win in Super Bowl LIV at South Florida, the Kansas City Chiefs captured their second Lombardi Trophy and first since 1969. It also means it’s a total wrap on the NFL’s 100th season. Hence the final NFL Power Rankings for 2019, with a little bit of a look ahead (salary cap numbers via Spotrac) to the next decade.
Note: Win-loss records include playoffs.
32. Carolina Panthers (5-11)
4th Place, NFC South
Season Review: From losing their first two games to ripping off five wins in their next six contests to a season-ending eight consecutive defeats, the Panthers were non-competitive far too often the second half of the season and finished with their worst record since going 2-14 in 2010. Head coach Ron Rivera was dismissed after a Week 13 home loss to the Redskins and ironically enough, is now the new sideline boss in D.C. The club would go through three different starting quarterbacks, committed the second-most turnovers in the league with 35 turnovers and only three teams allowed more yards per game rushing.
2019 Turning Point: The Panthers lost their final eight games after a 5-3 start. That included a tough 34-31 loss at the Superdome in Week 12 to the NFC South rival Saints. Joey Slye missed a 28-yard field goal in the closing minutes that would have given Carolina the lead. Instead, the Panthers’ defense wilted late.
2020 Priorities: The new head coach is Matt Rhule (Baylor University). The future won’t include tight end Greg Olsen as he and the team opted to go part ways. As for free agency, Carolina would likely not want to lose tackle Daryl Williams, defensive tackle Vernon Butler and/or cornerback James Bradberry.
31. Detroit Lions (3-12-1)
4th Place, NFC North
Season Review: The second year of the Matt Patricia Era in the Motor City began with some promise. After a Week 1 tie with the Arizona Cardinals, the club came away with wins over the Chargers and Eagles. But the Lions would win only won more game the remainder of the season and closed 2019 with nine consecutive setbacks. This was one of many clubs that utilized three different starting signal-callers (Matthew Stafford, Jeff Driskel and David Blough) and regardless of who was throwing the ball, wideout Kenny Golladay enjoyed a Pro Bowl year. And Detroit’s defense disappointed throughout the season.
2019 Turning Point: A 23-22 loss at Lambeau Field on a Monday night in Week 6 had to be somewhat disheartening considering the Lions jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead and were dominating the eventual NFC North champions. But Patricia’s team couldn’t make the plays in the fourth quarter.
2020 Priorities: The decision was made weeks ago in terms of Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn and both are back for 2020. Some may question the decision on the former considering his 9-22-1 record in two seasons. And will the organization allow defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson to test free agency?
Next: Nos. 30 and 29
30. Washington Redskins (3-13)
4th Place, NFC East
Season Review: It was another down year in DC as the Redskins got off to a dreadful 0-5 start and head coach Jay Gruden was dismissed. Bill Callahan took over the team and the club finished with its worst record since an identical 3-13 showing in 2013. The season began with Case Keenum at quarterback followed by Colt McCoy and eventually 2019 first-round draft choice Dwayne Haskins. Offensively, the standouts included veteran runner Adrian Peterson and rookie wideout Terry McLaurin. While there were a few bright spots on the defensive side of the ball, that unit once again proved to be a disappointment.
2019 Turning Point: If the franchise does stick with Haskins, the rookie appeared to turn the corner in a 37-27 home loss to the Eagles in Week 15. While he was sacked and fumbled on the last play of the game, he hit on 19-of-28 throws for 261 yards and two scores without an interception in the 10-point setback.
2020 Priorities: The revised coaching staff, led by new sideline boss Ron Rivera, includes a pair a noted coordinators in Scott Turner – Rivera’s quarterbacks coach in Carolina on two separate occasions – and noted defensive mind Jack Del Rio, who was last seen as head coach for the Oakland Raiders back in 2017.
29. Cincinnati Bengals (2-14)
4th Place, AFC North
Season Review: Zac Taylor’s NFL head-coaching debut in the Queen City saw the franchise set a new dubious record with a dismal 0-11 start. Quarterback Andy Dalton had his ups and downs early, was benched for rookie Ryan Finley, then returned and played well down the stretch. The real issue was a defensive unit that was substandard once again as no team in the league gave up more rushing yards per game. While seven-time Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Green missed all of ‘19, running back Joe Mixon had another big year and oft-injured tight end Tyler Eifert played in all 16 games for the first time in his career.
2019 Turning Point: Where does one point to when you lose your first 11 games. After a narrow one-point setback at Seattle, Taylor’s team returned home and took on the San Francisco 49ers. And the overwhelmed Bengals allowed 571 total yards in a 41-17 loss that showed how trouble the team was.
2020 Priorities: The Bengals own the first pick in the draft for the first time since selecting quarterback Carson Palmer in 2003. The speculation is that the club will opt for 2019 Heisman Trophy Joe Burrow, who led LSU to a national title. And what does the future hold for Dalton and potential free agent A.J. Green?
Next: Nos. 28 and 27
28. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
4th Place, AFC West
Season Review: One season after reaching the playoffs and winning a postseason game for the first time since 2013, Anthony Lynn’s club looked like it had turned the corner. But leading up to 2019 there was the loss of play-making safety Derwin James and a holdout by running back Melvin Gordon. It set the tone for a rough year for a team that won 21 of its previous 28 regular-season contests after a 0-4 start in 2017. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers had his issues with ball security – throwing for 23 scores but committing an equal amount of turnovers. Lynn’s disappointing club dropped all six games to their AFC West rivals.
2019 Turning Point: Off an impressive 26-11 victory over the formidable Packers, the 4-5 Chargers headed to Oakland for a Thursday night clash with the Raiders with an opportunity to get back to the .500 mark. But a frustrating 26-24 loss was the start of a 1-6 tailspin that included a season-ending three-game skid.
2020 Priorities: Early last week it was reported that the Chargers are ready to move on without Rivers. So does general manager Tom Telesco will be addressing the quarterback position early in the draft, free agency or trade? Will the Chargers allow Gordon and/or tight end Hunter Henry to test the open market?
27. New York Giants (4-12)
3rd Place, NFC East
Season Review: It proved to be a year of transition for this struggling franchise and by year’s end, head coach Pat Shurmur’s stay with the organization would come to an end after only two seasons. It was a year that began as usual with now-retired Eli Manning at quarterback but in Week 3, the transition was made to rookie Daniel Jones. He made an impression in numerous ways and despite some promising outings struggled mightily to protect the football. That was bad news paired with a defense that was again one of the worst units in the league. And injuries limited running back Saquon Barkley to only 13 games.
2019 Turning Point: In Week 3 at Tampa, the team sat Manning in favor of Jones and the sixth overall pick in April’s draft rallied the team from an 18-point deficit to knock off the Bucs. A second straight win followed. While he had his ups and downs, the young performer is the man going forward.
2020 Priorities: Former Patriots’ assistant Joe Judge is the new head coach and the coordinators are former Cowboys’ sideline leader Jason Garrett (offense) and Patrick Graham (defense). Can they resurrect a franchise that is a combined 12-36 since 2017? Will the team re-sign defensive tackle Leonard Williams?
Next: Nos. 26 and 25
26. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)
4th Place, AFC South
Season Review: On the opening Sunday of 2019, free-agent pick up Nick Foles was knocked out of action with a broken clavicle and it was rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew to the rescue. The sixth-round pick played well early on, struggled a bit and then took over down the stretch after Foles had his issues upon his return. Jacksonville’s defense got a bit of a boost from first-round draft choice Jeff Allen but also watched star cornerback Jalen Ramsey dealt to the Rams. As has been the case in recent seasons, the team struggled to stop the run and only four teams in the league allowed more yards per game rushing.
2019 Turning Point: The Jaguars split their first eight games and were hanging around in the AFC South. In Week 2, the club lost a heartbreaker at Houston, 13-12. A rematch with the Texans took place in London (Week 9). But Marrone’s team was pushed around, 26-3 – the start of a crippling five-game losing streak.
2020 Priorities: Marrone will be back for another season. However, the franchise did part ways with executive Tom Coughlin. The team’s new offensive coordinator is one-time Redskins’ head coach Jay Gruden. And the primary goal for this club is to settle on a starting quarterback – be it Foles or Minshew.
25. Cleveland Browns (6-10)
3rd Place, AFC North
Season Review: It was an offseason of major moves and plenty of bluster. But when it was all said and done, it added up to another losing campaign for a franchise. First-time NFL head coach Freddie Kitchens appeared overwhelmed at times. Second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield digressed as he failed to complete at least 60 percent of his passes and had more turnovers (23) than TD passes (22). The offensive star was running back Nick Chubb, who racked up 1,494 yards on the ground (8 touchdowns). Defensive end Myles Garrett excelled when available but this unit was exploited on the ground far too often in 2019.
2019 Turning Point: The Browns’ season was marked by disappointment and it’s worth noting that they were the last team to defeat the Ravens during the regular season. Unfortunately, Cleveland followed that up by being humble at San Francisco, 31-3, on a Monday night and were never able to fully recover.
2020 Priorities: Yet another attempt at stability. The team’s 12th head coach since ‘99 is Kevin Stefanski, late of the Vikings. The offensive coordinator is Alex Van Pelt, via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. And former Eagles’ vice president of football operations Andrew Berry is the franchise’s new general manager.
Next: Nos. 24 and 23
24. Miami Dolphins (5-11)
4th Place, AFC East
Season Review: It was a year that many believed the Dolphins were actually trying to throw away thanks to a slew of trades over the course of many months. But after dropping their first seven games, new head coach Brian Flores began to get his message across and the change in the team was evident. Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was a big part of the team’s solid stretch run. Unfortunately, he was Miami’s top passer and also its leading rusher as the club averaged a league-worst 72.3 yards per game on the ground. And an undermanned defense had plenty of issues as the team allowed a NFL-high 494 points.
2019 Turning Point: Winless in their first seven games, the ‘Fins took on the visiting Jets in Week 9. A 26-18 win was the start of a stretch that saw Flores’ club finish 5-4 – including victories over the playoff-bound Eagles (Week 13) and the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots in Week 17 at Foxborough.
2020 Priorities: The ageless Fitzpatrick intends to return for the 2020 season. As has been well-publicized, the Dolphins have a slew of draft choices at their disposal in April – including five in the first two rounds. Cornerback Eric Rowe was the team’s second-leading tackler and his contract is set to expire in March.
23. Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1)
4th Place, NFC West
Season Review: One year after finishing dead last in the league in rushing, passing, total offense and points scored, the Cards made major strides thanks to new head coach cliff Kingsbury and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray. Give credit to running back Kenyan Drake, a midseason pick up from the Dolphins who led the team in rushing. Murray had a fine debut season and with one exception did a stellar job of protecting the football. On the downside was the Arizona defense, which despite a big year from pass-rusher Chandler Jones (19 sacks) allowed the second-most touchdown passes in the league.
2019 Turning Point: While the team’s first victory of the season – a last-second triumph at Cincinnati in Week 5 – launched a three-game winning streak. But it was actually a 27-13 triumph at Seattle in Week 16 over the playoff-bound Seahawks that showed how far Kingsbury’s club had come by season’s end.
2020 Priorities: Getting some defensive help is the team’s top goal – especially when it comes to finding performers who can cover running backs and tight ends – would be a major step forward. The good news is that Larry Fitzgerald is coming back. General manager Steve Keim needs to upgrade the offensive line.
Next: Nos. 22 and 21
22. Denver Broncos (7-9)
2nd Place, AFC West
Season Review: Veteran coach Vic Fangio made his NFL debut as a sideline boss in 2019 and the club certainly took its lumps early one. But when it was all said and done, there were definitive strides made slowly but surely. At quarterback, it began with veteran Joe Flacco, morphed into Brandon Allen and finished with rookie Drew Lock. The offense got big years from second-year pros in running back Phillip Lindsay and wide receiver Courtland Sutton and rookie tight end Noah Fant had his moments as well. But the once-proud Denver defense was inconsistent at best and had some issues in the fourth quarter.
2019 Turning Point: Considering the club got off to a 0-4 start, a 7-9 record and a second-place finish in the AFC West doesn’t look so bad. As for a turning point in, it could be the decision to start Lock in Week 13. The club won four of its final five games, including a stunning rout of the Texans at Houston.
2020 Priorities: General manager John Elway has some decisions to make in terms of three key defenders, all who could hit the open market in mid-March. Safety Justin Simmons was Denver’s second-leading tackle in 2019 and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and defensive end Derek Wolfe are mainstays of the club.
21. New York Jets (7-9)
3rd Place, AFC East
Season Review: Adam Gase’s club wound up utilizing three different quarterbacks in its first two games. Starter Sam Darnold opened the season but was felled by mononucleosis and Trevor Simeon wound up making start in Week 2. But he was injured in that game and Luke Falk took over and would then start the next two games. Darnold would return and after shaking off some rust, performed very well as the Jets won six of their final eight contests. And veteran defensive coordinator Gregg Williams – with help from talented All-Pro safety Jamal Adams – helped revive a unit that had fallen on hard times in recent seasons.
2019 Turning Point: Off to a 1-7 start and riding a three-game losing streak, Gase’s club was technically the home team in a 34-27 win over the Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 10. It was the beginning of a strong 6-2 finish, which unfortunately also included an inexplicable 22-6 loss at Cincinnati in Week 13.
2020 Priorities: General manager Joe Douglas has a lot of work ahead in determining which 22 potential unrestricted free agents will return to the club. That includes wide receiver Robby Anderson, who could command a big market if not re-signed. The Jets may want to address the offensive line early in the draft.
Next: Nos. 20 and 19
20. Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
3rd Place, AFC South
Season Review: The organization was rocked a bit when quarterback Andrew luck opted for retirement roughly two weeks before the start of the regular season. But led by quarterback Jacoby Brissett and an emerging defense, Frank Reich’s team seemed to pick up where it left off a year ago. Nearing midseason, the Colts owned a 5-2 record. But there would be only two more victories the rest of the season as injuries and erratic play caught up with the club. While pass-rusher Justin Houston was a solid addition, wideout T.Y. Hilton struggled to stay healthy. And legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri has a forgettable 2019.
2019 Turning Point: Reich’s 5-2 team had won three straight games and made its way to Pittsburgh to take on the battered Steelers. The Colts were in position to steal a win. But Vinatieri pushed a 43-yard field goal wide left in the closing seconds and the 26-24 setback was the start of a rough 2-7 finish.
2020 Priorities: Will Vinatieri return for a 25th NFL season? It’s an interesting decision for the NFL’s all-time leading scorer. And will the Colts welcome him back. Not in the team’s plans for 2020 is tight end Eric Ebron. Left tackle Anthony Castonzo and defensive end Jabaal Sheard are both potential free agents.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9)
3rd Place, AFC West
Season Review: It was definitely a season of progress for the Silver and Black, who are officially now the Las Vegas Raiders. Youth was served in a big way as rookie Josh Jacobs ran for a team-high 1,150 yards and seven scores and 2019 fourth-round defensive Maxx Crosby totaled 10 of the club’s 32 sacks – a big jump from a year ago when the Raiders finished with an NFL-low 13 quarterback traps. Quarterback Derek Carr connected on 70.4 percent of his throws, good for 21 scores and only 11 turnovers. Tight end Darren Waller was the team’s top pass-catcher. But Oakland’s improving defense still has some things to iron out.
2019 Turning Point: Winners of three in a row, Gruden’s 6-4 squad headed east to take on the up-and-down New York Jets. But the Raiders were rolled, 34-3, and it began a meltdown that saw the club lose four straight games by a combined score of 136-49. It added up to another losing season for the franchise.
2020 Priorities: Not surprisingly, the Raiders once again have their share of veteran players who could become unrestricted free agents. That includes former first-round safety Karl Joseph and cornerback Daryl Worley. The franchise not only has Chicago’s first-round pick but three third-round selections come April.
Next: Nos. 18 and 17
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
3rd Place, NFC South
Season Review: The Bruce Arians Era began in Tampa and despite some signs of promise, there were no playoffs for this franchise for the 12th consecutive year. A 3-7 start was followed by four straight wins and the team was back at .500. But consecutive home setbacks added up to another losing campaign. Quarterback Jameis Winston led the NFL with 5,109 yards through the air and connected for 33 scores. But he was picked off 30 times and lost five fumbles as the Bucs committed a league-high 41 turnovers. Wide receiver Chris Godwin had a breakout year but Todd Bowles’ defensive unit was inconsistent at best.
2019 Turning Point: It was another year of ups and downs. But late in the season, the Buccaneers put together a four-game winning streak and at 7-7, still entertained postseason hopes. On a Saturday afternoon at home against the visiting Texans, Arians’ mistake-prone club fell short by a 23-20 count.
2020 Priorities: While Winston is in the team’s plans for 2020, it remains to be seen what the potential free-agent quarterback will get in terms of a contract. NFL sack leader Shaquil Barrett could also test the market after a career year. And will unsung running back Peyton Barber get a new deal this offseason?
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
2nd Place, AFC North
Season Review: The Steelers got off to 0-3 start and dropped four of their first five games. As it turned out, each of those early setbacks were to 2019 playoff teams. In Week 2, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season with an elbow injury. But thanks to an opportunistic defense – which came away with an NFL-high 38 takeaways – Mike Tomlin’s team slowly found its way back into the postseason race despite using inexperienced quarterbacks in Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges. Injuries to running back James Conner and wideout Juju Smith-Schuster hampered the offense, as did a perplexing lack of balance.
2019 Turning Point: A miserable 1-4 start put the Black and Gold in a big hole. Tomlin’s squad rebounded with seven wins in their next eight games and at 8-5, hosted the formidable Buffalo Bills. A 17-10 home setback in Week 15 was the start of a three game skid and no playoffs for the second consecutiveear.
2020 Priorities: Tomlin returns for his 14th season but as of this writing, there’s been no changes at either coordinator spot. The club did hire a new quarterback coach in Matt Canada, who has spent his share of time in the college ranks. Will the Steelers re-up with standout pass rusher Bud Dupree off a career year?
Next: Nos. 16 and 15
16. Dallas Cowboys (8-8)
2nd Place, NFC East
Season Review: A talented club got off to a solid 3-0 start and led by quarterback Dak Prescott put up impressive numbers. But the real criticism of Jason Garrett’s team had to do with the Cowboys’ caliber of competition. Nonetheless, this was an offense that looked much better than it had in previous years and the real issues had to do with the defensive side of the football. All told, a promising unit from a year ago disappointed on too many occasions. Throw in some perplexing play-calling late in the year and the club dropped eight of its last 13 contests and failed to defend its NFC East title and Garrett’s tenure would end.
2019 Turning Point: Off a frustrating 12-10 Sunday night loss at New Orleans in which they did not allow a touchdown, Packers’ running back Aaron Jones had his way vs. the Dallas defense. A 34-24 home setback to Green Bay in Week 5 was the second of three consecutive losses and a 5-8 finish after a 3-0 start.
2020 Priorities: For the third time in six years, the team followed up an NFC East title by missing the playoffs. New head coach Mike McCarthy sat out 2018 after spending 12-plus seasons with the Packers and has a Super Bowl title. But will the team get Prescott re-signed before the start of free agency?
15. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
2nd Place, NFC South
Season Review: The team got off to an extremely rough start. After splitting their first two contests, the Falcons embarked on a six-game losing streak. Veteran quarterback Matt Ryan had his issues with ball security, turning over the ball 19 times – including throwing twice as many interceptions (14) as he did a season ago (7). Devonta Freeman led the team with 656 yards on the ground but only the Dolphins and Jets ran for fewer yards in 2019. It was another big year for prolific wideout Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley continued to find the end zone. But the defense continues to disappoint and allowed 41 offensive TDs.
2019 Turning Point: Quinn’s club entered the off week with a six-game losing streak and prepared to play five straight games vs. NFC South rivals. The first stop was New Orleans (Week 10) and the Falcons came up with a 26-9 victory over the Saints. After a 1-7 start, Atlanta would win six of its final eight contests.
2020 Priorities: The Falcons are promoting Raheem Morris to defensive coordinator. The club has some free-agent questions that need answering – in particular defensive end Vic Beasley and unsung tight and Austin Hooper. Last year, the team addressed the offensive line in the draft and may have to do so again.
Next: Nos. 14 and 13
14. Chicago Bears (8-8)
3rd Place, NFC North
Season Review: The Bears were seeking to make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since the 2005 and ‘06 seasons. But Matt Nagy’s club got off to a rough start in the home opener against the Packers and despite a strong second half of the season won four fewer games (8) than a year ago when they won the NFC North with a 12-4 record. One of the culprits was an offensive unit that struggled mightily in the first half of games far too many times. And a fierce defense that was on the rise a season ago certainly took some steps backwards in terms of takeaways as well as its ability to stop the run.
2019 Turning Point: After a 3-1 start, Nagy’s club faced the Raiders in London. After spotting Oakland a 17-point lead, the Bears rallied to take a 21-17 advantage in the fourth quarter. But the vaunted Chicago defense couldn’t stop Jon Gruden’s team late. A 24-21 setback was the start of a four-game losing streak.
2020 Priorities: Via ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson, three-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky recently underwent surgery on his left shoulder and recovery is expected to take a couple of months. While general manager Ryan Pace doesn’t have a first-round pick in April, the Bears do own a pair of second-round selections.
13. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
3rd Place, NFC West
Season Review: The defending NFC champions won their first three games but struggled in those contests and went onto drop seven of their final 13 outings. Running back Todd Gurley only showed his Pro Bowl form on occasion (the Rams finished 26th in the NFL in rushing) and unfortunately, quarterback Jared Goff picked up where he left off late in 2018 when it came to ball security. He finished the year with 22 touchdown passes and a disappointing 21 turnovers. The Los Angeles’ defense, despite the presence of perennial All-Pro Aaron Donald, just wasn’t equipped to make up for the team’s offensive shortcomings.
2019 Turning Point: A 3-0 start was followed by three straight losses. But McVay’s club rebounded to win five of their next seven games and were still hanging around in the powerful NFC West. However, an ugly 44-21 setback at Dallas at Week 15 showed that these Rams just wouldn’t be around for the long haul.
2020 Priorities: Head coach Sean McVay will have some new faces on his coaching staff in the form of coordinators Kevin O’Connell (offense) and Brandon Staley (defense). The Rams have some key defenders that could test free agency, including interior lineman Michael Brockers and linebacker Cory Littleton.
Next: Nos. 12 and 11
12. Philadelphia Eagles (9-8)
1st Place, NFC East
Reached NFC Wild Card Playoffs
Season Review: For the second consecutive year, Doug Pederson’s team stumbled throughout most of the first half of the season. In 2018, the team rallied to win five of their last six games and clinched a playoff berth. This year, the club finished 9-7 for the second straight season and needed a season-ending four-game winning streak to achieve that purpose. The Birds’ less-than-scintillating was also good enough to win the NFC East. Fourth-year quarterback Carson Wentz threw for his share of yards but remained somewhat careless when it came to ball security. Meanwhile, Jim Schwartz’s defense was erratic at best.
2019 Turning Point: Losers of three straight games, the 5-7 Eagles could still win the NFC East because their remaining four games were all against divisional foes. They fell behind Eli Manning and the Giants at home on a Monday night in Week 14 but they rallied to win in overtime and would indeed run the table.
2020 Priorities: Philadelphia’s much-maligned defensive backfield has potential free agents in safety Rodney McLeod and cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills. Does left tackle Jason Peters opt for retirement after a stellar career? Will running back Jordan Howard return for a second year with the club?
11. Buffalo Bills (10-7)
2nd Place, AFC East
Reached AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Season Review: Sean McDermott’s got off to a 3-0 start but the clubs stubbed its toe at home in a tough 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots. But this team shook off some early adversity and became a solid club. Quarterback Josh Allen made major strides in his second season and rebounded from an ugly start. A rebuilt offensive line made its mark and the Buffalo defense was one of the best in the league. But the latter unit proved to be a little too susceptible to the run at times and it proved costly too many times. And with a 16-0 lead at Houston in the wild card playoffs, McDermott and company let one get away.
2019 Turning Point: After opening the season with two straight road wins, McDermott’s club returned home to take on the Bengals in Week 3. The Bills opened up a 14-0 lead, trailed in the fourth quarter but would show its resiliency via a seven-play, 78-yard drive and a 21-17 come-from-behind triumph.
2020 Priorities: Will the Bills bring back ageless running back Frank Gore, who continues to climb up the all-time rushing list? Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips had a career year with a team-high 9.5 sacks but his contract expires next month. Will Brandon Beane re-sign former first-round defensive end Shaq Lawson?
Next: Nos. 10 and 9
10. Houston Texans (11-7)
1st Place, AFC South
Reached AFC Divisional Playoffs
Season Review: The season got off to a rocky start albeit the team played an exciting game at New Orleans before succumbing in the final seconds. And early on, an offensive line that proved to be the detriment of Bill O’Brien’s team in 2018 didn’t look much better. But that unit eventually settled in and quarterback Deshaun Watson came up big once again. He got a lot of help from the 1-2 running back punch of Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson – both acquired via trades. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was huge as usual. But Houston’s defense had major issues and was abused in the playoff loss to the Chiefs.
2019 Turning Point: After a tough Monday night loss in Week 1 at New Orleans, the Texans spent the rest of the season winning two contests and dropping the next and repeated that pattern the remainder of 2019. One of those losses was a stunning 41-7 loss at Baltimore (Week 11) that showed the club’s issues.
2020 Priorities: The Texans have their share of potential unrestricted free agents to make decisions on – including Hyde and cornerback Bradley Roby – and recently, O’Brien was officially given the general manager title. Meanwhile, Anthony Weaver takes over for veteran defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.
9. New England Patriots (12-5)
1st Place, AFC East
Reached AFC Wild Card Playoffs
Season Review: The reigning Super Bowl champions and league’s current dynasty got off to a strong start led primarily by a ball-hawking defense that put up astonishing numbers the first eight games of the season. But little cracks began to develop when it came to building Belichick’s stoppers. And a club built primarily on the back end struggled in the second half of the season. It was a solid but very unspectacular year for quarterback Tom Brady, who suffered at times from a lack of a supporting cast and disappointing offensive play. And the Pats looked like a shot fighter by December and went quietly in the playoffs.
2019 Turning Point: The Patriots had lost only three games heading into a Week 17 showdown with the visiting Dolphins. A win would give Belichick’s team the second seed in the AFC playoffs. But the club was stunned, 27-24, and six days later the defending champions went quietly in a wild card loss to the Titans.
2020 Priorities: Will Brady test free agency for the first time? There’s been a ton of speculation and figures to be for months. Belichick has some work to do in terms of his coaching staff. Assistant Joe Judge is now the new boss of the Giants and offensive line legend Dante Scarnecchia opted for retirement again.
Next: Nos. 8 and 7
8. Minnesota Vikings (11-7)
2nd Place, NFC North
Reached NFC Divisional Playoffs
Season Review: The defense has been the pride and joy of head coach Mike Zimmer since his arrival in 2014. But in recent years, this unit has begun to have its issues. And the team’s third playoff appearance in five years was due in a large part to the play of quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Dalvin Cook. Yes, the latter missed the final two games of the regular season but the third-year pro enjoyed a career year, leading the team in rushing and finishing second on the club in receptions. Defensive end Danielle Hunter led the club with 14.5 sacks and safety Anthony Harris had seven takeaways in the regular season.
2019 Turning Point: The 10-4 Vikings hosted the 11-3 Packers on a Monday night in Week 16 with an opportunity to make things a lot tighter in the NFC North. But Minnesota’s offensive line was a no-show in a 23-10 setback. There would be the playoff win at New Orleans but the team went quietly a week later.
2020 Priorities: Taking over for offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, now the head coach of the Browns, is former Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, who was with the club a year ago as an advisor. In the secondary, cornerback Trae Waynes and the aforementioned Harris are also potential free agents.
7. Seattle Seahawks (12-6)
2nd Place, NFC West
Reached NFC Divisional Playoffs
Season Review: It was a departure from those teams of earlier in the decade that featured a strong ground game, accurate passing from Russell Wilson and one of the best defensive units in the league. It added up to five consecutive trips to the playoffs and a pair of Super Bowl appearances. These days, the Seahawks are more reliant on their veteran signal-caller as evidenced by the team’s penchant for playing high-scoring affairs. Pete Carroll’s resilient club reached the postseason for the seventh time in eight years, splitting their two playoff games, while their 11-5 record featured a point differential of plus-7.
2019 Turning Point: Carroll’s club was involved in its share of wild games all season and was coming off a 37-30 Monday night triumph over the visiting Vikings. But six days later on a Sunday evening at Los Angeles, the Seahawks were humbled by the Rams. It would be a 1-3 finish for a team that opened 10-2.
2020 Priorities: The team acquired defensive standout Jadeveon Clowney from the Houston Texans via trade but now general manager John Schneider has to find a way to secure the potential free agent’s services. The Seahawks also have their share of offensive linemen that could hit the open market as well.
Next: Nos. 6 and 5
6. Tennessee Titans (11-8)
2nd Place, AFC South
Reached AFC Championship Game
Season Review: The club came into 2019 off three consecutive 9-7 campaigns. But only one of those seasons resulted in a playoff berth. So in Mike Vrabel’s second year at the helm of the Titans, the club got off to a rough start but rallied around quarterback Ryan Tannehill – in for a hobbled and an ineffective Marcus Mariota – and the realization of running back Derrick Henry had to take a bigger role. The latter wound up leading the NFL in rushing yards and Tennessee would not only clinch a wild card berth but parlayed their power ground attack into surprise wins over the Patriots and Ravens in the playoffs.
2019 Turning Point: Following a 2-4 start, Vrabel opted to make a change behind center and benched Mariota in favor of Tannehill for what proved to be the rest of the season. A wild 23-20 win over the visiting Chargers was the start of a 7-3 regular-season finish that sparked a strong postseason run.
2020 Priorities: The club has its share of prominent players who could test free agency. At the top of the list is Henry, who should command big money if GM Jon Robinson lets him test the market. And both Tannehill and fellow quarterback Marcus Mariota will see their contracts expire on March 18 as well.
5. Green Bay Packers (14-4)
1st Place, NFC North
Reached NFC Championship Game
Season Review: After winning a combined 13 games the previous two seasons combined, the Packers finished 13-3 in head coach Matt LaFleur’s debut season. A more balanced offense keyed the resurgence, as well as a trio of free agent additions on defense in outside linebackers Preston Smith and Za’Adrius Smith and safety Adrian Amos. But Mike Pettine’s defense could be had by some of the better offensive lines in the league. Aaron Rodgers was solid and running back Aaron Jones was invaluable. But including the playoffs, Green Bay allowed 239 points in 14 wins and a whopping 134 points in their four setbacks.
2019 Turning Point: The Packers took on the 49ers at San Francisco in Week 12 and wound up on the wrong end of a 37-8 Sunday night loss. Green Bay would reel off five straight regular-season wins and a playoff victory over Seattle. But the team appeared to have the life taken out of it by the powerful Niners.
2020 Priorities: In terms of bringing back veteran performers, tackling machine Blake Martinez is likely general manager Brian Gutekunst’s top priority. But the productive defender may want to see what’s out there in terms of offers. Kicker Mason Crosby and tackle Bryan Bulaga are also potential free agents.
Next: Nos. 4 and 3
4. New Orleans Saints (13-4)
1st Place, NFC South
Reached NFC Wild Card Playoffs
Season Review: In Week 2, the defending NFC South champions watched quarterback Drew Brees go down with a thumb injury. He would be supplanted by backup Teddy Bridgewater for five games and the Saints prevailed in each contest. The veteran signal-caller would return to for the remainder of the season and while he had a few ups and downs, he came up with more than his share of clutch moments late in games. Allen’s defense struggled a bit down the stretch. And a team that set an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season (8) coughed up the ball twice in a frustrating overtime playoff loss to the Vikings.
2019 Turning Point: When you lose only four times all season, including the playoffs, finding a definitive moment may be easier said than done. But a wild 48-46 home loss to the Super Bowl-bound 49ers in Week 14 was an indication that perhaps the team’s defense wasn’t quite as sound as it needed to be.
2020 Priorities: So will Brees return for his 15th season with the franchise or opt for retirement? Keep in mind that Bridgewater is also set to become an unrestricted free agent come mid-March. Former first-round blocker Andrus Peat and safety Von Bell may also be attractive targets for teams if made available.
3. Baltimore Ravens (14-3)
1st Place, AFC North
Reached AFC Divisional Playoffs
Season Review: This past offseason, the Ravens promoted Greg Roman to offensive coordinator and he built an attack designed to take full advantage of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s skills. The results were stunning as Baltimore established a new NFL record for rushing yards in a season by a team, Jackson set a new league mark for rushing yards by a quarterback and John Harbaugh’s club led the NFL in scoring with 531 points. A midseason trade for cornerback Marcus Peters paid huge dividends as a shaky defense showed improvement. But the team was a stunning no-show in the home playoff loss to Tennessee.
2019 Turning Point: Harbaugh’s club won its first two games but then stumbled in consecutive weeks against the Chiefs and Browns and needed overtime to defeat the Steelers. In Week 6, the Ravens headed to Seattle and an impressive 30-16 triumph was the start of a franchise-record 12-game winning streak.
2020 Priorities: While general manager Eric DeCosta certainly has his share of potential free agents to make decisions on, the Ravens did lock up Peters to a long-term deal in January. As far as those veterans, Matt Judon led the team with 9.5 sacks but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him re-signed before March 18.
Next: Nos. 2 and 1
2. San Francisco 49ers (15-4)
1st Place, NFC West
Lost Super Bowl 54
Season Review: It was an amazing year for a team that won only four games in 2018 and was swept by the 3-13 Arizona Cardinals. Led by a relentless defense, a power running game and a quarterback that saved his best for when he needed it most. NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa provided a spark for Robert Saleh’s unit while head coach Kyle Shanahan made the right calls on the other side of the ball. Underappreciated quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo got better via the addition of wideout Emanuel Sanders and he and tight end George Kittle were huge. Unfortunately, Super Sunday had a disappointing ending.
2019 Turning Point: The Niners were involved in a wild affair at the Superdome in Week 14 and watched Drew Brees drive his team late in the game to a one-point lead. But Garoppolo-to-Kittle was one of 2019’s signature plays and Robbie Gould’s 30-yard field goal at the gun gave San Francisco a 48-46 victory.
2020 Priorities: Sanders was a tremendous midseason acquisition via trade but now can test free agency. He’s one of many potential key performers that could hit the open market, such as defensive end Arik Armstead – who led San Francisco with a career-best 10 sacks – and defensive back Jimmie Ward.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-4)
1st Place, AFC West
Won Super Bowl 54
Season Review: In his 21st consecutive season as an NFL head coach, Andy Reid and his club delivered an NFL championship to the city of Kansas City for the first time since capturing Super Bowl IV in 1969. The Chiefs bounced back from a mediocre 6-4 start to win their final nine outings – scoring a combined 117 points in playoff wins over the Texans, Titans and 49ers. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes overcame a dislocated knee cap at midseason and once he got his rhythm back, he was the catalyst for three straight come-from-behind postseason wins. And the Kansas City defense improved as the season unfolded.
2019 Turning Point: Reid’s club got off to another strong start (4-0) but thanks in part to the same-old defensive issues and the absence of Mahomes for a few games the Chiefs would drop four of their next six contests. But a 24-17 Monday night win over the Chargers at Mexico City (Week 11) proved to be a spark.
More fansided.com: Super Bowl power rankings: Miami games from 10-1
2020 Priorities: The newly-crowned Super Bowl champions have plenty of veteran performers that could test free agency. But the club’s top priority has to be defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has been this unit’s best player the past few seasons. Would the organization be willing to use the franchise tag if needed?