By: Andy Davies

The NFC West was considered the elite division in the NFL as little as a year ago but things have progressed since, despite having the current Super Bowl champions in the Los Angeles Rams. 

Russell Wilson is no longer in the division, and no one quite knows who will be the QB1 in San Francisco. 

But who is the divisions best quarterback? Here are the rankings of the NFC West quarterbacks from best to worst.

Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)

What better place to start than with the QB1 of the Super Bowl Champions. Whilst Stafford was not the reason the Rams won Super Bowl 56 over the Cincinnati Bengals, with 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, he was certainly the final piece of the jigsaw as the Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since the 1999 season. 

The Rams were always contenders, making it all the way to Super Bowl 53, but there was always something missing at the quarterback position. Jared Goff did well but even he would admit he was probably not good enough to take the Rams where they needed.

He was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Stafford and the rest is history. Stafford had reached the postseason on three previous occasions, but each time came up short at the first attempt. His lack of playoff wins was a factor pointed out by sceptics when he arrived but when the Rams made the playoffs, Stafford showed why the team gave up so much to get him. In four games, he threw for 1,188 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions as well as having a 70% completion percentage (98 from 140).

In the regular season, Stafford also impressed. Only Tom Brady (43) threw for more touchdown passes (41), with Stafford throwing for the third-most passing yards (4,886). 

Stafford is clearly the choice for the number one spot on this list and it will take a lot for the other players in this list to catch him up.

Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)

Murray’s future is unclear, with his fifth option exercised but no longer-term deal in place at time of writing. 

The 2019 first overall pick has shown signs of his potential but is yet to fulfil this on a consistent basis. In three seasons, he has thrown for 11,480 yards, 70 touchdowns and 34 interceptions, whilst also recording  1,786 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. 

A trend of Murray’s career so far is starting off the season well but tailing off down the stretch. He will need a big year to convince the Cardinals front office that he is the player moving forward. Either way, he still remains second on this list.

Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers)

When the 49ers lost to the Rams in the NFC Championship game back in January, it was seen by many to be the end of Jimmy G in San Francisco. However, he is still on the team.

Having missed OTA’s due to rehab on his shoulder,  he has yet to be traded. Say what you want about Jimmy G, but he wins games. Simple as that. Whilst he has never been the reason for the 49ers winning games, he is a very serviceable quarterback. With uncertainty over Lance after reports of the organisation being underwhelmed, Garoppolo is the right guy to be under centre for the 49ers in week one. 

Drew Lock/Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks)

Whether it is Lock or Smith, there is no way they aren’t at the bottom of this list. Lock has a great start to life in the NFL, when he started for the Denver Broncos towards the end of the 2019 season, his 2020 and 2021 campaigns flattered to deceive. Meanwhile, Smith has been a backup for most of his career. Neither of these quarterbacks, whoever starts against the Broncos in week one, are likely to inspire confidence from fans or the Seattle coaching staff. 

The post Ranking the NFC West Quarterbacks right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies, Jake Rajala, and Chinmay Kulkarni

The Los Angeles Rams square off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. The Rams last played in the Super Bowl in Super Bowl, where they were edged out by the Pats 13-3. The Rams still have a Super Bowl win in their back pocket, as they won the Super Bowl in 2000 with the “greatest show on turf”. Meanwhile, Cincy’s last Super Bowl appearance was in 1989 when they were defeated by Joe Montana. Unfortunately, the Bengals still do not have a Super Bowl victory to their name. 

The Bengals and Rams have an exciting day as they both clash to win a Super Bowl in their quiet Super Bowl history. Regardless of who comes out on victory, each team should hold their head high and trust in their ability to compete for Super Bowl glory in 2022. With that said, an interesting question arises: which team has more promise to claim more Super Bowl rings after the Super Bowl today eclipses? Well, we are going to look at this unique angle and determine which Super Bowl featured team fields a better dynasty. 

Cincinnati Bengals (Jake Rajala):

The Bengals, who are gearing up to play in Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams, clearly are on a better path than the LA Rams in my opinion. The Cincinnati Bengals have a cigar-smoking, 25-year-old quarterback, that threw for 4,611 yards and 34 passing touchdowns in 2021. The rise of Ja’Marr Chase was impressive and pivotal to the Bengals success, as he hauled in 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. Chase won Offensive Rookie of The Year by a wide margin in 2021. In addition to Chase and Burrow, the Bengals have a true franchise RB in Joe Mixon. Furthermore, the Bengals have quality WRs in Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd to reel in passes from Burrow. The Bengals RB1 had 1,205 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in the 2021 regular season. Ja’Marr Chase was third in receiving touchdowns in the NFL, while Mixon was third in rushing yards last season. The Bengals arguably have the top NFL trio in the league, plus the Cincy trio are all 25 years and younger. 

The Bengals do have a middle-of-the-pack defense, but they have top-shelf players in their unit. The pass-rushing menace Trey Hendrickson was fifth in the NFL in sacks in 2021. Hendrickson registered 14 sacks in 2021 and 13.5 sacks in 2020. The Bengals stud LB Logan Wilson hasn’t only been the leading tackler in the playoffs, but he unveiled 100 tackles and four interceptions in 13 games last season. The Bengals don’t have great depth or balance, but they are an aggressive, versatile defense that can make big plays in big moments.

An underlooked and exciting aspect of the Bengals has to lie with the potential of the Bengals offensive line. It was well noted that the Bengals passed up on selecting Penei Sewell to grab Chase in the 2021 draft. The Bengals OL is honestly dreadful, but that fact can still be reflected in a positive manner. It should be noted on how much room for improvement can be made on the offensive line and it’s really stunning that the Bengals have been so imposing on offense despite the lack of quality offensive play. The Bengals offense can reach an unearthly level of play if they jolt the offensive line with more talent. 

The unique factor that the Bengals have in their favor over the Rams is their dominance over their division and over big opponents like the Chiefs. The Bengals are 2-0 against the Chiefs in their last two matchups and they clearly have position matchups against the Chiefs that are in their favor. We witnessed the Bucs go 1-2 against the Saints in 2020-2021, then the Saints continued to show their power over the Bucs in 2021-2022, as they went 2-0 against Tom Brady. The Bengals clearly have the upper hand in their matchups against the Chiefs and they will surely face in big-time matchups down the road. Meanwhile, the Rams have struggled mightily against the SF 49ers, as they’ve been 3-7 against the 49ers since February of 2017. It doesn’t appear to matter which players the Rams add, as they have been dominated by Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers. 

Los Angeles Rams (Andy Davies):

There is one thing a team needs to form a dynasty, a great head coach. Sean McVay is certainly that. At the age of 36, he has a lot of years left in him. He has stated that he could retire after the Super Bowl, but he should have at least a few more seasons in him. After all, Stafford recently arrived in LA.

From exciting playbooks to an infectious personality, McVay has the “It” factor that not many have. If he keeps doing what he is doing, he has the coaching ability to keep the Rams as contenders no matter who he has in his 52-man roster.

The future of the Rams’ roster is somewhat in question with the amount of first-round picks they have given up. However, they have proved that they can find great talent in later rounds. Cam Akers and Van Jefferson were taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and both could be key factors in Super Bowl 56. Jordan Fuller may not be available for the game but he was also a great find in the fourth round, not to mention 2019 second-round pick Taylor Rapp and fourth-round selection Greg Gaines.

Matthew Stafford will want to address some of his errors in the postseason but was still second in the league for passing touchdowns and third in the league for passing yards in 2021. He has not got age on his side like Burrow but as Brady proved, a non-mobile QB can last until their 40’s. 

Stafford still has the capability to perform at the top for at least the next seven to eight seasons. With players at the peak of their powers, such as Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey and Odell Beckham Jr, this team can dominate the NFC for the next five years.

One more reason why the Rams can form a dynasty is the weakness of the NFC as opposed to the AFC.

Aaron Rodgers was the MVP for a fourth time this season, but there is plenty of talk about Rodgers either retiring or moving to the AFC. 

Kyler Murray removed most of his social media photos and is said to have unfollowed the Arizona Cardinals. He may still stay in the NFC or move to the AFC. Either way, he is not anywhere near as complete as Stafford. 

Otherwise, most of the great quarterbacks in the NFC remain on the AFC side of the coin, especially now Tom Brady has retired.

Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Derek Carr all reside in the AFC. In the NFC, Dak Prescott is the only other QB to be seen as one of the best in the league. The Rams will take confidence in that they will not have to ensure duels with many top quarterbacks in the postseason, especially without the aforementioned Brady and potentially Rodgers to come up against. This could easily see the Rams play in the next two to three Super Bowls as well as Sunday’s. This argument can also be used against the Bengals as Burrow will have to come up against much more elite quarterbacks if he is to make a return to the big game. s

No matter who is playing, the Super Bowl is always a coin flip (no pun intended). Anything can happen and anyone can win. The Rams will feel that on their day they can beat anyone. This is why the Rams can feel they have the better chance of the two to become a dynasty.

Verdict (Chinmay):

The Rams have made the realization that instead of using the draft to pick players, trading all their picks away for more capital and established players is a better strategy for the present rather than grooming players to play in a system – to have them leave in a few years. While Sean McVay has plenty of success with a super team behind his back, rumors have surfaced this week about a potential early retirement, placing his family first. Furthermore, dynasties can be built on one of two things, a superstar quarterback, and a fantastic defense. In the case of Los Angeles, its defense is more likely to have Hall of Famers on the team, than the offense. Though an aging Matt Stafford may have the talent, he’s known to make several head-scratching plays while under center – Lions Matt Stafford rearing his ugly head. Frankly, he doesn’t seem like a Tom Brady or Joe Montana-like talent, meaning that salary cap issues may arise when it comes to paying all the players on defense. Therefore, the Rams have a smaller Superbowl window and are largely predicated on the performance of Matt Stafford.

The Bengals on the other hand are the clear, young, sexy pick for dynasty success. An explosive offense able to battle with the best in the AFC, an improving defense, and excellent special teams, Cincinnati should be head and shoulders in talent over the rest of the AFC. 

Competition however, is the biggest driving factor of the Bengals demise – with a plethora of young quarterbacks in the AFC – making the AFC championship game year after year is not a given for any team in the division. For example, the Chargers were this year’s sexy pick to make a run in the playoffs, while teams like the Bengals and Raiders went completely under the radar. Since all quarterbacks are younger and less experienced in the NFL, each year will be a sort of dart throwing competition for which equally talented team will make a playoff push. However, the Bengals even reaching the Superbowl is an accomplishment alone, well on their way to gaining significant playoff experience. Provided they don’t experience a Superbowl slump next season (hello Falcons and Eagles) they should be ready to take the next step towards a dynasty. 

Finally, it’s important to talk about homefield advantage on these two teams. Los Angeles has seen extremely quick success with both of its NFL teams while being primarily a baseball and basketball town. I predict that within 10 years, the fanbase will be grown up enough to make a difference, but in the near future, teams like the Niners will continue to have more fans to outnumber those from LA. 

Bengals fans meanwhile have experienced a quick succession into one of the best NFL fanbases. With a slightly crazy demeanor like Bills Mafia, they’ve shown that having a good NFL team after a long drought can completely revitalize a city in several ways.  

Creating a dynasty is a slow burn. The Bengals are doing all the right things in the grooming of their young players to trend in the right direction. The Bengals are cleary more geared to be a dynasty team right now. 

The post Bengals or Rams: which team is more likely to become a dynasty? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The NFC West is the NFL’s best division. All four teams are seen as playoff contenders, with some media personalities having all four teams in the postseason according to their predictions.

Here is a preview of the most stacked NFL division.

Arizona Cardinals (2020 Record: 8-8. Missed out on playoffs)

The Cardinals struggled for consistency, going 6-3 before a 2-5 run down the stretch. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is under some pressure this season after failing to make the playoffs in his first two seasons.

Kyler Murray is also under some pressure, albeit not a tremendous amount. He is a walking highlight reel when it comes to the ground game. However, his arm talent still needs work. With wide receiver Deandre Hopkins and Christian Kirk to throw to as well as 2021 second-round selection Rondale Moore, he is not short of options. The Cardinals acquired long-time Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, but is the aging wideout enough to transform this offense? Franchise icon Larry Fitzgerald departed in Free Agency, with a 38-year old still without a team. He has spoken of how he “doesn’t have the urge to play right now”, which is almost announcing your retirement without actually doing so. He may still join a team late into the season and the playoffs, which may give him the best chance he’s had since losing to the Steelers in Super Bowl 43.

Murray excels in the run game, but he can’t do it all by himself. Kenyan Drake departed in Free Agency, giving Chase Edmunds the chance to become the number one back. James Conner has arrived as a free agent this summer to provide depth to this running back room.

Their biggest headline offseason addition came on the defensive side of the ball, with Houston Texans great J.J. Watt arriving in Arizona. This came to the surprise of most who saw the defensive end suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers or Cleveland Browns. Linebacker Haason Reddick has left during the offseason after a brilliant 2020 season. Linebacker Zaven Collins was drafted sixteenth overall in 2021 as his replacement. Fellow linebacker Isaiah Simmons will want to improve on his anti-climatic rookie season after being seen by many as the steal of the 2020 draft. Their defensive x-factor is safety Budda Baker, who is one of the best in the entire league.

A tough opening six games sees them face the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, and Browns. This could easily be a 2-4 or 1-5 start. They then face the Houston Texans, Packers,49ers, Carolina Panthers, and Seahawks, which will only give Arizona 2 more wins. This will leave them either 3-8 or 4-7 before a final 5 games versus the Chicago Bears, Rams, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and Seahawks. I can only see two wins here, leaving the Cardinals finishing the 2021 season either 5-12 or 6-11.

When the two biggest headline offseason acquisitions for a team who finished 8-8 last season are two players at the end of their careers, this is never a good thing. With a head coach on the hot seat and with a tough schedule, expect Arizona to really disappoint this season.

Prediction: 4th in NFC West.

Los Angeles Rams (2020 Record: 10-6. Lost in Divisional Round)

The Rams go into this season as the NFC West team with the most hype after the trade for Matthew Stafford. This saw their first overall pick from 2016 in Jared Goff go the other way as part of the trade. Head coach Sean McVay has a new QB to work with and will be excited to work with another former first overall pick.

Stafford was drafted in 2009 and has thrown for 45,109 yards, 282 touchdowns and interceptions in the 165 games he has played. This includes eight 4,000 yard seasons, one even stretching to 5,038 along with 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. This amounts to 273.4 yards per game and with 3,898 completed passes, he has a career average of 11.6 yards per completed pass and a touchdown per every 13.8 completed passes.

Stafford has an immediate upgrade when it comes to receivers. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp represent an immediate upgrade at the receiver position. The running back room is the one area of the Rams’ offense that could let them down. Cam Akers was expected to be the lead back, before injury put a stop to his season before it even started. Darrell Henderson and offseason signing Sony Michel will be the two running backs to take Akers’ place.

The Rams will also be aided by the number one defense from last season. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers and could be a big miss. Under new defensive coordinator Joe Barry, they will still be a force, thanks to Aaron Donald who is one of the best players in the entire NFL, with 85.5 career sacks in the regular season. Using a 3-4 scheme, the defensive end is the undisputed star of the defensive line. Behind him is linebacker Leonard Floyd, who recorded 10.5 sacks in 2020. Their secondary is one of the best in the league, with shutdown corner Jalen Ramsey the best cornerback in the league. Alongside Darius Williams, this represents arguably the best cornerback tandem in the league. Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp are both young and exciting players. John Johnson will be a big miss in the safety position.

It remains to be seen if Matt Stafford is the difference between the Rams winning a Super Bowl or not. It also remains to be seen if the Rams can be a great defensive unit without Staley. Either way, we will soon find out.

Their schedule sees five almost guaranteed wins, as they face the Bears, Lions, Giants, Texans and Jaguars. Matchups against the Vikings and Colts as well as two games against the Cardinals sees the Rams are favorites whereas their divisional home and away games against the 49ers and Seahawks represent four tough games that are very much 50/50. The Ravens, Buccaneers and Packers games are also very even affairs for the Rams. Winning those “easy games” plus winning half of the 50/50 games would have the Rams finishing 12-5. This could be enough to take them to the division title.

Prediction: 1st in NFC West.

San Francisco 49ers (2020 Record: 6-10. Missed out on playoffs)

There have been no real significant incomings or outgoings this offseason in San Francisco but they will be buoyed by the return of many starters. The 49ers reached Super Bowl 54 in the 2019 season but only managed six wins in 2020. George Kittle, Nick Bosa and Raheem Mostert were just three of the big-name players to spend last season on the sidelines.

Running back Trey Sermon was drafted in the second round, with quarterback Trey Lance taken third overall. The 49ers traded up for him, giving multiple draft picks to the Miami Dolphins in the process. This sends immediate pressure on Lance’s way. Nobody knows who will start out of Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. There is talk of head coach Kyle Shanahan using a two-quarterback system, something that has a lot of NFL fans really intrigued. With the amount of draft picks the 49ers used to trade up, Lance will eventually start. It is wise for the 49ers to slowly bring him in, especially considering the strength of the division.

With all their big names back, this will put the 49ers at full strength on both sides of the ball despite the loss of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. They will make a return to the playoffs but the quarterback situation may just prevent them from reclaiming the division title.

Prediction: 2nd in NFC West.

Seattle Seahawks (2020 Record: 12-4. Missed out on playoffs)

The Seahawks are in that group alongside the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in that they are the perfect example of consistency. Head coach Pete Carroll always has this team in contention but can they once again make the postseason despite no major additions and just three draft picks.

Safety Jamal Adams signed a new deal and quarterback Russell Wilson decided to stay after some offseason unrest. With receivers such as D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett at his disposal, he won’t be short of options. He will hope for better protection in 2021, being one of the most sacked quarterbacks in recent years.

With defensive studs such as Adams and linebacker Bobby Wagner, they have two legitimate game changers in a defensive unit that improved throughout the 2020 season.

The Seahawks should expect another appearance in the postseason but their lack of activity this offseason might hinder their chances of going far in the postseason.

Prediction: 3rd in NFC West.

The post Latest NFC West Preview appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

Plenty of uncertainty surrounds the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans going into the 2021 season. Their quarterback situations are far from clear and their overall rosters are mediocre at best.

The same goes for their head coaches, with all three going into their first seasons at the franchise. Neither of Dan Campbell, Nick Sirianni, or David Culley has been a full-time head coach in the NFL. Campbell is the only one to have some experience, with his spell as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015.

Here is why you should be expecting the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the three worst records in the league in 2021.

Saying Goodbye To A Franchise Legend In Detroit. Struggles For The Replacement

Matthew Stafford was the number one overall pick in 2009, with the entire city of Detroit hoping he would be the man to turn around the fortunes of the franchise. Despite three seasons of making the playoffs, the Lions and Stafford never won a single postseason game as the wait continues. The Lions remain the team with the second-longest period without a playoff win, their last taking place on January 5th, 1992.

Stafford had some great individual moments as a Lion, most notably his Mic’d up moment during his 2009 rookie season. In a week eleven game against the Cleveland Browns, he overcame injury to produce a moment of pure heroism. He played with a separated shoulder despite the efforts of the medical staff to keep him off the field, leading the Lions to a touchdown-winning drive.

Jim Caldwell guided the Lions to these playoff appearances but was not seen as good enough to take them to the next step. New England Patriots assistant head coach Matt Patricia was brought in but never took to life as head coach. The Lions had three consecutive losing seasons under the coaching of Patricia. They will hope that they have found their guy in Dan Campbell. His press conference was certainly not dull, with Campbell referring to “biting kneecaps”. As a former Lions player, he knows what it takes to play in the league. He also knows about the city of Detroit and his intentions are both positive and clear. If he is given time, he has the desire to bring the good times back to Detroit. However, he is inexperienced as a head coach and the roster is below average.

New quarterback Jared Goff has the potential to struggle. This is despite the drafting of offensive lineman Penei Sewell at seventh overall, a selection that had Campbell and new General Manager Brad Holmes very excited.

Despite his brilliant 2018 season that saw the Rams reach Super Bowl 53, Goff had a poor game and struggled in 2020 as he and head coach Sean McVay’s relationship deteriorated.

Goff struggled despite a plethora of offensive talent around him. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp form one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. He is going to a franchise that let go of their two best wide receivers and failed to replace them.

The Lions have a schedule that features the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. There are also two games against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears. The Lions do not have it easy.

Prediction: 3-14

Trouble In Philadelphia; Reason For Hope?

The Eagles have seen three years of gradual decline after winning Super Bowl 52. The 2017 season saw the Eagles lift the Lombardi Trophy for the first time after two previous attempts.

Doug Pederson was the head coach to guide the Eagles to a Super Bowl but was fired after the conclusion of the 2020 season. His decision to bench rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts in order to lose and gain a higher draft pick appeared to be the final nail in the coffin.

Carson Wentz had an MVP caliber season before an injury derailed hopes of winning the award. Backup Nick Foles stepped in and guided the Eagles to the Super Bowl 52 win. He also stepped in a year later and guided the Eagles to a shock Wildcard Round win against the Chicago Bears, with thanks also going to a Cody Parkey missed field goal.

Both Foles and Wentz are no longer Eagles players. Out of the starters in that Super Bowl 52 win, only seven remain with the franchise. Their decision to draft Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson continues to be mocked by rival fans and nobody knows how new head coach Nick Sirianni will do in the role.

The schedule is mixed for Philadelphia. Whilst they face the New York Jets, Lions, and twice play the New York Giants, they also have to face the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.. This is as well as facing a rising Washington Football Team twice as well as playing the Dallas Cowboys both home and away.

Reports have surfaced in recent days of the Philadelphia Eagles being the favourites for Deshaun, with talks said to be “heating up”.

This could be a move that transforms the franchise. However, Deshaun Watson had his best statistical season yet the Texans only managed four wins all year. This proves that whilst it is very important to have a good quarterback, you need more around to be successful.

Unless the Eagles do something in what remains of the offseason, they will continue to be mediocre if their roster continues to be this poor. If they get offensive or defensive talent in the next one or two offseasons, then they are a team that will compete for years to come. Otherwise, the Eagles will fail to be a threat to both the NFC and NFC East.

This is why Deshaun should avoid the Eagles at this present time. He will be going into a situation no different to what he experienced in Houston.

Prediction: 4-13

What A Difference A Year Makes

Where do we start with the Houston Texans? The 2019 season saw them take a 24-0 lead against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. However, they allowed 41 unanswered points as they lost 51-31. What has unfolded since in the following nineteen months has been reminiscent of a Greek tragedy.

Head coach Bill O’Brien, who also was general manager, made the unusual decision to trade star wide receiver, Deandre Hopkins. In exchange, the Texans received a running back past his sell-by date in David Johnson, one second-rounder and one fourth-round pick. O’Brien only lasted four games in the 2020 season as they finished the campaign with just four wins.

Since the conclusion of the 2020 season, franchise legend J.J Watt has left and there continues to be an uncertain future surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson. Houston’s quarterback requested a trade in January before allegations of sexual assault arose. These have lingered throughout the remainder of the offseason. It is unclear if Watson will play in the NFL at all in 2021 but even if he does, it is unlikely that he will be wearing a Texans jersey.

Houston has said they would listen to trade offers for Watson, with the franchise said to be wanting three first-round picks. They have also acquired Tyrod Taylor via Free Agency and used their first pick in the draft on Davis Mills in the third round. Even if the Eagles stick with Hurts, there will be plenty of other suitors.

Even with Watson, the Texans are light on the ground when it comes to elite talent. Linebacker Zach Cunningham and Laremy Tunsil are talents and despite adding Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram to the running back room, the roster is one of the league’s worst.

David Culley has developed somewhat of a worrying reputation after his time with the Eagles, Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens. During his fourteen-season spell with the Eagles, his four seasons with the Chiefs, and two years with the Ravens, he had 0 wide receivers earn a PFF grade of 80 or above.

The Chiefs wideouts went an entire season without a touchdown under Culley. With a wide receiver room featuring Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins and Anthony Miller, this is not exactly a position of strength for the Texans. Culley is unlikely to see any of these receivers score high PFF grades.

Whilst the Texans might be playing the Jacksonville Jaguars twice and the Jets, they have a tough schedule. They will face the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. Houston will also play the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers as well as the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans twice.

They are unlikely to win many of these games. Fans should be expecting a difficult season.

Prediction: 2-15

The post Expect the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the worst records in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.