Before every NFL season, there are always teams we expect to succeed and teams we expect not to. Most of the time, those teams play as we expect them to, but there are also always some teams who either surprise or disappoint. Here are the five biggest disappointments this season.
5. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins entered the season with high expectations for their offense and an improved defense. Although the defense was good early on, the offense was inconsistent, and when Tua Tagovailoa went down with his concussion, things only got worse. The Dolphins offense without Tua was one of the worst in the NFL, and they dug themselves such a big hole during his absence that it became nearly impossible for them to overcome it. Although they are still not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, they won’t be headed there this season, and they are a big disappointment.
4. New York Jets
This was supposed to be the Jets big season. The season where Rodgers is healthy, and they finally get back to the playoffs and make a run toward the Super Bowl. Well, Rodgers has stayed healthy, but the Jets still stink. Their once-vaunted defense has taken a huge step back, and other than a few good performances from Rodgers, he has looked old, slow, and a shell of what he once was. They don’t seem to use Breece Hall correctly, and even though they fired their coach and traded for Davante Adams, the Jets are going to once again finish toward the bottom of the league, outside of the playoffs, and wonder what could have been.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow is healthy, Chase Brown has developed into a star RB, and Ja’Marr Chase is one of the top WRs in the league, yet the Bengals sit at 6-8 and need a miracle to make the playoffs. They are playing better lately, but it looks like it is going to be too little, too late. The Bengals have had one of the worst defenses all season long, and it is the main reason why they are going to waste an MVP-caliber season from Burrow. The Bengals have also lost plenty of close games right at the end, and there is some discussion about the possibility of moving on from head coach Zach Taylor when the season ends.
2. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys won the NFC East last season and have won at least 12 games in each of the past three seasons. Although they weren’t expected to be as good this season after a quiet offseason, no one expected them to be as bad as they have been. You can chalk a lot of it up to injuries for sure, but they are also poorly coached, and Jerry Jones is simply not the right choice to be this teams general manager. If the Cowboys are healthy next year, they can contend once again, but their problem remains on the sidelines and in the front office. Until Jerry Jones is willing to hire a real GM and bring in a coach who isn’t past his prime, the Cowboys will just continue to disappoint year after year.
1. San Francisco 49ers
The reigning NFC champs have had a tough season. They have dealt with key injuries on both sides of the ball, and it has certainly contributed to their struggles, but they also have gotten underwhelming performances from their players who haven’t been injured. They were the heavy favorites to win the NFC West coming into the season, and instead, they find themselves as the only team under .500 in the division and sitting in last place. They now also have to ask themselves if Brock Purdy is the guy of the future and worth the 40-50 million per year that top QBs get paid these days.
