NFL · 1 year ago

Ranking the Future Outlook of the 4 Divisional Weekend Losers

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

Super Bowl LVIII Look Ahead Lines
Super Bowl LVIII Odds:

San Francisco 49ers (+135)
Baltimore Ravens (+170)
Kansas City Chiefs (+440)
Detroit Lions (+850)

Super Bowl LVIII MVP Favorites:

Lamar Jackson (+200)
Brock Purdy (+280)
Patrick Mahomes (+500)
Christian McCaffrey (+650)
Jared Goff (+1200)

Super Bowl LVIII Look Ahead Lines:

San Francisco 49ers (-1.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens
San Francisco 49ers (-3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Detroit Lions (+4.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens
Detroit Lions (+3.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay, take a lap. I’ll admit, I thought the Bucs were going to get the doors blown off of them by the Detroit Lions on Sunday, but they put up a decent fight, yet still, it’s hard to imagine this team being back in this spot next season. It’s unclear if Mike Evans will be back with the Bucs next season, and his value to this team cannot be overstated, but there is no indication of who will be playing quarterback for the Bucs next season.

Are they really going to hand Baker Mayfield a ton of money to keep him around? I doubt it. I’d like to see the Bucs explore bringing in Justin Fields via a trade potentially, but a lot needs to go right for the Bucs to find them back in the postseason.
3. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo, come on now. Just as everyone, including myself, was buying into the Bills, they found another way to lose a playoff game. Aside from the missed field goal in classic Buffalo fashion, what in the world was that final series? Are you seriously taking stupid endzone shots from the Chiefs’ 25 with the clock in your favor?

The Bills, of all teams, should know to give Patrick Mahomes as little time as possible late in the fourth quarter, but yet, they did. I don’t know how Sean McDermott still has a job because, in all likelihood, we’ll be having this same conversation next January as the AFC is only getting stronger. Mahomes isn’t going anywhere, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are a juggernaut, Joe Burrow will be healthy, and CJ Stroud is going to be a force. I don’t know how the Bills are going to expect different results next season unless there are drastic changes.
2. Green Bay Packers
The Packers should be preparing to go into Detroit on Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, but thanks to a missed field goal and a couple of forced throws by Jordan Love, they are on their couches. Still, Green Bay has a future to be excited about. Love is a franchise quarterback, proving he can go toe to toe with the NFL’s best gunslingers.

The young offensive weapons will only be more experienced next season, benefiting greatly from Matt LaFleur’s system that won’t be going anywhere. Defensively, they had their struggles this season, but this unit is very young, making this playoff experience that much more valuable going forward. Good things are ahead in Green Bay.
1. Houston Texans
Does anyone have any doubt that the Houston Texans will dominate the AFC South for the next decade? Man, they are going to be a force. CJ Stroud is the answer, elevating the Texans to the divisional round of the postseason in his rookie year after consecutive seasons of misery in Houston. Around him, imagine how much better this offense will become when they get a legitimate number-one star wide receiver to pair with Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

Defensively, Demeco Ryans has this unit humming, so just wait until their young leaders like Will Anderson Jr., Christian Harris, and Derek Stingley Jr. become even better in the years to come. Heading into next season, I’d like to see the Texans’ front office throw a lucrative bonus at Bobby Slowik to sway him to remain in Houston for another year before pursuing a head coach position, just like the Detroit Lions did with Ben Johnson last offseason, to ensure Stroud gets further development from him. Nonetheless, Houston’s future is bright.
Super Bowl LVIII Look Ahead Lines
Super Bowl LVIII Odds:

San Francisco 49ers (+135)
Baltimore Ravens (+170)
Kansas City Chiefs (+440)
Detroit Lions (+850)

Super Bowl LVIII MVP Favorites:

Lamar Jackson (+200)
Brock Purdy (+280)
Patrick Mahomes (+500)
Christian McCaffrey (+650)
Jared Goff (+1200)

Super Bowl LVIII Look Ahead Lines:

San Francisco 49ers (-1.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens
San Francisco 49ers (-3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Detroit Lions (+4.5) vs. Baltimore Ravens
Detroit Lions (+3.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay, take a lap. I’ll admit, I thought the Bucs were going to get the doors blown off of them by the Detroit Lions on Sunday, but they put up a decent fight, yet still, it’s hard to imagine this team being back in this spot next season. It’s unclear if Mike Evans will be back with the Bucs next season, and his value to this team cannot be overstated, but there is no indication of who will be playing quarterback for the Bucs next season.

Are they really going to hand Baker Mayfield a ton of money to keep him around? I doubt it. I’d like to see the Bucs explore bringing in Justin Fields via a trade potentially, but a lot needs to go right for the Bucs to find them back in the postseason.