PFR Polls News & Rumors

Poll: Who Will Sign Kirk Cousins?

February 17th, 2018 at 6:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

With less than a month until free agency begins, Kirk Cousins looks to be — barring an 11th-hour Redskins franchise tag he would fight — close to signing a long-term contract with the team of his choice.

It’s an incredibly unique situation, and teams with disparate profiles figure to make runs at signing the 29-year-old quarterback. Rebuilding teams, contending teams and operations that would seemingly be contenders if supplied a quarterback are going to pursue Cousins. So, where will he go?

The Jets and Browns are going to have the most money to chase Cousins, and the former makes sense as a destination. New York surprised many last season by winning five games and finishing well off the pace for the No. 1 pick, which many predicted the rebuilding team would secure. The Jets could have more than $90MM in cap space after a few sensible roster moves, and despite their troubles in recent years, could make a case they are a young team who could build a long-term foundation around Cousins.

Cousins has said repeatedly that after making more than $44MM the past two years he wants to play for a contending team. The Browns, though, have a staggering amount of cap space at $110MM-plus. They could sell a free agent QB on their ability to construct a foundation, but their past does not inspire much confidence. And this, by just about every indication to this point, seems like the year they draft a quarterback.

The Bills made a surprise run to the playoffs last season, but Brandon Beane said upon being hired he doesn’t plan to make many high-cost free agent signings. Considering this figures to be the most expensive free agent in NFL history, it’s difficult to envision a Bills push for Cousins. And Tyrod Taylor may not be completely out of the picture yet.

The Broncos and Cardinals are in similar positions as recent contenders who have fallen off the pace a bit, and neither will have the cap space to outflank the Jets or Browns. Both saw quarterback play lower their ceilings last season, and the Cardinals saw their longtime starter retire and his backups’ contracts expire. Denver has both Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian under contract but has made no secret about wanting to upgrade — via free agency or the draft — with that desire presumably being centered around complementing the core players remaining from the Super Bowl season.

Both the Broncos and Jets are rumored to be gearing up for entrances into the Cousins sweepstakes, and the Bovada sports book has these two as the early frontrunners. However, both the Vikings and Jaguars fit the profile of franchises that could use Cousins as a possible springboard to a Super Bowl. How serious are they about this, though?

The Jaguars may have complications because of Blake Bortles‘ wrist surgery. The embattled starter not being able to pass a physical come mid-March will guarantee his $19MM fifth-year option salary and cloud a potential Cousins pursuit. Jacksonville’s current plan is to keep Bortles, but is a chance at Cousins too tempting to avoid?

The Vikings would make sense as well but may opt to stick with Case Keenum via franchise tag. However, Cousins has proven more than Keenum, and although he would make for a costlier expense, Minnesota being on the doorstep of its first Super Bowl berth in 40-plus years may make ditching their 2017 setup for Cousins a worthwhile gamble. The Vikings do have several core players entering contract years, which could make a near-$30MM-AAV Cousins accord complicated. Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Stefon Diggs and Danielle Hunter are four who fit that profile. How much will that factor into a Cousins push?

So, where does Cousins end up?

Does he stick to his winning-situation statements and avoid teams who have struggled in recent years, or can the Browns or Jets submit an offer he can’t refuse? Can the Broncos make a sales pitch that their history surrounding a UFA QB with championship-caliber talent would be worth sacrificing a bit of cash, or is their nucleus’ window closing to the point Cousins looks elsewhere? How serious are the Cardinals and Bills in this derby? And how much would the Vikings or Jaguars entering the fray change the outlook of this high-stakes process? Take PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

Poll: Where Will Case Keenum Play In 2018?

January 28th, 2018 at 11:20am CST by Rory Parks

Case Keenum was one of the best stories of the 2017 season. Stepping in for the injured Sam Bradford, Keenum performed at a very high level throughout much of the regular season and guided Minnesota to the NFC’s No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. In the NFC Divisional Round matchup against the Saints, Keenum made up one-half of the Minnesota Miracle that catapulted the Vikings to the NFC title game against the Eagles.

But outside of that remarkable play, which was largely aided by a defensive lapse on the part of the New Orleans secondary, Keenum struggled in the playoffs, and he could not generate any momentum in the team’s 38-7 loss to Philadelphia last week. So, even though we heard just last Sunday that it would be shocking if the Vikings did not put the franchise tag on Keenum this offseason, it may not be so simple.

Indeed, while Keenum could certainly be a late bloomer who finally got a real chance to show what he could do in 2017, the fact remains that he is a career journeyman who will turn 30 in just a couple of weeks. And, since he did put up a couple of clunkers in the regular season to go along with his disappointing playoff performance, it may be hard to convince Minnesota to put the ~$23.3MM tag on him this offseason, let alone sign him to a long-term deal.

On the other hand, there are plenty of teams who are looking for a competent signal-caller, so Keenum could have a number of suitors. The Browns always need a quarterback, and they are loaded with plenty of cap space. Of course, they also have two of the top four picks in the draft, and they are widely expected to use one of those picks on one of this year’s top collegiate quarterbacks.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, have a talented roster and could be just a QB away from competing in 2018. Arizona just saw Carson Palmer retire, and they could realistically make a play for Keenum. The Jaguars came heart-wrenchingly close to advancing to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history last week, and it has been rumored for months that they will be in the QB market in 2018. Keenum could certainly be a fit there, though Jacksonville could simply opt to bring back Blake Bortles, who was decent in the regular season and who played well in the team’s last two playoff contests. The Jags have also been connected to more established signal-callers like Alex Smith, who could be traded from Kansas City this offseason.

The Bills were interested in Keenum last year, and they could certainly be interested again this year, as Tyrod Taylor is far from a sure thing. But they will need to ask themselves whether Keenum would be a significant upgrade over Taylor, which is not an easy question. And Buffalo’s divisional rival, the Jets, are in need of a QB, but they, too, could look to fill that need in the draft. New York has also been connected to Smith in recent trade rumors.

More landing spots could become available as the offseason goes on. For instance, if the Redskins cannot agree to terms with Kirk Cousins, or if they choose not to franchise tag him for the third straight year, then they could take a look at Keenum.

The Vikings, though, also have a lot of cap room, so they could put the franchise tag on Keenum and still have enough space to address other needs. But they will also need to determine what to do with Teddy Bridgewater, whom they drafted in the first round of the 2014 draft and who has gamely battled back from a horrific ACL injury. Bridgewater is also an unrestricted free agent, and it’s not out of the question that Minnesota could bring back both him and Keenum.

It’s hard to believe that we’re even having this discussion, but here we are. Where do you think Keenum will play next season? He has expressed a desire to stay in Minnesota, but will he get that chance, or will he wind up elsewhere? Let us know in the poll below, and feel free to elaborate in the comments section.

Poll: What Will Be The Super Bowl LII Matchup?

January 19th, 2018 at 8:45pm CST by GregGoldstein

It’s almost here! Super Bowl LII is just a few weeks away, and by Sunday night, we will know what teams will get the chance to play for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Championship weekend is headlined by a team that everyone thought would be here and three others that have overcome the odds for their opportunity to play under the brightest of lights on February 4. But what will that matchup be come when all is set and done on Sunday? Here are the breakdowns of all four teams that are now a win away from appearing in the Super Bowl.

New England Patriots (14-3)

The defending Super Bowl champs will play in their seventh straight AFC championship game. They’ve won two of the past three Super Bowls and have the greatest coach-quarterback combo in the history of football. However, even entering the playoffs as the favorite, New England has still faced some challenges in the last few weeks. The organization had to deal with a bombshell report that cited major drama between the three most powerful people in the Pats franchise. Despite the story, the team made easy work of the Titans in the divisional round. They’ll face a much tougher test on Sunday against the Jaguars, and they will have to win with Tom Brady dealing with a thumb injury. The five-time Super Bowl winner will almost assuredly be playing this weekend, but it could put more pressure on the team’s stable of running backs to make plays in the rushing and passing game. The Pats defense took a big step up in terms of pressuring Marcus Mariota and a repeat performance in that aspect will go a long way in the Pats getting to their second straight Super Bowl.

Jacksonville Jaguars (12-6)

The Jags were expected to beat the Bills in the Wild Card round, but pulled off an upset of the Steelers in the Divisional round. Blake Bortles and the offense picked up the pace last Sunday, and they’ll need to continue that type of production in order to keep up with the Patriots in the AFC Championship. The team is still led by a fast and opportunistic defense that can cause turnovers at any time. If they can get pressure on Brady, especially with an injured thumb, they may be able to provide their offense with some breathing room throughout the game. The formula remains the same if the Jags are to pull an even bigger shocker on Sunday. They must run the ball, control the clock, play stellar defense and mix in some big plays if they hope to play in their first Super Bowl about two weeks from now.

Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

The Eagles were a rare underdog as a number one seed in the second round of the playoffs. However, Nick Foles and the offense were just productive enough for the defense to hold the Falcons out of the end zone late in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia is going to need a better effort against a better Vikings team that is possibly the most complete team in football. The Eagles ran the ball a ton last Saturday and found a nice rhythm offensively when Doug Pederson allowed Foles to have options to either pass or run later in the game. They’ll likely do this again to help their quarterback think less and find Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz and others for first downs. The Eagles defense led by the likes of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Vinny Curry and Timmy Jernigan need to force mistakes and give the offense some short fields so they can put enough points o the board to win the game and advance to the team’s second-ever Super Bowl.

Minnesota Vikings (14-3)

Mike Zimmer‘s squad doesn’t seem to have a weakness on their roster. They can run the ball with Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon. They have an explosive passing game that can work in the redzone or down the field with weapons like Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen and Kyle Rudolph. The defense has playmakers in every unit as well, so it’s tough for the opposing offense to exploit a certain area when on the field. Nevertheless, the team needed the “Minnesota Miracle” at the end of the game against the Saints in order to advance further into the postseason. They’ll face a different type of team in the Eagles who are more based of their pass rush and controlling the clock. The Vikings will be favored on Sunday because of the way Case Keenum is playing compared to Foles. But the Eagles won’t likely roll over because of the great front seven and the mistakes that they can create on passing downs. Minnesota’s offensive line could be the key to a victory because it would allow Keenum to find his playmakers on the outside to help put up points and force the Eagles to take their chances on Foles’ arm to win the game.

Poll: Who’s The Super Bowl Favorite?

December 22nd, 2017 at 8:45pm CST by GregGoldstein

The playoff picture is starting to come into fruition with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. But is there a clear favorite for who will be holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy come the conclusion of Super Bowl 52?

The defending champion Patriots are coming off a dramatic road win over the Steelers, but have shown clear weaknesses. Pittsburgh will also be getting Antonio Brown back during the postseason, so the matchup could be more evenly matched should they meet for a second time in January.

However, while New England and Pittsburgh are the clear front runners in the AFC, the NFC has a number of teams that could be considered the “favorite” entering postseason play. Although the Eagles don’t have star second-year quarterback Carson Wentz, the team will likely have home field advantage with a very well rounded roster. The Vikings, Saints and Rams have all had their moments where they look like the team to beat as well. You can also see the defending NFC champ Falcons, Panthers and even the the Cowboys advancing now that they have Zeke back in the fold.

Here’s further breakdowns of the likely Super Bowl favorites with the end of the regular season inching ever closer:

New England Patriots: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are simply the best coach-quarterback duo that this league has ever seen. The pair is set up perfectly to go to their seventh straight AFC championship game after beating the Steelers in Week 15. Both haven’t let age slow them down either. At 40 years old, Brady is the front runner for NFL MVP once again and his team is clicking late in the season. The Pats has a ton of weapons on offense and their defense is improving as the year goes along, which is typical of Belichick coached squads. This team isn’t unbeatable as they do have a few bad losses in 2017, but playoffs and New England have gone side-by-side since the team won their first Super Bowl back in 2002.

Pittsburgh Steelers: If Jesse James would have held onto the ball during the final drive in last Sunday’s instant classic matchup, then the Steelers would be 13-2 and have a very clear path to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way for Mike Tomlin and Co., so they will likely have to win on the road in January in order to secure the AFC Championship. Nevertheless, Ben Roethlisberger is playing his best football of the season right now and Le’Veon Bell may be the best overall offensive weapon in the game at the moment. Although, the loss of middle linebacker Ryan Shazier certainly does put the defense in a bit of a hole. But the offense with the expected return of their star wideout can score with anyone and will give the Steelers a chance in any game.

Philadelphia Egales: If Carson Wentz was healthy, the Eagles would clearly the best team in football. Now with Nick Foles at the helm, they are clearly still a good team, but just not even close to as dominant as they were with their second-year signal caller on the field. Still, as you could see in the their Week 15 victory over the Giants, Philadelphia found a way to win thanks to the overall quality of their roster. Without Wentz, the defense will have to shoulder more of the load, but the likes of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Chris Long, Nigel Bradham and others should be up to the task. The trade for Jay Ajayi also seems much more crucial now as there will likely be more of an emphasis on the running game. Foles is serviceable quarterback, but the Eagles will have to elevate in other areas in order to even win a postseason game in the difficult NFC.

Minnesota Vikings: Case Keenum was not the name you expected to see when talking about which quarterback led his team to a first round bye. However, that is the case and he’s been playing like it will translate to postseason football. The journeyman signal caller has been excellent this season, but his weapons have really risen to the occasion as well. Wide receiver Adam Thielen has solidified himself as one of the league’s best, Stefon Diggs is as talented as ever and Kyle Rudolph has been a touchdown machine. Even without Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon have performed very well with increased workloads. The defense remains one of the best that the NFL has to offer led by the likes of Everson Griffen, Eric Kendricks, Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith. This team lacks real star power, but doesn’t have a noticeable weakness, which will make them very dangerous come playoff time.

Los Angeles Rams: The Rams have been a nice story all year long, but it wasn’t until their beatdown of the Seahawks on the road that you can see them advancing deep into the postseason. Head coach Sean McVay is the clear front runner for Coach of the Year and he has his team clicking on all cylinders at the moment. Todd Gurley has a case as the top offensive player in football and Jared Goff has made incredible strides after how he performed just a season ago. Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins and Cooper Kupp lead a solid group of receivers. Plus when you have Aaron Donald on defense, it’s easy to get pressure on opposing QB’s. This team has many ways to beat you and is very well coached. That’s something that very much converts in January football.

New Orleans Saints: Foles, Keenum, Goff and Drew Brees. Only one of those is a Super Bowl winner. While the top three teams according to record in the NFC all have their strengths, there’s something to be said for experience, and New Orleans has that at head coach and behind center. But while Brees has been very good this year, the team is actually led by Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara coming out of the backfield. They can ground and pound better than any team in the league, which is something that can help them control the clock in a postseason contest. The defense has also been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this year as they can take the ball away at any moment. The Saints control the game offensively and can force mistakes defensively, which is a formula that has worked for postseason success in the past and should continue to bring positive results in the future.

Poll: Where Will Eli Manning Play In 2018?

December 9th, 2017 at 5:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

The status of Eli Manning no doubt played a part in the Giants firing Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo, and their departures opened the door for the 14th-year quarterback to be reinstalled as Big Blue’s starter for Week 14.

But Manning’s future remains cloudy regardless of him being given his job back. Two years remain on the soon-to-be 37-year-old passer’s contract, but with base salaries of $10.5MM and $11.5MM in 2018 and ’19, Manning should receive some interest if the Giants are indeed keen on moving on without him.

With a month left to play, the Giants stand to hold the No. 2 pick behind the Browns. That is certainly quarterback territory, with Josh Rosen expected to come out and Sam Darnold a reasonable bet to follow suit. Wyoming’s Josh Allen is also viewed as a first-round prospect, and he’s expected to declare early as well. John Mara instructed his front office to ramp up quarterback evaluations as this season began to go south, and given the sequence of events that led the franchise to be in position to acquire Manning in the first place, the Giants turning its first awful season since that seminal 2003 campaign into another first-round quarterback wouldn’t be shocking.

However, if the Giants don’t finish with a bad enough record to land in quarterback territory — or if the next GM believes enough talent is present to keep Manning and the veteran-laden defense that booked a 2016 playoff berth together — that could change things. Manning threw 35 touchdown passes two years. His play’s dropped off a bit since, but Big Blue’s had severe offensive line issues the past two seasons.

There figures to be interest if Manning does leave. He plans to play next season, and GMs told CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora a reunion with Tom Coughlin makes too much sense not to happen. Coughlin spoke up in his former charge’s defense after he was benched.

The Jaguars can shed Blake Bortles‘ contract free of charge after the season, and their work this fall has shown what the defensively powered team is capable of with a bottom-tier quarterback. That could be attractive to Manning, the Jags’ lack of a comparable football tradition or similar media market (compared to his current team) notwithstanding. Although, both Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee are pending UFAs, leaving the pass-catching crew uncertain. But Manning could certainly improve their chances at pushing for a Super Bowl berth compared to Bortles.

The other presumptive suitor may trail the Jaguars, since it’s not known if the Broncos would consider it. But Denver’s two primary passers this season are Pro Football Focus’ two lowest-graded players at sports’ premier position. The Broncos’ pass defense has fallen off its otherworldly perch of the past two years, but thanks to improved run-stoppage ability, the unit overall ranks fifth. And with Paxton Lynch having shown little before and during an injury-marred 2017, the Broncos — who have the core of their Super Bowl defense still under contract through 2018, with most signed through at least ’19 — could be back in the mix with better quarterback play.

While the Broncos obviously had immense success with Peyton Manning, they did not opt to pull the trigger on Tony Romo in a similar situation this offseason. One of the most durable players in NFL history, Eli Manning would not bring the health issues those two icons did. But the Broncos appear to be behind the Jaguars in this figurative derby to this point due to the Jags having a less complicated route to acquiring him, and Coughlin’s presence figures to make a big impact if Manning does opt to waive his no-trade clause in the event of a Giants rebuild.

The Dolphins are not believed to be interested. Neither are the Cardinals. The Vikings have three passers on expiring deals and a loaded defense, but it would stand to reason they’d rather retain one of them than pursue an older quarterback.

So, who gets Manning next season? Does the Giants’ about-face point him back to New York for a 15th season, or does their 2-10 record lead the franchise to fully embrace a rebuild? Is the Jaguars connection too obvious not to occur, or would John Elway consider a second Manning to elevate his franchise?

Or does Manning take the Romo route and retire as a Giant, having been one of the most important players in franchise history and having guided the historic operation to two Super Bowl titles? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!

Poll: Should The Chiefs Start Patrick Mahomes?

November 26th, 2017 at 8:33pm CST by GregGoldstein

The Chiefs looked to be one of the best teams in the NFL after a 5-0 start. However, the team has taken a nosedive as of late, losing three straight games and dropping five out of their past six.

A major reason for the hot start had been the outstanding play they’d been getting from veteran quarterback Alex Smith. Known as one of the better game managers at the position, Smith had been criticized for his inability to carry the Chiefs to victory on his own. However, Smith was a legit MVP candidate earlier in the year, throwing the ball down field more, while continuing to limit mistakes. The team already had a solid roster across the board, considering that they finished as the AFC’s second best team heading into the playoffs last season. Smith also was given exciting playmakers in TE Travis Kelce, WR Tyreek Hill and rookie RB Kareem Hunt.

Still, even with all these weapons and a weak conference, the Chiefs find themselves in a real fight to just make the playoffs. This has led to speculation that Kansas City could turn to rookie backup Patrick Mahomes for a little shot in the arm. Although the team clearly thinks highly of their 2017 first round pick, head coach Andy Reid stayed committed to Smith after the Chiefs loss today.

That’s not where I am at right now,” Reid said in today’s postgame press conference (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).

Reid is notably close to the vest, but even he can’t deny that his team is in a bad way right now. Replacing Smith with Mahomes would be a huge risk considering that despite his great raw ability, the former Texas Tech QB was classified as incredibly raw coming into the draft.

It’s a storyline that we didn’t think would hold any credence given the Chiefs fast start, but there might be increased noise to make this move if Kansas City can’t turn things around in the weeks to come.

Poll: Who Takes The Final AFC Playoff Spot?

November 19th, 2017 at 9:18pm CST by GregGoldstein

While the NFC is crowded with a bunch of playoff caliber teams, the AFC only has five teams above .500. The Steelers and Patriots are the clear favorites at 8-2, while the Chiefs, Jaguars and Titans look like solid bets to make the postseason. The intrigue stems from what AFC team will win that sixth and final playoff spot, despite the franchises in the hunt looking mostly average to put it nicely. At the moment, the Ravens are second wild card at 5-5. The Bills are also .500 with the Chargers, Bengals, Raiders, Dolphins, Jets and Texans all trailing by a game at 4-6. It looks like nine wins could be enough to sneak into the postseason, with even eight wins being a distinct possibility when looking at the remaining schedule.

Baltimore Ravens (5-5): The Ravens are clearly led by their defense. The team has collected 16 interceptions over the first ten games of the season, with the unit led by the likes of Jimmy Smith, Eric Weddle, Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosley, Michael Pierce and Brandon Williams. The secondary is very strong and deep and the front seven has been much better at stopping the run since the aforementioned Williams returned from injury. The offense on the other hand, has trouble moving the football to say the least. Joe Flacco ranks as the 31st QB in the league so far this year with the team having to overcome injuries from many of their best offensive players including Marshal Yanda, Ronnie Stanley, Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin and Danny Woodhead among others. It goes without saying that this type of offense will struggle to keep up with the likes of the Pats and Steelers in the playoffs, but Baltimore seems to be best positioned to make a run at the second wild card when looking at their schedule and current roster.

Buffalo Bills (5-5): The Bills have taken a nosedive since what was a promising early season start. Head coach Sean McDermott has turned to rookie Nathan Peterman to take over for veteran signal caller Tyrod Taylor, which led to horrible results. The team appears to be in shambles after being blown out by the likes of the Saints and Chargers over the past two weeks. LeSean McCoy is still dynamic and gives them a clear identity on offense, and the defense has playmakers all around. But this has not been winning franchise this past decade and without a clear signal caller to lead the way, their playoff prospects are clearly not looking as good as they were when this month started.

Miami Dolphins (4-6): The Dolphins 2017 season is going downhill fast after dropping four games in a row since opening the year 4-2. The team already got rid of a main component of their offense in running back Jay Ajayi, and while the team’s ground attack hasn’t suffered too much, the defense has been plagued by inconsistent play in the secondary with two inexperienced corners on the outside. Neither Matt Moore or Jay Cutler look like playoff quarterbacks right now and Adam Gase seems to be losing control of the team. The second AFC wild card from a year ago has so much negative momentum going for them at the moment, it seems difficult to envision them going on a run with the roster they have. There is offensive and defensive talent to build around for the future, but it’s going to take some extra magic to get this team turned in the right direction after what has transpired over this past month.

New York Jets (4-6): The Jets were a pleasant surprise early on, proving a lot of people wrong who said they were clearly tanking for a young quarterback when the season began. However, New York has come back to earth with the team showing obvious flaws, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Josh McCown has performed admirably with many unproven players that surround him, however you wouldn’t say the passing game is a real threat. The running game is inconsistent and the passing game has been mediocre apart from a few big plays per game from either Robby Anderson or Jermaine Kearse. The defense has a lot more talent, but I think much of the Jets success stems from an easy early season schedule. Their slate gets much more difficult after the bye they just had, so it’s going to be tough to hang around when you haven’t proved to be able to beat playoff caliber teams this season. It’s an encouraging year for Todd Bowles for sure, but a playoff berth does not seem likely.

Cincinnati Bengals (4-6): Despite the team looking lost at many points through the first 11 weeks of the season, the Bengals did enough to win an “elimination” game in Denver. Andy Dalton is on the better end of the QB spectrum when looking at this list and A.J. Green is still on of the best receivers in football. Joe Mixon hasn’t broken out as many thought, but he’s still a very talented runner that is getting more and more experience. The defense has been opportunistic, but isn’t a great unit. The team is really just mediocre, but that type of roster may have a place in the postseason this year because of the evident drop off in talent in the conference. Cincy has already lost to Baltimore at home, which puts them in a hole, but they have a playoff pedigree and the talent to separate themselves from the teams in the hunt.

Houston Texans (4-6): Houston looked primed for a playoff spot with the way Deshaun Watson was playing in his first stint in the NFL. Unfortunately, thanks to a knee injury, the former Clemson QB is out for the season and the team’s postseason outlook looks much worse because of it. Tom Savage led the Texans to their first win of the season since Watson went down when they beat the Cardinals today, but it’s tough to see the them consistently win games with Savage at the helm. The team has taken hits all season long in regards to injury with J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus, Will Fuller and Watson all missing time, plus they had to deal with Duane Brown holding out early in the season. It’s a credit to Bill O’Brian for keeping them relevant at this point in the season, but without their key playmakers, it’s going to be tough to win at least the four games they need to in order to sneak into the playoffs.

Los Angeles Chargers (4-6): Philip Rivers and co. could be in a much better position if they had solved their field goal kicking problems earlier in the season, but the newly located franchise still makes a solid case for being that final AFC playoff team. Rivers’ play has dropped off in his 14 year in the NFL, but he still ranks way above most of the quarterbacks in this race. The offense also have two of the better players at their positions in Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon to go along with breakout candidates in the second half of the season like Austin Ekler and Mike Williams. The defense is led by two great pass rushers in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram who are always capable of making a game altering type play. The offensive line and defensive backfield have their weaknesses, but the Chargers are more talented than many teams vying for this second wild card.

Oakland Raiders (4-6): Despite being blown out of Mexico City at the hands of the Patriots, the Raiders still have a path to getting to the postseason. On the glass half full side, the team has the best QB of this group in Derek Carr, who is a true playoff caliber signal caller with weapons all around. We’ve seen them put it together at times, although it’s nothing like the system they had moving in 2016. The offensive line is still a strength and Marshawn Lynch has been better in recent weeks too. The defense and schedule is the big question here. With a well below-average secondary makes it tough for the team to limit big plays, so they’re going to have to win a lot of shootouts if they hope to win this final postseason spot. The schedule is much tougher than others in the race, so upsets are going to have to be pulled, but the talent is notable and they should remain in the hunt considering the general lack of quality football that’s been played by team’s hoping to overtake them in the final six weeks of the regular season.

Poll: Who’s the Best Backup QB Right Now?

November 3rd, 2017 at 7:45pm CST by GregGoldstein

Right now there’s a lot of news about the guys holding the clipboard over the past few weeks. Injuries to starting quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, Andrew Luck, Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer, Sam Bradford have forced backup quarterbacks into long-term starting action.

But unfortunately, injuries have become commonplace in the game, it’s what has transpired with the trade news and other stories that have sort of set this season apart from years past in terms of the number two’s on the QB depth chart.

The trade deadline showed one of the league’s brightest backups backups get moved in Jimmy Garoppolo and another almost get dealt (A.J. McCarron) if not for some poor timing at the the hands of the Cleveland Browns.

Speaking of Cleveland, they’ve been going back and forth with their two main QB options in DeShone Kizer and Kevin Hogan. The Vikings are down to their third string too in Case Keenum, who has of course led them to a 6-2 record thus far.

Denver is in the midst of a signal caller fiasco too as the team has officially replaced incumbent starter Trevor Siemian with former starter then backup and now starter again Brock Osweiler. Throw in injury scares to Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston and yes even Jay Cutler and you have your eye on who’s your team’s backup more than ever before.

In all, 15 backup quarterbacks have seen the field this season and that number will most certainly increase before the year is through. So with league’s clipboard holders in the news more than ever, I pose the question…of all the backups in the game the today who would you feel most confident in leading you to a win right now?

It should be noted that this list excludes the likes of Garoppolo and Siemian because while these two are currently number two’s on the depth chart, neither is really classified as a typical long-term backup.

Poll: Who Will Win AFC South?

October 27th, 2017 at 3:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The AFC’s top three seeds from the 2016 playoffs are each 5-2 and viewed as central threats to represent the conference in Super Bowl LII, but there are a few intriguing teams vying for the AFC’s fourth mandated home game.

With the Patriots, Steelers and Chiefs looking like solid favorites to repeat as division champions, the AFC South profiles as the conference’s most competitive race. And with two of the teams vying for the title on bye, this looks like a good time to assess midseason stock.

Three teams enter Week 8 with three losses, and one of those has yet to claim this division’s title since the NFL reorganized its divisions in 2002.

Often involved in free agent pursuits in recent years with little on-field results to show for the investments, the Jaguars are 4-3 and may have the best AFC South unit. A blend of highly paid UFAs and blossoming homegrown talents on defense have the Jags as a legitimate contender despite annual struggles piecing together a competent passing game. The Jags won the A.J. Bouye and Calais Campbell sweepstakes, and these acquisitions are paying off for the now-Tom Coughlin-run franchise.

Campbell’s midway through a career year, leading the NFL with a career-high 10 sacks in seven games, despite being 31 and joining a 4-3 scheme after years in a 3-4 look. Pro Football Focus ranks Bouye ninth among cornerbacks, with Jalen Ramsey sitting third in what’s been the best-graded tandem in football. These talents, along with No. 4 overall pick Leonard Fournette, are buoying a still-anemic passing attack.

Can the Jags’ defense and No. 1-ranked (by far) run game spearhead this surprise season if Blake Bortles continues to operate at this level? If so, it would be the franchise’s first division title since winning the AFC Central in 1999.

The two teams picked by most to vie for this division’s home playoff game, the Texans and Titans each have three losses near the midway point. Neither has the eye-popping numbers Jacksonville’s pass rush or ground game has generated, but both Deshaun Watson and Marcus Mariota have offered superior work to Bortles. And in a league where successful teams can be correlated with quarterback play, that obviously matters most.

Thus far, Watson is bailing out the Texans after their reckless Brock Osweiler contract and rewarding the franchise’s bold Round 1 trade. The Clemson-honed dynamo’s recent run has enhanced the two-time reigning AFC South champs’ offense, and the Texans largely stood pat otherwise this offseason after devoting plenty of resources to augmenting their offense in 2016. Houston, though, losing J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus — after Bouye departed — could pose a problem at some point. The Texans rank 11th in total defense after leading the league last season.

Houston also looks to have the toughest closing schedule with road dates against both fellow AFC South contenders, along with this weekend’s trip to Seattle and a Christmas Day game against the Steelers.

Tennessee’s been the least consistent of this contending trio, beating the Seahawks and routing the Jags before giving up 57 points in Houston and needing overtime to beat the Browns. The Titans’ loss to the Dolphins could be blamed on Mariota’s hamstring injury, but it doesn’t look like the trendy preseason pick will be able to stay on its current wayward pace and lock up a playoff berth.

New Titans corners Logan Ryan and Adoree’ Jackson haven’t shown upper–echelon work just yet, and Corey Davis has seen action in just one game. The Titans look to redeploy their top draft choice in Week 9, and this should benefit a passing game that’s largely depended on holdover Rishard Matthews rather than the flashy new additions of Davis and Eric Decker. Tennessee still possesses a dangerous run game, and Derrick Henry‘s receiving more work, and probably has the best offensive line of the contending trio.

With Andrew Luck possibly set to redshirt this season after enduring a setback, the 2-5 Colts do not appear likely to factor into this race. They’ve lost four of its five games by at least two touchdowns, and it’s looking like the end of the line for Ryan Grigson hire Chuck Pagano.

So, who wins this division? Can Watson complete a push for offensive rookie of the year by leading the Texans to a third straight division title? Or is the Jaguars’ resurgence built to last? Can the Titans overcome their inconsistency and ride Mariota to their first playoff berth in nine years? Is there a Colts miracle in the works? Vote in PFR’s latest poll.

Poll: Which Team Is NFC Favorite?

October 21st, 2017 at 4:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFC lost its top difference-making presence in Week 6, and while Aaron Rodgers is not a lock to miss the rest of the season despite undergoing collarbone surgery, the Packers are without their perennial MVP candidate for at least the next two months. That figures to be a key factor in shaping the NFC race.

As it stands, Carson Wentz‘s progression has the Eagles with the NFL’s best record at 5-1. But a host of NFCers are just behind. And without these Eagles having the kind of pedigree the Rodgers-era Packers do, it seems the NFC’s home-field advantage pursuit is wide open.

Philadelphia’s taken a noticeable step forward, with Wentz developing quickly from intriguing non-Division I-FBS prospect to a player who looks like a bona fide franchise passer. The Eagles rank No. 2 in DVOA, illustrating their potential (although, Football Outsiders had the franchise’s 2016 7-9 iteration at No. 4, so perhaps this isn’t as illuminating as it would appear). Nevertheless, the Eagles are in a better position post-Rodgers setback.

But the NFC’s other surprise contender sits fourth on that DVOA list through six weeks, with the 4-2 Rams slotting in high in that category. These two teams lead the NFC in point differential at plus-43 (Eagles) and plus-41, with Sean McVay playing a key role in transforming the Los Angeles pass offense from the league’s worst to one that’s 10th thus far.

The Rams, however, could not beat the Seahawks at home for a fourth straight year and obviously don’t possess the proven capabilities the Russell Wilson-fronted team does. Seattle stands to benefit from Green Bay’s setback, housing a veteran-stacked roster — one that lost to the Packers in Week 1 — that’s secured five straight postseason berths.

Rodgers going down certainly changes the complexion of the NFC North. The Vikings, whose past five playoff appearances have come with five different starting quarterbacks, are 4-2 without the benefit of an upper-echelon passer. Sam Bradford may return this season, and Teddy Bridgewater‘s progress is certainly encouraging, but this could be Case Keenum‘s operation for a while. Minnesota’s standout defense notwithstanding, is that enough to prop up the Vikes to their second NFC North title in three years?

The North champions in five of the past six seasons, the Packers are not planning to pursue UFA quarterbacks. Mike McCarthy emphatically said third-year backup Brett Hundley is his guy. Green Bay faced this situation before but did make a midseason switch after Scott Tolzien struggled replacing Rodgers in 2013. Matt Flynn re-signed and went 2-2 to help keep the team afloat until Rodgers returned in Week 17. He of 11 pass attempts prior to entering Sunday’s game, Hundley does not possess Flynn’s experience. So it’s hard to determine how the Packers will look without their centerpiece.

Thanks to Atlanta not yet showing the kind of form it did during its Super Bowl season, the South may be the NFC’s toughest division to handicap. The Falcons, Panthers and Saints each have two losses and each has a former first-team All-Pro at quarterback.

New Orleans’ defense looks to be improved (15th in DVOA), and that could make a big difference in supplementing Drew Brees — who’s had to carry porous defenses for years. Luke Kuechly‘s third concussion in three seasons stands to wound the Panthers, who have received better work from Cam Newton lately after a brutal start, as long as the stalwart linebacker’s out. But this nucleus also has a history of booking January home games and shouldn’t be discounted despite a sluggish 2016. The Falcons (17th in DVOA but fifth in total offense) obviously have the potential to repeat as South champs; it just doesn’t figure to be as easy as it was in 2016.

So who is the best bet to emerge from this pack now that the conference’s top weapon is out of the picture? Are teams like the Lions, Redskins or Cowboys legitimate darkhorse candidates? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

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