15 uncomfortable truths about 15 NFL franchises that fans of those teams don't want to admit
Every team in the NFL has flaws — even the Kansas City Chiefs. But most fans seem to be blind to the flaws of their favorite team. I get it. None of us want to admit that our favorite team that we invest hundreds of hours into each year might not be infallible. Instead of […]
Every team in the NFL has flaws — even the Kansas City Chiefs.
But most fans seem to be blind to the flaws of their favorite team. I get it. None of us want to admit that our favorite team that we invest hundreds of hours into each year might not be infallible. Instead of facing the uncomfortable truth, we chalk up losses to bad luck, bad officiating, and maybe even the idea that NFL games are fixed (I don't buy that, but take a look around Facebook and you'll see plenty of those theories).
The reality is that each team has a harsh truth that fans need to accept. Not every team's uncomfortable truth, however, is equal. Some are more detrimental than others.
Here are the 15 most detrimental uncomfortable/harsh truths about 15 NFL franchises.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson does not have that dog in him: I knew the Ravens were going to lose to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game this past season when Jackson told reporters that he doesn't like competing against Patrick Mahomes.
Can you imagine Kobe Bryant saying that? Or Michael Jordan? Or Mahomes? No chance.
Jackson is incredibly talented — maybe the most talented quarterback in the NFL. And he's the reason the Ravens were a game away from the Super Bowl this past season. But he doesn't have that extra bit of competitiveness that's required to get past a future Hall of Famer like Mahomes.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have never been anything more than mediocre and they probably never will be: That magical 2015 season really gave Panthers fans some false hope that the franchise can be an annual contender. That's not the case. And it's never been the case. Sure, there have been some decent years, like the 2003 season when the Panthers went to the Super Bowl and lost to the Patriots, but it's been mostly disappointment in Carolina. That 15-1 season in 2015 was the result of a special MVP season from Cam Newton. It doesn't matter if it's David Tepper or Jerry Richardson in charge, the Panthers have rarely been more than mediocre. And it doesn't look like that's changing anytime soon.
Chicago Bears
Ryan Poles isn't the GM that's going to turn things around for the Bears: Ryan Poles is entering his third year as the Bears GM and the franchise is still poised to finish dead last in the NFC North. Chicago has been rebuilding for two years under Poles and now they're about to enter the 2024 season with a rookie quarterback (which means another rebuilding year essentially because no one should be expected to reach the playoffs with a rookie quarterback). And to make matters worse, Poles just traded Justin Fields, the Bears' first round pick in 2021, for a conditional fourth round pick (it might only be a sixth round pick).
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow might be injury prone…he's gotta deliver in 2024 to justify his big contract: This one is tough for me. I'm a big fan of Joe Burrow. I love the way he plays, his leadership, etc. But it seems like Burrow is always dealing with something. Since getting drafted in 2020, Burrow's had a torn ACL, a ruptured appendix, a calf strain, and a torn ligament in his wrist. Those are some freak injuries, but at the same time, Burrow has yet to prove he can stay healthy for an extended period of time. The former LSU star signed a five-year extension worth $275 million ahead of the 2023 season. He's going to have to stay healthy and take the Bengals deep into the playoffs in 2024 to make that mega deal seem "worth it".
Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is never going to be "the guy" in the playoffs: Dak Prescott is a tremendous regular season quarterback. The Cowboys are an annual playoff contender mostly because of Prescott. But he melts when it comes playoff time. The three-time Pro Bowler has reached zero NFC Championship games. And he's lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs in two of the last three years despite favorable matchups. Expecting a different outcome at this point in Prescott's career would be foolish.
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton is the most overrated coach in the NFL: I'll never understand the love for Sean Payton. That one Super Bowl win with the New Orleans Saints in 2009 has really clouded the view of Payton as an NFL head coach. He's average at best. Payton benefited from a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees. He also benefited from playing in a weak NFC South division. Payton is essentially Mike McCarthy, a coach that some Cowboys fans have wanted to see get fired the last two years.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence is dull and no one cares about your franchise: It's hard to get excited about Trevor Lawrence, a quarterback with the personality of one of those ridiculous "Live, Love, and Laugh" signs that you see plastered all over suburban homes. He's talented. And he's going to have the Jaguars in the playoffs every now and then. But that's probably where he maxes out. Jaguars fans will likely argue that point, but here's the thing: no one cares enough about Jacksonville to argue back. So go ahead and scream into the abyss — no one's listening.
Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa ain't the guy: I like Tua. I like him a lot…as a person. He's a good enough quarterback to operate within Mike McDaniel's system, but he's not the guy that's going to take over a game in the fourth quarter like a Mahomes or even a Jalen Hurts. Tua's lack of mobility kills him in tight games. And while his accuracy is fantastic, it feels like he's usually throwing to a spot, instead of throwing a receiver open. That's not exactly a sustainable way to play the game. The Dolphins don't need to commit serious money to Tua. Hopefully for Miami fans, the Dolphins learned their lesson from the failed Ryan Tannehill extension in 2015. Giving a quarterback big money who hasn't proved anything is never a good idea.
New England Patriots
Welcome back to reality — the Patriots will never be a dynasty again: You really got spoiled with Tom Brady didn't you? I hope you enjoyed it, because those days are long gone. That was a once in a lifetime run. And if you're hoping that it will be recreated anytime soon, you're in for a lot of disappointment. It's far too early to suggest how Jerod Mayo will fare as the Patriots' head coach (I'm a big fan of Mayo by the way), but it's a 100 percent guarantee that he won't come anywhere close to restoring New England to the dominant franchise they were during Brady and Bill Belichick's prime. The Patriots are back to being a mediocre franchise who might make the playoffs every now and then.
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr is a fake leader: Derek Carr seems like a good dude. He's probably a great wing man. If I had to invite a group of quarterbacks on a golf trip that involves some bar hopping, I'd probably put Carr on the list. But that's also why he's not a good leader. Carr doesn't challenge anyone — at least not to the point where other players take him serious (like serious serious). Carr feels like he's trying to be a leader instead of it just naturally happening.
New York Giants
The Brian Daboll era is nearing its end: Brian Daboll almost had us all fooled. He won the NFL Coach of the Year award in 2022 after surprisingly going 9-7. And then the bottom fell out this past season. The behind-the-scenes stories about Daboll's emotional outbursts paint the picture of a head coach who thinks he's always the smartest guy in the room. Daboll has no clear answer at quarterback. And the offense, which is supposed to be his speciality, is a disaster. It'll be a shock if he survives the 2024 season.
New York Jets
The Jets have no direction as a franchise: Does anyone know what the Jets are doing? They went all out to acquire an aging Aaron Rodgers. And they did everything in their power to appease the future Hall of Famer, including hiring Nathaniel Hackett as the franchise's offensive coordinator. I'm not convinced that Hackett isn't a living caricature of an NFL coach. The only thing he brings to the Jets is that he speaks Rodgers' language. Robert Saleh, the Jets' head coach, seems incredibly insecure. He also seems like he has no idea how to actually be an NFL head coach. It's not exactly a recipe for success. If the Jets are expecting Rodgers to return from a major Achilles injury at 41 years old and get to the Super Bowl for the first time since he was 27 years old, they're probably going to be left disappointed.
Philadelphia Eagles
Nick Sirianni had a good three year run as a head coach, but the good times are over in Philly: No one throws tantrums in the NFL quite like Sirianni. And half the time, I'm not even sure what he's mad about. The abrasive personality worked for him at first — the New York native seemed like a good fit for Philadelphia. But the shine has worn off. Emotion from NFL head coaches is good. Being emotional is not (unless you're Dick Vermeil). Sirianni isn't the steady and consistent presence that an NFL team needs in order to find success through the grind of a season/playoffs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield is who he's always been and he's not a championship QB: I love the way Baker Mayfield plays the game. And I love his fire. But he's fringe playoff quarterback at best. His ceiling is exactly what we saw last season — an unexpected playoff win before getting bounced in the divisional round. The Bucs were wise to bring Baker back on a three year deal, but he's just a placeholder in Tampa.
Tennessee Titans
Will Levis is an actor trying to play a quarterback: Will Levis seems like a good dude. And he seems like he really, really wants to be successful in the NFL. But I'd be shocked if ever goes beyond the divisional round of the playoffs (I'd really be surprised if he even wins a playoff game). Levis feels like an actor playing a quarterback. It seems like he's always trying to say the right thing and act the right way instead of just being himself. I don't think we've seen the real Will Levis yet. And I'm not even sure Levis knows who the real Will Levis is yet. He's too much of a pleaser to be an elite quarterback. And that's what's ultimately going to prevent him from being a franchise quarterback in Nashville. Levis has the physical tools, but until he plays free and easy without worrying about what people think, he'll fail to reach his full potential.
Arch Manning could still end up being in the new EA Sports College Football video game
Arch Manning could still be in the game
