A couple of days ago, I wrote about 2 AFC teams that could go worst to first in 2022. Today I want to do the opposite and give the teams that I think could go from winning the division in 2021 to being at the bottom of the division in 2022. While I think these are less likely, I could these 2 teams go from first to worst in 2022.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys didn’t get better this offseason. The two biggest transactions were OT Le’al Collins being released and WR Amari Cooper getting traded. Collins was a staple of the offensive line for the past 4 seasons and QB Dak Prescott will have to get used to a new RT. Cooper is a loss that the Cowboys don’t think they will miss but I’m not so sure. Cooper put up 1,000 yard seasons in 2019 and 2020 and while his numbers were lower in 2021, they weren’t bad. Even with CeeDee Lamb on the roster, it seems risky to give up such as asset. Also Mike McCarthy is their coach and his game management skills have been questionable the last 2 seasons.
The division also got better. The Eagles loaded up through the draft highlighted by their trade for A.J Brown. For the Commanders, even if you don’t think that Carson Wentz is a great QB, he is certainly better than Taylor Heinicke. Pair that with studs on defense and you don’t have a push over team. There is a world where the Giants are also better. They nailed the draft and do not have Joe Judge around calling his mind bending 3rd and 9 plays.
The schedule is also brutal for the Cowboys especially to start. There first 2 weeks are the Buccaneers and the Bengals. Within the first 6 weeks they play the defending Super Bowl champion Rams and the Eagles. If the Cowboys start the season off slow and never recover, they could end up going first to worst.
Tennessee Titans
Okay hear me out. I know I know, this division has the Texans and the Jaguars. I’ll get to them in a minute. The Titans are another team that I don’t think got better in the offseason. They traded A.J Brown to the Eagles but did pick up WR Treylon Burks in the draft. Seems like they replaced a very expensive receiver with one just as good but cheaper. The problem is rookies are very unpredictable and Burks could end up a stud or struggling to stay on the field. Derrick Henry is also a year older. The shelf life of RBs usually is not very long and the mileage is getting up there on Henry. He probably will still be a dominant rusher but at some point the production may fall off a cliff. Also, does Ryan Tannehill at QB scare any opposing team?
Okay I promised I would talk about the division so here we go. The Colts could easily overtake the Titans with Matt Ryan and talented defense. The Jaguars are no longer involved in the shenanigans of Urban Meyer and it is a roster that on paper has a lot of talent. Trevor Lawrence should improve especially with Doug Pederson at the helm. The Texans no longer have the Deshaun Watson situation hanging over their heads. Davis Mills showed promise in his rookie season. Lovie Smith is a good coach. The draft picks they got seem good on paper. There is a world where the Texans are decent. I’ll admit it would take a lot but the Titans have a path to go from first to worst.
Honorable Mention: Kansas City Chiefs
The only reason I mention this is because of the amount of talent in the AFC West. This is going to be the most competitive and exciting division maybe in NFL history. The loss of Tyreek Hill brings questions to the offense and the slow start last season doesn’t help silence the critics. I put them as an honorable mention because literally anything can happen in this division and the margin for error will be so thin. Could the Chiefs finish last in the division? Sure. Could they also win the division? Absolutely. My bet is that the Chiefs ride their experience and pedigree to stay out of the cellar of the division.
The NFL is known for being chaotic. Teams that are good one season can be terrible the next. It’s what makes the NFL so fun to watch. The Cowboys and the Titans are two teams that I will be keeping an eye on this season to see if they can duplicate their success. If not they could find themselves going first to worst.