While the teams that are Dumpster Fires crush their fans in an expected way, some teams are even more cruel than that. Some teams like to take you on a wild up and down ride, only to dump you off on your face at the end. By the time you figure out what happened, your favorite team has most likely crashed out of playoff contention or (if slightly luckier) the actual playoffs, in a most embarrassingly lousy way. For the fans of the following teams, I feel for you. Though, if it makes you feel any better, 31 out of 32 teams end each season sad. Find comfort in your company!
Los Angeles Chargers (Last Season: 5-11, played in San Diego)
2017 Prediction: 8-8
Last season, the Chargers found all kinds of ridiculous ways to lose. In games decided by 7 points or less, the Chargers were a remarkable 1-8. The Chargers lost on wild comebacks, botched field goal holds, and unlucky late game turnovers. If you are an intelligent fan, then you know that a 1-8 record in close games is mostly a factor of luck, not player skill or “clutch factor.” So, you may be thinking that this team is primed for a return to contention. Well, let me stop you right there. While, the Chargers certainly have the players to make this possible, they still have a number of weaknesses that need to be sorted out, along with their poor home field situation. The Los Angeles Chargers will have a tough time taking advantage of any “homefield advantage,” seeing that they will be playing 8 games in a 27,000 seat soccer stadium, in a city where they are, at best, the third most popular team. Though, maybe the move will eventually prove to be a positive, fresh start for this franchise. The Chargers have not won more than 9 games in a season since 2009, a span that saw them win one playoff game (2013, against a Bengals team that refuses to win in the postseason). Unfortunately, if the Chargers want to get back to winning, they’ll have to do it soon. Rivers is certainly in the twilight of his career, so it appears that the Charger window of opportunity is closing fast, especially in a talented AFC West. If there are any positive takeaways for Charger fans, it is that I still expect them to be the best team in LA.
Minnesota Vikings (Last Season: 8-8)
2017 Prediction: 8-8
The Vikings went on a wild ride last year. Before the season even started, the future of the franchise, Teddy Bridgewater, went down with a season-ending knee surgery (an injury that will keep him out for at least a portion of this year as well), which all but eliminated their hopes of repeating as champions of the NFC North. The official diagnosis of the injury was “knee exploded to pieces.” Hours after the injury, a panicked management made a gut-decision trade for Sam Bradford, immediately making the team look foolish, while simultaneously infuriating fans. Then, the unpredictable ride for the Vikings continued, as they started the season 5-0, appearing to be a lock for the playoffs. Fans were thrilled! This team was good enough to win with or without Teddy Bridgewater! It turned out management had actually made a great decision to grab Bradford, even if it cost them a valuable first round pick! Well… not so much. Minnesota’s roller coaster ride ended in the miserable fashion that it always does. The Vikings crashed out of playoff contention, finishing the season 3-8, becoming the first team in NFL history to miss the playoffs after starting a season 5-0 twice. As for this year, the defense is solid. The offense sometimes creates positive plays (even if a majority of those plays are 3 yard Bradford checkdowns), but is there really any hope for this team? The Vikings are trapped in 0.500 limbo. I see them repeating last year’s mediocre win total.
Philadelphia Eagles (Last Season: 7-9)
2017 Prediction: 9-7
2016 was the first year of Carson Wentz, and it seemed like it was a great decision from the get-go, as the Eagles started the season emphatically, heading into their bye week at 3-0. Their three straight wins even included a thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers, 34-3. From there, the Eagles lost 4 of 5, where all of their losses were by 7 points or less. A surprise victory over the high-powered Atlanta Falcons restored hope to the Philadelphia faithful before five straight losses ended all chances of a successful 2016 season. Similarly to the Chargers, this was a team that could not pull out the close games. In one score games, the Eagles finished the 2017 season at 1-6. Based on that, I expect the Eagles to finish at least a little better than last season, which is why 9-7 seems attainable. Wentz has a year of experience and confidence under his belt; however, was he really as good as people thought last season? The hot start for the Eagles certainly biased opinions of the young quarterback, as most will remember Wentz as having a solid year. However, when you look back at the stats from the 2016 season, Wentz finished with a dismal quarterback rating of 79.3, which ranked him 25th in the league. He also finished the regular season with a paltry 16 touchdowns, to go along with his 14 interceptions. The addition of Alshon Jeffery should help the passing game a little bit, but is it enough to make this team a playoff contender?
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