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01st Feb 2018

JOE’s one-line NFL season review

We've rated each team's NFL season, did we get it right?

Morgan Lowrie

What a season it has been.

The 2017/18 NFL campaign reaches its conclusion this Sunday as the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots battle it out at Super Bowl 52. It has been a mixed season for the NFL’s franchises, varying from the laughably poor to the surprisingly brilliant.

On that note, here is our breakdown of each team’s season, nicely packaged into a neat, one-line summary.

Have we got it right like Brady and the Pats, or does our review more closely resemble the 0-16 Browns? Let us know your thoughts!

AFC North

Pittsburgh Steelers (13 – 3) B-

Talked the talk but when it came down to it, the Steelers couldn’t walk the walk.

Baltimore Ravens (9 – 7) C

A self-destruction of epic proportions.

Cincinnati Bengals (7 – 9) D

The only moment of note from this season was the Bengals’ Andy Dalton ending the Bills 17-year play-off drought.

Cleveland Browns (0 – 16) F

 

If it’s always sunny in Philadelphia then my goodness it is always raining in Cleveland. Things can only get better, right?

AFC East

New England Patriots (13 – 3) A+

Featured more hiccups than usual, but the double-B dynasty steam rolls its way to another Super Bowl.

Buffalo Bills (9 – 7) C+

In the playoffs by a whisker, and out just as fast with a whimper.

Miami Dolphins (6 – 10) D-

Defeat both last season’s Super Bowl finalists, lose 10 games…some things just can’t be explained, including the 2017 Miami Dolphins.

New York Jets (5 – 11) C-

Nobody expected much from the Jets this year, but with a promising young team things are looking up on the green side of NYC.

AFC South

Jacksonville Jaguars (10 – 6) A

The people’s champion, the defiant underdog, a very young team looks here to stay.

Tennessee Titans (9 – 7) B-

Solid season, a play-off spot, but like many before them felled by the New England sword.

Indianapolis Colts (4 – 12) E

No Luck? Nothing to see here.

Houston Texans (4 – 12) E

Another season of injuries overshadowed a potentially good team.

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (10 – 6) B

Kansas City – proving that it IS possible to throw away a year’s work in 15 minutes.

Los Angeles Chargers (9 – 7) C

Philip Rivers continues to drag this franchise kicking and screaming towards just above average.

Oakland Raiders (6 – 10) E

A team tipped to go all the way somehow managing to go home in December.

Denver Broncos (5 – 11) E

You’re only as good as your quarterback, and Denver’s quarterbacks did not get it done this year.

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings (13 – 3) A-

From the ‘Minnesota Miracle’ one week, to a bottle job Spurs would be proud of the next, many television sets were destroyed in Minneapolis. Oh, what might have been.

Detroit Lions (9 – 7) B-

Matt Stafford tried, but just failed in his quest to get his team to their regular spot in the wild card weekend.

Green Bay Packers (7 – 9) C-

Has there ever been a better example of a one man team in the history of professional sports?

Chicago Bears (5 – 11) D

A win against the Steelers was as good as it got, and that was in September.

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles (13 – 3) A+

No Wentz? No problem, the Eagles are going to the Promised Land!

Dallas Cowboys (9 – 7) C

No Zeke, no party… underwhelming and underachieving.

Washington Redskins (7 – 9) D

A wholeheartedly forgettable season, expect better!

New York Giants (3 – 13) F

Injuries and sackings made it a terrible season for Big Blue, which will get dramatically worse if bitter rivals Philadelphia are victorious in Super Bowl 52.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints (11 – 5) A

Amazing effort by a young team with the legend Drew Brees at the helm, but the stuff of nightmares ended what was until that point an excellent season.

Carolina Panthers (11 – 5) B+

Carolina entered the post-season unfancied, and that tag was justified with an exit at the first hurdle.

Atlanta Falcons (10 – 6) B

A stunning win in LA followed by a miserable defeat in Philly summed up the most hot and cold team in the NFL.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5 – 11) F

The NFL’s dark horse turned out to be more of a 3-legged donkey which collapsed to a miserable season.

NFC West

Los Angeles Rams (11 – 5) A-

The unfancied Rams put on a show in the regular season, but a lack of experience proved to be their downfall…a young team should challenge again next year.

Seattle Seahawks (9 – 7) B-

Pete Carrol and Russell Wilson just couldn’t get it going, thus continuing their spell as Seattle’s second favourite duo, behind Frasier and Niles Crane.

Arizona Cardinals (8 – 8) C

Slow starters meant no chance of the post season, no chance of success ending with no quarterback and no coach. Oh no!

San Francisco 49ers (6 – 10) 1st half F / 2nd half B+

A tale of two halves. Jimmy G rolled into town and turned the 49ers from a laughing stock into a really fun team with realistic ambitions of a play-off spot next year.

Catch all the action from Super Bowl 52 including the NBC pre-game show on NFL Game Pass, available for just £14.99. You can also tune in live on BBC One and Sky Sports Main Event from 11.30pm Sunday 4th February.