What a season it has been.
The 2017/18 NFL campaign reaches its conclusion this Sunday as the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots battle it out at Super Bowl 52. It has been a mixed season for the NFL’s franchises, varying from the laughably poor to the surprisingly brilliant.
On that note, here is our breakdown of each team’s season, nicely packaged into a neat, one-line summary.
Have we got it right like Brady and the Pats, or does our review more closely resemble the 0-16 Browns? Let us know your thoughts!
AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers (13 – 3) B-
Talked the talk but when it came down to it, the Steelers couldn’t walk the walk.
Baltimore Ravens (9 – 7) C
A self-destruction of epic proportions.
Cincinnati Bengals (7 – 9) D
The only moment of note from this season was the Bengals’ Andy Dalton ending the Bills 17-year play-off drought.
Cleveland Browns (0 – 16) F
If it’s always sunny in Philadelphia then my goodness it is always raining in Cleveland. Things can only get better, right?
AFC East
New England Patriots (13 – 3) A+
Featured more hiccups than usual, but the double-B dynasty steam rolls its way to another Super Bowl.
Buffalo Bills (9 – 7) C+
In the playoffs by a whisker, and out just as fast with a whimper.
Miami Dolphins (6 – 10) D-
Defeat both last season’s Super Bowl finalists, lose 10 games…some things just can’t be explained, including the 2017 Miami Dolphins.
New York Jets (5 – 11) C-
Nobody expected much from the Jets this year, but with a promising young team things are looking up on the green side of NYC.
AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars (10 – 6) A
The people’s champion, the defiant underdog, a very young team looks here to stay.
Tennessee Titans (9 – 7) B-
Solid season, a play-off spot, but like many before them felled by the New England sword.
Indianapolis Colts (4 – 12) E
No Luck? Nothing to see here.
Houston Texans (4 – 12) E
Another season of injuries overshadowed a potentially good team.
AFC West
Kansas City Chiefs (10 – 6) B
Kansas City – proving that it IS possible to throw away a year’s work in 15 minutes.
Los Angeles Chargers (9 – 7) C
Philip Rivers continues to drag this franchise kicking and screaming towards just above average.
Oakland Raiders (6 – 10) E
A team tipped to go all the way somehow managing to go home in December.
Denver Broncos (5 – 11) E
You’re only as good as your quarterback, and Denver’s quarterbacks did not get it done this year.
NFC North
Minnesota Vikings (13 – 3) A-
From the ‘Minnesota Miracle’ one week, to a bottle job Spurs would be proud of the next, many television sets were destroyed in Minneapolis. Oh, what might have been.
Detroit Lions (9 – 7) B-
Matt Stafford tried, but just failed in his quest to get his team to their regular spot in the wild card weekend.
Green Bay Packers (7 – 9) C-
Has there ever been a better example of a one man team in the history of professional sports?
Chicago Bears (5 – 11) D
A win against the Steelers was as good as it got, and that was in September.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles (13 – 3) A+
No Wentz? No problem, the Eagles are going to the Promised Land!
Dallas Cowboys (9 – 7) C
No Zeke, no party… underwhelming and underachieving.
Washington Redskins (7 – 9) D
A wholeheartedly forgettable season, expect better!
New York Giants (3 – 13) F
Injuries and sackings made it a terrible season for Big Blue, which will get dramatically worse if bitter rivals Philadelphia are victorious in Super Bowl 52.
NFC South
New Orleans Saints (11 – 5) A
Amazing effort by a young team with the legend Drew Brees at the helm, but the stuff of nightmares ended what was until that point an excellent season.
Carolina Panthers (11 – 5) B+
Carolina entered the post-season unfancied, and that tag was justified with an exit at the first hurdle.
Atlanta Falcons (10 – 6) B
A stunning win in LA followed by a miserable defeat in Philly summed up the most hot and cold team in the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5 – 11) F
The NFL’s dark horse turned out to be more of a 3-legged donkey which collapsed to a miserable season.
NFC West
Los Angeles Rams (11 – 5) A-
The unfancied Rams put on a show in the regular season, but a lack of experience proved to be their downfall…a young team should challenge again next year.
Seattle Seahawks (9 – 7) B-
Pete Carrol and Russell Wilson just couldn’t get it going, thus continuing their spell as Seattle’s second favourite duo, behind Frasier and Niles Crane.
Arizona Cardinals (8 – 8) C
Slow starters meant no chance of the post season, no chance of success ending with no quarterback and no coach. Oh no!
San Francisco 49ers (6 – 10) 1st half F / 2nd half B+
A tale of two halves. Jimmy G rolled into town and turned the 49ers from a laughing stock into a really fun team with realistic ambitions of a play-off spot next year.
