24. Arizona Cardinals
(5-10-1. Last week: 24)
No. 1 overall draft pick quarterback Kyler Murray got better as the season progresses, and that’s encouraging. What’s just as encouraging is that coach Kliff Kingsbury’s college offense seemed to translate well to the NFL. Other teams are using similar schemes, and that’s a form of flattery. Murray still needs to get better, and so do the Cardinals. But Arizona still is a few years from challenging San Francisco and Seattle – and even the Rams — in the NFC West.
23. Cleveland Browns
(6-10. Previous rank: 21)
Head coach Freddie Kitchens is out after one season of questionable decisions and clock management. He took a team that some saw as a Super Bowl contender and ran it into the ground. In his place steps Kevin Stefanski. The former Vikings offensive coordinator has a reputation for running a balanced scheme. Stefanski has the ingredients to do that in Cleveland with quarterback Baker Mayfield, receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and running back Nick Chubb. Stefanski’s biggest challenge will be getting Mayfield back to his rookie form of 2018 when he set an NFL rookie record with 27 touchdown passes.
22. New York Jets
(7-9. Previous rank: 23)
Don’t laugh too hard, but if things break right for the Jets, they could be a contender in the AFC East. Seriously, think about it. If Tom Brady leaves New England, the Patriots are in for a fall. That could leave the Jets competing with the Bills for a division title. Any way you look at it, the Jets should be improved. They started that improvement last season after quarterback Sam Darnold returned from missing four games with mononucleosis. Darnold and coach Adam Gase get along well, and you can expect bigger and better things in the future. But the Jets need to use the offseason to bolster their defense and find a true No. 1 receiver.
21. Atlanta Falcons
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports(7-9. Previous rank: 22)
After a 1-7 start, coach Dan Quinn somehow saved his job. Same for general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Owner Arthur Blank hasn’t always been patient, but he recently said continuity is the key to turning the Falcons around. Quinn shook up his coaching staff by making Raheem Morris his defensive coordinator. Morris had been Atlanta’s wide receivers coach but has spent most of his coaching career on the defensive side of the ball. Still, it’s the offense that must carry the Falcons. They have a very young offensive line. But they also have dynamic playmakers in receiver Julio Jones and quarterback Matt Ryan. Quinn needs a playoff berth in 2020, because Blank won’t be patient forever.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(7-9. Previous rank 20)
Here’s what we know about the Bucs – they have an excellent front seven on defense, led by Shaquil Barrett, Vita Vea, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh. That’s enough to keep them in a lot of games. Here’s what we don’t know about the Bucs — who will be the quarterback? It may not be Jameis Winston, the starter for the past five seasons. He threw a league-high 30 interceptions in 2019. Head coach Bruce Arians was complimentary of Winston at the start of the season, but his criticism of Winston picked up late in the year. Will the Bucs let Winston walk as a free agent, sign him to a long-term contract, or place the franchise tag on him? I suspect he either walks or gets franchised.
19. Indianapolis Colts
(7-9. Last week: 19)
Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett started the season pretty well after the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck. But it didn’t last. Defenses started loading up on running back Marlon Mack and challenging Brissett to beat them. He wasn’t able to do that often enough. Then, Brissett didn’t get a ringing endorsement from owner Jim Irsay after the season. Irsay indicated the team likely will draft a quarterback. That’s a slap in the face to Brissett. But the fact is he’s probably better suited to be a backup than a starter.
18. Denver Broncos
(7-9. Previous rank: 18)
The Broncos could be one of the league’s most improved teams next year. They’ve had a full season to acclimate to coach Vic Fangio’s defense. More importantly, rookie Drew Lock showed that he might be the franchise quarterback the Broncos have lacked since Peyton Manning retired. It’s not fair to compare Lock to Manning or John Elway. But he has confidence and a good base skill set, and he could be a very competent starting quarterback.
17. Chicago Bears
(8-8. Previous rank: 17)
Some teams would be content with an 8-8 record. The Bears aren’t one of them. That’s because great things were expected after a 12-4 record in 2018. What went wrong? It was a combination of things. But the main reason for the decline was the play of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who took a big step back following a solid 2018. The Bears were weak on offense, and that wasted some good defensive efforts. The Bears say they’re sticking with Trubisky, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if they bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with him.