Twitter: @CozzyNick
Piece By Nicholas Cosmai
The 2021 NFL Season is drawing to a close as the 2021 calendar year is also drawing to a close. Another intriguing regular season that has really spiced up the playoffs that is open for anyone to claim victory. So many teams this season have stood out at opposite ends of the spectrum both by impressing and disappointing. Let’s now look back on this regular season of these teams that stood out both ways more than they should have.
Seattle Seahawks: Disappointing
This season will be Seattle’s first losing season in a decade, since 2011, also the first since Russell Wilson took the starting spot under center. On the topic of Seattle’s offence which has been carrying the team’s positive performances for some time, it had finally reached a dead end and got worse. There offensive line problems still exist, first in most sack yards and top four for total sacks. Passing wise they also rank in the bottom third for completion percentage which last season was top four in the league. Scoring wise the seahawks rank below the league average in touchdowns compared to last season being in the top 25%. Offensively for the seahawks, an asterisk could be argued as Wilson was out for six weeks. Defensively the seahawks still have the same woes, 2nd in most passing yards conceded. Something that definitely has not been improved. Seattle is most likely going to finish bottom of the NFC West which will be something that they have not been near in over a decade. One of the biggest disappointments.
Arizona Cardinals: Surprising
The NFC leaders for 80% of this NFL season is the Arizona Cardinals. Something that no one would have though before the start of the season. A team who has emerged from the basement of the NFC West the last few seasons and have surged to the top and into the playoffs. An NFC West team who also lost their starting quarterback and the statistics will show it. Offensively they have managed to have a supreme rushing attack with pro bowlers James Connor alongside Kyler Murray being a dynamic threat both with passing and rushing the ball. Defensively is what has most helped the jump, improving in almost all statistical categories. Arizona has really been tested with key players being inactive for lengthy periods this season and have managed to stay the course. The rams are breathing down their necks for top spot of the west after Arizona have lost to both the rams and lions in most recent weeks. The one seed in the NFC is also in reach to reclaim, only being a win behind the packers who do have the head-to-head record over the Cardinals though.
Cincinnati Bengals: Surprising
By far the most surprising team in the AFC this season has been the Cincinnati Bengals. Somehow, they have squeezed their way to the top of the AFC North and have done it in impressive fashion. Apart from the same offensive line problems, the Bengals have all around improved. There rushing attack for one with Joe Mixon back after missing more than half of the 2020 season. This linked with Joe Burrow returning after a horrific knee injury who has balled out this season. He’s linked up well particularly with an at the time criticized number five pick in Jamarr Chase who is a definite Rookie of the year candidate and may even win it. Both Chase and Mixon are a part of the AFC pro bowl squads who’ve improved the offence. The Bengals on the other side of the ball have also improved, by far a much better team upfront disrupting the passing and rushing games of oppositions. This has been spearheaded by Trey Hendrickson who they had brought in from New Orleans who’s turned into a Pro Bowler this season with the Bengals. It’s going to be a tight finish in all the AFC but more specifically in the AFC North where there’s a game separating first and last. The Bengals finish with a tough run home, Ravens, Chiefs and Browns. No matter what happens it’s been a very impressive season for the Bengals who are a chance to take a playoff spot and maybe even the division if they pull off some big wins.
Cleveland Browns: Disappointing
How the Cleveland Browns are viewed is a case of glass half full or glass half empty. The season of course is not quite over but the Browns for most of the season have not performed to the level we thought they would have. This is the glass half empty side; they currently are the 12th seed in the AFC and currently sit last of the AFC North and many predicted the Browns to take the division. The glass half full is that they’re one game outside of being the 4th seed in the AFC, which obviously means they would be top of their division. The AFC North is by far the most competitive division in the AFC and the league arguably also, no team has a losing record. Cleveland has Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati to finish the season which may or may not contain Baker Mayfield who is out due to covid. He’s a part of a large group of players that are out due to the same reason. So far, it’s been disappointing but both there division and conference is wide open so there is time to pick up form at the right time of the season.
Cowboys: Surprising
How about the Dallas Cowboys? They’ll be back in the playoffs and will win the NFC East. A team that is quietly going under the radar in the NFC playoff picture after improving their biggest weakness last offseason, there defense. In one season the Cowboys have gone from one of the worst defenses in the history of the league to one of the better defenses in the league for this season. Particularly there passing defense. Their offence remains as explosive as it was last season with two different factors adding to it. Dak Prescott not getting injured for the season and their dual threat at Running back with Pollard and Elliott. In every game the cowboys have won, they’ve had at least 100 rushing yards. Last season they were passing the ball at a high rate which is fair enough considering the receiver weaponry that they have. This season they’ve created more of a balance offensively by implementing more of their running game. This Cowboys team could be capable of some destruction in an open NFC, but to see how well they’ve turned around this team in just one season has been amazing.
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