NFL Weekly Wonder, Edition #9

By Peyton Schultze

After a huge road win in overtime versus Chicago, New Orleans heads back on the road this weekend for a bout with Tampa Bay in one of the biggest games of the season (via Saints.com).

Was Week 8 the week of the cold win? The elements were in play all around this league last week, and the turn from October to November brought plenty of exhilarating action in the NFL. From the Raiders’ hard-fought win on the road in Cleveland to the Steelers’ second straight nail-biting win on the road against the Ravens, there was a lot of great action in Week 8. And with this week’s Thursday Night Football game between the Packers and Niners almost ready to kick off Week 9, the hard turn toward fall football should bring plenty of elite matchups this weekend.

So what will we see in Week 9? Will the Dolphins keep riding their wave of momentum to another huge win on the road versus the Cardinals? Can Drew Lock and the Broncos replicate last week’s second half performance against the Falcons this week? Will the Ravens bounce back against the Colts this week after a crushing loss to the Steelers in Week 8? And who wins one of the biggest games of the season on Sunday Night Football between the Buccaneers and Saints? Let’s look ahead at a Week 8 slate full of hard-hitting intensity full of some of the biggest games all year long.

Game-by-Game Looks

It was another easy win for the Chiefs on Sunday, as the defending champions reasserted their dominance in the AFC over the Jets (via Arrowhead Pride).

Thursday: Green Bay (-5.5) @ San Francisco. 5:20 PM PT, FOX/NFL Network

A tricky game to picked based off San Francisco’s dominance a year ago, Green Bay heads back west for the first time this season after two blowouts in 2019. Aaron Rodgers and the Pack are not only seeking revenge for last year, but they enter this game on short rest after a bad performance against the rival Vikings in Week 8. Meanwhile, the 49ers are completely decimated on both sides of the ball, and it is hard to see them scoring a ton of points on Thursday night. The San Francisco pass rush will be the key to this game, which should be a little worrisome for Packers’ fans, but Green Bay should be able to ride a nice second half to a key primetime win.

San Francisco: 16 Green Bay: 20

Sunday: Seattle (-2.5) @ Buffalo, 10:00 AM PT, FOX

Buffalo still looks like a lock to capture the AFC East, but their play in recent weeks, especially on the offensive side of the ball, is concerning to say the least. Meanwhile, Seattle looks more and more like a favorite to get to the Super Bowl in the NFC with Russell Wilson playing at such a high level nearly every single week, while they also remain one of the most fool-proof teams when it comes to traveling on the road in an early time slot following a win. The Bills are not a bad team, and this game won’t tell us as much about them as it will tell us as much about just how good the Seahawks are.

Buffalo: 24 Seattle: 31

Sunday: Baltimore (-2.5) @ Indianapolis, 10:00 AM PT, CBS

Baltimore played their ideal style of play last week against Pittsburgh, but ultimately fell due to a poor game from Lamar Jackson against the Steelers’ defense. So will Jackson and the Ravens bounce back from last week’s loss against the Colts and arguably the best defense in the league? That depends on turnovers, as whichever team wins the turnover battle will end up on top in this game. It’s hard to have a ton of confidence in this pick from either side, but we’ll take the Ravens by an inch in a low-scoring and close game in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis: 18 Baltimore: 21

Sunday: Houston (-7.0) @ Jacksonville, 10:00 AM PT, CBS

It is shocking to see this large of a spread between two teams with one win apiece, but the Texans always have the advantage of running out Deshaun Watson. And even though the Jaguars are surely one of the league’s worst teams, there is not that big of a gap between these two divisional opponents on Sunday. You can always expect big numbers from the versatile Watson against a poor defense in Jacksonville, but you can also expect a decent game from a Jaguars’ offense James Robinson despite Gardner Minshew likely being ruled out. Proceed with caution, but don’t pencil this in as an easy win for the Texans.

Jacksonville: 27 Houston: 28

Sunday: Carolina @ Kansas City (-11.5), 10:00 AM PT, FOX

There’s no doubt that the Chiefs are once again the clear favorite to take home the Lombardi Trophy in the 2020 season, as they are cruising along to another phenomenal season on both sides of the ball. Yet Kansas City does have a tendency to start slow against lesser opponents, and one can expect that trend to continue on Sunday against a surprise Carolina squad that could see the return of Christian McCaffrey on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will easily overcome the Panthers in the end, but be very careful of falling into the trap of this large spread for a second straight week.

Carolina: 23 Kansas City: 33

Sunday: Detroit @ Minnesota (-4.0), 10:00 AM PT, CBS

Minnesota pulled off a huge upset on the road over Green Bay in Week 8, so it is fair to wonder just how much more juice this team has left in the tank for the second half of the season. The Vikings are a good team when they stick to one simple gameplan: give the ball to superstar running back Dalvin Cook as much as possible. And against a Lions’ team that sits at nothing more than the middle of the pack of the NFC, there’s no reason that should not continue to be the case for Minnesota. The Vikings should roll to back-to-back wins in this home divisional battle, and give their fans some slight hope of a second half run for the ages.

Detroit: 23 Minnesota: 28

Sunday: Chicago @ Tennessee (-6.0), 10:00 AM PT, FOX

The Bears are reeling right now, but the Titans are in a bit of a slump right now after back-to-back losses. So what gives in this tough Week 9 battle? It is hard to have any confidence in this Chicago offense right now despite their terrific play on defense, while the Titans still remain a legitimate contender in the AFC. Expect Tennessee to return to their roots by giving Derrick Henry the ball early and often behind a solid offensive line, as the Titans are able to get their sixth win and hold onto their lead for first place in the AFC South.

Chicago: 17 Tennessee: 30

Derek Carr and the Raiders grinded out a tough road win versus the Browns in Week 8. Can they make it two in a row versus the Chargers this weekend? (via Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Sunday: Denver @ Atlanta (-4.0), 10:00 AM PT CBS

Denver’s second half against the Chargers was their best moment of the season by a wide margin, giving the Mile High City some hopes of a possible Wild Card run in this confusing season. While that may be a bit much, the progression of Drew Lock from week-to-week will be a key storyline to follow, especially as he faces a poor Atlanta secondary that has struggled all year long. The Falcons will move the ball on offense against a solid Denver team, but the Broncos will ride their momentum from last week into their second straight win.

Atlanta: 23 Denver: 24

Sunday: New York G. @ Washington (-3.0), 10:00 AM PT, FOX

Washington is coming off a bye week after a big win against Dallas a few weeks ago, yet they still have to answer some real questions about offense and their ability to score at a reasonable clip. But the Giants have fought hard in every single game this season, and have actually had a much better season than their record may indicate. So should you fear taking New York as an underdog on the road to a team that doesn’t appear to be that much better on either side of the ball? Absolutely not, as the Giants should finally be able to pull out a late-game win behind Daniel Jones’ best performance of the season.

Washington: 13 New York G.: 28

Sunday: Las Vegas @ Los Angeles C. (-1.0), 1:05 PM PT, FOX

The Chargers were one second away from a huge divisional win on the road to give them some momentum for a weak November slate of games, but their 4th quarter collapse has sent their season in another direction. Justin Herbert still remains a legit contender for the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but the Chargers’ situational football on both sides of the field is a serious cause for concern in close games. Meanwhile, the Raiders have won ugly plenty of times this season, and appear poised to capture a big win on the road this weekend after a wild game in Week 8 versus the Browns. The Chargers aren’t bad, but the Raiders are simply a little too well-coached right now to not have the edge in this game.

Los Angeles C.: 27 Las Vegas: 31

Sunday: Miami @ Arizona (-4.5), 1:25 PM PT, FOX

The Dolphins may be the hottest team in the entire league right now, especially with a defense that is causing havoc for opposing offenses right now. But the Cardinals are coming off a bye after a huge win two weeks ago in primetime against the Seahawks, and they appear poised to take another step forward in the NFC playoff picture at home this weekend. Miami is a good team that might be able to sneak into a playoff spot this year, but Arizona will benefit from some extra rest and rattle Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday afternoon in the rookie’s second career start.

Miami: 17 Arizona: 31

Sunday: Pittsburgh (-13.5) @ Dallas, 1:25 PM PT, CBS

Dallas is a flat out mess right now, with questions all over their defense and a lack of consistency at the quarterback. And with the Ben DiNucci Experience officially over in Dallas, the Cowboys appear poised to turn to Cooper Rush and Garrett Gilbert to start against the league’s best defense. But will they really make any difference for the Cowboys in this new restoration of an old rivalry? No way, especially with how good Pittsburgh has looked over the course of the season. The Steelers should roll from the jump on the road to stay undefeated and keep a firm grasp on the AFC North.

Dallas: 9 Pittsburgh: 27

Sunday: New Orleans @ Tampa Bay (-5.5), 5:20 PM PT, NBC

Tampa Bay did not play well by any means on Monday Night Football, but they’ll be out for blood against their divisional rivals on Sunday Night Football. This has a chance to be statement game for both teams looking to get to the top of the NFC South, and the Buccaneers should benefit from the addition of Antonio Brown this weekend. But the Saints should also benefit from the return of Michael Thomas and his game-changing ability on the outside, which could see New Orleans put up their best offensive game of the season. Tampa Bay is a Super Bowl contender, but New Orleans will make a point on Sunday night to not count them out in the NFC playoff race just yet.

New Orleans: 24 Tampa Bay: 27

Monday: New England (-7.0) @ New York J., 5:15 PM PT, ESPN

It is so strange to see the Patriots struggling so much at this point in the season, but that’s what happens when the greatest quarterback of all-time decides to take his talents south after two decades with the same team. Nonetheless, New England should be able to overcome the miserable Jets, right? New York actually played Kansas City very tough for the first half of last week’s matchup, and a return to home could be the cure that Sam Darnold (if he suits up) and the Jets’ offense needs if they are going to pull out a win here sooner or later. New England is struggling everywhere right now with four straight losses, and they’ll make it five in a row as New York captures their first win of the season in our upset of the week.

New England: 16 New York J.: 17

Daily Fantasy Targets

Vikings’ running back Dalvin Cook has been on a tear when healthy in 2020, including a gigantic performance on the road against the Packers in Week 8 (via Yahoo! Sports).

Quarterbacks: Drew Lock (Denver Broncos) and Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)

Things looked very bleak for Drew Lock in the first half against the Chargers, but the young quarterback turned it around with a magnificent second half performance to lead the Broncos to a key divisional win. Denver now heads to Atlanta for a battle with Matt Ryan and the Falcons, and Lock should be able to ride his momentum from last weekend into this one against one of the worst secondaries in all of football. Expect him to add on to last week’s numbers and for the Denver offense to have their best game of the year. Meanwhile, quarterback Josh Allen has been slumping a bit in recent weeks. But a matchup with a poor Seattle secondary should be a cure to his woes, as Allen should be able to take the Buffalo offense and get them back on track. Look for his best game in weeks in a much-needed effort from the big-armed gunslinger.

Running Backs: Dalvin Cook (Minnesota Vikings) and James Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars)

How does anyone not roll with Dalvin Cook right now? Cook, when healthy, has probably been the best player in all of fantasy football so far this year, and his volume as the lead back appears to only be growing by the week. Cook sees a matchup with a poor Lions’ front seven this weekend, and the Vikings should give the ball plenty of times to Cook in a must-needed win for the Vikings in order to keep their distant playoff hopes alive. However, James Robinson of the Jaguars has also made a case of his own as one of fantasy’s best players in the young season. Robinson is the centerpiece of the Jacksonville offense right now, and a matchup with a terrible Houston defense is just what the Jaguars need if they want to finally get their second win of the season. The young running back should see a ton of carries in this one, leading to another great performance for fantasy owners.

Wide Receivers: JuJu Smith-Schuster (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Stefon Diggs (Buffalo Bills)

This is a very deep week for wide receivers, but two targets stand out among the rest. JuJu Smith-Schuster of the Steelers has been targeted more and more in the past few weeks, and a matchup against arguably the worst defense in the league could possibly lead to an even bigger day. JuJu is the Steelers’ top pass-catching option on offense, and without any sort of Cowboys’ corner that should be able to cover him all day, the former USC product should have a very big day in Big D. In addition, reciever Stefon Diggs has a chance for another huge game this weekend against Seattle’s iffy secondary. Diggs has gone off every single week where Josh Allen has played well, and his boom-or-bust potential is gigantic at this moment in time. So with Seattle giving up so many big plays this season, who is to say we won’t see a long touchdown or two from Diggs? Ride with the Buffalo playmaker on Sunday in a high-scoring game between two solid offenses.

Tight Ends: Noah Fant (Denver Broncos) and Darren Fells (Houston Texans)

Tight end has been a bit of a tricky position all season long, but Noah Fant of the Broncos has been a consistent presence all year long when on the field. With unique size and speed for a tight end, Fant has blossomed in the second year of his career as a focal point of the Denver offense. And with a poor Falcons defense on their schedule struggling to defend tight ends all year long, Fant is a good option to pair with Drew Lock in your starting lineup. However, tight end has been so shallow that creativity has to be called for from time-to-time. That is the exact case with tight end Darren Fells, who could be a redzone target for Deshaun Watson this weekend against a bad Jaguars’ defense. Fells is not the ideal weapon for fantasy, but he does have a tendency to break out on occasion against some lesser opponents. Take the risk with him this weekend, and hope it pays off with a huge touchdown catch or two.

Defenses: New York G. (vs. Washington) and Tennessee (vs. Chicago)

Are the Giants the most underrated defense in the league? New York is not a very good team by any means, but they have a very good defense that shows up week in and week out. So how do you think they’ll fare against a unpredictable quarterback in Kyle Allen and the rest of the Washington offense. Our guess is very well, as New York will ride their very solid defense to a divisional win this weekend. Tennessee also gets the advantage of facing a struggling Chicago offense right now after two straight losses, and they may be able to get their season back on track against an offense with limited weapons. The Bears have not been able to really move the ball against any team this year, and even though the Titans have struggled to gain any sort of pass rush in recent weeks, they should have arguably their best performance of the season at home against the Bears.

Fanatical Focus

Mid-Season Updated Power Rankings and Final Standings Predictions

Pittsburgh has re-entered the Super Bowl conversation in 2020, as they now lead the previously favored Ravens by two games in the AFC North (via Behind the Steel Curtain).

• 1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-1)

  The only team in the NFL that appears to be one step above the rest, Kansas City has looked every bit like the defending champions they are. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs may drop one or two more at the most, but this is clearly the best team in the league with a roster full of healthy All-Pro players. Final: (14-2, 1st in AFC West and 1st in AFC Playoff Picture)

• 2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)

  Tampa got off to a bit of a slow start, but Tom Brady’s Buccaneers appear to be in the class of the NFC with dominance on both sides of the ball. Brady is a candidate for MVP with a loaded group of talent on offense, but their elite defense could be their calling card on a January run to the Super Bowl. Final: (12-4, 1st in NFC South and 2nd in NFC Playoff Picture)

• 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-0)

  The Steelers are the surprise team of the 2020 season with the league’s best defensive group, and they appear to be a real challenger to the defending champions over in Kansas City. Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense still has more to prove though, and it will be interesting to see how they play down the stretch as they weather gets colder and the pressure gets tighter. Final: (14-2, 1st in AFC North and 2nd in AFC Playoff Picture)

• 4. Seattle Seahawks (6-1)

  Seattle is lucky to have such a clean record so far given their inconsistent play on defense, but they’re a surefire Super Bowl contender with Russell Wilson playing at a MVP-type level. Wilson and the Seahawks are the single best 4th quarter team in the NFL, and their game-changing play in big moments will be a major factor in January and February. Final: (13-3, 1st in NFC West and 1st in NFC Playoff Picture)

• 5. Green Bay Packers (5-2)

  A team that has their limitations but could capture another Lombardi Trophy if their opponents break their way, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are back once again as real contenders in the NFL. Their defense needs to step up down the stretch as soon as possible, and Rodgers likely needs one more big-time playmaker to join Seattle and Tampa Bay at the top of the NFC. Final: (12-4, 1st in NFC North and 3rd in NFC Playoff Picture)

• 6. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)

  Lamar Jackson could be the biggest X-Factor down the stretch in the league, as his game-changing ability still has the ability to put this loaded Ravens’ roster over the top despite a disappointing start to the season. Baltimore has what it takes to still win the Super Bowl, but things needs to start clicking soon enough on both sides before it’s too late. Final: (11-5, 2nd in AFC North and 5th in AFC Playoff Picture)

• 7. Buffalo Bills (6-2)

  A team that could evidently fall to a surprise team in the first round or get all the way to the Super Bowl in a big upset, Buffalo is one of the most unpredictable teams on a week-to-week basis. This is largely due to the wild card quarterback known as Josh Allen, whose game-changing arm could make-or-break this team’s title hopes in January. Final: (12-4, 1st in AFC East and 3rd in AFC Playoff Picture)

• 8. Arizona Cardinals (5-2)

  Arizona appears to just be tapping into their potential with quarterback Kyler Murray, which should be a frightening sight for any contender in the NFC playoff picture. Arizona’s defense will be what decides their fate for better or for worse, and other teams in the NFC should fear a first-round playoff matchup with an explosive group of Cardinals’ playmakers. Final: (10-6, 2nd in NFC West and 6th in NFC Playoff Picture)

• 9. Tennessee Titans (5-2)

  Head coach Mike Vrabel has put on a show all year long, but the Titans still have some work to do in front of them if they want to take another step forward after last year’s appearance in the AFC Championship Game. The play of Ryan Tannehill could be the difference for Tennessee in 2020, and they appear to be a team that can beat any type of team in front of them on a good day with him playing so well this year. Final: (11-5, 1st in AFC South and 4th in AFC Playoff Picture)

• 10. New Orleans Saints (5-2)

  The Saints are a very confusing group that has shown r=signs of contention, but drama has surrounded the organization all year long. Michael Thomas will need to return with a suit and cape if they want to ramp up their title hopes, and a surprisingly poor defense will need to stop letting up big plays to lesser offenses on a weekly basis. Final: (11-5, 2nd in NFC South and 5th in NFC Playoff Picture)

• 11. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)

  Jared Goff and the Rams still have some major question marks given their trait to play down to opponents, but they should still be able to return to the playoffs this season. Los Angeles may struggle to get the city’s third sports title of the year, but they won’t be an easy out by any means for any team in the league. Final: (10-6, 3rd in NFC West and 7th in NFC Playoff Picture)

• 12. Las Vegas Raiders (4-3)

  Las Vegas certainly has their own limitations with a shaky offense, but their offensive scheming and the very solid play of Derek Carr could see the Raiders return to the playoffs this season. They' aren’t a great team by any means, but AFC contenders should tread carefully with the Silver and Black in any sort of potential playoff matchup. Final: (10-6, 2nd in AFC West and 6th in AFC Playoff Picture)

• 13. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)

  Indy’s defense might be the biggest challenger to the Steelers for the role as the best defense in the league, which makes them a tricky opponent that could make a deep postseason run if things break their way. Their offense has some doubts with Philip Rivers playing well one week and awful the next, but the Colts’ play in the AFC South will be interesting to monitor as the end of the season nears. Final: (9-7, 2nd in AFC South and 7th in AFC Playoff Picture)

• 14. Chicago Bears (5-3)

  The Bears are not a bad team with how well they’ve played on defense, but just how good they are remains a hot debate. If Chicago wants to make a run and get back into the postseason, Nick Foles will need to conjure up some more winter magic with huge wins over their most bitter rival in Green Bay. Final: (9-7, 2nd in NFC North)

• 15. Cleveland Browns (5-3)

  Are these the same old Browns? Not quite given their current record, but they’re still a team that has proven they’re nothing but a pretender in the conference. They’ll make it close in the final weeks of the season, but it is hard to put faith in a team that will likely have to play the undefeated Steelers in Week 17 in order to get into the playoffs. Final: (8-8, 3rd in AFC North)

• 16. Miami Dolphins (4-3)

  Miami has been another major surprise in 2020 given their ability to go toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in all of football, and the potential development of Tua Tagovailoa will be a major story to follow. The Dolphins will make it close and will benefit from playing in a terrible division, but they may come up just short of a miraculous playoff berth despite a massive rebuild. Final: (8-8, 2nd in AFC East)

Drew Lock still has plenty to prove in the second half of the 2020 season, as Denver looks to make a surprise push to the postseason (via USA Today).

• 17. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)

  The Niners are putting up valiant efforts every single week, but it is hard to remember a more injured contender in recent memory. San Francisco will be back with a vengeance next season, but they’re likely about to go on a bit of a free fall over the next month or so without Jimmy Garoppolo or George Kittle. Final: (6-10, 4th in NFC West)

• 18. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4-1)

  Despite plenty of drama surrounding their quarterback and overall effectiveness on both sides of the ball, the Eagles sit at first place in a lousy NFC East through eight games. Their path to the playoffs in order to host a home game is simple: beat their terrible divisional opponents and somehow survive this wacky season. Final: (7-8-1, 1st in NFC East and 4th in NFC Playoff Picture)

• 19. Carolina Panthers (3-5)

  Many people expected a full rebuild this season in Carolina, but the Panthers have put up a fight almost every single week all season long. They’ll need running back Christian McCaffrey to recover from an ankle injury in order to overcome a loaded schedule and a tough division, but don’t count them out just quite yet. Final: (6-10, 3rd in NFC South)

• 20. Denver Broncos (3-4)

  Denver’s season was supposed to be over before it even began after a flurry of early injuries, but the Broncos still sit at 3-4 with hope at a run to the playoffs. Drew Lock and the Broncos’ offense will need to look like the same unit that just went on a second half tear in Week 8, so watch out for Denver if they can rattle off a few key divisional wins. Final: (7-9, 3rd in AFC West)

• 21. Minnesota Vikings (2-5)

  This has to be one of the best 2-5 teams in NFL history, as the Vikings are still a team that can upset any contender in the league as the proved a week ago. Their way to more success in the second half of the season? Give the ball to a healthy Dalvin Cook, who remains one of the best offensive players in all of football. Final: (6-10, 3rd in NFC North)

• 22. Los Angeles Chargers (2-5)

  The Chargers were one quarter away from potentially going on a run with a weak November slate, but a 4th quarter collapse in Denver put that hope to rest. Justin Herbert is already a star in the league, and the Chargers will beat team that they are not supposed to in at least a somewhat promising season. Final: (6-10, 4th in AFC West)

• 23. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1)

  Joe Burrow appears to be the answer at quarterback for this organization, as his high level of play should earn him the yearly Offensive Rookie of the Year honors for 2020. The Bengals are not a good team by any means, but the fact that they have been in nearly every single game speaks to the arrival of Burrow in Cincinnati. Final: (5-10-1, 4th in AFC North)

• 24. Detroit Lions (3-4)

  The Lions are not good, and they’re not quite bad enough, which puts them in a terrible position for the future of the organization. One has to wonder how much time head coach Matt Patricia has left in Detroit, as they’ll fall to last in the division once again. Final: (5-11, 4th in NFC North)

• 25. Atlanta Falcons (2-6)

  Even though their record remains quite poor after they already fired their head coach, the Falcons are still a scary team to face every week given their firepower on offense. But that fact alone also makes this one of the biggest disappointments in the league, which could have Atlanta searching for answers in the offseason. Final: (5-11, 4th in NFC South)

• 26. New England Patriots (2-5)

  For the first time in over two decades, we can firmly say that the Patriots just aren’t very good. With Cam Newton surrounded by limited offensive weapons and a defense that has taken a step back from last year, the Patriots appear to be on their way to a top ten pick in next year’s draft. Final: (5-11, 3rd in AFC East)

• 27. Washington Football Team (2-5)

  In any other division in the league, Washington is arguably even further down this list. But with so many other poor teams around them in the NFC East, the Washington Football Team will finish the season with some kind of hope in an otherwise-lost season for many. Final: (5-11, 2nd in NFC East)

• 28. Houston Texans (1-6)

  It is so odd to see the Texans so far down on this list, but that is exactly what happens when you trade one of the best offensive players in football. Deshaun Watson needs some help right away, because Houston looks like an easy opponent on nearly every team’s schedule right now. Final: (4-12, 3rd in AFC South)

• 29. New York Giants (1-6)

  The Giants are not a good team right now, but they have a very promising defense that is having to carry a struggling offense right now. Daniel Jones still has things to prove until the end of the season, but the future appears to at least be somewhat bright for New York in Joe Judge’s first year as head coach. Final: (4-12, 3rd in NFC East)

• 30. Dallas Cowboys (2-6)

  The single most disappointing team in football is an easy choice this season, as the 2020 Dallas Cowboys have basically become a punchline in the sports media landscape. Things look very bleak in Dallas right now, and don’t be surprised if there is a ton of chaos down the stretch of the season as they head into a dark offseason. Final: (3-13, 4th in NFC East)

• 31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)

  Nobody really expected much from this rebuilding squad in 2020, so their record really is not that much a surprise. But their single focus from now until the end of the season has to be to find out if Gardner Minshew is their long-term answer at quarterback, as they will likely be drafting near the top of the first round once again. Final: (3-13, 4th in AFC South)

• 32. New York Jets (0-8)

  It is a simple story for the Jets right now: every single week makes them that much closer to selecting Trevor Lawrence in the 2021 NFL Draft. New York will find a way to sneak in a win or two by season’s end, but there is going to be a major culture shift in the Meadowlands here pretty soon. Final: (2-14, 4th in AFC East)

Russell Wilson has been pure magic in 2020, and his status as the MVP frontrunner should only continue to grow with every Seattle win that gets them closer to a return to the Super Bowl (via Seattle Times).

AFC Playoff Picture

Wild Card Round

#1 Kansas City Chiefs BYE

#2 Pittsburgh Steelers over #7 Indianapolis Colts

#6 Las Vegas Raiders over #3 Buffalo Bills

#5 Baltimore Ravens over #4 Tennessee Titans

Divisional Round

#1 Kansas City Chiefs over #6 Las Vegas Raiders

#5 Baltimore Ravens over #2 Pittsburgh Steelers

Championship Game

#1 Kansas City Chiefs over #5 Baltimore Ravens

NFC Playoff Picture

Wild Card Round

#1 Seattle Seahawks BYE

#2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers over #7 Los Angeles Rams

#3 Green Bay Packers over #6 Arizona Cardinals

#5 New Orleans Saints over #4 Philadelphia Eagles

Divisional Round

#1 Seattle Seahawks over #5 New Orleans Saints

#2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers over #3 Green Bay Packers

Championship Game

#1 Seattle Seahawks over #2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Super Bowl

#1 Seattle Seahawks over #1 Kansas City Chiefs