Tag: high

Here’s Part II of this morning’s review of the teams who failed to make the playoffs this year, ranked in best-to-worst order according to the records, complete with highs and lows.

Let’s go!

In the NFC:

7. The Chicago Bears

High point: The Bears began the season 7-1. but perhaps the biggest positive of the season was the rediscovery of the Cutler to Marshall connection. The QB/WR duo were reunited in Chicago this season and proved that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Low point: In what had to be the biggest off-season surprise so far, head coach Lovie Smith was fired on Monday after nine seasons in Chicago – including a Super Bowl appearance, multiple playoff appearances, and a 10-6 season this year. However, this is usually what happens when a new GM is hired and doesn’t get to choose his head coach: he fires the coach the first chance he gets. Unfortunate, but true.

8. The New York Giants

High point: The big win against the Packers coming off their bye week in Week 12. It seemed like it was all systems go for the reigning Super Bowl champs, however…

Low point: You can only hope for a thrilling Eli Manning 4th quarter victory so often. And the Giants needed one too many this year. A surprisingly disappointing season for last year’s Super Bowl champs, but the Giants will be just fine. Couglin’s got it all under control.

9. The Dallas Cowboys

High point: The unlikely win against the Giants in Week 1. It seemed like they were firing on all cylinders, primed for an excellent season.

Low point: I’m going with the 29-24 loss to the Giants in October on this one. The Cowboys fought back and overcame a 23-0 deficit…and then lost the game. It was basically the story of the season for the Boys in Blue.

10. The St. Louis Rams

High point: If I were a Rams fan, I would feel great about this season. The Rams, under new head coach Jeff Fisher, finished 4-1-1 (4 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie) in their division this season. For a team that finished 7-9 on the season, that’s not too shabby.

Low point: The overseas obliteration by the Patriots. It’s one thing to lose; it’s quite another when you have to think about it for hours on end on a flight home from Europe. Salt in the wound.

11. The Carolina Panthers

High point: The fortification of Cam Newton. He had a rough initiation to his second year as a starting QB but seemed to emerge stronger and better for it, winning 4 of their last 5 games.

Low point: The pre-season Super Bowl guarantee. Just say no to theatrics and promises.

12. The New Orleans Saints

High point: I really think the high point for the Saints this year isn’t a single moment; it was a collective decision  to fight, not fold. The Saints were up against Everest this season with all of the suspensions and circus of Bounty Gate, but they gave it their best shot every week. I’d bet Drew Brees and his heart and passion had a lot to do with that.

Low point: Having the entire country wonder whether the Saints would even win a single game this season after a seemingly hopeless 0-4 start. And, it has to be mentioned: the suspensions. The ones that stuck and the ones that didn’t but still lingered over the whole season. They played through it as well as anyone could have hoped for, but it was still a major distraction.

13. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

High point: The emergence of rookie running back Doug Martin. His breakout 251-yard game in Week 9 was unreal. (Although the nickname “muscle hamster” might be a person low point for Martin.)

Low point: The way the Week 7 game against the Saints ended, with the enforcement of the illegal touching of a forward pass penalty. It felt like such a let-down after a riveting, hard-fought game.

14. The Arizona Cardinals

High point: The 4-0 start.

Low point: The rest of the season.

(Seriously.)

15. The Detroit Lions

High point: Calvin Johnson breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season receiving yards record. He deserved that record as a player and as a person.

Low point: There were a lot of heartbreaking losses for the Lions this season. (Not that I’m complaining; I’m a Packers fan after all.) But if I were on the sidelines, I think the most soul-crushing would have been the Thanksgiving day loss to the Texans, in large part due to the enforcement of the crazy challenge flag rules.

16. The Philadelphia Eagles

High point: Winning 3 of their first 4 games, which seemed like a good sign for the Eagles, despite the fact that they were winning in improbable, by-the-skin-of-their-teeth sorts of ways.

Low point: Losing 11 of their next 12 games, which seemed to expose  the flaws that were hinted at during the less-than-convincing wins at the beginning of the season. Head coach Andy Reid was fired on Monday after 14 seasons with the team. He’s already interviewing for new head coaching jobs, and he’ll no doubt bring new life into whichever job he chooses. He’s a class act.

Good work, everyone! We made it through both conferences in one day! Woo hoo!!!

Tomorrow, we’ll look ahead to Wildcard Weekend and chat about the teams headed to the playoffs. See you then!

There would usually be a “What to Know After Week 17”  post this week, but since it’s the end of the regular season we’re going to evaluate the teams who did not make the playoffs, whose seasons ended in Week 17. Let’s start in the AFC and take a look at each team’s highs and lows, ranked best to worst according to their regular season record (beginning with #7, since the top 6 teams are in the playoffs).

In the AFC:

7. The Pittsburgh Steelers

High point: The unexpected Charlie Batch led win over the Ravens was everything we love about football. Great win for a great player.

Low point: Roethlisberger was a key player to the Steelers demise this season – both his absence (because of injury) and his presence (because of late-game turnovers) – presented problems for Pittsburgh, along with a litany of other high-profile players who were injured.

8. The San Diego Chargers

High point: Ending up in the middle of the pack in the AFC after another dismal season. (This might speak more to the AFC than it does to the Chargers, but they should probably take it and run with it anyways.)

Low point: In their third consecutive season without making the playoffs they’ve officially done what they’ve been rumored to do in each of those three seasons: fire head coach Norv Turner and General Manager A.J. Smith.

9. The Miami Dolphins

High point: Honestly, it could have been a lot worse for the Dolphins this year. 7-9 isn’t too bad for a team with a lot of drama early on in the season and a new head coach.

 

Low point: The sprinklers going off in the middle of the third quarter of the Seahawks at Dolphins game. Really, this clip never gets old.

10. The Tennessee Titans

High point: A 37-3 win in Miami in Week 10.

Low point: A 51-20 loss in Chicago in Week 9.

(That’s a microcosm of the Titans season: big wins and big losses back to back. They’re one of the toughest teams to figure out. But head coach Mike Munchak will stay on for a second season after firing rumors were put to rest on Monday by owner Bud Adams.)

11. The New York Jets

High point: A 48-28 statement win in Week 1 against the Bills that seemed like a tone-setter for the season to come.

Low point: The now-infamous butt-fumble against the Patriots, which was much more indicative of the actual tone of the season: mind-boggling, ugly, and painful to the point of hilarity. That the Jets are not 16th on this list is a stunning indictment of the state of the AFC.

12. The Buffalo Bills

High point: Stand-out running back C.J. Spiller. He had a phenomenal season.

Low point: The Bills fired head coach Chan Gailey on Monday after three seasons. They have major problems to address in the off-season, most notably quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Also: the Lambeau Leap fail. Priceless.

13. The Cleveland Browns

High point: The win against the Roethlisberger-less Steelers in Week 12. Sure, the Steelers did everything in their power to lose the game (to the tune of 8 turnovers) but it’s still nice to win against a divisional foe when victories are few and far between.

Low point: New owner Jimmy Haslam fired the coach and the GM on Monday and is expected to make sweeping changes throughout the entire organization. I’m probably wrong, but it doesn’t feel like this whole situation is good news for the Browns.

14. The Oakland Raiders

High point: QB Terrell Pryor (former Ohio State Buckeye) got his first start on Sunday, and Raiders fans should feel slightly optimistic about his potential (in the right system). Also, it looks like head coach Dennis Allen will keep his job after a tough first season.

Low point: It should always be a good thing to shut a team out, as the Raiders did to the Chiefs in Week 15. But when you do so entirely by field goals, it turns into a low point. Oh my word.

 

15. The Jacksonville Jaguars

High point: The almost-upset of the Texans in Week 11.

Low point: The Jags are setting themselves up for an odd off-season, firing their GM and keeping their head coach in limbo. Rumor has it that Tim Tebow is headed to Jacksonville, so one can only hope an innovative head coach running the spread option offense will dive in head first with Tebow. But basically, they are rebuilding the puzzle without the edge pieces in place first, and you can never be sure how that’s going to work out.

16. The Kansas City Chiefs

High point: The win against the Panthers the day after the horrific murder-suicide of Javon Belcher. I can’t imagine what kind of mental fortitude it took not only to coach and play that game, but also to win it with a team that only won one other game the entire season. A well-deserved victory if there ever was one.

Low point: Chiefs fans cheering after struggling QB Matt Cassel was knocked out during a game. That was a red flag that the collective mindset of football fans and culture of the game needs to change immediately. Also: the firing of Romeo Crennel on Monday. He’s a good man.

***Just a note from football history: “Black Monday,” the Monday following the regular season conclusion when head coaches get fired, was especially black this year, with seven firings so far. A lot of these guys were in their first few years with the organization, and while I realize that the NFL is a win-now league, I think it bears noting that famed Cowboys head coach Tom Landry did not win a SINGLE GAME in his first season. He went on to create a dynasty in Dallas, serving as head coach for 29 years. So there’s something to be said for having faith and withholding the ax.

***History Rant Concluded.

WHEW! Alright, so far we’ve covered the highs and lows of the AFC. This afternoon, we’ll breakdown the NFC.

See you all then!