NFL: Playoff Bubble

Several head coaches have had success in the NFL. But for the most part, that success comes in short bursts. Suddenly, a coach finds himself with a stacked roster, all the bounces go the team’s way and they make a deep run into the playoffs, maybe even the Super Bowl.

And as suddenly as the success was created, it ends. It’s rare to see someone be a consistent winner. For every Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin, the NFL coaching graveyard is littered with names like Dan Quinn, Gary Kubiak, Ken Whisenhunt and more.

Why? What happens?

Simple. Rosters change as players leave for bigger contracts. Rolls that went your way during that winning season suddenly bounce in the opposite direction. Guys get injured. People get complacent.

But one of the biggest impediments to consistent winning is losing assistant coaches and coordinators. Which brings me to the Rams. People scoffed when Sean McVay decided to let defensive coordinator Wade Phillips go after last season. And when he brought on a much younger and unheralded name, Brandon Staley, heads were being scratched.

Fast-forward to the present, and it’s clear McVay made the right move. Watching the Rams take the Patriots apart on national television painted a clear picture to the rest of the league. Staley will be getting calls to interview for head coaching jobs soon. Maybe even this coming offseason. And while that’s great for Staley, that has to be a bummer for McVay.

With the way L.A.’s defense has come together, there’s no doubt McVay wants Staley there for years to come. But that’s just not the way the NFL works.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

JUST OUTSIDE THE PLAYOFF BUBBLE

Raiders

They broke their two-game losing streak by taking down the Jets on a miracle last-second touchdown, but they still have some tough matchups ahead. They have to face the Colts and Dolphins, but the good news is three of their final four games are at home.

Ravens

Man, what a slide. Before beating the Cowboys last week (who doesn’t?), they had lost four their previous five games. But somehow, they’re still 7-5 and within striking distance of the playoffs. Will they handle business this weekend against what is sure to be a fired-up Browns squad? If not, they’re pretty much sunk. But if they get past that game, they should be able to finish strong against the Jaguars, Giants and Bengals.

Patriots

Yes, they’re still hanging around, despite their 6-7 record. But it’s hard to imagine they’re an actual playoff threat with the way their offense has looked as of late. Saying it’s pedestrian is being kind. The final nails in New England’s coffin should come over the next two weeks as the Patriots have to face the Dolphins and the Bills. It will definitely be weird seeing January football without Bill Belichick involved.

Cardinals

They did have a playoff spot until their discouraging loss to the Rams coupled with a Vikings win dropped them outside of the bubble. They do share 6-6 records with Minnesota, but this is a case of two teams going in different directions. The Vikings have won five of their last six games, while the Cardinals have lost four of their last five. The good news for Arizona is Minnesota still has games against the Buccaneers and Saints on its schedule, while the Cardinals face two NFC East teams (one of them being the surging Giants) before closing out against the 49ers and Rams. Let’s see what happens.

Washington FT

This team doesn’t have a prayer of getting a wild card spot but is very much in play for the NFC East title. And while they have the same 5-7 record as the first-place Giants, they don’t get to face each other over the final weeks of the season. That’s a shame because although Washington did lose both games to New York, it was by a combined total of three points. The FT’s face the 49ers and Seahawks before ending the year against the Panthers and Eagles. That seems a little easier than the Giants’ path, which includes games against the Browns and Ravens.

Bears, Lions and 49ers

These teams are grouped together because they’re all sitting at 5-7. And let’s be honest, Chicago and Detroit have zero chance at the playoffs. San Francisco could still find a way to sneak in, but the odds of that happening are still pretty slim. It’s been a tough season for the 49ers, and it’s not their fault. When injuries and COVID-19 cases pile up, what can you do? They’ll be back and stronger than ever in 2021. You heard it here first.

WHAT’S THE CHATTER?

Get a leg up: The Giants are hoping Daniel Jones will be sufficiently recovered from his hamstring injury to be able to play against the Cardinals on Sunday. However, would it be the worst thing in the world if he doesn’t suit up? New York turned to Colt McCoy against the Seahawks last week and while he didn’t light up Seattle’s defense, he didn’t make the kind of egregious mistakes that young quarterbacks are prone to make. A steady veteran presence might be what Big Blue needs if they want to clinch a division title.

Is he done? Cam Newton has five touchdown passes and 10 interceptions this season. Ouch. Many people have pointed out that the Patriots don’t have anything that resembles dependable weapons, and they would be right. But still. If this season was supposed to be Newton’s audition for the rest of the league, it’s hard to imagine there are suitors out there clamoring for his services. I’m not ready to give up on him yet, because I remember seeing him in MVP form back in 2015, but I can’t blame anyone who has lost faith. And that’s a real shame.

Money poorly spent: People cheered when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones buckled and gave RB Ezekiel Elliott, who had been holding out in 2019, a big-money contract with $50 million guaranteed. What a victory for the players, right? Wow. Sure, Elliott got his money, but is currently having the worst season of his career. His five fumbles are the most of anyone not playing quarterback and he’s averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. Granted, Dallas has offensive line issues, but that’s actually the entire point. If you can’t be counted on to gain yardage without having one of the league’s best offensive lines in front of you, are you really worth the money?

No more Luck: Colts owner Jim Irsay was asked if he envisioned Andrew Luck making a return to the NFL after he abruptly retired before the 2019 regular season began. He responded by saying, “I think that door’s closed.” And I have to agree with him. Not only did Luck leave the NFL, has anyone ever heard from him? Where’s he been? What’s he up to? Nobody knows. He ghosted the Colts and professional football and I don’t fault him one bit. Wherever he is, I hope he’s happy and doing well.

Lost season: Christian McCaffrey is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Speaking of spending on running backs, the Panthers just gave McCaffrey a $64 million extension this past offseason, which made him the highest-paid back in NFL history. He played two games before suffering a high-ankle sprain and missing six weeks. He returned in Week 9 and immediately hurt his shoulder. After a few more weeks on the shelf, he now has a quad injury that happened “while training on his own.” The Panthers aren’t going anywhere. McCaffrey shouldn’t play another snap this season.